Casey: Thank you for your review! I love how you worded your idea. Also, you go girl. I am glad you let the pain and the hurt go. Forgiving someone is not easy especially those who have reflected on you, negatively. Clary will eventually forgive others too. When she reaches that point of idk exhaustion? Like the point where she is like 'what the hell? Why am I still holding onto this. I am better than this. I can't let the past hurt me anymore.'

Greygirl2358: Thank you for the review. Jace partially blames Clary so he doesn't feel more regret. He knows it's not her fault but he pretends. But deep down he feels the pain.

Thank you everyone else, for the reviews! I am going with option 2 because it makes sense because I already made Jace say he loves Clary. Remember that Jace is heartbroken. I am going to go with Guest who suggested Jace should not show his feelings in the beginning because he is afraid of losing Clary.

ALEC POV:

Setting a meeting with The Valentine Morgenstern was not easy. His secretary would not tell me why he was unavailable or give me his personal cell. In the end, I had to call my dad for his phone number. Robert and Valentine were close friends in high school. They stayed in touch and dad was Valentine's surgeon.

"Valentine-" there was a very harsh cough and then, "Sorry about that. Valentine Morgenstern speaking."

"Hello Sir, this is Alec Lightwood, COO of Wayland Industries."

"Ah. Robert's son. How are you doing, Son?" I am surprised that he knew me. I never met him in person.

"You remember me?" I ask.

He laughs before coughing violently. "Of course, I remember you. I have changed your dirty diapers." I laugh. "What were you calling for?"

"I was calling to ask you if you were available tomorrow? The CEO of Wayland Industries would like to meet you," I seriously hope he is available. We really need his help. "We can come to your office."

"No. Come over to my house. Tomorrow 10 in the morning?"

"Yes. Definitely. Thank you, Sir. Take care." I say and we hang up.

If we can really partner up with The Morgenstern Industries, we will be set. I don't know why Valentine needs help. His company is one of the most successful ones in the country. Wonder what's going on.

Jace POV:

Yesterday at work was exhausting. I should've guessed it though. I haven't worked in a long time. I spent the whole day, coming up with ideas and plans to propose to Valentine.

So far, I don't know what I am going to say. The meeting is in 2 hours and I have no idea what I am going to say. I don't even know why Morgenstern needs help for. I guess, I just have to say some shit and pray.

Alec and I were sitting in the grand study of Valentine. One of the servants brought in some drinks. We were talking silently when the door opened and Valentine walked in. more like dragged himself in. He throws himself into his chair.

Alec and I stand up and shake his bony hands. We introduce ourselves.

"Ah. Jace. You look just like your father," Valentine says.

"You knew my dad?"

"Yeah. We went to the same school. He was my best friend. Can't believe he left us so soon." Valentine had a look of sadness and he shakes his head and asks the purpose of this meeting.

"Mr. Morgenstern, as you may know, because of the news and all that uh my company is not doing too good right now. I know it is my fault. I have not been um paying attention to the company lately." It feels weird to admit it out loud. This is a bad idea. Who will want to partner up with me? My reputation is below low.

"But I am trying to get back on track. It's only few a more weeks and I will be fully back. I am aware of my reputation. I am sure you are too but trust me, I am trying." Valentine's thin face just blankly stared at me. I have no clue what else to say.

Alec clears his throat. Saved.

"Here are our stock values and financial status," Alec hands the folder to Valentine. "As you can see, we are not doing so well and can use some help. I heard that you needed some help in your company. If you would like to share the reason, we could maybe propose something."

"Right, we would've come up with something but we didn't know what exactly you needed." I finish it up.

Valentine stared at us for a long time. He was clearly debating with himself if he wanted to let us help him. He looked at the files as well. Deep in thought.

While he was busy, I took the time to look around. There were wooden bookcases, lamps, pictures, etc.

I looked closely at the pictures and could make out the faces. 2 of the pictures were baby pictures. One was a chubby red headed baby and the other was a thin white-blonde haired boy.

I gazed behind Valentine and saw a portrait of a family. Clearly the Morgenstern family. There was Valentine sitting on a chair. He wore a crisp tailored suit. Next to him was a tall woman. She looked exactly like Clary. Her red hair was in a bun and she wore a red gown. Behind her stood a boy who looked like a younger version of Valentine. His face was angular and his eyes were green. Next to him stood a petite redhead that I seem to know so well.

Even after so many years, I still can't forget her. I wasn't lying when I said I loved her. I do but she broke me. And I deserved it. I have put her through a lot. Of course, she hates me but I just can't forget her.

"Val," a soft voice said. "Clary is on the phone." Hearing her name made my heart skip a beat.

"I'll talk to her later," Valentine says and the woman leaves.

"I appreciate you guys coming here. After thinking this through, I have come to a conclusion. I will give you a chance." I sigh in relief and was about to thank him when he stopped me.

"Hear me out first. The years have been a blessing to the company. It is doing so good that we don't need extra companies supporting us," Yup. He is going to say no. "But we do need help. Training. Now you see, I am not doing so well," just on the queue, he had a coughing fits.

"Sorry about that. Like I was saying, I don't have much time left. One of my kidneys has already failed and I have about 2-3 months before the other one fails as well.

