While Maia and I are eating breakfast the next morning, we hear a commotion coming from the foyer. We get up to investigate, and find my father and Celine coming in the front door, escorted by a large group of people. There are more security guards than normal, but he also is being followed by his assistant and the head butler of the house.
"So not only was the wedding short but the honeymoon too?"
"This is my father we're speaking about. I doubt their honeymoon was even a relaxing affair."
"Hello Clarissa, I hope you have been well?"
"Yes, thank you Celine."
"Clarissa, I would like you speak to you and Jonathan in my study in one hour," father says and leaves the room promptly, his entourage on his tail.
"Welcome back father. Nice to see you too."
"You know, I spotted some champagne and orange juice in the fridge. Would you like something to spice things up a bit?"
"Hell yes! In the biggest champagne glass you can find!"
Twenty minutes before father says I'm supposed to meet him in his office, I knock on Jace's door. It takes him a minute to answer but he finally opens the door. He stands in the doorway, shirtless and rubbing his face. He looks like he just woke up, and even with how late he slept in it doesn't look like he got much sleep. He looks so adorable when he's sleepy though.
"Good morning," I say a little too seductively. I didn't mean to do that, but looking at those abs I just couldn't stop it. "You don't look like you slept too well. You okay?" I suddenly feel very tipsy and use the doorframe to brace myself. I may have had one too many mimosas. Jace looks me up and down and sighs while shaking his head.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Are you?"
"Uh huh, sure. Well minus the fact that we're supposed to be having a 'family meeting' in fifteen minutes," I grumble while using air quotes.
"Wait what? When did they get home?"
"This morning. Good to know I'm not the only person who isn't informed of what's going on," I groan.
"Did you find this information out before or after you started drinking?"
"Before. Wait, I didn't tell you I had mimosas."
"You didn't have to." He rakes his fingers through his hair and sighs. "I should probably go change. Just please, whatever you do, don't drink anything else." He doesn't close the door as he leaves and disappears into his closet. Curiosity gets the best of me and I step into his room and look around. Everything is white, clean, and meticulously organized. Nothing seems out of place, not that he has many visible personal items to displace. I think about my room - colorful walls and furniture, clothes all over the floor, artwork taped haphazardly to all my walls, and my desk piled with paper and art supplies. Essentially the opposite of the room I am standing in.
"Is there something interesting about my room?" I hear beside me. The break in silence minutely startles me.
"Well the lack of personality is alarming. I thought I could get to know more about you by your room, but even it is as mysterious as you are."
"I'm mysterious? Haven't heard that one before. I usually get sexy, or drop dead gorgeous, or stunning, or-"
"Yeah yeah, I'm sure there are many adjectives to describe your humble beauty. Now hurry up we don't want to be late meeting my father."
Jace gives me a smirk before he finishes changing and we walk to my father's office on the other side of the house. After I knock on his office door I give Jace a look that says "Here we go" before we enter the office.
Father is sitting at his desk and Celine is sitting in one of three chairs in front of the desk. Jace sits next to his mother and I plop down in the seat on the end. Celine smiles halfheartedly to Jace and returns her gaze upon my father.
"As you can imagine I am quite busy so I'll make this quick. I have a very important business transaction in mediation and the deciding factor has come down to one thing. The business owner has a son who is not good at making friends. He tells me that he will only consider moving his business here to merge with mine if I help his son out so he will feel comfortable with relocating here. That's where you two come in. I need you both to meet him and take him out for a night. Show him this great city and make sure he loves it. This is a very important deal and I need you to make sure it happens. Understand?"
I open my mouth to retort, refusing to be bossed around by my father, when Celine kindly speaks beside Jace.
"I know it sounds like a lot, but we would really appreciate your help. Like Val said, this is a big deal for our company and I don't think we can make this happen without you. We don't ask for much from you two and we just need your assistance for a short time." She looks softly at Jace and he seems to relax immediately. I'm reeling over the fact that my father has a nickname.
"When do we need to meet him?"
My jaw drops.
"You can't be serious. Like hell I'm going to be cordial with some stuck up spoiled kid."
"Clarissa. It is only for one night. Considering I do not ask for help often and I provide you with everything you want, I do not believe it is asking much of you at all to do me this one favor."
