So much for avoiding him, Callum thought pensively. He could just hear Charlotte cackling about it once she caught wind of this. But aside from the initial shock of hearing Logan agree to be in the same cramped metal box as him, Callum's thoughts were on the message he saw on the team leader's phone. Of course, he hadn't intended on reading the messages when he picked it up, but one message stuck out to him.

You can't ignore your boyfriend forever.

Your boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

Logan had a boyfriend.

This was something that hadn't crossed his mind when Charlotte had given her whole speech about Logan and Callum's inability to refrain from being interested in someone. A boyfriend? Sure it fell into the category that Logan possibly was already taken by someone else, but Callum hadn't expected a boyfriend.

But now, this complicated things for Callum—or was this a better alternative? Callum wasn't sure anymore. On the one hand, it meant a bigger reason to avoid Logan; but on the other hand, Callum couldn't help but feel mildly disappointed. As much as he hated Charlotte being right, Callum could see what she was getting at in terms of seeing Logan as a potential to settle down finally. He was new to Los Angeles, and although dating another employee was an issue in itself, Logan was more promising than the other people he's dated.

Logan was taken; Callum let the words settle in his head as he pressed the parking level button, using the rails of the elevator to lean against. The doors made a strange sound as they shut, the numbers above the door slowly going down.

But of course, Callum had noted the messages he read did seem a bit weird, passive-aggressive almost? He hadn't read the first few messages but did remember seeing the last message, I will find you, something suspicious. However, Callum's mind was more consumed with thoughts of this mysterious person who happened to be Logan's boyfriend than the other messages.

If he weren't feeling mildly disappointed or in an elevator, he'd text Charlotte that she was wrong and that he was right for wanting to avoid him for once. Of course, Logan was taken.

The elevator let out an eerie screech before jolting to a stop. If Callum hadn't been leaning against the opposite corner of the contraption, he'd have stumbled just as Logan had. But it wasn't the sound of metal that scared Callum as much as the sharp cry that came from the marketing head's mouth as the elevator wasn't moving up or down.

"What the fuck," Callum proclaimed, realizing that the doors weren't opening for another employee on a lower floor. Jabbing his finger into the button aggressively, he scowled at the door. "Just my luck."

Logan hadn't said anything—couldn't say anything really as he remained hunched in the corner, looking between them nervously at their newfound predicament. Callum had noticed how nervous he was from earlier, but the way he was shaking now was a stark difference.

Callum attempted pressing a few other buttons before cursing again. "Of course, just as the maintenance guys were scheduled to inspect it in a couple of days, it breaks."

Logan hadn't laughed at that or eased up to Callum's dismay. Instead, Logan's eyes were drifting to every inch of the elevator, shaking like a cornered animal.

It didn't help that he was stuck with the CEO. Callum could only imagine how terrifying it must be for Logan, wishing he had just taken the stairs, even if it meant twenty-eight flights of stairs. But if he had, it would've meant Logan being stuck in the broken elevator alone. Callum wondered what was worse.

"Broken," Logan echoed, still in utter disbelief.

Callum pressed the open button again with no results. "Yeah. We can't be the only ones leaving work right now. Surely someone will notice."

Logan pointed to the rows of buttons. "The call button?"

Callum pursed his lips before pressing the button. A buzz rang out in the elevator, startling Logan as they waited for someone to respond. When nothing happened, he pushed it again and again. But nothing.

"Shouldn't it page someone?"

Callum groaned. "I think it goes to the maintenance place. They should be in their office."

"And they're not answering?" Logan said incredulously.

Callum pressed the button a few more times before pressing the alarm button, eliciting a shrill sound. "Someone must hear it."

And with that, the lights flickered a few more times before drowning them in darkness. Logan freaked out more, to Callum's dismay. This time, it hadn't startled him, but Logan's shriek of fright was enough for Callum to curse under his breath and turn to the younger worker.

"It's fine; the power's out. Nothing bad is going to happen."

"How do you know that?" Logan's voice raised in pitch. "What if it just comes crashing down?"

"It won't," Callum said. "They don't do that. Besides, it hasn't moved. The light's just gone out."

