Annabeth's POV

Stop it, Annabeth. This is not the time or place.

I sighed in ecstasy as Percy's lips explored my neck.

But it feels so good…

Stop him. Before you lose yourself. Or your job. He's your boss.

My sort-of-boss…

I felt his sharp nibbles and bit my trembling lips to contain a raking moan.

"Say yes," his hot breath urged.

STOP!

I snapped out of my trance and pushed Percy off with a surprising amount of force, freeing myself from the pillar he had backed me against. He looked shocked at first, but then he smirked. Shit! He knows exactly what he does to me.

"This is over, Mr. Jackson," I gasped, doing my best to suppress the longing in my voice. "The answer is no."

"Why not?" he demanded, advancing again. I held my hands out to stop him, fighting everything in me to succumb.

"You know why," I panted. "This is wildly inappropriate. It's completely against company policy. Totally unprofessional."

I watched as Percy backed up and fixed his tie, suppressing my urge to grab it and yank him back.

"Not to worry. You'll be my sub eventually, mio piccolo topo."

"Oh, yeah?" I shot back, trying to break through his cockiness. "I wouldn't be so sure you'll get what you want this time."

The nerve of this entitled asshole! He can't just claim me. Especially not when it interferes with my career…

"The thing is…" Percy continued, and I couldn't help but ogle his bone structure. It was like my eyes had a mind of their own. "Part of the fun of making you my sub is convincing you."

He calmly adjusted his cufflinks.

"Remember what I told you: the submissive should always please the dominant. Even when you say no, it pleases me. All of this…" he went on, "will only make it sweeter when you can't take it anymore. When you finally submit."

"Who says I'm ever going to?" I spat, now more than annoyed at his arrogance.

Percy looked at me directly in the eyes. Though the man was blind, his sea green eyes appeared to see right through my confident façade.

"I do," he stated simply.

Before I could reply, my purse began to vibrate. Percy smirked as I took out my phone, flustered under his gaze.

Calvin: Annabeth, where are you and Percy?

Calvin: He's not answering my texts, you both need to come back to the hotel.

Jessica: Wait, what's going on?

Calvin: Big development. It's fucking bad.

Calvin: Percy's ex-wife released information on their marriage…

Calvin: Sounds like abuse, the press will eat us alive.

Calvin: A partner sent me an email about pulling out.

"What is it?" Percy asked.

I looked up from my phone, uncertain how to break the news. Even worse, I was suddenly uncertain if the man standing in front of me had abused his ex-wife. I need to find out more information.

"What?" he demanded, sensing my worry.

I hesitated a moment.

"We have to get back," I told him. "Right away."

Percy's POV

Why the fuck is she trying to destroy my life? Red and that scumbag Luke, or I'd probably do something I'll regret.

I paced the empty boardroom. The previous night, the scandal was smeared all over the news. Phony claims I abused Red. Allegation I'd beaten her. It was all a crock of shit.

The worst part was, she tried to tie it into my sexual practices. To think someone I once trusted with my deepest desires would use them against me…Her behavior was abhorrent. Disgusting. I'd never felt so betrayed.

Nico had called to ease my mind and calm me down. He was furious as I was, if not more so.

Never once did I beat my ex-wife.

Never.

I had spanked her, yes. But she liked it. Hell, she even begged for it.

I felt around the table for the remote and flicked on the flat screen mounted to the wall, scrolling through the channels. It was like a car crash. Even blind I couldn't avert my eyes.

Calvin burst into the room, his heavy feet giving him away.

"Percy Jackson, business mogul or belligerent abuser?" some catty pundit voiced. "We have sourced connected to the hotelier's ex-wife saying—"

I groaned and turned off the TV, instantly regretting my decision to keep it on.

Why the fuck does the goddamn news recycle the same stories over and over and over?

"This is fucked-ip, Percy," Calvin said grimly. "I mean, I know you would never do what they're saying, but, well…"

"Then why does it feel like you're asking me if I did?" I snapped.

"I'm sorry," Calvin sighed. "I do believe you. But our Italian partner is planning to back out if this story doesn't get refuted."

"I know," I answered, my frustration evident. "I won't let this deal fall apart over lies. I'll discuss it with them."

"This is a firestorm, Percy. Maybe we should start trying to find a different partner. There are other options, I can talk to Nico…"

"I'll handle it, Calvin."

Seeing I no longer wanted to talk about the issue, Calvin obliged.

"All right. I'm going to the bar. I need a drink. You could probably use one, too."

"Maybe later," I grumbled, waving him off.

