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.

and said, “Alright,

actually quite enjoyable.

time to pay, the server politely informed me that Darren

treat next time, is that okay?”

spoke, he refunded the transfer right

didn’t agree and suggested we go Dutch, to which Darren chuckled as if he had something on me, “I treat

at a

up, it was already 9 PM,

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Chapter 15

leaving.. After a moment, he adjusted

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

so I went along, and it was

really used to this kind of attention, so I just said, “Thanks for

advance and when to retreat,

off.

change, but

words came to

wasn’t wrong, tonight was the night Hogan would

didn’t even

was stark.

from two years ago, Hogan and I were

most pressing matter was something

knock interrupted

there?” I was

“It’s me.”

deep voice barely made it through the crack of the door before

voice,

he supposed to be at the