Callum glared at Charlotte from behind his desk. "You sure you didn't pressure him to buy a lunch, did you? He doesn't seem like the type to accept such handouts or gifts like that."

"Of course not. Why would I pressure him?" Charlotte teased, the corners of her lips rising into that silly smirk of hers. Of course, she pressured him, Callum thought.

"You insisted, didn't you?" Callum shook his head as he scrolled through his work emails. "I hope you were at least a little subtle. A casual offer."

"Sure. Although he did decline the wagyu burgers."

"I'd be surprised if he had bought them." Callum turned to her finally, as she leaned over the desk with her arms. "You think it's weird I bought him lunch, right?"

She scoffed. "No. What's weirder is how obsessed you are about this whole situation."

"Obsessed?" Callum guffawed. "What makes you say that?"

She plucked a pencil from his desk to point at his chest. "Look at you. Since yesterday, you've been fidgeting and acting like some silly schoolgirl over a crush."

He scowled. "I can't be nice and buy a colleague lunch?"

"When was the last time you treated me to lunch, Callum?"

He tilted his head. "Last week?"

"Bad example," she corrected. "I am your secretary—friend even. You've hardly even talked to Logan until recently. One second you're pushing him away and telling him why he should go back to his life in New York. Now, you're acting like you want to date him—which I called from the get-go, and I whole-heartedly approve, by the way."

"Buying him lunch does not equate to dating."

"Ah, ah, ah," she scolded, waving the pencil at him again. "It's one of the first steps to dating, Callum. You bought him lunch. Then comes taking him out somewhere. That's a date. Then, sure enough, you'll fall in love and want to be his boyfriend."

"Charlotte—"

She clucked her tongue. "Don't Charlotte me. Something changed after you two were trapped in that elevator."

"Yeah, we talked. And like I mentioned, I brought up Tess. He mentioned his ex." He snatched the pencil out of her hand. "Nothing more."

"I know you're curious about him, and I know that you wouldn't have bought lunch for any other employee if you had gotten stuck with them. I'm telling you, you are obsessed, and I'm not upset about it."

He shook his head. "No, if anything, I felt pity for him for being stuck in a situation that could have serious consequences for him if rumors spread."

"Oh, please. Consequences that could be pretty great for the two of you."

"I can't possibly see where you're getting that."

"You think I'm a fool for saying you two could get along? That he might be good for you?" She leaned forward. "Possibly the one?"

Callum made a face. "Stop."

"I did tell him that you had wished to deliver it personally." He glared at her. "What? You did say that you were the one disappointed you couldn't do it, that it would be too obvious if you were to approach him yourself."

"I know." He ran a hand through his hair. "You didn't have to mention it, though."

She sighed before half sitting on the desk. "I'm just saying it's rare for me to approve of your interests. Although, a word of advice?"

He looked up at her. "Yes?"

"Be careful. I know I tell you this about all your relationships, but I have a good feeling. I'd hate to see you mess it up. He could be good for you."

He didn't respond, his eyes slowly drifting down to the table. Callum hated to admit that he was hopeful that maybe something would happen out of this bizarre predicament. Yet, if he were honest to himself, Callum knows it wasn't a matter of if he messed it up, but when. And yet, he found himself still on the cusp of ignoring Logan or pursuing anything with the marketing lead, something Callum didn't want to decide. He didn't want to get his hopes up; he would instead let it slip away before even facing a modicum of disappointment down the road.

In moments like this, he wished someone—not Charlotte—would tell him what to do.

Charlotte cleared her throat. "Maybe send an email? About buying his meal or apologizing about yesterday."

With a nod, Callum turned back to his computer screen. Callum flipped through the contact list before pulling up Logan's contact info. Charlotte hovered behind him, silently judging his every movement. Callum was already used to her watching over his shoulder like this, but it was still unnerving. He copied and pasted his email and started drafting a few words.

Mr. Corbett,

I hope that the meal Charlotte has provided on my behalf has found you well. And that it makes up for yesterday's uncomfortable situation.

My apologies again,

Callum Dawson

"Simple enough?" He let her read the email. She nodded and pressed send for him before he could protest.

"I can't believe you sent it."

She scoffed. "What, were you just going to delete it or save it as a draft?"

"Maybe."

"You're incorrigible."

