Author's Note:

*Waves innocently so you all won't kill me*

Clary laid in bed, think about what tomorrow would bring, Jace had just given her a once in a lifetime chance, and she was not about to turn her nose up at that.

She was so happy, ecstatically so, she wished she had someone to tell, a friend or a relative, but there was no one but herself. She was alone, just like she was used to.

Clary began mulling over Jace's offer in her head, thinking if she should accept it or not.

***Flashback***

Jace and Clary sat alone at the table, finished with their meal, Clary looked all around the room, everywhere except where Jace was, she could feel the heat of his stare on her face, the intensity of it brought her up short. Isabelle had told Clary about Jace and what he gets up too. Serial dater, commitment phobia, man whore.

"Clarissa—" He began to say.

"Clary," she corrected him, already knowing what was coming but just wanting to relish in the house a little longer. He was going to tell her to get out, that she had worn out her welcome and to get her stuff and go. Luckily for her she had no stuff so the embarrassment would not last long. She had been so hoping that what Isabelle had told her was true, that she would never go back to the streets, never have to go hungry again and never be afraid to not wake up or to wake up and find that someone had assaulted you in the night. She had let go of that and believed her but now she felt it all crashing back down like a piano, she could already feel her face going read with embarrassment and her eyes become glassy with tears.

Stupid, she thought, that he would want someone like me, as vile as me in his beautiful palace home.

"Clary," he amended. "I wanted to talk with you about your stay here."

"Don't bother, I get the picture," she stood from her seat and began to walk out. "Just tell me where the clothes are that you brought me in and I'll be on my way." She stared at him, pushing a stray piece of hair from her face.

"What are you talking about? Do you think I'm going to..." he trailed off laughing to himself. Clary was furious, she was no joke, he had no right to laugh at her just because he lived like a king and she was a peasant. She may not be rich or privileged or even middle class, but she was someone who did not take kindly to being laughed at.

She was about to voice her outrage when Jace gained his composure and looked at her dead in the eye.

"I'm not kicking you out Clary, why on earth would you think that I would?" He shook his head, his expression serious again as he came toward her and motioned for her to join him in the sitting room.

Once they sat Clary found her voice.

"I just thought, well, I don't know, that you didn't want me here and you had come to your senses." She shrugged.

"Clary, seeing what you went through, I could never make you go back to that. Ever, so you have no reason to worry, this is your home now." He smiled at her and she couldn't help but notice how handsome he was.

Jace was the picture perfect golden boy. Blonde shaggy hair, amber eyes that sometimes did look like molten gold, he had a slight tan and his build was lean but she know that he had muscles, she didn't know how she knew, somehow she just did. He had a chip on one of his incisors but that just made her think that even the most beautiful of things have their flaws. Jace was no exception; she wondered what Isabelle's flaw was.

"I was just going to ask if you wanted to stay here, at least until you start getting money and find your own place."

Clary looked at him like he was insane.

"Why wouldn't I want to stay here?" She questioned looking for the answer in the depth of his eyes.

"Well, I thought perhaps you would feel uncomfortable, considering it is just me and you here. You might think I would take advantage of you, or you might fall in love with me, which I am not totally against." He smirked, one she knew he had done before, it was a charming smirk but she wasn't falling for it.

"I think I'll be able to protect myself against you, but," she said, lowering her head. "You said until I start earning money, but I can't earn money."

"Why not?"

"Because I have no skills, I have never been employed."

"Clary, there are jobs that do not require any training."

"Yes but those are more for teenagers not older woman like me."

"Clary you aren't fifty, what are you twenty? These jobs are not only for teenagers, they are for helping older people gain new skills. Why don't I give you a job?"

"Thanks but I don't want charity and besides I don't think I would do well at...where do you work?"

"Wayland Insurance."

"Huh, I read about you in the newspaper once, I think I used that section as a blanket that night." She smiled at him, he looked shocked. "Wait, Wayland Insurance as in you? Jace Wayland?"

