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Of Corporate Scandals

Chapter 10. Long Days and Busy Nights

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Annabeth groaned in frustration, "Damn this printer!" She resisted the urge to kick the accursed office machine.

Mary-Sue poked her head into the copier room, "Ah, is everything alright in here, Miss Annabeth?"

She looked up and, her cheeks reddening at the fact that her outburst had been caught, "Oh, um, yeah. It's just that the printer's jammed or low on toner or something again and Mr. Jackson needs this printed his meeting." She sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

Mary-Sue waddled over and reset the machine, "Oh, darling, is this about to the Open Seas Water World project?"

Annabeth nodded, sighing as she watched the woman fix the machine she had been struggling with for the past ten minutes, "Yeah, what else?"

The past few days had been absolute chaos, the board had insisted on opening Open Seas Inc.'s new amusement water park by summer of next year and Percy had been stressing about the project and running his employees over time.

The young CEO had gotten the news the night of the wedding so the next day, they had all hit the ground running. He hadn't even commented on dancing with her the other night.

Annabeth sighed as she sunk down in the gray plastic armchair in the bland room. As all of the higher-ups of the Open Seas Inc. staff all met in board room meetings all day, Annabeth had been running on coffee breaks, printing meeting notes, wrestling with the printer, and, of course, waiting on Calypso's every need in Percy's plea to keep her busy so he could work.

Of course, under normal circumstances, she would've given her middle finger a stretch and yelled, "Hell no."...But the way he looked at her with his puppy dog eyes...

Mary-Sue snapped her out of her reverie and handed her the pile of files, "Here you go, darlin'. Get the mail boy to order some new toner, alright?"

Annabeth nodded, taking them, "Thank you, Mary-Sue. Really, I mean it. If I had to deal with that thing for one more second..."

Mary-Sue waved it off, "Oh no, darling. No problem. Anyway, if this means I have an excuse to skip out on those long, boring board meetings Miss Levesque and Mr. Jackson run, I'm all in."

"I bet," Annabeth smiled, lightly, "I'll just go lay them on his desk."

She made her way down the hall and out into the main lobby. It looked like any other office (not changing one bit since she started working two months ago) with its many desks and potted plants...that is if you call a normal office one with an entire wall of floor to ceiling windows with a view of Fifth Avenue and a fully furnished luxury break room.

Annabeth opened the frosted glass door to her boss's office and -

"Don't you ever knock?" Calypso swung her legs off of Percy's desk and glared at Annabeth. She shouldered her smart phone to keep it place as she pulled on her red pumps "Sorry, Circe, I'm just yelling at my assistant."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, "I'm just here to drop these off, Calypso."

Calypso sniffed, "That's Miss Atlas to you." She rolled her eyes, "I'll call you back, Circe."

Annabeth placed the file neatly on Percy's desk.

Calypso snapped her fingers, "Schedule me an appointment for a mani-pedi this afternoon. I'm tired of this color. "

Annabeth inhaled, deeply, through her nose and forced a smile, remembering what her boss had asked her to do, "Sure, thing, Miss Atlas."

The redheaded woman waved her hand, "I'm going out for lunch. Don't wait up!" She called as she dialed back Circe.

Annabeth sighed, flipping through the phone book for a nail salon nearby. Suddenly, she was missing fighting with the printer and running down to the coffee shop across the street and getting Mr. Jackson mocha lattes.

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"So why do you need to wait on her again?" Thalia asked, finally giving up on chopsticks and shoving noodles into her mouth with a fork. The two roommates were sitting in their darkened living room in sweats and eating take-out while watching sit-come re-runs. Their cushy, red leather couch was worn from all the times Thalia and Annabeth had stayed up late gossiping and venting about work. it was her perfect night.

Annabeth finished chewing a dumpling and swallowed, "Percy needs me to occupy her so he can actually concentrate on working."

Thalia looked at her and quirked her eyebrow, "And why exactly does this chick need to be pleased? Is she even Percy's girlfriend?"

Annabeth continued, "Her uncle is the man who owns this company that supplies all the building materials for Open Seas and Percy said they're trying to make a deal, but the man won't agree unless Calypso is satisfied with the company. Meaning she has to be satisfied by Percy." She made a face and continued ranting on, "Not only do I have to help Percy run these meetings, I have to wait on the board members, and now Calypson! Do you know how many salon appointments I've scheduled this week? She's basically offering Percy the deal for him to be her 'boyfriend!'

Thalia sighed, sympathetically, setting down her take-out box and looking at her best friend, "If he really likes you, then he won't let her get in his way."

