Author's Note:

OMG! 9 REVIEWS IN ONE CHAPTER! Thank you so much! BE READY TO SQUEAL! This chapter is SO romantic!

Review Replies:

booklover484: Thanks for alerting and reviewing!

bookwormgirl2497: Thanks for alerting, reviewing and putting this story to your favorite stories list.

clashercutie101: Thanks for alerting, reviewing and putting this to your favorite stories list. Nice to stumble upon another Pinoy in this site.

IFoundAPickle: Thanks for reviewing!

Ilovestories: Thanks for reviewing! I love that part too!

Sanubisfan: Thanks for reviewing! Thank you for telling me I'm 'BRILLIANT!'

ASenseOfImagination: Thanks for reviewing and putting this story to your favorite stories list.

Amain 4ever: I apologize but majority wins. They all chose Nico. Thanks for alerting and reviewing though.

Animal Charmer 11: Here's the next chapter!

Purpleblob: Thanks for alerting!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Chapter 2

Lovestruck

It was a normal day for Annabeth when she reported for work the following day. Her car was still at the mechanic for repair so she had to commute and leave home early to avoid being late. Her boss, Mr. Jackson was not around the whole day though he left some notes to keep her busy. She has to coordinate with the branch in India for the launching of products of some sort.

Her big surprise came before noon when a utility man came in bringing a bunch of red roses on her desk. "For Miss Annabeth Chase." he said.

"For me?" she asked in horror. Who is it from? Who would care to give her flowers? Nobody in her entire life has ever given her a flower. She hadn't had many admirers in her student days for she said they feel intimidated with her. She fumbled on the note tucked inside a stem. It read:

Miss Chase,

Please accept my peace offering…

Percy Jackson

If she had been a starry eyed teenager, she could have blushed a lot. Red roses huh? But no! They didn't mean anything. As the note said, they were peace offering. They should have been white for purity and sincerity not bloody red. Red is the color of love. Whew! She's imagining things too much.

She placed the red roses in a vase beside her desk. They were too delicate to push aside. Besides, they came from... she sighed again. Too much imagination!

True enough, she was busy the whole day, her phone hot from different calls. The day ended without a shadow of Mr Jackson. She wanted to thank him for the flowers. How sweet of him to even bother to send her flowers for reconciliation. Is this how rich men treat their secretaries? How ironic! Bosses are bully, slave drivers, and no heart.

She brought the flowers when she left home. It would be weekend tomorrow and it would be a pity if she will leave them to wilt for two days. Katie Williams, Mr Jackson's assistant, was raising an eyebrow when she walked passed her bringing the flowers. It's not her character to be nosy, but she smells something between these two.

Annabeth again put the flowers inside her room. She did not know why but something inside her made her take a stem and press a flower inside her favorite book.

"For some remembrance," she said. She wrote a note underneath. "Peace offering from Mr. Jackson."

She was not aware that this note will play an important role in her future…

Percy spent the weekend in a beach with his best friend Nico. He always loved water. Sometimes he felt that water was part of his life... The beach made him feel calm and warm and at peace. When he was still a student, he awed his classmates when he stayed underneath a pool for an hour without emerging above. So strange! Earned him the title "Mr. Waterman".

But today, his mind was in a whirl. He could not keep his mind straight. Something troubled him. A girl. He had not felt this same since high school. But crushes were different.

"Hey, pal! What's up?" It's Nico interrupting his thought.

He just gave him a blank stare and shook his head. Nico was confused and smiled. He could guess what was in Percy's mind. Yes! He seldom went wrong. How could he when he had already felt this same before with a girl.

"If I were you," he teased "I will propose on Monday. This will save you energy, effort and lots of sleepless nights" he joked.

"Do you think I need to do that? You see, I just met her a few days ago. But I don't know. It seems too hasty. I might be wrong."

"You'll never know unless you try. You'll never know not until you get there. But do you know what the best thing to do, Perce? Let's get up and get on the water. We did not come here just to stare at the sea."

And Nico ran off to the water. Percy came in next. But as soon as he submerged his head on the water, he saw Annabeth smiling at him. It would be too much fun if Annabeth will stay here at the beach with him. He's going crazy. Yes, he will ask Annabeth for a date on Monday.

Percy was at the office at exactly 7:00 A.M. Too early but he has plenty of papers to sign. When Annabeth came in, he looked at her in the corner of his eye. While Annabeth, when she saw Percy at his desk, suddenly felt nervous. She wanted to say thank you for the flowers but no words came. It seemed her throat was dry

"Hmmm… good morning!" Percy said making Annabeth feel awkward with his first greeting.

