Percy's pov:
The ringing of my phone wakes me up at 7 in the morning. I pick it up to see Kim, my assistant, calling me. Yes, I have an assistant and my own personal office to work in.
"I'm so sorry to disturb you at this hour of the morning sir, but it's important" she says warily as soon as I answer the call.
You see, employees at the office are a bit wary of me. Okay, a lot maybe- according to dad. He says they prefer speaking to him and getting yelled at by him rather than by me. I still don't understand why though. I don't like it when work's not completed on time or done incorrectly, so I'm often pissed off at them- for the right reasons though. Dad is quite cool for the owner of a billionaire business, so the employees get along with him pretty well. Because of this I'm always met with a bunch of lazy assess when I return to the office during the vacations. So, Itry to get them back in line as soon as possible. Which happens almost instantly as soon as I enter the office.
"I hope it's important enough to wake me up. Speak" I say, trying not to sound groggy.
"Sir we need you to check and approve Poseidon III's repairing charges and send confirmation to send it to the dockyard before it sets sail for its next trip- which is day after tomorrow. We'll have to do it now if we want it ready by tomorrow- which we definitely do. The workers can fix it in time only if they get to start in...in about another two hours."
I sigh and get up from the bed, rubbing my eyes. Poseidon III is our best and currently the world's top luxury cruise. Any other cruise wouldn't have required my attention to send it for repairing, but dad has basically handed down the cruise and it's responsibilities to me. Completely. So I try my best to maintain it's position as world's number one. Which means I make sure I am informed about every little problem it has and is presented in it's best condition in front of the world.
"I'll be there in an hour" I finally say.
"Thank you sir" she says before I cut the call.
I quickly take a refreshing shower and wear my dark Armani suit because of a meeting I have today with some clients. Yes, I was going to go the office today anyway. Just have to leave a bit early than usual today.
Dad is out in the garden having a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper when I get out of the house.
"I've got to leave a bit early today. See you later dad." I say to him as I get into the car David already has ready for me. I had texted him to get a car ready for me before going for a bath.
He starts driving through the streets of Athens, towards our office.
"I'll be bit late tonight. Make sure to give them a proper tour, kay?" I tell him, thinking about how I left the house and probably wouldn't be seeing them throughout day- without telling them. Again.
"Sure" he says nodding, paying attention to the road. "So...any new dates, girlfriends, or flings?" he asks raising an eyebrow, momentarily looking towards me before turning back to the road ahead. See? He does talk.
"Why do you ask the same question every year, when you know the answer is always going to be a no?" I reply sighing. We are closer than we may seem to be. He's more like a friend to me than a driver, and I trust him a lot. Not to mention he gives great advice.
"I thought maybe this year it would be different, with that blonde friend of yours." He says shrugging his shoulders. "Though I can tell you don't like her that way, do you?" he asks, slightly tilting his head.
"No, I don't. You got that right. She's my best friend and I love her." I tell him.
"Best friend, huh? So do these best friends and cousins of yours know about it?" he asks furrowing his eyebrows, genuinely curious.
"No, they don't. And I would like to keep it that way." I say looking pointedly at him, although I know he wouldn't open his mouth. He just shakes his head, smiling.
We finally reach the 60 storey building of Poseidon Cruise Line. It's a beautiful piece of modern architecture with glass covering majority of the building. The clean, reflecting glass constituting a major portion the building, may seem fragile, but it's unbreakable.
I go up to my office on the 54th floor and am instantly met by Kim who was probably waiting for me by the door. Kim is a pretty, young woman in her twenties- and one of my most trustworthy employees.
Not many people have arrived by now, but the few who have, look up at me and wish me good morning as I pass them.
"Good morning sir. This is the file needed to be approved. The rest of the details have been mailed to you." Kim says handing me a leather bound folder.
I simply nod and open the door to my office, the file in my hand. And see another pile of files on my desk, ready to be read, corrected and sent.
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. It's going to be a long day today.
Annabeth's pov:
I go down for breakfast with a happy smile on my face today. It feels as if I'm truly happy, truly alive after 9 long years. As if the cocoon of ignorance I've been hiding behind, has finally cracked. Like I'm finally able to breathe. I realized last night that I have always been suppressing and ignoring my feelings for Percy, always stopping and preventing myself form thinking of him as more than my best friend. But the feelings have become too strong to be ignored now, too deep to be neglected now. And it feels good. To finally accept the truth, to finally recognize my wants, to finally understand my innermost desires- it all feels good. As if a curtain has finally been raised from before my eyes, finally showing me what I have always overlooked- showing me, making me realize that I have always been in love with my best friend.
"You look happy today Annabeth" Piper says as we all sit down for breakfast. My smile just grows wider as I shrug my shoulders.
"Where's Percy?" I ask not finding the person I most wanted to see today.
"Kelp head's left without informing us. Again." Thalia says rolling her eyes, stuffing her mouth with a chocolate muffin.
Almost instantly my smile vanishes and turns into a frown. I was looking forward to see him today morning. His beautiful eyes would bore into mine as he would kiss my forehead wishing me good morning, adorably calling me his wise girl.
"The car is waiting for you outside, once you are done with your breakfast." Sara tells us snapping me out of my imagination. Gods, I was acting like a love sick girl. Probably because I am one now.
