Chapter Text
Annabeth Chase’s heels clacked rhythmically on the sleek marble floors of New Rome Architectural Firm, her pace as sharp and purposeful as her demeanor. She was a force of nature, commanding attention with every step. The automatic glass doors slid open, and she didn’t break stride, not even to glance at the receptionist who offered a timid, “Good morning, Ms. Chase.”
Annabeth didn’t have time for pleasantries. She was a woman on a mission—always on a mission—and today was no different. As the head architect of one of the top architectural firms in California, her days were packed with meetings, design deadlines, and endless decisions that no one but her seemed capable of making. And she liked it that way. Control, precision, efficiency. That’s what kept the company running, and she was the reason it hadn’t crumbled under the weight of its competitors.
Approaching her assistant’s desk, she frowned at the sight before her. Percy Jackson—her assistant of nearly three years—was leaning back in his chair, his eyes half-closed as if he hadn’t just walked into the office of a high-powered architectural firm but rather strolled into a casual coffee shop. His blue button-down shirt was slightly wrinkled, and his messy black hair looked like it hadn’t seen a comb in days.
Typical.
“Jackson,” Annabeth snapped, her voice cutting through the hum of the office like a whip. She tossed a thick stack of papers onto his cluttered desk with a sharp thud, startling him into full consciousness. “I need these design proofs sent to marketing by ten. And for gods’ sake, can you at least pretend you’re awake? You drool when you sleep.”
Percy blinked rapidly, sitting up straight as he rubbed his eyes. “Good morning to you too, Wise Girl,” he muttered under his breath, though he didn’t have the energy to match her intensity. He already had a hell of a morning. Between fetching her coffee, proceeding to spill said coffee, and begging Connor Stoll to switch shirts with him, Percy was coffeeless and had very little capacity to deal with the incoming wrath of Annabeth Chase.
“You are, as usual, unprepared,” Annabeth said without a hint of humor, already turning away. “Coffee doesn’t pay for itself, Jackson. And I don’t function without it.”
“Coffee is on your desk, Annabeth. And those design proofs? Already sent. You have a conference call in 30 min, a staff meeting at 10 am, and your immigration lawyer called 15 min ago - said it’s imperative.”
Annabeth waved him off, her attention already back on the buzzing notifications of her phone. Moving towards her desk, she picked up the coffee cup before replying, “Cancel the call, push the meeting to tomorrow, keep the lawyer on the sheets. I got Thalia to do interior design for the next building.”
“Wow, nicely done.”
“When I want your praise, Jackson, I’ll ask for it. Is Luke here?”
“I’m sure,” Percy replied. “Want him on the phone?”
“We’re going to his office. Grab your notepad. And for gods’ sake, try to get some of those wrinkles out of your shirt. It looks like you stole it off someone’s back.” She took a look at the coffee cup in her hand. “Who’s Nico, and why does he want me to call him?”
“Well, that was originally my cup,” Percy said, turning toward Annabeth.
Annabeth raised an eyebrow, sipping her coffee. “And I’m drinking your coffee why?”
Percy shifted the notebook in his hands, trying to keep his voice casual. “Because your coffee spilled.”
Annabeth narrowed her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “So, you drink unsweetened cinnamon light soy lattes now?”
Percy straightened up, looking defensive. “I do. It’s like Christmas in a cup.”
Annabeth gave him a skeptical look. “Is that a coincidence?”
“Incredibly, it is,” Percy said, though the corners of his mouth twitched into a smirk. “I wouldn’t drink the same coffee you do just in case yours spilled. That would be pathetic.”
They started heading out the office doors towards the elevators where Luke’s office awaited on the third floor.
Percy gave her a sidelong glance once the elevator doors closed. “Have you finished looking at the building models I gave you?”
Annabeth shrugged nonchalantly. “I looked it over. Wasn’t that impressed.”
Percy’s eyes flashed, a brief flicker of annoyance crossing his usually composed expression. “Can I say something?”
“No.”
Percy smirked, undeterred. “I’ve sent for thousands of models based off blueprints, and this is the only one I’ve given you.” She pressed the button for the elevator, her voice firm. “There’s incredible infrastructural engineering in there. The kind of work you used to design.”
“Wrong,” Annabeth replied without missing a beat. She stepped into the elevator and looked Percy over. “And I do think you order the same coffee as I do, just in case yours spills, which is, in fact, pathetic.”
Percy grinned. “Or impressive.”
“I’d be impressed if you didn’t spill in the first place,” Annabeth quipped, her gaze sharp as ever. She took another sip of her latte. “Remember, you’re a prop. Nothing more.”
