Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 7

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Chapter 7

Hogan's surprise drop-in totally caught everyone off guard.

At that moment, Jack, who was pulling an all-nighter, cout of the pantry looking like a hot mess, with a

toothbrush still dangling from his mouth.

Just another day in the life of us coders, but Hogan still raised an eyebrow when he saw it.

| get it.

Our little stuwas no match for the big leagues like Rainbow Capital.

| bet Hogan was kinda kicking himself for parking Cecilia here.

But Cecilia herself didn’t seem to mind, pointing to a spot by the window and saying, “Hogan, this is where |

camp out.”

Hogan kept mum.

| followed his gaze and saw it land on the desk opposite Cecilia.

That was my usual code-crunching haunt.

On the desk, besides the desktop, there was an old black laptop, prize from Hogan's sophomore year

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competition.

One of the few gifts he had ever given me.

It had got decent specs, been using it till now.

“Huh, Xaviera, your laptop looks exactly like the one Hogan has.” Cecilia noticed it too, her eyes. wide as

saucers, she asked me. “Is it comfy for coding?”

| had no idea Hogan had the smodel.

But to dodge any , | played it cool and said, “It’s old, doesn’t hold a candle to the new

ones.”

No sooner had | finished speaking than Cecilia turned to Hogan and asked, “What do you think. Hogan?”

Doing interviews, is she?

Instead of answering. Hogan shot back, “Thinking of switching laptops?”

Cecilia rubbed her nose. “Got duped by the sales guy when | bought the last one, didn’t pay attention to the

specs.”

“You, | swear.”

was a

that screamed ‘I'm die annointed in you! but coming from Wanan it counded oddly

Chapter 7

Totally clashed with his usual ice-cold persona.

“Hogan, you're not about to calldumb again, are you?” Cecilia pouted, about to retort, but out of nowhere,

she sneezed.

Hogan stepped forward, concern laced in his voice, “Caught a cold?”

Cecilia sniffled, a flicker of panic in her eyes, “Crap, might be pollen allergies.”

She was cut off by two more sneezes.

Before | could offer soothing words, Hogan declared, “Get rid of these useless plants immediately.”

He was talking about the succulents on the windowsill.

Those are Wallis* babies.

| hesitated, “Mr. Zade, these succulents are past blooming, you see.”

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“I don’t want to repeat myself.” Hogan cutoff, firm as ever, “And add another air purifier.”

| was left speechless.

Cecilia chimed in. “Hogan, Xaviera didn’t know about my allergies, or she wouldn't have placedhere.”

She was referring to the spot by the window.

The spot | considered to have the best light and privacy in the whole office.

Seeing the girl's innocent eyes, | thought for a moment and then suggested, “We weren't considerate enough.

How about this, the office on the right is usually empty. Ms. Irwin could work there.”

Jack, who was standing by, quickly objected, “Xaviera, that’s not cool. That's the office. President Lott reserved

for you.”

What he meant was Cecilia wasn’t quite there yet.

Cecilia got the hint too and shook her head, declining, “I'm fine, Xaviera. A couple of allergy pills and I'll be good.

I'm just a newbie, doesn’t make sense forto take an office.”

Rules were made by people, and with Hogan, the investor, around, those rules suddenly becflexible.

Sure enough, the next second, Hogan made up his mind, “That's settled, then.”

Cecilia looked at Hogan, unsure, “Hogan, that doesn’t seem right.”

His bottomless eyes suddenly swung my way, and | heard Hogan ask in a tone that was neither here nor there,

“Ms. March, your thoughts?”

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Echoes of Unrequited Love

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