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My love

Velvet Dreams and Concrete Jungles

The humidity of a New York afternoon did little to dampen the mood as Percy and Annabeth stepped out of the tinted glass doors of the Olympus Holdings skyscraper. The midday sun caught the gold clips in Annabeth’s braids, making them shimmer against the rich brown of her skin. Percy felt that familiar, tightening pull in his chest—the one that had been there since the moment he met her. He adjusted his grip on her hand, his thumb tracing circles over her knuckles.

"Percy, look," Annabeth said, pointing toward a street performer near the fountain. "He’s playing the cello version of that song I like. The one from the movie with the old library."

Percy didn't even look at the performer. He was too busy watching the way her eyes lit up, the way her soft, bubbly personality seemed to push back the grey, cynical atmosphere of the Financial District. "It sounds better because you’re listening to it," he murmured, pulling her closer to his side so a rushing businessman wouldn't bump into her.

"You are so cheesy today," she giggled, leaning her head against his bicep. At 5’0, she reached just past his chest, a perfect fit for him to tuck his chin over her head. "Is it because you were mean to those delegates? Do you have leftover adrenaline?"

"I wasn't mean. I was efficient," Percy corrected, a smirk playing on his lips. "And I’m not cheesy. I’m devoted. There’s a difference. Now, where’s that jewelry place? If we don't get there soon, I’m going to start buying things off the street vendors just to see you smile."

"Percy! Don't you dare," she laughed, swatting at his arm. "The shop is only two blocks away. It’s a small boutique. Very quiet. Not really your 'big spender' vibe, but the craftsmanship is incredible."

Percy snorted. "Everything is my vibe if it’s for you. If you want a plastic ring from a gum machine, I’ll buy the whole machine to make sure you get the pink one. You know how I work."

They strolled down the sidewalk, a stark contrast to the hectic energy of the city. Percy, in his high-end suit with the sleeves rolled up to reveal his forearms, and Annabeth, in her daisy-patterned sundress and fluffy slides. He looked like he walked off a yacht; she looked like she walked out of a dream.

As they entered 'Aurelia’s,' a quiet, high-end boutique tucked between two massive stone buildings, the bell chimed softly. The air inside was cool and smelled of expensive sandalwood.

A woman in a sharp blazer looked up from the counter, her eyes widening slightly as she took in Percy’s watch and the sheer aura of wealth he radiated. "Welcome. How can I help you today?"

Percy didn't look at the woman. He looked at Annabeth. "Go ahead, princess. Show me what you were looking at."

Annabeth wandered over to a glass case near the back, her eyes wide with wonder. She pointed to a delicate, handmade gold anklet. It featured tiny, intricately carved sea shells and a single, small blue diamond that matched the exact shade of Percy’s eyes.

"This is the one," she whispered, her finger hovering over the glass. "It’s so delicate. I’ve never seen anything like it."

Percy glanced at the price tag. It was a five-figure piece, mostly due to the rarity of the blue stone and the designer’s signature. He didn't even blink.

"We’ll take it," Percy said, pulling a black titanium card from his wallet before the saleswoman could even offer to take it out of the case.

"Oh, would you like to try it on first, miss?" the woman asked, smiling warmly at Annabeth.

"Yes, please," Annabeth said, her voice soft and sweet.

Percy moved before the saleswoman could. He took the velvet cushion from her hand, knelt down on the plush carpet at Annabeth’s feet, and looked up at her. The saleswoman stood back, stunned. Men like Percy—men who looked like they were born to rule boardrooms—didn't usually kneel in public.

"Give me your foot, baby," Percy said, his voice dropping to that low, private register he reserved only for her.

Annabeth blushed, her brown eyes darting to the saleswoman and then back to Percy. "Percy, people are looking."

"Let them look," he shrugged, his fingers gently grasping her ankle. Her skin was like silk under his touch. He carefully unlatched the gold chain and wrapped it around her ankle, the blue diamond resting perfectly against her skin. "There. Perfection. It looks better on you than it ever did in that case."

"It's beautiful," Annabeth breathed, wiggling her toes. "Thank you, Percy."

He stood up, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead before turning to the clerk. "Wrap up the matching necklace and the earrings too. I saw her looking at them."

"Percy, no! That’s too much," Annabeth protested, though her smile told a different story.

"It’s not enough," Percy countered, handing his card to the woman. "I want you dripping in gold, Annabeth. I want everyone to know you’re taken by someone who knows exactly what you’re worth."

Once the transaction was finished and Percy was carrying yet another small, elegant shopping bag, they headed toward Central Park. He hailed a cab, not because it was far, but because he didn't want her walking too much in her slides.

Inside the taxi, Percy pulled her onto his lap. The space was cramped, but he didn't care. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the scent of her coconut hair products and vanilla perfume.

"You're being very clingy today," Annabeth teased, her fingers tangling in his blonde curls. "Did something happen at the office that you didn't tell me about?"

Percy sighed, his breath warm against her skin. "Just a lot of idiots, Annabeth. A lot of people who think they know everything because they have an MBA. My dad is breathing down my neck about the Tokyo merger, and the lead engineer is a fucking moron who can't calculate wind resistance to save his life."

Annabeth pulled back slightly, cupping his face in her small, warm hands. "You're a prodigy, Percy. You see things they don't. That’s why your dad lets you get away with wearing no tie and bringing your girlfriend to work. You’re indispensable."

"I'm only indispensable because I have you to come home to," he said, his blue eyes intense. "If I didn't have you, I’d probably just move to a beach in the middle of nowhere and never look at a blueprint again. You’re the only reason I care about building anything. I want to build a world that’s good enough for you."

