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Of Corporate Scandals

Chapter 15. Steven Walters and Being Deathly Afraid

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When Steven Walters signed up to be in the Volunteer Fire Department of Greater New York for service hours to graduate high school, he thought he'd be like those strong, hunky actors on the dramas who ran into burning buildings to save the sexy damsel and the adorable puppy.

Was this job like that?

Hell to the flippin' no. He had certainly thought all that training (push-ups, pain, chin-ups, pain, sit-ups, pain, that awkward stair climbing thing, pain) was to prepare him for rescue missions, but so far that had not been the case. In the past week, the only things he had done were save a kitten from a broken fire escape and fetch donuts and coffee for the fire chief.

It had been late that evening and he was spending the night at the fire station for the first time so he could experience night-time missions when they had gotten a call. Two people (one of them actually happened to be famous) had gotten stuck in a broken elevator in a building on Fifth Avenue. Since this had involved no fire and virtually no danger, he had been allowed to tag along and assist with the mission.

Chief Carlson adjusted his gear as he shifted in his seat to look at Steven, "You ready for this, son?"

Steven nodded, glancing at the chief, "Yes, sir." He noticed the chief still had donut crumbs in his slightly graying, light brown mustache. He knew that Chief Carlson had saved many buildings and lives in the past so he still respected him despite the lack of action-packed rescue missions. The chief was just too darn stubborn to retire yet. Besides, the girls at school (especially Student Council President and super hot, head cheerleader, Valerie) didn't know anything and thought he was part of the squad that saved the group of 1st graders caught in a violent gas explosion at the elementary school.

The situation had been reported in that they were safe and the conditions weren't that bad so the sirens of the truck were silent. Steven shifted his gaze to the window. The sea of yellow taxis didn't seem to notice the bright red truck unless the sirens were wailing so he guessed it would take a while before they arrived. It was well past most children's bedtimes, but the streets of Manhattan were still lively as ever. The apartment lights shone like fluorescent stars against the darkened skyscrapers.

"Where exactly are we going, sir?"

This time the new recruit, Simon, answered, "The Open Seas Inc. Building on Fifth." Simon grinned, shoving his dark hair out of his face, "You're lucky, Steven. The trapped victims are the CEO and his assistant. Practically celebrities."

Steven nodded, returning the grin. Since Simon was rather close in age, merely four years, and he had been new as well when Steven started volunteering, they were close friends, "Can't wait." His reply was only a little sarcastic.

Chief Carlson spoke up from the seat in front of him, "Once we get past this blockade, we're there. The Open Seas Inc. Tower is on the left."

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Steven peered into the dark elevator shaft as Simon lowered himself down into the pit with a pulley. The walls looked disgusting and slimy with smudgy, black oil stains and the wires and ropes that controlled the elevator's movement looked awfully tangled to be safe. He leaned in further and peered into the elevator. Simon had removed a panel in the ceiling of it and fluorescent lighting spilled out of the small opening and lit up some of the shaft.

Simon looked up and called, "Hey, Steve. Hand me a flashlight, will ya?"

Steven turned to the tool box next to him and picked up a yellow flashlight, "Here, catch." Luckily, the elevator had stopped only about five feet before the next floor opening so Simon caught it with ease. Steven heard Chief Carlson relaying the events currently happening through his cell phone to his wife. It just so happened she was a subscriber to the magazine that had named Percy Jackson one of the top 20 Sexiest Men Alive and wanted an autograph. Steven heard the chief mumble a few more 'yes, dears.'

Steven saw two people in the small opening in the ceiling of the elevator. One was a tall, dark-haired man with his sleeves rolled up and laid back smile. The other was a young woman in her early-twenties. She was blonde and still dressed in her work attire. Both of them had wrinkled clothes and mussed hair, but Steven figured being stuck in an elevator for hours would do that to you. Steven continued watching them from his spectator's post at the opening of the shaft. The man spoke to the woman.

"Come on, Annabeth. It's fine."

"Yes," Simon agreed, "He's right. Listen to him. It's perfectly safe, ma'am. Mr. Jackson here is going to hoist you up and I'll help you out of the elevator. Steven up there, our new volunteer, is going to meet you at the opening and help you out."