Logan grumbled under his shaky breath. "I hate this."

"Well, we can't exactly pry our way out of here. We just got to sit and wait for someone to let us out if they'd answer this damn button. You going to be okay?"

"No," Logan said sharply. "I can't see! And I'm in this tiny space, and not to mention sharing this tiny space with my boss! I'm not okay with this."

Callum's head hung lowly before pulling his phone out of his pocket. "Here, I'll turn on my flashlight."

Logan nodded, focusing on Callum's movements as he set the phone propped up on the floor, illuminating the space with dim light, barely enough to see each other's faces. Even as Callum retreated to his corner, Logan's features were still tense. "Maybe we should call 911?"

"I'll continue with this call button. They're supposed to be able to open it with a key or something."

"And if they don't answer?"

"Then I'll call 911."

Logan let out a shaky breath, slowly easing himself to the floor, running a hand through his hair. Callum pressed the button a few more times, along with the alarm buttons, hoping anything would work at this point.

As much as Callum tried not to stare, he couldn't help but notice the way Logan's arms drew into himself, tightening against his sides as he shook. His irregular breathing and the way his head twitched made Callum's frown deepen. This wasn't just slight discomfort or fear anymore. Logan was having a panic attack or looked like one. Be it from the dark and cramped broken elevator or Callum himself, Callum immediately turned to him, cursing under his breath as he crouched next to him. Was he even able to breathe curled up like that?

"Here," Callum reached for Logan's arms. "Keep them—"

"Don't touch me," Logan snapped, jerking himself away and further into the corner but grimaced, not intending to sound as harsh as he had. Callum flinched, retracting his hands back to his chest, and glanced away as if the words themselves had slapped him. Logan cursed under his breath before saying gentler, "ah, sorry."

"I should be apologizing," Callum corrected, scooting back into the other corner, his eyes still trained on the floor between them. There had been a slim chance that Callum had thought Logan's reaction was strictly about the elevator, but he chided himself for foolish thinking, watching as Logan pressed his body further into the corner. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Callum scooted another few inches away from him, distancing himself from Logan, and a pang of guilt flooded Logan's chest. "It's fine, I just...."

Logan's shoulders hunched, his arms wrapping around his torso again tightly from the memories of his life in New York with Chris. But this wasn't Chris; Logan reminded himself. This was his boss—who very well could've taken offense and chosen to fire him if he so wanted to.

But aside from his shaky breaths, Logan's silence was all Callum needed to hear.

"You're uncomfortable," the word was sharp and bitter, yet quiet on Callum's tongue. "With men like me."

Logan thought Callum would have ended it like a question, but it sounded like an observation that Callum had deduced. "I—"

"That, or you're extremely claustrophobic. You were nervous in the elevator the last time too."

"Oh." Logan laughed nervously, unfurling his arms by his side to look up from his cocoon. "A bit of both, if I'm being honest."

"Right," Callum mumbled to himself. He cursed himself internally, still beating himself up for even approaching Logan. He was already fucking things up between them—not that there was going to be anything between them in the first place, Callum told himself.

"What were you saying before I snapped at you?" Logan rubbed his neck. "Sorry about that."

Callum bit his lip, keeping his eyes on the buttons. "I just wanted to suggest keeping your arms away from your side like that, placing them above your head so you can breathe easily. At least until you can calm down and slow your breathing back to normal. Don't want you to pass out; it wouldn't look good if they open the doors finally and you're unconscious."

Logan let out a soft laugh that grew in volume, stretching his legs out now that his heart rate settled down. "So you do care about appearances after all."

Callum's brows knit together. "No, not really. It's more concerning that my employee nearly faced a panic attack in our building, and I couldn't do anything to make it better. If you were to pass out from an attack, that would affect you more than me."

"Oh," Logan wasn't sure how to respond. Everything Callum said contradicted the things he heard from Keanu and Jen. He did care, granted weirdly, Logan supposed. "Thanks, I guess. I mean, there really isn't much you could've done anyway. But I think the initial freakout is over with. So long as we get out of here soon, I should be fine."

Callum hummed, insistent on staring at the buttons in front of him. "I'll keep calling."