Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 30

Sure enough, having someone to back you up really makes a difference.

“Xaviera, hang here for a sec, I'll be right back,” Cecilia said politely as she reminded me while standing at the reception desk. And just like that, she breezed Into Hogan’s office like it was her second home.

All| could do was wait.

But | didn’t expect that this wait would turn into over an hour.

Cecilia still hadn't reappeared.

“Why are you hanging around here, Mrs. Zade?” | looked up to see Zachary, with a stack of papers in his hands, standing in front of me, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

“Assistant Zachary,” | took a deep breath and asked, “Is Mr. Zade still tied up?”

“Nah, just one meeting this afternoon, the one with you, Mrs. Zade” Zachary said, glancing at Hogan’s office door before kindly offering. “I'll go check it out.”

“Hold your horses, no rush,” | stopped him, saying, “And hey, from now on, just call me by my

name.”

He probably didn’t know yet that Mrs. Zade had flown the coop.

Zachary paused, gave the office door a couple of glances, sighed, and said, “Mrs. | mean, Xaviera, don’t be mad.”

Before he could finish, the office door swung open, and Cecilia glanced at Zachary without a ripple of emotion, then turned to me and said, “Xaviera, come on in.”

Her voice was neither here nor there.

| didn’t make a big deal of it and went through my work report as usual. When | was done, | glanced at Hogan, who was sitting straight ahead, only to catch him and Cecilia in mid—conversation, heads bent together.

The girl was smiling, her eyes curved with joy, obviously in a good mood.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Suddenly, | felt like a third wheel.

“If Mr. Zade has no objections, I'll take my leave now.”

| wasn’t keen on playing the gooseberry.

But just then, the usually silent Cecilia piped up. “Xaviera, | have a suggestion. I’m not sure if | should say it or not.” | stopped in my tracks, hearing Hogan say. “You're one of the project leads. It’s your right to make suggestions.” 11:4

Cecilia looked at me, as if waiting for my response.

“Director Irwin, please speak,” | said, all business.

“| was looking at our game interface last night and, well | feel the color saturation isn’t quite there.” Cecilia began, glancing at Hogan, “Our game is a romance simulation, so the overall palette should be bright and lively to give off that feeling of being in love.”

That feeling of being in love.

| mulled over these words silently, asking, “What kind of feeling are you referring to. Director Irwin?”

Cecilia hesitated, her eyes downcast, as if she had more to say but stopped short.

As if | had somehow wronged her.

| softened my tone and said gently, “Director Irwin, I’m just talking shop here.”

“It's okay, just say it.” Hogan suddenly interjected, his voice softening. “Ms. March isn’t stubborn for the sake of it, and besides, I'm here, aren't 1?”

| thought, “Am | supposed to thank him for that?”

Encouraged, Cecilia smiled and said, “Love should be beautiful and dreamy. | think a pink main color scheme would be more appropriate.”

After a pause, she added, looking at Hogan, “What do you think?”

We were currently using a light aqua blue.

The idea was to keep it bright and fresh, offering players a clean and comfortable gaming experience.

But Cecilia felt it lacked that romantic vibe.

“Ms. March, what’s your take?”

His deep voice brought me back to the present, and looking up into Hogan’s eyes, | said, “I think the current interface is fine, but Mr. Zade, if you insist on making changes, we can certainly tweak it a bit.”

That was as far as | was willing to bend.

As the project manager, | had to stand my ground.

Hearing this, Hogan furrowed his brow slightly, his long fingers drumming lightly on the desktop, then asked, “And your reason?” | stated plainly, “Love comes in a million forms; it can’t be confined to a single color.”

One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

No one knows this better than | do.

I

But as soon as | finished speaking, Cecilia’s face went ghostly pale.

| was just being factual.

“So be it,” Hogan’s gaze settled on me for a moment before he concluded, “Ms. March, please integrate pink into the current interface.”

That settled it.

This report took more out of me than | expected.

As | looked down to organize my papers, | overheard Hogan and Cecilia discussing which restaurant to hit up. Cecilia’s voice carried a note of caution, “Hogan, I’m still on the clock.”

She sneaked a peek at me after speaking.

| pretended not to notice, ready to make my escape.

But then, to my surprise, Hogan said. “Easy fix. Ms. March, join us.”