Behind the Shower Curtains (Revised)

The Golden Child and The Golden Statue

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING..except the story

Clary

"I'll see you on Sunday?" My mother stated a fact but posed it as a question. I could tell she was worried, so I offered her a smile to calm her worries.

"Yup, I'll see you Sunday..." I opened the car door, the warm air of New York rushed into the car, warming the skin I didn't know was cold. I closed the car door and looked up at the Alicante Park building and its gorgeous architecture. I swear it used to have a certain glow to it, one that died after the night of the shooting. I force down the memories of the last time I was here. The gun shots, the police lights, the tight grip on my arms as the officer led me out of the penthouse. I force all of those memories out of focus and take a deep breath as I walk into the lobby.

"Welcome back Ms.Morgenstern" it was Steve, one of the few other doormen in the Lobby. I winced at the reminder of what happened to Henry. I couldn't bring myself to ask how he was doing, It would only make this worse. I give Steve a small smile and let myself in with the key and take the elevator to my fathers floor. It was unbearably quiet, it reminded me of the first time I went up the elevator alone. It was freshly after my parents' divorce. I remember breaking down crying because of how alone I felt. Cursing Jon for leaving me all alone.

As the doors open, I am met with the familiar communal room, but the atmosphere had changed, I swear the room looks a little bit grayer than it did before the burglary. I walk down the hall to the penthouse door and notice that the flowers in the vases were gone. There was a new security system on the door that I couldn't seem to access. So I knocked on the door to avoid messing with it.

My father opens the door and greets me with a big hug. I looked at the penthouse over his shoulder, and I almost drop my bag. It was as if Megan never existed. My mothers paintings were back up, and the furniture was different, but they were eerily similar to the furniture we had before the divorce.

"Do you like what I've done with the place?" My father asks as he steps aside and lets me take in the full extent of his redecoration.

"It looks just like how mom had it..." I mumbled. "I didn't know you kept her paintings.." I said, breathlessly as I look up at my dad.

"Of course I did...those paintings are gonna be worth millions one day." He said with a soft smile, ignoring the first and most concerning observation. "Now come on, I had Irma make dinner for us," his smile was so bright, It felt like I was suddenly pulled back in time, as If it was just one of those days, when Jon was at football practice, and mom was busy painting, and It was just me and my dad...temporarily.

"So, Angelo Bianchi called about the new line...His son graduated early from U Penn for business, and he wanted to take a gap year to work alongside Morgenstern co. I think it'll be a great opportunity for the Bianchi's to become more involved with Morgenstern co. Send their best pieces over to us, it could potentially start weeding out competition." The Bianchi's were family friends and our only fabric producer. Their headquarters are in Milan, but they have factories all over the place. I've only met Angelo and his family a couple times, mainly because they didn't like traveling to the United States. But their son Alessandro loved it, and wanted to study here before taking over his family's company in Italy. He was a fantastic student, and his father took every opportunity to gloat about his genius son who's graduating top of his class at an Ivy League school at only 19 years old.

"That's great...so he'd be moving to New York in like...June?" I asked as I sipped my water.

"That's the plan..." He replied, taking a sip of wine, mirroring me.

"How have things been.." I knew I had to rip the bandaid off. I couldn't just pretend the robbery never happened.

"I don't want to talk about that Clarissa.." He winced, looking away. "Your SATs...You need to start studying for those...and you should probably take some college classes over the summer. You haven't taken any honors or AP courses. You're gonna have to fit a lot of those in next year to make you a strong candidate for college." I sighed, looking back down at my food, the tomato glistened in the light, and I felt myself disassociate as my father went on and on about classes I had to take and SAT prep he would sign me up for and all the extra curriculars I have failed to join. "I also set an appointment for you to take your driver's test. I know we haven't taken you out driving in a while, but I do think it's important you get it. Your 16th birthday is coming up Clary..." I sighed and took another bite of my food, trying to ignore my father's crippling expectations, and knowing that the driver's exam would be just another argument between my parents.