CHAPTER 19

It was at least ten at night and Reyna sat in the backseat of the company car next to Percy. They were parked in front of Chase Manor.

She turned to him, "You're going to have to come inside with me. There are paparazzi following us to see if our relationship is legit."

"Is there really a need for that?"

She let out a exasperated sigh, "Do you want to help Annabeth or not? If you want to make this fake relationship real you have to do as I say. Besides, the reporters get extra aggressive after a new thing like this."

He didn't like it—Annabeth being in there—but there was really no option.

He let out a deep breathe and got out of the car, just as a driver helped Reyna out the other side. Percy then wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked over to the gate and up to the steps.

He stepped in after her, then just as the door was closed behind them, he let his hand fall from her waist. A maid came around to help Reyna with her coat.

She turned to him, "Stay the night. You can take the room next to mine upstairs. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make a few phone calls." The brunette then walked away to her personal office.

He looked up the grand stairway.

"Would you like me to show you the way, Master Percy?" A maid asked.

"No, it's fine." He said with a wave of his hand—his eyes never leaving the stairway.

Percy then slowly made his way upstairs. He looked over at the door that led to Annabeth's room with unmasking pain in his eyes. He walked over and raised his hand to knock, then stopped himself. He let his hand fall and then walked over to the other end of the hall, sorrow racking his chest.

—

Annabeth could feel him at the other side of the door. It was like she had this innate sense of where he was(as creepy as that sounded)
—the atmosphere he let off..everything.

She had seen the him walking to the front door with his arm around that ...woman, so she knew he was inside the house. She couldn't help her heart which was beating fast and her fast tempo breathing.

His hesitant footsteps came closer to her door and she waited for a knock which never came. His footsteps retreated leaving her to sit on her bed clutching her chest where her heart pounded fast.

Why was it that she couldn't get angry at the guy? No matter how hard she tried. Nothing. When they had kissed that moment on the couch, she knew that she was kissing him because she missed him. Everything was one hundred precent genuine. And she hated herself for it.

Now that he and that woman were publicly dating, she should be even more motivated to stake his heart with the revenge her father probably wanted her to pull through with-the revenge she needed to get. But like the weakling she was, she couldn't. She just couldn't.

Why did she have to keep reminding herself that—

He was the reason that her heart was broken and far beyond repair,

that she had been played

That because of his beautiful, knee weakening grin, she was not there when her father was dying.

She fell back on her couch and raised the back of her hand to her forehead—exhausted and weak.

But then again, she mused, she had always been trained to not be swayed by the desires of her heart. Her father was looking up to her to be strong and vigilant. She couldn't break down because of a guy who had broke her inside. The recurring image of Percy's arm around Reyna's waist made her even more sure. She had been wavering on shifty ground these past two weeks after the break up after remembering everything, but now she realized how weak Percy had made her.

She removed her hand from her forehead and sat up.

Like she had done years ago when her mother ran away and left her, Annabeth closed the feelings in her heart and built up walls of steel. She was not going to be weak. Not now not ever.

And she was not going to disappoint her Dad.

—

Percy opened his eyes—awake. He had only two hours of sleep and he couldn't sleep. With one sweep of the room with his eyes, he remembered he was still in Chase Manor.

He got up from the guest bed and walked out of the room. He was off to go down the stairs and out the door to clear his head when he risked peaking over down the hallway where Annabeth's room was. Her door was opened slightly.

Percy took a chance and walked as quietly as he could over to her door slightly ajar. With the back of his hand, he opened the door a little further to see a huge bedroom. It was probably double the size of his apartment as a whole. He looked over to the bed and saw she wasn't there.

His brows scrunched together as he braved one step inside.

Percy then walked past a wall covering his view of the balcony doors which were opened.

Standing with her arms leaned against the white railing—there she was—her back facing him. The linen curtains hanging from the opened doors blew up and about gracefully from the nice night breeze, obscuring the view of her slightly.

He soon found that his feet were moving towards her across the room to the doors of the balcony. He stopped at the doors and with his hand holding the frame of the right door, he checked her over with his eyes.