The woman, Annabeth, straightened her hiked-up, pencil skirt and smoothed her wild mess of golden curls, "It's not that I'm afraid it's not safe. It's-it's dirty!"

Percy raised her eyebrows in a quiet smirk, "I just think you're scared. Chicken, Annabeth? Or are you just not physically capable of getting out of here without lots of help?"

Annabeth huffed, indignantly and crossed her arms. Steven noted it was good reverse psychology on the man's part. Annabeth reached up towards the ceiling, her high stilettos giving her a boost and effortlessly hoisted herself out of the elevator without any assistance from Percy. She also ignored Simon's outstretched hand as she maneuvered her heels around the many wires and grooves on the elevator. She quickly grasped the ropes and pulleys resting against the walls and climbed out of the elevator shaft.

Steven's outstretched hand lay empty as she failed to take his assistance. Annabeth wiped the grease off of her hands onto a rag that she had helped herself to that was sitting in Steven's tool box. With a flip of her hair, Annabeth strutted to the stairs and began her descent down-after stopping to thank Chief Carlson and Janice for all their help.

All three men near the elevator shaft were slightly dumbstruck.

Simon gulped, "Um, that was, um-"

"Hot," Steven finished.

Then a voice spoke from inside the elevator

"Hey, yeah, um, Annabeth could do it by herself, but who's going to hoist me up?"

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"Yes, sir. Right on the tenth floor. Alright, thanks Ken," Annabeth said with a smile as she pointed the mechanic up to the right floor, "The fire chief is already up. The maintenance crew will let you all out when you're finished."

Ken tipped his wrench at her in thanks as he entered the stairwell. Annabeth continued organizing some paperwork at the front desk of the Open Seas Inc. building when she heard some footsteps behind them. She knew who it was without looking.

"So, Miss Acrobat, what's up?" Percy said, coming up behind her and leaning against the front desk as well.

"Well, well, Mr. Jackson," Annabeth said, crossing her arms and looking at him, "Looks as if you've finally managed to hoist yourself out of the elevator."

Percy grinned, "Relax, Janice went home. You can call me Percy."

Annabeth flashed him a smirk and poked his upper arm, "You know, you'd think with biceps like these, you'd have a little more upper body strength than that. Two firemen had to help you climb a rope."

Percy looked mock offended, "Excuse me, but I'm sorry we're not all freakishly strong and flexible like you."

Annabeth tossed some hair over her shoulder, "Like I said, I was athletic in high school."

Percy leaned in closer and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear as he whispered, "Hmm, shall we start off from where we left off?"

Annabeth's breath hitched as she felt his breath on her neck, "I don't know. I've forgotten where we left off." She breathed.

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Annabeth whimpered as Percy shoved her against the door of his apartment and kissed her fiercely. Her hands knotted in his hair as he shoved her jacket off.

Everything in his bachelor pad looked about the same as the last time she had been there; leather furniture, rock band posters, maybe a tad bit messier. Although, Annabeth wasn't the one to talk. She has barely been able to look around the apartment before Percy captured her lips once more with his. He hadn't even bothered to turn the lights on. Then again, the circumstances on which she was here this time were so much better than the last.

Annabeth giggled as she pulled away for a breath, "Whoa, there. At least let me put this down."

Percy stepped away and let go of her hips, "Sorry." He had a goofy grin on his face and his hair looked adorable with it messed that way.

Annabeth walked into the living room and set her bag down on a loveseat. His floor-to-ceiling windows were certainly an amazing asset of the design of the penthouse. She could see the lights blazing like a sea of stars all across Manhattan.

Percy came up behind it and kissed her neck, slipping his arms around her waist.

Annabeth mumbled as she stared out the window, "Beautiful isn't it?"

"Yes, you are." Percy mumbled.

She laughed, turning around and facing him, "Don't even. That's corny." Her foot hit the edge of the coffee table, "Whoops, I didn't see that."

"Hold on, I'll turn on the lights."

Annabeth grabbed his wrist, "No, it's okay. It's pretty like this. Anyway, all I need to see is you."

