Chapter 6: A Broken Promise

The day had not started the way Ambroise Delay had planned. Being cut off on national television, just because the show's host did not like to hear the truth about a certain topic, was not the way he had imagined his day would begin. After what happened on Nadja's, Ambroise decided to go for a walk, to clear his mind, and also to try and forget just how he was treated by both Nadja and Catherine Nardal. Calling his office, he said that they could expect him to show up after lunch. He needed to calm himself down. He was not furious about what happened, but he could not help but to feel that once again, he had to talk to people, who did not see the real problem that was staring them right in the eyes. And that, made him feel a little mad. Entering his car, he drove away, with no particular destination. An hour or two behind the wheel, before lunch time, was just what he needed to get himself back into a good mood.

Other than being a political commentator, Ambroise was also a lawyer, and an advocate to multiple non-profitable organizations, who defended more conservative views on various political subjects. It was thanks to these organizations that he had managed to establish his blog, where he defended his views on what was wrong with society and other subjects, and with it, eventually becoming a political commentator.

Delay would say that the reason why he does what he does, was because he feels that it is his civic duty, and that would be the truth. Still, that did not mean he did not enjoy the money that he was paid, or the attention he got, for doing it. He had managed to make something out of himself, by just speaking whatever he felt was the truth in his eyes, even if the real truth was not what he believed it to be. You would think that people, when seeing him for what he truly was, would stop paying attention to him, but what happened was the opposite. Somehow, someway, he had this kind of charisma that made people want to listen to what he had to say, even if it was the most barbaric thing in the world. And he knew that he had that power, and had taken advantage of it.

After a long drive, and what he considered a reasonable lunch, he made his way back to his office in La Défense district. Going up to the 16th floor, he was greeted by his secretary, Aline Dubois, who was seated behind her desk. She was a young brunette with long hair, fair complexion, aquiline nose and thin lips. Her outfit consisted of a thin green woolen sweater, under a white shirt, a brown mini-skirt and a pair of green high-heeled shoes.

"Welcome back, sir. I hope you had a nice lunch." -Aline said, as she got up to greet him.

"It was nothing special. That food was good, but the restaurant's staff was highly incompetent." -Ambroise told her. –"Still, it was a better experience than what happened to me this morning, on that morning show." -he said, as he entered in his office, followed by Aline. –"Those two women… I still can't believe that the two of them actually believe that the Miraculous Team aren't a menace! You would expect someone in their position, and with their brains to see that. But no, they just did not understand that what I'm telling them is the honest truth."

The inside of his office reflected Ambroise's ego in every possible way. The floor and walls were panelled in chestnut, while the ceiling was painted in a vanilla white, from where a majestic Louix XVI-inspired chandelier hang. The furniture was also Louis XVI-inspired, but with a touch of modernity. The desk was a single piece of white marble that had been sculpted and polished, to the point of a person be able to see its own reflection on it. But from all the things that Ambroise loved about his office, the one he loved the most was the panoramic window that gave him a breathtaking view over the La Defénse arc. Sitting behind the desk, he readied himself to start working.

"Here are the numbers you wanted, sir." -Aline said, as she handed him a page.

"15000 new subscribers since yesterday? Those are excellent numbers." -Ambroise smiled, as he kept looking at the piece of paper. –"No doubt, part of these new subscribers is the result of what happened this morning, in Nadja Chamack's morning show." -he said. –"Slowly and steadily, we're showing people that they can't trust those so called heroes. And sooner or later, we're going to show everyone that they cannot be trusted, just like that Hawk Moth terrorist."

Ambroise continued to talk, but Aline did not pay attention to him. Unlike him, she believed the Miraculous Team were heroes, especially after her niece had been akumatized and terrorized Paris a few months before. They had helped her turning back to normal, and for that she would always be thankful to them. Besides the heroes, only her family knew that she had been akumatized. That was one story that Aline would never tell her boss. She knew that if he found out about it, he would not stop, until he had mounted a whole case of slander, based on that happened to her niece, just to boost the number of subscribers and supporters on his blog. She hated to work for a man such as him, but until she could find a better job, she had no other option but to continue to work there, and hear some of the most barbaric, stupid, insane and completely ridiculous things, a decent person could hear, coming out from the mouth of someone she considered a troglodyte in a business suit.

