Chapter 3


    Chapter 3


    Before hopping out of the car, | learned from Wallis that the chance to meet the big shot was courtesy of her knocking back


    vodkast night.


    When it came to her career, she had always been one to go all-in.-This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    In fact, | had asionally caught glimpses of Hogan in the financial news over the past couple of years — the guy with the Midas


    touch, never taking a hit. Especially after taking over that inte behemoth half a year ago, he had been making waves in the


    investment world.


    It was no surprise that the former finance wiz kid has be the darling of the capital scene. It was both expected and totally


    reasonable.


    That was also one of the reasons he was the belle of the ball atst night''s alumni gathering.


    By all ounts, as his ex who was supposed to be out of the picture, | should have kept my distance. But seeing Wallis‘ face


    caked in makeup, | bit the bullet and went upstairs.


    | figured, we were just a no-name indie game studio; Hogan probably wouldn''t have the time to meet with us personally.


    Turned out, my hunch was spot on.


    Inside the meeting room, three spiffy-looking execs sat in a row, listening patiently to Wallis and me pitching our hearts out.


    Q&A, back and forth the whole shebang took a good two hours.


    One of the execs escorted us downstairs, where Wallis, smooth as ever, made lunch ns with him. | just stood there, grinning


    awkwardly.


    Then, a sugary voice hit my ears, “Xaviera, is that really you?”


    | turned around and there they were Hogan and Cecilia, not too far away.


    Hogan was all dressed up, his suit tailored to perfection, enhancing his already impressive stature, with his chiseled features


    making it hard to look away.


    Next to him, Cecilia, in a sky—blue blouse and ck cks, exuded both innocence and a touch of sass.


    On closer inspection, the sapphire cufflinks on Hogan’s wrist subtly matched Cecilia’s blue earrings.


    Quite the pair — if you ignored that brief flicker of displeasure in Hogan’s hawk-like eyes.


    As they came closer, Cecilia, ever the curious one, asked me, “Xaviera, are you here to talk business?”


    Pretty sharp.


    Wallis, quick on the uptake, sensed something off. Stepping forward, she reached out to Hogan


    11:36


    Chapter 3


    with a grin, “Mr. Zade, I''ve heard so much about you from Xaviera. It’s an honor to finally meet you in person.”


    Standard Wallis schmooze, but today, she was about to hit a brick wall.


    Sure enough, Hogan gave her a cursory nce and looked past her at me, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “Oh, really?”


    Thinking back to my own overconfident blusterst night, | felt like | wanted to sink into the


    floor.


    “Have you guys had lunch yet?” Cecilia chimed in enthusiastically. “Ourpany canteen is legendary. Why don’t you stay and


    eat before you go?”


    That was when | realized Hogan had already brought Cecilia into hispany fold.


    Apriceless opportunity for a senior still in college.


    He was already looking out for her.


    | remembered how back in the day, I’d shamelessly seek him out in the library, only to be seated across from him as if I''d tarnish


    his high-and—mighty image.


    Back then, | took pride in that, considering it an honor.


    “No, thanks,” | managed to find my voice, “we have another appointment soon, so we''ll be on our way.”


    After signaling Wallis with a nce, | caught a glimpse of her ‘you can’t be serious’ expression. Once we were back in the car,


    Wallis stared at me, clearly not amused, “Not going to exin yourself?”


    “He’s not going to invest in us,” | sighed, “I didn’t want you to waste your effort.”


    Wallis frowned, hesitated for a couple of seconds, then her mouth dropped open, “No way. Xaviera, your scumbag ex is Hogan?”


    The cat was out of the bag.


    “Great,” Wallis concluded, “What if Hogan actually reads our project proposal?”


    We locked eyes, suddenly realizing the gravity of the situation.


    Because in our romance game, one of the lead male characters, the finance genius, was written as a ‘simp’ — the kind who tried


    everything he could but never won over the girl he loved.


    The game’s prospects didn’t look too bright.


    All | could hope for now was for Hogan to swiftly toss the project proposal in the bin without a second nce. At least then, we


    wouldn''t be used of deliberately causing trouble.


    With Hogan’s clout in the investment world, he could indeed make things very difficult for us if he wanted to.