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The clack of her heels against the polished tile echoed in the empty office as she wandered around the office, finishing up her odd jobs. Usually Annabeth left work around five to make it to her evening classes, but the past few days she had taken to working later every night in order to keep up with her job and still have time to study. Thank gods she had sent Calypso off on her salon spree or else she would have never finished.

The sun had long since set once Annabeth had begun packing her things up. She went to the light switch near the entrance of the elevator and flicked off the light, expecting to be in total darkness except the light of the city skyline. Instead a long strip of light was peeking out of the door to Percy's office. Annabeth shrugged, he had probably forgotten to turn it off

Annabeth walked over to the crystal doors. She opened them to find her boss hunching over his computer, typing profusely. Several empty cups of coffee littered his desk. His tie was undone, shirt un-tucked, and hair mussed. She noticed the dark circles under his eyes that weren't there a few days ago.

"Oh, Mr. Jackson, I wasn't expecting to see you," Annabeth said in surprise.

Percy looked up when she spoke since he had not noticed her when she had entered, "Annabeth. I thought you had already gone home."

"I was just about to leave," Annabeth replied, "What are you still doing here working so late?" Her boss usually left around five and it was well past eight by now.

Percy sighed, leaning back in his black, leather swivel chair and ran a hand through his already mussed hair, "I need to finish reviewing this contract for Water World."

Annabeth tilted her head, "I thought you had already taken care of that."

He shook his head, "I thought I did. The contractor sent it back saying that he needed concept art for the entrance to the park before they get started on the plans.

Annabeth asked, "Well how long until you're finished?"

Another sigh from him, "I don't know. A few hours, maybe."

Annabeth set down her bag and walked over to Percy's desk, "What do you still need to do?"

Percy showed her on his laptop and through the papers on his, "Review the contract for the construction company and get this design for the entrance, but artiss we hired are working off London time."

Annabeth laughed, lightly, and held out her hand, "Pencil."

Percy looked up, "What?"

Annabeth raised her eyebrow, "Give me a pencil."

Percy raised an eyebrow and handed her a mechanical pencil and a pad of paper.

She began drawing, "How do you want the entrance to look."

Percy cleared his throat, "Um, cool?...Water-y...?"

Annabeth smiled as her pencil flew across the page. She showed the finished sketch to him, "Like this?"

Percy looked at it in awe, "H-how did you do that?"

Annabeth said, "I'm an architect, remember?"

He nodded, "Oh, right." He took the drawing from her hands, "Wow, this is amazing Annabeth. It's like it's 3D."

She smiled, "Thanks. Now, on to the contract."

Percy said, "But your classes—"

Annabeth said, "No class today. I'm helping you. Now scoot over."

Several cups of coffee and a whole lot of caffeine later, Percy and Annabeth were hunched over his desk typing away.

Annabeth sat up, "Finally, we're done."

Percy nodded, yawning after adjusting the lamp that lit his office.

Annabeth stood up and stretched, "Yeah."

Percy tried not to think about the way her back arched and her messy curls had escaped from her ponytail...Snap out of it!

Annabeth yawned as she adjusted her blouse. She looked at her watch placed on her thin wrist, "Wow, it's almost midnight. That was quite a stretch."

Percy nodded, "Thank you, Annabeth. You didn't need to stay."

She looked at him as she rested against his desk, "Hey, I'm your assistant. That's what I do."

"Hey," Percy said, looking at her, "You're more than that to me—you're…Never mind."

Annabeth blushed, looking away, "I should probably go, Thalia is probably wondering where I am." Though, Annabeth thought, she probably was either already asleep or making out with Luke and didn't care.

"At least let me walk you home, Annabeth," Percy said, putting on his jacket.

"Oh, no. It's alright. I'll be fine," She protested, pulling on her blazer.

Percy said, "Whoa, this is not the time for a lady to be out by herself."

Annabeth crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow.

Percy cleared his throat, "And I mean that in the most non-sexist way possible."

His assistant cracked a smile, "Alright. Fine."

When the sun was up, the air had the slight chill of autumn, but at the dead of night it was sharp. Annabeth wrapped her arms tighter around herself. The only sounds in the crisp night air were the slight puffs of their breaths, Annabeth's heels clicking against the pavement, and the distant sound of traffic.

A loud rumble cut through the night.

Annabeth tried desperately to stifle a giggled, but failed, "Was that your stomach?"

Percy's cheeks, reddened, "Yeah. I haven't eaten since lunch."

Annabeth nodded, "Me neither. I guess we just got so caught up with working."

Percy nodded, "Are you hungry? Do you wanna grab something to eat?"

Annabeth grinned, "Now we're talking."

"I know this great place around the corner," Percy guided her down the sidewalk, stopped in front of a tiny Chinese place, and grinned, "That's the great thing about New York, even when it's bad, it's still good." He held the door open for her.

