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.

three of us ended up sharing an elevator ride.

only thing separating Cecilia and me were the ninth and

floor button, Cecilia’s face froze for a

in before her, she’d probably tag me as some sort

not thinking things through.

did give him

was darting all over me, finally landing on my hand.

enviously, “It’s not even out at home yet, how’d you snag it?”

was referring to the handbag Darren had

11:39

Chapter 18

I got it, all I thought was it felt nice,

judging by Cecilia’s look, it must be a

told her straight, “A friend gave it

all out. That bag’s a limited edition, only a hundred in the world

the one lost for words.

was some exclusive limited edition.

scoff came at just the wrong moment.

heard him ask Cecilia, “It’s just a

envy, “I

I nodded slightly and

back, I vaguely heard Hogan say, “Your understanding of taste

was spot

I clueless about bags, but my taste in men was even

bags, I took a peek at the logo

is bliss, they say well, I was shocked.

–