He never thought he would see her again. Never thought she would have the guts to even come. He had missed her so much. It hurt him; hurt him so bad when he found those texts that his father had sent while he was still in school. When he came home . . . when he found them. . . . He tried to send an apology. But she had blocked him. He almost got kicked out of HMAYS (Hawk Moth Academy for Young Spirits) for depression issues.

He almost fell out of his seat when she walked into the office in deeply rimmed glasses and a bun. Her bright bluebells looked around for someone. His jaw dropped in shock and awe.

"I'm going to marry her, Alya," he said. "I know it."

But he remembered how a week later he couldn't even say goodbye. She must have moved on. After all, she never loved him. Never really cared. Who would? He had proven to be a major player. He decided it was for the best. And she looked so happy, talking to people and laughing. It made his heartache. I miss you. It started to swell, and he couldn't tell if it was good or bad.

"Um, Mr. Smith? Who's that girl?" he asked, pointing to her. He knew the answer.

"The new one?" he asked, confused. Simon Smith was a tall young man with black hair and brown skin, and he was currently holding a box of designs he had wanted to try out. He followed Adrien's gaze.

"Yes. Her," he answered, trying to hide his urgency. His heart was as big as a football, and he could barely breathe.

"That's Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Your new secretary. She's just getting the tour, right now," Simon said casually. He could practically hear the smirk in his voice. The man started to get uncomfortable.

"Oh," he said. "Thank you, Simon. Has she talked to anyone?"

"Ohhh, I see. You've got it bad, sir! But she's already taken by one of the forensic designers downstairs. Nathanael something, I think. The one with the red hair," he explained. Adrien's heart deflated, but he continued to watch, to pay attention.

"Tell her to come to my office. She probably doesn't know there was a recent change of employees," he asked Simon. "Thank you."

"Yes, sir," he said, walking off with the box.

"Call me Adrien!" he yelled after him. He and Simon had been in the HMAYS together, yet he still wouldn't call him anything but sir. Adrien was slightly annoyed at this. He headed down the hallway where Marinette was at, and he could barely keep himself from staring. From speaking. He wanted to say hello.

He panicked when it looked like Mari snook a peek at him when he passed. He needed to talk to her. Badly. Soon.

Marinette was his.