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.

argue with him and said, “Alright, let’s

was actually

when it came time to pay, the server politely informed me that Darren had already taken care of

next

was gentle and modest, and as he spoke, he refunded the transfer right in

to which Darren chuckled as if he had something on me, “I treat once, you treat once; that’s still going Dutch.”

momentarily at a loss for

the time the outing wrapped up, it was already 9 PM, and

11-38

Chapter 15

the streetlight, his shadow stretched out long and thin, but 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

referring to the hoop–throwing game he’d taken me to

I went along, and it was clear

not really used to this kind of attention, so I just said,

always knowing when to advance and when to

off.

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

words came

the night Hogan would formally introduce Cecilia

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

contrast was

from two years ago, Hogan and I were

pressing matter was something else entirely.

interrupted

I was

“It’s me.”

voice barely made it through the crack of the door before I stood there, stunned.

voice, no

be at the family dinner