Hey hey hey! Happy Valentines day! But... seeing as I'm single, I guess the more appropriate holiday would be Happy Single Awareness Day! or S.A.D. LOL! Yeah... Well anyways, hope guys have a great valentines!
anafinchel: Aww thanks! I'm so lucky to have amazing readers like you guys.
SpareTime88: Not in this story. Maybe I'll make Percy an Olympic swimmer in a different one. It's definitely in my plot pool now. :)
Kittyaceres: Don't worry. I'm pretty good about updating regularly. I just had to take that break for finals.
ApTeryyx: I know... I just feel bad if I don't get you guys some chapters.
iheartpickles: I love that you know me so well. Haha expect some fun.
imtherealdeal (Guest): I upload every Saturday. But since I have two stories, I alternate each update.
redconverse 23 (Guest): Sorry... I just wanted start responding to other readers. Even my reviews around. The premise is really good. I wonder how you'll develop it. It's got potential. Fave color: grey. Story Ideas: I've got one but it's still in development so no definite answers. Like... The one you just typed or...? Ending and Fluff: Not anytime soon... I've got a great conflict and story line that's very much going to take some time..
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Percy Jackson and the Olympians... Obviously since I am in no way, shape or form Rick Riordan.
"So I was thinking that having columns along the main entrance will give the building an elegant air as well as give homage to classic Greek architecture," Annabeth said. She was presenting her fifth sketch to Drew, hoping that the airhead would just say that she didn't really care anymore and to just do whatever. She had no such luck.
"Wait, why Greek architecture? The hotel is The Tanaka Hotel. That's obviously Asian. Duh." Annabeth ground her teeth together before pulling in an air of breath.
"Isn't your family half Greek?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"So, as you can see, there are Japanese accents around the building," she explained, showing the design once more. "And there will be even more inside. But to give the Greek side of your family some recognition, I included the columns."
Drew rolled her eyes. "Ugh. That's stupid."
"I'm sorry?"
"Greek and Japanese together on a building? Why don't you just stick to one style?"
"Because this is a company that embraces all cultures and implements their various influences in all our work," Annabeth answered with the company line because she really didn't want to spend another minute arguing with Drew Tanaka.
"Well I don't like it. Fix it."
Annabeth, for the umpteenth time within the hour, resisted the urge to growl. She couldn't believe that she had to give up her monument to Malcolm. At least they were going with her design for that. She'd decided to give it up since they were well past the design stage so she figured that Malcolm could finish the job. "And what design do you have in mind?" she asked trying to maintain her professionalism.
"I don't know? You're the architect. And I thought you were supposed to be the best, but every design you've showed me over this last month was crap."
"Well, if you told me what you have in mind, then I could give you a design that you'd like."
"I just told you that I don't know what I like! As long as it looks pretty, then I don't care." Annabeth pinched the bridge of her nose, silently praying that someone would interrupt or call her to another meeting or something. Anything to get her out of this room. And for once in the last hour, the blonde architect felt that the gods were on her side; a knock on the door sounded followed by the entrance of Gwen.
"Yes, Gwen?" Annabeth said, beyond relieved at her assistant's impeccable timing.
"Um, Ms. Chase, I just wanted to remind you about your appointment in a half hour." Annabeth checked her watch. She'd need to leave right then to make it on time. Not just for the sake of her reputation as a punctual partner, but also for the sake of her sanity.
"Thank you," she nodded, gathering all of her things. "Drew, I will look over the sketches and try to come up with something, but I really must go." Stuffing her blueprints into their labeled boxes, Annabeth bid Drew goodbye and went into her office with Gwen on her tail. She put the prints into her storage rack, talking as she moved. "Where's my next appointment?"
"At the Aquarium," she said. "With Mr. Jackson." Annabeth allowed a small smile to grace her lips. At least this day wasn't total crap. Grabbing all of her things, as she wasn't planning on returning to the office after meeting with Percy, Annabeth told Gwen that she could head home as soon as she finished the schedule for the next day, and headed out to the parking garage to her car.
When she pulled up to the Aquarium parking lot twenty-five minutes later, Annabeth felt much better from her meeting with Drew. Then again, being with Percy, or even the prospect of being with Percy always gave Annabeth an attitude boost. She made her way past the lines of tourists and flashed her badge at Gus who waved her in with a smile.
