I didn't know what Thalia was planning on but I could only pray that it was something which would not make miss. Chase angrier at me than she already is.

For some reason Miss. 'I am Too Smart for You' Chase really got on my nerves. I don't know what I did wrong. I could think of nothing but our first talk at the pub back when we were having a break.

~Flashback~

I was looking at the others making a drunk fool of themselves. It was a very different sight than what I usually see at the office.

Grover was definitely not himself, and the Stolls were always amazing as ever. I knew now who had played the prank on the first day. Beckendorf is my personal favorite on the stage. Although he was drunk he was really great at organizing others, even when they are drunk and make a good fun show. Whenever their jokes strayed a bit further away from the conversation he would crack a better joke than previous steering the topics. He was either fast-minded or simply goofing around.

I scanned and saw everyone was enjoying themselves. But I caught sight of one of my employees at the side. She was a blonde, but quiet types. If I was not wrong she was the one involved in the fight with Ceciliani.

I moved towards her.

"On a scale from one to ten, how crazy do you think they are?" I asked her from behind. She turned and immediately her posture changed.

"Probably 10." Was her reply.

She looked beautiful, and her grey eyes were something I had not expected. I couldn't seem to recall her name. Hmm… Ann. Or was it Anne? Anabelle?

"So what is your name?" I asked her, trying to enter into a light conversation.

For some reason, she didn't seem happy with it.

"I think you should learn by now." She said with her steely eyes. It had only been two days!

"Well excuse me for trying to." I replied, annoyed with her 'I know so-attitude'.

"Yeah well, that proves why you are not a good leader."

She was only trying to get on my bad side. I wanted to forget she even existed right now. We don't even know each other but here she is, already making judging me.

"Name?" I glared at her losing all intentions of being friendly with her.

"Annabeth Chase." Was the reply. With those straightforward eyes.

For some reason, even when my mood got better, her named echoed at the fringes of my mind.

The rest of the party mood dwindled down fast enough. Conner was completely out of his mind. And the other Stoll was missing in action.

Later I learned from Rachel that Katie was missing too. I could see something brewing between the two.

Rachel was…different from…well, the other girls. She wasn't like Katie who was too strict and could handle the Stoll when I, me their boss couldn't. She wasn't like Ceciliani, (thank gods) who is fashion crazy. Neither was she a Miss. I Know So- Chase, she was much more polite and not trying to pull my leg.

I had… strangely good time talking to her. And I never have a good time with girls, trust me. There was a girl in my 8th grade, who slapped me. Well, later on, she got along great with my friend. So it was a little weird whenever she came to hang out with us.

I made sure everyone was dropped to their homes one by one. The urgent cases first, starting with Conner then Ceciliani. If I had to stand another Taylor Swift song I would bump my head against the steering wheel a hundred times.

One until one I dropped them off, till it was only Annabeth left. Not like I wanted her to be last but she wasn't drunk at all, sober…like me.

"Mr. Jackson." She finally called out, breaking the longest silence I have ever heard. "Thank you for the party today."

I looked at her through the rearview mirror. She looked earnest enough.

"You don't have to thank me. I had fun too. Even if I met some very rude people too." I noticed her carefully.

She blushed. She looked cute.

"I would first like to apologize. I realize I wasn't very fair to you." She said looking down. "I know you were just trying to break the tensions among all of us. I think it worked." She met my eyes, just as I reached a red light.

"Well in glad you think so. I was hoping we could bond with each other. But I think maybe there a bit too much bonding." I said. I was happy such a good atmosphere was created just now.

"I agree. I fear it was the Stolls with the most bonding though. Katie and Travis, who knew." She said, shaking her head as if trying to get around the fact.

"That wasn't the worst. Hearing Conner and Ceciliani was a nightmare come true." I said in all seriousness.

She laughed. It was the best and purest voice I have heard in a while.

"That's true." She said, composing herself.

"Thank you for everything. I see you're not a bad leader as I thought." She told me.

My heart fluttered. Getting a compliment from her felt as if winning a prize. I felt so relieved.

"Your welcome."

"But that doesn't mean you don't learn your employees' names. And you can't slack off." She started saying. Suddenly that good mood faded away.

"I know. You don't need to tell me." I said to her.

I stepped on the gas on the green light. It felt as if we entered another conversational block.

"Please stop here on the right. I'll walk the way back home." Annabeth said looking through the window.

"Walk?" I frowned. "No way. I'm dropping you all the way to home. Besides its half past twelve at night. You can't just roam around alone."

"Just because I am a girl doesn't mean I'm incapable. Please stop here."