"Ahh... good morning sir! Thanks for the flowers."

Annabeth felt more nervous when Percy stood up and gave her a stare. "I hope you like them."

"Yes, they're beautiful." And she turned making her way outside. She was wondering why she kept on answering with monotone. With Percy around, she couldn't seem to feel comfortable.

She sat on her desk in a cubicle right outside his office. "Miss Chase, can you please bring me the Asian reports," Percy interrupted on the interphone.

She fumbled on the file and stood up. "The launching sir is set on the second week of August. The local mayor is invited together with some celebrity endorsers. Advertisements on the date will appear starting tomorrow on the local newspapers and magazines."

Percy let out a smile satisfied with the developments. Annabeth was very efficient, intelligent and smart. It's good he made the right move in hiring her.

Before the day ended, Percy made sure he could ask Annabeth for dinner. He felt uneasy asking the girl out. Ever since he obtained that social status as an executive of Jackson Inc., asking girls out seemed to be so easy. Normally, he just ask his assistant Katie Williams to set the date and that was it. No effort at all. But not with Annabeth! He did not want Katie to handle it this time. Annabeth was different from all the girls he had met. There was something in her that made his heart throb for the first time. Could be love at first sight. He couldn't believe he was that smitten with the girl.

When Annabeth was about to leave, he took the first move.

"Since you accepted my peace offering, I hope I could take you home. To discuss some important issues," he lied.

Annabeth was surprised. She just let him led her to the parking area where most officers of the company parked their car. And his driver was not around. He drove it himself.

"Where to?" he asked as he fasten his seatbelt.

"I hope it won't be too much trouble sir."

"Not at all. We need this time to bond together. I want to know you better Miss Annabeth Chase." There, he said it.

She felt color spread all over her face. She cursed herself for being so naive.

She watched his hand as he drove the wheels. She can't understand why she can't even dare look at his face. If not at his hands, it's the scenery outside.

"Err… Ms. Chase, can I call you Annabeth?"

So gentle words, soft spoken that she seemed to be mesmerized. She tried to look at his face. An angular face with smiling eyes, teeth that were white as pearls, skin that was tanned by the sun. He was like a god crafted to perfection. Whew! Reading too many mythologies…

Percy glanced at her waiting for an answer. She let out a smile. "Yeah sure… By all means."

"Then you can call me Percy." He said the words with finality.

They passed by rows of restaurants whose neon lights illuminate the whole city.

"Care for a bite?" he asked.

She nodded. Actually, she was not hungry. She just wanted to have an excuse to be with him longer. She can't take him off her mind much more her sight.

He parked the car at the rear end corner making sure it was locked. And she let him led her to a flashy fabulous restaurant that seem to be void of people. Looks like an exclusive one just for the rich.

"Table for two, elite room," he commanded the waiter-in-waiting along the entrance door.

They were led to another door and to a hotel like room with candle lights and shining glasses.

As soon as they sat down, the waiter gave Percy a booklet with the menus listed on it.

"What will you have?" He looked at her.

It's her first time to dine in a flashy restaurant and she felt awkward with his stare.

"The usual one," he told the waiter. "Fifteen minutes sir," he said.

Those fifteen minutes seemed to be the longest time in her life. She could hear the clock tick at the far end corner.

"I didn't know you were going to ask me out in a place like this tonight," she just said. "I should have dressed for the occasion."

He smiled. "You don't need to dress up Annabeth. You're beautiful as you are."

"Annabeth". Music to her ears! He said her name in the most beautiful way. Ahh! She seemed to be getting crazy. Getting crazy with the man in front of her. Everything in him was beautiful. She was love struck. Just like in a magical world. She will exchange everything just for this man. While Percy, he seemed to be so relaxed.

"Tell me something about yourself," he said. "Aside of course, from being beautiful? And talented?"

She laughed. Her first interview. Gosh! "I hope this interview is not for another job. I might fail this time."

He laughed too. "Yes, it's for another job. A special one… here." And he pointed to his heart. "If only you could fill it. I don't know. I'm so crazy about you Ms. Chase. I feel if I'm not going to tell you tonight I might blow up."

She stared at him in amazement. Couldn't believe her eyes! It was as if she was in a trance. Was he confessing to her? Was he telling her he loved her? She felt any moment from now she was going to faint.

She just stared at him. And he stared back. They stared at each other so locked up. How long? They did not know. They didn't even notice the waiter laying out food on the table. Yes! They're in a fantasy world. It was like… Magic!

*squeals* Isn't it romantic? What's your favorite part? Mine is the last part with the 'MAGIC!' thing. Why? I got that on the movie of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan "Sleepless in Seattle".

R&R!