Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 133

Thinking of this. | made an about-face, but as soon as | reached the doorway, there was a sudden clang right next to my ear. When | looked up, Hogan had already taken a spill right at the bathroom door.

“Honey,” he frowned and the corners of his mouth turned down “I’m hurting.”

I'd never seen Hogan in such a sorry state before. My heart went all mushy, and | quickly walked over to him, saying, “Cut it out: time for bed.”

And Hogan actually listened and headed off to the bedroom, but the hand he grabbed onto mine with, he didn’t let go.

The booze was hitting me hard, and | just didn’t have the energy to wrestle with him any longer. After all, the more we tugged, the more time we wasted.

| was thinking of taking a stroll around the place once he was settled down. But the moment | leaned against the bed, my consciousness went rogue, and as my eyelids started to battle it out. | drifted off to dreamland too.

No clue how long | slept, but when | woke up. | was lying on a soft, big bed. The down comforter covering me was the one Hogan used last night. But the guy was nowhere to be found.

Trubbed my eyes only to see a faint dawn breaking in the sky, the east hinting at daybreak. That was when it hit me that, without realizing it, a whole night had passed.

Did | just spend the whole night in Hogan's thatched cottage? As the realization dawned on me | hurried out of bed and was about to pull open the bedroom door when | overheard a conversation outside.

“President Stapleton is up at the crack of dawn sending hangover soup to everyone’s rooms. Bet she’s up to no good. That was Zachary’s voice. My heart immediately hitched up into my throat. “So what?”

“I'm just worried that President Stapleton hasn’t given up on her sneaky plans for you. We need a way to deal with her without messing up our own plans,” Zachary said, getting straight to the

point.

“No sweat.” Came Hogan's cool voice through the crack in the door. “Remember, we're here to talk business. Let her hang for a bit.”

Hearing Hogan's confident tone. | couldn’t help but feel a sense of impending doom. And then! heard Zachary switch gears, “But seriously, President Stapleton is a tough cookie. Lucky | gave the staff a heads-up. Otherwise, a quick peek at the surveillance and she'd know Xaviera was in your room all night.”

Right, the hotel was Shirley’s turf, Digging up dirt would be a piece of cake for her. | was kicking

docomo

myself for letting my guard down.

“What's there to panic about?” Hogan’s nonchalant voice rose again, “Even if she finds out, it might just save us some trouble.” “Mr. Zade, you mean use Xaviera to deal with President Stapleton?”

Silence fell outside. Hogan didn’t respond, but from what | knew about him, silence often meant agreement.

So, did Hogan go out of his way to keep me there last night, or was it just a fluke? Either way, it looked like | was the designated shield.

Yeah, better to use insignificant me to tick off Shirley than to have Cecilla butt heads with her dear friend.

Even if | got busted, Hogan probably wouldn’t lose sleep over it. He’d easily ditch a rival like me: probably couldn’t wish for more. Suddenly, | felt like I'd plunged into an ice bath, my insides covered with a thick layer of frost, sending shivers through my limbs.

Fortunately, Zachary was on the ball, and it seemed Shirley's side hadn’t grown suspicious yet. | had to get out before she caught on.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

With that thought, | took a deep breath and flung the door open. There in the living room, Hogan and Zachary were seated at the dining table, tucking into breakfast.

Seeing me, Zachary politely got up, a smile on his face, and greeted, “Mrs. Zade, you’re awake! Have some hangover soup first.”

| glanced at the hangover soup on the table and at Hogan, who was leisurely enjoying his breakfast, with my lips arched upwards, | said, “Nah, not feeling it.”