"If you say so, sir." -Aline sighed.

"I do say so! This day may not have started the way it was supposed to be, when I was rudely interrupted by those two women, who have been clearly brainwashed into thinking that Ladybug and her friends are heroes, when they're nothing more than vigilante menaces, but it's clearly turning around, as we can both see."

"If you say so, sir." -Aline said, not knowing what else she could tell him.

"Anyways, what's on my agenda this afternoon?" -Ambroise asked her.

"You have a meeting with one of your sponsors in half hour. And I must also warn you that your wife has called, to remind you that you have reservations tonight at 8 pm, on the Epicure." -Aline said.

"Oh, yes… it's already that time of the month. I seriously can't understand why does my wife insist on going out to dinner at that restaurant, every single month. I mean, there's got to be better restaurants in this town." -Ambroise sighed. –"Whenever I go to that restaurant, the staff treats me like I'm some common person! I mean, why would they do that, when they know exactly who I am?!" -he asked out loud.

"I could think of a couple of reasons." -Aline thought to herself, while trying her best, not to call him a couple of names, she felt he deserved, more than anything else. –"Remember, don't say a word, just smile. Don't give this guy the satisfaction of firing you, just because you think he deserves to be told a couple of truths, while also slapping him for being a disgusting human being." -she continued to think to herself.

"Fine. I hate going to that restaurant. But if I don't go, she'll complain that I don't spend any time with her, and that I'm not romantic." -Ambroise sighed. –"But changing the subject… you say that I've got half hour before the meeting with one of my sponsors? That gives me enough time to come up with the first draft of my next speech. This one will be addressed at that Chamack woman reporter and that other idiot, who clearly can't see just how dangerous those heroes are." -he said, while rubbing his hands in anticipation, before turning to Aline. –"That will be all. I'll call for you, if I need anything else."

Closing the door behind her, Aline let Ambroise alone in the office. She knew that whatever speech he was going to research, it was going to be a clear distortion of what truly happened on the show. Ambroise Delay had the talent to distort everything that was truth and make it look like something completely different happened, while also coating with a fine layer of lies. Turning on the camera that was plugged to the television he had on his office, Ambroise stared at it, his face appearing on the television, before starting to record the first draft of his next speech. To say that he loved to see himself on a screen, was saying little.

"Fellow citizen of Paris, and of the world. Once more, I, Ambroise Delay, come before you, to warn you, about the dangers that are lurking around. One of such dangers, is the Miraculous Team." -Ambrose said to the camera. –"Today, I was invited as a guest to the "Bonjour, Paris", hosted by Nadja Chamack, who many of you know, and I must say that what happened was as surreal. I was invited to share my opinion, regarding the actions of the Miraculous Team, and wouldn't you know it? Both Nadja Chamack, as well as the other guest, Miss Catherine Nardal, started to say, Miraculous Team this, Miraculous Team that, the two of them, clearly blinded by the truth of what the Miraculous Team really is, making it impossible for me to express my opinion regarding, these so-called heroes. And when I finally was able to do so, they cut the transmission, because I began to say the truth about what Ladybug and her companions are! Can you believe that?! Because that's exactly what happened." -he went on. –"And this, my fellow citizens, it's exactly a sign of what I've been warning you all about, not only regarding these so-called heroes, but everything that is wrong with society. When one of us is silenced, it's a sign that people don't want the truth to come out!"

Following Sabrina's plan, Chloe and her went window-shopping after school. But what had started as window-shopping, turned into real shopping. The redhead should have known that her best-friend would not just stick to window-shopping. Not when she had numerous credit cards in her purse, and when on every shop they entered, she found something she wanted to buy, or at the very least try on. And as they did this, any kind of thought that Chloe might have about her mother, left her mind. While she was busy shopping, she was as happy as a clam at high water. And from all the shopping centres in Paris, the Carrousel du Louvre was Chloe's favourite.

