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.

it and went through my work report as usual. When I was done, I glanced at Hogan, who was sitting straight ahead, only to catch him and Cecilia in

curved with joy,

like a third

objections, I’ll take my

keen on playing the

usually silent Cecilia piped up. “Xaviera, I have a suggestion. I’m

my tracks, hearing Hogan say. “You’re one of the project leads. It’s your right to

11:4

if

I said,

quite there.” Cecilia began, glancing at Hogan, “Our game is a

being

these words silently, asking, “What kind

Irwin?”

as if she

had somehow

softened my tone and said gently, “Director Irwin, I’m just talking shop

say it.” Hogan suddenly interjected, his voice softening. “Ms. March isn’t stubborn for the sake of it, and besides, I’m here, aren’t

I supposed to thank

should be beautiful and dreamy. I think a pink main color scheme would be more appropriate.”

looking at Hogan, “What do you think?”

a light aqua blue.

idea was to keep it bright and fresh,

experience.

it lacked that romantic vibe.

March, what’s

back to the present, and looking up into Hogan’s eyes, I said, “I think the current interface is fine, but Mr. Zade, if you insist on making

as far as I was willing

the project manager, I had to