Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 6

The word “babe hit me like a bolt from the blue, making my chest explode with surprise.

When I turned to look at Hogan, I saw Cecilia’s little face, full of shock and confusion.

Somehow, our gazes met in mid–air.

Inudged her. “Mr. Zade’s calling you.”

The lingering, reluctant tone of his voice definitely wasn’t meant for me.

Cecilia blinked, pouted, and gave Hogan’s prominent nose a playful scratch, whining, “Hogan, the party isn’t over yet.”

Hogan lifted his eyelids at the sound, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

That confirmed my hunch.

Watching the Maybach drive away, Wallis elbowed me, her tone soothing. “Tough night, huh?”

I quipped half–jokingly, “How ‘bout something tangible, President Lott?”

Wallis just shot me a look..

at my apartment complex and even gave me a nod that I could skip punching in tomorrow morning.

finally made its way

night, I was restless.

in my dreams, his figure appeared, holding me tight through countless late nights.

waist and coax me

side of Hogan no one knew.

overpowering

was underhanded.

I was sleepless.

like a sardine, only to find one of my wireless

Maybach parked not too far away. There, Hogan, all dapper in his suit, was opening the passenger door like the perfect gentleman. In a moment, Cecilia emerged from the car

11:37

the

actually drove her to work himself.

Capital is on the opposite side of town from our studio.

had to commute an

used to wake up early to make breakfast and coax him out of bed, and a bitter taste filled my

his attitude

planned to

I took a step, Cecilia’s soft greeting reached my ears, “Good morning. Xaviera!”

ignore her and walked over, my face calm, my eyes briefly sweeping over Hogan, “Good morning, Mr. Zade, Ms. Irwin.”