**Frida**
It wasn’t until my phone buzzed that I realized how late it was. The summer sun casting long shadows on my desk further bolstered what my clock was telling me – it was time to leave. A quick glance at my to-do list suggested otherwise. The office around me was empty, the quiet hum of the AC my only company.
My phone buzzed again. It was a message from Julia. She’d predicted that this would happen, that I’d get so engrossed with work that I wouldn’t make it on time for Dave’s going away party. And she was right. I didn’t care much about the party, didn’t really know Dave that well. But he was Julia’s boss and that counted for something. And if she wanted me there with her, I would sure as hell try to.