They had already lost count of how many shops they had entered, when they entered in a shop that was having a special sale on leather jackets. By then, Chloe had already bought half of the mall, and one could see it, with the number of bags and boxes that Sabrina was carrying in her hands. And those were just the ones from shops that did not deliver at home. Chloe was determined to spend a lot of money that afternoon, not only on herself, but also on Sabrina and some of her other friends. After that anxiety attack of hers, she believed that shopping for herself and for others was therapeutic.

Dragging Sabrina into a fitting room, Chloe was determined to buy a new leather jacket that made her look both beautiful and fashionable. She had grabbed six different jackets and was now trying the first one.

"What do you think of this one, Sabrina? -Chloe asked her, as she put on a black, purple and teal studded leather jacket.

"Hmm… nope. Not your style. Plus, you would need to get the sleeves done. They're too long for you." -Sabrina said.

"Are you sure? I mean, you're right it's definitely not my style and I would need someone to make a few modifications to it, but I think I could pull it off." -Chloe said, as she looked herself in the mirror.

"Only if you decide to dye your hair the same way Juleka dyes hers." -Sabrina joked. –"And, honestly, I'm not seeing you doing that." -she giggled. –"If you did, you would look like a female version of Jagged Stone. Not that I wouldn't' like to see you like that, but… you know, that's Juleka's territory."

That comment made Chloe laugh. Imagining herself the way Sabrina had told her she would look, if she dyed her hair that way, she could not help but to feel that if she ever did that, she would look not only unrecognizable, she would also look slightly ridiculous, when compared to her usual style.

"I would look ridiculous, wouldn't I?" -Chloe asked Sabrina, between chuckles.

"Absolutely. You would look ridiculous, utterly ridiculous." -Sabrina joked, before laughing as well.

"I guess you're right. I guess I'll just leave that alternative style for Juleka." -Chloe said, as she placed the studded jacket on the floor. –"You know what, I'm going to buy it give it to her. I'm sure she's going to like it." -she said, while deciding which jacket she was going to try on next. –"Let's see… oh, this one here! What do you think?"

"That one looks more like something Chloe Bourgeois would wear." -Sabrina smiled, as Chloe put it on. It was a black, white and yellow jacket. –"I think it gives you a bad girl look, because of the studs on the collar. But it's still quite fashionable." -she said, as the blonde looked herself in the mirror. –"Don't you guys agree with me?"

As always, when they went shopping, their kwamis, Pollen and Mika were asked their opinion, regarding anything the girls' bought, and this time was no exception.

"I personally like it very much. That yellow streak on the shoulders area, as well as on the waist, makes it very beautiful." -Pollen said, as she looked at Chloe.

"I like it too. It's like the kid said before. It looks like something you would be caught wearing." -Mika declared.

"You heard them." -Sabrina said.

"Then, I'm taking it." -Chloe smiled, as she looked herself once more, in the mirror. –"And you should get one as well." -she said.

"Chloe, you already bought me enough clothes for one day. I won't be needing to go out and buy anything new anymore." -Sabrina said.

"Well, you said you were going to buy new clothes with your mom today, before deciding to stick with me, and cheering me up. And it's like you're saying, you won't be needing to buy any new clothes, thanks to me." -Chloe just smiled. –"Now, go on, go pick one and bring it here, so we can say if it looks good on you, or not." -she told her.

"Alright, I'll be right back." -Sabrina said, as she got up and unlocked the door latch.

In the end, along with all the things that Chloe had already bought her, Sabrina ended up getting a leather jacket and a new pair of jeans, which the blonde convinced her were too cute not to get. The price on them was more than what Sabrina would ever pay for a pair of jeans, but that was no problem for Chloe's credit card, with nearly unlimited funds. And like it happened, every time they went shopping, their last stop was in the food court, where they sat down to eat a snack, and rest their tired feet. On that afternoon, they were both in the mood for some sushi, and that was what they bought, along with a side order of honey pudding and chocolate mousse for their kwamis, who like them, were famished. Finding a vacant table, they sat down to enjoy their meal, as well as each other's company.

"I know I already told you this, Sabrina, but thanks for this afternoon." -Chloe said, as she ate a piece of maguro.

