Here's chapter 14!

Just to make things clear to anyone who are confused and answer all your questions,

Jace doesn't know that Clary is an actress, only Dylan, Iz, Jocelyn and Luke knows

They are not shadowhunters in here

Clary's natural hair is red but when she became an actress she changed it to blonde and now she had it back to red

I think that's all... =)

Enjoy reading!

Chapter 14: I'm a great Actress

[CPOV]

As soon as Jocelyn left the room, I let out a chuckle. What was that all about? Jocelyn needed money? Her parents are in debt? Oh, that's something to laugh at. I can't believe it. Weren't they once the richest family that treats lowly persons like dirt? I admit I'm shocked and that makes me want to laugh more.

Jocelyn's a good actress too. If not an actress, a con artist that runs in their family as my dad had told me. She got me falling in her trap at first. But when she said her parents needed the money; that, I don't believe. How can they be in debt? Three hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars? Even though I can give them that money easily without me having a financial problem, a part of me don't want to. Based on what dad told me, Jocelyn's parents treated us like dirt from the slums. So why help them now even though Jocelyn's been taking care of me? I'll ask dad first. It had been a lie when I said daddy was handling my money. My dad made it clear that the money I earn will be my responsibility and he don't care what I do with it as long as I don't spend it on useless things and I don't touch his money. But the money I have with me is $5 000. The rest of my money is on my vault back home and some are in the bank. So if I am to give Jocelyn the money, I really need to ask my father to do it for me. And I don't know if he'll agree.

Based on her triumphant look I saw before she left my room, I guess she's convinced that her con trapped me. She's wrong, I'm an actress. She's the one who fall on my trap. But someway, I doubt it too. Maybe she's a little convinced.

Will I message my dad or would I just tell Jocelyn, my father disagreed? A part of me really wants them to suffer. When Jocelyn told me her mother will be in jail, I want to reply to her "I don't give a damn". But, of course, I didn't say that. That would blow my acting. I guess, I want myself to make her suffer and experience what my father and I had gone through. Oooh, I could totally imagine Jocelyn's parents lying in the streets at night getting thinner and thinner everyday with nothing to eat and with filthy dirty clothes that are torn. I want them to feel what it's like to have nothing.

What do I do now? Ugh. Bummer.

After a minute's thought, my decision is to ask dad. I opened my laptop and signed in on yahoo messenger to see if my dad's online, which I doubt if he is. I checked the online lists and my dad isn't there and so is any of our secretaries. Maybe I'll just leave a message for him.

hollywoodstarCM: Hey Dad. How are you? I miss you so much although I'm still a little bit angry you send me here! Uhm, Jocelyn's asking for money. She told me her parents are in debt and that she needs $365,000 before this Friday ends. And if not, Jocelyn's mother would be locked in jail. So, what do you think? Message me back your answer ASAP.

I reread it twice before I hit send. After sending the message a loud pop shocked me.

Sexyizzy: Clary, cum over to my house. Need 2 talk 2 yah!

hollywoodstarCM: sure.. b der in a flash.. =)

sexyizzy: good!

Sexyizzy has signed out.

Yes! A major distracter! That's what I need. I don't want to think about this Jocelyn's-mother-needs-money thingy. I slammed my laptop shut and grabbed a jacket inside the closet and headed for the door.

Once outside the bedroom, I knocked on Jocelyn's door to ask permission to leave the house and come over at Iz's.

"Jocelyn, can I go to the Lightwood's house?" I asked.

"Sure." She replied.

Wow, that was easy. I thought we're going to have a lengthy discussion. Oh well, never mind.

I run down the stairs straight to the door and across the street to the Lightwood's house. I ring their doorbell twice before Iz opened the door. She led me to her room which is in chaos. Clothes, shoes and accessories are strewn all over the room. All of Iz's dresses are scattered on the bed. Her miniskirts and tops are littered on the floor. Her fancy accessories are also scattered in her table.

"What's going on Iz?" I asked, completely shocked at her very messy room.

"Sebastian asked me out, THE Sebastian Verlac." She said.

"Ah. I figured you don't know what you'll wear?" I said smiling at my friend.

"Yeah. You could say that." She said as she picked out a black ruffled dress and held it in front of her, as she watch her reflection on the mirror.

"What time is your date with him?" I asked sitting on the edge of her bed.

"7:30 p.m." she replied as she try on a pink tube dress. "Clary, can I borrow some of your dresses? Just for tonight. I want to look pretty for Sebastian."

"I would gladly let you borrow my clothes. But Jocelyn confiscated all my designer things." I said.

"What? Argh! Bad timing." She whined.

"Hey, I thought you and Sebastian are sort of like enemies? You told me he broke your heart. Why go out with him now?"

"Yeah, I sort of detest him for some time. We were together for 3-4 months, I think. And then there was this girl who is the daughter of a family friend of his and I caught him cheating on me. This happened last December, during Christmas. I broke up with him and I'm not talking to him for 9 months. I loved him so much that until now, I still can't get over him, especially now that that girl is not here anymore. He asked me out this morning while I was jogging. And I can't help but accept his offer." She explained.

"You sure?"

