Chapter 17

3 years later

Percy sat in his chair in his office building. In the last three years, Percy had become the CEO of the New York branch of the company. His father was still the CEO on the west coast. Percy did his work on the top floor of the building. His dad visited every once in a while. Thalia finally decided on becoming a hairdresser. She was now 25 and she had a boyfriend named Luke. Bianca successfully opened her own photography place and she was 23. Hazel, who is 18, is her assistant at the place. It's like a part time job. Their studio is on a lower level of Percy's building. Nico is 21 and got out of university with a degree in doctoring. Jason was a pilot and Piper had her own beauty salon. Leo runs a prankster shop but it was really just for fun. He was still deciding on a career.

Percy's office consisted of a long mahogany desk. Percy sat at it with his back to the floor to ceiling windows. The whole wall behind him was a window. In front of him was the glass door. In the left front corner was a plastic tree and a mini fridge. A filing cabinet was beside it. In the right back corner was a large purple beanbag chair. In front of his desk were two chairs. The walls were peach coloured and one had a collage of pictures. It was mostly just pictures of friends and family.

Percy drummed the desk in front of him as he waited for a client. They were thinking of expanding a branch to British Colombia, Canada and he needed to go over things with the architect his father hired. Apparently, the architect was big on the west coast and he chose her without even evaluating her. He just knew her company was called Chase.

Percy checked his watch again. It was 2:07 and his client was supposed to show up at 2:00. There was a knock at the door.

Percy sighed. Finally. The door creaked and Hazel's head popped in. "Hi, Percy," she greeted.

"Hey Hazel," he sighed. Hazel was watching Olivia on a different floor where Bianca's business was. "How's Olivia?"

Hazel gestured behind her and in came Olivia. She wore a white dress with big flowers and white flats. Olivia was 4 years and 1 month (49 months for those of you wondering). She had big grey eyes with swirls of green, and long black hair. When she was first born her hair was in tight princess curls and almost brown. It was still in princess curls, but they were looser and her hair was dark brown. She was petite and still had a baby face because she has round cheeks. She held her large purple bear in her arms.

Olivia waved, "Hi, daddy!" She skipped into the room.

"Olivia, why aren't you downstairs with Bianca and Hazel…and Mrs. O'Leary?"

"'Cuz I hurt myself." Olivia dropped her bear and lifted up her dress to show her two scraped knees. "I was supposed to sit but I trip and fall."

"She said she wanted to stay here," Hazel explained.

"Okay, 'Livia, go sit in that bean bag over there, okay?" Percy pointed to the back corner. Clearly, that was Olivia's corner.

"Okay!" She grabbed her bear and ran off to sit on the chair.

"Thanks Hazel."

"No problem," Hazel replied. Her gold eyes scanned the room. "Has the architect shown up yet?"

"No," Percy replied. "They are now," he glanced at his watch, "11 minutes late."

"That's unprofessional," Hazel commented. She played with her tight curls

Percy sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, well…I'll see you later, Hazel. Tell Bianca I say hi."

"Of course. See you, Percy." Hazel waved before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

Percy was put back into a few moments of silence until, as expected, Olivia spoke.

"Daddy, look what I can do!" She gets out of her seat and does a cartwheel. "I learned it in 'ymnastics."

"Good job," Percy praised but he wasn't really paying attention. Where could that architect be? "What's your favourite: Gymnastics, skating or swimming?"

"Swimming!" she jumped into the air, doing a starfish jump. "I like to make the Bianca face in da water."

"Yeah?"

Olivia walked over to Percy and hugged his legs. "I wanna have fun with you, Daddy. I wanna swim with you."

Percy sighed. "I know 'Livia."

"You're a good swimmer! But you're always working at working here."

"What?" Percy placed her on his lap.

"No." Olivia crossed her arms. Percy raised an eyebrow. Olivia could be hard to understand sometimes. She just turned 4.

"Do you wanna go swimming after skating tomorrow in the backyard?" It was May so it was nice outside. Percy had moved into the past four years into a nice house. It had a backyard swimming pool.

"Exactly. You're smart."

Percy smiled, "Why thank you."

There was a knock at the door.

Percy glanced at his watch. The time was 2:23. Percy cleared his throat, "Come in."

A tall woman wearing a navy blue business suit walked in. She wasn't as tall as Percy though. She had blonde hair pulled up into a tight bun and stormy grey eyes.

Percy stood up and gestured for Olivia to go back to the bean bag chair. She quickly complied. She had a slight fear of strangers—which wasn't a problem for Percy.

He held out his hand, "Percy Olympian." Poseidon requested that Percy use the Olympian surname when dealing with business stuff. Percy didn't mind too much, though.