"Thanks, Mr. Jackson."

Percy followed her in, "We're not at work anymore. You can call me Percy."

"Alright…Percy." She has expected it to sound weird in her mouth, but calling him that sounded natural.

He pulled out his wallet, "Why don't you go find us a seat and I'll order us some food, okay?"

Annabeth nodded and found them a booth in the corner. She pulled off her blazer and pulled her hair into a ponytail.

She had walked past this place several times and never walked in. It was a small and dingy as all the best restaurants in New York were, but the staff was friendly and the food smelled good. The green booth seats were slightly sticky and the cream colored painted walls were peeling, but the picture menu on the wall wasn't marred.

Percy came back with several take-out boxes and packets of soy sauce and set the tray down on the table, "Your food, milady."

Annabeth smiled, "Why thank you."

Her boss slid into to the booth across from her, "Remember when I took you out for sushi on Administrative Assistants' Day?" Percy asked, digging into his plate of rice.

Annabeth nodded, blushing in spite of herself.

"Well," Percy continued, "I remember I asked you about yourself, but then I had to leave before you could tell me."

She nodded, remembering how disappointed she was after.

"So tell me now."

Annabeth looked up, "Tell you what?"

Percy linked his fingers together and looked at, "Tell me about yourself. Or, rather, continue telling me. I still want to know. You left off after you told me you moved to San Francisco."

Annabeth shrugged, "Okay. Well, as I said. I was born in Virginia, but my dad got a job in California so we moved there when I was seven."

Percy spoke with his mouth full, "Tell me about your family."

"Well," She said, "Not much to say. My dad's name is Frederick, he's a historian. My step-mom's name is Helen and she's a lawyer. She married my dad when I was five so she's always been there for me. I have two half-brothers. Matthew and Bobby. Twins. They're fourteen right now. They all still live in San Francisco."

"And your mom?—"

"Out of the picture."

Percy looked away, "I'm sorry. Didn't mean to pry."

"No," Annabeth sighed, "It's alright. I just don't like talking about her. So what about you?" She cracked a grin, "Your fan sites online aren't very detailed."

Percy chuckled, "You shouldn't read those, they're garbage." He set down his chopsticks, "You know my dad. My mom's name is Sally. She doesn't really like the whole media spotlight. She's great. She's a writer. I was born and raised here in Manhattan. Not much to say. The rest you can find on my Wikipedia."

Annabeth laughed, "Alright."

"Now back to you," Percy said.

"In high school, I was Student Council president. Captain of varsity volleyball. I was in Mathletes and Architecture club."

Percy grinned, "Impressive."

Annabeth smiled, "Well, then I got a scholarship to New Rome Univeristy. Got my bachelors in Architecture. Thalia and I were roommates in college, and we moved to New York together. I started my masters at Columbia two years ago, and I'm supposed to graduate in May.

Percy was staring at her with an odd look on his face, "That's—that's amazing."

"So now you go again."

Percy shrugged, "I went to Goode High School. It's down a few blocks from here. I got a business degree like every other guy in Manhattan. Right after college, I started working for my dad."

"So you always knew that you wanted to work for your father?" Annabeth inquired.

"Hell no. When I was little I always wanted to be an Olympic swimmer and travel the world."

Annabeth looked at him, "It might be a little late to be an Olympian, but what about traveling? You can still do that."

Percy grumpled, "I wish. With this new Water World thing and the Weight of the World deal going on, plus our normal business operations, I can't get a spare moment. And from here it's only going to get busier."

Annabeth nodded, "I see."

Percy said, "I'm glad that my dad hired me for the company even if I don't enjoy it. I don't know what he'd do if I didn't join the business. But enough about work stuff."

Annabeth said, "So how did you meet Thalia again?"

Percy said, "Us and Nico were neighbors when we were little. Our families' used to me super close. I guess we started drifting apart when my dad started the company. They never lost touch, but I did for a while. I just met back up with everyone last year."

"Oh."

Annabeth's phone rang. Her eyes met with Percy's, "Excuse me." She answered, "Hello?"

Thalia said, "Annabeth! I thought you got kidnapped or something on the way home. What are you still doing out?"

Annabeth said, "I had to work late." She decided not to mention where she was at the moment.

Thalia said, "Well, come home already. It's late!"

"Alright, alright," Annabeth covered the received, mouthing, 'It's Thalia.' She hung up.

Percy watched her. She bit her lip, not wanting the night to end, "I should probably be heading home."

He stood, "You're right, it's late. I'll get you a cab."

Annabeth smiled, "Thanks, Percy. For everything."

He flashed her a grin, "Hey, no problem. It was my pleasure."

A/N: Please leave your questions, comments, and constructive criticism in a review below!