Chapter 8

ten years later…

"Annabeth, do you have the new plans from yesterday's meeting?"

"Yes, I do. Wait one second." A beautiful young woman called from her office.
Her job was as the architect for the company. It was a decent job—a very good pay compared to what she was used to before.

So yes, she definitely cared to do a really good job.

She ruffled through the files in her desk drawer.

"Come on, where is it? Where is it?" She mumbled to herself.

Her scrambling soon awarded itself to two blue print plans for the next building that was to be made for ETCO— the company she was working for.

Having gone to the top university in the nation did have its perks in getting this great job.

Architecture— its what she had always wanted to do.

Her life hadn't been the easiest. She had to work her butt off to get into the college of her choice. And it wasn't like her mother helped at all.

She loved California though. For the past ten years, she has been living in a house on the beaches, enjoying the ocean breeze.

Anyways, back to her blue prints.

Her best friend Silena came in to her office.
"Hurry, the witch is expecting them and fast"

"Oh great!" Annabeth said as she ran as fast as she could in her white heels.

It wasn't that hard to run though. She had on nice fitting jeans and a dark blazer over a grey blouse.
It was her typical outfit for work. Good thing she worked every day or you would only see her in sweats. Not that the men were complaining. She was quite the looker in sweats or dresses.

"Sorry, boss. I found them." Annabeth said, handing her boss the prints.

Reyna looked at her with narrowed eyes. Annabeth was her favorite, but she still hated careless people.

"Alright, you may leave now, Annabeth. Be sure that it doesn't happen again."

"yes, ma'am."

Annabeth was about to turn to leave, when Reyna called stopped her.

"An offer came in, Annabeth. And we need our most persuasive people to go— a person who knows her way about the business. It would probably be a two month trip. If you can, I would like you to go." Reyna said.

"Where is it exactly?"

"New York."

Annabeth nodded, "Sure. I'll do it."

"Great. You leave tomorrow."

Reyna looked back down to her paperwork, signaling Annabeth to leave her office.

She went over to her office and picked up her purse and coat. Her work hours were over and she had packing to do.

New York.

She hadn't been to that side of the world in a while.

~o00o~

"Ugh, why dad?"

"She's your sister, Percy. No matter how busy you are, go get her from the airport."

"Fine." He said, sounding like a six year old, when he was actually a grown twenty six year old guy.

Percy grudgingly changed into some tan slacks, leather loafers, a white v-neck and a jean flannel to go over his shirt. He hung ray bans in the front of his shirt.

She better appreciate this, he thought grumpily to himself.

He got into his grey Maserati and drove off to the Manhattan airport.

It was six o' clock and he was still groggy from being woken up by his cell phone an hour earlier than his usual wake up time.

He walked through the airport, not liking the place at all. He hated flying. Why fly, when you could sail?

That was his thinking.

He waited where people held up signs for their loved ones to see.

He had no sign—he would be able to spot this woman anywhere. She with her dark hair and brown chocolate eyes similar to mom's.

Brown eyes which were so deceiving.

She had the looks alright— I mean seriously, she was a Jackson, of course she's good looking. But Percy never got over her bitchy personality. After ten years, they never got along.

Thalia would try to get him to try, but it never worked out. The bitch was crazy.

Percy had his ray bans on, covering his eyes. He felt uncomfortable by the stares he was getting from chicks standing near him.

Soon, the plane had landed, and people started to file off.

He saw her pushing through the crowd with her luggage. Crystal a.k.a the bane of his existence. She saw him and rolled her eyes, clearly not thankful that he had wasted his morning on her. His hands stayed in his pockets, refusing to wave at her. She stomped over to him and forcibly smiled.

"Hi, big bro. Nice to see that your here."

"Nice to see you didn't roast in California."

" . I need to go pee. Here, hold my stuff."

She threw her suitcase at him.

Percy groaning under the weight.

His eyes trailed to where people were still walking out of the gate. Something familiarly golden caught his eye. He slid down his ray bans.

It was an absolutely gorgeous girl. Her hair was hiding her face a bit, since she was looking in another direction. But Percy could tell—this was one hell of a hottie.

The blonde had only her purse. She had on a white blouse tucked into nicely fitting light washed jeans in the front. And as she turned her head in Percy's direction, his heart stopped. —a mesmerizing grey filled his focus

A million thoughts went around in Percy's head. But he didn't have time to process them, since the blonde left in the other direction. He was about to follow, but a hand stopped him.

"Where were you about to go with my luggage?" Crystal asked.

"Nowhere." He said, handing her suitcase back to her, "Come on. Let's get out of here."

He walked Crystal to his car, but his mind was elsewhere.