A/N in describing Jenna's engagement ring I referred to the stone as a quarter karat in size. That was incorrect. Karat is the measure of purity of a metal such as gold while carat is the weight of a diamond or other precious stone.
Chapter 52
The next morning Adrien treated his friends to another spa day, including time with a hairstylist and makeup artists for the girls. Now he and Marinette were dressed and heading for the gala. As they rode along Adrien stole another glance at Marinette from where he sat in the back seat of the car he had been driven around in for years. Despite everything, he had to bow to his father's wishes on certain subjects. Nino and Alya had to provide their own transportation, and arrive later to the gala, seeing as they would not be participating in the red carpet introductions. Much as he despised what his father had been up to, and that he was Hawk Moth, he did still respect the Gabriel Fashion brand, and appearances had to be maintained, not to mention that, at 17, he was a still a minor, and Gabriel was his father.
"I gather you still like what you see, or are you checking to make sure I'm not getting nervous." Marinette said softly, then giggled as Adrien blushed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't tease. I admit that I have given you more than enough reason to be worried that I'll be a nervous wreck when we hit the red carpet."
"What? You? Nahh." Adrien said, then they both broke out laughing.
Marinette's expression grew serious. "Just know that I'm doing this for my own interests, and for you, not as any kind of favor for your father." she told him.
"Trust me, I understand." Adrien said. "You know how protective of you I can get, and his hiring those thugs, and pulling Sean's team back, well let's just say that I can't wait to be able to tell him off myself."
Marinette smiled sweetly at him, and leaned over across the seat. "I know, mon chevalier, but that will have to wait until the police complete their investigation."
Adrien huffed softly. "Just because I know it doesn't mean I have to like it." he said.
Marinette hummed her agreement, then swallowed nervously as she saw the drop off point for the red carpet.
An awning stretched from the entrance of the Grand Paris, to the curb. Lights had been set up and even though it was only about three in the afternoon the lights outshone the sun. She saw the security fences on either side of the red stripe of carpet. Behind the fences were mostly members of the press, with a mix of regular people wanting to catch a glimpse of the fashion elite. She shuddered slightly when he realized that they were here to see Adrien, not her.
"They'll be here for you soon enough, just you wait and see." Adrien said as if reading her thoughts. "Come on, it's our turn." he said as the car came to a stop.
Adrien stepped out first, the flashing from the cameras going wild as he turned and offered his hand to Marinette. She was surprised when the flashes redoubled as she stepped from the car.
"Looks like some of them are here for you already." Adrien said, leaning in to whisper into her ear. He straightened up and offered her his arm.
Marinette smiled as she linked her arm in his and she saw the look of surprise when she also entwined her fingers with his.
"Marinette! This way, please!" a voice from the left side of the carpet shouted, and she stopped and looked, surprised to see several camera phones flash. "Thank you!" the voice shouted again.
"That's my girl." Adrien said leading her further down the carpet.
About halfway down on the right side was where the majority of the press were. As they neared them the camera flashes became a steady light, and reporters called out to the couple as they stopped in front of the screen with the Grand Paris, and Gabriel logos on it.
"Adrien, Marinette, how about a kiss for the camera?" several asked.
Adrien turned to her. "Up to you, Princess."
In reply, Marinette turned to him and put her arms over his shoulders, locking eyed with him.
Adrien swallowed nervously and smiled when he saw the look of adoration on her face, his arms encircling her waist.
"Thank you for asking." she said softly, then leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. She melted into the kiss as she felt him relax, his arms tightening around her, pulling her tightly against him, and she toyed with the hair on the nape of his neck with her fingers.
If either of them had kept their eyes open, they would have noticed that the camera flashes went into hyperdrive on both sides of the carpet.
After a moment they broke the kiss, to a smattering of applause.
"Love you." Marinette said as she planted a quick peck on the tip of his nose.
"Love you too." he breathed into her ear as he hugged her.
They turned to continue into the hotel, and neither of them saw a large wrinkle in the carpet. Unfortunately, the toe of Marinette's right foot found it and she started to topple.
Adrien felt her balance shift, and he turned towards her, his hand still holding hers, and his other hand going to her back as she twisted as she fell.
The result was him holding her in a perfect dip position.
"Gotcha." he said, smiling down at her.
"Thank you, mon chevalier." she said, returning the smile, then straightened up so they could hug again.
"That was a better kiss than the ones you gave Tara." a voice called out.
Marinette glanced at Adrien, and saw that he was now wearing what she called his modeling smile, the one he wore for the press and when he was doing photo shoots.
