Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 60

Hogan perched up high with that shady look in his eyes.

“Ever since you hitched your wagon to Darren, you're talking like you’re a whole new person.”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

| pulled a wry smile and didn’t mince my words, “You’ve had one too many, buddy. Should | call Cecilia over for you?” The mention of Cecilia knotted Hogan’s brow; clearly, I’d hit a nerve.

| didn’t want to stir up trouble in such a setting, so after a brief silence, | reached for the doorknob, only to feel a sudden heat on my lips as Hogan slammed my hands against the door with force.

This guy was crazy. Certifiably bonkers, Hogan was.

Panic set in as | struggled, but it was futile. His kiss was passionate and domineering, like he was trying to devour me, bones and all.

Fuming. | bit his upper lip and yanked hard. In a flash, the taste of iron flooded my mouth.

But Hogan didn’t stop; his kisses only grew deeper, as if he couldn’t help himself.

There was a ripping sound as his slender fingers skimmed the slit of my dress, growing bolder by the second. | was at my wit’s end and said dryly, “Mr. Zade, why are you so horny? Can’t Director Irwin keep up with you?” Hogan froze as if struck by lightning, looking at me in disbelief.

| just stared straight back at him.

The break room was dead silent, so quiet it felt like you could hear his ragged breathing. But it was also noisy, with the muffled sound of chatter seeping in from outside the door.

So there we were, locked in a standoff.

This time, | wasn’t backing down.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke with a quiet voice that nonetheless felt like a slap, “Didn’t want to scare her.” Didn't want to scare her.

Oh, | got it. That girl was untouched and timid, needed protecting, unlike me, someone he'd already bedded. We parted on bad terms.

It took me a while to regain my composure, looking at the torn slit of my dress, | couldn’t help

10

10:03

but laugh and cry at the absurdity.

When the new week rolled around, we had to report back to Rainbow Capital.

It was supposed to be Wallis and my gig, but Cecilia came up all smiles saying, “President Lott, I’d like to give the report a try this time.”

It was just a formality anyway, and neither Wallis nor | made a fuss, so we let her.

But since it was so last-minute, Cecilia wasn’t prepared and just made a copy of the slides I'd put together. She said she'd rehearsed several times, no sweat.

Wallis and | decided | wouldn't show my face this time; it's just a chinwag with Hogan, no need for a crowd. | could spend that time banging out more code.

Cecilia seemed pretty chuffed when she heard, saying sweet as pie. “Xaviera, don’t worry, I'll handle these errands from now

on.

Look at her, playing the sweet talker.

So, it was settled, but shortly after they left, my right eyelid started twitching like crazy, and | had this uneasy feeling in my chest. Sure enough, trouble brewed.

Turns out, today’s meeting at Rainbow Capital was way more formal than any before, with not just Hogan attending, but several other big shots from the board.

Cecilia, who’d never been in such hot water, tried to keep her cool on stage, but a couple of sentences in and the board members had her stumped.

In a fluster, she bungled the slides and basically got booted off stage by the board members. That was what Wallis told me over the phone.

Gripping my phone tightly, | asked, “What was Hogan’s reaction?”

“He was protecting Cecilia. Saw her crying and he ditched the board members to comfort her,” Wallis whispered, “I overheard some managers planning to find a way to make Hogan pull the plug on our lousy project.”

Pull the plug.

| chewed over those simple words, feeling a whirlwind inside, and advised Wallis, “Hold the fort. Feel out Hogan’s stance, and we'll figure out a plan later.”