Don't Think So Much Annabeth
Chapter IX: Cookies
Week 13
Now feeling the freedom to Google her boyfriend as much as she pleased, Annabeth spent her free time at work scouring articles that detailed Percy's activity within the company. A few pieces tried to spin his acts as a coverup for the company, insinuating they collaborated with large industries needing to illegally dispose of toxic waste, but they only made her shake her head and smile.
Poseidon Industries was known world-wide for its environmental efforts. While their main focus was the ocean, the company recently began partnering with other businesses trying to prevent further damage to other areas of the world such as the rain forest and exploitation of poorer areas. Poseidon himself was featured in the majority of the photos available on the internet, but to her surprise there was a fair amount of Percy as well.
Hundreds of pictures existed of him with various groups. Her favorite photo showed Percy teaching a group of children and adults about recycling, and the small changes they could make in their daily lives. It accompanied an article detailing the day, but even without reading the entire article she could see how enthralled the kids were.
She remembered how dreadful field trips were when she had to sit and listen to adults talk about topics she wasn't interested in, but she couldn't spot a single child looking bored. Even the adults were paying attention, not a cell phone in sight. If she squinted, she could even see a kid in the back looking like he was ready to take on anyone who dared litter.
Annabeth buzzed her secretary on the phone's intercom, already knowing she would be more than willing to assist her in a little side project. "Amanda? Are you up for a treasure hunt?"
She responded immediately. "Sure thing! What is it?"
"I'm going to send you a link to a news article, and I need you to track down the original photograph. If you can get ahold of the photographer, see if they would be willing to send me the digital copy or a print."
It only took a few seconds to shoot the link over to Amanda's email, and a few seconds later her bubbly voice crackled to life again.
"Oh, that is precious! I'll work on it as soon as I finish putting together your schedule for the next month. Do you need any specific days off?"
Did she? She couldn't remember her next doctor's appointment off the top of her head, and she couldn't exactly tell Amanda what was going on quite yet.
"Not that I can think of right now, but make sure to get me a list of all the meetings that can't be moved. If I do need to take a personal day, I'll just plan around those. Thank you." Amanda didn't reply, but Annabeth knew she was probably already focused on her mission to find the photographer.
The rest of the day passed by in a flurry of activity. Dr. Baker popped in just after lunch time to see how the designs were going, along with a few students she was personally tutoring for a business course in management. They all fawned over her blueprints, despite the fact she could clearly tell at least two of the students had absolutely no idea what they were looking at.
Shortly after that, an angry man stormed into the office, demanding to see an employee that did not work there. It took an hour to calm him down before security could finally explain he had the wrong building, not the telemarketing office he had been looking for, and he was escorted from the premises.
Eventually four o'clock rolled around, and Annabeth was all too happy to leave the bustle of the office behind. She was completely caught up on all of her deadlines, which meant she had the entire weekend to do whatever she pleased. Percy hadn't mentioned having any plans either, so she thought maybe the two of them could have a relaxing weekend and just walk around the city together, followed by a movie and dinner.
As she pulled into the parking garage under the complex, a strange car caught her attention. Strange cars were in here all the time for guest parking, but a shiny black Audi R8 convertible wasn't the typical oddity she usually saw. The license plate was nothing special, just the standard New York plate with random letters and numbers, so she pushed it to the back of her mind and started thinking about what restaurant sounded good for dinner (if Percy hadn't already whipped something delicious up).
Her heals clicked loudly on the concrete as she walked, and she made a mental note to trade them out for her flats from now on. She used to enjoy the sounds and the attention it brought, but now that she was trying to stay low the heels weren't doing her any favors. As she turned the corner, her heels drew the attention of a woman waiting on the elevator.
Her thick brown hair was pulled up in a smart-looking twist and Annabeth couldn't help but be slightly jealous of her soft-looking cashmere designer. She was obviously the driver of the Audi, but unlike most of the well-off visitors in this building, Annabeth didn't feel the need to put her head down and look away. Something about this woman put her at ease.
Her feelings her proven correct seconds later when the elevator finally came, and Annabeth was still several feet away. The woman stood in the entryway, clearly holding the doors for her. Annabeth picked up her pace a bit, but the woman called out, "Take your time honey! Heels are cute but definitely not meant for running!"
Annabeth still kept her long strides as she walked, but smiled gratefully at the woman until she was close enough to thank her. "Thank you so much, heels are definitely not meant for running." She breathed, making the pair of them chuckle.