"No. I won't let you get out here. Tell me where your house is and I will drop you right there." I shook my head. She was stubborn, sure, but I am more stubborn.

We stared at each other, this time eye to eye, not through any mirror. We both knew the other wouldn't back out easily.

"You-"Annabeth got angrier and crossed her arms. "You stupid-"

"I'm still your boss you know." I said.

"Arrogant, good for nothing, annoying, irritating, stupid-"

"You said stupid twice." I commented.

She glared at me.

"Fine. You win." She gave up.

"I win?" I said surprised she gave up.

"You. Win. Now just take me home." She said. the intensity of her grey eyes is truly startling.

"Aye-aye captain. Lead the way." I said stepping on the gas pedal.

~flashback ends~

I guess in a way, it was good I learnt where her house was in the process. No. what am I saying?

I looked at her, sitting across the table, innocent, staring at things as if hoping to learn more about it.

I sighed.

Well, my conversation with neither Annabeth nor Thalia hadn't gone well. I messaged Thalia and complained that this was the worst plan I have ever come across. Which is true. I mean, how could Annabeth help me?

But I turned out to be a bigger fool. Now I'm left with no help and no way out of this.

My phone screen was opened to chats and under 'Pinecone face' the last message read:

OH REALLY?! Fine then go to hell for all I care you're all alone now I won't help you in talking to her. BUT remember if you do not do this I will crush you and SMASH YOU to…to seaweed. You idiotic fool moron.

Thalia, always one with the insults.

I sighed yet again.

"I first thought you were here to only chat on phone, presumably with your girlfriend. Now you're sighing?" Miss 'I am too smart for you' spoke up.

"I don't have a girlfriend." I said.

"Like. I. care. You can be single for the rest of your life it wouldn't make a difference to me. And since you're busy sighing, I can seriously leave right now, happily." She started getting up.

"But…" oh no Thalia was going to smash me into seaweed, I mean...ugh you know what I mean "I really do feel sorry and want to make it up to you."

"It's fine. I told you it was no big deal. You don't need to do any of it." She said moving away.

I immediately followed her.

"Wait. How will you get home?" I couldn't let her go like this.

"I will take a taxi. Just. It's ok." She was out the door.

"There's no need for you to pay. I can drop you home."

"Mr. Jackson." She turned around to face me. I thought she was going to say something rude next and embraced for it but she just looked into my eyes and sighed.

"You didn't plan any of this, did you?" She asked her face embraced a small amused smile.

"I-no I didn't." she was clever.

"I see." She looked down at the concrete, and I too stared at it as if it had all the answers. "Well thank you for everything. But I should head back now."

She moved to a taxi stand.

"But you didn't have lunch." I protested.

"It's alright. I'll stop by and have a small meal." She said, waving her hand.

A taxi driver brought his car forward and agreed to take her to wherever she said she wanted to go. As she was opening the door I was suddenly struck by an inspiration.

I entered the taxi immediately after her. "Sorry, I'm late." I said grinning at her.

"What the-" she frowned at me. But I paid no heed to her.

"Driver please take us to our destination fast."

"No" she protested. "I must have obviously entered the wrong car."

"What are you talking about?" I tried to act innocent. "I thought we were both going to lunch together?"

"Ah! A lover's spat, I see." The driver chuckled. "I do get interesting passengers."

"What!" this time Annabeth and I both stammered and talked at the same time.

"I think you're mistaken" "no- there's nothing like that." We both stopped and stared at each other and looked away.

"I'm sorry, but there is no such thing as that sir." Annabeth told. "We are just acquaintances."

"Acquaintances?" the driver raised his eyebrow.

"More than acquaintances. We are friends." I said. Which aroused protest from Annabeth. "No, we are not."

"Are too."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"Are not-for heaven's sake. If you were I wouldn't object now would I?"

"Hmm. I see." The driver turned around. He started the engine. "Well, I would certainly love to see you guys again. So a stop to Danny's, for now?"

"Yes please." Annabeth said and looked out the window. I just stared at the inside of the car, uncomfortable by the silence. Once my eyes met the driver and he winked at me. For some reason, I started blushing.

He had got the wrong idea.

Annabeth and I could barely have a civil conversation, how could we be lovers?

30 minutes later…

My pancake was almost done but Annabeth hadn't stopped teasing me about diving headfirst into my food.

She looks at me and suddenly starts laughing then calms herself down. Then again after few seconds look at me and it sends her into fits of laughter.

"I can't believe you would do that." She took a bite of her own sandwich. "Besides it is lunch time no one orders pancakes at this time."

Yes, let me explain. She wasn't laughing for a silly reason after all.

When we had come in we were both quiet and grabbed a table. Fortunately, Annabeth wasn't very angry with the fact that I was with her.