"Clary, it's okay. I'll be there and I can do most of the talking. That's kinda what I'm good at."
I roll my eyes but chuckle inwardly. I guess if Jace goes too it won't be too bad. I'll just pawn the kid off on him.
"Fine. When is it?"
"Tomorrow. I will arrange everything, you should be ready at six o'clock dressed formally and a limo will pick you up to take you where you need to go."
"Tomorrow? That's soon. I'm supposed to get a new dress by then?"
"Oh don't worry, Camille is arriving at three to get you ready and she'll have an array of dresses for you to try."
I groan. This is definitely not going to be fun.
Father dismisses us and I leave happily and without hesitation. I shoot Maia a text and she tells me she is hanging out in the pool house.
"So, uh, what are you up to today?"
I slow down a bit, surprised he is actually interested. "Well I am headed to meet Maia in the pool house, we're thinking about maybe watching a movie. Or we could invite your friends over for some board games?"
"I think Alec is busy today, but I can text Izzy. I'll meet you guys in the poolhouse."
I head alone towards the pool house as I shoot Simon a text to come join us. Right as I'm about to put my phone away, it starts ringing with an unknown number. Hesitantly I pick it up.
"Hello?"
"Hey Clare Bear. It's been awhile, how are you?" A familiar voice nervously asks.
"Mom?"
"Yes, of course. Who else calls you that?" People trying to annoy me.
"Why are you calling me?"
The path I have been taking towards the pool house changes, and I find myself headed at a faster pace towards the garden.
"I have been in town for a few days and I wanted to see if you would join me for dinner tonight? I miss you!"
"Miss me? Are you serious? If you missed me you would have tried to see me several days ago. Hell, you would have tried to see me at all the last two years!"
"I know, dear. I'm so sorry, things have been extremely busy with the art gallery in Paris. I have been meaning to come visit for a long time, I just haven't been able to."
"Please save it. You have had no intention of seeing me or even talking to me. You probably just want to ask me about Dad's new wife and his stupid wedding. I want nothing to do with it, and I want nothing to do with you. Now leave me alone," I demand, hanging up the phone and slam the garden gate. I stand in the gazebo and look out into the water, willing it to calm me down. The phone begins buzzing in my hand again a few minutes later, and without even looking at who it is I angrily throw it into the water. If I was sober I probably wouldn't have done that but the alcohol has me feeling a little irrational.
Still feeling on edge, I leave the gazebo and go to the tree at the edge of the property, in the very back of the garden behind the rose bushes. The side facing the water curves in and makes a small cave-like alcove that has always made me feel safe. I always came here when my parents fought and I just needed to get away. I never told anyone about it so it has always felt like the safest place for me to go. I sit in the alcove with my back on the bark, wrap my arms around my knees, and focus on the water and the sound it makes lapping at the shore. Eventually I calm down and the sound of the water makes my eyes droop.
I open my eyes and see that it is nearly dark. I shake my head a bit and realize what has happened. Just like when my parents used to fight when I was young, I ran to my favorite hiding spot and let the water lull me to sleep. Apparently water never fails to calm me down to the point of passing out. I get up and head out of the garden. It is then that I remember what I was supposed to be doing all day. Shit, I totally abandoned my friends. Without a word either. Hopefully they aren't mad. Or worse, worried. I go to the pool house and check for them but no one is there. On my way up to the house I see some guards with flashlights walking around to the back of the house. One of them shines the light on me and then starts yelling at the other. They both sprint towards me and proceed to ask me tons of questions.
"Miss Morgenstern, are you okay?"
"Where have you been?"
"Are you hurt?"
"Do you have any idea how long we have been looking for you?"
I cut them off. "Wait, slow down! What is going on? Why have you been looking for me?"
I did not see him approaching because of the flashlights in my eyes, but I am suddenly mauled by a scrawny but familiar pair of arms.
"Geez, Clary! Where did you go? And why haven't you been a answering your phone? We've been worried sick!" Simon yells.
"My phone?" What happened to my phone? "Oh, yeah, I threw it in the water."
"Damn it Clary!" Maia exclaims. "Seriously, give us a heads up next time. Or don't throw your damn phone in the water!"