Annabeth was wearing maroon colored jeans folded up to her ankles which fit her legs and hugged her ass very nicely— Damn it, curse these thoughts of his.

A warm dark cardigan slung about her to fight the chilly breeze. The cardigan slid down one shoulder slightly for him to see the strap of her white cami she was probably wearing underneath. He was aching to kiss the skin of her neck, now exposed since her blonde golden hair was pulled up and out of her face—a few curls had escaped and caressed her cheek (something he wished he could be doing at the moment).

"Is this going to be a regular thing—you making an appearance here every time Reyna comes home?"

She said without looking back at him.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have barged in like this."

She turned and leaned back with her elbows against the railing. Her grey eyes now vibrant and reflecting the color of the moon.

Then something unexpected happened that caught Percy off guard— she gave him a smile.

It was beautiful and made his heart flutter and his knees go limp. But he also noticed the smile did not reach her eyes.

"It's fine. I'm glad you came in here."

Percy's brows furrowed, "You are?"

She looked deeper into his, "Yeah, I am." She crossed her arm over her stomach in an insecure gesture—her eyes looked up to him and he saw the question in them.

"Please tell me you're not actually dating Reyna."

"No, we're not. And before you ask let me explain. It's for the public. For the company and especially for you."

"For me?"

"Yes, by dating me, that would ruin Reyna's reputation and make you the only option for the board committee to pick as chairman and CEO of Chase Industries."

Annabeth's eyes narrowed, as if not convinced, "That seems like a long stretch."

"It's worth trying."

Annabeth pushed off the rails and moved towards him—in two strides her body was so close to him, he could feel the warmness of her body radiating from her. He trembled as she moved even closer, her eyes bright as the moon. Her lips were close to his—so close. He longed to kiss her like they did two days ago on the couch. He longed to do so much more than just a kiss.

He wanted her so bad and she was making it very difficult to keep his hands still being so close to him.

"I know we can never be together again, but—" her lips went down to his neck, kissing the skin under his jaw. She pulled away enough to say, "I need you right now."

Those words were all it took to make Percy bring his hands up to hold her face and crash his lips against hers. Something was off about how easily Annabeth was coming on to him, but he didn't care at the moment. She could be playing him. That was very likely.

But he didn't care.

All he cared about was her.

And at that moment he wanted her…badly.

His fingers went down and slipped the cardigan off her other shoulder, running his palms down her bare arms. Her body shuddered from his touch. "You're so beautiful." He breathed against the skin of her neck, making her flinch and let out a soft breathe.

He pulled the cardigan all the way off her, letting it fall to the slick tiled floors— his lips never leaving her. He raised his face to kiss her lovely lips again. Panting between kisses, wanting to take in every sweet breathe of hers.

Her fingers went to his shirt and unbuttoned each one, revealing every plane and ridge of his body along with his scars. Her hands ran over his chest and down his abdomen, making his breathes catch and his heart beat even quicker.

Her fingers then expertly unbuttoned his jeans as he moved forward and against her, further and further leading them to the bed inside her room.

She fell on the bed and he fell on her soon after, making sure not to crush her as he brought his hands up her sides, his fingers relishing in her soft golden skin. Percy then brought one hand to her pants and soon had them down and thrown on the floor.

He pulled off the shirt she had undid for him and threw it on the floor to join her pants. Annabeth soon caught his mouth with hers as soon as he got on her again. She was so addicting, he couldn't resist her.

His fingers ran up her thigh, making her shudder under him. Her hands went around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer to her.

He breathed her name over and over against her the skin of her neck, dangerously moving down her collar bone to the tops of her breasts. She crossed her arms and reached over to the hems of the cursed cami, pulling it off swiftly and throwing it over where their clothes pile was forming.

He brought his lips back to her chest, moving down her stomach as her fingers raked down his back.

"I love you." He breathed hot against her skin before kissing her neck again. Annabeth breathed in a quick breathe at that and her hands froze against his back and her lips stopped kissing him for a second. She was about to continue, but that hesitance was enough to get Percy a good foot away from her.

