Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 2

I glanced down, casually withdrew my gaze, and reached out to press the elevator button.

Neither of us spoke.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over me, a strong reek of alcohol enveloped me, and I felt a tight grip around my waist as Hogan pulled me into his embrace.

His husky voice tickled my ear, “Xaviera, you still care about me, don’t you?”

As he spoke, Hogan gently nuzzled my neck, his tone laced with a hint of charm.

This was something I hadn’t experienced in the past six years.

I couldn’t help but think of how he’d been sweet–talking Ms. Irwin at the party an hour ago.

Care about him?

That was Cecilia’s thing.

The heavy scent of booze was a dead giveaway that he was plastered.

I lifted my head wearily and reminded him, “Sorry, I’m not Ms. Irwin.”

Hogan, still holding me, froze for a moment.

When our eyes met, I tactfully stepped aside, catching a glimpse of his stiff expression from the corner of my eye.

The atmosphere turned awkward for a second.

with an expressionless face. faintly aware

briskly into my apartment, but as the door was about to

and in an instant,

you live here?”

voice was chilling, a coldness

was the same apartment we’d shared two

“The landlord said, ‘Old customers get

us corporate drones,

my

the light and pointed to the newly rearranged interior, retorting, “Does it look like

Chapter 2

had been replaced by a lively design,

his brows, and after a two–second pause, said, “You need to move out, I’ll cover the

what Hogan was still hung up about.

corners we’d slept in and lived in were long gone, and besides, he

up my confusion,

that explained it.

about a small

into each other; he must have just seen

lengths to avoid any

apartment’s dated fixtures and suggested, “You could get Ms. Irwin

in the CBD with a view

was never an

my suggestion, refusing, “I don’t want her to be

and had I not witnessed it, I’d have

and after a moment, I calmly responded, “Sorry, I don’t want to move.”

cheap, with a subway line directly to