Chapter 3

After Adrien left with Gabriel, he asked her to come to the office to attend to a matter with one of his providers who had just called him. She rushed into the office and took the call from her desk phone.

When she finished the call, she settled down from her in her chair thoughtful of what happened between Adrien and Gabriel. She wasn't sure if it was wise to take this job that Gabriel offered many years ago. She felt that she was failing to fulfill one of her greatest responsibilities, as little by little, father and son were distancing themselves more and more. Something that she precisely wanted to avoid after Emilie fell into that magical coma.

She opened one of her desk drawers. From there she took out a slightly old photo. It was from around the time she arrived at the mansion. One of the photos that Gabriel wanted to keep there because the memory of it was too painful.

In the center Gabriel and Emilie appeared with a newborn Adrien. She also found her old resume, just the one she had submitted to enter Gabriel's. She saw the photo of her, in which she was much younger, with a different hairstyle. That occasion was a very special day. It was her first year in her job.

She even remembered the interview that was carried out in order to enter to work with the company. All the aspirants left disappointed after each turn ended. But that couldn't break the strength of Nathalie, who was used to things like that. Not for nothing she had graduated from one of the best administration school in France. The memories of that time were almost nostalgic for her...

Nathalie had heard that a major fashion house in Paris was looking for new employees. When she found out about that, she looked for what positions she could apply for. She soon found one that she was interested in and that could be useful to her: Assistant to the lead designer and also the owner of the company. It was something very ambitious and for what she had prepared at the National School of Public Administration of France (ENA). Not to mention that her salary was quite generous and it could get her out of the place where she was living.

She prepared her resume and she put on an elegant black suit with a long-sleeved jacket and a white blouse, with a skirt below the knees, following the professional etiquette. She wore the only heels she had, which were black and low-heeled.

Her hair was short, reaching her chin. She had a streak of red hair on one side of her face. She thought about cutting it or dyeing it to its original color, but besides from not wanting to do it, she didn't have time anymore, so she had to let it like that. She feared that for this reason they would disqualify her, since she had classmates from the same faculty who went through it when they looked for their first job.

Looking in the mirror and verifying that she was impeccable, she took the keys to the small apartment in which she lived and went to the exit. She would take a taxi to go to the address of the Agreste mansion, where the interviews would be taking place.

When she arrived she did not expect to see so many people applying for the position.

The line circled the mansion and went beyond. Many people were talking to each other. One of her conversations caught her attention so much that she decided to listen discreetly.

"I have heard that Mr. Agreste is quite strict" said a rather young girl.

"Someone told me he's quite attractive." said another, who looked a little older.

"But he has a wife!", exclaimed the other.

"It's not like he can't have a lover." the other replied, quite flirtatious.

Nathalie frowned. She didn't like those kinds of harpies who just wanted to destroy families on a whim. She had enough of that in her teens to know how terrible it was.

When the first applicant was called, the atmosphere was filled with silence. An elderly man came out to admit each of the applicants.

Little by little people came in and out, and at the same time, the line was moving. When the first applicants began to appear, Nathalie knew that it was not going to be an easy task to get the job, because the applicants came out with a defeated face. That impressed her, quite a bit.

As the day passed, the line became shorter. They took a long time with each of the applicants.

It seems they are quite rigorous with this, she thought.

Little by little she was approaching the main entrance of the mansion. When there were just some applicants left, she saw when the aspirant that she had said that she wanted to have a boss as her lover came out crying from the room where they had made her enter when it was her turn.

She couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

Soon the old man she had seen assisting in the task of guiding applicants to the position beckoned her to enter. Running a hand through her hair, she entered with a determined step, but not before handing over the curriculum to the man. He entered first than her, probably to hand it over to the interviewer. She found herself in a kind of office, an atelier. There was a chair in the middle of the room.

"Good afternoon, you can have a seat."

A male voice welcomed her and when she sat in the chair, she could see who he was. It was Gabriel Agreste himself. Next to her was a blond-haired woman who had a small but swollen belly. She looked like she had just entered the studio. When she rested her gaze on the woman for a moment, she gave her a sweet and compassionate look. It seems that she was more patient and kinder than her husband.

Gabriel looked at her seriously from behind his glasses. He scrutinized her from top to bottom, like an animal analyzing its prey. In her hand he held the folder with her resume.

"I'll ask you a few questions and she should answer in the best way possible."

Nathalie nodded. He started with simple questions.

"Your name is…

"Nathalie Sancoeur."

Gabriel continued with the routine questions. Her age, studies and experience. The normal things in an interview. Soon came the question that she did not like.

