Author's note:

*Clears throat*

I love you?

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"Good morning Wayland Corporation this is Clarissa speaking, how can I help you?"

Clary had to utter this line at least twenty times before Aline let her move on to her next task. Filing; Clary wrinkled her nose at that, she had never been a hugely organised person and organising someone else's things just seemed like something she would not enjoy.

"So Clary, we file according to the PD, that is the Policy Date, and it goes from the newest to the oldest, that does not mean that it is only from when the policy was put into place. Anytime that a file is taken out and changed or reviewed, it gets a new PD and then is filed under that new date, everyday you will write on one of these," She held up a file divider and pointed to the little white tab. "And add that days date." Clary nodded, she was going to have trouble keeping up, though Jace had said that Aline would be there to answer any and all of her questions.

"Okay, so I am going to get you to practice some filing for me." She placed down a pile of, at least, twenty pieces of paper with a note written on each piece. "File these into the correct date files." She looked at Clary expectantly. Clary shook herself and got into motion, finding the correct folders for each paper.

"Good," Aline praised once Clary was done. "It will be a lot harder once you actually file the policies themselves." She looked at her watch. "Look at that, lunchtime and we have covered everything. You know about the phones, the filing, emailing, intercom, taking messages, opening Jace's mail and dropping it into Kaelie's tray, opening Simon's mail and dropping it into his tray, cleaning the kitchen, printing, photocopying and starting to make folders for the policies. I think we deserve our hour break, wanna go to lunch?"

Aline was a nice woman, Clary thought, she seemed to be serious in teaching Clary but friendly when Clary had done the tasks and she was hungry so Clary nodded. Aline walked over to the elevator and pressed L for Lobby, they were on the 34th floor, Jace's company only had the 34th and 35th floors, but that was enough.

The New York branch of the Wayland Corporation was the head office, used to keep track of all policies, the important board meetings, this all happened on the 34th floor, the 35th was where all the agents took the calls to create the policies, Clary would be spending a lot of time going up there, dropping off mail, files when asked and picking mail and files up.

She was excited; this job seemed to be so good and with a pretty good salary from what Jace had told her.

She remembered him telling her he no longer needed her as his housekeeper, Clary was worried at first, thinking that perhaps, he was not going to hire her for anything and then he asked her to come to his company with him in the morning, she agreed, warily.

Clary entered the car and sat next to Jace, buckling up her seatbelt. She was nervous; she had no idea why Jace was bringing her to work with him.

They rode in silence, Clary lost in her thoughts; she didn't even take note of what floor they were going up to in the elevator. When they walked into the office, however, she stopped short.

The office was beautiful; it's high glass windows, flooding the space in sunlight, offices branched out and hidden behind giant mahogany doors. The room was carpeted and looked to be used as a way to get from office to office, it seems as though this was where all the most important figures of Wayland Corp, she also saw a room with a fairly large electronic gizmo where a slender Asian woman was working. As she followed behind Jace, she saw a few people mingling, stare at her as if she was an alien.

Obviously, he doesn't bring women to work often.

Clary walked in behind Jace, into an office with double glass doors and three doors with gold plated name signs on them. A desk which was in the shape of a U, two computers set up on opposite ends, trays filled with files and papers.

Clary smiled, this is the kind of place that she always dreamed she would work in, it look prestigious and if she was seen here, she would feel like a somebody. Jace opened the door inscribed—in gold no less—with his name and title. Clary entered and Jace locked the door behind him, telling someone to hold his calls and appointments. He gestured for Clary to sit in the chair opposite his opposing desk as he sat behind it. Clary walked up to the chair but did not sit, she felt as if she would be dirtying it if she even touched it.

"Clary, take a seat." Jace said, sitting up and watching her carefully. Clary shook her head and he seemed puzzle.

"I feel so...out of place and if I sat in that," she pointed to the chair. "I feel like I would desecrate it or something."

Jace laughed a little and then shook his head. "Clary, just sit." He waited patiently until she sat, the chair was leather and comfortable, she squirmed a little until she was able to cross her legs, somehow that gesture made her feel more like she belonged in this seat than anything else.

