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.”

is you,” Hogan shot me a glance, “Our

sense of resignation, “I just wanna give it one more try. Is one day too much to

an eternity, but it was no blink

seemed to have run out of patience, replying coldly.

about to take off, Cecilia

Let’s give Xaviera another chance,

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

Chapter

the project,” Cecilia said with a coy smile, “You said it yourself, our offer’s

expression softened

this, Cecilia turned to me and said, “But Xaviera, you know the score with our

it takes to convince Mr. Abbott to give up full creative control over the art department?”

caught me off

were all negotiating here, so why was it suddenly on me to get Sean to hand over

part of my plan, hearing Cecilia throw it out there like that still

it too much to handle?”