Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 37

Dressed in a ducky yellow cocktail dress, with makeup on point, Cecilia still had a bit of that pampered princess vibe going on as she showed up looking all fancy.

At this swanky shindig with all the high society folks, she had no qualms about clinging to Hogan’s arm.

It was right then and there that the question nagging at my heart suddenly unraveled.

I figured, the only person who could make Hogan change his mind had to be Cecilia.

Funny enough, Frank knew Hogan as well.

“Mr. Zade, you are in your prime, a force to be reckoned with,” Frank complimented Hogan.

Used to such flattery, Hogan kept his cool with a mild “Glory Capital is miles ahead in the game. but we’ve still got heaps to learn from you, Mr. Bishop.”

Bigwigs chatting. Wallis and I knew to just stand by smartly, but then Cecilia chimed in. “So you’re the famous Mr. Bishop, my apologies for not recognizing you.”

Frank glanced at Cecilia and offered a slight smile.

Wallis and I were all too familiar with that look – the haughty air unique to those at the top.

Frank was polite enough, but Cecilia still looked a bit mortified, pressing her lips together like she felt slighted.

“Feeling peckish?” Hogan, sensing Cecilia’s discomfort, said, “Let’s grab a bite.”

And just like that, he smoothly changed the subject.

a way

Protective as hell.

reached for my drink but got intercepted by Darren, who asked

stomach, better to lay

truth, Wallis had already watered down my wine, but Darren’s concerned look had me

you sure know how to

deftly switched the topic to some internet stuff, and I took the chance

herself to the restroom

spotted Wallis skulking in a corner, looking

Chapter 37

up?” I

with bad luck, bumped into

“Your ex–husband?”

towards the hall and muttered, “Simon.”

the PR manager she was scheming to poach. But business aside, how did they end

“We, uh, got a little too

me a couple of seconds, then it clicked.

was supposed to be a no–strings–attached thing, but out of the blue, he says he wants to

mutual

that was one way to sum up

I didn’t respond, Wallis softened her tone, “Xaviera, I know what you’re thinking. You were young, it’s normal to have illusions about love. But in this day and age, hopping into bed doesn’t mean you’re bound for life, and a ring

had a whirlwind marriage and divorce, and she’d often caution me not to harbor fantasies

the

had with Hogan could be summed up in two words.