Annabeth's POV
Octavian Augur was in need of an education. The past few days had been stressful for Nico. That asshole Octavian had really shaken up my boss. Nico had told me everything was okay, that he would handle it, but I was beginning to feel he could use more help that he was letting on. I decided to take some action.
It didn't take long to find Octavian Augur's email in the staff dictionary, and it took even less time to schedule a meeting. We met in his office, so I could keep it from Nico and Percy. They wouldn't be happy with me getting involved, but I couldn't just stand idly by anymore. Not with everything that was on the line. And I thought both of them were too overwhelmed to access the situation objectively. I needed to know more about Octavian and what he was truly after, and I was happy to find it out myself.
I tried to look as intimidating as possible, my flaming hair tied up neatly, and I was wearing a black fitted suit jacket with a matching skirt. I wanted to scare the shit out of this arrogant snake. I exited the elevator to his floor and marched straight to his office door, not a second late. I knocked. No answer. I tried again, louder this time, and finally heard a muffled voice instructing me to come in. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door…Time to make this asshole's day.
Octavian's POV
I didn't expect her to be so damn attractive. I'd checked her out the odd time she'd walked through the building, but now, having her in my office, I could see why that piece of shit Percy was so caught up with the new hire. I straightened up and gestured her inside, doing my best not to give her a proper once-over. I didn't want to give her that satisfaction.
"Annabeth, isn't it?" I asked, as she took a seat in front of me.
"Ms. Chase," she said flatly.
Sassy little thing.
"Well, Ms. Chase, It's nice to finally meet you," I said, keeping my composure and ignoring her rudeness. "What brings you to my office?"
"I understand you emailed multiple shareholders to warn them my bosses—sorry, our bosses—are running this company into the ground. Is that correct?"
Who does she think she's talking to?
"Is this a meeting, or an interrogation, ? It isn't any of your business who or what I email. I'm your superior."
"Is there any reason why you decided to move forward with that decision while both of them were absent and unable to defend themselves?"
I gritted my teeth. There was no way I was going to be talked down to by some pompous piece of ass, but I let her continue while I held my ace.
"I think the real question is why both brothers were absent at the same time, leaving the company without leadership," I chuckled softly, keeping my cool. " , let's get one thing straight—"
"No, you get one thing straight," she said, cutting me off. My blood boiled. "You need to back off. Percy and Nico are perfectly capable of running this company, and they have every intention of retaining their power."
"Yeah, I bet you know all about their power, don't you?" I sneered growing tired of her insolence.
"Excuse me?" She demanded.
Eight ball, corner pocket…
"I'm not sure what you're planning, , but the shareholders won't trust a speech from the new hire fucking Percy Jackson."
I watched her as face fell and her confidence wilted.
Nailed it.
Annabeth's POV
I froze.
What did he just say?
I was speechless. I thought I'd been on a roll, and out of nowhere, this fucking asshole turned the table on me.
"Come again?" I squeaked.
"I know you're fucking him," Octavian snarled. "So, you need to tread lightly. I could have cited your inappropriate relationship in my email to the shareholders —just another reason Percy is a liability." His thin lips curved into a grin.
"You're biggest mistake when you walked into this room, , was thinking you were better than me. Or thinking anyone in this company is anywhere near as competent as the man you're speaking to right now."
I sat in silence, my brain scrambling for answers. How was it possible he knew? By now, I was sure Percy wouldn't have told anyone. Was it possible someone was spying on us?
"You're wondering how I know, huh?" Octavian looked me dead in the eyes, pulling me out of my daze. "Let's just say, I have friends in high places. Now, if you try this nonsense with me again, I'll make sure you're swept out of this company like yesterday's trash."
I rose from my seat and hurried toward the door, reeling from the counter-attack.
"It was nice meeting you, ," I heard him call out as I closed the door.
Shit.
My plan backfired. I should have listened to Nico and stayed out of it. If my job wasn't in jeopardy before, it was now.
Annabeth: Percy?
Percy: Yes, Bella?
Annabeth: I'm in the car right now. On the way to the estate.
Percy: Excellent. Did you get changed?
Annabeth: Yea, the driver took me home first. Thanks for setting it up for me 3.
Percy: I'm excited to see you tonight Annie.
Percy: See you shortly x
I had underestimated him. I was too confident and brash, and now, I'd made an enemy. And I still couldn't fathom how he found out about me and Percy. We were careful not to show affection in the office, but there had been a few times where we had slipped up. Could he have seen us? Or maybe someone else could have spotted us and said something? Either way, we were in trouble. But I had to push it from my mind as I remembered where I was headed. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on one thing at a time.
You're on the way to meet Percy's parents. Focus on that.
The limo pulled onto a wide street lined with oak trees. I marveled in awe as the limo rolled slowly past one mega-mansion after another.
"Crazy, isn't it?" Percy's chauffeur, Kenny, called out to me, catching my stunned expression in the rearview mirror.
"Yes, it really is."
"First time here?"
"Yeah," I admitted.
"Welcome to the Jackson Estate," he said, as he turned into a stone-paved driveway at the end of the street, leading to a wrought iron gate.
He punched a long code into the keypad, and the gate slowly creaked open, revealing the sweeping, lush property and the stunning castle Percy's family called home. I was expecting big, but this was…HUGE. I found myself picking my jaw off the floor as Kenny pulled to a stop in front of a massive, intricately carved door. Another man standing nearby opened the door to the limo.
"Welcome, ."
I could barely feel my legs as the man gave me his hand and helped me out of the car.
"Come along, madam. It's steep," the man said in a French accent. I held onto his arm as we ascended the stairs to the door.
Is this actually happening right now?
Part of me was so excited Percy had invited me to this place. I felt like a goddamn princess. But I couldn't relish in that feeling for very long, as the nerves took over my body again. I was about to meet his parents. And, scarier than that, my boss was about to discover my relationship with my other boss. What will he say? I straightened my posture, took another long, deep breath, and hoped for the best. But the realist in me? She was expecting the worst.
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