"No problem sweetheart, we girls have to stick together. I'm Sally by the way." Sally stuck her hand out to shake, and Annabeth caught a whiff of something intoxicating when she shifted. It took a second to realize she needed to shake Sally's hand and draw her focus away from the delicious scent coming from her purse.
"Yes, we do." She cleared her throat and tried not to blush. "I'm Annabeth. What floor are you going to?"
"Thirty Two."
"Oh, that's my floor. Are you visiting someone?"
The woman smiled and said, "Yes, my son. I haven't been able to see him much lately since we've all been so busy, so I figured I would stop by and surprise him with some of his favorite cookies." Sally shifted again to open her purse, and the smell was so strong Annabeth literally started to salivate.
"Annabeth?"
"Hmmm? Oh, sorry. I spaced out a bit."
Sally smiled and continued to pull out a container full of… blue cookies? Before Annabeth could ask, she was being handed a delicious smelling morsel of sugar and flour. Typically she wouldn't dream of eating food from a stranger, but a woman who held the door and offered her a cookie that she made for her son couldn't be bad.
A exotic mix of spices hit her tongue, so good that she didn't even care to be embarrassed from the weighted moan that left her lips. Most prominently she could taste vanilla and cinnamon, and immediately wished Percy could try one. He would love them, and even the color of the cookies would be right up his ally.
Her euphoria from the cookie quickly faded and replaced itself with rising vomit.
"Oh no, are you alright? You suddenly look pale."
"Yeah, I just need to take a couple of deep breaths. It'll pass in a moment."
Sally worried her lip and reached out to rub her shoulder. "You're not gluten intolerant, are you sweetheart? I should have asked if you were allergic first."
"No just pregnant." Annabeth breathed, laughing softly to herself.
It felt natural to say it out loud to a total stranger, yet she hadn't even told her own family or any of her coworkers yet. Something about Sally made her want to curl up on a couch together and discuss a good book over a cup of tea.
Sally gasped and clapped a few times, reaching into the container again for another cookie. "Well in this case, have another one. It should help settle your stomach." More of what made her nauseous would help? She was skeptical, but accepted the cookie nonetheless and took a bite.
Like magic, her stomach settled. She raised an eyebrow in surprise and looked at Sally. The older woman laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "When I was pregnant with Percy, these cookies were the only thing that allowed me to leave the bathroom. These and cinnamon toast."
Annabeth vomited right as the doors opened.
While Thalia liked to make fun of her being prepared, an emergency vomit bag in her purse saved her from totally embarrassing herself in front of her boyfriend's Mother. Sally started fussing over her as she heaved into the bag, leaning heavily against the wall of the thirty-second floor. She was apologizing about the cookies, but Annabeth was too busy having a freak out to assure her it was not the cookies.
Eventually she caught her breath, and tossed the bag into the trash bin in the corner of the hall with a grimace. Once she pulled a stick of gum from her purse, Annabeth finally got the courage to look at Sally's worried face.
"It wasn't your cookies, I promise. I'm so embarrassed, it's just that I realized that…"
Then she was crying. Once again Sally was every bit the mother Percy described her as and gathered Annabeth into a tight hug. The feeling of her hand rubbing soothingly up and down her back quickly calmed her, and she pulled back feeling even more embarrassed.
"I am so sorry."
"It's okay sweetheart, I completely understand. Now, let's get you home. Percy said he left the door unlocked for us."
"What?" She felt the vomit rise again.
Sally giggled again. "My son is absolutely smitten with you, you really think he wouldn't tell me all about you and send me pictures? Honestly, I'm surprised he managed to keep the baby a secret, but I'm glad he could for you."
"You're not mad?" Annabeth whispered.
"No, not at all! I'm just excited to finally be a Grandma! Of course, I won't tell anyone until you both feel ready to. That includes my husband." She winked, and the tightness in her chest lifted a bit.
"I wish I'd had a Mom like you growing up." Annabeth sighed, feeling the weight of the truth in her words.
Her first thoughts when she'd found out she was pregnant was how her stepmother would react, rather than how Percy would react. How messed up was that? She didn't want to care about what that woman thought, yet she still lived her life like she was under her thumb. She knew that's what caused her violent reaction to realizing Sally knew who she was and that she was pregnant.
"Well, the good news is we've officially met, so I can start spoiling you just as much as Percy! Fresh baked cookies every week and an open dinner invitation at all times included."
"I'd like that." Annabeth sniffled, laughing through the tears pouring down her face once again. Sally laughed as well, and pulled her into another hug before they continued down the hall.
When she walked into the apartment arm-in-arm with Sally, Percy started to ask about the tears on his girlfriends face but decided not to when he saw her happily munching on a blue cookie while his mother beamed.