As Calvin left, I sat down at the bathroom table pondering what the fuck I was going to do.

Annabeth's POV

My heels clicked on the marble floor as I hurried through the lobby. I passed Calvin, who looked distressed, to say the least.

"Where's—?"

He knew who I was looking for. "Boardroom."

I nodded and continued clicking down the hallway. The last twelve hours had been a mess—for the company and for me.

Have Percy's sexual preferences bled into other areas of life. Was he actually hitting her?

These thoughts kept me up the whole night before, but the more I thought about my time with Percy—the private moments we'd shared—the more I knew it couldn't be true.

He was dominating, sure. A control freak.

But he was never violent. He never lost his cool. And even though he tried to hide it, I could see the tenderness that flowed through his veins. He was full of kindness, and seeing him with his daughter, hearing him talk about her, had shown me that.

The media coverage had obviously twisted the truth.

It was one-sided and vicious. A complete attack on his character for all the world to see. I couldn't imagine what he was feeling right now. I couldn't imagine what he was feeling right now.

I couldn't imagine having my reputation destroyed on the news. It was nothing short of a nightmare.

I turned the corner toward the boardroom and pushed the door open to see him standing there, hands on the table, hanging his head. When he turned his green-tinted stare toward me, I almost lost my words.

"What is it, Annie?" he said, staring at the table, his tone weak and defeated.

"I'm going to make sure the partner doesn't pull out," I said, with false confidence, hoping my position energy would snap him out of his slump. "And you need to call your lawyer right away."

Percy resumed staring at the table.

"Thanks, Annie," he said slowly. "But we're going to handle this my way."

"And what way is that? I snapped. "Wallowing and watching the news coverage?"

I hated seeing Percy like this. Such a dominating man whipped and beaten. It wasn't him.

I took a step closer. "You need to protect yourself. Trust me to protect the company. For once."

I instantly regretted my harshness but knew it was needed to drive my point home.

Percy stopped leaning on the table and moved toward me. I hitched my breath, my cheeks burning, unprepared for the sudden bombardment of sexual magnetism coming my way. He cupped my face in his strong hands. I kissed and nuzzled his palms, encouraging him with my eyes.

"Alright," he growled softly. "I trust you."

Without another word, Percy Jackson moved past me and left the room.

This man is far too good at exits.

I instructed Calvin to set up a meeting with the partners at the hotel. He was in the boardroom already, buttering them up, making them feel at ease with his signature charm. But I wasn't interested in small talk. I was ready to give them a piece of my mind. When I saw them sitting into their chairs, I burst in through the double doors.

"Hello, gentlemen." All eyes turned on me. "I have a very busy day, so let's get down to business."

"I'm sorry, but who is this?" one of the younger men asked Calvin, not even giving me the respect of asking my name directly.

"I'm Annabeth Chase," I cut in. "And I make the decisions around here." I doubted he had ever seen a woman assert herself this way in a professional setting. I enjoyed watching the shock spread over his face.

"One of the decisions I make is who we partner up with, and I don't like the idea of partnering with cowards who would pull out of a deal over some unsubstantiated rumors."

Another man with wispy gray, combed-over called out to me. "Who are you calling cowards? Those so-called rumors could ruin the Jackson Hotel Group."

"For your information, the Jackson Hotel Group is one of the most profitable hotel groups in the world right now. We have locations in twenty-four countries, our stock shares are valued at an all-time high, our ratings in all locations are never below four and a half stars."

The men watched me now, intently listening—actually listening—to my words.

That's right. Not just a pretty face.

I continued, bulldozing through any potential interruptions. "This beautiful Tuscany location is sure to generate millions in sales when it's completed. The amount of credibility and revenue it will bring out partners is unparalleled. It certainly isn't worth throwing away due to media gossip that will be forgotten by tomorrow."

I peered over at Calvin, who gave me an approving nod.

"We think of our partnerships like a marriage. If you want a piece of success, you need to stick with us for better or for worse. The Jackson Hotel Group will recover from this. I think we'll emerge stronger and more determined. So, in your position, I think there is a lot more to gain than lose."

"Wouldn't you agree?" I asked flatly. "Or should we look for a more deserving partner?"

I stared down the flabbergasted men and waited for them to muster a response. They began to eye each other. Calvin, who had been silent through the whole meeting, looked as though he might break into a slow clap. Coming down from my sixty-second adrenaline high, I realized the room was still quiet. The men hadn't answered. The ultimatum still hung in the air.

Oh no. Have I done enough to seal the deal?

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