Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 30

Sure enough, having someone to back you up really makes a difference.

“Xaviera, hang here for a sec, I’ll be right back,” Cecilia said politely as she reminded me while standing at the reception desk.

And just like that, she breezed Into Hogan’s office like it was her second home.

All I could do was wait.

But I didn’t expect that this wait would turn into over an hour.

Cecilia still hadn’t reappeared.

“Why are you hanging around here, Mrs. Zade?” I looked up to see Zachary, with a stack of papers in his hands, standing in front of me, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

“Assistant Zachary,” I took a deep breath and asked, “Is Mr. Zade still tied up?”

“Nah, just one meeting this afternoon, the one with you, Mrs. Zade” Zachary said, glancing at Hogan’s office door before kindly offering. “I’ll go check it out.”

“Hold your horses, no rush,” I stopped him, saying, “And hey, from now on, just call me by my

name.”

He probably didn’t know yet that Mrs. Zade had flown the coop.

Zachary paused, gave the office door a couple of glances, sighed, and said, “Mrs. I mean, Xaviera, don’t be mad.”

Before he could finish, the office door swung open, and Cecilia glanced at Zachary without a ripple of emotion, then turned to me and said, “Xaviera, come on in.”

Her voice was neither here nor there.

my work report as usual. When I was done, I glanced at Hogan, who was sitting straight ahead, only to catch

was smiling, her eyes curved with

like a third wheel.

objections,

keen on

up. “Xaviera, I have a suggestion. I’m not sure if I should say

hearing Hogan say. “You’re one of the project leads. It’s your

11:4

me, as if waiting for my response.

please speak,” I

“Our game is a romance simulation, so the overall palette

of being in

these words silently, asking, “What kind of

Irwin?”

hesitated, her eyes downcast, as if she had more to say but stopped

I had somehow wronged

“Director

his voice softening. “Ms. March isn’t stubborn for the sake of it, and besides, I’m

supposed to

Cecilia smiled and said, “Love should be beautiful and dreamy. I

added, looking at Hogan, “What do

currently using a light aqua blue.

to keep it bright and fresh, offering players a

experience.

lacked that

what’s your

me back to the present, and looking up into Hogan’s eyes, I said, “I think the current

I was

had