"My pleasure, Chloe." -Sabrina said, as she picked a piece of hirame. –"I'm glad I could cheer you up." -she said, before dipping the hirame in soy sauce.

"I was really needing an afternoon like this." -Chloe smiled, when she noticed Sabrina was looking at all the boxes and –"Why are you staring at all the things we bought? Is something missing?" -she asked her.

"Uh, no… I was just thinking that it's going to be hard to explain to my mom the amount of stuff that you already bought me, Chloe." -Sabrina said, as she counted the number of boxes that had clothes the blonde had bought her.

"Just tell her the usual excuse. That I renovated my wardrobe and gave you a couple of things I didn't want any more." -Chloe said. –"Tell her that I got sick of them, or something. Just be sure to get rid of the receipts, so she doesn't find out." -she remembered her.

"Again?" -Sabrina asked her. –"I've already told her that once. I don't know if she'll fall for the same excuse. My mom's a lawyer, and my dad's a police officer. You have no idea just how hard it is to lie to them, because they can each smell lies a mile away." -she said, before whispering the next sentence to her. –"I'm actually surprised I've managed to keep it a secret from them, that I'm actually a member of the Miraculous Team."

"Oh, come on, Sabrina. I've got money to burn. It's not hard to imagine me, wanting to renovate my entire wardrobe, every two or three weeks." -Chloe told her, with a cool voice. –"It's one of those things that rich people tend to do, and I'm quite probably the richest teenage girl in Paris. Besides, your mom knows that from time to time, I give some of my old clothes away, because I don't want them anymore. And she also knows that you're my best-friend, so it's normal for you to get first picks." -she said.

"I know that. Still, using the same excuse twice in a row, that's pushing it a little." -Sabrina said. –"One of these days, she's going to find out that you buy me new clothes, gizmos and gadgets, and more cool stuff, just because you want to, and she'll force me to return them all to you." -she added.

"But until that day comes, you keep enjoying it, kid. She's your friend, and if she's okay in giving you gifts, you should thank her and enjoy them." -Mika said from inside Sabrina's backpack, where he was enjoying his chocolate mousse, making her look down.

"Don't talk so loud. People might hear you; Mika." -Sabrina told him in a hushed voice. –"And I'm not saying I don't like it when you do that. Thanks to you, I have clothes in my wardrobe that are more expensive than most of my bedroom's furniture combined, and that otherwise I would never be able to afford. Plus, I really enjoy having all those perfumes and beauty cremes that you offer me. When I wear them, I feel like a princess." -she told Chloe. –"But I wish I could pay you back some of them, and I'll never be able to do it. It's a little unfair that you get me all these nice things, and I can't get you anything, because anything that I know you like, is too expensive for my wallet."

"You can pay me back, by being my best-friend, and being my shoulder to cry on, on a bad day. You can't put a price on that. Even when I was going through my "horrible person to everyone" phase, I never asked you to pay me a single dime, just to hang out with me, and that's not going to change." -Chloe smiled at her, as she nibbled a Temaki roll. –"And I mean that. Having you as a friend, is a reminder that there are things that money just can't buy; our friendship being one of them."

"Oh, you're just saying that because it sounds nice." -Sabrina told her in a playful tone.

"No, I mean it, Sabrina. Our friendship means the world to me. Nowadays, I'm friends with everyone in our class, and you're partly the reason why that happened. Not counting Adrien, your friendship is the one that means the world to me." -Chloe declared, as a tear ran down her face. –"And I promise you, that no matter what happens, I'll always be there for you, like you're always there for me." -she smiled at the redhead.

"Don't say things like that, or you're going to make me cry as well." -Sabrina giggled, as she wiped a tear from the corner of her right eye.

Grabbing a taxi, they made their way to the hotel. Sabrina had not been able to make Chloe open up to tell her why she truly had that anxiety attack that morning, or why she had made her promise she would not tell anyone about it. But she was okay with it. She knew that Chloe would open up to her or with Pollen, sooner or later. Being able to cheer her up was a nice consolation price. The traffic was slowly, but steadily becoming chaotic, with more cars converging into the city's main avenues, as people began to exit their jobs, and making their way home. Inside the taxi, the girls were cheerfully chatting, not paying attention at what was going on, when Sabrina's cell phone rang.

