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 | knew it, like | was possessed


    or something, | reached out and nted 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 | 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, | nced at Hogan in a total panic, my mind a jumbled mess. | couldn’t let Shirley catch us in this scene,


    no how.


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


    | looked up to find 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 disy, it was clear as day that she''d pulled out all the stops to seduce Hogan


    Our eyes locked, and Shirley forced a smile, ying dumb, “Ms. March, it’s been half an hour already, howe you''re still in


    the changing room?”


    ying innocent, huh?


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


    So, she was on a manhunt.


    “President Stapleton, you must be joking. This is thedies‘ 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 | retorted


    coldly. “Has President Stapleton cooled off now?”


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


    do


    Chacher 137


    “No one else is here.” As Shirley was clueless about Hogan hidden in the cubicle, | 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—ss.


    | 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 |


    thought.”


    “I''m ttered, President Stapleton. Gazing at the woman before me. | said, standing my ground. “It’s just too bad I''ma


    disappointment to you. The one Mr. Zade is really into isn’t me; it’s her.”


    “Is that so?”


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


    | wanted Shirley to realize how dumb it was to mess with me. Shirley got the message, chuckled, and said nonchntly. “No


    worries. I’ve never missed a target | 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 | wouldn’t breathe a word about what happened, she wasn’t wrong. But it


    also meant there was no way we could ever coborate.


    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 nces, | looked down, embarrassed. In my head, | reyed the scene of this man holding me in


    a passionate kiss. | must be out of my mind.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


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


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


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


    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.”