Part 4 is here! This is full of drama! Something big goes down, and I bet you're all dying to know what it is. (Maybe even skip this AN just to get to it) Anyway, I googled stuff about suits, but please remember I don't know much of anything about fashion. If I'm vague, it's because I couldn't think of anything really good. (I don't really design clothes.) It also could be something I missed, but meh.=^-^=

Ch. 4 - The Suit


"I believe some congratulations are in order? Of the 7 interns who I began with, only 5 remain." Gabriel began as he started the meeting. "I'm sure I need to remind no one of what will be here in just 2 weeks time. My lead designers already know what I expect, and I expect no less from my interns." As if the tense air wasn't already suffocating enough, but Gabriel laid on the pressure. "I expect each intern to submit at least 1 design to be shown at my presentation. You will need my approval on this design by Wednesday, and make no mistake, my standards will not waver for any reason. That being said, if any of you didn't have the ability to do so, you would have never been selected for my internship to begin with. Don't prove me wrong." That was probably supposed to sound encouraging. If it were said by a teacher, or a mother, it probably would be. Coming from Gabriel Agreste? Well let's just say his cold stern tone, and sharp gaze wasn't doing anything to soften his image. From him it sounded like an ultimatum. Succeed or get out of my sight.

Adrien felt the pressure as well, though for a different reason. Nathalie had been watching him more, and wouldn't say why. When the meeting was over Marinette headed right over to Stephen. "Could I talk to you about my portfolio?"

"Of course, I had a feeling you'd ask that very thing. I personally think you have nothing to worry about."

"Do you think I could take a look?" Adrien asked as he cut in. "You know, since I might be modeling it?"

Marinette beamed at him. "Of course."

"You may also want to take a peek at what the others are doing for that same reason, Adrien. I know Francesca has a concentration in male attire."

"Hmm… Good idea." He remarked as he followed the two designers to Stephen's studio.

The group passed Gabriel who appeared to be going over some papers with Nathalie. In truth he was keeping an eye on his son. Nathalie's observations over the week proved fruitful in at least 1 way. It showed Adrien was favoring Marinette. "I believe I see what you mean now." Gabriel stated as he turned back to his secretary. "Get me Mr. Lahiffe. I want to speak with him as soon as possible."


"This is awesome, Marinette!" Adrien praised as he looked over the design pages. He was looking at several different versions of the same design, all inspired by his alter ego, Chat Noir. "I bet if Chat Noir was here he'd be paw-sativly ecstatic."

Marinette reflexively rolled her eyes at the cat pun. "I suppose he'd be fe-line flattered." Adrien couldn't help the slight blush that came to him at hearing her. She used a cat pun! Marinette seemed oblivious to Adrien's sudden admiration as she pulled one of the pictures away. "I want to choose the design that most captures Chat Noir, but in an actual suit." She then began to take them all one by one to line them up on the table. "So, Stephen, what do you think?"

The older man took some time to look over the designs. He'd seen them all before, of course, but he wanted to take them in with Chat Noir in mind. "I suppose if I were Chat Noir, I'd choose this one." He picked up one of her earliest designs showing almost no green added at all.

Marinette furrowed her brow. "Now that worries me, since I've been thinking it would be the one… Adrien?"

The model in question was already reaching out for the design she was indicating. "This one for sure!" He pulled it up close. "It's got a tailcoat!"

"Is that a Cravat? Did you add that in?" Stephen wondered finding the detail new.

"Uh, yes." Marinette admitted with a blush. "I know it's old fashioned but when I went to adjust the tail coat part before, I suddenly found the simple bow tie lacking. It kinda just fit, you know? I was also thinking I could pin an empty bell to the center, or something reminiscent of one like a gold button."

Stephen raised a brow at her. "Old fashioned is right, and rather daring. I suppose it could be marketed for white-tie events. I'm just worried it may not match Haute Couture in modern Paris. That being said, old style is brought back all the time. I can't really find myself hating it."

"I would wear this without a second thought." Adrien insisted as he imagined himself with his Chat mask waltzing around swinging his staff.

"Thanks… I was really worried I was crazy. I mean, as I put it together I just couldn't help picturing Chat Noir strolling around twirling his staff like a cane." She mused as she mirrored his odd daydream. "You know, like out of an old movie or something."

Adrien couldn't help feeling silly as she said that last part. He could think of at least one classic that shows a character doing that very thing. "Uh… right. I can kinda see that too."