"Just got a text from my mom." -Sabrina said, as she checked her cell phone.

"What does it say?" -Chloe asked her.

"She's saying that she's going to stay in her office until a little bit later, and that I can order something for dinner if I want to." -Sabrina told her.

"You can stay and have dinner with me. My dad's also working late this evening." -Chloe suggested her.

"Thanks for the suggestion, but I really have to go home. I still got to finish some homework that we were given two days ago, and that its due tomorrow." -Sabrina told her.

"What homework?! I don't remember… oh, crud, the chemistry homework. I completely forgot about it!" -Chloe sighed. –"Well, since you can't stay, maybe we can finish that homework together, through Skype." -she suggested.

"I'll be happy to do that, and if you want to, I can help you, though I know that you're good at that subject." –Sabrina said.

"I'm not as good as you say I am. Still, it will be a lot easier to do that homework, if we put our heads together." -Chloe declared in an amused voice.

They continued to chat, as the taxi made its way through the busy avenues of the city. Little did they know what awaited them in the hotel, for when they arrived, everything looked exactly as always.

"You don't have to come in and help me with these things. I can handle them." -Chloe said, as she grabbed the things that she had bought.

"I still got a little time. Besides, I don't mind helping you carry all these things to your suite." -Sabrina said. –"I'll then take a bus home." -she said, as she grabbed her things.

"Nonsense. With all the things you've got to carry, you're not taking the bus home today." -Chloe told her, before turning her attention to the driver. –"Keep the engine running, as well as the taximeter. She'll be back in a few minutes. Here, this should cover our ride, plus hers, when you take her home." -she told the driver, as she pulled out a 50 Euros note from her wallet and gave it to him, before exiting the vehicle. –"Come on, help me with these boxes."

"Okay." -Sabrina said. –"I'm going to leave these other boxes here, if you don't mind. Like she said, I'll be right back." -she told the driver, who silently nodded at her.

Entering the hotel, carrying the numerous boxes and bags they had both, both of them were frozen, as they saw who was in the lobby. Their jaws hung loosely from their skulls, and their eyes were as wide as dinner plates. They could not believe that Audrey Bourgeois was standing tight there, in front of them.

"This is impossible!'" -Chloe mentally wailed. –"She's supposed to still be in New York! She was only supposed to arrive tomorrow! What is she doing here this early?! How is this even possible?!" -she thought to herself.

Looking at the blonde, Sabrina could easily picture what was going through her mind right then. She wanted to tell her something, but the shock of seeing Audrey there, made it hard for her to think of anything to tell her. Straitening herself up as best she could, Chloe stepped forward to the woman before her.

"Mother." -Chloe said, greeting Audrey.

"Oh, Chelsie…" -Audrey Bourgeois said, not even giving the decency to look her own daughter in the eye.

"It's 'Chloe, mother.'' -Chloe corrected her. Once again, Audrey had failed to call her by her name, like it often happened. -"You're early" -she said aloud, while trying to think of what to tell her next. Her heart was beginning to thump like crazy, as her anxiety quickly began to take over her mind.

"I know." -Audrey said. -"There were some complications with some of the models, and it was impossible to direct the photoshoot that I was supposed to direct. Useless gits, every last one of them. Kept complaining about one thing or another, I didn't really pay attention. Nevertheless, I was forced to cancel, when three of them didn't show up. So, I decided on a whim to come to Paris right away. I definitely needed to get away from all that stress and incompetence. Just thinking about it, makes me feel exhausted. And while at it, we can get this little meet and greet of ours out of the way. I mean, it's not like I have anything better to do." -she said.

Like always, Audrey had the distinct talent to know what words to say, to make Chloe feel bad about herself, while also angering her.

"I see" Chloe said, as her grief and anxiety were beginning to turn into anger. –"Can't even give me the common courtesy of a 'nice to meet you," –she thought to herself. –"And, how long will you be staying? Fashion week has already passed, and the next one isn't until January, next year."