Percy held up his hands in mock surrender. “Won’t say a word.”
As the elevator doors opened, they walked toward Luke’s office. Inside, Luke was waiting, leaning back in his chair, his eyes twinkling with amusement as they entered. His office was immaculate, filled with antique furniture and shelves lined with first-edition books.
“Our fearless leader and her liege,” Luke said with a grin. “Please, do come in.”
Annabeth’s gaze scanned the room briefly, pausing at a large, intricately carved cabinet in the corner. “Beautiful breakfront. Is it new?”
Luke’s grin widened, clearly pleased by the attention. “It’s English Regency Egyptian Revival, built in the 1800s. Crafted by Sadie Kane. But yes, it’s new to my office. Had it brought in last week.”
Percy tried not to roll his eyes. Annabeth always had a way of breaking the ice before dropping the hammer—Luke didn’t even know what was coming.
“I’m letting you go, Luke,” Annabeth said, her voice smooth but firm, like a blade sliding into its sheath.
Luke’s confident smirk faltered. “What?” he asked, blinking up at her in disbelief. “Letting me go?”
“You heard me,” Annabeth continued, arms crossed. “I’ve repeatedly asked you to get Thalia to do our new design work. You told me it was impossible.”
Luke scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “It is impossible, Annabeth. Thalia doesn’t work with men. Everyone knows that.”
Annabeth arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “That’s funny, because I just spoke to her this morning. She’s in.”
Luke’s face reddened. “But—”
“No more buts, Luke,” she interrupted, her voice sharpening. “I’ve been the head architect here for years, and this is the fifth time you’ve dropped the ball. You promised me, Luke. You didn’t even pick up the phone to ask her.”
There was a pause as Luke’s shock morphed into something darker—anger. He huffed out a frustrated breath, eyes narrowing. Percy could see the cracks forming. The calm before the inevitable storm.
“All you had to do was make a call, Luke,” Annabeth said, her voice softening slightly, as if trying to offer him a way out. “I’ll give you two months to find a new job, and you can say you resigned. I won’t tell a soul. My lips are sealed.”
Annabeth turned on her heel, heading for the door. Percy, who had been watching quietly, followed her. Just as they stepped outside Luke’s office, Percy peeked back in, sensing the tension rising behind them.
"What’s he doing?" Annabeth asked quietly, glancing at Percy.
Percy craned his neck, taking a quick look back at Luke. The man was no longer sitting. He had risen from his chair, fists clenched at his sides, his face red with barely contained fury.
“He’s up,” Percy said, his voice low. “And about to blow. He’s got the crazy golden eyes.”
Annabeth shook her head, a tired sigh escaping her lips. “Oh, Luke. Don’t do it.”
Before she could take another step, Luke’s voice rang out from the office, loud and venomous.
“You poisonous bitch!” he spat, storming toward the door. “You can’t fire me!”
The entire office froze. Employees, who had likely overheard the confrontation, peeked out from their cubicles. They had been expecting something dramatic, but this was more than they had hoped for. The anticipation hung in the air like static before a thunderstorm.
Annabeth turned slowly, her expression unreadable, though Percy could see the fire simmering just beneath her calm exterior. She locked eyes with Luke, who stood in the doorway of Bob’s office, breathing heavily, his face twisted in rage.
Annabeth’s voice was low, almost a whisper, but the intensity of her words sliced through the tension like a razor. “What are you doing, Luke?” she asked, her tone deadly calm. “I gave you a civilized way out of this.”
Luke’s hands balled into fists, his chest heaving with anger. “This is because I’m your competition!” he shouted. “Because I threaten you!”
Annabeth’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Percy thought the air around them had chilled. She took a step closer to Luke, her posture straight and confident. “Oh, Luke,” she said softly, a hint of disappointment in her voice. “You could never threaten me.”
She let the words hang in the air for a second before continuing, her voice gaining strength. “I’m firing you because you’re lazy. You’re entitled and incompetent. I’m firing you because you don’t work hard, and you’ve failed to deliver—again and again.”
Luke’s face flushed even redder, but he remained silent, clearly caught off-guard by the directness of her words.
Annabeth’s eyes hardened. “So if you know what’s good for you, you’ll shut up, find a bar, and get drunk on nectar. Because if you say one more word, Jackson here is going to call security and have you thrown out on your ass.”
Luke opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He glanced around, seeing the eyes of the entire office on him. The reality of the situation was sinking in. He had lost. There was no comeback, no triumphant retort that would save him now.
Annabeth waited for his response, her gaze steady and unflinching.