He closed his browser. "Maybe he won't check his emails."

"Callum, we work in an office; he'll read his emails."

"Fine."

Charlotte grabbed his wireless mouse and opened the browser again, clicking to open his emails. After a couple of refreshes, a notification came. "He responded quickly."

Dear Mr. Dawson

Thank you for the meal and the thought. Although, I don't think providing a meal was necessary as it wasn't your fault for the elevators breaking down. I'd like to pay back the money for today's lunch if possible. I don't think Charlotte would have allowed me to, but I'd be glad to hand over the $10 to you in person, taken out of my check, or through some other form of payment.

Thank you,

Logan Corbett

Marketing

"He responded," Callum stated the obvious. "What do I do?"

"Respond, you idiot."

He huffed, pressing the reply button. His leg bounced under the table as his fingers hovered over his keyboard. Charlotte sighed, grabbing his keyboard and typing words nearly as fast as the incessant bouncing leg.

"Don't type that!" he scolded, grabbing the keyboard and deleting her message. Callum gave her a stern glare before glancing back at the screen. He typed:

Mr. Corbett,

I can't accept that, and if given a chance, I would've offered to pay for your lunch in person (but alas, the wretched rumors, as Charlotte has informed you, I'm sure of). And I'm aware that the lunch was only $9.12, not $10.

Callum

Callum wasn't sure why he felt the need to clear it up, especially when it was a mere $10, and regardless, it didn't matter whether Logan paid him back or not for the meal. The fact that Logan was so insistent on paying him back only made Callum want to argue back. Allowing Logan to win this argument and handing him the $10 or even just $9.12 meant Callum accepted defeat.

After refreshing the page three times, Callum frowned. Maybe Logan wouldn't reply and just take the free lunch? Despite it being what Callum ultimately wanted, he didn't expect Logan to give up that easily. After all, it appeared he gave Charlotte a bigger fight about it.

He waited for another minute to pass before hitting the refresh button, delighted and equally terrified to see the notification pop up.

Both Charlotte and Callum held a breath to read his message.

Dear Mr. Dawson,

I insist. I shall forward the payment to Charlotte.

Thanks again,

Logan Corbett

Marketing

Callum had never responded to an email so fast before. He noticed Charlotte smirking in amusement as he sat straight up in his chair, clicking the reply button with speed.

No, I refuse. :)

-C

Callum hit sent before he could even second guess himself. It was a childish reply, and despite Callum knowing he should have at least put his full name, all his conversations with Logan before were hardly professional—aside from the briefing.

"So much for keeping it professional." Charlotte scoffed next to his ear, but Callum could tell she was amused from her tone. "Was the smiley face really necessary, though?"

Jerking away from his secretary, Callum groaned. "Take away emailing privileges; why don't you better than what you were about to type."

She shrugged before stepping away from him. "Could be worse. At least you didn't use his phone number, I suppose. Maybe delete or archive this thread of emails, though. Just to be safe."

"You're no fun. Besides, I kept it professional."

"A smiley face? Really?"

"Okay, before that, it was." He glanced over at her. "Better than what you typed. This is a little more subtle, right?"

"Cause sending your secretary to pay for an employee—that you were trying to ignore and push away—on your behalf is totally discrete and professional. Not to mention the email chain you two have now."

Callum rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "Alright with the sarcasm. But I thought it was a nice offer for putting up with me. Besides, if O'Ryan assumed something happened, surely it'll impact him if he spreads it around the office. The least I could do is some damage control and smoothing it over with a meal."

"Or," she drawled, leaning against the desk. "Ignore him like you said you would. Especially if you're not as interested as you said you were."

"You know me, Charlotte. I can't help that I get interested in people so fast."

She smirked. "So, now you'll admit it?"

He shook his head. "There's no point in lying to you. You know me better than I do. But whatever this is, I'm just trying to be cordial."

"Cordial, my ass," she said. "We both know that's bull."

***

Callum leaned against the side of the elevator, opening and closing apps on his phone in boredom. The exchange of emails left a smile on his face he couldn't seem to contain even after hours of sitting behind the desk and answering business calls. He knew it was dangerous territory—emailing each other non-work-related things, but Callum couldn't help but want to continue the chain of emails. Maybe he'd BCC Charlotte for accountability, but unless somebody happened to hack his emails or enter his computer, he didn't see how this could backlash.

