For FrenchBenzo.
This was originally meant to be a one shot requested about a 'boss and employee relationship' but from that prompt my mind kind of went into overdrive. And it came out something like this? It won't quite be a one-shot or a long story. There will be chapters.
This is the introduction to the story. Hope you enjoy.
Clary Fray loved her job. She was passionate about it and spent many long hours at her workplace. First in and last out most of the time. As an artist she loved her job. In her eyes it was the closest she could get to a full time application of her creativity.
She had worked as an artist when she had finished university for a while but that had meant working as the protégé of some very good looking but egotistical men. It had squandered her creative talent and left her an emotional, mental and physical wreck.
She had been strung along by so many of them with promises of introductions and giving her credit for her input. But for the most part she had ended up as a live in bed warmer. She had thought that was what artists did. Parties, alcohol and lots of sex and the occasional drug abuse.
And then she had hit rock bottom when her then mentor/boyfriend had offered her to the owner and CEO of a collection of private art galleries in return for an in with him. So Clary had allowed herself to get stupidly drunk and that with the added combination of a cocktail of drugs had woken up naked and alone with no memory of the night before. Usually she wouldn't have minded but she was covered in bruises and felt like she had been hit by a car. When she quickly dressed she had run into him in the bathroom. He had thanked her and told her that he and his friends had enjoyed her immensely like she was some sort of prostitute. She thrown up the entire contents of her poorly lined stomach and staggered away.
She had cried all the way home in the cab he had called her. Her so called boyfriend had been so pleased with her and had told her to stop bring emotional that she had got the job done. When he went out that evening she packed the few belongings she had and took some cash and went home. To her real home. Her mother had been horrified by the state of her and after 3 excruciatingly painful months of rehab and numerous therapy sessions she had finally felt fit enough to leave the house. She refused to press charges against anyone. What good would it do? But her mother had persisted. She had been so messed up no one would believe her over a rich family oriented millionaire. His facade was too good.
He had still had the nerve to send her a settlement figure. She wanted to throw it back in his face but her mother had advised her otherwise. She had put it in a fund and hadn't looked at it for a long time. Her relationship with her mother hadn't been the same after that and she had felt like she had made her sell herself.
And that was when she had found it. She had decided she was going to show them all that she was worth something. She applied to every female led corporation she could find that had a semblance of an art based role. She had taken lots of classes and courses to bring her skills back up to scratch too. And when she had interviewed she had received lots of offers and just as many rejections but nothing seemed right.
Then she had met Celine Herondale. She was a home cook and kitchen personality who oozed creativity and flair. She had started by launching cookbooks and TV shows eventually moving into her own line of homeward brands, supermarket goods and restaurants and bakeries. She was a powerhouse and anything she put her name and effort to skyrocketed. She had the Midas touch. But Celine ruled her business as if it were her own child. She wouldn't let anyone mess with her company values or ideals. She regularly turned down million dollar offers to be the face of things that she felt were cheap and misleading to her customers and fans. She had true integrity and when Clary met her she had begged for a chance to work for her. She had told her what she loved about her business and that she genuinely believed in her brand.
Celine despite being impressed by the girl had told her she didn't have enough experience for the role and a gap in her work history that had made her suspicious. Clary had felt wretched that it had come back to bite her. She wanted to cry but instead she asked for a moment and went to the bathroom and calmed herself down.
She came back in and told her everything. She didn't know why she felt the need to but she told her that she wasn't that person anymore and that the reason she had applied for so many roles with strong females was because she didn't want to fall into that trap again. Celine had listened to her patiently and been very kind but deep down clary knew that it wasn't going to get her anywhere. She had apologised for wasting her time and thanked her for listening. And pretty much rushed out of the building like it was on fire.
So when she had received a call later that evening from her recruiting manager telling her she hadn't got the role due to lack of experience Clary hadn't been surprised. When the manager had told her however they had a new opening for an entry level position that Celine would be happy to offer her she had almost died on the spot. It wasn't as good pay or nearly as prestigious as any of the roles she had been offered but she knew she wanted an in at this company. She had to take it.
Celine had sat her down the following week and told her she liked her but that didn't mean a thing if she didn't have the talent to back it up. She offered her a chance and admitted that the role hadn't existed prior to meeting her. She would give her a chance but she better earn it. She would have to work hard to catch up with everyone else and make it.
Clary told her she wouldn't disappoint her. She had cried with happiness when she called her Mother and told her. And she had set to work. First in and last out combined with every course she could take to gain the skills necessary for the role.
She had quickly risen up the ranks and now managed every creative input the company had to offer as the director of creativity the role had been created for her. Three years later clary had her dream. Of course it had impacted her social life. She didn't have one to speak of apart the small group of friends who hadn't turned their back on her due to her constant lack of availability. She was all work and no play.
