Callum always ate his lunch in his office, typically alone at his desk on the top floor. Charlotte was the exception, who often found herself still working or micromanaging his schedule while he ate. It wasn't that Callum disliked eating with his peers; it was more so the other way around; nobody wanted to associate with him and be the latest scandal surrounding their boss.

Callum didn't mind the solitude; however, Charlotte had that curious glint in her eyes that meant he wouldn't get the peace and quiet he anticipated.

Barely halfway into his overpriced salad, Callum frustratingly set it aside, glancing at his secretary, who was hovering by his desk. "Yes, Charlotte?"

"I bet the marketing team is questioning your decision."

"Decision?"

She hummed. "Putting Mr. Corbett as the team leader. Victor's been here for years."

"Mr. Corbett has experience as a team leader." Callum looked at his secretary with confusion. "It made more sense that way. Besides, this project will have the other department's input; it's not that big of a project."

"Yes, but Victor's got years of experience over him."

Callum drummed his fingers on the table. "And what are you getting at?"

"You putting a new recruit in a leadership position this soon?" she said. "Practically asking for the gossip to spread."

"Charlotte, he's not entirely new to the company." He gave her a concerned look. "I don't understand—"

"You like him, don't you?"

"What?"

She rolled her eyes before looking down at him. "You like him. Mr. Corbett."

"What on earth are you talking about?" He frowned. "I thought this was your suggestion; HR even recommended Mr. Corbett for the role? I hadn't even considered it till you mentioned him."

"Callum," she said as if scolding a child. "You like him. I've seen it during the meeting. You couldn't stop glancing over at him. Didn't even hear a word I said after it was over."

Callum was taken aback. "You are insane. I was explaining the project brief. To the new marketing head, of course, I had to look at him."

"I've been your secretary for years; you don't think I'd notice that he's exactly your type? Shorter, lighter hair, the doe eyes. And the dimples? Ring a bell?"

He shot her a glare, one that would've scared any other employee if it hadn't been her. "Charlotte, what did I say about being involved in these kinds of things?"

"I think it's in your best interest that I know about these things, especially when I manage your schedules and keep up with the tabloids and gossip around here." She pointed at the notepad beside them. "And Callum, I know you. We've been more than just a boss and secretary; we're friends. I know Mr. Corbett is precisely your type, and I know that as your friend, I want to make sure that you handle this situation carefully."

"There is no situation, Charlotte. He is a new transfer from New York. We happened to run into each other in the elevator, nothing more. Watch; he'll return back to his old branch eventually. My bet is a couple of months."

She leaned over his desk. "There you go again, pushing him away already when he's barely even settled in."

"I did not push him away."

"Let me guess; you told him all the great things that New York has to offer." Callum sighed as she continued, "and you're going to keep telling him those things and make him want to leave before you get attached."

"No, no, no," Callum denied. "I am not getting attached to an employee. I've been down that road, Charlotte. Multiple times—"

"You don't have to remind me."

"And nothing good ever comes out of it. Besides, we don't know anything about Mr. Corbett. He could be married for all we know, with a woman possibly." Callum blinked. "Not that it matters because I'm not attached!"

Charlotte merely smirked. "Sure, but there was no ring. And I'll let you know that he doesn't plan to move back to New York since I was there for his interview. He was very adamant about that."

"Well, if he hasn't heard about the rumors from the others yet, he will, and he'll think twice about staying here."

"He was very adamant, Callum. I doubt he would care, given the same rumors circulate everywhere. You are the CEO, after all." She took a seat across from Callum's desk. "Besides, we're still talking about him, which means he must've been on your mind."

"No, it's just we shared an elevator, and anyone would be naturally curious about a new worker." He wasn't sure why he even mentioned the elevator. "I mean, you were the one who brought him up."

"Yes, but you're never curious about your employees. You could care less about that. You can hardly remember the names of the new workers from last year."

Callum rolled his eyes. "Even if I did hypothetically felt a little interested in him—which I'm not—nothing good would come out of it. You know how messy my relationships are and what they bring."

"Indeed," she drawled with a raised brow. "But I won't say it's a bad thing to be interested in him. Hypothetically, of course."

"Well, that's a shocker. Everything I do seems to be a bad thing; how would this be different? And wouldn't that just be a repeat of that rumor about dating a colleague?"

"Compared to your track record, Mr. Corbett would be a blessing."

"And you would know how Mr. Corbett is? You can predict how a relationship with him would turn out differently?"

She mulled this over before finally telling him, "he doesn't seem the type to be interested in money or your assets. Very work-oriented, good at his job, the New York office had good reviews about him."

"Then what made him transfer?"

"He didn't elaborate, but that doesn't matter, Callum. Maybe dating would be good for you; it's been almost a year since the divorce and a few months since the last scandal. Find someone decent for once, and maybe the rumors will start to die? If it becomes serious, even better, I'm sure your father would love to see you settle down by now."

