Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 14

The ambiguity finally ended.

My heart pounding against my chest felt like an invisible slap across my face.

I snapped to my senses in a second.

“Your phone is ringing.”

| jolted, shifted slightly, and suddenly noticed something had slid to my feet. Looking down, | saw Hogan’s suit jacket. | pretended not to notice, fixated on the flashing name on my phone.

It was a call from Darren.

“Aren't you going to answer?” Hogan reminded me again, his tone neither warm nor cold, “It's been ringing for a while.” | gripped my phone tighter, looked out the window, and realized the car had stopped in front of my apartment building. I said my thanks. “Thanks for tonight, Mr. Zade. Get some rest early.”

“No worries, just on my way.”

His voice was soft, betraying no emotion.

If not for the thunderous beating of my heart, | might have doubted that everything just now was merely my own illusion. As my gaze swept past Hogan, | saw him open a pink kitty avatar and ask with a tender tone. “Are you asleep yet?”

| had seen that avatar in the company group; it was Cecilia.

That was when | realized Hogan’s ‘on my way’ was quite literal.

His pampered princess just happened to live right above me.

| pinched the palm of my hand and silently got out of the car.

It was just a dream.

In an instant, my phone in my palm rang again, | steadied myself and answered.

Awarm voice tinged with rare impatience came through, “Xaviera, are you alright?”

| was a bit stunned, “I’m fine, what’s up?”

“| heard from Jack that you’ve been pulling all-nighters these past days and haven't been replying to messages.” Jack was initially recommended by Darren to join the studio.

11:38

Judging by Darren’s tone, | thought he was probably worried I’d work myself to death.

Considering the message he sent during dinner and the handbag he’d given me earlier, my feelings were mixed.

It was rare to have such a friend looking out for me In this vast Rivertown.

So | suggested. “Are you free tomorrow night? I'd like to treat you to dinner.”

“Huh?”

As the words left my mouth, | felt it was a bit abrupt and corrected myself, “Another day is fine

too.”

“Tomorrow night,” Darren said eagerly, “finish up and send me a message, I'll come pick your up.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

The next afternoon, Darren arrived at the studio as promised.

Dressed in a white embossed crew neck sweatshirt, dark brown casual pants, and white sneakers, he looked relaxed and artsy. He was also carrying a shopping bag.

Seeing that | was still coding, he confidently headed to the pantry with a box of blueberries.

I started packing up my desk to leave.

That was when a video call came through. | checked, and it was Hilary. At this hour, why was she calling me?

After hesitating for a few seconds, | still answered.

And instantly, Hilary's urgent voice came through, “Xaviera, Hogan’s lost his mind, he’s actually taking Ms. Irwin to tonight's family dinner, and no one can talk him out of it.”

Hilary was already freaking out about a family dinner, she’d probably explode if she knew Hogan had offhandedly invested five hundred thousand to ‘gold—plate‘ Cecilia for us.

And | had to keep it a secret from Hilary.

To talk or not to talk, that was the dilemma.

Feeling uneasy, | didn’t know what to say.

Just as | was pondering how to decline, Darren came over with the washed blueberries. “Xaviera, try these.”

His long fingers suddenly appeared in front of my mouth, shocking me speechless. Then, | heard Hilary’s gasp. “Xaviera, is this your new boyfriend?”

Darren's smooth facial contours were captured on the video at that moment.