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Of Corporate Scandals

Chapter 6. Jogging

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Saturday

Three more miles…until the half-way point. Annabeth heaved as she pushed herself to run faster. The only way she had managed to keep up with her high school varsity sports teams were daily runs on the beach near her house for conditioning. In an attempt to resurrect the athletic teenager she was once was, Annabeth had resumed her daily…er, weekly runs.

Annabeth had tried to run on the tread mill in the workout room of her apartment building, but the old lady downstairs gets pretty crotchety if you use it past the 30 minute time limit.

Annabeth had tried to run on the tread mill in the workout room of her apartment building, but the old lady downstairs gets pretty crotchety if you use it past the 30 minute time limit.

Annabeth missed running on the beach. The Riverside park trail parallel to the Hudson wasn't the same. If there was one thing she missed about California, it was the beach. So that led her to running around the Reservoir lake in Central Park.

So here she was running like there was no tomorrow.

If she closed her eyes, she could just pretend that the Reservoir was the Pacific Ocean. Sure the Californian coast had hot, shirtless guys playing volleyball, but Central Park had semi-attractive guys selling hot dogs…She was just about to dive into another fantasy about Californi-

Smack! Annabeth found herself lying on top of the man she had just barreled into.

"Umph! I am so sorry!"

"Oh, no, please it was all my-"

"-Mr. Jackson?-"

"-Annabeth?-"

The blonde blushed deeply, her face resembling one of a very ripe tomato as she crawled off her boss and stood up.

Percy stood up and helped Annabeth up. Both parties were still blushing as they looked at each other. They had to admit, it was weird seeing each other in clothes other than work attire.

Percy had to admit he liked Annabeth just as much in a tank top and running shorts as opposed to her usual pencil skirt and work bun. She really could work the spandex.

Annabeth mentally slapped herself to keep from drooling as her eyes raked over Percy's body. After seeing him every weekday in tailored suits and polos, it was quite refreshing to see her boss in basketball shorts and a t-shirt. And, damn…she wasn't going to finish that thought.

"So, um…hi." Annabeth said, awkwardly.

Percy cleared his throat, "Hi."

"Sorry about, you know, barreling you to the ground."

"Oh, no, it was partially my fault."

"So, what brings you here?"

"Um, running, actually."

Annabeth blinked and the blush that had already started fading returned, "Oh, right, of course…"

Percy chuckled, nervously, reddening as well. He looked down, "Oh, uh, nice shoes."

Annabeth looked down and laughed; they were both wearing the same running shoes, but Annabeth's in pink and Percy's in blue, "You too."

Glad that they had broken the ice, he asked, "So do you run here a lot?"

Annabeth nodded, "As much as I can, but usually only on the weekends."

"Because I make you work you so hard during the week?"

"Of course not!...Well, actually yeah."

Percy laughed, "Do you want to run with me?"

"Sure," Annabeth replied, taking her hair out of her ponytail and retying it.

They quickly fell into place with each other as they jogged around the largest lake at Central Park. It had a five mile long track. For the first few yards they were in perfect sync, but as the finish of their first mile neared, Percy started to lag a few paces behind her.

A smirk graced her lips as she called back to him, "Can you keep up or do I need to slow down?"

Percy secretly didn't mind running behind his secretary as he had a nice view of her a-

"What was that?" Annabeth asked, looking back at him.

He cleared his throat, "Oh, um, yeah. I mean, no, it's okay. I can catch up."

Annabeth laughed, "Okay. Are you sure?" Just to prove her point, she quickened her pace and smirked wider, "I was on track team in high school."

Percy grinned, "Oh, yeah?" He caught up to her, panting lightly, "Well, I was on the swim team."

Annabeth stumbled as she imagined her boss in a Speedo. She gulped, "Oh, really?"

Percy grinned wider.

"Why don't we have a race, Mr. Jackson?"

"I'd be up for it."

"But be warned; I always win."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that."

Annabeth stopped and stepped off the track as a pair of roller skaters skated past them, "Okay." She looked farther up the track. "Whoever gets to that bench first wins."

Percy looked at it, judging the distance to be about thirty yards away, "You're on."

She grinned, getting back on the track, "Alright, ready?"

He nodded, "Yep."

"Ready. Set. Go!"

The two sprinted off, a series of "Excuse me's!" and "On your left's!" came from them as they passed by the other walkers. Annabeth's light weight gave her a healthy sprint, but Percy's muscles could only help.

About halfway to the end, Percy started catching up to Annabeth. As he passed her he yelled, grinning, "Also captain of the soccer team!"

