A/N: Been meaning to start a new story for some time. This time I think I have most of the plot decided so I shouldn't get too many writer's blocks this time.

I hope you like it. I'll try to update as much as possible, but I don't have a good history with updating very quickly. I'll try to make the chapters longer as I go.

Disclaimer: All rights to Rick Riordan. I only own the plot.

Annabeth Chase huffed, stumbling as she tried to pull the sock over her toes. She jumped around, awkwardly, in order to maintain her balance. Her alarm clock hadn't gone off that morning, but at the moment that was the last thing on her mind. Annabeth was busy panicking about the fact that she was about to be late for work and her mother was going to murder her. Athena Chase. Or rather- Athena Stone. She went with her maiden name now, though her daughter kept her last name. Annabeth straightened her black blazer and smoothed down her pencil skirt as quickly as possible, praying the bun on her head kept her curls properly, so she wouldn't appear disheveled. Annabeth quickly snatched up a grey umbrella near the door, for it was raining cats and dogs out there on the New York City streets. She'd spent a good half an hour on her makeup and hair- like hell she'd let the rain mess that up.

She swiftly slipped her feet into black heels and snatched her keys, shoving her arms into a jacket and hurriedly wrapping herself in a red scarf, along with red gloves, and earmuffs. She appeared to be your typical city girl. Heels as high as the skyscrapers, perfectly made face, latest iPhone brand. Of course, her eyes ruined the image. They were cold and calculated and once she opened her mouth, you knew you fucked up. Thought she was pretty? If you valued your life, you wouldn't hit on her. Oh, how she'd kill you with a look.

Annabeth rushed out of her average apartment, an apartment that did not reveal her mother's wealth. Of course, Athena didn't live with her, but that was another matter entirely. Annabeth shivered, puffs of air escaping her pink lips, as she muttered about the ridiculous Manhattan weather, running in the rain, the umbrella shielding her poorly due to her speed. Annabeth ran into a few New Yorkers, all who shot her dirty glares. But she did not apologize, for she had no reason to, in her mind. Her pride kept her from doing so. She ran down the subway entrance stairs not so gracefully, and whipped out her shiny Metro card, getting into a subway car as quick as possible. Inside, she kept her distance from other passengers, holding onto the steel bar above with her gloved hand. Her nose was upturned, giving off a very clear leave-me-alone-if-you-value-your-life vibe.

The subway car made a terrible sound as it stopped at the second stop. The third stop was Annabeth's stop. When the car didn't begin moving again once the passengers were dropped off, Annabeth glanced at her shiny delicate watch, annoyed. She was going to be late, damnit.

"Good morning, New Yorkers," a crackly voice came over the speaker. "Unfortunately, the subway car is having some problems. There is going to be a half an hour delay. We apologize for the inconvenience and will let you know any updates as soon as possible." Groans echoed through the car.

Half an hour? Half an hour?! HELL NO.

"If you'd like to get off at this stop instead of waiting, feel free to do so," the voice said over the speaker. Murmuring spread through the car as the door opened. Annabeth shoved past anyone else, stepping off first. She glanced down at her watch again. She was already running ten minutes behind schedule. At this rate, she'd be unbelievably late. Annabeth took pride in her punctuality. This was killing her.

God, she hated Mondays. Annabeth ran up the subway stairs, her heels clicking noisily. Once outside, she groaned again, on the verge of screaming out of pure annoyance at this cursed morning. Standing in the rain, hiding under her umbrella. The traffic looked unbearable, but it seemed as if that were her only option. Irritated and officially in a bitchier mood than usual, Annabeth hailed a cab. She slipped into the ugly yellow car once it pulled to the curb. The cab driver looked back at her. Annabeth folded her umbrella quickly, nose and cheeks pink from the coldness of the city. "Stone Records," she said, rattling off an address. The cab driver sped off as quickly as possible, getting caught in traffic occasionally. Now Annabeth was running twenty minutes behind schedule. God, she hated this.

Finally, finally, he pulled up in front of the building, in front of work. She paid hurriedly, then ran, not even bothering with the umbrella, to get out of the downpour and into the building. Once inside, people greeted her. All sorts of famous names were signed here, at her mother's record company. Annabeth didn't bother nodding politely to those nearby for she was in a rush to get to her office. She was twenty-seven minutes late, leaving her meeting only three minutes away from starting. God, she was so so screwed. Annabeth practically sprinted- she moved fast for a young woman in heels- towards to elevator.

Outside the elevator, there is a crowd waiting. The whole crowd would probably just barely fit in the elevator. Annabeth groaned; how she hated physical contact. But it's not like she could get picky now, she was desperate to get up to the top floor for the meeting. Her mother would chastise her if she was late. Annabeth didn't want that to happen, so she bit her lip nervously, tapping the ground impatiently, waiting for the elevator to hit the ground floor. She watched the bright number lights as they counted down to the ground floor, the doors of the elevator opening with a warm ding.