“Are we perfectly clear?” she asked, her voice soft again, but there was no mistaking the authority behind it.
Luke nodded once, stiffly, his jaw clenched in barely concealed rage.
“Good,” Annabeth said, turning her back on him. “Now, I’ve got work to do.”
With that, she walked away, leaving Luke standing in the doorway, humiliated. Percy shot Luke a warning glance before following Annabeth, watching the man deflate as reality finally settled in.
The office returned to its usual quiet hum, though the energy had shifted. Everyone knew what had just happened. Annabeth Chase wasn’t someone you crossed.
Annabeth turned back towards Percy. “Have security take his breakfront,” Annabeth said, her tone as casual as if she were ordering lunch. “And put it in my conference room.”
Percy’s eyebrows shot up as he tried to suppress a laugh. Of course, Annabeth would confiscate Luke’s prized breakfront after firing him. That was just her style—decisive, ruthless, and never one to leave loose ends.
Before Percy could say anything, Annabeth turned to him. “I need you this weekend to help review his files and the design plans,” she said, her voice leaving no room for negotiation.
“This weekend?” Percy asked, blinking.
Annabeth’s gaze sharpened. “You have a problem with that?”
Percy hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “No, it’s just… it’s my great-uncle’s 90th birthday, so I was gonna go home and—" He stopped, quickly changing his tone. “It’s fine. I’ll cancel it. You’re saving me from a weekend of misery anyway, so… yeah. Good talk.”
He turned and walked out of the office, but the second he left Annabeth’s sight, Percy pulled out his phone and dialed his mom.
“I know, I know,” Percy said, his voice low as he walked toward his desk. “OK, tell G-man I’m sorry. What do you want me to do?”
His mom’s voice, muffled through the phone, was full of disappointment, though Percy had expected that. He winced, already preparing for the guilt trip.
“She’s making me work the weekend,” Percy said, keeping his voice down as he passed by a few of his coworkers. “No, I’m not happy about it, but I’ve worked too hard for this promotion to throw it all away.”
More muffled talking from his mother. Percy sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I know Paul’s pissed, but-” Percy caught Annabeth walking towards him from the corner of his eye, “We take all of our submissions around here seriously. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
He hung up, slipping his phone back into his pocket. Annabeth glanced at him sideways.
“Was that your family?” she asked, her voice as direct as always.
Percy nodded. “Yeah.”
“Let me guess—they told you to quit?”
Percy gave a tight smile. “Every single day.”
Before Annabeth could say anything, Percy’s phone buzzed again. This time, it was the office line.
“Miss Chase’s office,” Percy answered, quickly switching back to professional mode. “Yeah. OK, got it. Thanks, Mellie.”
He hung up and looked at Annabeth. “Chiron wants to see you upstairs.”
Annabeth’s eyes flickered with interest, but she remained composed. “OK. Come get me in ten minutes.”
Percy gave her a small salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
As Annabeth strode away, Percy leaned back in his chair, glancing at the clock. The weekend was shaping up to be brutal, but if this was what it took to impress Annabeth and secure his promotion, he’d deal with it.
- - -
When Annabeth stepped into the conference room on the 15th floor, she was greeted by the sight of Chiron and Mellie sitting at the long mahogany table, their expressions guarded. Annabeth could read them instantly. Something was definitely up.
“Good morning, Ms. Chase,” Chiron greeted, standing briefly before sitting back down.
Annabeth gave them both a tight smile as she and Percy moved to take their seats. “Chiron, Mellie.”
Chiron gestured for her and Percy to sit down. “Congratulations on the Thalia thing. That’s terrific news.”
Annabeth gave a polite smile. “Thank you, Chiron. Yes, it’s good for business.”
“So,” she began, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. “This isn’t about my second raise, is it?” She smirked, hoping to lighten the mood.
Mellie didn’t take the bait. “No, Annabeth. This isn’t about a raise.”
Annabeth’s smirk faded as she looked between them, her mind immediately scanning through potential issues. Her performance had been stellar as always. If anything, they should’ve been celebrating her successes. But the weight of their serious expressions told her that something had gone wrong.
Chiron cleared his throat, leaning forward. “Do you remember when we agreed you wouldn’t go to the opening of the remodeled Olympus because you weren’t allowed out of the country while your visa application was being processed?”
Annabeth sat up straighter. Her grip on the armrest tightened slightly, but her face remained unreadable. “Yes, I do.”
Chiron exchanged another look with Mellie before continuing. “And… you went to Rome.”