Adrien noticed the change in his girlfriend's expression. "I'll explain inside." he said softly.
After a moment they resumed their walk down the carpet and into the hotel.
"You know about Tara and I." Adrien said as they left the foyer of the hotel. He stopped and turned toward Marinette and put his hands on her shoulders. "I swear to you that nothing happened between us." he said. "Yes there were some times that we had to hug and kiss for the press." he took a deep breath, seeing the look in her eye. "You may not have been my first kiss, technically, but yours was the first kiss I had that had the love and other feelings behind it, and believe me I could feel the difference." he paused seeing that she was thinking that over.
In response, Marinette put her arms around him and drew him in for a kiss. "I hope you can still tell the difference." she said peering at him from under her bangs.
Adrien gave her a genuine smile even as he blushed. "I certainly can." he told her. Hoping to hide his discomfort, he took two flutes of champagne from the tray a server was carrying. "I'm still not used to getting those from you, Milady." he told her. "Shall we mingle?"
A short time later, Adrien and Marinette were walking around, sipping from their flutes of champagne. Marinette looking at the various designs of the outfits being worn, and was startled when Adrien was yanked from her side. Her look of consternation lasted only long enough for her to get a look at who had pulled him from her side.
"Adrien, mon ami, it has been far to long." the older woman said, kissing his cheeks.
"Vivian, it is good to see you." Adrien said happily. "May I introduce my girlfriend, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Marinette, this is. . ." he began, but trailed off as he watched Marinette drop into a deep curtsy, her head bowed.
"Madame Vivian LeBeau." Marinette finished for him. "Madame, it is an honor."
Adrien watched as Vivian smiled broadly and pulled Marinette up from her curtsy. "I appreciate the honor, child, but here we are all equals, being either in the fashion industry or special to someone who is."
"Thank you, Madame." Marinette said.
"She is actually both, Vivian." Adrien said. "Marinette has a design that's showing tonight."
"Well, you have my congratulations." Vivian said, "I hope you are successful."
"I'll never compare to your last winter series." Marinette said. "Using pastel colors as your base pallet was a stroke of genius."
Adrien smiled softly at the expression on Vivian's face, then walked along listening to the two talk design and fashion. As they strolled along, Adrien almost chuckled. Marinette had been concerned that she would been not exactly ignored, but a third wheel, to whoever Adrien met. Now here he was, was walking along unable to keep up with the two women's conversation as they discussed color selections, fabric types, stitches and the like.
He smiled fondly when he saw the look on Marinette's face. Not a trace of self-doubt, her eyes shining with her passion for the topics they discussed.
It was then that he that saw Nathalie striding purposely toward them.
"Good evening, Nathalie." he greeted her as she walked up.
"Good evening, Adrien." she said. "I beg your pardon, Madame LeBeau, but I must speak with Marinette and Adrien for a moment."
"Of course." Vivian said, then gave Marinette a hug. "I will expect to see you after the show and discuss the designs."
Nathalie raised and eyebrow as Marinette gave a small curtsy.
"I would be honored, and enjoy that very much, Mad, er, Vivian." Marinette said.
"What's up, Nathalie?" Adrien asked.
In reply, Nathalie held up her tablet, the screen facing them.
"Good afternoon, Father." Adrien said when the screen lit up.
"Good afternoon, Adrien, Miss Dupain-Cheng." Gabriel Agrest said.
"Marinette, please, sir."
Adrien fought to keep the smile from his face at Marinette's patently false smile, and the almost sugar sweet tone of her voice.
"Very well, Marinette." Gabriel said. "It is you that I primarily want to talk to." he went on. "Unfortunately the copy of your gown that was to be shown tonight somehow wasn't made up."
"Then it won't be in the show?" Marinette asked, stunned.
"Father, if it's not in the show, that means it won't be included in your Spring/Summer line." Adrien said.
"Unfortunately that is correct." Gabriel said. "You will receive your commission for the units already purchased, and I will be paying you three hundred thousand euros to buy out your contract."
"What about the one I have on?" Marinette asked. "I know some of the models are close to my size."
"Unfortunately they are occupied with the rest of the line." Nathalie said. "I know you're not a professional model, but you would have to model it yourself in order for it to be included."
"Me?" Marinette squeaked.
"Actually it would be to your advantage." Adrien said, drawing a glare from his girlfriend. "When the press learns that you not only designed the gown but also modeled it at the show, it would be major selling point." he explained.
"Yessss." Nathalie said thoughtfully. "I can work with that."