"Percy." She said, trying to get him closer again, but he kept his distance and simply looked into her silver grey eyes, though it took everything in his gut to not go to her again.

She didn't know if it was because she was too unraveled and lightheaded from him being so close to her, but she let her cold fake facade down and let him see the pain—the unbearable heartbreaking pain in her eyes.

His eyes widened seeing the rawness of it. She was trying to play him back. And more importantly, she was hiding how much he had hurt her.

He saw that all in that one stare.

Annabeth soon averted her eyes, a crease appearing between her brows—her teeth biting her lower lip. She knew what he saw and cursed at herself.

Percy felt his heart tear in half. How could he be so stupid? She was in more pain than he could have ever imagined.

Did he just think that she would easily move on from what he did to her? What a dipshit.

His hands started trembling—he gripped them to stop shaking them.

"Annabeth, I—"

Her eyes looked up into his, silencing his words. His heart stopped seeing the tears welling up—making those beautiful grey orbs blurry.

Those tears were because of him.

He had never felt more guilty than in that moment.

Percy then reluctantly got off the bed. He wanted more than anything to reach out and hold her in his arms, but he couldn't bring himself to.

"I'm not looking for forgiveness Annabeth. You don't know how sorry I am for what I've done to you."

Her brows furrowed together creating a crease in the middle of her forehead. He realized it had been a while since he last saw her smile—a real smile. He wondered if he would ever be able to see it again.

The raw pain in her eyes vanished, replaced with a steel wall. Her silver eyes now cold and steady—piercing a glare through him.

"You're sorry?" Her voice was quiet, in a dangerous uncomfortable way.

Percy's heart thudded in his chest. "I know it sounds trivial to the amount of pain that I've caused you. But it's true, Annabeth. You don't know how much it hurts how sorry I am. And I know asking for your forgiveness is a selfish thing to ask, so...I won't."

She got off the bed as well, threw on her cardigan over her underwear and then went up closer to him. His breathe caught in his throat as she got closer until her lips were inches from his. Why did she have to be even more distracting? Her half exposed body was making him go crazy.

Her grey eyes still cold and impenetrable looked hard into his, "So, if I were to use you and break your heart over and over again—you would gladly accept it?"

His heart beat even faster as he felt her warm breathe fan lightly against the side of his neck.

"I would." He managed to get out—his voice hushed-his face flushed.

She then pressed her lips against his neck, sending chills of pleasure thundering through his body. Her fingers ran slowly up his chest and around his shoulders, sparking shocks of electricity where her fingers met his skin.

Her lips then reached his ear and her words whispered into his ear, making him shudder. It took him a few seconds to get past the tingling sensation of her whispers to actually distinguish what she was saying.

"You're going to regret saying that." She whispered.

From simply feeling how his body reacted to her, he knew that he would probably regret it—but in the end, he knew it would be worth it. It gave him a strange sense of relief knowing he would be paying for the wrongs he had done to her.

Annabeth- the only person who had managed to make his world turn upside down.

—

Reyna had thrown a party at the Chase Manor. There was everybody and anybody who was important in the elite business field there. And, of course, Percy was invited.

He walked through the crowd and went up to the bar counter.

"Gin and Tonic."

He waited as the bartender nodded and made his drink. Percy picked up his drink and sipped it as he looked around the crowds.

Nico came beside him with a drink already in his hand, "What's up man?"

"Hey." Percy tapped his glass with Nico's, before downing the rest of the drink.

Nico's brows went up, "You alright?"

"Yeah, I will be."

"You want to talk about it?"

Percy was about to say "no", when another guy came up to them. It was Jake Mason, who was in line to be the president of his father's company.

"Hey, guys!" Jake clasped Percy and Nico on the shoulders, "Great party, am I right?"

"Yes, very great."

"I don't usually like business social parties, but this one is a lot more…What's the word—" At that moment, Annabeth walked down the stairs from her room in all her confident beauty—joining a couple of her friends from across the room. Percy noticed it and unfortunately so did Jake.

