Author's note:

Hello, so four more chapters (well three and an epilogue).

Any idea how I'm going to end this? Let me know.

OH do you at least like the cover?

On we go

X

Clary didn't know what to do. She sat in the car, her hands shaking with her nervousness. Today was a big day and she just wanted it over with, she just wanted to move on from it all.

Today was the day where she would find out if Valentine would be punished.

He wasn't being sentenced on dumping her, although the judge did come down on Clary's side, there was nothing she could do but fine Valentine for his first offence and breach of contract. Clary snorted thinking about it.

"You okay?"

She was riding in the back of Jace's sleek black Mercedes with Jace next to her. For the last two weeks they had been together, the cameras following them and, in Clary's mind there was no doubt to this, pissing her father off. Although even without that added bonus she would be with Jace, after everything that had happened between them from the moment they met to the moment they slept together to now, Clary found her feelings for him growing into something she didn't quite understand. Whenever he looked at her, touched her, her blood would sizzle and butterflies would erupt in her belly.

She had heard about love, but never thought she would experience it. Is that what she was feeling? Was she feeling love?

Clary couldn't help but look over at Jace as she asked herself this. Was he feeling it too? She wasn't an idiot, she knew he felt something but she didn't know how far that something went. Was it mere lust that he felt or a close friendship? Did he care about her more than a friend? Was he in love with her?

They had known each other for nearly five months, that was plenty of time to know if you loved someone or not, wasn't it?

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Clary blinked and fought away a blush, though why she would blush in front of Jace considering what they have done she didn't know, but she fought it none the less. She thought about answering him with a lie, but decided to put all her eggs in one basket. Today was a day of change. So, grabbing his hand she played with his fingers for a moment, noticing his small grin and responded.

"I was just thinking." She said easily.

"About what?"

"You, me," she said casually before going all in. "Us."

"Oh," Was his eloquent response. Clary peeked a look at him and saw that his grin was gone but he did not move his hand from her. Good sign.

"Oh?"

"Oh...What about us?"

"You know, normal we stuff. Like, what's going to happen after today? Will I still live with you, work for you?"

"You always have a place in my home and office, you know that."

"I know, but. I don't want any of that if we aren't going somewhere." She finally said, looking at him and registering that he was showing no emotion. Bad sign.

"What do you mean we aren't going anywhere? We're friends Clary, we are going everywhere."

"Friends?" She asked. "Everything that we've...friends?"

"Well, maybe a little more than friends."

"Like, how much more?"

"Like how Kaelie and I are friends."

Oh, so I'm your whore? She wanted to ask that, she did but she held herself back.

"So beneficial friends?"

"Precisely." He grinned at her.

"But, you said you needed me, that you cared about me."

"I do need and care about you, more than I—but it's just, I don't want to jump into anything right now."

"Jace," She said bluntly. "What am I to you? Your friend? Your fuck buddy? Your employee? Your charity case? What?"

He sighed and seemed to think over his answer while Clary stewed. She couldn't believe what he had said. They were more than that weren't they? She couldn't be the only one feeling it, could she?

"You're special to me."

Clary nodded and faced the window, letting go of his hand and blinking back tears. She saw in the reflection that he regretted his words and that he wanted to say more but instead he turned to his window and stared out.

Special, a friend. Not a woman he wanted to be in a relationship with.

He wasn't ready to jump but she already had and she was falling, fast. Jace was the only one to catch her when she hit the bottom, but he wasn't going to. He wasn't ready to catch her and that was when Clary knew. Knew that today wasn't just the day the verdict was drawn on her father. It was also the day the verdict was drawn on her and Jace and where they stood. On whether or not she and he would work out and on whether or not she should stay around and wait for him.

The verdict was also drawn on her heart.

#####

Clary grinned as she hugged Alec and Magnus. She could not believe what had just happened.

Guilty. Valentine Morgenstern was found guilty of embezzlement, insurance fraud and stealing company money for petty spending. He was going away for a long time.

Luke, Clary said in her head. Thank you, for everything.

For it was because of Luke, because of the folder he had given her that her father was going away and that she was now a CEO in his company.

The judge seemed to pity Clary and ruled that she take her rightful place as CEO of Morgenstern, Clary was confused at first until she was handed a contract drawn up by her father, mother and a lawyer.

Her mother believed that women were powerful and to ensure that she had her lawyer make up a contract before she married Valentine, stating that should they have a daughter, she will be the successor of the business and should they also have a son, older, he will become a vice CEO.

Clary could not believe it. She didn't think it was real; she had no idea how to run a company. She also inherited Valentine's home, which she did not want to live in, Jonathan could have that and her share of his fortune.

She was in awe. Orphaned and then left on the streets to CEO of a successful company and a multi millionaire. It all seemed so...Disney.

It was a real rags to riches story, although when Clary looked at Jace she couldn't help but think that hers was more like a rags to gold story when she told Magnus this he grinned.

"Everyone will want a piece of you now. You should write an autobiography and call it...From Ragged to Golden." Clary laughed.

"I don't think so." She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned. Jonathan stood there, looking unsure of himself.

"Clarissa," he said in a quiet, timid voice. "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure." She shrugged. They walked away from her friends and most of the crowd. They sat at the back of the court room and it was awkward. Clary felt strange she was sitting next to her brother. It seemed as if she was living someone else's life.

"Clary, do you mind if I call you that?" She shook her head. "Clary, I'm—I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am for everything you went through. I don't really remember you; I was only three, or maybe four, when he left you there. I just, I'm sorry. I hope that we can work together, I'd really like a sister."

Clary felt her eyes water and did the only thing she could. She reached out and hugged Jonathan—hugged her brother—and it felt so normal, so nice and familiar and he hugged her back and in that moment, for the first time in her life, she felt like she had a family.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Jonathan." She said, pulling back and wiping a few tears away. "You didn't do this to me."

"I know, but I—I just wish I knew and I could have helped you."

"Well, now you do and now you can."

"Clary, you are a already off the streets how can I help you?"

"Well, I need to find somewhere to live and also I need to learn how to run a company."

He smiled at her and she smiled back.

So this is what having a sibling is like.

"I can help you with that."

"Good, I'll be right back."

She stood and made her way back to her friends, gaining the courage she needed. They saw her and smiled but she didn't return it. She wasn't mad at them, she didn't want to lose them but she knew she might, but she had to do it.

"Jace," She said addressing him and not looking at anyone else. He raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes confused.

She thought about not saying what she wanted too, but she needed to say it. She was starting a new life and she needed to tie up all loose ends.

Even this one.

"Jace, I just came to tell you that I'm leaving this afternoon. I'm going to find my own place and then take over Morgenstern Corp."

Clary would forever have what she saw next scorched in her mind.

The image was of Jace's smile falling, his face paling and his eyes, the gold in them seemed to shatter, like glass.

Like a heart that had been broken.

Ehem...Review?