She knocked on the door, listening for an invitation. "Come in," Percy called from the inside. Pushing the door open, she saw Percy talking on the phone. "Yes sir," he said, waving and putting a finger up signaling for her to wait a second. "Yes sir, I understand. I'll have the habitat ready by the time the sharks arrive… Thank you… Goodbye." The black-haired marine biologist hung up the phone and stood from his chair and made his way around the desk to Annabeth. "Sorry about that," he apologize before placing a chaste kiss on her lips.
"You're fine," she assured him, putting her things down and taking a seat on the couch in the corner. "From what I hear, we're on a tight schedule."
"Uh, yeah. Since this is my first time heading up a research project and exhibit, my supervisor is really putting the pressure on." He took a seat next to her and ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it even more.
"Well, it's a good thing that I have a pretty good design here for you," she smirked, pulling the roll of blueprint out and laying it across the coffee table in front of them. Annabeth watched as Percy studied the design; his brow furrowed slightly creating a small crease in the middle of his forehead and his bottom lip disappeared into his mouth. The expression on his face was completely different from the carefree, fun guy she had come to learn he really was over the last few weeks. With every moment they spent together, she found that all of his quirks, all of the little things that made him Percy, made her love him more, even if he did annoy her to no end sometimes. She was so lost in thought that she didn't realize Percy was looking at her as though he were waiting for an answer. "I'm sorry, I zoned out. What did you say?" He laughed and shook his head.
"Wow," he chuckled. "I think that's the first time I've ever seen you not focused."
"Shut up." He laughed again.
"Anyways, I was saying that the design is great. I'm going to email Beckendorf and tell him that we're ready to start construction," he said moving toward his desk, wiggling the mouse to wake his computer. Annabeth unconsciously let loose a sigh of relief and slumped back into the couch cushions. Percy looked over at her, a question written in his features. "What was that about?"
"What? Oh. Sorry. I just… I've been dealing with Drew for the last week and a half and she hasn't liked a single one of my designs. It's starting to get to me."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
"That's crazy. Your designs are amazing."
"Mind telling her that? I'm sure she'd listen to you. I mean, whenever she's in my office, she gets drawn to the picture I have of us." Percy blinked.
"That's a great idea," he said. Annabeth could see a plan forming in his mind, which wasn't a normal thing for him.
"What's a great idea."
"I could show Drew how much I love your designs and maybe, just maybe, she'll like it too."
"What do you mean?" He simply smiled his signature lopsided smile that was equal parts boyish and mischievous. It had annoyed Annabeth at first when they were on the island, but it quickly grew to be one of the things she found incredibly endearing. She narrowed her eyes at him in suspicion. "What are you thinking?"
•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•
Percy was shaking with excitement. Annabeth was usually the one with the plan but this one was all his. He was putting himself out there but it would all be so worth it when it does great. Currently he was sitting in Annabeth's office with the Tanaka hotel blueprints spread out on the coffee table in front of him. Annabeth wasn't in the room with him. Rather, she was 'in a meeting' with another client while he waited for Drew Tanaka to come barging in as Annabeth pointed out she usually did.
Sure enough, the heiress let herself in, obviously expecting Annabeth to be seated at her desk. At the absence of the architect, the heiress dawned a confused look and looked back at the door to make sure she was in the right room. It took all of Percy's willpower to not burst out laughing and keep a schooled attitude. "She's not here," he said in a tone that he hoped dripped with nonchalant-ness and slight resignation. Drew's head snapped toward the sound of his voice so fast that he wondered how she didn't get whiplash. "I was going to surprise her with lunch but she had a meeting with another client and I guess a meeting with you."
"Oh. That's a shame," was her reply, quickly bouncing back from her initial shock and turning on the 'charm'. "So you've been sitting in this office bored all by your lonesome?" she asked moving to sit by him. The thickness of her perfume made him want to gag. Did she shower in the stuff?
"Uh no. Not really. She left these blueprints out since she's been working on them. She's so secretive about her work but I wanted to see what she had so I decided to take a look at them. But don't tell her that."
"I won't."
"Good."
"Which blueprint is it?"
"Umm…" he shuffled through them slightly. "Tanaka Hotels. I guess she's designing their newest one and I knew that Annabeth was good but the details on this design is just fantastic."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. I don't know much about the family except that they're mixed with Greek and Japanese influences so this building is just the perfect representation of it."
