Author's Note:

Hello again.

Did you all enjoy that?

Hopefully you did, so here is the next chapter! Enjoy!

I can tell you that there are now 14 chapters to go until this is complete :)

Oh and a teaser at the bottom Author's note for the upcoming Lemon chapter :)

Review?

Xox

"Here is where you will be."

Clary looked around the office. It was huge, she didn't need this much space, but Jace had insisted.

Clary had come clean about everything; she had told them all about her encounter with Valentine Morgenstern and how she had come to the conclusion that he was her father. Luke had told her it was so, but she still had had doubts and when she went there, she knew who he was, the way he had looked at her, in recognition and distaste, she knew he knew exactly who she was but, hopefully, he didn't think that she knew who she was. So Jace had decided to keep Clary close to him, it would really annoy her father to see his daughter always near Jace, his arch enemy.

He had promoted her.

Well, not really promoted her, he had made a brand new position on gave it to Clary. She was his Personal Secretary which meant that she would be doing all of his filing and emailing and taking his calls, just his and Aline and the new secretary Jace had hired, will be doing all the filing and answering and emailing for the company. It also meant that Clary now had an office within Jace's. There were tall double doors separating them and Clary decided that she would be taking lunch when Jace did in order to get away from his and Kaelie's 'afternoon antics'.

Kaelie was not happy with Clary's promotion and voiced it to Jace, not knowing Clary was listening.

"Jace, you really don't have to do this, honestly, I was fine where I was." She said looking at him. He sat on her desk; the picture of ease, Clary could imagine that they hadn't almost kissed twice. Or was it three times? She didn't know it was hard to keep track of. Whenever Jace got close, Clary lost all coherent thought.

"Clary," He said, shaking his head. "Don't argue. Enjoy your new position and your office and don't worry about peaking," he winked. "I don't mind." He left the office and Clary shook her head.

He was so conceited.

Clary couldn't help herself though; Jace had positioned her desk so that she could see into his office and see his desk, though it wasn't facing her. Her eyes had a mind of their own as they watched Jace's ass as he walked away.

That is one muscular butt.

Clary shook herself, cleared her throat and fiddled with some papers. She didn't know what she was supposed to do, she supposed she should file the loose papers into a folder and then put them into their correct filing cabinet and then, get maybe she was supposed to send out emails?

"Hey Clary," Jace's voice came over the intercom on her phone, causing Clary to jump. "There is something I want you to do for me."

"Jeez Jace, you're ten steps away, you could have just come in here and told me."

She heard him laugh and a few seconds later he was sitting on the corner of her desk.

"What do you want me to do Jace?"

"Look up the orphanage you came from." He said simply, giving her a careful look.

"What? Why?" Clary was disbelieving, why would he want her to do this?

"Just do it and email me the site once your done." He got up and left then, Clary staring after him in disbelief.

Clary was staring at her computer screen, at the pictures of the place of her nightmares.

It looked the same. A old house made of weatherboard and painted white, windows clean and clear, the only thing out of place was the smiling children lined up out the front of the door.

No children could ever be happy there.

She clicked on the bio link of the 'Idris Orphanage' and there she was. Mrs Vonness, the head mistress of Idris. She looked the same as she did when Clary had been kicked out at sixteen. Her gray hair up in a severe bun, her face haggard and wrinkled, her mouth thin and a clean crisp suit. She only looked like this for pictures or adoption days.

Clary didn't know how long she stared at the photo of the woman who had made her life hell. It wasn't until she felt a tap on her shoulder that she was aware she had been staring.

"Oh, Simon, er, I mean Mr. Lewis. Sorry, what can I do for you?" She asked, gaining back her composure.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly looking down at her with caring brown eyes behind stylish glasses.

"Fine, why do you ask?"

"You've been crying."

Clary lifted her fingers and felt her cheek. There were the tell tale signs of tears there. Damn, she had to stop crying so much.

"Oh, it's nothing." She waved it off but Simon had been looking at the screen of her computer.

"Idris Orphanage, I've heard about that, apparently it is terrible there, why are you looking it—wait, is that the orphanage you were in?"

Clary nodded and Simon hissed, surprising her with a hug.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that Clary, I truly am."

Clary was shocked. Simon had nothing to apologise for, he hadn't known her then and hadn't been able to do something. She hugged him back though, if only for the reason that his hug was reassuring, warm and just what she needed.

"It really was awful." She said into his shoulder.

They stayed like that for quite some time and it was nice. Simon was the type of boy Clary should be thinking about, nice, genuine and friendly. The type of boy that was nice to your parents. Unlike Jace, who would probably burn them.

Speaking of Jace, a voice cleared from the doors joining to his office.

Clary and Simon separated slowly and looked over at the same time, seeing Jace standing there, gold eyes blazing.

"Oh don't let me interrupt." He said in a exaggerated tone. "You two get cosy, when your Fiancé calls Simon, what shall I tell her?"

"That you're a jackass." Simon muttered, moving a little further from Clary.

"Jace, we were just hugging, you and I have hugged before."

"Just hugging?" He put his hand over his heart. "How quickly you dismiss out love."

Clary shook her head at him, annoyed more than anything.

"What is it Jace?" She asked.

"I asked you to look something up for me over an hour ago and I am still waiting for it and then I come in here to see if you are alright and find you in the arms of my friend." He seemed angry, but why would he be angry? Because Simon was hugging another woman?

"I was hardly in his arms and the only reason Simon was here hugging," She emphasised. With the way Jace was looking at them, Clary got the feeling he had walked in on them having sex. "Was because you asked me to look up the place that tortured me for fourteen years."

