Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 71

But let me tell you, that was just Hogan’s lame excuse. What he really wanted was a tangled mess of us in the dead of night. Just like this moment, it was dangerous and yet, oh so captivating.

Asudden ring from my phone snapped me back to reality, with “Cecilia” spelled out crystal clear on the caller ID.

It hit me like a sledgehammer, dragging me back into the here and now.

“Mr. Zade, you've got a call from Director Irwin,” | gave Hogan the heads-up.

At the mention of Cecilia, Hogan’s tight embrace finally eased up a bit.

The overhead light bulb chose that exact second to blaze on, its glaring brightness as if it could burn away all the secrets and shame hidden in the night.

Cecilia’s soft sobs leaked through the phone. “Hogan, I’m feeling really down. Can you come pick me up?”

Hogan massaged his temples and after a short pause said, “Send me the address.

The call ended and the man stood there, hesitating, as if he had more to say but couldn’t spit it

out.

met his gaze squarely and said with openness, “Go ahead, before Director Irwin gets steamed.”

Hogan looked at me as if I’d cracked a joke, with a storm brewing in his eyes.

*All good. Mr. Zade?” 1 asked coolly.

The man let out a scoff and quickly walked away.

The night returned to its peaceful state, with only the breeze outside teasing the soon-to—wither branches.

The next morning. | unexpectedly got a call from a heating guy wanting to schedule a time to install some radiators.

Completely baffled, | confirmed with the guy several times. Then, it hit me-I remembered last night and immediately dialed Hogan.

On the other end, his voice was calm, “Rivertown’s too cold. | don’t want anything delaying the project.” The heating guy told me the bill for the radiators had already been paid—and it wasn’t cheap. “Mr. Zade, you are really splashing out,” | carefully phrased my response. “Our heating’s not that bad, you know.” Chapter 71 “| just want Cecilia to be more comfortable at work. Why the hard pass. Ms. March?” So that was it, he was worried about Cecilia getting cold. With that said, | had to show some tact. “Then, on behalf of everyone, thanks, Mr. Zade.” After hanging up, | let out a sigh, but when I turned around, there was Cecilia standing behind 1.me. Our eyes met, and the questions in the young girl’s eyes were loud and clear. She started the conversation, “Xaviera, were you on the phone with Hogan?” | nodded, and her frown deepened.

Coming closer, she fiddled with her mug, “Hogan must have asked you for quite a few favors to keep me and Mrs. Hilary happy, huh?”

I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

Sure enough, she asked. “Xaviera, did Hogan come to the company looking for you last night?” Her tone was probing yet certain.

Surprised, | heard Cecilia add, “Don’t get me wrong. Xaviera, | just happened to see the GPS and found out Hogan had been here. But,”

She paused, then said, “I guess he must have been asking for your help to continue being the peacemaker between me and Mrs. Hilary, right?”

Look at that, me, just a hired hand, suddenly turning into some kind of saintly mediator.

| replied evenly, “Actually, Mr. Zade had arranged a little surprise for you.”

Cecilia raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”

| had been worried about how to explain the radiator thing to everyone, but now | had my out.

“Mr. Zade came to discuss installing radiators in the studio,” | looked her straight in the eye, “didn’t want you to catch a chill.” Cecilia’s gloomy face finally brightened a bit, “Really? Hogan didn’t tell me.”

| kept my tone neutral, “After all, it's supposed to be a surprise.” Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org