Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 15

By the time I realized what was happening, I hastily switched the camera.

Through the earpiece, Hilary’s voice had an unmistakable hint of disbelief, “Sorry about that, Xaviera. You see, I got carried away chatting your ear off. Let’s catch up some other time, shall we?”

Before I could even respond, Hilary had already hung up.

I awkwardly turned to Darren and said, “Sorry about that, Hogan’s mom might have…”

“Rough, huh?” Darren blurted out unexpectedly, with a touch of concern in his voice.

I looked up at him, unsure which kind of ‘rough‘ he was referring to.

Work, or dealing with my ex–boyfriend’s mother.

Seeing that I didn’t say anything. Darren handed me a blueberry, “For your eyes, they help with the fatigue. Have some more.”

I felt a bit off inside but changed the subject, “It’s about time for lunch, let’s go.”

Darren tactfully dropped the topic.

At the restaurant, I looked at the mountain of plates in front of me and sheepishly said, “Darren, it’s not often I treat someone, so please eat up.”

After speaking. I politely pushed the salmon his way.

Darren gave me a look and said, “Xaviera, you’re too skinny. Health is the real wealth, especially

if you want to conquer the business world. You can’t afford to be under the weather.”

And he pushed the salmon back to me.

with him and said, “Alright, let’s eat it

actually quite

politely informed me that Darren had already taken care

next

modest, and as he spoke, he refunded the

chuckled as if he had something on me, “I treat once, you

at a loss for words!

outing wrapped up, it was already 9 PM, and Darren insisted on walking me down to

11-38

Chapter 15

he showed no sign of leaving.. After a moment, he adjusted his silver–rimmed glasses and said, “You see, aside from coding. there’s a lot of fun stuff to

hoop–throwing game

went along, and it was

attention, so I just said,

to advance and when to

off.

quietly returned to my place and turned in early for a change, but as soon as I closed

words came to mind.

the night Hogan would formally introduce Cecilia to

who had been humble for six years, didn’t even know which way the Zade family’s

contrast was stark.

Hogan and I were on different

most pressing matter was something else entirely.

knock interrupted my thoughts.

there?” I was totally confused.

“It’s me.”

deep voice barely made it through the crack of the

voice, no mistake.

at the