"— interesting." Jake finished.

Percy felt his gut twist. He didn't like the way this Jake guy was staring at her. Percy tried his best not to glare the man down.

He looked to Annabeth—she was smiling, laughing with her girlfriends while sipping champagne. She had on a beautiful dark grey dress that hugged her figure in all the right places.

Jake whistled, "Frederick Chase's daughter. She's been all over the news recently, hasn't she." Michael straightened his tie, a sly smirk spreading across his face.

He then made his way across the floor towards her.

Nico looked over at Percy warily, "Hey, you okay with this?"

He shook his head as Annabeth turned to meet Jake's attempts, "I don't know." Percy said slowly. Annabeth smiled at Jake, she shook his hand, being polite as she accepted the drink he gave her.

Her grey eyes averted towards Percy, making his breathe catch in his throat. It was only for a moment, but it was enough to make his knees go limp. Her intense striking grey eyes could make his skin burn up all over any day.

Percy's eyes flitted over to Jake's hand which was snaking around her waist. He set his glass down, asked for a refill. When he looked back to where Jake was feeling Annabeth up, Jake was standing alone—looking rejected.

Percy looked around the huge room, past faces, searching for her. He suddenly felt a hand catch his wrist.

Annabeth's voice whispered in his ear, "Follow me."

She started pulling him away from the center of the party, and up the stairs to her room. Percy caught Reyna's eyes on the way up. She looked perplexed, shocked.

Annabeth continued pulling him away—over to her room. She closed the door behind her, her breathes audible. Her hand was still gripped around his forearm.

"Annabeth, why—?"

Before he could finish, Annabeth jumped onto his waist, her lips immediately pressed on his, "Jealous?" she breathed into his mouth.

"Maybe." he answered.

Her lips dipped onto his neck, "You don't have to be. My target's not him, it's you."

He held her face still so that her eyes looked straight into his, "I know. Do your worst."

Her breathing was hard and fast paced. Her grey eyes looked straight into his—piercing and yet soft at the same time. He pushed her up against the door, crashing his lips to hers. Her lips were sweet, her tongue soft.

His hands ran up the bare side of her thigh, riding up her dress. Her fingers started unbuttoning his formal shirt one by one, before dipping under the fabric to spread across the planes of his chest. She ran them over his shoulders, making him groan against her lips as she ripped off his shirt and threw it to the ground.

He pulled her away from the door and went over to the bed, leaning over her as she dropped back onto the bed, breathless.

—

Percy woke up with no one next to him. He put on his clothes and went down the stairs to see someone he wasn't looking for. Reyna walked over and handed him a mug of coffee. Percy took it, looking from it to her then he took a seat at the island counter.

"You made a mistake. You realize that, right?" She said.

He didn't respond. He simply sipped his coffee and clasped both hands around the mug.

"Where's Annabeth?" he said after a while.

Reyna's eyes flashed with anger, "That's not what's important right now, Percy! She's the sole reason we're doing this. You had no right to give in to your desires to be with her. We made a deal."

"You're overreacting."

"Im not overreacting! This is not about me, it's about getting the board to pick Annabeth, we went over this already."

"I know. And I'm sorry." He ran his hands through his hair, "How bad is it?"

She let out a sigh, "I got to the media in time to stop any new coverage on last night's event at the party, but people will be talking. Some saw you two go up there and not come down." She sat in the seat next to him, "I'm going to work and you're going with me."

He nodded as Reyna left the kitchen to get ready. Percy sat there with his head in his hands. He knew she was playing him, trying to break his heart. Percy thought he could take it, but he couldn't help the pain that burned within his chest not seeing the same love in her eyes—not seeing her next to him in the morning. It hurt.

But it was not as bad as what he made her go through.

He just to suck it up and bear it.

A/N:

Thank you all you wonderful people for loving this story!
Only a few more chapters left! AHHHHH
Until next time~~

UGh, lol I have to get back to my research paper...