"I know that! You think I'm stupid?!" -Audrey sneered. "Still…" -she continued. –"I was due for a little vacation time, and need to touch up on my image. A loving family portrait or two would put me back in a good light."

"Typical. She only cares about herself and her image in the press, like always." -Chloe thought to herself. "Very well then. May I be of some assistance to you, mother?" -she asked her, as nicely as she could. –"May I help you carry your bags upstairs?"

"You? Of some assistance? Carrying my bags?" -Audrey sneered again. –"Honestly, Clara, haven't I taught you anything? Why should I ask you to do that, when there are dozens of useless no imbeciles to do the job for you? Your father does pay them to do it, right? So why deprive them of their work?" -she asked her. –"If you want to do something useful, call one of them to take my bags upstairs, while I finish touching up my make-up."

The whole scene was making Sabrina boil with anger. No matter how many times she saw it, it was hard for her to believe that Audrey would treat her own daughter the same way she treated anyone working for her, or anyone she believed was above her. As messed up as it was, she would understand if she treated everyone that way, while treating Chloe with kindness and love a mother should give to her child. But that was something that did not happen. And both Pollen and Mika shared that same sentiment, while remaining inside the girls' backpacks, without being able to do anything to change that. Right then, Sabrina just wanted to slap Audrey and tell her a couple of truths, but feared that that would get her into trouble, along with Chloe.

"This woman… I just feel like slapping or punching her! How can she treat her own daughter like that?! What kind of a mother does that?!" -Sabrina thought to herself. –"Maybe I should just go… but I can't leave Chloe like this. What kind of a friend would I be if I did that?" -she asked herself,

"You!" -Audrey barked at the redhead. –"And who exactly are you?" -she asked her.

Sabrina was caught off guard. She believed that Audrey had not even realized she was there, and was surprised when she talked to her.

"I… I'm Sabrina. Sabrina Raincomprix, Mrs. Bourgeois and…" -Sabrina answered her.

"Did I sound like I actually cared?" -Audrey harshly interrupted Sabrina, before turning to her daughter. –"Christine, who is this?" -she asked her.

The two girls locked eyes for a second. Sabrina smiled at her. She knew Chloe would defend her. They were best-friends for so long, and since she had become Queen Bee, Chloe had grown into a much better person. Of course, she had her slip ups, every now and then, but deep down, Sabrina knew that Chloe would be there for her.

"Who? Her? She's nobody." -Chloe told her mother. –"What did I just say?!" -she asked herself, shocked with what had come out of her mouth, while also feeling her anxiety assuming control of her brain. –"I didn't want to say that, so why did I say that?! Why did I say that about Sabrina?!"

Hearing her say that, Sabrina's heart shattered like glass. She could not believe what Chloe said about her.

"Nobody?" -Sabrina repeated, not believing what she was hearing. "But, Chloe, it's me, Sabrina" -she said, her voice beginning to waiver.

She could not believe that Chloe had called her a "nobody". Sabrina was shocked, and nothing had prepared her for it.

"We've been friends since kindergarten. I helped you with all your classwork. You stood up to bullies for me. We did sleepovers… we're best-friends." -Sabrina said. –"Chloe, what are you doing? Why did you tell me that?" -she thought to herself.

"Best-friends?! Oh, please!" -Chloe scoffed. –"Did you really think I actually saw you as my friend, let alone my best-friend?! You're just something I can use. Having you do all my school work was too easy, and me standing up for you? I had to do something to show who you really belong to. And as for the sleepovers, I needed someone to do my nails, without having to pay a single dime for it." -she said, while at the same time, in her mind, she continued to ask herself, why she was acting that way towards Sabrina. –"Stop it! Stop it! Why are saying those things?! You're hurting Sabrina's feelings!"

"But…" -Sabrina stuttered, feeling like she had stepped into a different dimension. –"But, we're friends, Chloe." -she said. –"Chloe, why are you doing this? You're not like this! Stop, please!"