"Car?" Jason asks, speaking the question on everyone's minds.
"For your tour of course" she says answering the question.
We quickly finish our meal and make our way towards the car waiting for us, with David beside it just like last time. I can't help but think about a certain green eyed boy. He didn't even call me during the breakfast this time.
"Will Percy be joining us for lunch like last time?" I ask David as soon as he starts the car. He simply shakes his head indicating a 'no'. My frown deepens, as I say "to The Temple of Olympian Zeus, please."
The Temple of Olympian Zeus is a former colossal temple dedicated to Olympian Zeus at the centre of the Athens. It is a very important archaeological site of Greece. The temple is made up of expensive but high quality Pentelic marble and has a total of 104 columns. The sight of this marvellous structure diverted my mind from Percy. His absence was always felt though, now more than ever. I never realized how much his presence meant to me until now. He would put his arm around my shoulders and listen to me ramble on about the architecture of this place. If only he was here.
David takes us to different restaurant for lunch this time. We tried Greek food this time which wasn't that bad. Jason didn't like it much though. We reach home by 5 in the evening after roaming around the city a bit. And yes, David still hasn't spoken a word. Neither have we heard anything from Percy.
Jason spends the rest of his time in the game room along with Thalia and Piper, and I go up to the library. It's been too long since I read a good book. It often helps me sleep at night.
After a lavish dinner prepared and served by Sara, we all go to the living room on our floor and settle down on the comfortable couches for a movie night. Jason and Thalia fight over which movie to choose from Percy's extensive collection of movies, before we all agree to watch the Avengers series, starting from Captain America. Jason and Piper cuddle up in a loveseat, with me on one of the plush cream couches and Thalia sitting at my feet, her back leaning on the sofa.
Percy arrives during the second movie, at about 11:30 pm, and let me tell you I wasn't expecting what I saw.
There he was wearing black trousers and blazer over a button down white shirt with a simple but perfectly knotted tie. He looks better than ever. There is just something about men in suits which pleases me greatly. I've never seen Percy in a suit before and I daresay this is probably the hottest he has ever looked, even better than when he is without a shirt during swim practices. His spotless white shirt is tucked neatly into his trousers perfectly framing his body. His black blazer is unbuttoned and he attempts to loosen his tie, keeping the folder in his hand on a table. I can't seem to take my eyes off him, and am tempted to help him unknot that tie of his.
He runs a hand through his hair and says "hey, I didn't expect you all to be awake till now."
I realize all of us had been gaping at him before he brought us out of our thoughts.
"Mind telling us about this work of yours, and why I haven't ever seen you in a suit before today." Thalia asks narrowing her eyes.
He rubs the back of his neck and answers "well, I was just helping dad out with some work at the office...and you haven't seen me in a suit before because I don't really wear it much in New York."
I have a feeling he was doing a lot more than 'just helping' his dad at the office.
"You didn't even call me this time seaweed brain" I say frowning, trying not to stare at him as he finally succeeds in unknotting the tie with some difficulty.
"Yeah, sorry for that wise girl. I just couldn't take some time off to make a call or even leave a text, my schedule was that packed. Forgive me?" he asks slightly widening his eyes. How can I say no to those adorable eyes, especially when he looks so handsome?
"Fine" I say, my eyes softening and frown disappearing into a small smile. He has that effect on me. "Have you had your dinner?" I ask him, because knowing him he probably forgot.
"Sara's gonna set it up for me now, don't worry." He says smiling at me. He leans forward to peck me on the forehead and says "go to sleep wise girl, we'll talk properly tomorrow morning. I can tell you are all dead tired"
I wanted to protest and stay with him, but I knew it would be of no use. He wouldn't let me stay and insist I go to bed until I give in. So I just shake my head and say smiling "goodnight seaweed brain."
I leave the others and go towards my room, my forehead still tingling from the brush of his lips, a light blush covering my cheeks.
Percy's pov:
Soon everybody leaves the living room one by one, bidding me good night. I sigh and settle down on the couch, switching off the TV. That tie was finally off. I could easily and perfectly knot a tie, but always had difficulty unknotting it. Sara enters the room, a tray full of warm food in her hands. My mouth waters at the aroma of the delicious meal. Her cooking is almost as good as my mom's back in New York.
She sets down the tray on the coffee table in front of me as I play the paused movie everyone was watching earlier.
"Long day?" she asks smiling sympathetically at me.
"Yeah. A dozen files and emails along with two major meetings." I say before quickly wolfing down the meal. I didn't even have lunch today and Sara probably guessed that because she brought me double the amount of food she normally gets. I know shouldn't sleep after such a heavy meal, but I can't help it, I'm hungry.
"Slow down, will you?" she says looking amused. I merely shrug my shoulders as she brings me a glass of water.
She massages my tense shoulders for some time after I finish my dinner. I just close my eyes and lean my head back on the sofa, releasing a sigh of relief.
"Thank you ma, you're the best." I say to Sara. She told me once to call her Ma when I was younger, so that has been her name for me ever since. Also, she's kind of my second mom, so I often call her Ma.
"You should go to sleep too now" I say taking her hands away from my shoulders, gently kissing them.
"You too. Don't stay up now." she says before leaving the room. I get up switching off the TV and leave the room taking the file I brought along with me. I close my eyes, tired from the long, exhausting day.