Annabeth’s jaw clenched. This wasn’t what she’d expected, but she had an answer prepared, as always. “Yes,” she said, her tone measured. “I spent years designing that building. It was my life’s work. I didn’t have a choice.”
Mellie nodded, though her face reflected little sympathy. “Seems the United States Government doesn’t care who re-designs Olympus.”
Annabeth bristled, but she didn’t let it show. “I am the head architect behind this company. Without the Olympus project, we would’ve gone under. It was the right decision.”
But Chiron and Mellie weren’t swayed. The room felt heavy with anticipation as Chiron finally dropped the bombshell. “We just spoke to your immigration attorney, Annabeth.”
Annabeth’s heart skipped a beat. She managed to keep her voice steady, though her thoughts were racing. “Great,” she said, trying to shift the tone. “So, we’re all good? Everything’s sorted out?”
Chiron’s face didn’t change. “Annabeth,” he said, “your visa application has been denied.”
Annabeth blinked. For a moment, it felt like the room tilted. “Denied?” she repeated, the word foreign and ridiculous on her tongue.
Chiron nodded gravely. “And you are being deported.”
Deported. The word hung in the air like a death sentence. Percy shifted slightly beside her, looking just as shocked. Annabeth could feel her stomach drop, but her face remained composed.
“That’s absurd,” she said quickly. “Come on. I’m from Greece, for gods’ sake. I’ve been living here since I was eight.”
Mellie leaned forward, her tone unyielding. “There’s also some paperwork you didn’t fill out in time. The application was incomplete.”
Annabeth clenched her teeth. “There has to be something we can do,” she pressed. “I mean, this is ridiculous. I’m the head architect of one of the top architectural firms in California. I can’t just leave.”
Chiron sighed, his expression softening slightly, but his words were firm. “We can reapply, but unfortunately, you have to leave the country for at least a year.”
The world seemed to freeze. A year? Annabeth’s mind raced through the implications. Her career, her projects, everything she’d worked for would be out of her control. She couldn’t let that happen.
“No, no,” she said quickly, trying to salvage the situation. “OK, that’s not ideal, but I can manage everything from Athens. We’ll use videoconferencing, Internet, whatever it takes.”
But Mellie shook her head. “Unfortunately, if you’re deported, you can’t work for an American company. Not remotely. Not at all.”
Annabeth’s carefully constructed world felt like it was crumbling beneath her feet. The desperation she’d worked so hard to suppress began creeping in. “There’s got to be another option.”
Mellie’s voice was calm, but the finality in her tone was unmistakable. “Until this is resolved, we’re turning operations over to Luke Castellan.”
Annabeth’s head snapped up. “Luke Castellan? The guy I just fired?”
Chiron nodded solemnly. “We need a head architect, Annabeth. And he’s the only person who has enough experience.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her grip on the armrest tightened until her knuckles turned white. “You cannot be serious. I beg of you—Luke Castellan?”
“Annabeth,” Chiron said softly. “We’re desperate to have you stay. If there was any way, any way at all we could make this work, we’d be doing it.”
Annabeth’s heart was pounding in her chest, her thoughts racing for a solution. She was about to respond when there was a knock at the door. Percy quickly moved to open it, revealing one of the administrative assistants standing hesitantly in the doorway.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said nervously. “But… Reyna from Ms. Grace’s office called. She’s on the line. She needs to speak with you.” The assistant glanced at Annabeth. “I told her you were otherwise engaged, but she insisted.”
Annabeth’s heart raced faster. Thalia. This was huge. She looked back at Chiron and Mellie, her mind whirling. She needed to think of something—anything—to buy herself time. This couldn’t be happening.
She stood, gesturing for Percy to follow her to the side of the room. “Come here,” she muttered under her breath.
Percy, confused, followed her. “What’s going on?”
Annabeth closed her eyes for a brief moment, taking a deep breath. She was about to say something drastic, something she’d never thought she’d have to say. But it was the only way out of this mess. When she opened her eyes, her gaze was steady.
“We’re getting married,” she said, her voice calm and her grey eyes piercing.
Percy’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait… what?”
“We’re getting married,” Annabeth repeated, louder this time, turning back toward Chiron and Mellie. She plastered on a confident smile as Percy stood frozen beside her.
Chiron’s eyebrows shot up. “Who is getting married?”
Annabeth gestured to herself and Percy. “Jackson and I,” she said smoothly. “We’re getting married.”
Percy, still in shock, blinked several times before nodding awkwardly. “Yes. We are.”
Chiron leaned back in his chair, his expression incredulous. “Isn’t he your assistant?”