"Well, you better get your big girl pants on Clary, because if a photo really gets you upset you aren't going to like what were are doing on Friday."

"What?" Clary asked cautiously and an irrational thought passed through her mind.

Having mindless amazing sex. Me orgasming so many times I can't think straight, you on top of my, thrusting. Your sweat an aphrodisiac. Your hard body, so good on top of mine—

Clary blinked. She really had to stop fantasizing so much, but she couldn't help it. She was a woman and Jace was a man. A perfect man. A sexy man.

A man who could no doubt do things to me I wouldn't have dreamed of.

Jace's next words made all fantasies dissipate.

"We're going to visit that place."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Simon slammed the door to his office shut, locking it to stop intrusions.

They could have argued in Jace's office, but then Clary would have heard and been even more upset and gone to Simon for another hug.

The thought of Simon's hands on Clary irked Jace and he didn't know why. It was that foolish emotion again, thinking that Clary was his. He wanted her; he thought about her all the time, even caught himself imagining it was she, and not Kaelie, with him on his afternoon break. He even imagined Clary while he was in the shower alone.

The things that woman does to me.

Jace looked at Simon steadily. Maybe he was angry that Simon was touching Clary because he was engaged to Isabelle, who was like a sister to Jace.

He knew he was being stupid, that wasn't it at all.

It was because Simon had touched Clary in a way that only Jace wanted to. Had comforted her, been there for her. Jace had gone to her office because she was taking a long time finding this site for him and she had been very quiet. No rustling of paper or walking around. Jace had worried and gone to check on her.

When he saw Clary and Simon he had to stop a growl from coming to the surface.

"Whatever do you mean?" Jace asked dryly, seating himself on the love seat in his partner's office.

"You know what I fucking mean!"

Jace knew that Simon was angry, he only swore when he was angry.

"Look, I am trying to help her and this is the only way to do it."

"By taking her to that place? To the place that she is scared of beyond anything else?"

"We all have to face our fears sometime."

"Fine, if we have too, admit your feelings for Clary to Clary, commit to something."

Damn. He walked right into that one.

"My feelings for Clary are strictly professional."

"Oh come off it!" Simon suddenly yelled, causing Jace to watch his friend carefully, thinking that perhaps he was going through some sort of mental break down. "I have known you for years and for years I have seen you go through Girl after Girl, but not one of them have stayed in your life long enough for you to care for them. Except Clary. I can see it, I see you watching her when she is in the room. I see your face when you look at her and I see it when she looks at you. You're falling in love with her Jace! Anyone can see it. Why do you think Isabelle wants her to stay with you in your house? Why do you think Kaelie can't stand the sight of her? Because you, Jace Wayland, are falling in love with Clarissa Fray and you won't do a damn thing about it!"

Jace silently considered what his friend was saying and knew exactly what to say next.

"I don't deserve her. She deserves better than me."

"Yes you do. Look at what you have accomplished! You deserve to be happy and Clary makes you happy as for her deserving better that you, that is her choice to make, not yours. God Jace, will you open your eyes! I don't know Clary half as well as I know you, but I do know love and Clary has it just as bad for you as you have it for her."

"She shouldn't. She shouldn't think of me that way."

"Well she does. Jace, why do you keep punishing yourself? Why don't you think you deserve happiness?"

"Because I've used so many women that I don't deserve one. Not one like Clary. I deserve to be alone."

"Nobody deserves that. Stop thinking it and get your ass into that office and do something about it! Move on. Stop using women for sex and tell one that you actually like them. Is it that hard?"

Jace looked up at Simon, the boy he had known for years. His partner in business.

"Yes it is, because I'm not ready for that kind of relationship."

"No one ever is, but sometimes you just need to take the plunge."

Jace looked at the door, thinking of Clary. Her laugh, her smile, her eyes, her hair, her voice, anything and everything he had seen her do.

The first time he had laid eyes on her, thinking she was dead.

The first time they had hugged.

The times that they had almost kissed.

He realised something then, something he had been denying for far too long.

Simon was right. He was falling for Clary.

Was he ready to take the plunge?

Author's note:

So, is he ready?

How was that?

Good? Bad? Asfnwkgwitnw?

As promised, here is a small teaser from the lemon chapter

And if anyone is interested a small teaser for the upcoming chapter of 'Elegant script and blue pen' (Yes, I am still writing that one)

Enjoy!

Review?

Xox

Sympathy:

She pressed her lips to his, her hands still on his face and brought him closer. He resisted, but even then his lips were soft.

"I want you." She breathed.

"I need you."

She wanted him, all of him, forever.

This was a peaceful, pleasant, bliss filled moment and she hoped that every night would be like this, that she would fall asleep in his arms.

She realised, as she dozed off and he kissed her forehead, that for the first time in her life, she would wake up to someone she cared about holding her. She would wake up happy.

She smiled as sleep took her.

Elegant Script and Blue pen:

"Where are you going dressed like that?" He asked Clarissa, his breath heavy with the scent of alcohol. Clarissa looked down at her attire, not seeing anything wrong with it.

"What's wrong with it?" She asked cautiously, standing closer to Jonathan.

When her father drank, he drank until he couldn't see anymore and he always asked or commented on Clarissa's looks and she knew why. She looked exactly like her mother. Jonathan always came to her rescue when he started on a tirade, she was grateful to have such a loving brother.

"It looks like you are trying to impress a man. I want to know who?" Clarissa cringed back at the look her father fave her. She hated it when he was like this.