The waitress had come in and had given us two menus. Reading through them I felt that pancakes would be the best for now but when I told this to the waitress she made a face. This was the point where Annabeth first giggled.

The waitress and I continued this tug of war, me saying I want pancakes and only pancakes while she kept insisting on choosing something else on the excuse that "we're sorry but it is only available in breakfast hours."

Somehow I ended up with my pancakes paying 30 dollars more for it. But that did not deter me from enjoying my pancakes. I put my jam syrup as much as I wanted and started eating. Again the waitress made a face at me, because of which I stopped eating for a minute, my hand with a tasty bite frozen just before my mouth and my mouth open to savor the coming bite.

I could enjoy such situations even if the waitress stuck like a thorn at my side.

However, Annabeth found all this amusing and of utmost interests.

"Pancake is pancake. I can eat it any time of the day I want. Thank you very much" I drank my glass of water.

Finally, our meal had come to an end but I still wanted to have something sweet.

"Hmm…how about some ice-cream?" I ask her.

"No. I'm full. Besides ice-cream over here is a bit too expensive." Annabeth rejected the idea.

"I'm taking it that you and sweets don't go very well." I said.

"Sweets? Of course, I like something sweet. But now I've had my fill."

"Hmm… doesn't explain why you didn't order pancakes now."

"Oh, my gods. No one buys pancakes for lunch." She was almost on the verge of laughing. "Well, no one until you."

"It just shows how everyone else misses out the greatest thing in their entire life." I argued.

"I thought we finalized that during our meal. It is weird too. Only weird people order for something like that. That means you are weird too!" she laughed.

I made a face at her and paid the bill.

After that everything was a blur. The diner was close to Annabeth's house, so we walked back. I called my driver in advance to standby at Annabeth's house.

We made small talk during the walk. I asked how she liked working at the company. She went on to talk about architecture and all the projects she had done (some of which I couldn't understand at all ) and how she had fun working along with few interns at the company.

"Well, everything is fine except for this boss I am working, you know." Of course, she would say that. I rolled my eyes. "And what is wrong with him?"

"I didn't say it was a 'he'." She narrowed her eyes but the smile on her face betrayed her. "Why can't it be a she? Do you think women are less capable? How sexist is that?" she laughed looking at the expression I had made.

Then it went to accounting great women who worked, and I have never heard so many women's names that Annabeth had said.

When we reached near her house, I felt anxious. Annabeth surely didn't hate me?

"Nice diversion tactics. But seriously, what is wrong with me?" I asked her.

"Well, first of all, you basically forced me to work all night." she counted on her finger.

"Second, you didn't remember my name in the club but remembered the Stoll's…"

"Well, that's because I suspected them of the prank pulled the first day."

"And Beckendorf's…"

"His work on hydraulics project was actually eye-catching. My father praised him."

"And Katie…"

"From the Stoll's."

"And Rachel…"

"I learned her name in the club when Grover called her to talk about their something green day."

And Ceciliani…"

"To keep my distance from her. If I don't she will probably jump on me!"

Annabeth blinked as if I finally impressed her, showing that I wasn't all a dumb idiot.

"I didn't think you would catch on to that considering you are so…"

I raised my eyebrow.

"I am so..?" I pressed on.

Annabeth's expression as she tried not to lie but at the same time not hurt me was really funny. She turned all red.

"So…obtuse?" well it sounded like a question to me.

"Obtuse?" I really thought hard about it. "What do you mean by that? Only triangles are obtuse."

That made her snort. "I rest my case."

She thanked me then shortly and entered the house while I made my way to the car.

"Hi, Kevin. Thanks for coming here immediately." I greeted my driver.

"No problem. You're my boss after all."

I smiled. The car started and I took in the scene of Annabeth's house fading from view, humming to myself.

"Sir, you look like you are in a good mood." Kevin told from the front.

"Oh no. it's nothing. Just that I had a peaceful meal in a long time. Although I didn't get my desert."

"Hmm…I see. You do usually rush through lunch."

"That I do." I said in a humming tune.

"Well. It seems like you really enjoyed the company." Kevin smiled.

I shrugged. "The company was…great although we…what's the right word… argued…debated a lot?"

"And how is that peaceful?"

I shrugged yet again. "We came back alive, didn't we? Most peaceful treaty ever." I smiled. It kind of was like that.

Kevin sighed and his shoulders drooped.

"I'm sorry sir, to break up such a happy mood. But I was to inform you that… your mother, sir, her health deteriorate this morning and she is ailing badly sir."

My heart stopped beating almost for a second.

"Get me to Francesca's hospital. Now!"