The Morning Show: Percabeth edition

Chapter 6: Percy's POV

I could see madness unfolding all around me. Reporters were swarming around me, but I didn't hear a word they were saying. I could see other tables now glaring at me, but I only saw Annabeth's face. The spotlight was still on her, so I easily noticed her face. It was subtle, but I saw the look of satisfaction on her face. Bitterness grew in me like never before.

I had a job back home. My job payed me well and I loved Philadelphia. My mom and I, we didn't have much but we had each other and that's what mattered the most. After a toxic stepfather, my mom finally learned to follow her dreams and become a writer. She had just remarried and we had just bought a larger house in a wealthy neighborhood because my mom's book was an instant hit.

My new stepfather was a much kinder man that supported my mom the whole time. I had just gotten to know him more, late night bar nights, the skateboard ramp in the park, the new fro-yo shop we always went to afterwards, and all the family nights. I knew he was the perfect man for my mother.

Sally, my mom, was the most hardworking person I knew and always supported my reporting dreams since the beginning. She had enormous talent in everything she has done. Her little bakery shop, all our blue food she would bring back when I was little. Her book about my journey to becoming a successful reporter. I knew she would always love me and I would always love her back.

I had a caring family, caring friends, people who cared about me back in Philly. Annabeth Chase had just thrown that all away in a minute.

Leo turned to me and whispered, "we better get out of here," and I agreed.

We wove through the crowd demanding answers and hailed a cab quickly. So many reporters were shoving microphones into my face that I was frozen with fear. Luckily, Leo pulled me inside the cab before I did anything stupid.

The taxi driver glanced at my petrified face and quickly started the car, leaving the paparazzi behind us, still blaring questions at me. The blinding lights from buildings lit far into the sky above me.

I recalled the past week. I still remembered how anxious I was to do a live interview with Annabeth days ago. And now I was The Morning Show's next anchor and I didn't want the job at all. I wished I never came to New York City.

I saw the hotel up ahead. I had to admit the hotel was impressive at least from a first glance at it. It shined in the night sky, like a majestic palace, alongside many other beautiful buildings in the area.

"Here you are, the iconic Four Seasons Hotel, located between Park and Madison on 57th street!"

After we thanked the driver and payed him, we went inside. There was a large fountain running in the middle and Vivaldi's Summer was playing so the holographic images showed children playing at the beach and then switched to nighttime where children were catching fireflies. I wished I could have been so carefree right now.

We quickly checked in and rode the elevator to my floor. I was so ready to shower and sleep. I had already been to my suite earlier to try on tuxedos but I'll describe it again just for the sake of my satisfaction.

A jacuzzi was placed right next to the window that showed a breathtaking view of New York City. My bathroom was the size of half of my apartment I grew up in. There was a TV installed in the mirror, a bidet that could wash my butt, and one of those fancy walk in showers.

My dining room was unique. I saw a new bottle of champagne on my dining table and knew I would finish it all tonight. There was a vase of assorted flowers next to the champagne that I couldn't name, but if you asked my mom she could definitely name them all. The carpet was this soft silky texture and it would have been the place to just lay down and take a nap.

To tie it up, the view of Central Park and the Hudson River along with towering buildings beside them still astonished me. I took a breath of the evening air. Perfect.

"Tomorrow at noon, meet at the studio and we'll give you a welcome tour," Leo said.

"Did you know?" I asked as he was closing the door behind him.

"No," he responded. So it was all Annabeth. God, I wanted to murder that blonde right now.

It was getting late so I began to prepare for bed. Hopefully tomorrow wouldn't go so bad.

...
Tomorrow

"So here's your room," my assistant Jason was saying, "and I'll be of your official assistant in case you need anything. I'll be right back," he said.

Okay, I could deal with this. I went to my closet and peeked. There was a sleek couch running through the center with wardrobes on both sides. Now wasn't the time to fit on my suits so I exited my closet and turned on the TV.

Bad mistake. Ten seconds in, I suddenly saw my face on there. I shut off the TV and just rocked in my rocking chair for a while.

"Enjoying your room?" someone called out. It was Annabeth holding two coffees.

"I'mma show you the stage again," she said.

I got out of my chair and followed her with my cup of coffee. The studio did look pretty cool I had to admit. But I was not going to give Annabeth my satisfaction.

"Why did you do it?" I asked.

"I needed to save our network," she responded, "give people the pretend ship they want."

"Oh so now we're supposed to act like a couple huh?" I jeered.

"Just for a while."

"You could have at least asked me first."

"You would have said no."

"Well yeah, you're right. I don't want this job Annabeth. Stop telling me it's for your network because frankly I never gave a shit," I exploded, "and I despise you. I'm taking the next flight home to Philly." I was so done. The Four Seasons Hotel suite, the interview days ago, it was all to lure me in. I didn't care about this job, I just wanted to be back in my hometown with the people I loved. Not here.

"That chair could be yours. Do you really want to throw away the chance of a lifetime?"