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.”
I jolted, shifted slightly, and suddenly noticed something had slid to my feet.
Looking down, I saw Hogan's suit jacket.
I 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.”
I 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, I might have doubted that
everything just now was merely my own illusion.
As my gaze swept past Hogan, I saw him open a pink kitty avatar and ask with a
tender tone. “Are you asleep yet?”
I had seen that avatar in the company group; it was Cecilia.
That was when I realized Hogan's “on my way“ was quite literal.
His pampered princess just happened to live right above me.
I 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, I steadied myself and answered.
A warm voice tinged with rare impatience came through, “Xaviera, are you
alright?”
I was a bit stunned, “I'm fine, what's up?”
“I 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.
1/2
11:38
Judging by Darren's tone, I 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 I suggested. “Are you free tomorrow night? I'd like to treat you to dinner.”
“Huh?”
As the words left my mouth, I 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.”
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 I 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. I checked, and it was Hilary.
At this hour, why was she calling me?
After hesitating for a few seconds, I still answered.
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And instantly, Hilary's urgent voice
came through, “Xaviera Hoge s(vst
his ming g's aetlaly vd ng Ms.
Ifwin'to tonight's family dinner, and
no one can talk him out of it.” The
content is on Novelxo.org! Read
the latest chapter there!
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Hilary was already freaking out about
a family dinner, she'd pate mn
explode if she kneytibdarth d
oRhandly invested five hundred
thousand to “gold—plate’ Cecilia for
us. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
And I had to keep it a secret from Hilary.
To talk or not to talk, that was the dilemma.
Feeling uneasy, I didn’t know what to say.
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Just as I was pondering how to
decline, Darren came over @ith fhe
he
washedbI GeDbfries. The content is
on Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
“Xaviera, try these.”
His long fingers suddenly appeared in front of my mouth, shocking me
speechless.
Then, I heard Hilary's gasp. “Xaviera, is this your new boyfriend?”
Darren's smooth facial contours were captured on the video at that moment.