Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 89

| 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.

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

As | spoke, | was a bundle of nerves, gripping my car keys like they were a lifeline. Flashing through my mind was that day | 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, | thought, no biggie, with my skills, | 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 | did.

So | kept my acceptance under wraps. | 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. | 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!” His roar startled me, and there was Hogan, looking at me with this incredulous, stormy expression.

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

“Sorry,” | mustered the sincerest tone I’d use for my cooperative partner. “Is that all it is, Xaviera March?” He called out my full name again, “Just that?”

For some reason, his question sent a shiver straight to my heart. Being head over heels wasn’t exactly something to brag about. | heard myself asking, “Or what?”

Hogan snorted a laugh, and then headed for the elevator, claiming while walking away, “Fine, a fixed deposit it is, then. I'll pay up with top interest, Xaviera. You won’t miss a penny.”

As the elevator doors closed, my legs turned to jelly; and | slumped against the wall like I’d just been deflated. Chapter 89

| 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.

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

As | spoke, | was a bundle of nerves, gripping my car keys like they were a lifeline. Flashing through my mind was that day | 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, | thought, no biggie, with my skills, | 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 | did.

So | kept my acceptance under wraps. | 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. | 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!” His roar startled me, and there was Hogan, looking at me with this incredulous, stormy expression.

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

“Sorry,” | mustered the sincerest tone I’d use for my cooperative partner.

“Is that all it is, Xaviera March?” He called out my full name again, “Just that?”

For some reason, his question sent a shiver straight to my heart. Being head over heels wasn’t exactly something to brag about. | heard myself asking, “Or what?”

Hogan snorted a laugh, and then headed for the elevator, claiming while walking away, “Fine, a fixed deposit it is, then. I'll pay up with top interest, Xaviera. You won't miss a penny.*.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

As the elevator doors closed, my legs turned to jelly; and | slumped against the wall like I’d just been deflated. Chapter 89

'd scored another sum of money. | should be thrilled, right? But that night, | couldn’t catch a

wink of sleep.

Next morning, | got to the office early and, lo and behold, | bumped into Cecilia at the elevator. The girl had her ponytail tied up high, a folder in her hands, looking all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Didn't look like last night's drama at the party had fazed her. Seeing me, Cecilia was surprised, “Xaviera, you’re up with the birds too?”

Her voice was as sweet as ever. | nodded, “Director Irwin’s an early bird, too.”

“Well, after overhearing your chat with Tack yesterday, | was so embarrassed.” Cecilia glanced at me shyly and confessed, “So | went home and crammed all night to get up to speed with our project.”

| looked up, my gaze skimming over Cecilia's delicate features, and stayed quiet. Then came her next bombshell, “But you know what, Xaviera? Digging into it, | actually stumbled upon a massive bug in our game.”