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Of Corporate Scandals

Chapter 12. Coffee Talk

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Annabeth took a deep breath before knocking on Percy's office door, "The mail, Mr. Jackson. There are some important letters that need to be signed and mailed back today." She said, quickly, not making eye contact.

"Um, thanks, just leave them there please." His voice sounded tense and awkward. The tension in the room could've been sliced and served on a platter.

Annabeth nodded, setting the mail down before quickly leaving the room. She let out a deep sigh. Ever since the bar incident last week, things had been…different.

The morning after was great. She and Percy had breakfast together in his apartment before rolling into work at a comfortable 10am. It hadn't been until they walked into the office, laughing and joking together, that they realized how many kinds of wrong the situation was.

After a night of drinking at a bar doing gods know what, she had spent the night in her boss's bed. The thought seemed to have dawned on them at the same time. It felt like everyone could see right through them.

Percy and Annabeth avoided each other the first few days completely. It was just a series of awkward encounters and trying to limit the amount of contact as much as possible. Considering how Annabeth was Percy's assistant, that didn't work out for long so their relationship was now reduced to a series of curt conversations and as little eye contact as possible.

But the truth was, Percy and Annabeth enjoyed being in each other's company, all romantic feelings aside, not even being friends was driving them both insane.

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"Hey there, Annabeth!"

Annabeth looked up from her desk and was nearly blinded. Silena, Annabeth's predecessor, stood in front of desk dressed in a flashy green dress covered with a blazer (to make it work appropriate attire). Silena Beauregard was Open Seas Inc. most stylish and beautiful employee with her designer clothes and flawless looks. She had glossy black waves and a face so beautiful she could've been a descendant from Aphrodite herself.

"Oh, hi, Silena. Can I help you with something?"

Silena had been moved to the 10th floor to be Charles Beckendorf's assistant, leaving Annabeth the job she had now. With both girls as assistants in different departments meant they didn't work together very much so it was a surprise to see her on the 12th floor.

"I came up here to ask if you would like to take a coffee break with me."

"Oh, well…" Now don't get Annabeth wrong. She liked Silena. Not only was she beautiful, she was charmingly sweet and had helped Annabeth get acquainted with her new job. Annabeth's caution to the coffee invitation was not due to dislike, but more to confusion.

In addition to being known for her style, Silena Beauregard was also known for gossip, scandal, and matchmaking. Annabeth had no idea what to expect from this invitation, but she knew it probably didn't have anything to do with work. "Um, I-"

"Great!" Silena flashed a bright smile. From her tone of voice, Annabeth knew this was a nonnegotiable coffee break. So Annabeth found herself in the break room sipping a cup of Colombian coffee with the office gossip.

Open Seas, priding themselves in being a rather progressive company with state of the art facilities, did not skimp on furnishing the employee break room. With a fully functioning kitchen and a counter full of every appliance imaginable (including an espresso machine), it was unlike the usual office break room of Styrofoam cups and a dingy coffee pot. There were also café style tables to eat and a lounge-like area with cushy leather armchairs in front of a TV.

"So, Annabeth, I know it's only been a few months since you started, but-"

"Silena, what's this really about?"

Silena looked at her, "I'm sorry, what?"

Annabeth set down her mug of coffee on the table, "I know this isn't just a coffee talk. I don't know exactly what, but I know you're up to something. Spill."

After Silena's silence, Annabeth was scared she had offended her, but Silena grinned. Also setting down her mug, she grasped Annabeth's hands, "I knew I liked you!"

Annabeth sighed in relief, "So this is about something?"

"Of course."

"Well, what?"

"Baby blue top from Saks and the skirt from BCBG."

"Um, what?"

"Last week, you wore a blue blouse from Saks and a pencil skirt by BCBG."

"I, how-what? Annabeth's stomach dropped, she didn't let it on, but she knew exactly which outfit Silena was referencing: the clothes Percy had given her. Maybe if she feigned confusion, Silena wouldn't let on, "I still don't know what you're talking about Silena."

"Those clothes weren't yours."

"Of course they were, I was wearing them, wasn't I?"

"I see you every day, Annabeth. I know your style like the back of a fashion magazine. You don't shop at Saks, from what you've told me about your roommate, I bet my entire wardrobe she doesn't shop there either, and no one in their right mind would give Annabeth Chase clothes for a present when there are things like books or other boring stuff-"

"Hey!" Jesus was this girl a detective.