Nino felt like he was on trial. If Gabriel Agreste didn't say something soon, he'd yell his innocence and demand a lawyer. Having Nino on edge was Gabriel's plan, of course. A tense atmosphere made it hard for people to lie well, and he needed Nino to give him information. "Now, Mr. Lahiffe, let's start with why I asked you here on such short notice. No doubt you know of the deal I struck with Adrien." Nino nodded but didn't say anything. "Do you have any idea as to why I would suddenly allow you so much access to both my son and my business?"

Nino was standing straight as a board as he nodded tensely. "I… I have an idea." Gabriel gestured for him to go on and he spoke as clearly as he could. "Adrien said I was supposed to help him choose an intern, or consult with him… I'm pretty sure."

The older designer gave a pleased nod. "Yes, and my son has great trust in you as a… friend." He sounded like the word was foreign as he spoke. "Considering the gravity of his decision, I believed Adrien would be more comfortable with a companion his own age to consult with. As per the contract you yourself signed, I would like to know Adrien's progress in the selection."

Nino raised a hand to scratch the back of his head. "Last time Adrien mentioned it he was still undecided, but didn't he already tell you that?"

Gabriel sharpened his gaze. "Yes, he did, but I want to know your view on his decision."

Nino, suddenly feeling more confident, crossed his arms. "Hold up, I'm not gonna rat out my bro like that. I'm his best friend."

"As per the contract, you are legally required to tell me." Gabriel insisted.

"Nuh-uh, I looked over that part really careful. I'm only required to tell you what me and Adrien talked about during this internship period, nothing before, or anything I know just from being his best bro."

The intrigue was only barely present on Gabriel's face. "I must admit, I'm impressed you took the time to truly read it, but if you want to get technical, then so will I. Surely you understand just how generous I've been with allowing you to accompany him in the studio? Not to mention, should I find you unfit to be in my son's company, I can revoke all privileges to see him?"

Nino furrowed his brow in a glare. "Would you seriously go that far? That's super harsh, dude!"

Gabriel stood up from his desk in anger. "I'm not 'dude' I'm Adrien's father! It is every bit my right to make sure my son chooses a wife who he feels will support him, and understands the business he will soon inherit! If he's having some sort of problem with Ms. Dupain-Cheng then I want to get her out of his way!"

Now Nino looked confused and slightly shaken from the outburst. "Marinette? He has a problem with her?"

Gabriel sat back down, realizing he lost his composure. "That is what I wish to discern. I don't need him getting caught in someone else's drama while he makes what could be the most important decision of his life."

In a strange way, Nino realized Gabriel did care about Adrien though it could be seen as self serving just as easily. "Okay… look, he doesn't have a problem with her. If anything, it's the opposite."

The designer raised an intrigued brow. "And what exactly does that mean?"

Nino crossed his arms again and gave the older man his most confident stare. "Look, du- I mean, Mr. Agreste. I'm only telling you this cause I'm worried not telling you could hurt Adrien. This is something Adrien doesn't even realize, but he has a serious crush on Marinette."

"He never mentioned anything of the sort-"

"Like I said, he doesn't know. No offense to Adrien, but he's pretty clueless about girls." Nino couldn't decide if Gabriel's anger was for Adrien, or being interrupted. Could have been both. "I know what I'm talking about, believe me, It's pretty obvious. Anyone with eyes can see how his face lights up when he sees her or he talks about her."

That made sense. Adrien did look and sound more excited when he spoke about Marinette. "But whenever he mentioned her to me he would always cut himself off, as if he didn't want to speak about her anymore."

"Oh, well that's probably because he's been spending more time with her than any of the other interns. He's told me a couple times that he felt bad and like he wasn't giving the others a fair chance."

Now Gabriel's confusion was obvious. "But why would that matter? If he has feelings for her as you said, than wouldn't feeling more inclined to spend time with her help his situation? He knows he'll be picking his future wife, no doubt feeling more comfortable around a candidate would be a good sign?"

Nino cringed at the mention as he shuffled his feet. "Actually… about that. I'm almost positive Adrien missed the whole 'future wife' part in the contract."

Dumbfounded didn't even begin to describe how Gabriel felt at this moment. "That's impossible. I explained the terms of our deal clearly. He was choosing a talented partner who he could work well with and would support him in the future. I emphasized how they'd be a lifelong team!"

"Yeah… that wording? Right over Adrien's head. Unless you said 'wife' or 'marriage' he totally took it the wrong way." Nino countered gesturing with a hand moving over his own head.

"I put a damned Proposal Clause in the contract!" Gabriel argued, once again rising from his seat.

