Annabeth turned to look out the window. "I don't know what to say. Why would you want me of all people? I'm a street walker. A hooker. The scum of the city. There are millions of other eligible women. They're prettier, wealthier, and probably smarter. You don't want me. You don't know what I am."
A small smile crossed his lips. "Now you and I both know that's noe necessarily true. Sure, you're escort. Sure there are plenty other women. That's not what I'm looking for. I've passed you several times before, and I've taken a good look at the way you behave. When you're with a customer, I see that you change, but when alone, I see only the pain. I know you have no desire to do what you do.
Annabeth was on the verge of tears. "Do you think anyoune wants to do things like that?" she said, her voice thick with emotion. "People like me do what they have to do because that's what we know
Percy watched a small helicopter land on the roof of a nearby building
"I was seven when I ran away," she continued. "I had only the company of another girl who I found on the streets. That didn't last long though. We didn't have food, and the streets of the city are dangerous anytime of the day, especially for two young homeless girls. We looked for somone to stay with, but all we found was a young man named Luke. We lived with him until we were old enough to be bought. Until then, he kept us in his apartment, secluded from the world. Hewas our pimp until a few years ago when he was killed in some gang violence between Kronos and the Sons of Hermes."
He gave her inquisitive look. "Kronos I've heard of. I was the one who lobbied the state senators to increase the funding to the NYPD after the tragic incident at Mount Olympus Daycare. That gang's been wiped out, but the Sons of Herems? I've never heard of them."
"You wouldn't have," she said, frowning. "They're the rival gang across the East in Jersey. But the doesn't matter. What matters is that the other girl Thalia and I were free. She left, and last i heard, she runs a gay bar smwhere in midtown. I wasn't as fortunate. I had to continue selling myself out, but this time, without the protection, I was much vulnerable."
Percy merely nodded and listened. He knew that what counted most was he was listening, and that no one would appreciate the,'Oh you poor soul' and 'How terrible' comments. They didn't mean anything. What mattered, was listening.
"I've been rape, drugged, and beaten more times than you could count," she whispered softly. "It's a struggle just to get up in the morning, but I know that if I don't, I'll be homeless again."
Percy stood and walked to the window, looking down at the traffic below. "And you can't go to the police because what you do is illegal."
She nodded. "That's the kind of women you want Percy? Adelinquent of the streets, hardly educated, and emotionally unstable are all things I would use to descride myself."
"Maybe so," he said. "But that's not how I would descride you. I've seen you when you've thought no one is watching. I think i pretty fair idea of who you are. Despite what you say, I know you're smarter than you look. That attiu=tude on the streets left you the second we walked into this room. I can tell that you like architecture, and I can tell that you desire knowledge."
Annabeth shrugged. "So? That's hardly desirable. They're women out there who desire knowledge and have it."
"Onto my next point," he continued, completely ignoring her again. "Although it is irrelevant, since I've said that sex is not what I'm looking for, you are, in fact, gorgeous. You just came off the streets, probably haven't had a good meal in months, and most likely suffer from you wounds, both physical and emotional, yet here you are, radiating beauty."
She blushed deeply. "Well, each to their own I suppose."
"And lastly," he finished without pause. "Why would i give two shits if you were wealthy? I've got enough money for both of us and half the city."
It was clear then that the conversation needed to be put aside. Annabeth rose. "It's time I should be leaving."
"I'll give you a ride," he said, looking for his car keys. "So, will it be home or back on the streets?"
"I'd rather just go home. After all that's been said, I don't feel good enough to back there."
Percy nodded. "What's your address?"
"410 East 105th Street."
Soon they were speeding along in his little blue car, Headed for a place Percy hoped she would never have to see again. East Harlem wasn't exactly the nicest area of town, and her address was fairly close to the river, which meant that it had smell like sewage pretty often. He could never decide which was more pollouted, the Hudson or the East.
"So silena," he started "I-"
"Huh?" she mumbled. "Oh, never mind."
"What was that?" he asked. She seemed to be hiding something and Percy was concerned. He would need to know almost everything about her before he allowed her to stay with him, and if she was already withholding informantion, then maybe she wasn't the right pick.
"I have to tell you something that you may not like," she said, barely audible.
Percy frowned. "And what would that be?"
"Well," she continued. "As you can imagine, escorts can't use their real names. The men that hired us would probably follow us, and possibly rape us."
"So you're name isn't really Silena Grace?"
"No, it's not. Grace was the last name of Thalia, the girl I ran away with, and Silena was a friend of mine from long ago who passed away from long ago who passed away from poisoning."
"What happened to her?" he asked
"Silena? She lived in Arizona. One day while she went out, a snake bit her, but she apparently didn't notice. Her parents found her dead from the bite only a couple hours later."
"Tragic," he muttered. "So what's your name then?"
She hesitated. "Annabeth."
"Annabeth what?" he asked. If there was one thing business school had taught him, it was how to be persistent. Never let your questions go unansered.
"Chase."
"Like the credit card company?"
"Yea, just like that." She seemed to not be paying attention anymore.
"So have you ever had a Chase credit card?"
She laughed bitterly. "As if. Do I look like I've ever owned a cedit card in my life? I don't even know how they work."
"Well, if you accpet my offer, I can guarantee that'll be fix."
The rest of the ride was driven in silence. Percy had nothing to say to Annabeth. There was nothing he could say. She knew what he was trying to give her, and knew why. That was all there was to it. Now it was all up to what she wanted most.
He pulled the car to the curb, right in front of her apartment building. Both of them unclipped themselves and waited for the other to speak. Instead of saying anything. Percy pulled out his wallet. "How much do you usally charge hourly?"
"Fifty bucks, cash only."
He pulled five notes out of his wallet five notes out of his wallet and handed it to her. She started to count, but stopped after the first note.
"These aren't tens; these are hundreds," she whispered.
Percy smiled for the first time. "I know. Just think of it as a parting gift in case I don't hear from you again. If you have any doubts, just call this number," he saidwhile handing her a business card. "I hope to hear from you soon."
Annabeth opened the passenger side door and got out. Her thin skirt fluttered wildly in the wind coming off the river. "Even if my decision disappoints you tomorrow, I want you to know thankful for you offer, and," she said raising the money, "this."
"Don't tell anyone about it until you've made a choice," he finished.
"Who would I tell," she scoffed. "I haven't got any friends remember?"
Percy simply shrugged and slowly pulled out of crub. Seeing that no one was coming from the opposite direction, he made a U-turn in the middle of the street and stole one last glimpase of her retreating from in thw doorway. Tomorrow can either mean big things, or the worst day yet, he thought.
The trip back to his apartment was even less exciting than the drive to Annabeth's, but once home, he flopped ontohis couch and stared at the ceiling high above. He was always borad in his apartment, but not because there was nothing to do, but more because his ongoing depression killed any desire to do anything. He had TVs, exercise machines, a bar, and a beautiful view of the world's greatest city. But none of that interested him. He was much too focused on Annabeth to care About the world around him.
If she accepts my offer, then maybe I'll have a chance at having a life again. Maybe when I wake up each morning, I'll know that there is someone just across the room that cares about me. Maybe...but for now, rest. Without changing his clothes, or getting into bed, Percy closed his eyes, And slept.