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.

work report as usual. When I was done, I glanced at Hogan, who was sitting straight ahead, only to catch him and Cecilia in mid–conversation, heads

girl was smiling, her eyes curved with joy, obviously in a good

felt like a

no objections, I’ll

on playing the gooseberry.

piped up. “Xaviera, I have a suggestion.

of the project leads. It’s your right to make

11:4

as if waiting for my response.

Irwin, please speak,” I said, all

I feel the color saturation isn’t quite there.” Cecilia began, glancing at Hogan, “Our game is a

feeling of being in love.

kind of

Irwin?”

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

if I had somehow

and said gently, “Director Irwin,

“Ms. March isn’t

thought, “Am I supposed to thank him

beautiful and dreamy. I think

she added, looking at Hogan, “What do

using a light

fresh,

experience.

felt it lacked that romantic

what’s your

the current interface is fine, but

as far as I was

I had to