Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 14

The ambiguity finally ended.

My heart pounding against my chest felt like an invisible slap across my face.

I snapped to my senses in a second.

“Your phone is ringing.”

I jolted, shifted slightly, and suddenly noticed something had slid to my feet. Looking down, I saw Hogan’s suit jacket.

I pretended not to notice, fixated on the flashing name on my phone.

It was a call from Darren.

“Aren’t you going to answer?” Hogan reminded me again, his tone neither warm nor cold, “It’s been ringing for a while.”

I gripped my phone tighter, looked out the window, and realized the car had stopped in front of my apartment building.

I said my thanks. “Thanks for tonight, Mr. Zade. Get some rest early.”

“No worries, just on my way.”

His voice was soft, betraying no emotion.

If not for the thunderous beating of my heart, I might have doubted that everything just now was merely my own illusion.

swept past Hogan, I saw him open a pink kitty avatar and ask

avatar in the company group;

I realized Hogan’s ‘on my

pampered princess just happened to live right above me.

and

just a dream.

phone in my palm

warm voice tinged with rare impatience came through, “Xaviera, are you alright?”

was a bit stunned, “I’m

Jack that you’ve been pulling all-nighters these past days and haven’t been replying

Darren to join

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11:38

Darren’s tone, I thought he was probably

during dinner and the handbag he’d given me earlier, my feelings were

to have such a friend looking

you free tomorrow night? I’d like to treat you

“Huh?”

my mouth, I felt it was a

too.”

said eagerly, “finish up and send me a message, I’ll come pick your up.”

at the studio as

brown casual pants, and white sneakers, he looked relaxed and artsy.

carrying

still coding, he confidently headed to the pantry with a box of