Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 45

It was not exactly smart to tick Frank off before the new investment dough landed.

| chirped up. “Too late for this, can we talk tomorrow morning?”

Hogan snorted coldly, already halfway through the door.

| blocked the entrance, not letting him in.

Just then, Wallis‘ voice hit my ears outta nowhere, “Which room’s Xaviera’s?”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Panic hit me like a truck, my hand strength went MIA, giving Hogan the perfect opening.

He managed to worm his way in anyways.

Feeling kinda deflated, | looked up at the guy in front of me and asked, “Mr. Zade, you think this is cool?” Hogan didn’t utter a word, just furrowed his brow and yanked at his tie in irritation.

That was rare.

Outside, Wallis‘ voice was closing in, “Xaviera, you hit the sack yet?”

| pinched the bridge of my nose, forced some pep into my step, and threw Hogan a look to hide behind the door. Just as my fingers touched the doorknob, his hand swooped in, right on top of mine.

His sleeves rolled up, revealing some solid forearms, his palm burning up like nobody’s business.

“Xaviera,” his deep voice pressed against my ear, “aren’t we close?”

Bonkers.

Hogan was really not scared of stirring the pot, huh?

| met his gaze, ticked off, but silent.

During the quiet, | felt a tight squeeze around my waist, and Hogan pulled me into his arms. Through a thin layer of fabric, | could feel his solid arms across my waist.

| squirmed, but my feet were like jelly, couldn’t find my footing.

Hogan leaned in, eyes locked with mine, and grilled me like he was possessed, “Aren’t we close?” His warm breath, heavy with the scent of booze, washed over my face.

| turned away, feeling my face flare up, as Hogan cupped my cheeks.

“Answer me.”

1221

“Not close,” | said through gritted teeth, anger rising. “Hogan, we-

His lips crashed onto mine, cutting off my next line.

| reached out to stop him, but he pinned my hands above my head.

The kiss was fierce, his face an imposing blur, impossible to fend off.

my dream, Hogan nibbled on my tattoo, calling out ‘Xaviera‘ over and over, just like the old times. Booze was no good, really.

The jarring ring of my phone yanked me out of the dream.

| opened my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings and snapped right awake.

But once | did, | plunged into a whirlpool of cluelessness.

The bite marks were pretty obvious.

On the other end of the line, Wallis excitedly blurted, “Xaviera, great news, Hogan’s decided to throw in another five hundred thousand!”

Another five hundred thousand? My mind was boggled. Thinking about the steamy scenes from my dream, | couldn’t crack a smile.

Dragging my weary legs to the bathroom, through the steamy mist, | clearly saw the bruise on my chest, right where the tattoo was.

The faded words barely revealed an English phrase.

*iillayloveyou, Hogan.”

The word ‘love‘ was all but obliterated, like a sudden slash of time’s claws, mocking my foolishness. So Hogan, this your way of making amends?

Wallis and | both were late.

Even though Frank wasn’t too keen, at least there was fresh cash in the till.

And it sorted out the marketing budget issue that Wallis had been fretting over.

She was buzzing with plans for a team-building event, ready to share the good news with

everyone.

But Cecilia, catching some buzz from who knows where, suddenly stood in front of me at lunch, asking, “Xaviera, | heard we snagged another investment, is that legit?”

She didn’t mention Hogan.

12:21

Guess the news about his extra funds hadn’t reached her yet.

“President Lott will make the announcement.” | didn’t want to get mixed up in their drama, sol said, “Just wait a bit.” A flicker of disappointment crossed Cecilia’s eyes, “Oh, | see.”

Not wanting her to overthink, | added, “In the next few days.”

Cecilia didn’t pry further.

Just when | thought the topic was done and dusted, her big round eyes weirdly landed on my neck, her expression stuck. | asked, puzzled. “What's up?”

“Nothing.” Cecilia stammered, “Xaviera, you go ahead with your stuff.”

She looked all out of sorts, quite out of the ordinary.

It wasn’t until an hour later, when | went to discuss work with Wallis in her office, that | got the picture.

Wallis told me there was a deep red mark on the back of my neck, looked like a hickey.

My heart skipped a beat, and | held my forehead in frustration.

| bet Cecilia saw it too.