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.”

who needs to chill is you,” Hogan shot me a glance, “Our

me off guard, and I said with a sense of resignation, “I just wanna

frame wasn’t exactly an eternity, but it was no blink of an

run out of patience, replying

as he was about to take off, Cecilia stopped him.

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

at Cecilia, “You’re kinda

Chapter

project,” Cecilia said with a coy smile, “You said it yourself, our offer’s tempting, and Mr. Abbott isn’t a

expression softened a bit.

with our offer. The pay is top–notch, but as

big beautiful eyes at me, “Do you really have what it takes to convince Mr. Abbott to give up full creative control

question caught me off

was it suddenly on me

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

is it too much to