Chapter 1

Beep. Beep. Beep. Annabeth Chase's hand automatically shot out to find the source of the noise. Sure enough, her fingers found the culprit, and they started jamming themselves at random buttons until the loud, irritating sound was off. For a second, she considered sleeping in, but then her phone rang. Annabeth glanced at the caller ID and it read, "Thalia." Thalia Grace was Annabeth's best friend.

Though the girls shared a very strong friendship, people at school could never really figure out how they became friends. But that was because they were basing on the girls' appearances. Thalia had spiky black hair and piercing blue eyes, and freckles were splashed in her face, whereas Annabeth had blonde princess curls, stormy gray eyes, and a nice tan. But the people never knew the real reason that drew the girls together. It was because they see each other through each other.

Annabeth moved to New York from San Francisco to study college. Her father rented Annabeth her own apartment in the city. Her father, Frederick Chase, was a famous professor. But Annabeth never met her mother. They weren't exactly poor, but they weren't rich either. But Mr. Chase was able to support Annabeth and her needs. But even so, Annabeth looked for a job, so she can have extra money aside from the ones her father sent her every now and then. That was when Annabeth met Thalia. The two soon became friends, and eventually, best friends, despite the fact that Thalia's dad was the owner of New York's grandest airport, and Annabeth were just an average person.

"Morning, Thals," Annabeth said, stifling a yawn.

"Did you just wake up?" the other girl said on the line.

"Yeah, why?"

"I thought you were going to that instrumental thingy." That made Annabeth shot straight up. She completely forgot about it!

"Annie? Hey, I'm still in the line," Thalia complained.

"Call you later Thals. Thanks for reminding!" she hit the end button and ran immediately to the bathroom. After taking a quick shower, she changed into a simple purple shirt with an owl on it, a pair of shorts, and her denim sneakers. After having a quick breakfast consisting of slightly burnt toast and a glass of milk, she went out and hailed a cab.

It was a bad morning for Percy Jackson. First, he had to wake up earlier than his alarm clock did. Then he was told that he was expected in his father's office as soon as he was up. Then he had to wear something formal. Take for example a pressed suit. And on his haste to go to his father, he didn't have time for breakfast. Which irritated him more. And as he got down from the taxi cab (his car was stuck in the farthest part of the garage, and it will take him years to drive out without bumping his father's other cars), it splashed him cold, mucky, New York sewer water. All in all, it sucked. As he entered the glass doors of New York's richest oceanic company, the Trident Inc., he was bombarded with smiles and greetings from the employees. Percy entered the elevator and in a few minutes he was transported to the floor where the famous and powerful Poseidon Jackson's office was located. He pushed open the glass doors.

Sitting in his desk, busy with papers, was a tall man about his forties. He had the same sea-green eyes like Percy, and that's where the similarities end. His other features weren't like Percy's. He looked up and smiled when he saw his son.

"Good morning, Percy," he said. "I would like to talk to you." He gestured to the chair in front of his desk, and Percy went and sat down.

"What is it?" Percy asked.

"Uh, well, you know that you are the heir to this company, right?" Poseidon said.

"Yeah, so?"

"And you know that I've been working hard for it to stay at its best."

"Your point?" Poseidon shot Percy an annoyed look, though he can't really blame his son. Percy was diagnosed with ADHD at an early age, and it didn't really work out.

"Well… my effort is still not enough. To be able to reach the Trident's zenith, we should have alliance to another powerful company. And well, I already did with a certain corporation, the World's Weight."

"So what's it to do with me?"

"Well, the owner, John Atlas, said that he would sign the contract if… if you married her daughter, Calypso."

"What?!" Percy stood up from his chair. "Are you serious?"

"Percy, sit down, please," Poseidon said.

"No," Percy replied angrily. "I will not get married to a random girl. Dad, I'm still in college!"

"Percy," Poseidon was now standing too, "you have to. You have no excuse to reject Calypso. Unless you're dating someone, that is." An idea hit Percy.

"What if I said I am?" he said. Poseidon paused and raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" he asked suspiciously.

"Yes," Percy said. "And I'm not gonna leave her to get married to this Calypso, whoever she is." If he could, Percy would have smiled at this perfect lie. His father seemed to believe him, and he nodded.

"I'll tell Mr. Atlas about it," he resolved. "You may now go." Percy nodded and immediately left, breathing in relief. He had managed to get away from that. But he knew it was temporary. Pretty soon his father would want to meet his "girlfriend", which Percy didn't have. Don't get him wrong –he isn't gay, but he just didn't meet the type of girl he liked. Yet he was considered as NYU's heartthrob and heartbreaker. Other than that, Percy was also slightly famous. Aside from the fact that he was the son of Poseidon, Percy, along with three of his friends, was known for their band. The Demigods, as they call themselves, was a band who writes original songs and sings covers as well. The band consists of four boys: Nico di Angelo, Percy's cousin, Leo Valdez, and Jason Grace, also Percy's cousin. Percy loved music, and it had helped him when he was depressed, stressed, or angry. And that was what he felt now.

Then suddenly Percy remembered that there was a building where different types of musical instruments were displayed. And people were allowed to try them. He grinned. But he first went home and changed clothes, which was making him very uncomfortable.