Annabeth waved her hand dismissively. “Titles,” she said, her voice gaining strength. “Executive assistant. Secretary. Whatever you want to call it. The point is, we fell in love.”
Percy opened his mouth to protest, but Annabeth shot him a sharp look, and he quickly closed it.
“Wouldn’t be the first time one of us from the firm fell for our assistants, would it?” Mellie chimed in, a teasing grin spreading across her face as she looked towards Chiron. “Remember Achilles and Patroclus?”
Annabeth smiled tightly, pressing on. “The truth is, Percy and I… well, we’re just two people who weren’t meant to fall in love, but we did.”
“No,” Percy mumbled under his breath, still dazed.
Annabeth ignored him, turning back to Chiron and Mellie with an air of complete confidence. “All those late nights at the office, the weekend blueprint designing… something happened. It wasn’t supposed to, but it did. We tried to fight it, but…”
She turned toward Percy, giving him a pointed look. “You can’t fight a love like ours.”
Percy, still looking stunned, barely managed to nod. “Yeah. Can’t fight it.”
Chiron and Mellie exchanged glances, still clearly unsure if they believed what they were hearing. The awkwardness of the situation hung in the air like a cloud. Annabeth could feel her carefully spun story teetering on the edge. She couldn’t let it fall apart now. Not when her career—and everything she had built—was on the line.
“So,” she said, clapping her hands together and turning back to the senior partners. “Are we good with this? Are you happy? Because, well, we’re happy. So happy.”
Percy shifted awkwardly beside her, still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. “Yeah,” he muttered. “So happy.”
Chiron cleared his throat, his gaze drifting from Percy to Annabeth. “Annabeth,” he said, his voice soft but still skeptical. “It’s terrific. Just make it legal.”
Annabeth blinked, her heart skipping a beat. “Legal?”
Chiron nodded, giving her a firm look. He pointed to his ring finger. “Yes. Make it legal. Get yourselves down to the immigration office and sort this whole mess out. We can’t have our head architect getting deported.”
Annabeth swallowed, her mind racing. The plan had worked, but now she had to deal with the consequences. She glanced at Percy, who still looked like he was trying to process what had just happened. He opened his mouth to say something, but Annabeth cut him off.
“Yes. Absolutely. We will make it legal,” Annabeth said, forcing a smile as she turned back to Chiron and Mellie. “We’ll head to the immigration office right away. Thank you both.”
Without waiting for a response, Annabeth grabbed Percy’s arm and began pulling him toward the door. Percy, still in shock, allowed himself to be dragged out of the conference room, barely managing to nod politely to Chiron and Mellie on their way out.
Once they were safely out of earshot, Percy finally spoke, his voice incredulous. “We’re getting married? What the hell, Annabeth?”
Annabeth didn’t stop walking. “You heard them. My visa was denied. I’m being deported unless I can prove I’m married to an American citizen.”
Percy blinked at her. “So your solution was to drag me into this? Without even asking?”
Annabeth stopped abruptly and turned to face him, her expression dead serious. “Do you want a promotion, Jackson?”
Percy hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden question. “What?”
“I’ll make you a head engineer. No more fetching coffee. No more assistant work. You’ll get your own office, your own team. You’ve been working for this for years. You have the degree. This is your chance,” Annabeth said, her voice low and intense.
Percy frowned, running a hand through his dark hair. “So that’s your plan? Blackmail me into marrying you?”
Annabeth crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “It’s not blackmail. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. You help me stay in the country, and I help you get the career you’ve always wanted.”
Percy stared at her for a long moment, clearly torn. On the one hand, it was insane. Completely insane. Marrying his boss to save her from being deported? That wasn’t exactly part of his career plan. But on the other hand, this was Annabeth Chase. If she was offering him an engineering position, she meant it. And as much as he hated to admit it, he did want that promotion. Badly.
Finally, Percy let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he spoke. “This is ridiculous.”
Annabeth smirked, sensing his hesitation wavering. “You’ve worked too hard to walk away from this opportunity, Percy. I’m offering you everything you’ve been asking for. All I need is a few months. Then we can get divorced quietly, and no one has to know.”
Percy shook his head, still trying to wrap his mind around the situation. “What happens if we get caught?”
“We won’t,” Annabeth said confidently. “As long as we play our cards right. We just need to convince the immigration officer that this is real.”
Percy stared at her, weighing his options. On the one hand, it was a terrible idea. On the other hand…it was still a terrible decision, but what choice did he have?
Finally, he sighed and nodded. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
Annabeth’s smirk widened slightly. “Good. Now, let’s get married, Jackson.”