"I'm sorry, but it's true."

Annabeth was starting to get nervous. What could Silena possibly know from an outfit?

"The obvious explanation would be a one-night stand, of course."

Annabeth saw her chance, "Yep, that's it! One-night stand, you caught me."

Silena was almost giddy as she gave Annabeth a knowing smile, "Oh, please, Annabeth. I know it wasn't a one night stand. I have a gift from my mother, a 6th sense perhaps, but I can tell when people are lying about relationships."

"What are you trying to say, Silena?"

Her voice lowered and she said, softly, "You and Mr. Jackson have been acting rather strange lately."

Annabeth's eyes widened, "Oh, no, no, no. Me and him are not-"

"Of course not, Annabeth, but I see the way you look at him and I definitely see the way he looks at you."

Annabeth stood up, "Stop, Silena. Mr. Jackson and I went out for drinks one time and some stuff happened that probably shouldn't have, but we have never done anything like that, clear? Me and him aren't, we can't, be a "thing." Annabeth stormed out.

Silena sighed, muttering to herself as she sipped her coffee, "She's so in love with him it's almost painful to watch."

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Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in."

Silena cracked open the door, "Mr. Beckendorf, I have those invoices-"

As soon the door was fully shut, Silena dropped the act, "Oh, Charlie, you will not believe what happened."

Charles Beckendorf, the very buff and very handsome head of Open Seas Engineering department looked up from his desk, "What happened? Make sure the door is locked, love."

Silena nodded, twisting the knob once to test the lock and walking inside. She carelessly set the forgotten invoices on the edge of his desk before sitting on his lap. Beckendorf's hands instinctively went to Silena's waist as she wound her arms around his neck. With Silena's stunning face and glossy hair and Beckendorf's deep skin tone and flawless bone structure, any offspring from their relationship would have the looks of a god.

"I just had a drink with Annabeth," she said excitedly, grinning waiting for his reaction.

"And…?" Beckendorf's blank and slightly confused expression didn't faze his girlfriend though.

"And…" Silena launched into an in depth reenactment of her conversation with Annabeth. Beckendorf nodding and 'mhmm'-ing at all the right places. They were such an unlikely pair, Beckendorf an easy-going and modest, hardworking engineer and Silena the lively and flamboyant persona she was. From day one of Silena's employment, Beckendorf had been smitten, even enough to go against his company's no undisclosed relationships policy. Hiding behind locked office doors and acting as her boss in front of the other engineers and employees was worth being with her.

"Babe, maybe you shouldn't interfere with Percy and Annabeth."

"I'm not 'interfering', I'm simply helping their relationship along."

"And what 'relationship' exactly are you talking about?" Beckendorf teased. "Annabeth said it was nothing. And has Percy even mentioned anything about this?"

"No…"

Beckendorf gave her a chastising glance.

"But I can feel it, Charlie. The way they look at each other. And something definitely happened that day they both came in late after visiting a 'job site'. Job site my ass!"

"'I think you should just leave them alone. Besides, relationships between supervisors and employees are banned. Dating each other would be breaking the rules."

Silena raised an eyebrow at him, her boss and boyfriend, "Since when have you minded about breaking the rules." She grinned and leaned in for a long, sweet kiss.

Beckendorf pulled away with a goofy smile on his face, "So you won't interfere?"

Silena gave him a smirk before getting up from his lap, "Excuse me, sir, I have some work to get done."

Beckendorf sighed, "Of course." He wondered what kind of stunt she was going to pull this time.

Silena was calculating before she even made it to the door. If these two wouldn't admit to anything by themselves, she'd have to give them a little push…

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"Hi, Lee," Silena said, batting her eyelashes and flashing her gorgeous smile to the new night doorman of the Open Seas Tower.

Lee Fletcher nervously tipped his hat and smiled. Silena continued to strut past to the lobby receptionist desk. She checked her watch and glanced at the elevator.

Ding!

Silena grinned as the doors opened to reveal a prim looking Annabeth rummaging through her bag. She noticed her curls falling out of her ponytail, but Silena respected how she still looked great.

"Hi Annabeth!"

