Percy POV
The business formal is held in the lobby of Olympus Airlines every year. The giant chandelier was the first thing I noticed as soon as I walked into the large lobby. I saw the people and felt the noise next. Everyone was dressed in the finest of clothes.
I didn't know most of the people in the room.
Round tables with silk table clothes were scattered throughout the room. Gorgeous silverware and plates were set up on the tables as I followed Annabeth towards our table.
This was all so new to me. I've never been to an event this formal and rich. I don't belong here. It was too much. Olympus Architecture has a table near the front of the lobby. A small stage was set up, and a band was lightly playing classical music.
"Relax, Percy. You are representing my company, so you can't look like a deer in headlights for the rest of the night," Annabeth instructed quietly.
She smiled while greeting an older woman with a polite embrace. I knew her, but not that well. She had dark hair and a demure face. She radiated a silent calm, but you could tell that she was cunning and observant.
She smiled at me while clasping my hand.
"Hello, my name is Hera Olympus. I haven't seen you before," she said. "However, your features are quite similar to another associate of mine."
My muscles tensed as I released her hand. It was obvious who she was talking about. My mother always said that I look too much like my father.
"I'm Percy Jackson. It's nice to meet you, Ms. Olympus."
Hera nodded while giving me an analytical gaze. Then, she moved on to greet some more guests at the table next to us. I know who Hera was. I've heard stories from Jason and Thalia, who aren't particularly fond of their step-mother.
"That was Hera Olympus. We should be careful around her. She's the wife of Zeus, and she isn't afraid to show her power," Annabeth explained.
"I know who she is."
"Percy, just try to mingle. I have to greet some of the guests for business purposes. Don't discuss anything from work to anyone. You don't know who is and isn't trustworthy in the business world," Annabeth said firmly.
I nodded while watching her walk away. Her red dress and beautiful aura garnered the attention of everyone she passed.
After I lost sight of her in the crowd, I felt alone again.
I looked around the lobby for any familiar faces. Jason and Thalia were supposed to be here. A few of my other friends also were expected to come. Finally, I saw Leo near the buffet. He was filling his plate with food in a very unprofessional way.
"Leo, there's plenty of food here," I chuckled while walking over.
"Percy, it's great to see you," Leo said while fixing his slightly too-small suit. "There's a lot of food, but the good food will be gone soon. Trust me, Perce, this isn't my first rodeo."
"All right. Then, I suppose I should follow you."
I grabbed a plate and helped myself to the mouth-watering food. It was the definition of fine dining. Most of the food looked too valuable to be worthy of my street mouth. Embrace new experiences, my mother used to say.
"So, how long do these things usually last?" I asked.
"Several hours, at least." Leo sighed. "I can't wait for this to be over. These things always burn me out. Sleep cannot come fast enough."
Leo and I walked back towards his table, which was in the corner. We carefully maneuvered our way through the crowds of businessmen and women. I didn't understand why they set his family in the corner. It seemed rude to ask though.
Leo's dad owns a vehicle shop. They restored all sorts of vehicles ranging from cars and bikes to boats and helicopters. I've been to their garage a few times, and it was pretty cool.
"Hera Olympus doesn't like my father," Leo explained without me asking. "She thinks that he's too deformed to sit center-stage." Hephaestus has a facial deformity. He told me that he received facial scars around his nose in his youth. I didn't know the actual story, and something told me that I didn't want to know.
"That's ridiculous in my opinion. Besides, he's brilliant."
"A lot of people value beauty over the brain. It's a problem in the world we live in, but a solution doesn't come that easy," Leo expressed before stuffing his mouth with mashed potatoes.
What he just said reminded me of my novel. There are so many reasons that I'm writing a book about a kid with a facial deformity. I intend to change the mindsets of children so that they grow up with a fair sense of morality.
If my novel can make one kid a little better, it's worth it.
"Oh, Jason's calling us over," Leo acknowledged.
I turned around to see Jason and Thalia wave us over from a table near the center of the lobby. Annabeth was also with the. I honestly didn't want to go over. I was content in the corner with Leo.
Leo said that I should go over. He didn't want to leave because he couldn't leave his food. Apparently, food mattered more than friends tonight.
He is such a mood.
I chuckled at my friend before going towards Jason. I maneuvered around the tables and the people, who were starting to settle into their seats.
So far, I haven't seen Poseidon, but I knew he was here. I just hoped that I could go the rest of the night without interacting with him.
Of course, the universe is never on my side.
Before I could reach Jason, a deep voice stopped me.
"Perseus. It's so good to see you, my boy. It has been so long." It's strange to say that I didn't even recognize my father's voice. It's been years.
I turned around to see Poseidon sitting at the Olympus Sails table. A middle-aged woman and a stern man (a few years older than me) were gazing at me in curiosity. My father was wearing a navy suit like mine. He looked like a businessman for sure. He wore the power and the formality well.
"Yeah. It's been over a decade since you left," I said harshly.
Poseidon's smile wavered slightly before he stood up. He walked towards me and embraced me tightly. It caught me off guard.
