Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 89

I finally had that “aha” moment. So all those lines he dropped earlier were just a warm–up act. What he was really itching to ask me about was this.

I played it cool and said, “Well, as Mr. Zade can see, I don’t wanna go, so I just bail.”

As I spoke, I was a bundle of nerves, gripping my car keys like they were a lifeline. Flashing through my mind was that day I handed over my hard–saved money to the study abroad

agency.

The scrutiny for studying abroad wasn’t ridiculously strict back then, but there was this one non–negotiable: the proof of funds. That was the make–or–break part of the application and there was only so much cash I, a student, could scrape together.

But the kicker was when the agency told me our total savings would barely cut it for just one of

us to go.

At the time, I thought, no biggie, with my skills, I could delay it a year or two. It was not like I’d be missing out on much. And Hogan needed that break more than I did.

So I kept my acceptance under wraps. I handed over my entire nest egg, that precious ten grand, to Hogan.

“Why would you keep this from me?”

His voice, demanding and in my face, snapped me back to the present. I forced a smile and said, “Giving up the study opportunity was my own call, Mr. Zade. No need to dwell on it. If it really bugs you, just think of it as a fixed deposit at the Bank of You, and now you’re just cashing me out.”

“Xaviera!”

and there was Hogan, looking at me with this incredulous,

whole vibe screaming danger. I suddenly figured that bringing up money right then was

the sincerest tone I’d

all it is, Xaviera March?” He called out my full

shiver straight to my heart. Being head over heels wasn’t exactly something to brag about. I heard myself asking,

and then headed for the elevator, claiming while walking away, “Fine, a fixed deposit it is, then. I’ll pay

doors closed, my legs turned to jelly; and I slumped

Chapter 89

those lines he dropped earlier were just a warm–up act. What he was really itching to ask me about was this.

it cool and said, “Well, as Mr. Zade can see, I don’t

my car keys like they were a lifeline. Flashing through my

agency.

scrutiny for studying abroad wasn’t ridiculously strict back then, but there was this one non–negotiable: the proof of funds. That was

kicker was when the agency told me our total savings would

us to go.

skills, I could delay it a year or two. It was not like I’d be missing

kept my acceptance under wraps. I handed over my entire nest egg,

would you keep

me back to the present. I forced a smile and said, “Giving up the study opportunity was my own call, Mr. Zade. No need to dwell on it. If it really bugs you, just think of it

“Xaviera!”

me, and there was Hogan, looking at me with this incredulous,

storm clouds, his whole vibe screaming danger. I suddenly figured that bringing up money right then was a pretty boneheaded move.

mustered the sincerest tone I’d use