"Yeah, that's where I figured it out… He may have also mentioned only skimming that part of the contract. I can kinda see why since it was wordy and complicated."

"That's why I had Nathalie stay with him while he looked it over. She would have explained anything he asked." Gabriel shook his head. "I don't understand how he could have missed it. Why else would I have told him to 'get to know' them. Hell I even told him to make lunch dates with all of them. What did he think I meant?"

Nino shrugged. "He told me it was something business associates did to increase productivity; said something about you and Nathalie having them pretty often."

Gabriel was now holding his head. "Dear Emillie, where did I go wrong? I didn't raise my son to be so blind, did I?"

"Not gonna touch that.." Nino muttered before clearing his throat. "Anyway, Mr. Agreste, I think this is a good thing."

Gabriel raised his head enough to look the teen in the eye. "In what reality is this good? I need to drag my son in here and make it perfectly clear as soon as possible."

Nino held up his hands defensively. "No, bad idea, trust me. Look, Adrien does have a crush on Marinette, but like I said before, he's not aware of it. If you suddenly bring up that he'll be getting engaged in a few weeks he might feel like he's being forced into a corner. I mean he's signed the contract, so he can't get around it. Let him realize his own feelings at least, before you drop that bomb on him."

Gabriel scrutinized the young man. "And what do you suppose the result will be should he not realize it in time?"

Nino gave him a confident grin. "Leave that to me. I can give him a push in the right direction."

With a narrowed gaze, the designer gave his decree. "I will give until after my show on Haute Couture week. After that I will make sure my son is perfectly aware of what I expect of him." If Nino remembered right that would give him a bit more than 2 weeks. He could do that… Probably.


It was mid-afternoon when Nino tracked his friend down again. He was observing another intern as she edited a design on the tablet mounted to the wall. "How about the sleeves? Too tight?"

"They should coordinate with the neck line, Francesca. If the neck is tight, so should the sleeves." Her mentor answered as he looked over some fabric pinned to a mannequin.

Adrien sat down in a chair out of the way looking… bored, for lack of a better word. "Yo, dude. I've been looking for you."

Adrien snapped out of his stupor at once. "Nino, what's up? I didn't know you'd be coming today."

"You say that like you didn't want me to come." Nino teased as he knocked his shoulder with a fist.

"Of course not, I-"

"I know, dude. Just messin with ya. Anyway, if you're not too caught up with… them…" He gestured to the pair of designers though they hadn't even looked his way. "Come with me."

Adrien looked to the 2 and then back to Nino. "Yeah, I think I'm good."

"Cool." Nino led him down the hall to be just outside Stephen's office.

"Are we checking on Marinette? I mean, I'd love too, but I really should be looking in on the others."

Nino rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you looked like you were really paying attention in that last studio." The DJ quipped, knowing better.

Adrien blushed at being called out. The other interns were plenty nice to him, but once they got caught up in their work, it was like he didn't exist. "Well… I was trying."

"Then try while checking in with Marinette. At least then you're interested."

"I'm just going to be watching her design like the others."

"You mean enjoy watching her unlike the others."

"She's a friend, Nino. What's wrong with wanting to be around her?"

Nino just stared at him for a moment before answering. "In this case, nothing, but your dad expects you to pick someone who you work well with and feel comfortable around; someone you trust. Who of the 5 interns left fits that description?"

It was obvious Adrien was trying to come up with an excuse, but when he couldn't he muttered out the answer Nino expected. "…Marinette…"

"Then, my dude, go and check in on her again."

"Pass that here, and let me see… Now look." Upon opening the door, the boys found not 1 intern but 2. Cyrano had found his way into the studio again, and he was leaning over the same design tablet as Marinette.

"I don't know, I really thought it would be better as a suit, not a Tux."

Cyrano tutted as he pointed to the stock image of Chat Noir Marinette had hung on the wall. "But think of it this way. A suit is more business style, but you favored that tailcoat on your previous design, no? That to me says that Chat Noir must have a sort of noble charm to him; like a knight. This to me means that if you are attempting to put that charm into something more modern then a Tux is the natural choice." Marinette looked back down to her design with Cyrano's edits over it. "No, no, Marinette." He reached out to gently turn her head back to the picture. "Just think. If Chat Noir were to wear something like this, where would he wear it?"

The 2 boys watched the exchange; one curiously, while the other looked a little annoyed. "This is perfect! Boys, why don't you help those two settle this issue?" Stephen, who once again noticed them first, declared as he clapped his hands.

Cyrano and Marinette looked up to them. "Oh? Yes, perhaps you both can help us settle this."