Percy grinned, nodding. He took her in his arms and led her to the couch where he slowly started to kiss her again. Annabeth slipped off her heels before resting her hands on his neck. His hands ran up her arm and ghosted her collarbone. He was now lying on top of her. Percy's other hand ran up her thigh and started to un-tuck her shirt—

"Wait, Percy," Annabeth mumbled against his lips, pushing him off.

He sat up and stared at her dumb-founded, "What?"

Annabeth grinned sheepishly, "I need to go to the ladies' room. I'll be back in a sec."

Percy reclined against the couch, "Sure thing. Remember where it is?" He smirked a bit, "From last time?"

Annabeth stuck her tongue out at him, "Yes, I do remember. And don't make it sound dirty. Nothing happened that night.

He watched her as she got up and made her way down the hallway and slipped into the bathroom.

Percy smiled as he waited for her to return. He had to admit this was kind of weird being like this with his assistant. He didn't really know what to label them yet. Could this really be just another one night stand? It would be reasonable considering how he hadn't kissed another girl in ages.

Suddenly, his reverie was ripped apart and disrupted by a piercing scream emitting from the bathroom. Percy jumped to his, nearly tripping over the coffee table as he heard a crash from the bathroom.

After getting his bearings, Percy dashed as quickly as he could down the hall, bashing his toe against the corner of the wall on the way there, "Annabeth!"

A million things raced through his mind on what the scenario could possibly be. His mind jumped to the worst. Could be a burglar or a secret agent or a ninja assassin?! Percy stopped and grabbed the first thing he saw, a pen, before racing to the bathroom and slamming the bathroom door open, poised to start attacking Annabeth's assailant.

The sight that met Percy was a rather…awkward one. Annabeth was standing on top of the toilet seat with his shampoo bottle poised to throw. She was red with exertion and almost in tears as she continued to frantically panic, "Oh, thank god. Kill it! Please kill it, Percy!"

"What?" At first, Percy was dumbfounded for the second time that night as he stood in the otherwise normal bathroom. Nothing seemed out of place until he looked where Annabeth was erratically pointing at.

On the floor in the corner near the floor rug was a tiny, black spider, "The spider?"

Annabeth was on the verge of hyperventilating by now. She backed up on the toilet as the little arachnid scuttled out of the corner and closer to the sink, "Yes gods, Percy! Kill it now!"

"Are you serious?"

Annabeth was in tears now, "Just do it. Please!"

Percy walked into the bathroom and squished it beneath his foot before turning to Annabeth, "There! It's dead. It's gone, Annabeth." He took her hand and helped her off of the toilet.

Annabeth hopped down, making sure to give the dead spider corpse a wide berth before fixing herself and wiping her eyes. She yanked down her skirt, which had hiked up in the process, and smoothed her hair.

Percy put his arms around her and wiped her eyes, "Hey, it's dead now. I killed it."

Annabeth breathing slowed and she stepped away from Percy and out of the bathroom, "I'm sorry. It's just that I-I'm really. I'm-"

"Deathly afraid of little spiders?"

Annabeth shot him a glare and finished her sentence "Arachnophobic." Percy raised an eyebrow at her and her gaze softened, "So, yes. I am deathly afraid of little spiders." She glanced at his hand, "And a pen? Really? I scream and you grab a pen."

"This is a lucky pen." Percy took her hand and led her back out into the living room, "But this-this spider thing. How come this little episode has never happened in the office?"

Annabeth gave a shaky laugh, "Oh, really? Haven't you noticed the several cans of Bug-Begone in the trash and how the office is now cobweb-free? Before you arrived during my first week, I went around and made sure none of those little creepers would sneak up on me while I was doing work."

Percy chuckled and began kissing her neck again.

Annabeth put her hands on his shoulders and gently pushed him away, "I-I should really get going Percy."

Percy looked confused, "What? Why? But we were gonna—"

Annabeth said, "I'm just really tired and I should really get going. Besides, I kind of ruined the mood…"

Percy sighed, "Alright." He released her hips from his grip. Annabeth slipped on her heels and then Percy helped her put on her jacket. Annabeth grabbed her purse as he walked her to the door, "I've called a cab for you. It's on its way."

Annabeth smiled, gratefully, and pecked him on the cheek, "I'll see you later, kay?"

Percy nodded, "Good night, Annabeth. Be brave and don't let the spiders get you." He grinned.

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