"Us?! Friends?! Don't make me laugh!" Chloe laughed, every cackle digging the knife deeper and deeper into Sabrina's chest, as well as hers, as she felt like someone else had taken control of her body and her mouth. –"You're not my friend! You're not even my pet! You're just some random loser who got lucky and proved herself useful to me. Why do you think I buy you all of those things?! So, I have you on a leash! I could easily replace you with some other poor sap. But then, I'd have to train it do be about as half as useful as you are, and I really don't want to break a sweat." -she said, while continuing. –"Stop it! Why are you telling her these things?! Can't you see you're breaking her heart?! There's still time to prevent this from going too far, but you've got to stop now! Come on, stop it!"

But as much as she kept screaming her mind to stop saying those horrible things to Sabrina, Chloe could not do it. She did not know why or how, but it was like she was possessed. Part of her felt horrified with the things that were coming out of her mouth, while another was feeling great about it, and wanted her to continue to do it.

Opening her purse, Chloe dug out her wallet, fished out a couple of Euro notes, then slapped them into Sabrina's hand, making her drop some of the boxes she was carrying.

"Oh, and speaking of being useful, why don't you be a good little girl and fetch me a latte soy macchiato, light on the foam. And I expect my change back. If I see so much as one Euro missing, it will be your head." -Chloe ordered her. –"Oh, and before you go, be sure to grab those things and stack them neatly on the floor. We wouldn't want people to think you're a klutz." -she said.

Without even waiting for her reply, Chloe made her way to her mother, completely ignoring the absolutely destroyed look on Sabrina's face. Without a single word, Sabrina dropped the money and the boxes, turned towards the hotel's lobby doors, and ran, tears completely blinding her.

"How could you, Chloe?! After all that you've told me earlier, how could you?! How could you say those horrible things to me?!" -Sabrina thought to herself, her heart broken with sadness and hate, as she went through the doors and entered the taxi that brought her and Chloe earlier.

Seeing the whole scene, Audrey did not understand why Sabrina acted that way and groaned.

"Good help is hard to find these days." -Audrey said.

"Tell me about it" -Chloe agreed, as she felt her own heart being torn in two. She was feeling guilty about what had happened. She had treated her best friend worse now than she ever did before becoming a Miraculous heroine.

"Why did you do that? Why did you say those things?! Why did you insult Sabrina like that?" -Chloe mentally stated, feeling squashed by the guilt, when a remembrance of Audrey came crawling back from her subconscious. –"'You are a Bourgeois. And Bourgeois women don't feel guilty. Guilt is a sign of weakness. Guilty is for the weak and feeble of mind and heart! We do what we can to get on top, damned be anything that gets in our way. Remember that!" -she remembered her mother's words. –"No! That's stupid! Those are empty, meaningless words! You just humiliated and treated your best-friend like she was a mongrel dog, or worst! Why did you do it, why, you stupid girl?!'

So lost was she in her own head, with her thoughts, that Chloe completely ignored what her mother was telling her, just giving a cursory nod to appear to be paying attention to her. Not that it mattered to Audrey. As she continued to prattle on about God knows what, all Chloe could do was lag behind, feet dragging on the floor, head turned down in shame, feeling worse than she had ever felt before in her life. She had broken a promise she had made to her best-friend, and to her, that was beyond unacceptable. It was unforgivable.

"I'm so sorry Sabrina." -Chloe muttered to herself

Inside her backpack, Pollen was stunned and speechless by what she heard. She had been repeatedly told by Chloe, of just how awful she was to everyone, before they had met. But she had never thought that Chloe could be that mean to anyone.

"Why did you do that, Chloe? Why?" -Pollen asked herself.

Now don't tell me this wasn't a kick to the stomach? This chapter was probably one of the hardest for me to write, for multiple reasons. And I must say that it came out better than I expected, though I can't take full credit for it. The part of the scene in the hotel's lobby, I had help from Cupidcomet77, who was kind enough to write a draft of it, because I couldn't come up with a proper humilliation scene between Chloe and Sabrina (I've gotten so used to writing them as the way they should be in the OG show, that when it came the time to write it differently, I couldn't do it properly). My friend, I thank you for the help you have given me.

And, of course, we've seen just how Audrey is to Chloe, and the effect she has on her. Can she be redeemed? And more importantly, will Sabrina ever forgive Chloe for that humilliation? We'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, feel free to comment, fav and leave suggestions to improve this fic.