"Uhhhmm… I admit, not really. But I like to give him a second chance. Who knows, he might have change." She shrugged. I nodded in response. "Okay, so now what do I wear?"

"Be you. Don't wear something you're not comfortable. And dress something classy or chic, the type that attracts guys." I suggested.

"You know what? Let's just hit the mall. All my clothes here are so old. I want something new that will make Seb like me again."

"Doesn't he like you already?" I said, making her laugh.

[IPOV]

"Okay, where too?" Clary asked as we arrived at the mall.

"Hmmm, let's hit the surplus store first since it's got the cheapest and some dresses there are one of a kind." I replied, going out of the car.

"Fine." She said. "Hey Iz, I need your advice." She asked. I looked at her with a shocked expression and with a curious gaze.

"What's the problem? I'm all ears." I offered.

"AHhh…Jocelyn is asking me for money." She said which had taken me aback for a second.

"Jocelyn's asking for money? I thought they are rich? Her parents live in California, right?" I said

"Jocelyn's mother, my grandmother, is in debt. And since Jocelyn doesn't have enough money too, she's asking me for some since I'm the rich actress. Her mother need $365 000 by this Friday or else she'll be locked up." Clary explained.

"What?" I exclaimed. "$365 000? Gosh, that's so much. What are they doing with their money anyway?"

"Yeah. They need that much money. I know I can give it to them, but I'm having a second thought. A part of me doesn't want to."

"From what you've told me about how your grandparents treated you those years, I think you shouldn't. Let them experience what you've suffered." I said as we walk inside the surplus store.

"That's what I thought. I came up with a plan." Clary said while checking out a purple dress.

"And what is it?" I asked. I walked to a rack of dresses and inspect all of them one by one.

"I'll lend them the money before this Friday and then ask them to give me my money back the next Friday but with interest." She said.

"Hmmm….That's sounds good. The problem is, will they agree on that? Aren't your grandparents sort of devious?"

"Yeah, I think they are. I'm not sure about my plan yet. I sent my dad a message about this situation and I don't know what he'll say. Maybe I'll get to talk to him later." She replied. "Okay, enough talking now. Let's concentrate on shopping."

"Agreed."

[CPOV]

"Have fun on your date!" I shouted at Iz who is across the street and about to enter her house. WE just got back from our two-hour shopping spree.

"Thanks, Clary!" she shouted back before she entered her house.

I went straight to my room and place my shopping bags on the bed. I sat before the table and opened my laptop to see if Dad had messaged me back. And guess what, he had.

Valmorgenstern: I'm fine Clarissa. I miss you too. I miss handling a wild daughter. Are you or are you not joking? Jocelyn's parents need $365 000? Wow, life is full of unexpected surprises! It's your decision Clarissa. What do you want? I don't handle your money. And it's you they'd ask, not me, so it's your choice. I'm very busy at work; I don't need the problems of others to distract me. Just tell what you've decided.

Nice talking to my father, although he's got a point. Why do I need to ask him for an answer when I was the one asked? Does that make sense? Never mind.

I'll stick to my plan then.

Before I left my room to talk to Jocelyn, I messaged my Dad back.

hollywoodstarCM: Dad, I've decided to lend them the money. But I've got a plan. I'll lend them the money before this Friday and then ask the money back before the next Friday and I'll charge them an interest? What do you think? Pretty awesome, right? Hahaha… Send the money to Jocelyn's account so she's the one who will send it to her mother. I'm gonna talk to her right now. =) Love you Dad..

I turned off my laptop and then headed for the door.

I knocked lightly on Jocelyn's door.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"Your very beautiful daughter." I replied and entered the room without being invited. When I see her, she was sitting on the chair in front of the table. She typed something on her laptop before turning to look at me.

"Do you need anything?" she asked.

"Not really. Ah, so, I told dad about the money and he agreed on letting you borrow my money." I said and waited for her to react before continuing.

"What did he say?" she said, paying close attention to me. Well, thanks to my years in the acting business, I didn't flinch in her gaze.

"He said that he'll send the money to your account before Friday comes. And then he asked me to tell you that you need to give it back before the next Friday but with interest." I explained.

"We'll give you back your money, with interest?" I saw her shocked and disbelieved look.

"Ah, yeah. That's what Dad told me." I said.

"Why do you need interest? And why do you need it before the next Friday? Can't you give us a month?" she begged.

"I dunno. That's what Dad instructed me to tell you." I shrugged.

"Can't you tell your father to give us a month or two? Please Clary, talk to him." She pleaded looking at me with pleading eyes.

Honestly, if not that I know she's good at cons, I'll change my plan. But no, I'm not the one to be convinced easily. Let her beg.

"I'm not sure. He's busy, as what he'd told me. He doesn't want to be disturbed." I tell her.

"Please Clary."

"Sorry Jocelyn. That's what my father had decided. He doesn't change his mind easily too. And he told me he's already on the process of sending the money to you." I replied.

Before she can reply to me back, I walked out of her room without looking back.

I want to thank everyone for giving me good reviews. It inspires me to continue this story even though I've got no time because of my studies in school!

What do you think about Isabelle and Sebastian together? I was planning on including Simon in the story, now what do you think about that?

Please leave a review for your answer.. thanks,... =)