Jace began to talk, telling her how much potential he thought she had and she should not be a house keeper. Clary was worried, he seemed to be firing her but telling her that she could make it, she doubted it, she had only been his house keeper for two weeks, he couldn't possibly believe she was ready for mainstream society, though perhaps, he was getting rid of her, once and for all.

She held up a hand, stopping him mid sentence.

"Look Jace, I can see where this is going and I want to thank you for everything, all the skills you have given me, the shelter, without asking for any repayment. Thank you, it has meant more to me than anything in this world." She stood up and began walking to the door when Jace's next words stop her dead in her tracks.

"Clary I want you to work for me, here."

Clary turned slowly, her mouth agape and her eyes wide.

"What?" It was the only thought she could put into words, for surely he had not said what she thought he had.

A small, rueful smiled appeared as he repeated himself, leaning against the desk he now stood in front of. "Clary, I want you to work for me, here."

Clary's vision blurred as happy tears formed in her eyes, she ran up and hugged Jace, never feeling so much gratitude for one person.

Clary sat across from Aline, sipping on a coffee and picking at her raspberry and white chocolate muffin.

It was her first day as an Administration Assistant, which was basically taking all of the little jobs from Aline and doing them herself, not that she minded, she was enjoying the day, especially since she had not seen Kaelie yet.

Isabelle had found it imperative that Clary dress to impress and took her out until Clary thought her feet would fall off, Isabelle had even come over early and dressed Clary, nearly putting the clothes on herself, but Clary drew the line there.

She had to admit, Isabelle had good taste, Clary quite liked her outfit.

She wore wide legged black trousers with a cream coloured ruffled short sleeved blouse on top, her feet had stylish black heels on them and she had a very expensive black bag along with a black coat. Clary also had a new purse, some money to keep her going until she got paid, a cell phone, a planner, an iPod and a heap more, Isabelle had justified exactly why Clary needed all of these things. New clothes to dress appropriately for work, a new bag to carry her things in, a purse to keep her money in, money to buy lunch with, a phone in case of emergencies, a planner—well Clary had stopped arguing after all of that. Clary had even gotten herself ready to take the subway or a bus, Jace was hearing none of it. She would take the town car, before him, seeing as she started half an hour before he did and finished half an hour after.

Clary was beyond grateful and she would find a way to pay back both Izzy and Jace, no matter how much they claimed they did not want anything back, she felt guilty that they were spending so much on her, someone they barely knew, of course, Isabelle was able to justify this too.

"Clary, not many people get a second chance, just take it, besides I spent less than half of what I would normally spend on myself going shopping."

Clary didn't argue with either Jace or Isabelle after that.

Clary was brought out of her thoughts by her new phone, she answered quickly, saying Jace's name was the caller I.D.

"Hello?" She asked, why would he be calling her now, she was on break.

"Clary, when you get back from lunch you have to come straight to my office, I have some people that wish to meet you."

Jace didn't sound happy that these people wanted to meet her, but she agreed none the less.

"We better get going," Aline said, gathering her things and putting money on the table, Clary followed suit. They both stood and walked out of the cafe. "I like to get back before Kaelie starts giving me orders." Aline made a face which made Clary like her even more. She didn't like Kaelie either.

"Wait until you meet her," Aline continued. "She is the most money hungry, whore-ish excuse for a human being." Aline looked over at her and stammered out an apology. "Sorry about the language." Clary just laughed.

"I understand you using it when it comes to her." Clary said and then stopped, looking at Aline who was giving her a confused look.

"How do you know Kaelie?" She asked.

It hadn't occurred to Clary whether or not Aline knew she lived with Jace.

"Oh, I met her when I was meeting with Jace." Clary smiled and Aline nodded, accepting this.

Clary wasn't sure if she should tell anyone that she lived with Jace, she decided not to, unless he told her differently.

Jace put down the phone shaking his head in dismay.

Poor Clary, she had no idea what she would be walking into.

"There, I have called her and she is on her way, happy?"

He got a smile in return, catlike was the only way he could describe the way Magnus smiled.

