"Oh, Mama! What should I wear to dinner with Adrien and his father?" Marinette exclaimed, stressing out as she ran back and forth around her room while Sabine watched calmly on the pink chaise.

"Marinette, it doesn't matter what you wear so much as your behavior while wearing it."

"Of course it matters! This is Gabriel Agreste we're talking about, Mom! He's the CEO of the most popular fashion industry in all of Europe! Oh, gosh, what am I going to wear?"

"Marinette, calm down," Sabine spoke slowly, standing up and placing her shoulders on her daughter so as to keep her still for a moment, "Just mind your manners and be yourself."

The teen took a deep breath, closing her eyes before opening them again.

"You're right. Thanks, Mama," she said, kissing her mother on the cheek.

"I'll be downstairs with your father if you need me."

Sabine leaves through the trapdoor, leaving her daughter to her own devices.

"Your mother's right, Marinette," Tikki exclaimed, flying out of her hiding spot that she used when anyone else was in Marinette's room besides herself and Adrien.

"But I just-!" Marinette began, looking at Tikki frantically, "...I need it to be perfect."

"I know, Marinette, but everything is going to be fine. I don't think Adrien's dad would have asked you to dinner if he wasn't already interested in you."

The teen sighed before walking into her closet and took a dress off of a hanger. It was a sparkling, dark-blue dress that stopped just above her knees. The ruffles and sleeves were black but also shimmered under the light. The neckline was thin and silver, as were the cuffs of her sleeves. She then combined it with black leggings and a black overcoat both for the winter weather and for Tikki to hide in; a purse didn't fit with the outfit.

She slipped on dark-blue flats that had black ribbons on the end. Walking over to her desk, Marinette opens her jewelry box, pulling out a fake-diamond necklace with a silver chain. Finally, Tikki helped Marinette put her hair into a tight tall bun.

"How do I look?"

"You look beautiful, Marinette. Adrien's going to love it and I'm sure that Mr. Agreste will, too."

"I hope so, Tikki. Speaking of which, I'm going to be late to being early!"

Marinette descended the steps of her room, and her parents were waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

"Oh, you look stunning, Marinette," Tom said.

"Adrien is going to love it," Sabine added.

"Speaking of which, there's a limo waiting outside for you."

"It must be Adrien!" Marinette squealed before kissing her parents on their cheeks.

She ran out the door, gasping when she sees the Agreste car. Adrien stood on the sidewalk, his hand on the door while the other was outstretched to her. Inside the car, she saw Gabriel sitting, scowling ahead with his arms crossed and one of his legs draped over the other.

"Wow," Adrien breathed, his face that of relaxed-surprise.

He himself was wearing a tan business suit with a white undershirt and a red necktie. He wore brown dress shoes, which were accompanied by black crew-length socks. His hair was gelled back, and his smile dazzled in the light seeping out of the bakery.

"I could same the say thing. I mean-! I could say the same thing," Marinette replied, still somewhat flustered by Gabriel's presence.

"Shall we get going?"

Adrien took her hand, helping Marinette into the limousine. She sat down opposite from Gabriel, and Adrien sat next to her.

"I'm pleased that you could join us for dinner. We will be dining at Le Grand Paris tonight with some of my business associates that have flown in from various areas of Europe."

"Father, I thought this was a dinner for you to get to know Marinette!" Adrien exclaimed.

"Adrien, don't be so emotional in front of Ms. Dupain-Cheng."

"But, Father-!"

"Adrien," Marinette said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder, "it's alright, really."

Adrien looked at her with wide eyes, trying to tell it she was putting up a front.

"For your information before you interrupted me, my associates are that of well-known faces in the industry. My presumption was, with a common interest, social discomfort would diminish."

"Oh...I-I'm sorry," Adrien mumbled.

Gabriel paused, looking down his nose at his son, mulling over his words with a tight frown.

"Ms. Dupain-Cheng, I apologize if you are uncomfortable with these arrangements. If needed, I can contact Nathalie and have her change the reservation."

"Well, I mean…" Marinette trailed off, earning an eyebrow raise from Mr. Agreste, "I-I guess it's okay. I wouldn't want to upset your business associates."

"Very good. Our reservation is in only a few minutes, and punctuality is everything."

Gorilla took that as his cue to drive, and he pulled away from the bakery. Silence fell over the car, and Marinette crosses her legs as she twirls his thumbs back and forth.

"So...Father, do you like Marinette's dress?"

"Yes, the color palette is fitting for the style."

"Thank you, sir," Marinette replies.

Gabriel just hums in response, tilting his head away.

"Marinette, I'm really glad you could come tonight," Adrien said, suffocating in the silence.

"Are you kidding? I should be thanking you! This is so amazing!"

"Really? That's a relief."

"Oh, we're here already!"

"Yes, Nathalie set the reservation so as to optimally avoid traffic," Gabriel explained.

"Shall we go inside?"

Adrien helped Marinette out of the car, taking her hand and leading her inside after letting his Father slip in front of him to lead.

The elevator ride was quiet, but it was quickly replaced by a multitude of restaurant patrons' chatter.

"Mr. Agreste, right this way," Mr. Bourgeois himself greeted, leading them over to a table where three adults were already seated.

"Mr. Tiergaul, Mr. Limodin, Ms. Filo, it is a pleasure meeting you in person," Gabriel greeted, allowing a staff member to pull out a chair for him.

Adrien also pulled out a chair, but for Marinette. He then sat down next to her, placing his napkin on his lap.

"The pleasure is mutual, Gabriel. And this must be your son, Adrien," Mr. Limodin chimed, taking a sip from his drink."

"And who is this lovely young lady?" Ms. Filo asked.

"This is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, an up-and-coming designer and also Adrien's copine."

"Ah, I see!" Mr. Tiergaul exclaimed, bracing his arms on the edge of the table.

"You're just in time, Gabriel. We were about to order," Mr Limodin continued.

The evening was winding down, and Adrien and Marinette were both rather bored. The latter thought that she would be having a dream come true to be having dinner with some of the most-famous fashion designers, but they ignored her the entire night, instead talking about scandals and other toxic topics that Marinette had no interest in. She was certain that there were a few lies sprinkled throughout the conversations, which drove her nerve up.

Adrien could sense that Marinette was unhappy, and he frowned as his gaze fell onto the table.

'I just wanted Father to see Marinette as I do, and now she's just upset. I have to make this right!'

"I'm going to go see if Father's still in the bathro-"

Adrien is cut off by all the windows shattering as the lights shut off, shrouding everything and everyone in darkness.

Adrien immediately pushed Marinette under the table, shielding her with his body.

"An akuma?" Marinette whispered.

"I think so. Come on, we have to get away from everyone."

Marinette nodded, signaling to Tikki and Plagg, who had been hiding under the table throughout the evening, to go into Adrien's overcoat. The two teens then crawl out on all floors before getting up and running off with the chaotic crowd fleeing. Neither of them could spot the akuma, so they took the opportunity the break off, finding themselves in the deserted kitchen.

The kwamis fly back out, just as excited to see some action.

"Tikki, spots on!"

"Plagg, claws out!"

Ladybug and Chat Noir nod to each other before running out; they had a job to do.