This is an AU fanfiction.

Rated M for themes and content.

Marinette, Adrian, Ayla, Cloe, etc... are in their early to mid twenties.

I have a tendency to constantly edit and improve on my writing, so once this story is complete: a rewrite is likely.

Enjoy.

Prologue

Fuck fuck FUCK!

Marinette repeatedly curses in her head like a symphony of doom. The woman who hadn't overslept since middle school had finally done it and on the day that mattered most. She had less than ten minutes to fix her hair, have her makeup done, and be dressed and out the door or face automatic denial from her dream job.

A day earlier she had recieved the call to her dreams and now... it was starting to feel like things just weren't "meant to be."

"Miss Cheng, this is Audrey Bourgeois from HawkMoth industries, do you have a moment?"

Marinette drops her phone and quickly scoops it up, "Y-yes ma'am!" there's a moment of silence and the young girl quickly composes herself, "I m-mean of course! I have a moment. H-how can I help you?""Your interview will be at noon sharp. Mr. Agreste does not tolerate lateness even by a second, so if you can't be there on time, consider the position no longer offered. Do you understand?""Yes bu-""Also Miss Cheng, be sure to dress sharp. Our company doesn't believe in anything less than the best."

Luckily, her apartment complex was only five minutes away from her future. Well. Only five minutes if she ran full speed and didn't mind looking windblown.

Bolting across the lobby, she nearly collides with an over-dressed gentleman and his curses follow her. It couldn't be helped nor could all the disapproving looks. If she missed this interview... Marinette could kiss any future of being a designer away. Without further delay, she quickly darts into the nearest open elevator, slamming her hand on three as the doors close.

Sighing in relief it's not until a sharp cough echoes, does Marinette realized she's not alone. There are two other people.

Trashy.

That's the first word that pops into her head when the first thing that she sees is a partially undressed blonde woman clearly rising from being on her knees. Normally: She would've immediately opted for another elevator, hell... even the fucking stairs, but today was not a normal day. Nope.

Instead, she quickly adverts her gaze and the blonde speaks up, "Couldn't you like..." her tone grating on Marinette's already frazzled nerves, "see that we were like busy and just like take the stairs? I mean... it's not like you don't need the exercise..." she motions to all of Marinette.

The raven haired girl's lip curls into a sneer reflexively as she quickly notes that the boy standing next to the bimbo has yet to either look up from his phone or redo his belt, "Well ike how busy could you have been considering, it looks like he hasn't even like noticed you stopped..."

"Oh my god are you like mocking me? I mean... like what are you even doing here? Are you the new janitor or something!" before Marinette could put the girl in her place, the doors suddenly opened.

1 minute.

Gabriel Agreste. Was one scary fucking man. Five minutes had passed and he still hasn't said a word to her and continued to type at his computer. Marinette usually found herself to be outspoken, but for the first time in her life... it's like the words dried up in her soul.

He finally turns to look at her and she has to resist wincing under the scrutiny and wishing he'd go back to typing.

"From now on, I expect you to show up perfectly pressed and not like someone who just ran a marathon with half done makeup. You start Monday. Be here at 6am sharp to recieve your meal and excercise plan, plus clothing and makeup budget card. Do you understand Miss..." he paused before glancing down at her portfolio, "Cheng. Miss Cheng."

"Yes sir I d-" suddenly all his words click, "Wait... Mr. Agreste... I'm not one of the models, I'm just a designer. Why do I nead all that other..." Marinette grasps for a professional way to describe it, "stuff?"

"All designers are required to not only create but show that their designs are practical and realistic to real life people," his voice is flat to the point she flinched.

"Bu-"

He quickly cuts her off, "If you won't agree to these terms, then you can work elsewhere. Do I make myself clear Miss Cheng?"

Marinette felt herself beginning to wilter under the gaze of the famous "Agreste" glare, "Y-yes sir..."

"Good. 6am. Monday. Don't be late," and with that, he turned a clear sign she was dismissed, "please shut the door behind you."

"Can you believe him? Me? A model?" Marinette found herself on the phone whining to her only friend on the slow walk home.

"Uh huh that's terrible..." she could hear the sound of a TV in the background and found her irritation slightly bristle up.

"Ayla are you even listening?"

"Look girl. I feel for you, but like... isn't this what you've always wanted? To get your designs really out there? I mean were you expecting it to be easy?"

"Well no..." Marinette instinctively bites the inside of her cheek, one of her bad anxious habits, "but... what if I'm not cut out to be a model. What if I fail?"

"Then try again. Come on woman... you're going to be working with the best. Just remember to not forget us little people and oh! While you're smoozing with the gorgeous peeps, snag Adrien's autograph for me please?"

"Who?"

"God your hopeless," a sudden ding alerted her to a newly recieved picture message, "HIM!"

"He looks... familiar." Marinette trailed off, struggling to place the white blonde man with piercing baby blue eyes.

"Welll YEAH he fucking should!"

"Ayla volume!"

The excited girl continued to ramble on full speed, ignoring her, "He's the world famous model Adrien Agreste also known as... the son of your boss."

"Ayla let's be real here... I'm a beginning designer. It'll probably be months... maybe even years before I even see him, much less work with."

"Yeah yeah yeah! Either way... don't forget about me when it happens!"

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I struggle with beginnings, so I hope this wasn't too rough of a start.