Callum pursed his lips. "Yeah, with a woman. You know that his vision of settling down is different than what we envision."

"True," she drawled. "And our agreement still stands if you're still single by forty, granted your old man is still around by then. I already know where to find fake marriage papers, just so you know. So long as we're clear about being an open relationship thing."

"I'm sure the press will have a field day if they catch you with another woman."

She scoffed. "It'll be worth it. And a two for one if they catch you with Mr. Corbett."

"Besides, I promised not to loop you into another one of my scandals." Callum frowned.

She shrugged, adjusting her posture. "It was honestly kind of fun. Messy, of course, but to think they'd assume we'd date? You've dated a fair share of women, married one too, but me? I'd never let a man have all this."

She gestured to herself suggestively that made them both laugh.

"Of course," Callum amused her. "That's why you haven't found yourself a partner yet."

"Rude." She made a face. "I'm just saying, Callum. Don't you want to be with someone? I'm being serious. We aren't getting any younger, and Logan seems like a great guy."

"No, don't start this again, Charlotte. Even if he was my type, there are many reasons not to get involved with him. I won't be ruining the young man's life by dating him. Enough with the hypotheticals."

"He's not that much younger than you." She picked up her phone before scrolling through a document. "I believe his application said twenty-eight. Only a two-year difference."

Callum scowled. "Doesn't matter. Dating me is the equivalent of a death sentence for his career. Besides, if he's as focused on work as you said he is, he wouldn't bother. Dating a coworker is still considered taboo; dating a boss is practically criminal. Even if he were attracted to men, that doesn't mean anything; you know that."

"Whatever. At least he's way better than that front desk girl who was all over you from last month. And not to mention the valet guy before that. He was practically a kid still, can't believe he'd lie about his age just to get near you." She rubbed the back of her neck. "Glad that didn't get out to the public or go anything past that kiss in the lobby."

Callum shuddered at the memory of the young valet worker. "To think I let him near my car when he couldn't even drink yet. Glad HR settled that one."

She raised her brow and nodded in agreement. "Anyways, about Mr. Corbett, just think about it, Callum."

"I really don't think I should."

She looked at him incredulously before standing from the seat, grabbing her notepad and things before pointing at his forgotten salad. "No need to lie to me, but sure, keep pretending. Enjoy the rest of your lunch, Mr. Dawson."

"Yes, Ms. Ching," he mocked, watching her head down the hall to her office. Once he heard the click of her door, he finally let out a groan, running a hand through his hair.

He couldn't believe Charlotte, of all people, was suggesting something like this, even though she really could see right through him. It couldn't possibly be that Mr. Corbett just so happened to be his type; no, Callum thought, I don't like him. "I can't possibly like him. Never going to happen."

In his head, he could almost hear Charlotte saying "yet," which he tried to ignore. Just curiosity, he reassured himself. He was allowed to feel curious; it was only natural to feel that way, right? 

After all, Callum barely knew anything about him. Aside from the things Charlotte said, everything else he knew was hearsay or things he vaguely mentioned in the elevator. Just curious, he told himself as he continued to stab his fork into the now soggier pieces of lettuce. But the more and more he tried to convince himself, he found himself still thinking about the young man and Charlotte's little spiel.

Stabbing the mutilated last pieces of lettuce, Callum let out a sigh. "No. Stop thinking about it. I said I wouldn't do this again."

He repeated the words over in his head, even though it was nearly impossible for Callum to get the marketing team leader's face out of his mind.

Callum shook his head before opening up his computer, hoping to take his mind off the whole subject, but it wasn't working. His eyes crossed while looking at the emails and documents he needed to go over. His mind completely derailed from Charlotte's little lunch interrogation. Drumming his fingertips against the table, he decided to concoct a plan.

He told himself if this really was just some weird curiosity, it would fade over time. He just needed to avoid him, ignore Mr. Corbett and pretend everything was fine and dandy. After all, everyone already viewed him as the absent CEO, never really around his employees anyways. If it meant a few more lonely work shifts dealing with Charlotte's pestering, he'd manage.

And, if Mr. Corbett heard the rumors and saw how careless everyone viewed Callum and how true it could be, maybe he would return to New York despite what Charlotte said. Two birds with one stone, easy peasy, Callum thought.

___

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 OpenNovellaFestival's version of ONC (or NONC) where they will still be following along with the prompts and deadlines.

For the first promo, we have the amazingly talented authorelizasolares's ONC, Vegas Knot:

Blurb:  After seeing the man she's loved since grade school is about to be married, Bianca Daleman spends one drunken night in Las Vegas and winds up married to a guy she just met. And when her old flame comes back into town, she simply has to make her new marriage look like it's working. It's a matter of honour.

Feel free to check her lovely story out and give it some love! Definitely in love with the prompt and story so far.