Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 143

And what I didn’t expect was the caller on the line turned out to be Shirley. My gut was screaming this wasn’t going to be anything good.

All of a sudden, it hit me – the run–in with Hogan and Zachary at noon. If my hunch was right; she was the messenger in this little

game.

I took a moment to brace myself and then hit the answer button. The next second, the buzzing noise unique to bars flooded my

ears.

“Ms. March, feeling any better? There’s a bash at our bar tonight; wanna swing by for a drink?”

Shirley sure thought highly of me. Anyone with a lick of medical sense knew one shouldn’t go near booze with a swollen ankle.

And Shirley? She’d got the smarts, alright. She was just out to ruffle my feathers. I had some hope for our partnership before, so I’d been biting my tongue in the face of her provocations. But things

were different now.

“Sorry, President Stapleton, not gonna work for me.” I declined flat–out, “But thanks for the invite.”

letting out a sigh, “Too bad, really. Mr. Zade was just saying he expected me

So, Hogan was

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“Ms. March, it’s a kind gesture from President

of his voice, I could feel my heart sinking, limbs starting to quake. How long did Hogan plan to use me as his pawn? Did he really see me as

ready to snap back, but held it in. On second thought, this might still be my

the FreeMan thing, fair play to him. But if he wanted to use me against Shirley,

said, “Hang tight, I’ll be right

sitting dead center. The guy was decked out in a black shirt, sleeves rolled up just

neon glow.

from him, was all dolled up in a black sequined dress, light smoky

grin,

wasn’t

“I thought with the connection between Ms. March and

Hogan, gauging his reaction. Funny thing about her, if Cecilia

Chapter 143