The crowd pushed into the elevator, slowly, of course. It was early on a Monday morning, nobody was in a rush to do anything, which of course only aggravated Annabeth more. Finally, it was just her and a young man she hadn't seen before. He had messy, unruly, dark black hair that fell into her eyes. Since she had never seen him before, Annabeth was even more irritated by his disheveled demeanor. Seeing as he wasn't carrying an instrument or anything, she figured he was probably just here for the internship position. Annabeth was freaking out. There was only room in the elevator for one more person. The young man saw her badge and his eyes got wide when he saw her name: Annabeth Chase. The owner's daughter.

Annabeth quickly shoved her way into that last spot on the car. He scowled. "You should've just asked," he muttered. "I would've let you go and I would've waited."

Annabeth, exhausted from her morning, snipped at him. "Yes, well I'm running late for a meeting. You aren't even working here. I have more priorities to get through so therefore I would get to be on the car and you wait," she snapped.

He stared at her, his scowl turning into a smirk. "Right. I don't work here."

Annabeth glared. "No you don't. And you probably never will," she sniffed in distaste, holding her chin high.

His smile that could only belong to a bad boy. The tattoos lining his arms and the messy look didn't exactly help her from assuming some things. Annabeth almost wondered why he was in this building at all. It wasn't like he was any good at anything anyways, right? Athena was sure to send him away. Annabeth decided not to dwell on it, for it wasn't her problem. He was just some idiotic young man anyways, most likely.

Just as the doors to the elevator were closing, the young man standing in the hallway still, Annabeth crammed into a full elevator, she looked up, meeting his gaze. She was caught off guard by his gentle sea green eyes, a shade she'd never seen before. Eyes so beautiful that it almost made her regret making assumptions about him. Eyes that seemed as if they didn't belong to his tough demeanor because they were so beautifully gentle and kind. And deep, oh how they roared like the entire ocean was behind them, as if they held the meaning of life, as if they knew more than they let on.

Electricity seemed to tingle down her spine as their eyes locked for a second, cut off by the elevator doors shutting on both of their faces, the car speeding up levels. Annabeth brushed off the feeling as nothing, putting it in the back of her mind and forcing herself to forget about it. After all, she had a meeting to get to. Her mother was counting on her to sign this deal with their client in their meeting, that she was just barely going to make on time.

The elevator sound went off, and Annabeth stepped off at her level, rushing to her meeting. Annabeth took the black coffee from the break room quickly as she passed by. She took a sip of her black, rich coffee. Ah, coffee could solve any problem. Especially the case of Monday madness. Suddenly, the phone rang as she was setting down her things at her desk. Annabeth answered immediately.

"Annabeth," Athena said her voice harsh as always. Annabeth mentally groaned.

"Mother?"

"You know to refer to me as Ms. Stone," she hissed. "How many times must I remind you? Honestly, quit being so incompetent. Exercise that useless brain of yours."

"Yes, Ms. Stone," Annabeth answered, obediently, though she couldn't help but roll her eyes and though her tone had been a bit cold. How she despised her mother. Her mother despised her the same, though, so all was well.

"The meeting begins a few minutes," Athena chided. "Where are you?" she asked in a patronizing voice, yet still with a hiss of evil in it.

Annabeth's chest tightened in anger. Managing to keep her voice steady she replied calmly,"I'm coming in just one minute, Ms. Stone."

"Hurry," Athena demanded, not knowing nor caring if Annabeth was busy. Then, she hung up without another word. Annabeth scoffed and set the phone back down. Gathering her things needed for the meeting and calming herself down, she practically ran to the meeting room. Once inside, Annabeth sat at one end of the business table and set up contracts and other things. Soon enough, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," she called.

In walked the dark haired, mischievous sea green eyed, tattooed young man from earlier at the elevator. Remembering the way their eyes had locked, Annabeth nearly spit out her coffee right then and there.

"You're the new client?" she coughed, desperately trying to hide her incredulity. "Please, have a seat." She gestured to the chair in front of her. She hadn't seen him with any instruments earlier, but now he carried a guitar case with him. Her nose turned up in distaste. She'd just figured he was a new intern or something. She didn't want to have to work with him or worse- talk to him. He had too many tattoos, looked too mischievous, too much trouble, and god, she just didn't want to affiliate with him.

His eyes sparkled all bad boy like and Annabeth scowled. She reached out to shake his hand, begrudgingly, as he sat down. It seemed like he had other ideas, for he kissed the back of her hand instead, smirking. Annabeth quickly drew her hand away, scowling.

"Elevator boy," she glowered.

"Ah, yes, prissy city girl," he replied, in the same tone, to mock her.

Annabeth scoffed. "You got a name?"

He tsked and shook his head. "Is this how you should be treating future artists at this wonderful company. Maybe I should report you," he pretended to think about it. "Then again, it's not exactly your fault for acting so rude. You're just trying to build defenses in hope that I won't remember you drooling over me before the elevator doors closed." The smirk only grew.

"Me? Drooling over you?" she asked, snorting. "Please. In your dreams, you delusional buffoon."

"Percy Jackson," he said all of a sudden, ignoring her insults, with a smirk on his face that could make any girl's knees weak.

"Excuse me?"

"My name," he clarified,"is Percy Jackson."

A/N: Don't forget to review. Let me know if you think it's going too fast or too slow. I appreciate constructive criticism.