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.

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

girl was smiling, her eyes curved with

I felt like

objections, I’ll take

keen on playing the

Cecilia piped up. “Xaviera, I have a suggestion. I’m not

“You’re one of the project leads. It’s your right

11:4

as if waiting for my response.

speak,” I said, all

last night and, well I feel the color saturation isn’t quite there.” Cecilia began, glancing at Hogan, “Our game is a romance simulation, so the overall palette should be bright and lively to give

of being

silently, asking, “What kind of

Irwin?”

she had more to say

if I had somehow wronged

said gently, “Director

say it.” Hogan suddenly interjected, his voice softening. “Ms. March isn’t stubborn for

supposed to thank

said, “Love should be beautiful and dreamy. I think

added, looking at Hogan, “What do you

a light aqua blue.

to keep it bright and fresh,

experience.

felt it lacked

March, what’s your

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

far as I was willing

manager, I had to