I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 11

Sophie Sullivan never expected to secure a house before landing a job.

Tucking the deposit receipt safely away, she began checking her email again.

Over the past few days, she had received a few calls and emails from HR departments, but compared to the sheer volume of resumes she had sent out, the response rate was pitiful.

After several rounds of interviews, even fewer offers came close to her salary expectations.

She needed a job first to get a mortgage approved.

Sophie realized she had to adjust her expectations; her age was no longer an advantage in the corporate world, leaving her with limited options.

She went back to casting a wide net on job portals.

This time, the interview invitation came from a local liquor company, Sterling Spirits.

The company was well-known in the area, and most importantly, it was the largest firm she had interviewed with, offering the highest salary.

Money was her primary concern right now. She needed a portion of her paycheck to cover the mortgage and wanted to provide a stable life for her mother.

During the interview, the hiring manager asked about her alcohol tolerance.

She actually had quite a high tolerance, a surprising discovery she had made by accident.

Working as Luke Lawrence's secretary meant she had to accompany him to various business dinners.

The first time a client pressured her to drink, she hadn't known how to politely decline, so she foolishly stood up and downed a massive gulp from her glass.

Back then, she didn't know red wine was meant to be savored and swallowed it straight, only tasting a bitter sting in her throat.

The clients at the table had laughed. "You girls sure don't hold back."

Only then did she realize how reckless she had been.

Yet, on that very day, after being coaxed into drinking four or five large glasses, she hadn't passed out. She even managed to stand at the restaurant entrance, forcing a polite smile as she saw off every client.

She held it together until she got home, and only then did she throw up.

After that, whenever she accompanied Luke to dinners, she actively became his human shield against endless toasts, gradually building up her tolerance.

Recalling the past, a bitter smile tugged at the corners of Sophie's mouth.

For past birthdays, her mother would only buy one small slice from the bakery, just enough for Sophie to eat.

Growing up, she had always assumed her mother disliked sweets, but it turned out she was simply trying to save money, hiding her own desires.

"Mom, I start my new job on Monday. From now on, with both of us working, our lives will only get better."

Sophie pulled her mother to the dining table and pushed the cake toward her.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about something. The daughter of the elderly woman I used to care for is moving her out of state, claiming her brother's family isn't doing a good job. Mr. Jenkins hasn't found a suitable nanny yet, and Mia is shy around strangers, so he asked if I would work for them full-time."

Sarah took a bite of the cake and continued.

"I'll still come home to sleep on most nights, but I'll stay over to look after Mia when he travels for work. Mr. Jenkins also suggested that you come over for dinner every evening. That way, I can take care of you and his daughter at the same time."

"As long as you're comfortable working there, you can keep doing it. But if you ever get tired and want to quit, I can support you."

As Sophie heard those words, she suddenly remembered Luke telling her something strikingly similar.

She had joined the company at twenty-two and stayed by Luke's side as he climbed from a department manager to vice president, while she rose from a junior assistant to his executive secretary.