Author's note.
Who wants to hear Marinette sing? I do. If you got Confident by Demi Lovato on your playlists, get it ready. So, leave a review, sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Chapter 7
Up on stage.
Marinette was drawing in her sketchbook with stacks of boxes beside her. She then saw Nino reaching for one of the boxes. He opened the top one up to reveal several pastries. As he was about to grab one, Marinette pulled out a ruler and smacked Nino on the hand with it.
"Ow!" He screamed.
"Keep your hands off them" said Marinette in a threatening tone while shaking her ruler.
"Didn't you bring these for us?" Asked Alya.
"No, they're for Valentino", said Marinette. "His club is opening tonight and he paid me and my parents to make some pastries for the patrons and the workers".
"Oh come on", whined Alya. "Surely you could let each of have just one". Marinette then bolted up from her seat.
"If I see you take even so much as a CRUMB from these boxes", threatened Marinette with a scowl on her face. "Your asses are gonna be so sore you're gonna start calling me mommy". The rest of the Akuma Class just backed away.
"Yeah, that's what I thought" said Marinette. Lila just growled and Marinette smirked. Since they were paid for in advance, they couldn't take them without getting into legal trouble.
After school was finished, Marinette walked to Valentino's club. There, she was greeted by two girls. One was a black woman with long, straight hair that covered her eyes and the other one had a more tanned complexion. She had brown hair done in two, short pigtails and she had hoop earrings.
"Hello Diana, hello Valerie" said Marinette.
"Hello Marinette" greeted Valerie (the black woman) sweetly.
"Oh, you brought the pastries?" Asked Diana (the more tanned woman).
"Well, your boss did pay for them" said Marinette.
"Come in, come in" said Diana. They then moved aside and allowed Marinette to enter. The lounge and bar were being decorated for opening night. All of the dancers and staff were hanging up bandanas and streamers.
"Hey Marinette" said a female bouncer with short platinum blonde hair.
"Hi Betty".
"Hi Marinette" said a man with brown hair done in a rat braid.
"Hi Ruben".
"Hiya Marinette" said a woman with short, messy black hair.
"Nice to see ya Marinette" said a woman with long, well-kept wood-brown hair.
"Hi Dia. Hi Summer". Valentino then walked into the bar.
"Hello Marinette", he said. "You got all the pastries I asked for?".
"Yep, everything you asked for is here" answered Marinette. She placed the boxes on the counter and a bunch of bouncers took them away.
"Marinette, I know that you've done SO much for me", said Valentino. "But I have two more favours to ask you". Marinette was reluctant, but since Valentino did pay her every time she did something, she felt a bit better.
"What are that?" Asked Marinette. "The singer who was supposed to perform for tonight's opening isn't gonna make it. So, I was wondering if you could sing tonight?". Marinette looked shocked at this.
"We heard ya sing and you got the voice of an angel" said Summer.
"Yeah, you can totally do it" added Dia.
"Well, okay", said Marinette. "What's the other favour?".
"The mayor and I are hosting a Batchelor Party for his brother", answered Valentino. "So, could you make us a large cake and a party's worth of pastries for that? I'll add an extra 2k to your total".
"Okay", said Marinette. "I'll be happy to help". Hearing this, Valentino got a flashback to when he was alive.
"I'll be happy to help you daddy".
End.
As Marinette was guided towards the entrance, Valentino's face went sad, and a tear fell down his face.
Later that evening.
The club was packed with patrons (mostly male, but there were a lot of females there) as they watched the dancers slide up and down on the poles, all wearing sexy and skimpy outfits.
"Is it time yet boss?" Asked one of the bouncers.
"Yes", said Valentino. "Kill it". Suddenly, the music stopped and the lights went out.
"Ladies, Gentleman and all those in between", said a voice over the speakers. "Presenting a special guest for one night only. The youngest rising star in the world of fashion; Marinette Dupain-Cheng!". The lights suddenly turned on and Marinette was on stage. She wore a red dress with ladybug pattern along with red heels.
"Hit it" she said. Music started to play and the dancers knew what song it was. So, they started to dance to the rhythm.
Are you ready? Ha!
It's time for me to take it
I'm the boss right now
Not gonna fake it
Not when you go down
'Cause this is my game
And you better come to play
I used to hold my freak back
Now I'm letting go
I make my own choice
Bitch, I run this show
So leave the lights on
No, you can't make me behave
Uh, huh, huh
So you say I'm complicated
That I must be out my mind
But you've had me underrated
Rated, rated
Uh, huh, huh
What's wrong with being
What's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?
Uh, huh, huh
What's wrong with being
What's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?
Uh, huh, huh
It's time to get the chains out
Is your tongue tied up?
'Cause this is my ground
And I'm dangerous
And you can get off
But it's all 'bout me tonight (Tonight)
Uh, huh, huh
So you say I'm complicated
That I must be out my mind
But you've had me underrated
Rated, rated
Uh, huh, huh
What's wrong with being
What's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?
Uh, huh, huh (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being confident?
Uh, huh, huh (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being confident?
Uh, huh, huh (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being confident?
Uh, huh, huh
Uh, huh
Hey
Uh, huh, huh, yeah
So you say I'm complicated
But you've had me underrated
You need not... (Uh, huh, huh)
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (What's wrong with being)
What's wrong with being confident?
Uh, huh, huh
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being confident? (Oh, yeah)
Uh, huh, huh
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (What's wrong with being)
What's wrong with being confident?
Uh, huh, huh (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being (Yeah)
What's wrong with being confident?
Confident
Everyone clapped and cheered when she finished. They even started to throw money on the stage. Marinette decided to pick it up and carried it off stage with her.
"Give this girl around of applause everyone", said a voice over the speakers. "Because this girl has the voice of an angel". She then went up to Valentino and handed him the money. But, much to the surprise of his dancers, he pushed it back to her.
"You earned it" said Valentino.
"Thank you Mr. Valentino" said Marinette. Valentino then got another flashback.
"Thank you for the new bear daddy".
End.
Valentino's face went sad again.
"Are you okay?" Asked Marinette.
"I, just need sometime to myself" answered Valentino before he walked away. The dancers that were off duty noticed this.
"What's with him?" Asked Summer.
"I don't know", answered Dia. "But, have you guys ever noticed that he's been, well, nicer to us?".
"Yeah, I noticed that too", added Veronica (a dark skinned girl with her pink hair done in an over eye style). "Not to mention he hasn't smacked us, hit us or threatened us once".
"It has to be Marinette", suggested a Rosana (a tanned girl with pink-white hair with baby-blue eyes). "He's been acting like this ever since he hired her".
"Maybe he's acting like this so she doesn't leave the agreement or something?" Suggested Veronica.
"No", said Valerie as she walked up to the bar. "I think it's something more".
"What makes you say that?" Asked Summer.
"Call it a woman's, and mother's, interwision" answered Valerie.
Meanwhile.
Valentino entered his office and took a framed photo off of his desk. In it was a picture of him while he was still alive and in is arms was a 5-yr-old girl. His mouth started to whimper and his eyes started to water.
"You will be avenged Margret", he whispered. "You will be avenged".