"Well I'm glad you like it, too." He gave her a confused look. "I think it's time we've formally met. I'm Drew Tanaka," she said in a voice that was mixed with arrogance and something along the lines of seductive. Percy bugged his eyes out in falsified shock at the revelation.
"Oh wow! Uh… It's a pleasure to meet you," he spluttered.
"Yes, I know." Her voice was slightly huskier than before and it made him uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and decided to change the topic.
"Well, this hotel sure is going to rake it in for sure."
"Rake what in?" Percy wanted to slap his palm to his forehead at the idiocy of the woman in front of him. Sure he was clueless sometimes, but this girl made him feel like a genius. Luckily, he was saved from having to respond when Annabeth burst into the room.
"Percy, I'm so sorry. I got hung up," she said in a very convincing tone that was equal parts distressed and annoyed. She stopped and stared at the heiress sitting beside him as though she weren't expecting Drew to be in here. "Oh. Drew. You're here already," she blinked.
"And you're late."
"I apologize," was the architect's response. Percy could really see what Annabeth was talking about as the atmosphere became so thick with tension that he could cut through it with a knife. Already, his girlfriend was fighting off her general annoyance at the heiress who seemed to be moving closer and closer to him.
"Whatever." Percy blinked.
"Uh," he said, deciding to step in. "That's alright, Annabeth. I brought you some food though."
"That's sweet. Thank you."
"Yeah… No problem… Well, I should be going now. I'll see you later?" He laid down the bait. Hopefully, Drew would bite.
"Wait!" the heiress called as he stood up from the couch. She laid a hand on his arm and pulled him back down beside her so that their bodies were actually touching. Her perfume made a much stronger, more potent appearance in his nostrils that put him on borderline nauseous. "I don't mind Percy staying a bit longer. I mean, you two can enjoy your lunch after we're done with our meeting." Hook. Line. And sinker. And despite his efforts to keep his face from turning green, he had to fight every other urge to smirk.
"No, really. It's okay. This is your meeting time so I should go," he pressed, inconspicuously breathing through his nose.
"I insist." He looked to Annabeth for confirmation. She shrugged.
"Alright, I guess I'm staying. But, just don't think of me as 'here.'" He winked at Annabeth to let her know it was time to change the subject. She gave a slight nod of acknowledgement.
"Fine." She narrowed her eyes. "Are those my blueprints?"
Percy looked down. "Uhh. Yeah. They were out here on the table when I came in."
"How many times have I told you that I don't like it when people look at my incomplete blueprints?"
"In my defense, they were out here in the open and they do look pretty complete. And really good. Right Drew?" He looked over to the heiress, hoping that she realized he was asking her to help him out. Thankfully, she seemed to get his signal. I guess she isn't a total bimbo.
"Oh, yes. It is good. I can see the changes you made from the last design and it's fabulous. I'm going to tell Daddy right away that this is the design we'll use." Annabeth narrowed her eyes again before acquiescing.
"Alright. And since we've come to an agreement, that should be all then."
Drew stood from the couch with her phone in hand and left the office to call her father, but not before shooting Percy one last sultry glance. When the door closed behind her, Percy took a deep breath. "Finally! I thought I'd die from suffocation!" Annabeth laughed and made her way over to him, sitting down beside him, laying her head on his shoulder. He breathed in her scent. A hint of her lemon scented shampoo and just a touch of the sweet scented perfume that wasn't overpowering at all. His nose deserved a break and Annabeth always smelled so good.
"You did great, Seaweed Brain," she praised. "And the plan was perfect."
"It was, wasn't it?" he replied cockily.
She smacked him lightly in the chest. "Oh, shut up." They both chuckled.
"Did you actually make any changes to the blueprints?" he asked.
"No," Annabeth snorted.
"Seriously?"
"Of course! I wanted to see if your theory was true and that she'd like the design if you did too and she did. She was only declining the other ones because I designed them. She just wanted to give me a hard time."
"Well, I'm glad I could help."
"Me, too." They sat in silence for a short while before Annabeth broke it. "So… about that food you brought me…"
Percy laughed again before clearing the blueprints off the table and laying out their lunch for them to enjoy.
And and there you have it! Another installment of Stranded!
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