My dad called me this morning and asked me to meet him in his office. I walk in and sit down across from him. “Hey sweetie.” He says to me.
“Hey, what’s up?” I respond.
He smiles at me. “I wanted to touch base about the team and see how everything was going.”
“Good. Great actually. We are on track to beat last quarter’s numbers.” I say confidently
He smirks at me. “Yes, I know. I heard about McCormicks.” Then his smile drops. “The thing is, the overall numbers have been great, but there have been a few guys struggling this past month.”
I go to open my mouth, but my dad continues. “It’s perfectly understandable. There’s new leadership and processes have changed, which is why I think you guys should do a team building exercise.”
“Team building?” I ask as I raise an eyebrow in question.
“Yes.” My dad says as he leans back in his chair. “I think you all should go up to the cabin this weekend. The team still needs to get to know you better before they will fully trust you.”
“This weekend? Isn’t that kind of short notice?” I ask.
My dad laughs. “I’m sure most of them will be able to make it. We both know none of them have lives. Plus everyone loves the cabin.”
I laugh, but agree with him. “Can we leave Sawyer at home?”
My dad rolls his eyes. “I think that would defeat the main purpose of this trip.”
I let out a sigh. “So what? You want me to be friends with Sawyer now?”
My dad laughs. “God no. That bastard can rot in hell. He doesn’t even deserve to be breathing the same air as you.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Uhm thanks? I think. So what exactly is the point then?”
He chuckles. “It’ll be good for the team to get to know you more. You and Sawyer can figure out a professional rhythm.”
I groan. “Do I have to? I was hoping I could move on from him shortly.”
My dad smiles. “It’ll be good practice for the future. We often have to work with people that we loathe.”
I groan again. “Fine. Have you told any of the guys yet?”
He grins back. “Nope. I wanted to give you the opportunity so you’d have a one up on Sawyer.”
I laugh. “Way to go dad!” I stand from my chair. “I better get to it. Did you need anything else?”
“No. That was all. See you later.” He says.
I walk out with a little more pep in my step than before. My dad was right. This will be good news for the team, and I get to deliver it. Suck that Sawyer.
The cabin is located in a remote, woodsy area. The only thing nearby is a small town with a couple restaurants and one bar. No one usually leaves the cabin though. It has a fully stocked bar with all the mixers you can think of, tons of gaming tables, pool, air hockey, you name it, an entertainment room with a projector movie screen, and a full set of video game TVs set up next to each other so more than one person can play.
The most extravagant thing though is the heated pool out back. Even when it’s snowing and below zero, the pool remains at a nice 90 degrees. There’s just something so magical about being in a remote wooded area with the snow falling down and floating around in the water.
I’m heading back to my desk, but I stop by Erin’s desk. “Hey, my team is going to the cabin this weekend, so can’t do drinks this Friday.” We usually do drinks after work on Friday if we don’t have any other plans.
She whistles. “Ooo fancy. What’s that all about?”
I shrug. “My dad thinks we need to do a team building trip since we lost Bob. Get the guys used to all the new processes.” I sit down on the edge of the desk. “Best part though is that I get to tell everyone about it. My dad told me first.”
Erin’s eyes open wide at something behind me, and I whip around to see what she’s looking at. I’m greeted with Sawyer’s smug face. I look down to his hands as he pulls out of his phone.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t you fucking dare.”