Disclaimer: Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus characters all are owned by the one Rick Riordan. Plot outline based on the French film Des Vrais Mensonges. The chapter name belongs to the respective artist(s), in this case Katy Perry.

Percy, a handyman, sends an anonymous love letter to his boss Annabeth. After initially throwing it away, she forwards it to her separated aunt to cheer her up. Mistakes, misunderstandings and marriage (or absence of). Rated T for topics discussed and swearing. Based off French film Des Vrais Mensonges. AU.

Chapter 1 – Unconditionally

Annabeth

Letters are a frisky thing, something that can go hardly right or hardly wrong. You can't hide behind acronyms or typos, and there simply is no place for them nowadays, where CTRL+Z takes precedence. So after I look at the sloppily placed stamp that looked like it had been completely slobberified, I open the envelope. It's white, and plain, and hard to track down. The return address is to mine, oddly enough – in a handwriting that sloped up and down, almost if the sender had dyslexia or dysgraphia. The letter is a confession of love.

I can't profess that I know much about these or how to react, but this isn't a movie. I know that well enough - and if there were cameras I would have slapped them away.

I'm a good target, so I fold the paper with signs of a heartsick person into an airplane and aim for the bin. There is no real reason for me to tell you whether I did get it into the bin or not, but as it was an anomaly, I shall.

It failed.

Percy waddles in with his head full of gunk and debris in place of his brain.

So.

He attempts to make conversation, but this is not Horrible Bosses. So I shut him up with a lengthy glare – this one takes a while to register anything – and he continues cleaning. There is a pause as he approaches the bin, where my paper plane still lies in an accusing manner.

It seems to be telling me that yes, the letter did disconcert me.

I wave it off before I realise I'm doing it in real life, and Percy (who had been watching me like a hawk this whole time) looks at me even more oddly.

Hmm.

So he gingerly touches it, but my sharp voice commands him to drop it. He does so in shock, but his familiarity to the letter only created suspicion. He knew where it started and ended, even when folded up – I begin to see him as an abettor. However, all I do reveal is that I want him to bring it here – to me. He picks it up, seeming apprehensive at the notion and looking very much like he wants to drop it into the bin.

That boy needs closure.

I tap my desk and then turn away (not like I made any eye contact).

I start to speak.

Omniscience

"What are you doing this weekend."

Although phrased like a question, it was a command. One with, as they say, ulterior motives.

Percy pauses then mumbles something about seeing his parents and old school friends back in his hometown. Annabeth processes this then remembers his resume – how he lived in suburban New York and had come to San Francisco because of a girlfriend or something ridiculous like that. When they inevitably broke up, he stayed for the prospects and found a job as an all-round handyman at the Athena Architectural Company, referred by his former friend Luke.

Annabeth shows only the slightest bit of professional regret desired for a manipulating situation like this.

Percy seems to notice this.

"I…was wondering whether we could possibly…go out for coffee."

Percy's eyes widen and he seems to eat the air, searching to take back his words.

"Or hot chocolate. You know, depending,"

He doesn't take into account the subtle jab at his immaturity and smiles like the adoring, heartsick puppy he is.

"No, I'm like… free. Those were just hypothetical. They wouldn't have worked with the money right now…"

"Using big words, I see. Well, we'll see what we can do about the pay rise. So, coming?"

"…UhIguessifitisn'tanytrouble…"

"I wouldn't have offered otherwise. Now, keep cleaning."

Percy

"As you know, there has been a particular problem with… love in my world recently."

Yes, I did know.

"So I was wondering whether you could… help me out."

Yes, I could.

"I have an aunt."

Huh?

"She's only ever loved one man, unconditionally. And he left her."

If Grover was here, he would make sense of it. Tell him that it really was herself she was talking about, not some aunt.

"She's spiralled into depression. She still thinks that he loves her. But he doesn't. What's the most obsessive thing you would do it you were in this… unrequited situation?"

Write a letter to your boss and give it to her anonymously I think, but I don't say anything.

"Well," says the lady running the conversation, "clearly setting a place for him at dinner every day is not at all concerning. You see what I'm getting at?"

No, I thought. I start to drive slower as majority of my brain cells are preoccupied with listening and trying to park near Starbucks.

"We're here. Oh, and by the way, do you remember the letter you put on my desk?"

Of course.

"I forwarded it to my aunt in hopes of cheering her up. I'll be seeing her on Wednesday, so I'll gauge the effects then. Meanwhile, I'd like a Gra-"

She was cut off by my words. After all, I was raised properly and do have to order her food every day, being her all-around 'assistant'.

"Fair Trade Certified™ Pike Place® Roast for the lady." I tried to sound smooth.

"Actually. Actually, I'd like a Gingerbread Latte. It is the time of season."

I do my goldfish impersonation. She said she was impressed by it.

"Let me close that for you. And yes, A-N-N-A-B-E-T-H. One word."

There is a less than awkward silence as we wait for my hot chocolate and her Christmas thingy. She did tell me once it's only ever awkward when you point it out.

I get my hot chocolate and her Latte.

"Why is it that no matter how many packets of sugar I add, the hot chocolate still tastes the same?"

She nudges me to a window seat and rolls her eyes.

"I deplore it when they get my name wrong."

I know better than to suggest the importance of a name on a paper cup in her life. Instead:

"Really? You never get a Gingerbread Latte! It's like… once in a blue moon."

She snorts and stirs the latte.

"Yes, that is the saying. But scientifically, unless you're in special atmospheric conditions or near a volcano, blue has nothing to do with it."

"Blue has to do with everything. Like, blue Coke. And cookies."

Annabeth

This peaks my interest, albeit for a short while. I learn that his mother and he (and his baby brother Tyson) likes blue, as it was a small rebellion against their ex-stepfather that she married for the sake of Percy's education. Not that said endeavour came to much, considering his current mental status, but it was one baby step for the poor Perseus.

I phrase my sentence carefully.

"I got a Latte because if your life had been tipped upside down, you might as well go the whole way. It's all or nothing; go big or go home. In most cases, at least."

He seems proud of his minor, minor influence over the fact that he managed to get me to have my life revolve around something other than my own, attempting-to-be-perfect life. This time, it was revolved around my aunt's life. Which, for the record, was far from perfect.

"I need you to meet her. And take her out on a dinner, and be nice. Clean up and have a good time."

"No."

"I'll pay for the dinner."

I knew he needed the money.

"I'll pay you, too."

My phone vibrates (it is always on silent) and I read a text. It was from a slightly concerned brother and fellow shareholder partner/co-owner of Athena Architectural Company – Malcolm, who was now about to ring the police.

The building had been broken into.

A/N: I hope you didn't find them too OOC. Has anyone else watched the film? Thanks for reading and hope you have a great day (Gods, I sound like a shop lady). Reviews/favourites/follows?