Not to mention, Callum had refrained from messaging anything too scandalous; treating employees to meals was normal. Something Charlotte had once told him he should do; granted, she meant working dinners or company parties to show face at least to important business matters, but that was just hearsay."

The elevators slowed to the 28th floor, and Callum thrummed in disappointment at the thought of sharing an elevator ride again. The doors opened slowly, revealing none other than the marketing lead, almost as shocked as he was. Logan held his phone in his hand, nearly slipping out of his grasp just as he realized the elevators would close if he remained still.

"Oh, hello," Logan said as he stepped in.

Callum nodded. "We keep meeting like this."

Logan pressed the closing door button, keeping his eyes trained on the floor. "To think out of the 30-plus floors, we run into each other quite a lot."

"And with six elevators shafts."

"Crazy," Logan joked.

"With this kind of odds, I think we'd fare well in Vegas."

"Vegas?"

Callum blinked. "Slot machines, gambling. You know, luck."

"Oh, right."

"Ignore me." Callum wanted the elevators to stop at a random floor so he could just hop off and spare himself the embarrassment. "Again, I'd like to apologize for yesterday."

"There's no need. And I'll pay you back, in whatever way. If you have Venmo, or PayPal, perhaps? I don't have cash on me at the moment. Used it up for parking."

"That's alright. I mentioned in the email that you don't owe me anything."

"Or take it out of my check? Seriously, you didn't owe me anything either," Logan persisted.

"It's not a problem, Mr. Corbett. Although, since you are here." He turned to Logan, his eyes meeting his. Callum gulped, before starting slow, "if you would allow it, I—I know of a lunch spot on the outskirts of town, far from the office, that I could properly treat you to lunch. It's quite unheard of, where at least we'd be free from coworkers' gossip. The food is phenomenal and worlds better than our cafeteria food. I'd be happy to pay for a meal, that is, if you are comfortable. This is just an extended apology; I know people must be speculating something already, and I'd hate that to impact your time working with us."

Logan nodded slowly. "Ah, yeah. Word spreads fast around here. My coworkers heard about the elevator, but I don't think they suspect anything weird. Just surprised that I'm alive from being around you, as absurd as that sounds."

Callum held in a laugh. "Well, the situation was far from ideal in any event, and a meal is the least I could offer."

Logan hesitated, glancing up at the numbers above the door.

"I suppose it can't hurt." Logan pursed his lips. "But lunch is only thirty minutes. And I don't think leaving together would help your....situation."

Callum let out a breathy laugh. He knew Logan was right but was mildly surprised that he hadn't rejected the offer right away or simply ignored the offer.

"A dinner instead?" Callum suggested. "Returning from lunch together might be too suspicious around the office too."

"I do believe it would be social suicide."

"Fair enough. Tomorrow? We can meet there. Less suspicious."

"Ah..." Logan fiddled with his hands at his side. Callum resisted the urge to run a hand down his face in embarrassment at his hesitation. The elevators slowed as they neared the bottom floor.

"Ignore me," Callum told him. "I don't know what I'm.... "

The chime went off just as the doors started to open. Neither of them made a move to leave. Logan breathed aloud before slowly turning his head toward Callum. "Sure. So long as I can pay you back in the form of appetizers? Drinks even."

"Right," Callum said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Corbett."

"Logan," he said. "Logan's fine."

"See you then, Logan."

"You too." Logan smiled. "Callum."

———

A/N: As part of the ONC hype, I will be shouting out some of my fellow ONC peeps from the discord server I'm in! These individuals may or may not be entering into the official ONC, but will be participating in a version of ONC (or NONC) where they will still be following along with the prompts and deadlines.

For this chapter's promo, we have the amazingly talented cmf_wright's and Spelunkadunk's Granny Slayer, Demon Slayer

Blurb:

Jointly written by CMF Wright (@cmf_wright) and KJ Lissaut (@Spelunkadunk), "Granny Thayer, Demon Slayer" is a satire/parody of common fantasy tropes, featuring a badass grandma Chosen One, a devastatingly handsome prince, a failed bard, a werewolf with a dangerous secret, and buckets of romance! It can be found on @Spelunkadunk 's profile.