Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 17

| really didn’t expect to stir up such a mess.

Seeing the hurt in Cecilia’s eyes, | quickly smoothed things over and said, “Assistant Zachary, this tea is for Ms. Irwin.” Zachary caught on quick. After hearing me out, he pivoted on his heel and handed the coffee to Cecilia. She gave it a glance and murmured, “I don’t do black coffee.”

Black coffee was Hogan's thing.

| used to drink it just to go along with him, and now it’s become a habit.

Zachary slapped his forehead and said, “Look at my memory. Please don’t hold it against me, Ms. Irwin.” Cecilia wasn’t holding a grudge, but once she got back to her office, she stayed put all afternoon.

She kept at her desk until the end of the day.

One by one, folks trickled out, leaving just the two of us in the now-empty studio.

| worked on, business as usual, until a notification bell rang in my ear.

| looked up, and who should show up but Hogan, looking like he'd just finished a marathon.

Our eyes met, and | instantly noticed the scab on his lip, which irked me a bit.

“Where's Cecilia?” he asked, his voice making an entrance as if the kiss from last night never happened. Talk about perfect timing.

| gave him a look and said, “She hasn't left.”

Without another word, Hogan beelined it to the tech department office.

Not a peep more.

Moments later, Cecilia’s tender voice floated out, “Hogan, what brings you here all of a sudden?”

All soft and sweet, with a touch of vulnerability.

“Zachary said you looked a bit off. Feeling unwell?” he asked.

Cecilia’s voice dipped a couple of notches, “Did you come because you were worried about me?”

| didn’t catch what Hogan replied, but Cecilia’s mood flipped to cheerful in an instant.

11:39

They seemed to be in a good place,

But then, the girl caught sight of Hogan’s lin, “Hogan, what happened to your mouth?

My hand on the mouse froze as | heard Hogan's unflustered response, “It’s nothing, just a little bumb,” Cecilia, ever so obedient, didn’t press further..

They left the office together, Cecilia heading to the restroom and Hogan patiently waiting

outside.

Noticing | was still coding, he took a couple of steps forward and, out of the blue, asked, “How’s the progress?” “It's alright.”

“No need to rush. You're not a machine,” he said, glancing at the calendar on my desk with my work schedule clearly marked. | kept typing, not biting.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

| had a feeling he wasn’t done talking.

Soon after, | heard the flush from the restroom, and then Hogan said, “About last night, don’t tell Cecilia.” My heart skipped a beat, and that was when | got the gist of what Hogan wanted to say.

He hadn't forgotten.

He just wanted to let me know it was a slip—up.

As expected, yet hearing him say it made my heart twinge.

| kept my composure, met Hogan’s gaze, and asked with a smile, “What incident are you referring to. Mr. Zade?” He looked taken aback, probably not expecting me to play it that way.

Cecilia walked up at that moment, and seeing us talking, she stayed quiet and just stood there.

“Mr. Zade, don’t worry,” | said, not looking for trouble, “I won’t let it affect my work.”

Cecilia seemed relieved at my words.

After they left. | pulled a longer shift. By the time | got to my neighborhood, Wallis rang me up.

“That Simon is such a piece of work. | offered him such a sweet salary, and he’s still playing hard to get.” Wallis was talking about a PR manager she had been eyeing to take charge of our game’s promotion. Half-jokingly, | said, “If all else fails, why not seduce him?”

11-79

“Stop it,” Wallis gigated flirtatiously, “And to be honest, he is kind of my type.”

Was this a business trip or a fling?

Better keep it from the investors.

Over the phone, Wallis laughed heartily, then shifted gears, “How about you? I’ve been away for

a few days, they haven't given you too much grief, have they?”