The blonde looked up at Selena, she smiled weakly, "Oh, hey." Luckily, Annabeth hadn't been upset for very long after their conversation a few days ago.

"Off to class?" Silena asked.

Annabeth nodded, "Unfortunately, yes. I'm so tired with work and, well, you know."

Silena nodded, finding the perfect time to put her plan in action. She sighed, dramatically, and muttered not-so-under her breath, "Poor guy."

"Who?" Annabeth asked, following Silena's gaze.

"Lee."

"Lee?"

"Lee Fletcher, the new night doorman."

"What's wrong with him?"

"Oh, nothing. He's new to the building, really nice guy, but I heard he's feeling kind of lonely. You know, new city."

Silena felt her victory as she saw Annabeth's eyes soften as she looked at Lee. What an empathetic little sucker. She knew Annabeth was too nice to pass this up.

"You know what, I'm going to introduce myself to him. I know what it's like being the new person here."

"Oh, that'd be so great for him!" Silena gushed.

Annabeth walked off in his direction.

Silena glanced at Annabeth and Lee introducing themselves and again back to the elevator.

Ding!

Percy Jackson walked out of the elevator, the sleeves of his polo rolled up and bag slung off of his shoulders. His hair stood in all directions as if he ran his hand through his hair in frustration, a habit Silena knew he had after months of being his assistant.

"Oh, Mr. Jackson!" Silena called as he began to walk by her.

"Hey Silena."

"Going home early?"

Percy sighed, "Yeah, it's been a rough week. I've been distracted…"

Silena nodded, knowingly, "I'm sure, but-Oh my gods! Aren't they cute?"

"What?"

Silena nodded her head towards Lee and Annabeth chatting by the doors, "Lee and Annabeth."

"Lee?"

"Lee Fletcher, the new night doorman."

"I didn't know we hired a new-"

"Well we did! He and Annabeth have been talking to each other, if you know what I mean. They'd make such a cute couple!" Silena tried not to choke on her words; Lee was really nice and she heard he was a great musician, but he was a good foot shorter than Annabeth and she was way out of his league."

"Oh," Percy trailed off. Silena could see the gears working in his head, "I didn't know Annabeth really, you know, with guys…"

"Well, she does! Okay, bye," Silena muttered quickly, almost rolling her eyes as she walked away. Honestly, sometimes reading people was just too easy.

Ding!

"Percy!"

Silena heard as she whipped around towards the elevator.

Calypso click-clacked in her tall heels out of the elevator. Silena's eyes narrowed.

"He just left," she said, cooly.

"Ugh."

Silena smiled, coyly, "Actually, Caly¸ I needed to talk to you."

"About what?"

Silena took her by the arm, gripping quite firmly and pulled her back into the elevator and hit the 'Close Door" button, "Oh, you know, stuff."

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Percy's mind was in a completely different space as he walked down the street towards a cab. Actually, he'd been out of it all week. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Percy really needed to cut that habit out or he'd be bald before he was thirty.

Ever since that night at the bar with Annabeth, things had been so different. Why did he feel so guilty about spending the night with Annabeth? They didn't really even do anything, maybe had a little too much to drink, but nothing actually happened.

It was just a stupid night out and they were a bit hung over in the morning. It was nothing.

Or was it?

Percy had come to terms with his denial awhile ago. It definitely was something. But what that something exactly was – well, heck if he knew. All he knew was that his emotions towards Annabeth were heading towards dangerous territory. Even being around her was hard. The little contact between them over the week was difficult, but it kept anything inappropriate from happening.

From the day he met Annabeth, there was always that something. He had kept it at bay because of the office's stupid rule of no romantic relationships between supervisors and employees. Hell, he was her boss for gods' sake!

Maybe that night at the bar felt so wrong because they did come really close to a line of something so blurred…

Stop! Percy was just confusing himself. He shook his head and kept walking.

And there was this whole deal back there in the elevator; Lee whatever the hell his name was!

Obviously this whole confusion of Percy's feelings shouldn't even be a problem. He was her boss. His company didn't allow those kinds of relationships. She was his assistant. The end.

And besides, she had Lee.

A bubble of Percy's stupid masculinity erupted in his chest. He couldn't let Annabeth win this —this whatever!

Percy decided as he walked down the sunlit streets of Manhattan, he needed to make Annabeth Chase jealous.