He smiled, ridding the shocked look from his face. "Indeed, it was my father's company he left it to me. I am CEO."

"You are the youngest CEO I know."

"I am twenty three thank you very much but my father had trained me in what to do and I have advisors that help me. So how about it, want a job?"

"No, I think I should start small and not jump right into an office environment. Maybe a cleaner, do you have any janitor positions available?"

"As a matter of fact...no, but I am looking for a fulltime house keeper here, all you would need to do is tell the maids and cooks what to do, inspect it all, it's an attractive salary."

"How attractive?"

Jace looked down at himself. "You get to watch me walk around shirtless, watch me work out and swim even in the shower if you wish." Clary laughed.

"As tempting as that sounds I think I'll pass." She made to get up when he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Clary, just take the job, please." She sighed.

She guessed it was better than nothing, and it would build experience for her.

She accepted.

***Flashback***

Clary was giddy, she had a job, a real job and she got to stay in this house all day and ordering people around—that part she wasn't too thrilled with—and make sure everything was right. She felt that it was a big responsibility; she had a feeling that if something was to get broken Jace wouldn't be nice anymore.

Clary fell asleep dreaming of starting a new life for herself and dreaming of the man that made it possible.

Clary was in the kitchen waiting for her breakfast when Isabelle burst through the doors, a black haired man behind her.

"Good morning Clary," She said before going over to what was to eat. Clary looked at the man, he was tall with black hair and brown eyes and thick black rimmed glasses, his hair was cut neat and his suit was creased to perfection.

"Hi," she said after a long moment of silent had passed. "I'm Clary."

The man regained his composure.

"I've heard all about you. I'm Simon—" Isabelle cut in before he could say anything else.

"My fiancée." She stated, as if Clary had gone up and started humping Simon's leg.

"And my partner." Jace said as he entered the room, slapping Simon on the back. "Did you tell them the news?" Clary shook her head and Jace grinned mischievously.

"What news?" Isabelle piped up, as she straightened Simon's tie.

"You aren't the only engaged couple in the room." Clary choked on her coffee and Isabelle pulled hard on the tie, choking Simon in the process.

"What?" All three of them yelled in unison as Jace started laughing while pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Priceless." Jace said shaking his head and taking a sip. Isabelle regained her composure quickly.

"So what is there news?"

"Yes, Clary got herself a job." Clary smiled weakly at Jace's announcement. "She is now the head housekeeper here." Isabelle's eyes bulged.

"Jeez, I could have given you a job at my store." Isabelle shook her head and Simon just looked confused.

"I thought you were looking for a secretary Jace? You know a junior one, why doesn't Clary do that?" Simon said, Jace stared at him in horror.

"Because I have already begun interviewing for that position and it wouldn't be fair would it?" Jace countered.

"Who cares, those girls or boys have experience they can find another job, and this one is a lot better than being a cleaner." Isabelle said the word cleaner as if it was dirty.

"I already said I don't mind, I don't want to start off in an office, I have never worked a day in my life, unless you count the nights I worked," they stared at her in shock. "Kidding. Anyway, I don't want to start a job with something I have no knowledge of. Whereas with this job, I at least know how to clean, I did it enough at the orphanage."

They fell silent, obviously they never thought of where Clary was that cause here to wind up in the streets. She had not mentioned it.

"Well, I'm going to go get ready. Have a nice day everyone." Clary got up and left the kitchen, halfway up the stairs she heard her name.

"Clary, are you sure you're okay with this job, I could give you the junior one, if that's what you would prefer."

Clary walked down the stairs and stood in front of Jace and hugged him.

"This is more than I could have hoped for. Thank you."

Author's note:

Don't kill me for taking so long, I am so sorry, work and life got in the way and I lost my motivation. I promise (well I can't really promise) but I am hoping to update this a lot more. I have it all planned out.

Thanks and please review!