"Didn't you say before that Marinette could do what she wanted?" Adrien argued while crossing his arms.

Cyrano furrowed his brow as he looked back to the young lady. "My apologies if my insistence was too strong, I simply wanted to suggest-"

"No, no, it's fine, Cyrano. I really didn't mind." Marinette countered looking a bit guilty. "And you might have a point. I pictured Chat Noir before in more of a young nobleman sort of background, so it does make sense. What do you think, Adrien?" She quickly asked while turning the pad for him to see.

"You know, bro, I think it really does suit Chat Noir to wear something more formal." Nino proposed while not missing his friend's agitation.

"Marinette, why did you like the idea of Chat in a suit?" The model asked turning the conversation back.

"Um… Well, it was mostly because I thought he'd enjoy the pun on Cat Suit since what he normally wears is more like that. My biggest issue with the tux though, is that Chat Noir is more dramatic than formal. The tailcoat isn't really common as much, and so it gives a more dramatic feel. A tux might seem dramatic, but it has less to work with when making it Chat Noir themed; at least when following the standards of a tux. If I'm going to make it modern, then I think he'd prefer a suit which can be more casual." All eyes were on her as a silence fell on the room. It was enough to make her want the shrink under the table.

"My, Marinette, you sound like you know Chat Noir well." Cyrano remarked looking every bit like a tease. "Something you want to tell us?"

The young designer blushed as she held her hands up in defense. "N-no, I don't really know him, I mean I do, but not that well!" She defended with a flustered tone. "He's just happened by my window sometimes-"

"Oh, he visits you at your window does he?" Cyrano cut in again.

"N-No, he's patrolling the city!... Just sometimes stops by… He likes the smell of the bakery downstairs, okay?! And sometimes we talk." A tomato would be jealous of the shade of Marinette's face.

"Whatever you say, Marinette."

"I think it makes perfect sense." Adrien cut back in. "I mean she lives at the best bakery in Paris, you already agreed to that. If I could jump the roofs of Paris, I'd probably swing by too."

Cyrano looked to him with an intrigued brow before straightening his posture. "Indeed, you have a very good point, Adrien. I would probably do so as well." Marinette let out a sigh of relief as the topic dropped. "And back to the suit thing, perhaps you are right. He is a super hero, and that does have the flare to the dramatic. A modern tux would not have the same feel to it."

"About the tailcoat, Marinette, are you not doing that one anymore?" Adrien just had to ask. The thought of dressing up in it was just too fun.

"Well… I want to, but I also need to make sure I have something your father likes. I'm going to submit several designs while I'm here, and I just want this submission to be my best." Marinette admitted as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"But… would you make it even if he doesn't?" The model was so close to resembling a puppy all of a sudden, Marinette just couldn't find the words to say no… or any words at all.

"Um… I…" She eventually just decided to nod which made Adrien jump up in excitement.


Wednesday had Adrien's last photo shoot before the show. Some of the clothes already made for the show would be in it, and so the set was closed to all nonessential personnel and, to Adrien's dismay, that included Nino. That really meant he once again had to deal with Lila on his own. The Italian was currently hanging off his arm while the photographer adjusted the set. Marinette was watching from not too far away by the refreshment table where Tikki was sneaking a little something sweet. "Your face is going to get stuck that way, Marinette." Tikki teased as she saw the frown on her chosen's face.

Marinette rolled her eyes, but loosened her frown a little. "Not funny, Tikki."

"You really don't have anything to be jealous of. It's obvious Adrien doesn't like her. He also knows how she really is."

The designer let out a sigh as she took one of the cookies laid out. "Doesn't mean I like it." She grumbled with her mouth full just to show she didn't care at the moment.

"Marinette!" Stephen ran up to her from behind. "Didn't you already submit your design to Mr. Agreste?"

Marinette nodded while covering Tikki. "Of course, I put it in that folder you had this morning. That's where you told me to put it, right?"

Stephen nodded. "Yes, but… Ms. Sancoeur just picked it up from me and said she only had 4 designs in it. When I checked, I didn't see yours."

All the color drained from Marinette's face in an instant. "B..But I know I…" She pulled on her signature pigtails as she frantically went over it in her mind. She'd made a point to put the finished design in the folder first thing this morning!

"Perhaps you left it in the studio? Hurry, go check! I'll cover for the shoot." Stephen ordered being just as worried as she was. Marinette certainly didn't have to be told twice as she high tailed it out of the building. Lila watched from the corner of her eye while a smirk curled up her lips.

Adrien looked over his shoulder just in time to see Marinette run out of the room. "Huh? Where's she going?"

