Annabeth's POV

I sculpted the bow of my lip with a red pencil and filled it with a matching lipstick. I thought that if I wore this color and the sun hit me the right way again, maybe Percy would be able to see the outline of my pout. I smacked my lips and was pleased with the result. I felt strong and powerful in red lipstick. Like I was prepared to face any situation or any person that would try to stand in my way. But I was wrong. It definitely didn't prepare me for what I saw when I picked up my phone a few minutes later.

Unknown: Hi- It's Red

Unknown: I know we haven't met properly

Unknown: And I'm probably the last person in the world that you want to talk to right now.

Unknown: But I have some things I need to say to you.

Annabeth: I'd rather not hear them.

Unknown: Please? I'm outside your building. Could you let me up?

I was shocked and reluctant. But if she was already here, it must be urgent. I pressed the buzzer and hurriedly threw on some clothes.

Red's POV

Her apartment was smaller than I expected. They must not be paying her well. But it was well kept. She had a mature design sensibility for a girl her age. I remember the distinct pleasure of living alone before getting married and having a kid. There was just something so peaceful about having your own space. I could tell Annabeth was disturbed I was standing in her sanctuary.

"I hate to barge in like this," I lied. I loved that I'd caught her off-guard.

"What did you come here to say? I was just about to head out the door," she said, throwing some items into a leather bag as she talked.

"What? You're not going to offer me some coffee?" I smiled at her, trying my best to push her buttons.

"Coffee's for invited guests," she retorted. "Not for people who concoct evil plans to take down the company I work for."

"What are you talking about?" I smirked, deciding to play dumb.

"Percy and I uncovered your little scheme with Octavian…and it's not going to work," she added for good measure. "Percy is not yours to mess with anymore."

I felt blood coursing through my veins. Now was my chance to mess with her head. And I wasn't going to miss it.

Annabeth's POV

She stared at me with a strange smile I couldn't quite decipher.

"Wow," she started speaking again after a moment. "He really has you whipped, doesn't he?"

I could tell she chose the word whipped very carefully. She over-enunciated it, and I knew she was referring to the nature of my sexual relationship with Percy— something she must have a lot of experience with. After all, she was married to him for many years.

"I remember when I first met him," she continued. "It was all very exciting. The danger. The intrigue."

I felt my face start to flush and wished I had put on more foundation to cover the growing redness. Soon, my cheeks would match my lips.

"The day I signed my first contract with him was incredibly exciting. I had only been with boys before Percy, but he was most definitely a man."

"Right," I butted in. "I need to get going." I didn't want to hear her talk about him anymore. It was torture.

"Let me tell you what happened."

What is she talking about? Please, leave.

But she stayed firmly where she was standing.

"You're right. He didn't assault Tracy. And he never assaulted me. He never made me do anything I didn't agree to."

"I know," I retorted. "He's a good person."

"Let me finish," she snarled. "I want you to hear my story, so you will be prepared."

Prepared for what?

"The whole relationship became all-consuming. After a while, the lines started to blur between scenes and reality. He was supposed to dominate me in the bedroom but I started to feel like I needed his permission to do anything. To hang out with my friends, to go to the grocery store, to leave the house at all."

She clutched at her stomach, milking the drama.

"Everywhere I went, all I saw was stop lights. I felt like I had signed away my freedom."

My palms started to sweat at the gravity of her story. And though I didn't want it to, it really bothered me that he used the same safe words with her.

"I will leave you with this, Annabeth. When I met Percy, I was a lion. By the end of our relationship, he had turned me into nothing more than…a little mouse."

WHAT?

I nearly dropped to the floor with shock. The safe word was one thing, but knowing he called her by the same nickname made me fucking furious. How dare he? Never before in my life had I felt so unbelievably disposable.

"Don't tell me the same thing happened to you," she said, clearly pleased her words had such a profound effect on me. I saw a flash of red as she turned swiftly on her Louboutin and left my apartment, taking all my pride with her.

Percy's POV

I had told Annabeth to be here by now. She was just asking for a spanking for disobeying me. I decided to text her a warning of what was to come. The thought of punishment might even get her over here faster.

Percy: You're late.

Percy: That means big trouble when you get here, young lady.

Percy: I have a suede whip with your name on it.

Percy: ;)

After a few more minutes with no response, I started to worry. Annabeth was always unbelievably prompt. And she always had her phone on her. I wondered if something had happened to her. Oh, God. The thought of it was so agonizing, I decided I could no longer sit idly by in my apartment. I called my driver Kenny, and told him to meet me outside my building as soon as possible.

By the time we pulled up to her building, I had jumped to every worst case scenario situation I could imagine. But then something I never expected happened. Kenny turned around to the back seat and said," you'll never guess who just walked out of the front door."

"Who?"

"Red."

What the fuck?

I couldn't fathom what she could possibly be doing here. But whatever the reason, it certainly meant bad news for me. I got out of the car and immediately tripped on the curb. There was a thud as I lost control and banged my knee on the concrete. I screamed out in pain. On the whole, I was pretty good at maneuvering without sight, but I had moved quickly and carelessly in an attempt to get to Annabeth's door faster and had paid the price. Kenny, seeing me fall, jumped into action. He was at my side within seconds.

"Are you okay? Do you need me to call an ambulance?"

"No. No, I'm alright. I think I just need to walk it off. Can you help me?"

"Of course." He put his hand in mind and was just about to pull when I heard a voice coming from behind me.

"Percy? What are you doing on the ground?"

"Hi," Kenny said. "Just had a little fall."

"Oh my god. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Physically, I was starting to feel better, but I was an emotional wreck.

As I heard her move toward me, I also registered the sound of two small wheels trailing behind her. I knew what that was. I recognized it from when we arrived in Tuscany together. Annabeth had a suitcase with her. Kenny pulled me up. I shook out my injured leg and made an attempt to straighten my suit.

I turned to Annabeth. "Hi."

"Hi," she said, conveying none of the warmth she had given me last night. Something had changed.

"I got worried when you didn't show up at my house."

"Yeah, sorry." She didn't sound sorry.

"Are you going somewhere? You normally don't bring a suitcase to my house."

"How—?"

"I heard the wheels."

"Oh…right. I'm going to my dad's for a few nights."

"Why?"

"Because I want to. Because I'm an 'independent woman,' remember?"

"Of course. Go to your dad's. Go for as long as you want."

"I will." Her voice was filled with indignation.

"Annabeth…why was Red here? What did she say?"

"Do you have a problem with the fact that she paid me a visit?"

"Yes…she obviously told you something that upset you."

Annabeth made no reply, so I carried on. "I just really don't like the thought of you guys spending time alone without me."

"Well, you know how the expression goes, don't you?''

"What expression?"

"When the cat's away, the mice will play. Goodbye, Percy."

And just like that, I heard the sound of two heels and two wheels disappearing down the street.

Oh, no. Why did I ever call Annabeth mio piccolo topo? She obviously deserved her own pet name. But it was more than that. I should have made her feel special. She was a diamond, and I had treated her like a piece of coal. I was careless with someone who deserved all the care in the world. I had really, really messed up this time. Will she ever forgive me?

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