Chapter 9
Nathalie woke up and left her room at 6 o'clock. She knocked on her boss's door and he let her in. They performed all the necessary tasks throughout the day, although that time between them was a bit quiet as Nathalie was still angry with Gabriel. Three hours before the event, everything was ready to begin. The models were getting ready in the dressing room.
They both returned to the hotel to change. Nathalie was already preparing the dress that she always wore in these types of events, when Gabriel knocked on the door. He was already wearing his suit and, on his shoulder, he carried the black suit rack.
"There is going to be a gala for the celebration of the parade and I need a companion. But since I don't want to go with anyone else, you will be my companion."
"But sir…" She decided to protest, but he raised his free hand, stopping her. "I'm your assistant."
"I don't accept a 'but' for an answer. I brought a dress for you. It's an exclusive design" Gabriel said as he hung the suit rack in the closet.
Nathalie opened it. It was a long golden dress, a little open at the front of her torso, as well as at the back of it, although to a lesser extent. The skirt was held up by a small belt and had a long cut in front, which would expose both legs. A long cape covered the shoulders of the dress. The pattern of the dress was similar to golden scales, which shone in the light.
She went into the private bathroom to put it on. It needed a few adjustments, but overall, it fit her pretty well. Gabriel helped her to put on the belt that demarcated her waist and to finish adjusting the dress, with the skill that characterized him, and to arrange the cape, so it would flow the way he designed it.
He took her face and began to examine her meticulously.
"I'll do your makeup myself."
Then he motioned for her to sit on the dresser. Gabriel took a jar off the table that she recognized as the golden wax that he used on his models and that it was temporary. I apply it on top of her lock of red hair with his hands.
"It can be removed with water. Don't worry" he said before Nathalie could protest.
Gabriel gave her sandals the same color as her dress for her to wear. He tied up a part of her hair with a leaf-shaped comb to tie the strands of hair that he had collected. The jewels stood out behind her head, like a crown.
Then Gabriel used his makeup set on her, applying a golden color to her eyelids and using a lipstick similar to the natural color of her lips.
Gabriel suggested to Nathalie to wear her contact lenses for this occasion. She wasn't a fan of wearing them because she didn't find them very practical when it came to taking them off, but she took the suggestion. She would wear a matching small handbag with her dress where she would keep her phone and other items needed for the gala. He gave her some pieces of jewelry that matched her outfit.
Adrien entered the room.
"Father, Nathalie I was looking for you..." Then he saw Nathalie in detail and was left with his mouth open. "You look very pretty."
She came over and combed his hair in gratitude.
"You don't look bad either, Adrien. Did you prepare everything you need for tonight? Have you already eaten something?"
"Yes, thank you for letting me know beforehand so I could eat something, I really didn't know how long the whole event would take." He left the room, heading for the elevator.
Nathalie nodded. She walked ahead of him without speaking to Gabriel.
"Nathalie wait!"
She stops and turned just to look at him.
"I've seen how you take care of my son" he mentioned sweetly.
"I'm just doing my job" She just remained serious.
"Not all assistants take so much care of their bosses' children. You care so much about my son, so much that I think you love him more than I do. And I am very sorry for what I told you that day. I was not thinking clearly. I deserve that hit you gave me."
Gabriel Agreste could rarely be heard apologizing for something. A slight blush crossed her cheeks, making her look to the ground.
He lifted her chin in the most delicate way possible, so that she could see him in the eye.
"I appreciate you being there with him when I can't."
"There is no need to thank me" and then she added "I accept your apology. But I don't want to hear what you said to me ever again."
"I promise" he said as he squeezed her hand lightly and brought it to his lips to kiss the back of it, leaning in a little. "We're getting late."
The car that would take them to the event was already there. It was driven by the gorilla. She felt strange, as she always attended as Gabriel Agreste's assistant. This time she would go as his companion. They went down the hotel stairs to the car. During the trip, she noticed that Gabriel couldn't stop looking at her.
Upon reaching the place, Gabriel went out first to help Nathalie out. Her dress shone brighter in the camera lights. He offered her his arm and she took it.
Soon the paparazzi surrounded them and started asking questions. Nathalie felt a bit uncomfortable at all the attention they were being given. Gabriel became aware of this, stepping in front of her to cover her and to divert all the attention to him while Gorilla managed to disperse them. He took her hand and led her out of that place.
Entering they found a fairly decorated room with a very warm light provided by the giant hanging ceiling lamp in the center of the room. Audrey Bourgeois was waiting on the side of the catwalk. Approaching her, she noticed their presence.
"Ah Gabriel, you came, I see you have company. May I ask who is your companion?"
"She is my assistant, Nathalie."
She looked at her over her dark glasses.
"I didn't recognize her. It looks like she finally got rid of that hideous black suit that she always wears."
Nathalie decided to ignore that comment. But Gabriel wouldn't let it pass.
