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Of Corporate Scandals

Chapter 2. New Assistant

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Annabeth took a deep breath. Every single time she had passed this building, she had looked down upon all of those corporate snobs. She had mocked those who flaunted their wealth through their expensive suits. But now she was one of them, or, rather, the assistant to one. She inhaled once more before pushing the revolving glass doors and strolling into the elegant lobby.

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Percy sighed. He seemed to be doing that a lot today, sighing. The excessive sighing may have been due to a series of unfortunate events that have added up to a less than stellar Monday morning: his alarm clock went ballistic and woke him at two in the morning, Mrs. Dodds from downstairs had flushed at the exact same time he turned on the shower making the water scalding hot, and apparently you have to pay attention to the expiration date on eggs. So, of course, his taxi had to splash muddy street water on his newly pressed suit.

Percy pushed the revolving door forward, stubbing his toe, of course, and was greeted by a chorus of "Good, morning, Mr. Jackson." The doorman, David Yates, tipped his hat as he walked by, "G'Mornin', sir, you lookin' great today."

Percy chuckled, dryly, "Already working on that holiday bonus?"

David nodded, "Can never start too early."

Percy nodded goodbye and made his way to the elevators behind the receptionist's desk. A tall blonde in black stilettos caught his attention. Percy's eyes lingered on the beauty. She seemed to be asking for directions. Percy figured she must be a guest to the building because he surely would've remembered that face with her bronzed complexion and mile-long legs. He seemed to have lingered just a little bit too long on her golden hair because he almost collided with the stainless steel elevator doors.

At that moment, the blonde glanced in his direction with a smirk as she caught him mid stumble. Percy flashed a weak smile as he hurried into the elevator, flushed from embarrassment.

He entered the twelfth floor to be greeted, once more, by a too-cheery-for-this-early-in-the-morning employee.

"Ah, Mr. Jackson, thought you'd never arrive," Silena said, standing up from her temporary desk and handing him his coffee.

Percy mumbled, grumpily as he took the cup, "Haven't had a good morning."

Silena waved her hand, "Well, you're new assistant should be arriving, shortly so suck it up and put on a smile."

Percy groaned, he had forgotten about that. On any other day, he would face this atrocity head on, but today he would rather not be sexually offended by a woman in heels.

Silena laughed, "Oh, please, Mr. Jackson, not every applicant is going to be like Rachel Dare. Remember, we reviewed her résumé and did a background check. She's fine." To reassure her old boss, she handed him the manila envelope filled with her successor's information.

Percy looked over it once more; Summa cum laude at New Rome University, volunteer work, office experience…

Silena continued, "Even if she lied on her résumé, I had that security button installed for a reason."

Percy sighed, "Fine." He ran a hand through his hair, "Anyway, Silena, do you know if someone else in the building has hired anyone new?" His mind wandered back to the attractive blonde in the lobby.

Silena thought about it, "Hmm, no, not that I know off. Well they did hire a new janitor on the night staff; Bob McLaggen."

He was about to respond when the elevator doors opened.

A young woman in her early twenties strolled in with a sort of timid confidence – like she was trying to appear so, but was scared to put herself out there.

It was the girl Percy saw in the lobby.

Silena smiled, "Ah, good morning, Ms. Chase." She turned to Percy and stepped on his foot. Due to the shooting pain from Silena's stiletto, he regained his composure and closed his drooling mouth.

The woman smiled, "Hello."

Silena motioned to Percy, "This your new boss, Mr. Perseus Jackson, Mr. Jackson, your new assistant Ms. Annabeth Chase."

She looked up at him with her sharp, calculating eyes.

Percy couldn't stop staring at her. He remembered, vaguely, of reaching out to shake her hand, "It's nice to meet you."

Annabeth smiled, "Pleasure."

Silena said, "Okay, um, well, Mr. Jackson, I will finish briefing Ms. Chase on how things work around here while you go to the press conference in Meeting Room A."

Percy had been too busy staring at his new assistant to hear her.

"Mr. Jackson," Silena repeated, "Mr. Jackson? Mr. Jackson!"

Percy jolted out of his reverie, "Yes?"

Silena rolled her eyes, "The press conference. Meeting Room A."

Percy cleared his throat, "Um, right. I, uh…excuse me." He quickly left.

Silena sighed and turned to the younger woman, "Sure, he's one of the richest men in New York, but doesn't mean he's that bright…

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Annabeth gulped, barely listening to Silena explain how to file Mr. Jackson's paperwork. Sure, she had seen his picture on the cover of TIME numerous times and, of course, on People as the Sexiest Man Alive, but…damn…he looked so much more attractive in person.

She had promised herself she would never be in a relationship with someone she worked with (let alone her boss), but oh gods.

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Percy gulped as he strode down the hallway to Meeting Room A. He had been so worried about his new assistant having inappropriate feelings toward him, but he had discovered he had been completely worried about the wrong thing. If he didn't learn to control himself, it would be him charged with harassment.

A/N: Please leave your questions, comments, and constructive criticism in a review below!