"Do you have family?"

She was quiet for a moment before answering.

"Yes, but I got away from them a few years ago. I live alone."

The blond woman looked at her compassionately.

Gabriel began to surround her. It was as if he was trying to break her, to make her emotional stability fail. But she was used to it. A whole life she suffered from it.

Soon Gabriel noticed her lock of red hair.

"What is the reason for having hair like that?"

"It is a long story."

"You know that could be considered very unprofessional in an employee and therefore could not be eligible in my criteria, right?"

She prepared to answer, without leaving her professional air.

"I am aware of it. But this strand has a lot of meaning to me."

"Could you tell us?"

I would only tell them what is vital. She wasn't ready to tell the reason for her red lock.

"The color red is representative. It represents a very important part of my life."

Gabriel cupped his chin in interest.

"Explain yourself."

Seeing the man's intentions, he took a deep breath and responded spontaneously.

"It's like a part of me that I can't let go of, a very important change in my life. And if you tell me that if I should take it off just because you want me to stay and work here, I'm afraid it won't be possible" Gabriel frowned at that moment. She took it as her signal to leave. She got up ready to go.

But before she walked out the door, Gabriel's voice stopped her.

"Miss Sancoeur, wait."

She stopped and turned to look at him.

"I didn't say you could go yet. Today I have interviewed many people and this is the first time that someone has questioned something I have said."

That made her a little nervous.

"None of them had the audacity to speak to me like that or question what I do."

The blonde woman next to her looked at him a little concerned. He continued.

"But you were willing to defend your ideals, despite that could cost you the opportunity to work here. None of the people who were in the position you are now did. And it's just what I'm looking for in an assistant."

She looked at him with surprised eyes.

"Sir…"

"I'll be waiting for you here first thing tomorrow. We will make the arrangements so you can start as soon as possible."

He stepped down from the podium and he approached Nathalie. He held out her hand and she took it giving it a light squeeze.

"Thank you very much sir. I won't let you down."

Gabriel's wife approached her and also took her hand. She gave her a warm smile.

"Welcome."

Gabriel gave him a copy of her contract for her to read and was told that they would send someone to pick her up, as the company would cover her transportation.

When she got out, her heart was racing with the nerves and the joy that she felt in those moments of the interview. She got it at a critical moment in her life. Little did he know that it would change her life forever.

Nathalie returned to the present. She put the photo in the drawer and then took out a small newspaper cut. It was from an article that had come out the days after. It was surprising how quickly the news that Gabriel had a new assistant reached the press. Somehow, they got a picture of her and her name. She remembered how Gabriel got so furious because it was when he discovered that there was a snitch in the company. He soon found out who he was and fired him immediately.

He read the title of the article: Nathalie Sancoeur, the new assistant of designer Gabriel Agreste.

When she heard his boss arrive, Nathalie put away everything she had taken out of the drawer and closed it.

"I'll be in the lair Nathalie, make sure Adrien doesn't come in."

"Of course, sir."

She watched as her boss descended into his lair and then she got up from her seat to lock the door. She didn't want Adrien to discover them by accident in their extracurricular activities.

Adrien went to school quite tired. The akuma the day before was quite difficult. Hawkmoth seemed to be more desperate than usual. He wondered what he wanted the Miraculous for. He knew they couldn't allow them to get them, because from what Master Fu told him, there was a price to pay for whatever wishes were made.

When he arrived Miss Bustier was already there. Marinette was just on time as usual.

"As we already mentioned to you a few days ago, we will hold the event where your parents or relatives will come to talk about their professions, I hope everyone can attend. That will give them extra points in their final grade and it will be a good opportunity for everyone to spend time together."

Adrien thought it was a great idea. But he was already sure that his father would not go. And he felt worse when all his classmate's parents were available (except for Lila's parents of course, who were never available).

Marinette knew that Gabriel's brand participated in a fashion show every year. And if she knew anything, it was that these events were quite demanding and required a lot of preparation time. She felt sorry for Adrien, because it was most likely that Gabriel was going to cancel at the last minute his compromises with his own son.

But suddenly while they were having lunch, she had an idea.

"Nathalie can't replace your father? He has already sent her to come for him before, so can't you tell her to come from her instead of him?"

Adrien changed from sad to happy. That idea filled him with hope.

"That's a good idea. Thanks Marinette, you are the best."

The girl blushed at Adrien's comment.

When the day was over, Adrien looked for his car. She saw it and climbed into the back. The Gorilla took him back to the mansion. Nathalie was in the entrance waiting for him. He guessed that his father ordered her to verify that he was okay.

"Nathalie, can I ask something."