"For your information Audrey, the work uniform is assigned by me, so I demand more respect for my assistant" Gabriel said firmly.
Audrey kept her expression serious. She continued chatting with him, of subjects that were out of the knowledge of Nathalie. She decided that she would go check on Adrien and perform some of her duties as Gabriel's assistant. She went straight to the dressing room and showed her identification so they let her in. There was Adrien, looking at the suits they gave him.
"I came to let you know that it's almost time to go out." Nathalie looked at the time on her phone.
"And where is my father?" Adrien put on the hat he was supposed to wear for the first round.
"He's busy. You will see it in the runway" she pronounced, while she kept checking her phone, before placing a hand on Adrien's shoulder "I wish you luck."
She went out to find Gabriel who was chatting with some of the other designers. When the organizers made the call, they both went to find their respective seats in the first row of the fashion show. Gabriel helped Nathalie to sit up. The lights went out and the fashion show began. Each and every one of the dresses that Gabriel designed appeared on the catwalk. Adrien had to show the teenage outfits and every time he went out Nathalie would smile at him.
When the fashion show of his designs was over, Gabriel took the podium, where he received the respective cheers. He also posed for some photos with his son. Nathalie and Gabriel decided to send Adrien back to the hotel to rest. He thanked them and the Gorilla took him.
The night passed normally, with the other designers who showed up. By midnight, everyone began to leave. They stayed for a few more hours until the event was finally over and they allowed the other employees to retire to their resting places.
The Gorilla returned to took them to the hotel. They both went up in the elevator. Nathalie would accompany her boss to his room. Before entering, Gabriel addressed her.
"Nathalie, thank you for joining me tonight. I really appreciate it" and with it he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. They both retired to their rooms. Nathalie just leaned against the door of her room, not believing what had just happened.
A few hours later, she went to wake up Adrien, who apparently slept with the suit on. She told him at what time they were leaving so he had time to pack his things. She performed the same task with her boss, so that they could leave for Paris before noon. Nathalie, Gabriel, Adrien and the Gorilla returned in the private plane.
When they arrived at the mansion, they unpacked their things and organized everything. After unpacking, Adrien caught up with his friends about his responsibilities at school.
Nathalie decided to take up the tasks she left before leaving. By chance, some notifications came to her phone. She saw photos of herself on the news and gossip pages. Even the one they took with her by Gabriel's arm. She guessed that her boss also saw them from the face he made.
At that moment a call came through Nathalie's phone.
"Yes?"
"Oh hi, Nathalie, I'm Amelie, I'm calling because I want to know how Gabriel is doing" the woman said happily.
This can't be good, Natalie thought.
"He's busy at this moment" she answered, looking at him.
"Oh, I just wanted to let you know that we'll be visiting in a couple of days and staying for a week. Nothing like visiting my nephew Adrien to see how he is doing. Plus, his cousin Felix is eager to see him" Nathalie rolled her eyes.
"I'll let Gabriel know, I'll check on you when you arrive" Nathalie hung up. And then she spoke to Gabriel.
"Amelie called, she told me that she's going to come visit us for a few days."
Gabriel stopped everything he was doing.
"How long do they plan to stay?" He asked as he examined his sketches.
"About a week."
He groaned under his breath, but then she thought it might be the perfect opportunity to retrieve the ring that his nephew, Felix, stole from him. And not only that, but he could make a good akuma out of it.
"Tell them I'll be waiting for them."
Nathalie nodded.
The day they arrived Adrien was waiting for them at the entrance, excited. Nathalie was with him. Adrien ran to greet his aunt and his cousin. Amelie came forward to greet her brother-in-law.
"Hi Gabriel, long time no see."
Felix stood behind her, arms folded, looking defiantly at his uncle. Gabriel examined his hands, but saw no sign of the ring. Maybe he had it hidden elsewhere, the Grahams de Vanilly were known to wear twin rings everywhere. That same night, Amelie requested to speak with Gabriel, alone.
"Are you hiding something Gabriel?" Amelie asked, trying to get directly to the point.
"No, Amelie. I'm not hiding anything" answered the annoyed.
"Oh, is that it? Because you seemed very comfortable with your assistant in those photos of the gala" she scolded him sarcastically.
"I asked her to accompany me, as my companion, nothing more."
Amelie saw that the conversation was going nowhere, so she decided to end it there.
"I hope that's true, Gabriel. Or else, I'm going to have a very serious talk with my nephew, even if you don't like it."
The first few days were quiet, with Felix behaving strangely well. Adrien took him to meet his friends, because he thought maybe it would be good for him to meet other people. Although there really were not many advances.
"I just want you to have friends like me" he told Felix that night after meeting with his friends.
"You don't understand, no one likes me, and I was mean to them last time."
"That doesn't mean they can't forgive you" Adrien replied, sitting down next to him.
