I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 45

By Thursday afternoon, before the official end of the workday, everyone had already started shutting down their computers, practically staring at the clock as they waited for it to hit six so they could bolt.

"The boss is a tyrant. It's Christmas Eve. The traffic is going to be a nightmare. Every other office let their staff out an hour early, but he refuses to shave off a single minute," a coworker muttered in the elevator.

The grumbling echoed softly against the metal walls.

They had all seen Mr. Baxter slip out just after four o'clock, yet he demanded his employees hold the fort until the bitter end.

Sophie felt her phone buzzing, but the elevator was packed so tight she couldn't even reach into her purse.

Once she finally squeezed out into the lobby, she pulled it out. The caller ID flashed Gavin's name.

She called him back. His cheerful voice flowed into her ear, mingled with the sound of the wind.

"I just got off the train. See you soon."

"You're early! Didn't I tell you I'm going to a little girl's house for dinner? I promised her a week ago; I can't just cancel on her now."

She grimaced, caught in a bind.

"It's fine. I'll head to the hotel. Just call me when you're done."

Sophie had barely hung up when her phone rang again. It was Gwen, sounding distinctly gleeful.

"Tonight's dinner is officially canceled. That jerk Luke said he's feeling under the weather. I bet that ice bath you gave him gave him a nasty cold."

Met with silence, Gwen tentatively called her name.

"I'm rushing to a kid's Christmas dinner, and I'm running late. Can't talk!"

Sophie abruptly hung up and stood on the curb, trying to hail a cab.

She had tried booking a ride-share right before leaving, but the wait was over thirty minutes. Now, hoping to snag a passing taxi was proving utterly impossible. The streets were swarmed, and every light was illuminated in use.

Her phone rang again. It was Jason Jenkins.

"Are you off work? I'm passing right by your office. I can give you a lift."

Sophie spotted Jason's car pulling up and offered a relieved smile, waving at him.

She climbed into the passenger seat, throwing him a grateful look. "Thank God you were passing by. My ride-share was going to take forever."

Jason chuckled. "Traffic is brutal today. Everyone is out celebrating."

"Holidays are for kids and twenty-somethings," she replied casually, pulling out her phone to cancel the ride-share.

She tapped the screen a few times.

"According to UNESCO, youth spans from sixteen to forty-five. We qualify as young too," Jason noted with an amused smirk.

His tone was light, playful.

Sophie laughed. Despite constantly joking about her age, she still fiercely clung to her youth. Even if she couldn't stop the clock, she could at least refuse to grow old on the inside.

While stopped at a red light, Jason glanced over at her.

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