Adrien was having a pretty okay day. Long, but okay. His father had officially started treating him as his successor the day after his failed session with Marinette—they had limited time after all. The day had consisted of a meeting with the CFO to go over the budget for the new fiscal year, a work lunch with the company's most senior designers, and an afternoon of critiquing and approving final looks to be sent for manufacture.
He was exhausted, but his father seemed pleased with what he had learned and how he had represented the company. It would be a lot for Adrien to assume when he became CEO, although truthfully it would be easier for him than his father. He had no interest in actually designing clothing, so he could devote all of his time to the business side of things—once he phased out modelling of course. That had never been something he wanted to do long term; it was just what his father had wanted him to do to contribute to the company at the time.
The apartment was quiet as he set down his satchel. The sun was beginning to set outside the living room windows, bathing the room in golden light. It's rather lonely here. Maybe I should get a cat. Although…I guess I should wait. What if my wife hates cats? Plus, with a wife I may not be as lonely. The fridge was stocked with some leftover veggie stir fry from the night before, so Adrien heated it up as he pondered his situation. Well, a cat and a wife can wait for now. Tonight, I will just need to find connection through more modern means.
Plopping down on the couch, food in hand, Adrien set up his gaming system and logged into mecha strike. As the game loaded, he began eating his dinner. The home page opened to reveal a notification. Probably Marinette or Nino inviting me to play. Clicking on the icon, he paused in his chewing. What the hell…?
YourMysteryLady has invited you to a private room.
My mystery lady? The woman from the garden? He immediately went to the room. His avatar spawned into the lobby where another avatar dressed in red was waiting. He immediately selected the chat icon before sliding on his headset. Thank god for talk to text.
MrNoir3: Who is this?
YourMysteryLady: I thought that would be obvious from my name.
MrNoir3: I thought you said you weren't playing my father's game?
YourMysteryLady: I just couldn't leave things as we did that night. I needed to talk to you more. And the real you. Not going through your wedding screening team.
MrNoir3: Again, I thought you said that night that you didn't want to play my father's games.
YourMysteryLady: I'm not playing any games. That doesn't mean that I don't think we could have something special.
MrNoir3: I suppose that's true. What makes you think we'd be compatible? Besides our lovely tryst in those gardens of course. Can't forget about that.
YourMysteryLady: I'll never forget that. But I think we'd be compatible because I know a lot about you. The real you. And I want to give you a chance to get to know the real me. And there's no better way to do that than beating you at mecha strike. Unless you're a chicken.
Adrien paused for a moment.
MrNoir3: You're on.
Adrien was no professional, but he was quite experienced at mecha strike. He had been playing the series for more than a decade, and this particular edition for more than two years. Yet somehow, he was struggling. The first few rounds they played versus. She won the first one with a few seconds left and more than half of her heath remaining. He won the second round but only after the system sent them into sudden death mode for ending in a tie. Their final battle they once again held on until time ran out, but this time she landed the decisive blow for the tie break.
MrNoir3: Ok I can admit that you are a formidable opponent and wonderful at lovemaking. What else qualifies you to be my wife?
YourMysteryLady: That's a little presumptuous. I said we could be good together. I was thinking we could start with dating.
MrNoir3: You know my situation. It'd be a pretty short dating period. And I still want to know what else qualifies you.
YourMysteryLady: Well, I already live in Paris. That has to count in my favor.
MrNori3: Of course. I'm not big on a long-distance marriage.
YourMysteryLady: I'm pretty, but you already knew that.
MrNoir3: I most certainly do. Beautiful actually.
YourMysteryLady: And you've only seen half of my face, so I'd just be overwhelmingly good looking if you saw the whole thing.
MrNoir3: Yet you've seen my whole face. Very one sided of you m'lady. What else?
YourMysteryLady: I am a very good cook. I could make you very fat and happy, just like you said you wanted.
MrNoir3: That's perfect. I'm probably giving up modelling once I take over as CEO so I can completely let myself go. Would you still find me attractive?
YourMysteryLady: With eyes that green and a smile that bright? Definitely. The six-pack lean look is very nice, but it's not the selling point.
MrNoir3: What is the selling point?
YourMysteryLady: I guess my selling point is that I love you.
What the hell?
MrNoir3: What do you mean you love me? I know you said you know a lot about me before but reading my wiki page doesn't lead to real love.
YourMysteryLady: I'll have you know I haven't looked at your wiki page since high school. I am a mature woman who knows what I mean when I say I'm in love. And I am in love. With you.
MrNoir3: If you haven't been stalking my internet presence, then how do you know you love me?
YourMysteryLady: Well, we've met before. And I mean before the garden. I guess I have to apologize for that. I assumed you knew who I was that night since I knew who you were. Very one sided of me once again.
MrNoir3: Given the way you went about contacting me, I suspect you're not just going to come out and tell me who you are.
He sat on the couch waiting. It took a minute. Then two.
YourMysteryLady: No. Not right now. It kinda feels disappointing that you didn't recognize me. I actually need to go. It's getting late. Let's talk again later.
[YourMysteryLady has left the chat]
Adrien sat back and slid the headset off. I disappointed her. The thought rolled around his head. His mother had left him. His father constantly pointed out his flaws, acting as a manager instead of a parent. I'm just a disappointment to another person.
Their conversation had been going pretty well given the odd circumstances under which they were meeting. Her words had read as confident. Flirty. Self-assured. Until he had brought up the fact that she wouldn't tell him who she was. It was like flipping a switch. Self-consciousness and sadness oozed from every word. I did that to her.
But she still wants to talk. Maybe I can fix this. Do I want to fix this? Do I want to be with this person? Maybe. That doesn't matter, I need to fix this regardless of what happens after.
MrNoir3: My discord handle is MrNoir3478. Reach out when you're ready.
[MrNoir3 has left the chat]
