A/N

Here's Chapter 7 hope you'll like this. Please R&R. Thanks!


CHAPTER 7

Clary stepped out of the shower. She slipped in her black off-shoulder top and acid wash skinny jeans. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her red wavy hair was still damp, and she noticed that her face looked better since the past few months she was with Sebastian.

She knew she made the right decision and the burden of still putting up with Sebastian had been lifted off her. She wouldn't have to think of many what ifs and whys. She has loved him in the past, it was given, but since he made it to the modeling scene almost a year and a half ago, he changed bit by bit. Their relationship changed as well, Sebastian almost couldn't find time for her, but as a supportive girlfriend that she was, she understood him all throughout. The doubts forming about their relationship was stopped when he asked her to be engaged to him who she happily said yes to, despite the difference she has been constantly noticing. She had been hopeful that after being engaged to him things will eventually get better; but she had been wrong. And a few months after, she caught him kissing Seelie Queen. Maybe they had been together long before she caught them, she doesn't know and didn't want to know.

She was able to talk to Simon on the phone briefly after confronting Sebastian in his hotel room, and before finding out the trip she needed to make to New York. Simon was fuming mad and told her that if he were only there, he'll beat the hell out of him. He was glad that she had finally come to her senses that Sebastian Verlac was no good for her now.

Clary reached for her cellphone. She forgot to send Simon a message that she will be arriving to New York tomorrow. She looked up Simon's name and typed in a message.

Si, guess what? I'll be coming over there to New York. The boss gave me a project to work on there. I'll be flying together with my colleague Magnus who's a new architect at the firm. Can you find time to meet me there? I miss you. Do reply. – Clary

She still held her cellphone. She scrolled and found one of Jace's messages to her, one of those she didn't answer. Will it be a good idea to send him a message to let him know that she'll be coming to New York? She's still thinking about what to do when Sebastian's words came ringing in her head again.

… don't you know that he's just going to play you around? You don't know Herondale, really? He's a ladies' guy, and maybe he hasn't said anything about being in a longtime relationship with Aline Penhallow…

Clary shook her head. What is it up for her if he's with someone else? She had been with Sebastian and Jace knew that, but he still had been there for her, listened to her whining and even witnessed the drama in her apartment. Did she have this unconscious feeling in her heart that somehow Jace can be more than a friend? And the reason that feeling was being disregarded was because Sebastian was still there?

Clary trembled at the sinking sort of conclusion about Jace. She had just been dismissing it but she felt something for him. She had been in denial all along. She knew she was attracted to him, who wouldn't? But she didn't entertain the idea because there was always Sebastian in the middle. But now he's out, what should she do now? What does he feel about her? It's not proper to think now that there might be a slight possibility of them being more than friends. She just broke up with Sebastian and there might be a possibility of Aline Penhallow being Jace's girlfriend.

"Clary, can you please stop thinking of it first?" she said out loud. She smoothed her hair to compose herself. She needed to prepare her things first before she ran out of time. She opened her closet again and pulled out her luggage and placed it on the floor. She pulled out trousers, pencil skirts, blouses, dresses and scarfs. She carefully folded each and placed them inside the luggage.

Clary prepared her laptop and slid it in her laptop bag. She still needed to go the mall to buy some stuff to bring with her on the trip. She picked her cellphone again, no message from Simon yet. She called Maia to ask her if she can come with her to the mall.

"Hi Maia, do you have somewhere to go later after work?" Clary asked while zipping the luggage with her free hand.

"Will just go straight home Clary, you need something?" Maia asked.

"Yeah, was wondering if you can go with me to the mall later, I still have to buy some stuff to bring with me on my trip," she replied.

"You're going away? Is it for a vacation?" Maia inquired.

"I hope it is, but two clients from New York asked for architectural and interior designing services from the firm. Mr. Pangborn chose me and my colleague Magnus to work on the projects." She answered.

