Business Scandals
Chapter 2 – Waking Up
Welcome back readers! I know it's been a while, but here it is! Remember to please review because it's great motivation for me to continue writing. It's a little short, but enjoy!
Annabeth's POV –
My head hurt. A lot.
I shot straight out of bed, immediately identifying the bed sheets as silk, rather than my scruffy cotton ones. Looking around, I found myself in the bed of a massive room, with light starting to stream through the windows, and a couch with a huge screen TV. Layers of pillows were scattered along the couch, and I even noticed a small, fluffy, and dark brown dog at the edge of the couch, wagging his tail and looking at me.
Detaching myself from the covers, I climbed out of the bed and looked out window. Recognizing the familiar street, I widened my eyes.
We were in the Upper East Side, 5th Avenue. Occasionally, I went uptown to jog in Central Park, and my best guess was that we were in The Magellan, the most expensive hotel of Manhattan.
How did I get here?
Suddenly, I hear the creak of the shower handle turn, and it turned quieter than before. Mentally, I whack myself on the head. How I did I not hear the water running?
Before I could run back to the bed, a familiar face emerges from the bathroom door, with a towel around his waist, upper half exposed. Green eyes stared at me, and I cannot tear my eyes away from his body. Forcing myself to look away, he finally says suggestively, "Staring?"
I look at him, ignoring his comment. "Why am I here? What happened last night?"
He looks surprised. "You don't remember anything?" he asks.
I recall last night's events. "I-I remember kissing you, and, uh, this party, Thalia…oh shit Thalia," I curse, frantically looking for my purse.
He straightens. Quickly, he runs to one of the couches and snatches up my purse. I fumble with my phone after searching for it. I dial Thalia's number.
"ANNABETH, WHERE DID YOU GO LAST NIGHT," she bellows.
I glance at Percy before turning away and lowering my voice. "Listen…I'll be home at maybe midafternoon, I can't talk now, bye."
"Ann-" she begins, but I quickly click the end button of the call.
I look back at Percy, who seems to have put on a pair of boxers and a grey t-shirt while I wasn't looking. Thank gods.
"Listen, I hardly know you, and I really can't stay here, but my apartment is like 25 minutes away and I need to change out of these clothes," I say.
He heads towards a drawer and opens the bottom one, revealing a set of dress shirts. He selects a light blue one and tosses it to me, offering it.
"Take it."
We stare at each other for a moment before I say, "Well? Are you just going to watch me change?" I demand.
"If I could." He laughs, while I stare at him annoyed. "I'll go downstairs." Before he leaves, he grabs a pair of dark jeans and then closes the door behind him.
Utterly amazed at what last night turned out to be, I shrug off my clothes, put on the silky collared shirt, and then walk down to where Percy was supposedly cooking breakfast.
"So how'd I end up here?" I say, while I sit at the island as he cooks.
"Um…well you sorta blacked out before you could tell me your address, and I didn't know what to do so I brought you here," he replies.
"And where exactly are we?"
"The Magellan. Can't you tell from the view?"
"And how do you possibly have one of the largest rooms in the entire building?" I question.
While taking out two classy plates, he says, "My dad owns a large company."
After he laid out the pancakes, I cautiously took a fork and poked it.
It was soggy.
"God, do you even know how to cook?" I asked jokingly.
He laughs and says, "Maybe."
I stand up from my seat and rush to the stove, pouring new pancake mix into the pan, and look at him. "Watch and learn."
xXxXxXx
After we finished eating my pancakes, he started up conversation.
"So you have a job?" he asks, washing the plates.
I smile. "I have a job interview tomorrow as an architect with a lucrative company. You?" I answer.
"Well, like I said, my dad's the CEO and he's planning to give the company to me soon, but I don't really have a job as of right now." Percy says casually.
"You're going to be a CEO?" I ask, surprised.
He laughs and says, "You sound like it's impossible for me."
I shrug and say, "Who knows?"
Suddenly, someone's loud phone ringtone goes off blaring, and instantly Percy's hands goes to his pockets and after reading the caller ID, he jams his finger on the green answer button.
"Jackson."
His face is expressionless as he listens to the other person talk.
"Okay I will contact Nico and tell him to pick up the car as soon as possible."
Pause.
"Thanks, bye."
He clicks the end button on his phone and I say, "I should probably be getting home now."
He thinks for a moment before asking, "Yeah, probably. I'll send you home."
xXxXxXx
Once we get down to the ground level, we walk out into the cloudy day of New York, full of large crowds and bustling people. The signs displayed vivid colors, and Percy carefully led me to a shiny black Maserati, and we settled in the front.
"Input the address into my device there," he tells me, and points to a techy GPS above the clock.
I look at him. He looks at me. "What?" he says.
"Nothing, it's just that you have expensive cars and new technology and everything."
He smiles. "Well, that's what it's like living in my world. Or my father's world. And by the way, you said nothing and then everything." He smirks.
"Shut up." I retort, and lightly punch in the arm. I quickly input the address and the rest of the car ride remains in uncertain silence.
xXxXxXx
We arrive outside my apartment, however, I don't see Thalia's car parked outside.
I hurry to exit the car, and I close the door behind me. I hastily thank Percy for the ride, but before I start back to the entrance, he yells my name.
"Annabeth," he calls.
I turn around and say, "Yes?"
He turns his bright green eyes to me, and finally says, "It was really nice meeting you."
I smile, and respond, "It was really nice meeting you too, Percy."
Then, I turn around reluctantly, and walk inside the building.
Percy's POV –
After hesitantly dropping Annabeth off, I glumly drive over to Nico's place, pissed that he left his car at the club. I don't even know how he got home.
Nico was my best friend, and he lived about 20 minutes from Annabeth's apartment, and he was probably the most irresponsible person I've ever met.
I stop outside Nico's small apartment and stalk to his door, and knock on it twice loudly.
Nico opens the door, and he loudly whispers, "What the hell are you doing here?"
I frown. "Dude, you left your car outside Club Remix."
He thinks for a moment before groaning, "Aw shit my favorite Mercedes? Damnit."
"How'd you even get home?"
He flushes. "I met a girl."
Suddenly, a loud voice from inside his apartment shouts, "Nico where on earth is my bag?"
"Hold on Thalia, someone's here," he yells back.
"Thalia? Wait-," I start, but then a girl's head pops out next to Nico's and she greets, "Oh, hi there."
Nico turns to Thalia and states, "It's on the countertop, Thals."
Thalia heads back into the apartment before I could say anything.
"You gotta go get your car before they tow it away," I say, annoyed.
"Alright Perce, I'll go get it in the afternoon. Come in first," he replies.
I enter his apartment, and I notice Thalia, whom I believe is Annabeth's friend, talk on the phone.
She was saying, "Damnit Annabeth sorry I'll be home in 15 minutes."
She listens.
"Yeah I drove here…okay bye." Thalia hangs up and turns to look at us.
"My best friend is going to kill me, so I really have to go." She turns to Nico, and tells him, "I'll call you later," and finally she looks at me and says, "And bye to you too stranger."
Thalia pecks Nico on the cheek, leaving Nico in shock, and she rushes out the door, leaving both of us confused.
"Seriously, you had to pick Thalia?" I question him.
"What's wrong with Thalia?"
I groan and say, "Get your car," and I slump down on one of his couches, bewildered at what just happened.
And that's where it ends. Review, and stay updated for upcoming chapters. Chapter 3 will be posted very soon, since I've already started writing it. Show some support, and once again, REVIEW, favorite, and follow! Thanks! ~S