Echoes of Unrequited Love (Xaviera and Hogan) novel Chapter 4

This was definitely rubbing salt into the wound for us, who were already up to our eyeballs in debt.

We had a peaceful afternoon, and Wallis and I gradually came back to our senses, deciding to keep looking for investors.-

At nine in the evening, I dragged myself back to my place, listless. No sooner had I stepped out of the elevator than I spotted someone from a distance.

The hallway was dimly lit, and there was a man leaning against the wall with his arms folded, his expression hidden in the darkness, but a hint of crimson showing at his fingertips.

It was Hogan.

As the motion-sensor light flicked on, Hogan and I locked eyes in the charged air.

The smell of smoke was choking.

I looked at him and said casually, "What a coincidence."

Hogan didn't say a word.

I felt an oppressive tension bearing down on me and kept explaining, "We're already scouting for other financial backers, so Mr. Zade, no worries."

I wasn't scared of rubbing Hogan the wrong way, but I had to consider the whole company.

Sure enough, when I put it that way, Hogan's aggressive aura simmered down a bit.

I didn't say much more, just reached for the door. But then, I heard Hogan say, "We'll fund the project."

My hand froze on the doorknob, and an odd feeling flickered through me.

Looks like he'd already checked out the project proposal.

But why?

Hogan isn't short on big projects, and if he wanted to collaborate, he could have just reached out to Wallis directly. Why go to the trouble of waiting here?

I lowered my gaze, wanting to ask, but not sure how to broach the subject.

I had a hunch it wasn't that simple.

Sure enough, Hogan followed up with, "But I have one condition."

I knew it.

Meeting Hogan's gaze, I said politely, "Please, Mr. Zade, go ahead."

"Cecilia needs a project for her graduation design. I want her involved in this game."

So, he wanted to gild his girl Cecilia with all our hard work.

I curled my fingers into a fist, then relaxed, and said, "I'll report to President Lott first thing in the morning."

"No need," Hogan stopped her, his gaze falling on Wallis and me, "Say hello to your new colleagues."

"New colleagues?" Surprise flickered in her eyes, quickly filling with a touch of grievance, Cecilia murmured, "Do you think I'm dumb?"

"What are you talking about," Hogan replied gently, "Aren't you worried about your graduation project? Now you've got one."

Cecilia looked up, her face a picture of bewilderment.

Wallis elegantly reached out his hand, saying, "Yes, Ms. Irwin, welcome to the LOVE STORY family."

Cecilia looked at Hogan with joy and mixed emotions, "Hogan, you're so good to me."

I could tell the unexpected surprise touched Cecilia deeply.

And I was pretty surprised too.

Looking back over the past six years, I had given Hogan his fair share of surprises - anniversaries, birthday parties, and the like, and I did it with pleasure.

Now, he seemed to be getting the hang of it.

Still, Hogan's inconsistent behavior left me a bit puzzled, but in the face of money, all that seemed trivial.

Hogan invested five hundred thousand.