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

separating Cecilia and me

floor button, Cecilia’s face froze

in before her, she’d probably tag me

not thinking things

did give him

over me, finally

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

the handbag Darren had given

11:39

Chapter 18

I got it, all I thought was it felt nice, had no

look, it must be a

friend gave it

“Your friend sure went all out. That bag’s a limited edition, only a hundred in the world –

was the one

was some exclusive limited

at just the

“It’s just a

that,” Cecilia dialed back the envy, “I just think Xaviera has good taste.”

elevator door opened, I nodded slightly and walked out

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

spot

clueless about bags, but my taste in men was

a peek at the logo and looked up the

they say well, I was shocked.

–