Chapter 147
A wave of shame like I’d never felt before was gnawing at my chest. I pinched the palm of my hand hard, forcing myself to chill out, “Mr. Zade, are you looking to make a deal with me?”
I didn’t realize until I spoke that my voice was shaking.
“If so,” I took a deep breath, trying to sound more casual, “I’ve got a
better idea.”
I met Hogan’s gaze head–on and said it straight. After all, I’d got nothing to lose at this point.
But Hogan looked at me like I’d just said something out of this world, silently staring.
This time I didn’t back down but smiled and said, “Mr. Zade, you’ve been through hell and back dealing with President Stapleton just to find FreeMan in the guest list, right? I’m down to be your human shield, and I’m cool with you handing the credit over to Cecilia, but I’ve got one condition.”
I paused, and then added, “We team up, and once we get a hold of FreeMan himself, I get some one–on–one time with him.”
If the competition’s outcome was already written in stone, I might as well play my cards right and secure FreeMan’s backing for future collaborations.
I laid it all out in one breath, but the guy in front of me suddenly clammed up. Agreed or disagreed, Hogan didn’t show his hand right away.
I didn’t dare rush him, and just sat there quietly, holding my pose,
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13:29
waiting for him to break the silence.
A few seconds later, I heard him say, word by word, “So, you want to make a deal with me?”
The atmosphere that was brewing something mysterious flipped into a standoff. When I glanced at Hogan with the corner of my eye, he was cracking his knuckles.
That was his tell when he was trying to keep his cool. But what was he holding back for? This deal should be win–win for both of us.
With that in mind, I explained, “Teaming up with me, Mr. Zade, you can use me as your shield to deal with President Stapleton and smoothly fulfill Director Irwin’s wishes. Isn’t that killing a few birds
with one stone?”
No sooner had I finished speaking than Hogan shot up so abruptly that it caught me off guard, and I embarrassingly tumbled onto the couch.
When I looked back at Hogan, his chiseled face had lost any trace of warmth, replaced by his usual coldness and sarcasm.
“Xaviera, you really think you’re something, don’t you?”
And with that, he was gone, not giving me a chance to say another word. It wasn’t until the door slammed shut that I deflated like a burst balloon, slumping onto the couch.
was toL
As expected, getting one over on Hogan After all, his efforts included a genuine devotion to Cecilia.
But speaking up wasn’t all bad. Judging by tonight’s events, Shirley was still hot for Hogan, and him getting the guest list from her wasn’t going to be easy.
13:29
If it was gonna be a drawn–out thing, then I still had my uses. With three days left in our week–long deal, I was not throwing in the towel just yet.
After a groggy sleep, Shirley’s call woke me up early the next morning.
“Ms. March, you up yet?” Her, cheery voice came through the phone, “We’re heading down the mountain to pick someone up soon, get ready.”
“Pick up someone?” I was totally lost and asked, “Who are we picking up?“.
“Don’t you know? Cecilia’s arrived at Pinecrest Hollow.” Shirley explained excitedly, “I told Mr. Zade we could have Cecilia come up in a shuttle, but he’s super protective and insists on picking her up himself. Man, it’s envy–inducing.”
That was when it clicked for me. I looked at my slightly swollen. ankle and smirked self–deprecatingly.