"Indeed." Gabriel said dryly. "Well, Marinette?"
Marinette huffed. "Alright, I'll do it." she said resignedly.
"Fine." Gabriel said. "Nathalie get her back to makeup, and any final adjustment that have to be made."
"Yes sir." Nathalie said, and the tablet faded to black. "Adrien it's time for you to go backstage as well."
"Right." Adrien said, and took Marinette's hand as he led her to the backstage area.
"What have I gotten myself into?" she asked, as she followed Adrien to the makeup and hair styling area.
She stopped when Adrien did, and he gave her a supportive hug. "Just do what you did Monday and yesterday, and you'll be fine." he said. "You've got this, I have faith in you."
Marinette rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Chaton. That does help."
A short time later, Marinette watched as Adrien came out of his dressing room in his outfit. She felt her heart race as she looked him over. From what she could tell, he was still wearing the same pants and shoes that he had on before, but had changed into a blue shirt, and the matching tie was almost impossible to see if it wasn't for the white gold tie clasp.
"Hey there, handsome." she said playfully.
Adrien blushed slightly. "Hello, yourself, Gorgeous." he shot back. "What is it?" he asked when he saw that she was looking intently at something.
"Twenty minutes to lineup!" a man called out.
Ignoring Adrien for the moment, she called out to one of the models.
"Kira, can I talk to you for a moment?"
The slender brunette walked over. "Hey, Marinette." she said, then looked her over. "You're modeling?"
"Just my gown." Marinette replied as she scrutinized the dress Kira was wearing. "Who's design is that?"
"Mister Renard's." she replied. "Why."
"Mari, what is it?" Adrien asked when he saw Marinette's eyes narrow.
"It's one of mine." she said simply.
Adrien almost protested that Marinette was mistaken, but he saw the look on her face, and thought better of it. "Marcel!" he called. A moment later an older man walked up.
"Yes, Adrien, what is it?"
"Is this listed as one of Jean Claude's designs?"
Marcel, looked at a tag at Kira's back. "Three twenty-five." he muttered, tapping at his tablet. "Why yes it is."
"Well, it shouldn't be." Marinette insisted. "And I can prove it."
"How?" Nathalie asked as she walked up.
"Clothes with a pattern on them I mark two ways, one by signing it inconspicuously, like I did my derby hat, and the other by including my monograph in the pattern."
"Don't you mean, monogram?" Adrien asked.
"No." Marinette said. "A monogram is just a fancy script of a person's initials." She explained. "A monograph is more stylized." she went on, then reached out and traced over a section of the flower pattern. "M, D, C." she said as she traced her finger over it. "The right leg of the M is the straight back of the D, and the C acts like a table to support them."
"Yes. I see it now." Marcel said. "It is a good thing you do that, designs have been known to be stolen."
"Can I see the other designs from JC, Marcel?" Adrien asked.
"Sure." Marcel replied, and swiped through a set of designs.
"That one!" Marinette gasped. "He didn't even change the color from my sketchbook." she said, and pointed out the monograph on it.
"And that one." Adrien said as another dress was brought up. The monograph was plain to see, if you knew to look for it.
"That's all of his." Marcel said, after three more designs.
"This is distressing." Gabriel's voice said from Nathalie's tablet. "Marinette, you have my deepest apologies." he said. "You will be given proper credit for those three dresses. Nathalie will make up an addendum to your contract and have them ready for you to sign tomorrow." he added. "Where is mister Renard?"
"Right here, sir." JC said as he walked up. "What seems to be the problem?"
"You stole three of my designs!" Marinette said angrily. "And tried to pass them off as yours." she quickly glanced over at Adrien who had put his hands on her shoulders, holding her back as she leaned threateningly toward the older designer, he remembered the Kitty Section incident.
"You'd better be able to prove that, girl." JC said threateningly.
"She already has, Renard, and to my satisfaction." Gabriel said. "Explain."
JC sighed, and realizing he was caught, came clean. "We were nearing deadline and I was three designs short on my quota." he said. "Marinette had brought her sketchbook over for me to look at, and while I did, Renee had something to show her. While she was distracted, I quickly went through her book and scanned in the three most promising designs I could find." he turned and looked at Marinette. "I'm sorry, Marinette, I truly am."
"Stealing another designer's work is unacceptable, Monsieur Renard." Gabriel said. "You will clear your workstation first thing in the morning, understood?"
"Yes, sir." JC said.
"Marcel, get those changes to the announcer, we show in ten." Gabriel said.
"Yes, sir." Marcel said and hurried off.