"Miss Morgenstern, are you okay now? Nobody has hurt you?"
"No, I'm so sorry. I wandered off and took a nap. I'm fine, thank you," I tell them, hoping they will accept that and leave. And hopefully without informing my father. I find that highly unlikely though, but thankfully they leave.
"Sorry guys, my mother called and was, well, her usual bitchy self. And I got so mad and threw my phone because I was intoxicated and not thinking straight. Then I went to my favorite happy place from when I was a kid and like an idiot I totally passed out. I am so embarrassed that I fell asleep and worried all of you."
"It's okay. I wasn't too terribly worried, I know how you sometimes like to be alone so I figured you were fine so long as you came home sometime tonight. Simon and Jace however-"
"Jace?" I interrupt. I have not seen him, was he really worried? "I don't seen him anywhere."
"Huh, he seems to have left. Well, he was right behind me when we came out to see what the guards were yelling about. I am surprised he is not down here yelling at you."
"That's my cue to leave," Simon says, irritated. "I'm going to go say bye to Izzy. Glad you're okay, Clare." Wow, he really doesn't like Jace. Just the mention of him and Simon left.
"Bye Simon. Love you too," I shout after him. "Shit, Izzy witnessed all of that?" I realize.
"Yeah, it was probably a good thing she was here too. Jace getting pretty irritable as the sun went down and you still hadn't shown up. And lord knows what he and Simon would have done to each other. They were basically at each other's throats. You sure do know how to bring out the best in those boys," she chuckles, trying to lighten the tension.
"Thanks. On that note, I'm going to bed. Or at least to my room. I've done enough damage tonight."
"Yeah, I'm ready to head out. See you later girl. And you really better text me as soon as things get interesting with you two!"
"Yeah, whatever. Don't wait up for that text cause it may never come!"
"After what I saw tonight? I have no doubt in my mind."
With that she leaves me standing on the back porch rather confused. I start heading up to my room, but stop in the space between my door and Jace's. Slowly I take a few steps towards his door and raise my hand to knock. My mind is screaming that I should let it go and just turn around, but I can't help myself. I need to talk to him. Finally my hand finds the courage to rap on the door a few times. As I wait, I realize just how eerily quiet the house is. I've always been accustomed to the quiet, but with the arrival of Jace it has regularly been a bit more noisy. Is he asleep? I wait awkwardly for what feels like at least a minute before I give up and turn around. Just as I am turning the handle on my door, I hear his door open and I freeze.
He doesn't say anything, which I immediately know isn't good. I awkwardly spin around and my suspicions are confirmed. He is leaning against the door frame on one shoulder with his arms crossed and he has a rather serious look on his face.
"Um, hey. I hope I didn't wake you. I just wanted to apologize for this afternoon." Nothing. Still a stoic face. "I'm so embarrassed about what happened, but honestly I'm not used to people caring where I am. My mom called me and royally pissed me off. Then like I used to do when I was a child and she or Dad made me mad, I ran to my hiding place in the garden to cool down and the sound of the soothing water made me fall asleep. I'm sure you find that last part utterly shocking." Finally, I get a little smirk with that one. "And I didn't get anyone's phone calls cause, uh, I threw my phone in the water."
"Wow. So full on teenage immaturity, huh?"
"Well there's no way to throw a temper tantrum like an adult, so yeah."
"Your father expressed some concern to me, about your safety, the morning after the wedding and he asked me to look out for you. When you disappeared today I really thought he was on to something, and that you could be seriously hurt or in trouble and I failed to protect you. But now I realize your biggest danger is yourself. You let your shitty parents have too much control over you, whether it be your lifestyle or your feelings. And because of that you are closed off, untrusting, and just plain not happy."
"You're right. But I want to change. It's just hard. This is all I've ever known."
"Yes. But that is the point of change, isn't it? You brave the unknown and make a difference now that can change your life for good. Don't you want to be truly happy?" he questions before leaving me standing alone in the hallway.
You guys are so amazing! I wish I had time to respond to each review but I am so dang busy right now and I want to get the next chapter out for you as fast as I can. But just know that I read each and every review and I appreciate them all so much! Thank you, lovelies!