Her relationship with her teams and Celine were great. She lived to work and her work friends became her family. She managed the business in Celine's stead when she would take her regular trips to London to visit her ex-husband and son. Everyone had said Clary would be Celine's next in line. Clary didn't believe a word of it. She lacked the skills to run the entire business but she was pretty good at what she did. She wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
And when she least expected it everything had changed. Celine had slowly become more and more tired and lost so much weight Clary had been so worried. Celine had told her she had been fine and had told clary she would see her Doctor. Clary had asked and she had told her everything was fine. She just needed to rest she was getting old. When Celine had collapsed one Monday morning at their staff meeting Clary knew she had lied.
She was diagnosed with cancer and had started undergoing treatment. The doctors had done what they could but now the rest was up to Celine and an experimental treatment. She was at home being taken care of by a private team of Doctors and specialists. At least that was one thing her money has ensured.
When Celine had asked her to look after the business for her while she recovered Clary had cried and told her she was severely under qualified. She didn't want to let her down. Celine had assured her she would be back in no time to help.
"My dear sweet girl. If there's anyone who can do it it's you." Celine had said encouragingly but Clary had just shook her head tearfully, "But I have an idea let me see what I can do. I'll call in some help."
"Please Celine. Isn't there someone else who can a do it?" Clary whispered to her, "I'll help them as much as I can I promise but it's not me you know it."
"Okay Clary. Fine." Celine had said nodding in a resigned tone, "I know it's a lot to ask I know and I don't want you to feel pressured into this. There is someone else but he's a last resort. I was hoping it wouldn't come to that."
"Why?" Clary asked sighing, "Is he not good enough? I'm so sorry..."
"No he's good enough alright and he'll do it and do it well but ..." Celine had said cutting her off, "I'm afraid he won't be very pleased with me. It's rather selfish of me to ask."
"Who?" Clary had asked perplexed.
"My son. He works in London. He's so gifted and full of talents there's nothing he can't do." Celine had said smiling, "Whenever everyone says I have the Midas touch I think of him. He is the best thing in my life. I tell myself it's the business but really it's him. He'll be fine but you'll have to help him Clary. Promise me you will."
"Oh. I didn't even... Of course I will. I told you I would." Clary says nodding firmly after the initial shock.
Celine never spoke of her family not really. The only family she purported to have was the one that consisted of the team inside Celine Herondale Inc. Clary knew she visited her son in London every summer but Celine never spoke of that time it was almost like it pained it.
"He can be a bit difficult my dear," She says sighing, "but I can't say it's his fault. He's used to getting whatever he wants and it's spoiled him."
"The opposite of me then." Clary says smiling at her wryly.
"I'll make the call he'll be here in two weeks if I know him well as I think I do." Celine says shaking her head as if she is about to do something unpleasant, "Sooner if he can."
"Why isn't he already here?" Clary asks confused, then she gasps, "Does he know? Does he even know?"
"No. I didn't want to worry him." Celine says quietly, "He already worries about me so much. I couldn't do that to him."
"But he'll be angry you lied to him." Clary says as carefully as she can.
"He'll forgive me. He has to. I could be dying. I am dying my girl. This is my last chance." Celine says tears brimming in her eyes, "This treatment if it doesn't work then it's over to you two."
"Don't say that. Please don't ..." Clary says tears already spilling down her face.
"Oh Clary, you'll be fine." Celine says blinking back her tears and smiling, "I know you will be."
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He turns up three days later. Clary is away on a project in Paris on Celine's behalf when he arrives. She arrives back in the US on the seventh day and goes to see Celine.
"He's settled in well." Celine says nodding.
"That's good." Clary says shrugging.
"He was so angry with me for not telling him. He literally quit his job and packed his things up and flew out. His father was so angry." Celine says covering her face with her hands, "Oh goodness, he came here and he shouted at me, then he was sorry then he ... Oh never mind. He's settled in incredibly well just as I knew he would. Jace always had a way with people he has them eating out of his palm." She says smiling and it's the first real smile Clary has seen on her face in months.
"Sounds interesting." Clary says smiling back at her.
"Keep him in check Clary, he'll need it." Celine says nodding seriously before pausing with a pained look, "He seems okay on the surface but underneath it all I can tell this hit him hard. Help him."
"I will I promise but from what I've heard it doesn't sound like he needs my help." Clary says teasingly, "I heard he has the interns queueing up to make him coffee."
"He has a way with the ladies my son. He doesn't even need to try." She says smiling again like a proud mother.
"Sounds delightful. I heard he's good looking too." Clary says winking at her, "I heard someone fainted."
"That he is. Takes after his father." Celine says shaking her head and rolling her eyes, "That was Dorothea the Cleaner. She gave him quite a fright, silly old woman."
"Oh dear." Clary says biting her lip, "Looks like your boy has all the girls in a tizzy even the Grandmothers."
"Clarissa Fray … what are you insinuating?" Celine asks in a mock shocked tone.
"Oh nothing …" She says laughing and checking her watch, "Okay. I'm going to go in. I'll give you an update. I guess I better go meet my new boss."
"Oh please Clarissa." Celine says shaking her head, "In name only."
The next chapter was very fun to write. I think you guys will enjoy it too. Clary and Jace finally meet of course. What do you think will happen?
Let me know if you want more.