Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 174

If Cecilia’s accusations were sugar–coated, Hogan was laying it on thick with his cheers from the sidelines.

But I didn’t want to waste my breath on a shouting match, so I gritted my teeth and said, “I get that we might need to play it by ear in negotiations, but from what I can tell, Mr. Abbott is totally into the idea of us teaming up. He seems to be holding back because of some skeletons in his closet, so I wanna give it another shot.”

“Skeletons in his closet?” Hogan snorted, giving me the stink eye, “He’s just playing hard to get because we’ve chased him down to Pinecrest Hollow. You sure have a soft spot for him.”

The mockery in Hogan’s eyes fanned the flames in my chest.

All I wanted was to seal the deal, why’s he gotta be so snarky?

“What’s up? Scared of giving Mr. Abbott a lesson because he’s Timothy’s buddy?”

The words “Timothy’s buddy” rang in my ears, extra grating.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool, “Mr. Zade, I wish you would chill out.”

to chill is you,” Hogan shot me a glance, “Our offer is sweet enough,

hardline stance caught me off guard, and I said with a sense of resignation, “I just wanna give it one

no blink of an eye either. Hogan could surely

out of

to take

don’t be mad. Let’s give Xaviera another chance, okay? Maybe Mr. Abbott really does have a reason he can’t spill.”

down at Cecilia, “You’re kinda addicted to playing the peacemaker, huh?”

Chapter

“You said it yourself, our offer’s tempting, and Mr. Abbott isn’t a fool, right?”

softened a

“But Xaviera, you know the score with our

what it takes

me off

so why was it suddenly on me to get Sean to

part of my plan, hearing Cecilia throw it out there like that still rubbed me the wrong

too much