Echoes of Unrequited Love ( Hogan Zade )

Chapter 83 

I glanced at the clock and casually asked, “Hey, Darren, can I swing by here and pick you up at seven tomorrow evening?” 

Darren looked at me like I just grew a second head, then after a brief pause, he chuckled and said, “Sure, let’s roll with that.” 

I mean, I felt kinda bad always bumming favors off him. Just got myself a new ride, so playing chauffeur was really no biggie, just going with the flow. 

But there was something off about Darren’s tone. 

After leaving the Youth Hostel, I immediately called Wallis. 

As soon as she picked up, I heard heavy breathing on the other end. “What’s up, Xaviera?” 

Realizing I might have caught her at a bad time, I plucked up the courage and said, “I need a full set of threads, the battle–dress kind.” 

“Whoa there,” Wallis’s voice spiked, “With who?” 

“Professor Yearwood,” I spilled the beans. “I’ll be at the soirée tomorrow night too.” 

“Nice.” Wallis let out a thrilled yell, “Leave it to me, oh.” 

A weird moan leaked through the phone. 

I froze for a sec, then tactfully hung up. 

Was this what they call the ‘thirsty thirties“? 

Wallis showed up at the office the next day, looking like she was glowing. 

I teased her, “Get a good night’s sleep?” 

She shot me a flirty glance and in a sing–song voice said, “You naughty thing, you should be asking how many times I scored.” 

What a saucy line. 

Rolling her eyes, Wallis said, “Xaviera, you seriously need to stop playing the nun. You know a woman’s eggs start to feel their age past thirty, right? Time to spice things up, embrace the sweet side of love, ya know?” 

I was blushing head to toe. 

“Don’t live like a saint all the time. It’s been ages; you should switch things up, try a new flavor.” Images I had no control over flashed through my mind, setting my face on fire. 

Nearly got derailed by Wallis’s banter there. 

Chapter 83 

So, I changed the subject, “When are we going shopping?” 

Wallis flicked her hair and giggled, “How about now?” 

She took me to her ex–hubby’s three–story villa he left her in Forest Whisper. 

I was floored by the variety of chic dresses in her walk–in closet. 

Suddenly, it struck me that even though her ex was a bastard, he sure didn’t shortchange her on the financial front. 

“Money or a pretty man, darling, gotta have one.” Wallis quipped about money and looks. 

I mulled over those words, then it clicked. 

Wallis then handed me an ivory satin slip dress, “I ordered this at a Bulgari event two years. back, never wore it. It’ll look fab on you.” 

The dress was simple but made of top–notch fabric, felt like feathers on my skin, definitely 

haute couture.. 

Wallis even called in a stylist and makeup artist to do house calls. And voilà, dressed in the white gown, hair up, with subtle eyeshadow and lip color, accessorized with a ruby necklace and bracelet from the same designer, and strutting in nude stilettos, I was out the door. 

“Xaviera, I can almost see the hordes of guys that’ll be lining up at our office after tonight,” Wallis patted my hand, “See you at the party.” 

I drove to the Youth Hostel to pick up Darren. 

Dressed in a black suit and still sporting those silver specs, he looked a bit more solemn, but weirdly, it added a hint of a rakish charm. 

“Doesn’t fit right?” he adjusted his glasses, “Too‘ formal?” 

I awkwardly looked away and muttered, “Looks good.” 

For some reason, Wallis’s words about ‘trying a new flavor” popped into my head. 

ngan 

My bad. 

Clueless, Darren gave me a gentle smile, “Well then, Ms. March, shall we head out?”