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Of Corporate Scandals

Chapter 21. Planning

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"Um, M-Ms. Chase. Mr. Jackson wants you in h-his office."

"Oh, okay. Watch the phones for me, okay?"

"Um, sure. Uh, okay, ma'am."

Annabeth rose from her desk and walked the short distance to Percy Jackson's office, her heels clicking on the titled floor. She opened the door and slipped inside.

"The new intern. What's her name?" Annabeth inquired as she ran a hand through her hair.

"The brunette with the stutter?"

"Yeah."

"Erin."

"Yes...I like her," She smiled as she eased her way behind his desk and sat on Percy's lap.

Percy chuckled, placing a hand at the small of her back, "And why is that?"

"She's basically doing my job for me. I don't even have to do anything anymore."

Percy grinned at his girlfriend, "Hm. Then maybe I have no use for you anymore."

Annabeth stared him down, "I was joking, babe."

"Me too...maybe."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, "So Erin said you summoned for me."

"Now that I did," Percy eased her off of his lap and opened his desk drawer. Annabeth leaned against his desk as she watched him. He pulled out a brochure and flung it on the table in front of her. Annabeth picked it up and flipped through it.

"Barb's Bed & Breakfast: Experience the beauty of Maine on the shore of Lighthouse Lake with your love this holiday season," Annabeth read. She raised her eyebrow and looked at him.

Percy shrugged, "I don't know I was just thinking maybe we could drive down there on Wednesday and stay because of the long weekend and Thanksgiving-"

"This is really sweet, Perc-"

"So you wanna go?"

"No."

"What?"

Annabeth laughed and set the brochure down, "Well, it sounds lovely, but Thals and I are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at the apartment and I want you to come."

Percy blinked, "Oh."

"Is that okay, babe? You look...confused."

"No, yeah, that's fine. It's just..."

"What?"

"A dinner at your place?"

"Mhm. We invited all of our friends. It's gonna be nice and laid back. Luke's parents are going to be there. And May always makes really great stuffing and Thals brother may stop by with his family."

"Oh, that sounds really nice...It's just that the Jacksons never really did 'Thanksgiving Dinner' the whole family affair."

"What? You're joking." Annabeth had somehow nestled herself back onto his lap during the course of their conversation.

Percy shrugged, "Nope. Dad always insisted we travel somewhere cool and exotic to show off to his colleagues. We'd go to dinner at some fancy restaurant in a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving and have something expensive like endangered tiger to prove how sophisticated we were. Mum would always want to stay home and have her family over and cook like a normal mom, but Dad always had his way. So, yeah. Never experience the whole turkey and pumpkin pie thing."

Annabeth said, "That's unbelievable. Back in California, we'd always go over to my step-mom's sister's house and have dinner there with her crazy family. It was always a huge family affair. My step-cousins would try to hit on me since I'm not really related, but other than that my step-family was pretty cool. Then my dad would take Matt, Bobby, and I to a football game."

Percy said, "Wow, that sounds fun."

Annabeth grinned, "Good, because my family is flying over from California and they need to meet you."

A/N: Hey, guys! I'm back. Thank you for all of your prayers.