Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 183

Chapter 183 I'm not just buttering her up—the proof is in the pudding, time and again.

When Cecilia heard that, she couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smug little smile and said, “Xaviera, chill, I'll definitely carve out some time to have a heart-to—heart with Hogan for our project.”

| was about to express my gratitude when Hogan's voice barged in outta nowhere, “Talk to me about what?”

| looked up and only then I noticed the dude with a frosty face was standing at the entrance.

My heart skipped a beat, and it felt like my heart was in my throat.

No clue how long he’d been there or how much of my convo with Cecilia he’d caught.

But Cecilia was quick on her feet; she tried to smooth things over, “Nothing much, just shooting the breeze with Xaviera.” With a fleeting glance over my face, Hogan took the shirt from Cecilia’s hands and said, “Get ready to roll out in an hour.” Cecilia blinked, with her eyes darting over my cheek and then back to Hogan, “Now?”

“Yep.”

Hogan’s response was so firm that it even brought a touch of blush to Cecilia’s fair cheeks.

That blush quickly spread to the corners of her eyes. The girl bit her lip gently and mumbled with her head down, “Alright, I'll head over first.”

Despite her saying that, her exit was slow and dragging: she was clearly reluctant. Guess she didn’t expect that Hogan would ditch her and leave me alone with him. Even the way she looked at me had a touch of resentment.

Finally, it was just me and Hogan left in the suite.

The man sat back, with his legs crossed, took a sip of tea, and said, “Typical Ms. March, aiming for a collab with the big shot from the Temple family, and using Cecilia as your pawn.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Hogan had that sharp look in his eyes when he said it, like he was about to chew me up and spit me out.

as a peacemaker

Seemed like he got it twisted: he must have thought that | came to use Cecilia as a

on purpose.

| wasn’t about to waste my breath arguing—since I’ve got enough charges on my rap sheet as it is, one more won't hurt. | steered the convo back to the real deal, “Collab or not, it’s Mr. Zade’s

call

With a sharp look flashing in his phoenix eyes, Hogan raised an eyebrow and grilled me, “You knew FreeMan’s real identity all along?”

| had no idea why he was dragging the topic back there, but | kept it real “Not that early, just found out myself.”

“Before or after you came to me?” he pressed on. “Is that why you came to me with such eagerness, and to sweet-talk me?” The more | heard it, the more absurd it seemed, | met his gaze, looking a bit helpless. “Yes and

no.

“Beating around the bush,” Hogan snorted. “Yes is yes, and no is no; Ms. March, you're getting more and more corporate with

me.

As | was at a loss for words, | just came out with it, “The project is what matters. Mr. Zade should know that we've stalled in Pinecrest Hollow long enough. With any more delays, Rainbow Capital will have to take the hit.”

“30?” Without beating around the bush, | went straight for it. “So, teaming up with Timothy is our best shot.”

“Huh,” Hogan cracked his knuckles, and said in an icy tone, “Ms. March, you’re going to great lengths to get in with the Temple family’s big shot, aren’t you?”