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Of Corporate Scandals

Chapter 21. Flash! Click! Snap!

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"Thanks for flying with us. Come again soon!" The cheery, flight attendant smiled as she waved them off the plane. "Oh, ma'am," she said stopping Annabeth, "Your blouse is, um, inside-out."

Annabeth's face reddened, muttering a quick thanks before hurrying down the jet bridge. She punched Percy's arm as he laughed, wheeling their carry-ons behind him.

"It's not funny. That was so embarrassing."

"It was your idea!"

"Just hand me my jacket please. And besides, I only did it to calm you down."

"Only?"

A smile played on her lips as they strolled to baggage claim, "Fine, it was pretty fun…and downright kinky honestly."

A wave of thick, humidity hit Annabeth as they exited the airport, scanning the line of parked cars for their driver.

Flash! Snap, snap, click, click!

Annabeth let out a yelp as she was blinded by a flash. A photographer with a large DSLR was aggressively snapping pictures of them and shoving a camera into their face, "Percy, are you here to party for spring break?"

Percy grabbed her by the waist, leading her towards a black car. The driver, a built man holding a sign that read 'JACKSON,' rushed towards them, grabbing their bags and ushering Annabeth into the backseat as the photographer pursued them, continuing to shout questions and snap pictures.

"What the hell was that?" Annabeth said, incredulous, as she clambered into the car, smoothing her outfit.

"Paparazzi," Percy grimaced, glaring at the retreating figure of the photographer as their driver sped away.

"How did they know we were here?"

"Hopefully they didn't, and it was just a coincidence. It's spring break season and lots of celebrities come to Miami." He leaned forward, speaking to the driver, "Take us straight to the resort please, Argus."

"Aren't you worried someone will take a picture of us together?"

"They won't be interested in us, just whatever models or actors are on vacation here."

"I've seen you featured on Celebrity Look Out multiple times, are you sure?"

"Certain, this is strictly a boring business trip."

Annabeth sighed, leaning back on the black leather seats of the Escalade. At least with the tinted black windows, she knew they'd be safe in the car, "I hope you're right."

He was wrong.

Evening rush hour had long passed in Miami so it was a short ride to the resort. Swaying palm trees and colorful lights lined the driveway leading up to the hotel. As the car pulled up to the , the driveway was blocked with vans and photographers perched right outside the entrance.

Percy cursed, "Is there a back entrance you can drop us off at, Argus?"

"Yes, sir, I'll take you to the service entrance in the back."

Argus made a U-turn, driving them around the main building of the resort. Annabeth stared out the window at the Open Seas Miami resort, it was large terra cotta building with sweeping arches and towering pillars. The twenty stories of guest rooms were lit up in the evening.

Percy leaned forward, "Are the press waiting for someone? Argus, could you call the front desk and ask them if someone else is staying. I sent a memo that there should be no other high-profile guests while our meetings are taking place."

Argus cleared his throat, "Forgive me, sir. My wife watches Celebrity Look Out, and you were on it tonight. They said you would be in Miami."

Annabeth immediately reached down for her phone, digging it out of her bag and googling Percy's name. She scoffed, showing him the article, "'Percy Jackson Escapes to Miami for Bachelor Spring Break Before Daddy Makes Him Settle Down'." The article was accompanied by a photo of Percy getting out of the car at JFK, Annabeth, thankfully, was just a blurry figure behind him. Percy groaned.

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"Thanks, we'll take it from here, Argus," Percy took their suitcases from him.

"No problem, sir. Just ring and I'll bring the car around tomorrow.

Percy nodded in thanks as he tipped him a wad of cash.

Annabeth stood a few feet away from them discussing with someone on the phone as she paced back and forth, her black, heels clacking against the marble floor. She hung up and filed back to where Percy was waiting, "I was just on the phone with Themis from the legal."

"And?" Percy inquired, as he parked their suitcases.

"I figured there must be some law banning the paparazzi from the property," Annabeth sighed, pocketing her work phone, "But this land outside the resort is public property."

Percy shrugged, "Fine. So they'll just get some boring pictures of me walking around from meeting to meeting. Once they realize this is strictly business and not a 'bachelor vacation' or whatever they called it, they'll leave me alone."

Annabeth nodded, biting her lip. Percy's phone buzzed. "Why don't you take that, and I'll check us in."

"Good evening, ma'am, what can I do for you?" The reception wore the blue ascot and blazer of the Open Seas resort uniform.

"Reservation for Jackson."

"Alright, one second," the woman clacked away on the computer, "Ah, here we are," she smiled as she handed her two room keys, "Oh, and congratulations Mrs. Jackson. The Honeymoon Suite is on the top floor. You can just leave your bags right here and we'll have them sent up to you."

