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..

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

finally made its way into reality.

I

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

my waist and coax me with a husky voice, “Louder, babe.”

side of Hogan no one knew.

overpowering

was underhanded.

I was sleepless.

out of the subway like a sardine, only to find one of my wireless earbuds had been jostled off.

dapper in his suit, was opening the passenger door like the perfect gentleman. In a moment, Cecilia

11:37

in the morning sun.

drove her

the opposite side of town from

morning Hogan had to commute an

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

difference between his attitude could be so vast.

planned to avoid

as I took a step, Cecilia’s

over, my face calm, my eyes briefly sweeping over Hogan, “Good morning,