Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 18

I casually said, “No biggie, if Hogan is cool with tossing in another five hundred thousand, make sure even his precious girl is well taken care of,”

What was more solid than cold, hard cash, right?

I was about to hang up when, lo and behold, I spotted Hogan and Cecilia not too far away.

Talk about freaky timing.

Cecilia blinked those big beautiful eyes of hers and said in a tone of surprise, “Xaviera, you live

here too?”

Hogan and Cecilia were just a stone’s throw away.

I wasn’t sure if they caught any of my chat with Wallis,

Awkwardness washed over me, tinged with a hint of guilt.

I was worried Hogan might read my mind.

After all, no investor likes someone eyeballing their wallet all day, every day.

played it cool and said, “Been living here for a few months now.”

“Me too,” Cecilia’s voice rose and fell dramatically. “But I’ve barely seen you around.”

“My schedule’s all over the place.”

Us coders were a different breed – burning the midnight oil was business as usual, and my sleep was all messed up. Sometimes I was nocturnal, so running into someone was pure serendipity.

Kinda like today.

us ended up sharing an

thing separating Cecilia and me were the ninth and tenth floors.

my floor button, Cecilia’s face froze for a

I hadn’t moved in before her, she’d probably

not thinking things

did give him

gaze was darting all over me,

design?” Cecilia eyed me enviously, “It’s not even out at home yet, how’d

referring to the handbag

11:39

Chapter 18

I thought was it felt nice, had no clue about this

look, it must be a big

her straight, “A friend gave it

out. That bag’s a limited edition,

one lost

no idea it was some exclusive

at just the wrong

him ask Cecilia, “It’s just a bag,

the envy, “I just think Xaviera has

opened, I nodded slightly and walked out without a word.

Hogan say, “Your understanding of taste isn’t that great.”

was spot on.

but my taste in men was even

at the logo and looked up the price online.

say well, I was

–