Out of Order | ONC 2022

13

Between Chris's texts and calls, and Callum's bizarre shift in attitude, Logan had the worst night's sleep. He napped during his lunch break and still couldn't keep his eyes open, and even as he was debating what kind of clothes were appropriate for a team dinner, Logan was tempted to just dive into his sheets and call it a day. If he hadn't been the marketing team leader, Logan would've called and made an excuse for not attending.

Victor had driven the marketing team to the restaurant, luckily picking Logan up last. He couldn't imagine spending a car ride with the older coworker or listening to the other three complain any more than they already have about Callum and the project.

Logan's apartment wasn't that far from the restaurant, and he would've taken an Uber on his own or even attempted to catch the city bus, but Victor offered, and Logan wasn't exactly sure where the pub was located.

By the time Victor had found street parking, the finance team was already there, waiting outside near the door; Callum was nowhere to be seen. The wind was stronger and colder than the night Logan and Callum had eaten out, and Logan regretted choosing the thinner jacket. He crossed his arms in hopes of getting slightly warmer as he followed his team toward the entrance.

"Can't believe he's going to a team dinner," Keanu said to Jen a few steps in front of Logan. "I wouldn't have shown up, but he is paying."

Jen laughed. "Anything for free food. I wonder if Charlotte convinced him to go to 'save his reputation' or whatever. He wouldn't go to one of these willingly. He doesn't even like going to the food court or presenting projects. Now he wants to socialize with his workers?"

Keanu crossed his arms. "Some kind of catch, right? Maybe he's using this to make up for it instead of bonuses or pay increase?"

"You think he might just ditch and have us cover the bills ourselves?" Ramona turned to them.

Victor waved a hand as he walked ahead of them to the pub. "He'd be wise not to; he'd only be hurting himself by now going back on his word. I reckon Charlotte may show up in his place to pay for us if he does chicken out."

"If that's the case, I'd rather go home," Keanu grumbled. "Charlotte doesn't deserve to deal with that."

"Or, Callum's going to dump more work for us and use this as his apology," Jen joked.

"Or," Logan said before he could think. "Maybe he is concerned that we have nothing to show for the project yet. Especially since between the two teams, I'm the only one with any research and color swatches to go off of."

Aside from Keanu and Jen, who turned to him, Spencer O'Ryan from finance and his team had turned to look at him. The looks on their faces were enough for Logan to want to crawl in a hole. Their complaints about Callum had started as soon as the emergency meeting ended yesterday and had gone on the entire shift, leaving Logan downright irritable and annoyed beyond just his sleep-deprived night.

It wasn't just the comments about Callum that pissed Logan off, he was pretty used to the side comments during his shifts, and when he'd overhear other employees say things in passing in the cafeteria, but it went beyond just that. Like Callum, Logan was already annoyed at his team's lack of doing anything, really. From the procrastination, letting things accumulate till later, and to the overall doesn't give a fuck mentality that everyone in his and Spencer's team exuded. How had the last marketing lead handled this, and how was this company succeeding with a group like this?

Not to mention Chris's texts and his arrival in Los Angeles were leaving Logan on edge.

It was Spencer, of all people, to turn to Logan with a raised brow. "It's just a preliminary assignment. Like Callum reiterated."