" Now I have resigned from my CEO post. I am passing the Company to my 'heir'. My son is the right successor but he is gone. So, my daughter, Clarissa, will be the next CEO of Morgenstern Industries. Now, she doesn't know this. Nor is she qualified to be a CEO," he stops to drink some water. He was breathing hard.

"I am ready to help you. Jace, you are a very intelligent boy. You have the potential and you are one of the best CEOs out there. I get you have fallen off of the track but I believe in you. I will give you the money. However much you need to get your company back on track."

"Thank you, sir. Um, that will be an amazing help. What can we do in return?" I ask him. I can do anything he wants me to because we need money.

"In return, I want you to train Clarissa. Train her to be the best." Alec looks over at me.

I know what he is thinking. I have to see Clary again. I am not over her. At all. And I can't see her. I just can't. but we need the help.

"Of course. I will train her."

Valentine smiles. "How do you want us to repay the money?" Alec asks.

"You don't need to. I want Jace to run my company as well. When Clary is fully ready, she can take over. I have one condition though."

"What is it?" I ask. I don't mind training Clary.

"You have to marry her."

I choke on air and cough. What the fuck. I am too young to marry. Hell, I am just 25.

"What?" Alec asks, dumbfounded.

"Jace, your reputation is not the best right now. If you want your company to get projects, you need to improve your reputation. Everyone thinks, you are a man whore and that you have no manners. You are always late to your meetings or just never show up.

"People will see you with Clary. Paparazzi will question and make comments about it. I don't want them to know my condition. I want you to marry Clary. You guys can divorce once she is fully trained.

"Clary is a very wise girl. She will teach you some things too. You both can learn so many new things. And your image of a man whore will be changed once everyone knows you are ready to commit to Clary."

This is too much. I know I love Clary but marriage is a very big commitment and I am not sure if I am ready to take that step just now.

"What about Clary? Does she want this?" Alec asks. I completely haven't thought about that.

"I have not talked to her yet."

I rub my temples and say, "I need time. Can I call you once I have my decision?"

"Yeah. Of course. If you are ready, then we can talk to Clary as well."

"So, you gunna do it?" Alec asks once we are back at my office.

"I don't know. I can train Clary but I can't marry her. She hates me."

"I think you should. The company needs it. You need it. Think about it. Your reputation will be changed. You just have to stop hoeing around for like what a year? By then Clary will be fully trained and you can give her a divorce." Alec says.

"What if this marriage doesn't work out? What if she doesn't want me? She said she hates me. I can't take that. I don't want her to hate me. I want her to love me like I love her. But I don't wanna scare her off either," I know I was rambling but I just couldn't stop.

"Clary said she will never forgive me. I don't want her to hurt again. I know how much it hurts her to see me. Why did I do all those things to her? Why?"

I hate myself. If I didn't do all those things to her maybe this could've worked out.

"You have to face her someday. Look, if you marry her, you will spend more time with her. You can make up then. Go on actual dates, make her feel special, work for that forgiveness. Show her that you are different." Alec does have a point.

I can make up to here. I can show her that I truly do love her. But will she believe me though?

Clary POV:

I double checked my suitcase, making sure I had everything I needed. I decided to go visit my parents for a few weeks. After that phone call, I booked a ticket to New York right away.

My phone rang and I looked to see who it was. It was Magnus.

"Hey biscuit, all ready?"

"Yeah, Magnus. Are you outside?"

"I sure am."

"Okay, I'll be right out."

When I told Magnus I was going back home for a bit, he insisted he wanted to go with me too. He was homesick. Magnus grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He moved to Spain when he was 16.

I went downstairs and sure enough, Magnus was waiting in his car. After putting my suitcase and handbag in the car. Magnus and I drove to the airport. We sang along the radio and goofed along.

The security check was long and boring but we finally made it through.

"Hey Clare, look at this," Magnus hands me a magazine. "Isn't that your golden boy?"

I look at the cover and it was Jace. He looked fucked. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair was everywhere. His mouth was in a crooked grin. His posture was sluggish and he was holding a girl's hand. The girl was pretty. Blonde, blue-eyed, tall. The look on her face said, 'I am about to get fucked by the hottest dude ever!'

"Yeah…" I say distracted as I read the headline.

'Jace Wayland and his new one-night stand leaving a bar!'

"Ugh, will he ever change?" Magnus asks.

Jace has been on the news for quite a while now. Every time he is with a new girl.

"It's his life. I don't care about this pig."

All through the plane ride, I kept thinking about Jace. I will be lying if I said I don't feel anything for him. I don't but then I do. It's complicated.

He broke me. He hurt me. The pain is still fresh. There is a part of me that hates him. That never wants to see him again. Then, there is a part of me that wants to see him again. That wants to hurt him for all the things he has done to me. And then, there is another part of me that wants him to beg for forgiveness. That wants him to do things for me. Prove it to me that he is not the same. He has changed. He is actually sorry.

The last time I saw him, I made sure to hurt him. I made sure he understood that I hate him.

Ever since then, he has been on the news for being the biggest man whore. I wish he could change. I really do. But it's his life. I just want to meet my parents and enjoy my time in New York. And hope I don't see Jace.

I don't like the ending of this chapter. I want Clary to have mixed feelings about Jace. So when Jace starts making it up, she feels something. Leave a review, if this sounds good or leave a suggestion. Next chapter will be Val telling Clary about his plan with Jace.