Annabeth felt that familiar flutter in her stomach. Percy was a shark in the business world—ruthless, cold, and terrifyingly smart—but with her, he was just... Percy. He was the boy who bought her every flavor of macaron just so she could try one of each. He was the man who would tell the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company to shut up because his girlfriend was hungry.

The taxi dropped them off near Bethesda Terrace. The park was buzzing with life, but Percy cleared a path through the crowd like he owned the place. They found a secluded spot under a large elm tree, the grass vibrant and green.

Percy took off his suit jacket and spread it out on the grass without a second thought, despite the fact that the garment cost more than most people's tuition.

"Sit," he commanded gently.

Annabeth sat, tucking her dress around her legs. Percy sat behind her, pulling her back against his chest so she was cradled between his legs. He opened the bag of macarons they’d picked up earlier.

"Lavender honey first," he said, holding the delicate purple cookie to her lips.

She took a bite, closing her eyes as the flavor exploded. "Mmm. It’s so good. Try it."

She held the other half up to him. Percy didn't care for sweets, but he took the bite because she offered it. He swallowed, nodding. "It’s okay. Not as sweet as you, though."

"Ugh, stop," she laughed, leaning her head back against his shoulder. "You're going to make me lose my appetite with all this sap."

"Impossible. I know your appetite," he joked, nipping at her earlobe.

They sat in silence for a while, watching the boats on the lake. It was moments like this that Percy cherished the most—the quiet moments where the weight of his father’s expectations and the pressure of his own genius felt miles away.

"I was thinking," Annabeth said softly, her voice trailing off.

"Dangerous pastime," Percy quipped.

"Shut up. I was thinking about my studio project. The one for the urban redevelopment class? I’m stuck on the library wing. I want it to feel open, but the structural load—"

"Use a cantilevered glass roof with reinforced carbon fiber ribs," Percy interrupted, his mind instantly generating a 3D model of her project. "If you offset the weight toward the central pillar, you can make the walls entirely non-load-bearing. It’ll look like the roof is floating."

Annabeth turned in his arms, her eyes wide. "Wait... that would work. But the cost of the carbon fiber—"

"I’ll fund the prototype," Percy said simply. "Tell your professor that Olympus Holdings is interested in 'investing in student innovation.' I’ll have Paul send over the paperwork on Monday."

Annabeth stared at him. "Percy, you can't just buy my way through architecture school!"

"I’m not buying your way. You’re a genius, Annabeth. Your designs are better than half the shit I see at the office. I’m just providing the resources you deserve. Besides," he added, a wicked glint in his eye, "I want my name on the building when you eventually win the Pritzker Prize."

Annabeth threw her arms around his neck, toppling them both back onto the grass. She peppered his face with kisses, her braids falling around them like a curtain of silk. "You are the most arrogant, overbearing, wonderful man in this entire city."

"And you’re mine," he growled playfully, flipping them over so he was hovering above her. He pinned her wrists gently above her head, his blonde curls falling over his forehead. "Don't ever forget it. I don't care about the company, the money, or the reputation. I only care about you. Everything else is just a game I play to make sure you have the best of everything."

He kissed her then—a deep, soul-searing kiss that tasted like lavender and honey and pure, unadulterated devotion. The world around them faded away. There were no tourists, no businessmen, no demanding fathers. There was just the golden boy and his princess, hidden away in their own private empire.

As the sun began to set, casting long, amber shadows across the park, Percy helped Annabeth up. He brushed the grass off her dress with a tenderness that would have shocked his employees.

"Ready for dinner?" he asked. "I made a reservation at that place with the rooftop garden. The one you said looked like a fairy tale."

Annabeth beamed. "The one that’s booked out for six months?"

Percy smirked, pulling his phone out to check the time. "I told the owner I’d redesign his kitchen’s ventilation system for free if he gave us the corner table. He was surprisingly easy to convince."

Annabeth shook her head, leaning into him as they walked back toward the street. "You’re a menace to society, Percy Jackson."

"Maybe," he agreed, stopping at the edge of the park to flag down a black car that had been trailing them at a discreet distance—his private security, though he rarely acknowledged them. "But I’m your menace. And that’s all that matters."

He opened the car door for her, handing her inside with the grace of a prince. As the car pulled away, heading toward the glittering lights of the skyline, Percy watched her. He watched the way she looked at her new anklet, the way she hummed to herself, and the way she looked at him with nothing but love.

He had everything he ever wanted. He was a prodigy, a prince of industry, and a man of immense power. But as he pulled Annabeth into his side and felt her heartbeat against his, he knew his greatest achievement wasn't a building or a merger.

It was her. And he would spend every second, and every cent, making sure she knew it.

"Percy?" she whispered as the city lights blurred past the window.

"Yeah, baby?"

"I'm really happy."

Percy smiled, a genuine, warm expression that reached his eyes. "Me too, Annabeth. Me too."

He reached into the bag from the boutique and pulled out the matching gold necklace. Without a word, he leaned forward and fastened it around her neck, the blue diamond resting right over her heart. It was a golden chain, a symbol of his protection, his wealth, and his absolute, unwavering obsession with the girl who made his world make sense.

As they arrived at the restaurant, the valet rushed to open the door. Percy stepped out first, extending a hand to Annabeth. He didn't care who saw them. He didn't care about the whispers or the cameras. He just wanted to show her the world, one golden moment at a time.

Because for Percy Jackson, the smartest man in the room, the math was simple: Annabeth was everything. And everything else was just noise.