Annabeth gasped and glared, "Oh, you're on!" She pushed and caught up with him. They were near the end. The glee of competition shown in their eyes.

"Hey, Mr. Jackson!"

"What?"

"See ya at the finish line!" Annabeth stuck her foot out and Percy tumbled to the ground.

She laughed, sprinting to makeshift finish line.

Annabeth collapsed on the grass in a fit of giggles as Percy collapsed beside her.

"You are such a cheater!"

"Am not!"

"If you hadn't cheated, I so would've won!"

"No way! You were like, a foot ahead of me before tripped you."

"And I would've won by a foot if you hadn't tripped me!"

"But I did trip you and I won," Annabeth grinned.

"No way. Cheaters don't win."

"Technically, I wasn't cheating."

"Oh, yeah. Of course. Tripping your opponent is definitely fair play."

"Did you make a rule saying I couldn't trip you?"

"Well, uh, no. I didn't."

"Then it wasn't against the rules, therefore it was not cheating." Annabeth sat up and rested her head on her knees.

Percy sat up and propped himself on his elbows, "Touché."

Annabeth laughed again, "So what's my prize?"

Percy said, "I dunno." He said, leaning closer, "What do you want?"

Annabeth noticed herself moving closer to him, "I don't know. What can you give me?" Her breath hitched.

RING! RING!

Both of them jumped as Percy's phone vibrated violently form his pocket.

"Shit, sorry I have to take this." He pressed answered, "Talk to me."

"Hey, Perce."

"Hey, Grover, what's up?" Percy answered his best friend and publicity manager.

"Your dad needs you at his press conference."

"Okay, sure no prob. When is it?"

"Oh, um, well…now."

"What! Where?"

"Plaza Hotel."

"Fine. I'm on my way." He hung up.

Annabeth looked at him, "Something wrong."

"No," Percy responded, standing up and then helping Annabeth up. He sighed, "My dad needs me for work stuff . I'm sorry. I have to go."

"No, it's alright. I'll see you on Monday, Mr. Jackson."

"See you, Annabeth."

She sighed, a bit disappointed as she watched her boss run away towards the street to hail a cab.

Annabeth wondered what would've happened if Percy's phone hadn't rang.

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Monday.

Annabeth walked into the office with the new blueprints and their coffee.

"Good morning, dear-y!" Mary-Sue said as she bustled by holding a stack of papers as tall as she was.

"Morning, Mary. Do you need some help with those?"

"Oh, no, no, no. I have it under control," She answered as the stack of papers teetered precariously.

"Okay, if you're sure. Um, is Mr. Jackson in yet?"

Mary-Sue nodded, already heading into the copy room, "In his office, dear."

Annabeth called after her, "Thanks, Mary."

Annabeth set down her bag and coffee at her desk and brought the other cup into Percy's office.

"Mr. Jackso-What are you doing?"

Percy was lying on the floor with his feet propped up on his desk, "Oh, uh, hello, Annabeth."

"Am I interrupting something?"

"Oh, no."

Annabeth set his coffee down on the table near the door, "Are you alright?" She peaked over the desk to look at him.

Percy nodded, "Yes, er, kind of."

"Why are you on the floor?"

"My back sort of just…you know. Hurts."

Annabeth stifled a grin, "Why?"

"Well, when you tripped me, let's just say the ground…isn't soft." He groaned in pain as he tried to look at her.

Annabeth rushed over to him and helped him up, "Oh my gods. I did this? I am so sorry, Mr. Jackson."

Percy winced as she helped him into a sitting position, "No, it's okay. You didn't know that this would happen.

Annabeth asked, "What can I do to help?"

Percy chuckled, dryly, "Well, I'd ask you to get me some pain killers, but I don't think that be safe as I am already highly medicated."

Annabeth walked to the other side of his desk, "Well, I do give a mean back massage."

Percy looked at her as he leaned against his desk, facing her, "Oh, really?"

She nodded, "Uh huh, just relax and lean forward."

Percy protested even as he was abiding to her orders, "You really don't have to…"

Annabeth laid her hands on his neck, "Hey, I'm your assistant, that's what I do; assist."

He was about to respond, but he somehow lost the ability to as soon as her soft, soft hands touched him.

Annabeth massaged his neck and slowly moved her hands down to his shoulders, "Wow you're really tense."

Percy would have replied, but he was afraid that if he opened his mouth, something he would regret later would come out.

He bit his lip hard to hold back a groan as her hands moved lower.

"A-a-ah, Annabeth, m-maybe you sho-"

Just then the door flew open, "Percy-Oh, my. Am I interrupting something?"

Percy's head shot up, "Calypso?"

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