Echoes of Unrequited Love ( Hogan Zade )
Chapter 137

Chapter 137

Maybe I’d been freezing my butt off here for too long, or maybe this was all just a dream. Before I knew it, like I was possessed or something, I reached out and planted a kiss on the man’s

neck.

The kiss started getting out of hand, and the warmth slowly began to return to my body. Just as things were about to spiral Shirley’s voice abruptly pierced through my ears. “Hold your horses. I’m here to check if Ms. March is actually around or not?”

Her words yanked me back to reality, and I scrambled out of the man’s embrace, standing there catching my breath like I’d just run a marathon.

“Ms. March? Xaviera? Are you there?”

Hearing Shirley’s calls, I glanced at Hogan in a total panic, my mind a jumbled mess. I couldn’t let Shirley catch us in this scene, no how.

I quickly shot Hogan a look that screamed “don’t move“, and after taking a deep breath, I flung open the cubicle door.

I looked up to replace Shirley standing just a meter away. She was wrapped in a bathrobe, and peeking out from underneath was the latest craze in swimwear – a bikini that left little to the imagination.

With her curves on full display, it was clear as day that she’d pulled out all the stops to seduce Hogan

Our eyes locked, and Shirley forced a smile, playing dumb, “Ms. March, it’s been half an hour already, how come you’re still in the changing room?”

Playing innocent, huh?

After she spoke, her gaze swept the entire changing room before landing back on me. “Mr. Zade isn’t with you?”

So, she was on a manhunt.

“President Stapleton, you must be joking. This is the ladies‘ changing room. Shouldn’t you be looking for Mr. Zade on the other side?”

Knowing I’d been left out in the cold for thirty minutes, my tone was anything but warm.

Shirley shot me a look and said. “Oh, look at me, all flustered. Never mind, Ms. March, get ready and let’s head to the hot pool later.”

She was about to leave, acting as if locking me in the changing room had never happened. That ticked me off, so I retorted coldly. “Has President Stapleton cooled off now?”

Shirley paused, gave me a sidelong glance, and said with a hint of annoyance. “What are you implying. Ms. March?

docomo

Chacher 137

“No one else is here.” As Shirley was clueless about Hogan hidden in the cubicle, I didn’t beat around the bush, saving. “President Stapleton, if you think I’m holding you back from important stuff, just give me a heads–up. I’m all about reading the room, but locking someone in a changing room? That’s… Pretty low–class.

I didn’t finish my sentence, but Shirley was smart enough to catch my drift.

Sure enough, the once–smiling woman’s face turned serious, and she stepped closer, “Ms. March, you’re sharper than I thought.”

“I’m flattered, President Stapleton. Gazing at the woman before me. I said, standing my ground. “It’s just too bad I’m a disappointment to you. The one Mr. Zade is really into isn’t me; it’s her.”

“Is that so?”

“And as for me.” I said with a bitter smile, “at best, I’m just a puppet Hogan uses to deal with you.”

I wanted Shirley to realize how dumb it was to mess with me. Shirley got the message, chuckled, and said nonchalantly. “No worries. I’ve never missed a target I set my sights on.”

Confident, isn’t she? So confident she didn’t even consider me a blip on her radar. To her, I’m just a decoy, nothing more.

Zachary’s voice cut through my chat with Shirley, President Stapleton, are you in there? Mr. Zade messaged me; he’s got a stomach ache and is in the restroom.”

Upon hearing this, Shirley looked up, returning to her approachable demeanor, “Alright, Assistant Zachary, I’ve found Ms. March. She’ll head to the hot pool shortly.”

After Shirley left, giving me a smug look like she knew I wouldn’t breathe a word about what happened, she wasn’t wrong. But it also meant there was no way we could ever collaborate.

The sound of the cubicle door opening snapped me out of my thoughts, and there stood Hogan, expressionless at the doorway.

After an awkward exchange of glances, I looked down, embarrassed. In my head, I replayed the scene of this man holding me in a passionate kiss. I must be out of my mind.

Then, his deep voice reached my ears. “Is that what you really think?”

Curious, I looked at Hogan and asked, “What?”

“That I’m using you to deal with Shirley.” Hogan said succinctly.

What else could it be? Hadn’t he already admitted it to Zachary?

Seeing my silence, Hogan scoffed and added, “Really, biting the hand that feeds you.”