Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 61

Chapter 61 But | never saw it coming, that later. I’d get grilled by Hogan.

“Hey Mrs. Zade. Mr. Zade wants you to swing by Rainbow Capital ASAP, Zachary sounded all wound up. “He’s not looking too hot, so brace yourself.

In the boss’s office, Cecilia was sitting next to Hogan with teary eyes, looking like a wronged

wife.

| turned to Hogan and asked, “Mr. Zade, what's up? Why did you call me in?”

Hogan spun his laptop around to face me and asked, “What’s the deal here?”

On the screen was the presentation I’d prepared.

But the formatting was all wonky, just like Wallis had mentioned.

In a flash, it hit me, and | looked straight at Cecilia and said, “Director Irwin, what's your take on this?” Cecilia blinked those big doe eyes, looking clueless and innocent.

“There’s no need to beat around the bush if you didn’t want Cecilia to present. Handing her this jumbled mess, what’s that about?”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

| was flabbergasted and said with a huff, “Is this how you see me, Mr. Zade?”

“Hogan, maybe Xaviera just missed it, it’s not on her,” Cecilia’s voice was all sugary sweet and self—blaming. “If only | had prepped earlier.”

Wallis couldn’t stand it anymore and snapped, “Director Irwin, that’s not what you were saying before we left.” 4

“President Lott,” Cecilia sounded even more pitiful, “so you think I’m not cut out for this presentation too?” “| mean...”

“Forget it,” | cut Wallis off and asked Hogan, “Is Rainbow Capital pulling out?”

That was the million—dollar question.

Hogan glanced at me and said, “I'll handle it, but | don’t want to see this kind of thing happen again. Ever.” That line sounded all too familiar.

If my memory served me right, last time Hogan was covering for Cecilia, he gave me the same warning. And this time, the warning was for our whole studio.

| was going to ask Hogan if he needed any damage control, but from the looks of it, that was off

10:03

the table.

Hogan would wrap things up for Cecilia.

Back at the office, Cecilia came to me, all cautious and apologetic, “Xaviera, I’m sorry, I'll keep at it, really.”

Watching her put on that act, | couldn't help but chuckle, “You better hustle, or you won't even have a decent final graduation project to show.”

Her face went pale at that, and she stormed off to her office without a peep. Cecilia was just not playing with a full deck.

She should’ve thought twice about stirring up trouble under Hogan’s nose. The one who was going to end up in hot water was Hogan, her sweetheart.

Walls have ears, and once this mess reached the Zade family, those shrewd sharks would think even less of her.

What was she playing at? Sure enough, in less than a day, my worries came true. Hilary, having caught wind of the drama from God knows where, stormed into the studio and gave Cecilia an earful.

“You being a nitwit is one thing, but dragging our Hogan down with you?” Hilary's voice boomed from behind the door. “A dead weight who can’t cut it!”

Cecilia, looking all forlorn, said, “Mrs. Hilary, | didn’t think the slides would flop.”

“Save your excuses,” Hilary cut her off, “If it's beyond you, maybe we should just scrap this lousy project!” The words ‘scrap

4

the conference room Project’ had me jumping out of my seat. | managed to corral Hilary into

“Xaviera, my heart aches,” Hilary said, wiping away tears in front of me, “Last night, Hogan went to the old house and got an earful from her grandma. She accused him of not taking things. seriously. They had it out, the two of them, and all the Zade folks were snickering behind his back.”

That was when | realized, Cecilia really was special to Hogan.

And that was when | felt the first whiff of danger.