"Annabeth Chase." They shook hands.

They both sat down. Percy in his regular chair and Annabeth in one of the chairs across from him. Percy risked a look at his daughter. She was completely hidden behind the large bean bag chair. Percy didn't worry though. He could tell she was playing under there with her bear.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," Annabeth apologized. "I tried to navigate around at least seven car crashes."

"That's New York for you," Percy replied.

"I'm sorry, really."

"Let's just get started. So what do you imagine when I say Canada?..."

...

Annabeth had changed a lot in the past few years. She grew her hair out and graduated university. She got her architecture business off the ground and it was still growing. Now, she had a meeting with one of the biggest family industries in the country—the Olympians. They were known for all sorts of things. Kind of like the Trump family, but a bit less dramatic. Reyna moved on and became a doctor, what kind, Annabeth didn't know. Rachel left so Annabeth wasn't exactly sure what happened to her. Beckendorf and Silena live in New York, now at 25 and 26 respectively, and are happily married. Katie and Travis started dating which was a surprise to all of them because Katie seriously hated Travis. Connor was single, but he was happy.

After stumbling in late from unexpected traffic that she honestly should've seen coming, she reached the building. She came to New York for this client—she just couldn't pass this up. So, she was forced to stay in a hotel somewhere near, as she hadn't been to New York since she went to university here, and didn't know anyone. They spoke of plans for the building for a while before Percy called it a night around 9:00 p.m.

Annabeth agreed and they both got up. After Percy collected his jacket, they walked out the office. Percy turned off the lights and locked the door as Annabeth waited in the hallway. She slipped on her long grey jacket and buttoned it up as they began to walk down the hallway towards the elevator. Most people had already left so there was no one on this floor. They stepped into the elevator and Annabeth clicked for the main floor. As soon as Percy stepped into the elevator his jaw dropped. "Oh, crap—"

"What?" Annabeth exclaimed. He looked worried and he stuck his leg through the door making sure it didn't close.

"I'll be back," he said. He quickly ran back towards the office. Assuming he left a briefcase or some papers—he wasn't holding anything before—she held the doors open. She waited for a few seconds before he appeared again. He held something small in his arms. All Annabeth could see was a big purple bear. Annabeth raised a brow. What was that?

Once he got inside the elevator, she allowed the doors to close. Percy asked if she could also click level 17 which was 16 down. Annabeth did then tried to peer over his shoulder.

Percy noticed and smirked. "What're you doing?"

Annabeth blushed, realizing she had been caught. "I was just wondering…what's in your arms."

Percy smiled lightly and lowered his arms slowly. It was a little girl wearing a white dress with pink flowers all over it. She was sleeping and drooling lightly on his arm. In her arms was the bear.

Annabeth smiled. "She's your daughter?"

Percy nodded.

"And you left her in your office?"

Percy nodded sheepishly.

"I didn't see her."

"I could hear her talking," Percy said, smiling. "'Okay, time for a nap, Beary,' was the last thing I heard." Percy then shrugged, "Besides, she was hiding behind the bean bag chair."

"Oh." Annabeth looked down. She didn't even notice. "Why?"

"She was scared," Percy answered simply.

Annabeth raised her eyebrows. "Of you?"

"No!" Percy exclaimed. "No, no, no, I don't abuse her or anything. She was scared of you."

"Me?" Annabeth asked. She was surprised. "What did I ever do to her?"

"Don't worry about it, she doesn't like to talk to strangers."

The elevator stopped.

"So she hides?" Annabeth asked again.

Percy stepped out of the elevator. "Out of sight, out of mind, right?"

The elevator doors began to close with the last sight of him walking towards two girls, one with a camera around her neck, one holding a dog. Annabeth was left by herself in the elevator. She tried to get her mind onto anything else, but she couldn't stop thinking of Percy Olympian.

Hi guys! Lol, sorry you had to wait a full five days! Probably the longest I've gone. Did you likey? I hope so. That whole thing with Olivia and stranger: at first just something really random. Now? A part of the plot!

Anyways, big announcement:

I got a lot of complaints about the high review goal. :/

Guys, I put it high because I've been updating a lot and I needed to wait a while. I just wanted to give you guys some control with the updating. Well: there is no more review goal. I don't want to feel like I'm forcing y'all to review so this is how it's going to be. I'll just update when I feel like it.

I had no idea what to make Thalia do as an occupation so I just left it at that. Let me know if you have something better. Do y'all want lots of Luke or nah?

Nico? Doctor? Like uh, need an idea for him too. Um, Leo? Jason is a pilot...I guess.

I really don't know how well a four year old talks, someone tell me if I'm not accurate.

I was about to be like: Review goal.

Then I was like: oh.