"Very, now I get to meet the woman you are so enamoured with." Magnus winked a glittery eye at Jace and he groaned turning to Alec and Simon.

"Can you believe this? I can't even do anything nice without someone thinking I have ulterior motives."

"Well, when have you?" He heard Simon mutter.

"I befriended you didn't I? If I hadn't you would be a twenty three year old virgin who lives with a cat and plays world of war craft all day. See," Jace turned to Magnus pointing at Simon. "I do help the less fortunate." Simon just shook his head.

Jace had met Simon at the beginning of middle school when some kid was picking on him, Jace punched the kid and helped Simon up, Simon offered him his chocolate milk in exchange for his help and after that, Jace thought he was cool and Simon began hanging out with Jace and Simon and then they got to high school and he started noticing girls, particularly one of his friends sisters and the rest was history.

There was a small knock at the door and Jace stood, rushing to open it before Magnus could.

Clary stood there, her eyes big and green, nervousness wreaked off of her. She was so tiny, Jace thought, she seemed as if she would fall over at any moment or be swept away by the wind.

"Come in Clary." Damn, he was supposed to be formal and pretend that her presence didn't bother her. Magnus gave him a knowing look before introducing himself.

"So, you are the infamous Clary? Jace never shuts up about you, honestly, I think he is obsessed, it can't be healthy." Jace waited for it, the distinct sound of a door slamming, the sound of Clary leaving, but instead he heard her laugh, not just a soft friendly laugh, like she was laughing so that Magnus would shut up, no, this is a large laugh, a laugh people used when they thought something was genuinely funny.

Jace turned and saw Clary smiling so broadly he was momentarily stunned.

She really is quite pretty.

Magnus came up to him then, as Clary met Alec and talked to Simon.

"I like her Jace and so do you." Magnus then harassed Clary some more until Jace had to put his foot down and tell her to get back to work.

"Sorry about that." Jace said outside of his office, he and Clary were basically alone within the glass doors, except for Aline, although she was used to ignoring conversations she had no part in.

"Sorry? I thought they were great, if not, a bit eccentric." She smiled up at him and Jace wondered, a thought that had never occurred to him before, what it would be like to kiss her.

Jace looked into her luminous green eyes and began to lean down, he saw her understanding but she did not back away, she seemed to pout her lips, preparing for his kiss. Jace was so close, so very close; he could feel her breath and could almost feel her lips.

It was at that moment that he averted his eyes for a moment, just one moment, and saw Kaelie staring at the two like he had three heads. That was when reality crashed down on him. It was too late to back away from Clary, but instead of pressing his lips to hers, he moved them to her cheek.

Clary's eyes, which had closed, opened with confusion. Jace smiled as if nothing had gone on between them.

"Back to work, can't have you slacking on your first day." He patted her shoulder and moved towards Clary. "I hope these are the reports I asked for."

Kaelie glowered at him. "Oh, you're asking for something." She muttered and Jace pretended not to hear.

"Well, into your office then, my office is full of vultures, terrible problem." Kaelie stared at him for another moment before nodding and heading in the direction of her office. Jace looked back at Clary and saw her touch her cheek and then look at him in utter confusion.

Jace could not articulate to her why he had stopped the kiss.

Clary deserved better than him, she deserved a man who loved her, not lusted for her. She deserved someone who would be sweet and romantic and attentive, not someone would just bat her away at the first signs of feelings.

"I like her Jace and so do you."

Magnus had voiced Jace's greatest fear. Gaining feelings that were more than mere friendship for someone. He could not have that.

Particularly someone as sweet, innocent and fragile as Clary.

He moved his eyes from her and walked in the direction that Kaelie had.

"I like her Jace and so do you."

That was a problem.

Author's note:

So sorry about the long wait, but I stretched it for you! (Yay?)

I was just wondering if any of you can do the following (granted you WANT too)

Create Icons/Pictures/Gifs

I will be creating a Tumblr and it will be, mainly, dedicated to my fics.

Also, anyone have Tumblr? Let me know :)

ALSO!

Do not forget to check out the playlist and stuff for this, although links are not working which is frustrating!

Review?

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