Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 11

As soon as | got close, | could spot the displeasure in Hogan’s eyes in a heartbeat.

“Ms. March, care to explain?”

He sure was acting all by-the—book.

Cecilia beat me to the punch and said, “Hogan, it's not Xaviera’s fault, I’m just a bit of a klutz.” The girl finished talking and then put on a guilty face.NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.

“Go wait for me in the car,” Hogan said with a soothing tone, clearly trying to calm her down. Cecilia glanced at me right away, as if she was asking for my opinion.

| couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

With her sugar daddy here, why the heck would she care about my reaction?

Seeing her still standing there, Hogan spoke again, “Be a good girl.”

Only then did Cecilia obediently pack up her things and leave.

After a little while, | was summoned into Cecilia’s office by Hogan.

He was standing with his back to me, but his gaze was roaming all over the office, finally landing on my face. He asked, “Still haven't gotten the air purifier?”

He was really sweating the small stuff. | said in a deep voice. “The store said they'll deliver it tomorrow.”

Hogan didn’t jump right into a response. His long fingers were lightly tapping on the desk, and after a moment, he said, “Cecilia isn’t you. She barely made it into N University. Don’t be too harsh on her.”

Harsh. Just because | had her write a simple piece of front-end code, it was considered harsh in Hogan’s book. Alright, he was the cash cow after all.

| paused for a couple of seconds, then asked sensibly, “So, Mr. Zade, what do you suggest should do when assigning tasks to Ms. Irwin in the future?”

At that, Hogan raised his eyes, his gaze clashing with mine, and he said seriously, “I don’t want to see a repeat of today’s incident.”

His tone was knocking on my conscience, underpinned by his firm stare, and that was when | realized that this was what it looked like when Hogan went all out to protect someone.

Asharp pang of pain rushed through my chest as | heard myself say, “I'll follow your lead, Mr. 11:38

Zade.”

By the time Hogan left, it was already 8 PM. Jack was still around, and seeing me motionless at my desk, he asked with concern, “Xaviera, you feeling okay?”

“Nope.”

“Why do you look so pale then? Want me to take you to the hospital?”

| waved him off, “Probably just hungry, you head out first.”

Jack hesitated, looking like he wanted to say more.

He was there, sitting in the corner when Hogan and | were having our standoff.

After a moment, | added, “Really, I’m fine. Go get some rest.”

Only then did Jack leave.

I sat in silence for a moment, then quietly started up my computer, but the code | was typing got more and more jumbled. Memories of the past wrapped around my heart like vines in the dark night, getting tighter and tighter until | could barely breathe.

Six years, over two thousand days and nights... maybe in Hogan’s eyes, these weren't even in the same league as a bit of hardship for Cecilia.

| worked on the code all night and spent time meticulously breaking down the entire front and back end of the game.

If things went well, the build could be done in three months.

| just needed to push myself a bit harder. Cecilia ran into me in the pantry while Lwas brushing my teeth, panic fleeting through her big almond eyes. “Xaviera, did you spend the night here?”

| spoke calmly. “Had a bit of trouble with a line of code, just took some time to straighten it out.” Cecilia looked sympathetic, “That’s way too hard on you, hold on, I’ve got some nuts that Hogan. sent over, I'll grab some for you.”

And with that, she darted off like a playful little bunny.

Blissfully unaware.

Acting like yesterday’s upset never even happened.

That must be what it was like to be someone’s pampered princess.

Not like me, whose only claim to fame was a pile of code.

11:38

For two consecutive days, | was submerged in non-stop work until a phone call broke through. It was Hilary.

“Xaviera, the weekend is almost upon us. | know this great restaurant. Why don’t you and your boyfriend come and give it a try?”