It wasn’t like the movies or televisions shows; no crowbars or brute strength to open the doors, just a few clicks and undetermined sounds from somewhere inside the elevator shaft before the doors slowly opened. The hallway lights were blinding compared to the measly phone flashlight that Callum and Logan had to squint to his eyes adjusted.
Once adjusted, four firefighters and an annoyed-looking Charlotte were revealed with her arms crossed. Callum was no stranger to that glare of hers, but it was behind her that Callum let out a groan. Behind the firefighters and his secretary were about five members of the finance team, all with their belongings to head home. Most likely, the other elevators had shut off once the lights were off, too, leaving them stranded on the twenty-fifth floor—if they hadn't taken the many flights of stairs down. Spencer, the head of finance, was there with a glare that rivaled Charlotte's, obviously peeved at the situation, finding Callum at fault for the inconvenience. Because who else was to blame for the inconvenience but the CEO himself.
Logan stepped out of the elevator first, nearly stumbling if it hadn't been for the taller firefighter lending out a hand. The marketing lead didn't flinch or recoil from his touch, which made Callum frown. One of the firefighters asked Logan, "you alright?"
Even with a nod, the other men asked him a series of questions before inspecting the elevator car. Logan laughed at one of their jokes before jeering a thumb at Callum.
The firefighters walked over to Callum. "You alright, sir?"
"Yeah, just sweaty and tired."
According to the name alongside the man's helmet, McNeil had smiled and pointed to the death trap they escaped. "Looks like the inspection is overdue. I'd make sure that gets checked up as soon as possible. The young man says you're the CEO."
"Yes, I am." Callum pursed his lips. "We scheduled an inspection later this week."
McNeil nodded. "Luckily, nothing appears damaged, and they should all be operable now with the power back on."
"Thanks."
McNeil and another firefighter walked over to Charlotte, discussing some tips for any future problems with the elevator before packing up their things.
Callum turned to Logan, who was on his phone scrolling through new messages, presumably from the ex-boyfriend Logan was referring to earlier.
He cleared his throat, and Logan retracted his phone, placing it against his chest as if caught doing something he shouldn't. He craned his neck up to look at Callum. "Sorry, did you say something?"
"I'll buy you lunch or whatever," Callum said, his words stumbling after one another. "For putting up with my nonsense."
Logan's brows shot up. He held his free hand out in front of him. "Oh, no, it's fine. You had to deal with me too."
Callum would've argued and insisted, but Charlotte cleared her throat, beckoning Callum with her finger from the other side of the hall. He turned back to the marketing lead. "Right, well, get home safe."
Logan slowly nodded and walked over to the firefighters and finance team with a confused look, waiting for the next elevators. Callum turned around, cursing himself internally. His feet dragged behind him as he walked over to Charlotte, her eyes narrowed from their exchange.
Callum made a face. "Yes, Ms. Ching?"
"Glad to see that you two are decent," Charlotte said quietly. "So much for ignoring him, huh?"
"Decent?" He raised a brow. She scoffed before pointing at his loose tie and the jacket draped over his arm. Callum grabbed her shirt sleeve, pulling her further away from the firefighters and Logan. "Charlotte. It was hot in there. The suit isn't exactly breathable."
She rolled her eyes before gripping the bottom of his tie. She tilted her head in the direction of the finance team. "It's a rumor waiting to happen. I'd fix the tie at least."
He grumbled, haphazardly tightening it, not bothering to straighten it out. "Look, I didn't exactly expect anyone else to be here, let alone loud mouth O'Ryan. Thought nobody was here. We pressed the alarm and call button for a while, assumed everyone dugout."
"The power went out for about forty minutes. Not everyone prefers taking twenty-plus flights of stairs."
"Of course."
Charlotte glanced over as the rest of the group filed into an elevator leaving the two of them on this floor. "Seriously, nothing happened?"
Callum narrowed his eyes at her, knowing that curious and nosy look in her eyes. "No. Like I told you, I'm not going down that road again."
"You're not?"
"What happened to you being concerned about the rumors?" He frowned. "You always complain about how much work it is for you to clear up."
She shrugged. "So, you're telling me nothing happened in there?"
"We did what any two people would do trapped in an elevator, talk. That's all, Charlotte." Callum waved his hand between them. "He's not comfortable around me, anyway. He made that clear. Besides, he has his own ex drama to worry about."
"You two seemed quite comfortable; he hardly flinched when you approached him."
"That doesn't mean—whatever, enough," he said. "I'm tired, and quite frankly, I could use a drink."