I immediately staggered out of his grasp.
"Stop. You don't get to do that," I affirmed. "You don't deserve to."
"Percy, I should be able to hug my son. I haven't seen you in years after all. I think that we should move past the petty disagreements."
"Petty disagreements?" I seethed. "You left us."
My hands clenched into fists. I wanted to punch the man in front of me. However, I didn't want to cause a scene here. I took a deep breath and turned around. I want nothing to do with this man at all.
"I hear that Tyson is sick. It pains me to think about my youngest son."
I whirled around and deadpanned him with a glare. "Don't talk about Tyson. You didn't even bother trying to help. I came to you out of desperation, and you didn't do anything."
"I can help now," Poseidon said.
"I don't need your help. We're fine on our own."
"I can pay for Tyson's treatment. I can get him the best treatment with the best doctors. I can ensure that my son lives and thrives," Poseidon said. His face looked genuine, but I didn't want to trust him. I've been stung way too many times.
Poseidon is making some plan, and he needed me for it.
I shook my head before walking away. I wasn't ready to have him back in my life. He was the one who abandoned us. He should just stay away. Jason and Thalia were gazing at me supportively as I approached them.
Annabeth seemed confused at my interaction with Poseidon. She couldn't hear us, but she probably studied my body language.
"Are you okay, Percy?" Jason patted my shoulder.
"I'm fine, Jason. The presentation is going to start soon, so let's sit down," I replied quietly. "I don't want to deal with him right now."
"That is your right," Thalia expressed. "You can do whatever you want."
I sat at the Olympus Architecture table next to Annabeth. She kept looking at me with concern, but I distracted myself. Zeus and Hera were giving a speech about the Olympus Magnate and its success over the years. Jason and Thalia were sitting at the Airlines table near the front with several other employees.
Besides Zeus and Hera's speech, the room was silent besides a few whispers and the sound of eating.
"Percy, is everything all right? What happened with Poseidon?" Annabeth asked kindly.
"I don't want to talk about it."
Annabeth stared at my face and nodded. I was glad that she wasn't pushing me for answers. Instead, she placed her hand on mine. My gaze lingered on our connected hands. She rubbed the back of my hand for a few seconds before pulling away.
It was such a small action, but it provided incredible comfort.
After Zeus and Hera, Poseidon walked onto the stage. I guess that many of the CEOs would be sharing their thoughts and successes.
The whole thing was very conceited.
"What a wonderful evening," Poseidon started with a huge smile. I sucked in a breath while taking a bite of pasta. I needed to calm down and distract myself. "I am very fortunate to be here in a house of businessmen. The Olympus Magnate is stronger than ever. We have monopolized many industries around the world, and the success is only growing."
"I've been thinking a lot about how I could contribute more to the Olympus Magnate's expansion. The answer was obvious."
Just then, two people walked onto the stage from the left side.
I recognized both of them. Rachel was wearing a sparkly green dress. Her hair was in a stylish bun where strands of hair spilled around her head. Her father, Mr. Damien Dare, was smiling politely while looking around the crowd.
The hairs on my arms stood up. Rachel mentioned that she was involved in something that my father was planning for me. My stomach sank as I glared at Poseidon. His eyes cooly ignored my demonstration and started talking again.
"I believe that the Olympus Magnate will be even stronger via an alliance with Dare Industries," Poseidon announced.
Everyone clapped. Everyone but me.
I looked around the room. Everyone seemed happy and satisfied about a deal with Dare Industries. I didn't blame them either. Dare Industries was powerful. Their exports and imports business ruled the market in the United States.
Sometimes, even I'm astonished that I managed to date someone like Rachel. She was so out of my league in terms of status. She was an heiress to an economic empire while I'm a man of the streets.
"I can see of no better way to forge an alliance between Olympus and Dare than via a union," Posieodn's booming voice resounded through the room
"My son has recently started working for the Olympus Magnate as well. He has grown into a capable young man. Olympus and Dare industries shall become an alliance via a union between Rachel Elizabeth Dare and my son, Perseus Jackson."
Silence consumed the room.
My face paled as I looked around anxiously. Annabeth instinctually leaned away from me, and her eyes widened. She was shocked, obviously.
The whole room was stunned.
"I would like to welcome Percy onto the stage. Come on, Percy."
I wanted to shrink into my seat. Everyone was starting to look at me. I gulped the knots in my throat and hesitantly stood up.
Since when did my father refer to me as his son. He doesn't care about us. Even now, he's using me for a business deal with Dare Industries. Rachel's gaze softened as she watched me from the stage.
I looked at Annabeth with shaking eyes.
She was surprised, but she managed to mask her emotions. Instead, her eyes flitted from me to the stage, motioning me to go forward.
My knees shook as I walked up to the stage. My father smiled at me whilst I climbed the stairs onto the stage. Everyone's eyes were on me.
Most of them didn't even know me.
Sweat beaded my forehead as I passed Rachel on stage. Her hand tried to touch my arm, but I instantly pulled away. This was too much and too fast.
The silence and wide-eyed stares suffocated me as I approached my father.