What an excellent reception. I'm so glad so many of you enjoyed the first chapter.
And as an early Christmas present I'm posting this.
Now for the first meeting.
Clary walks into the office and suddenly everything seems a bit different. The women in the office are all dressed up, not that they usually aren't but quite a few of them seem like they're paying special attention to their looks. A few of them are even applying makeup at their desks. She wonders if it's for the benefit of their new boss. It's got to be.
She goes to her office and deposits her things. She needs a second to gain her bearings. She looks out of the window and everything looks the same outside but she knows everything inside this building is about to change. She finds herself peering at her reflection in the glass and smoothing a wayward curl down. She mentally slaps herself and takes a deep breath.
She knocks on the door to Celine's office and hears a masculine voice say 'Come In.'
When she walks in she notices straight away that the office is different. It's so stark and colourless as if he has had all colourful things removed. It reminds her of the empty office when they moved into this new building before they renovated it. The layout has even changed. He works fast she thinks to herself.
"Good Morning." She says looking up and finally laying her eyes on him. Celine hadn't been joking when she had said her son had been touched by gold. He is all gold golden hair and golden skin and when he finally looks up at her from the paperwork he is studying she sees he has golden eyes too. He is gorgeous. She has never seen a man look anywhere near as good as him. The artist in her itches to draw him or put him in a box and call him a piece of art.
She is glad she took the time to shower and change at Celine's. She is dressed immaculately and feels anything less than that would put her at a disadvantage to him. She can't show weakness. She pushes those thoughts down and clears her throat.
"Black two sugars," he says in a bored tone casting his eyes down back at the paperwork.
"Excuse me?" Clary asks her jaw dropping.
"Coffee. Black. Two sugars." He repeats sighing enunciating each syllable.
She gapes at him and he looks up again.
"Do you know how to make coffee?" He asks condescendingly raising a perfect eyebrow at her. "Where does HR hire these interns?" He asks himself sighing.
"I'm not an intern." She says coolly when she finally regains her bearings. Inside she is burning with fury but she wants to see how this is going to pan out. He hasn't realised who she is. She wonders what he might say to her before he realises.
"Okay, well I'm not interested in whatever it is you're offering Red." He says in the most matter of fact tone she has ever heard, "You are very hot and usually I would gladly take you up on your offer but my mother would kill me."
She looks at him with an amused look. Inside she is fuming. This is who she let take over Celine's company. Him? She is so angry at herself right now.
"Oh really?" She asks nonchalantly putting on her best fake smile and leaning against his desk to give him a glimpse of her cleavage. It works, his eyes are glued to her chest.
"Look you are very hot and I would be lying if I said I didn't want to ... But you'd have to quit your job." He says his eyes finally flicking back up to hers, "HR violations. Apparently it's okay if you do that. You wouldn't be the first." He explains.
"Hmm…" She says intently hoping he will say more. She has his measure now, she might as well get an accurate one.
"So if you do I can take you to the backseat of my Lamborghini and show you a good time." He says with a look that would turn her legs to jelly if she wasn't so disgusted by him. He really is attractive and he knows it. She wonders how many interns he's tried this with and it makes her blood boil.
"You promise?" She asks in a seductive tone masking her real feelings.
"Oh I promise Red. But I can give you a test ride for free if you'd like." He says winking at her.
"Aren't I a lucky girl." She says biting her lower lip.
"You are legal though right?" He asks looking at her quizzically.
"Of course, I am" She says giggling. She makes herself want to throw up.
"You look young…" He says, "You must some good genetics and your body ..."
"What about it?" She asks coyly twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
"It's banging baby." He says smirking at her. She glances over at the clock to check the time and his gaze follows hers.
And then suddenly his eyes go wide with a serious look but only for a split second, "Shit! I'm going to be late. I have a meeting with this little upstart who my mum has running her company and her team. You don't mind if we carry this on later do you?" He says standing up and pulling his suit jacket on.
"Not at all boss." She says seductively.
"Kinky." He says smirking at her his eyes glancing over her body appreciatively, "I like it."
"Are you talking about Clary?" She asks nonchalantly.
"Yeah. They worship the ground she walks on here." He says with distaste, "Walk with me Red. Do you know her?"
"I do." She says as they walk out of the door of his office and fall into a brisk pace walking side by side.
"Tell me about her." He says with an edge of obvious interest.
"Well, she started working here three years ago and she's been promoted to director level now She has a real passion for this company and Cel .. I mean Ms Herondale sees that." Clary says giving him facts.
"Yeah sure." Jace says rolling his eyes, "My mother always wanted a daughter I bet that little witch manipulated her."
"Why," She asks unable to keep the curiosity out of her tone, "What have you heard about her?"
"She just sounds too perfect. No one will say a bad word about her." He says shaking his head, "Apart from Camille but I think that's because she edged her out when she started here. A bit awkward when you go from being someone's boss to them being yours."
"I guess so," Clary says nodding.
"Apparently she's a workaholic too. Just as bad as me." He says shrugging as if he doesn't agree.
"Why do you work late nights?" She asks intrigued.
"Yes of course." He says and then turns to wink at her, "You can keep me company."
"Sure thing boss." She says not looking at him, "Tell me more."
"Apparently she's gorgeous too." He says tightly, "All the guys who work here all want to get in her pants."
"All of them?" She asks uneasily but he doesn't seem to notice.
"Yeah, all of them." He says rolling his eyes again, "But she can't be as good looking as you and apparently she has a stick up her ass. All work and no play. But when I'm done with her she'll be ruined."
"I guess you can make up your own mind." She says shrugging.
"Oh I will." He says suggestively.
"So you're looking to take her down? How will you do it?" Clary asks him trying to keep the panic out of her voice. Surely he must have realised she's asking him too much now. Surely.
"Easy. She won't be able to resist me. No one can." He says cockily. And now she knows why. It's his arrogance that makes him think he is invincible.
"I can see that." She says laughing quietly, "So you're going to screw her over literally?"
"Pretty much." He says nodding, "And if I can break her heart too she will be so ashamed. She'll end up leaving willingly."
"Why do you hate her so much?" Clary asks quietly the pretence finally getting to her.
"She has my mother wrapped around her little finger." He says in a disgusted tone, "She tells her more than she tells me. That bitch is after her company I just know it."
"Oh…" Clary says nodding. He's being protective at least that's what he's telling himself.
"Okay I'm here. I'll see you later." He says when they stop in front of the door of the meeting room, "What did you say your name was?"
"I didn't." She says winking at him, "You go in. Let me get you that coffee Mr Herondale."
"You're too good to me." He says smirking at her.
"I'll bring it into the meeting room. No one will mind." She says as he disappears behind the door closing it behind him.
The next chapter will follow Jace's train of thought. I hope you enjoyed this. It was so much fun to write.
Clary putting her feminine wiles to the test.
What did you think?
On a side note please check out my other stories if you're enjoying this one.