Charlotte sighed before stepping towards the buttons. "Suit yourself. I'll treat myself to some wine too."
He rolled his eyes. "Don't drink too much."
"Says you," she mused before pressing the down button. "At least I can hold my own."
"Yeah, yeah," he brushed off. The elevators chimed and opened. As the last two on this floor, Callum only hoped it wouldn't break down again. Being stuck in an elevator with his secretary was just as bad.
"So, what did you tell him?"
"What?"
"You said you two talked. And you said something to him after."
Callum scowled. "He said he's uncomfortable around me, and we talked about work. That's all."
She clicked her tongue. "And?"
"He's claustrophobic, so it didn't really help to be in there with him. Not really keen on talking."
"Callum."
"And, complained about traffic and Los Angeles." Callum sent her a narrowed look.
She huffed. "So boring. Seriously, nothing else?"
Callum held his tongue, sensing that sharing the personal things they discussed in the elevator would breach the trust—if there was any—between them. "Nothing else."
Charlotte could tell he was lying, seeing the clenched jaw and way he fiddled with his hands at his side. "Callum."
"Fine," he gave in. "I mentioned Tess, alright?"
"Tess, the mess?"
"Yes, her."
She grimaced. "Yikes."
"Exactly what he said."
She crossed her arms and leaned against the other side of the elevator. Her eyes studied him, noting the familiar nervous tics when dealing with new interests. The clenching of the jaw, gnawing at the corner of his lip, was all textbook for her. Callum was totally interested in him. And in deep too if he was this on edge around him. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what again?"
"Pushing him away."
"What are you talking about?"
She groaned. "Complaining about the traffic, mentioning the shit show of an ex like Tess, not to mention you probably hyped New York again. Trying to make yourself even more unapproachable and undateable."
"That is not what I was doing," he said. "I was just making small talk. He mentioned his ex-boyfriend first; it was only fair I mentioned one of my exes. I think talking kept him from freaking out about how tight this space is, that's all."
Of course, Callum knew he had brought up the potential boyfriend situation first, but Charlotte didn't need to know that. Still, he could hear the snicker from across the space.
"So you found out he's single?" His head whipped to her, seeing the corner of her lips upturned into a smirk. "I'm impressed."
"That's not—you're ridiculous. I should've just taken the stairs," Callum groaned as the elevators reached the parking garage. He couldn't wait to walk out, his shoulder brushing the opening doors.
"See you tomorrow, Mr. Dawson."
Callum waved a hand at her, speed walking to the valet booth to wait for his driver. The sound of her heels clicked against the concrete, slowly getting softer and softer to his relief. He knew her tirade would continue tomorrow at work, and the idea of calling out was very tempting.
The two valet workers greeted him before glancing over at their booths, double-checking that everyone had left so they could close down. Callum often drove to work in the past and occasionally did now, but it was easier for Earl, his driver, to handle most of his driving. Like Charlotte, Earl was another source of accountability, ensuring Callum arrived on time and established alibis if any scandals arose.
As he waited for Earl to pull around to the front, Callum spotted the familiar set of dark brown hair walking down a line of cars. His eyes followed Logan, watching as he fiddled with his keys and belongings, glancing over his shoulder now and then to watch the other cars drive past.
Logan opened the backseat of his car, dropping off his shoulder bag. Callum tried to peel his eyes away, but Logan glanced up in his direction as he shut the passenger side door. The two's eyes met, and Logan raised his hand in a sheepish wave. Callum forced himself to look away, berating himself for even looking in that direction in the first place. He heard the car door shut while Callum steeled his eyes down at his phone, waiting for the sound of the car to leave.
Luckily, Earl pulled up shortly after, distracting Callum from the awkward eye contact. Callum was surprised he was still here and hadn't ditched with the rest of the employees.
Not bothering to wait for Earl to get out and open the door, Callum instead pulled door handles before Earl could even put the vehicle in park. Earl turned down the volume and looked up at him. "Good evening, Mr. Dawson."
"Evening."
"Eventful day today? Rather late for a Monday."
"Yeah," Callum breathed as he fiddled with his seatbelt, cursing it as he missed for the third time. "Very eventful. Could use a drink."
"Would you prefer to be dropped off at the bar?"
"No, I'd like to be at home, thanks."
"Alright." Earl tipped his head before driving out of the parking garage. Callum leaned his head against the window, surprised that the traffic wasn't that bad; possibly the one good thing about being stuck in an elevator, he surmised.
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