She raised an interested brow.

"Go ahead"

"Could Father go to the school event I told you about the other day?"

Of course, she remembered, but she forgot to check if it was possible for her boss to be with his son that day.

"I must check, come with me."

They both went to the atelier where Nathalie had left her tablet. She took it and looked for the date that Adrien indicated.

"I'm sorry Adrien, but your father has a video conference with some important clients of the company."

Adrien showed his disappointment.

"I knew it like always." Knowing that Adrien thought about the idea Marinette gave him.

"But then, couldn't you go? My father doesn't need you for that, does he?"

Nathalie thought for a second, she was sure that Mr. Agreste could manage things by himself for a short time. But first, she wanted to ask him if that was ok.

"I'll think about it, but I must ask your father first."

"Thank you very much, Nathalie. You're the best."

"It's better to thank me when your father gives me permission, I can't assure you anything."

Nathalie would speak to her boss once he returned. But what she didn't expect was that it would be delayed because Gabriel created an akuma that was left rampant around Paris, again. She decided to wait at her desk. She knew that Adrien would be fine in her room as long as she did not move from there and the akuma did not decide to enter the mansion. She looked for the news channel on her tablet so she could keep up with what was happening. She hoped Gabriel could get the miraculous this time. Soon the effect of the Miraculous Ladybug was present and everything returned to normal. With that she knew they had failed again.

She saw how the passage in the floor opened and that her boss came out followed by Nooroo.

I notice his disappointed face and how he quickly went to the living room to sit on the closest couch that he found. She approached noticing how tense he was. Without hesitation she put her hands on his shoulders and massaged them with a little force, to see if he could relax his tense muscles. Gabriel said nothing and got carried away. He was too stressed out with this whole situation. If only Ladybug and Chat Noir had given him their Miraculous from the beginning this would not be happening.

Nathalie heard Gabriel breathe calmly with the massage she was giving him.

Suddenly the door of the living room opened. Adrien entered.

"Nathalie? Father?"

Adrien was at the entrance of the room, looking strangely at the situation, "Is something wrong?"

"It's okay, Adrien", Nathalie said, "It's just that your father needs to rest for a moment."

"Are you sure? Shouldn't my father go to the doctor?" Adrien asked, concerned.

"No Adrien, it's not that bad. But I appreciate your concern.", This time it was Gabriel who interrupted him.

"Shouldn't you get ready for your piano class, Adrien?" Nathalie mentioned, trying to avoid the subject.

Adrien checked the time on his phone.

"It's true, if you'll excuse me, I'll go to my room."

With that Adrien left the room. The atmosphere remained quiet, in a rather uncomfortable way. Gabriel got up from his seat quickly and cleared his throat a little, straightening his tie.

"I better keep working on the pieces. Soon it will be time to do the wardrobe fittings.", and with that he left the room.

Nathalie went to make him some tea for the nerves. And she also needed it too.

She reached the kitchen and took out Mrs. Agreste's tea set. When the teapot got hot enough, she could recognize the unmistakable smell of the infusion she was making. She took it to the living room and put it on the coffee table.

She sat on the sofa and took a small sip of the drink. That relaxed her a bit. She hoped Gabriel had a cool head to tell him about Adrien's presentation. When she was ready, she went looking for Gabriel.

"Sir, I need to speak to you."

Gabriel stopped drawing the design he was making to listen to his assistant.

"Adrien told me that there will be an event at his school with the family of each student."

"Nathalie, you know what my answer is ..."

"I know sir", she interrupted, "But, even though he knows you can't go, he asked me to go instead."

This surprised Gabriel.

"What is the event about?"

"It's for career day."

He did not understand why his son had asked his assistant to accompany him to the career day at school. The year before, he asked him directly.

"Please sir, this means a lot to him."

Gabriel sighed.

"Very well. But I'll wait for you here at the mansion just when that's done."

"Thank you, sir."

Nathalie went to her desk to work on the reports they needed. She would go to break the good news to Adrien in the evening when he had finished his classes for the day.

When Nathalie saw that it was already eight at night, she went to see Adrien and bring him his dinner. He was doing his homework at school. He heard the sound of Nathalie's heels approaching and he backed away from the desk a bit.

"Adrien, I already spoke to your father."

He got up from his seat and walked over to her.

"And what did he say?", Adrien asked with his eyes full of illusion.

"He told me that it was okay for me to accompany you."

Now Adrien was smiling.

"Really? Great", and with that the boy hugged her. She wasn't expecting it, but she put her free hand on the boy's back. "Thanks a lot, Nathalie."

New chapter I hope you like it.