In the following days, Gabriel allowed Felix and Adrien to go out for a while. Felix had a great time. While they waited to be picked up to take them to the mansion, Felix and Adrien chatted and ate ice cream.
"I guess maybe I should take your advice."
"Uh?" Adrien exclaimed as he ate a piece of his cone.
"The one to open up to other people. People who interact with me, but who I do not know."
Upon arriving at the mansion, Amelie asked her son to speak alone. A behavior that Gabriel found very suspicious. Just in case he kept the remaining twin ring in the small safe in his room to prevent it from 'disappearing'.
After the conversation with his mother, Felix locked himself in the bathroom of his room. Felix just wanted to help his mother find out the truth. He slipped out until he reached the door of the atelier, where he made sure that no one was there, managing to enter it. He opened the bottle of water that he had in his hand, spreading its contents on the floor a few meters from the entrance to the atelier. He quietly left to wait for the right moment and go in search of his mother.
Nathalie and Gabriel went through the hall of the mansion straight to the atelier. Nathalie tripped over the wet part. She would have fallen to the ground had it not been for Gabriel to be in front of her. She felt him hug her waist. Nathalie was not the type of person to have such incidents, so he knew the cause of this. He looked at the ground and noticed that the floor was wet.
"That brat is going to pay for this."
At this moment, Amelie walked into the office.
"This is a misunderstanding, Amelie. It's not what you think it is."
"Of course, and I'm blind" she exclaimed, crossing her arms.
"I'm serious Amelie" Gabriel insisted.
Not very convinced, she closed the door.
"I'm very sorry sir, it was an accident" Nathalie apologized.
"I know, and I know who will take the punishment." Gabriel headed out of the atelier.
Felix had just returned to the foyer.
"Felix, can you explain to me what you were doing in my office? It is prohibited and you know it very well." Gabriel snapped.
"I don't know what are you talking about, uncle" said Felix disinterestedly.
"Don't lie to me."
"I was just exploring a little" Felix said defiantly.
Gabriel saw the opportunity for him.
"This is the second time you've abused my trust, Felix, and that has already tried my patience. These are adult things; you don't have to intervene. You are just a child."
That made Felix angry. He was just trying to help his mother with what she had told him.
It was a perfect opportunity for an Akuma. Gabriel entered the atelier again and gave the signal to Nathalie that he was going to enter her lair. Upon entering, he immediately transformed and let the butterfly out of the scepter and allowing it to land on his hand to demonize it. The butterfly came out and went to the empty water bottle that Felix was holding in his hands.
"Oh, a boy who just wants to know the truth about what's going on. Well then, I'll give you the pleasure of being able to find out secrets. You will only have to bring me the Miraculous of Ladybug and Chat Noir in exchange."
"Yes Hawkmoth" A black cloud covered him to resurface with an elegant black suit and in his hand a scepter with liquid inside was formed.
"I'm going to find out all your secrets."
Nathalie was already preparing to leave the atelier, when the akuma blocked her path. She backed away to hide behind her desk so she could evade him. But this akuma was faster and he managed to catch up with her. She fell sitting to the ground and the akuma spilled the liquid on her. Her eyes turned purple.
"Get up."
She obeyed without resistance.
"Now, how is the relationship between Gabriel and you?"
Hawkmoth was surprised.
"No, stop! I order you!" Hawkmoth screamed desperately, fearing that Nathalie would reveal their identity.
"Gabriel Agreste? I am..."
At those moments Chat Noir entered the room.
"Leave her alone" he exclaimed, throwing his cane right into his hand, causing his scepter to slide across the floor. While that was happening, Chat Noir sent a message to Ladybug to come help him.
After a battle that left the atelier in a mess, the superhero duo managed to purify the akuma.
"Where I am?" Felix asked a bit confused.
"At Mr. Agreste's atelier" Ladybug replied "But it will be clarified later."
And with that Ladybug and Chat Noir withdrew. Adrien entered his room and ran to the atelier. Amelie was behind him. After a few minutes explaining what happened, Amelie looked at her son reproaching him.
"Felix, I'm very disappointed in you. I told you not to intervene in this matter. I take care of this."
"Felix. Again?" Adrien asked.
He rolled his eyes, annoyed.
"I didn't do it on purpose, I just wanted to help my mother find out what's going on."
Adrien looked at him disappointed.
"I think you need to improve your attitude."
Gabriel used this moment to addresseveryone, but he focused his gaze on Amelie.
"I want it to be clear that there is nothing between me and Nathalie beyond our professional relationship."
Amelie just sighed.
"I just wanted to make sure that Adrien, my nephew, was okay."
"Well, he is, you don't have to worry about him, I've got everything under control" Gabriel snapped, clenching his fists.
Amelie decided not to push the matter further. But she would be checking on Adrien every three days. Or at least that was the arrangement she made with Gabriel. After that discussion, Amelie and Felix returned to London.I promised myself I was going to update more frecuently, so here we are.
Things are getting out of hand are they?