Annabeth raised her eyebrow, surprised, "Oh, we're not—I don't think that's the right reservation."

"Booked under Perseus Jackson, correct? Your stay is for the whole week?"

"Yes, but—"

"Then, that's definitely your room, ma'am. Mr. Jackson called and requested it himself. Enjoy your stay."

"Oh, alright then," She rolled their suitcases over to a bellboy and strutted over to Percy as he finished his call.

"Got the room keys?" Percy asked, pocketing his phone.

"Uh huh, for the Honeymoon Suite?"

Percy's glanced at her, "Uh, that's funny."

"Anything you wanted to mention to me, Perce?" She crossed her arms as they began walking to the elevator.

"Okay, hear me out. It was the only suite available with a king bed, and I figured you'd rather us be in one room, right?" Percy hit the elevator button for the top floor.

"Uh huh, sweet, right. But please tell me how you're going to explain to people why you're staying in the Honeymoon Suite with your assistant."

"If anyone asks, we'll just lie and say you're in another room down the hall. It's none of their business anyway."

Annabeth leaned against the elevator railing. Percy took her hand, "Hey, lighten up. Remember the last time we were in an elevator together?"

Annabeth blushed, remembering their first kiss, "Stop that."

Ding!

"This is our floor…" Percy trailed off as he glanced at Annabeth, who had a mischievous look on her face, "What?"

She slammed the 'close-door' button and crashed her lips against his.

"Percy," Annabeth mumbled, softly, gently nudging his shoulder, "Wake up."

Percy grumbled underneath the mountain of soft, downy pillows and blankets he was currently buried under.

He felt her weight shift as she got up off the king-sized bed and walked over to the French doors of the balcony and flung open the curtains, flooding the suite with morning sunlight.

Percy grumbled, yanking a pillow onto his face to block the harsh light, "No…"

Annabeth tugged the pillow away from. Percy squinted up his beautiful girlfriend staring down at him. She was already dressed in a simple blouse and skirt with her signature heels.

"It's time to get up, babe. We have a morning full of very important meetings with very important people. I have our entire day scheduled minute-by-minute until this afternoon."

"Is that supposed to motivate me to get out of bed?" Percy grumbled.

"Yes, but don't worry. We have a breakfast this morning from 9:45 to 10:13," Annabeth leaned down and kissed him chastely on the lips, she mumbled against his lips, "Now get your ass up and into the shower."

Percy yawned, settling his hands on her hips, "Come cuddle me first." He tugged her towards the bed.

"Oh no you don't," Annabeth untangled herself from him, standing up. She crossed her arms, smirking down at him, "Don't make me do it."

Percy glanced up at her, warily, "Do what?"

"Last chance to get up, Percy…"

"Annabeth," he warned.

Annabeth's expression was of pure mischief as she bent down and yanked the duvet off of him.

Percy yelped from the sudden rush of cold as he sat up and tackled his girlfriend back into bed, "You're gonna regret that, Chase." Percy grinned with a glint in his eye.

Annabeth shrieked as she found herself suddenly under Percy, "Percy, don't you dare ruin my hair."

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Oh, maybe because you are in nothing but your boxers and we have a meeting downstairs in half an hour?" Annabeth debated, resting a hand on his muscled chest, nudging him off her.

Percy groaned, kissing her lightly on the nose before heaving himself off the bed, "Fine."

"Get in the shower and I'll order us some coffee and breakfast."

Percy grabbed a towel and called from the bathroom, "Make sure to get bacon!"

Annabeth rolled her eyes, smiling as she picked up the phone and dialed.

"They just left the building," a man narrated into a cell phone as he lurked inside the shadows of his van and stared out into the harsh sunlight of Miami. Dan Herman was one of the highest paid paparazzo in New York City. He had gotten the first shots of that actress getting checked into rehab and it was his pictures that exposed numerous celebrity couples. His eyes were bloodshot and weary from camping out at the resort. Celebrity Look Out was promising a huge cashout for photos of Percy Jackson in Miami, and he was going to be the first to submit them.

He focused his long lens on the businessman and that striking blonde always accompanynug him. He readjusted his camera in one hand and his phone in the other.

"Where are they headed?" A smooth, feminine voice purred from the other line.

"I don't know."

"Well, find out!" she snapped.

"It looks like they're headed to the beach."

"Follow them! Every step they take, every place they go to, I want you to capture it all."

"Alright, then," Dan ended the call, tossed his phone into the passenger seat and sped off.

A/N: Revised in May 2022