"That's cool! That's one thing you need Clary, I am happy for you,"

"Thanks Maia. So, I'll see you later at 4 pm?"

"Sure, see yah later. Let's just meet there, alright?"

"Got it! Bye Maia."

"Bye Clary!" Maia said goodbye and Clary hung up.

Clary managed to buy a few things she needed, a couple of blouses, accessories to match, and new pair of black pump shoes to avoid bringing different pairs to match her attire every day. She might not be that into clothing and fashion, but she would want to make a nice impression to their clients.

Maia and Clary decided to go for a coffee at Starbucks. Both of them ordered for Macchiato and found a table for them to settle in.

Maia looked at Clary and she noticed that she looked better as ever. She's relieved that in a way, her breakup with Sebastian didn't have much effect on her.

"How are you Clary?" She asked after sipping on her Macchiato.

Clary smiled at her. "Never been better Maia. Waking up today was like seeing a rainbow after a storm,"

"Perfect timing on that project of yours in New York, huh?" She asked.

"You could say that. I am hoping to see Simon there, I have already informed him earlier, though he hasn't replied to my message yet," There was sparkle in her eyes that Maia's was able to capture.

"He might just be busy, and besides, you have a month to stay in New York, so you still have plenty of time to see Simon there," Maia replied.

"You're right," she agreed. Clary's thoughts drifted again to the handsome blonde who has been preoccupying her thoughts for the past few months. Maia noticed the wandering look on her face.

"You're thinking of something or someone?" Maia curiously asked. Clary's face turned a little shade of red. She's still thinking if she should tell Maia about Jace and that he has been constantly on her mind. She just kept quiet and sipped on her Macchiato.

"Let me see, is this about this guy we met at Pandemonium, hmm… what's his name again?" she placed her fingers on her chin trying to remember his name.

"You mean Jace?" she asked, trying not to sound like a giddy young girl.

Smile spread across Maia's face and she snapped her fingers. "Yeah! Jace, he's not from here, right? He's from somewhere…" she tried thinking again and her eyes grew wide. "…from New York! Oh my gosh Clary! You can see him when you're in New York," Maia exclaimed sounding excited.

"Should I?" Clary asked nervously.

"Of course you should! He's obviously into you Clary, and judging by the look on your face and the way you behaved at Pandemonium, you're attracted to him, don't deny it!" she implied.

"I don't know, I just called it off with Sebastian, and Jace… I'm not sure. I'm not sure what he feels for me, he's friendly and all, but I don't want to jump into conclusions or make assumptions." She quietly replied.

"Whatever Clary, I am telling you, there's nothing wrong if you'll see him in New York. It can be a friendly gesture, right? As you've mentioned you're not sure about how he feels for you and it's kind of sudden to pursue more than being friends," she said matter-of-factly.

Clary took a deep breath. She should probably tell Maia about what Sebastian told her and it has been plaguing her.

"When I went to Sebastian's and ended things with him… he told me that Jace would just be playing me around, that he's seeing this girl, Aline Penhallow, I think she's a model too, her name's kind of familiar." Clary admitted to Maia.

Maia was surprised at what Clary told her. She forgot to mention to Clary that the guy whom she introduced to them, Jace, he couldn't be Jonathan Herondale. That's why he looked familiar, Maia thought.

"Clary, Jace, is his last name Herondale? Like the heir Herondale?" Maia clarified.

"Yes," Clary confirmed.

"Oh my, I think Sebastian's right about that," Maia disbelievingly affirmed.

Maia pulled out her cellphone and searched on Google. She handed the phone to Clary, which made a heart wrenching confirmation of Sebastian's accusation. In the picture, Jace stood outside a restaurant beside him was a lady, tall, beautiful with long black hair and a body to die for, and below she saw the caption, Jonathan Herondale and girlfriend Aline Penhallow…" Too stunned to continue looking, she missed the continuation of the caption …trouble in paradise, might call it quits.