"Perhaps she forgot something?" Lila suggested while she pulled his arm. "But we don't have time to help. The set is ready."

"My set is ready. Yours comes after, Lila." Adrien made sure to make that perfectly clear.

Lila's pout lasted only a second as she watched him walk on. "And the best is yet to come."


When Marinette still hadn't returned by the end of the shoot, Adrien became worried. What could have held her up? He looked around now that he didn't have Lila to cling to him. "Stephen?" He called noticing the designer checking his watch before looking to the door. "Do you know where Marinette went?"

Stephen rubbed his head as he sighed. "She is getting her design to submit to Mr. Agreste. Ms. Sancoeur is waiting but I fear her patience is thinning. Once the shoot has finished, she will deliver those to Mr. Agreste, with or without Marinette's design."

"But if she doesn't get one turned in won't she be…"

He gulped as Stephen nodded. "Yes. Mr. Agreste doesn't play. If he tells you to do something, he means it."

Adrien raised his hand to his chin as he took a moment to think. Marinette had showed him that design before they moved on site to the photo shoot. She told him she was turning it in before they left. His eyes suddenly went wide as he turned his head towards the set. Lila was busy adoring herself in front of the camera. "She didn't…" He dashed off to where Lila's trailer sat and looked around. She never went to the studio, so she must've done something here… "She wouldn't be dumb enough to hide it in her trailer…" He turned to scan the table of refreshments before noting a small puddle of coffee just under one of the legs. The leg looked like it had been moved a little after the drink was spilled. When he kneeled to see the underside of the table there was nothing.

He stood back up to think some more. "Last time was her too, I'm positive, and she wouldn't want it being recovered so…" He scanned the area again and his eyes fell on the one place no one would look. It was also the best place not to get it back. The garbage can went up to Adrien's waist and it was nearly full. He pulled off the jacket he was modeling and set it to the side before reaching in. It took nearly half an hour to reach the bottom of the bin, and he'd stopped caring about the mess he was making long ago.

"Adrien!? What are you doing?" Stephen pulled him up out of the bin with disgust on his face from the smell. "W-where are your clothes?"

Adrien was now down to his undershirt as he gestured over to the table. "Don't worry, I didn't mess them up."

Stephen, though relieved at that, still couldn't bring himself to look happy. "What were you doing in the garbage? You're filthy…" He reached up to knock an orange rind from Adrien's hair.

The model didn't have the mind to be grossed out himself. His mind was caught on the balled up paper in his fist. "I think I found it." Despite the unidentified colored substances coating his hands, the paper was worse as he uncrumpled it as gently as he could. What was revealed was a half soaked, coffee stained, mess of dark color. The outline of the suit was only held faintly due to the special pens Marinette had used, but no true detail could be discerned save a blurred signature at the bottom.

"Oh my god… It's Marinette's…" He shook his head. "There's no way this can be fixed, Adrien…"

Adrien looked down at the disgusting paper in his hand and let out a sigh. "Did Nathalie already leave?"

Stephen nodded as he reached for a paper towel. "Yes, a few minutes ago, I'm afraid. Your father called her to hurry up."

Adrien took the towel offered and folded the ruined design back into it. "I'm sorry to ask since I'm the one who made the mess, but could you find someone to clean it up. I need to get home." And without waiting for another word, Adrien left.


When he got home and saw Nathalie wasn't at her desk, he knew there was only one other place she would be. His father must already be looking over the designs. He heard his body guard clear his throat before angrily pointing up to his room. "Yeah… Father wouldn't even let me through the door smelling like this." Adrien mused as the large man nodded. After scrubbing enough to make sure he didn't smell, Adrien threw whatever he found first on and ran to his father's office. He was thankful the office was only locked when he had business meetings, but hesitated as he reached for the knob. His father would be seething if he barged in.

"I have no choice…" Adrien heard through the door and pressed his ear up to it. "Be sure to notify her of her dismissal as soon as we're done."

"Father!" Adrien barged in impulsively.

Gabriel stood at his desk with Nathalie, and his expression could have killed if it were any sharper. "What is the meaning of this, Adrien!? I taught you better than to barge into my office while I'm working!"

Adrien was too frantic to care about being scolded at the moment, however, as he strode up to both of them. "Don't dismiss Marinette!"

Gabriel took a calming breath as he placed both hands behind his back. "While I do want you to be more involved in the business, that does not give you the right to, not only barge into my office, but tell me who does and doesn't live up to my standards. I dismiss those who do not measure up." The designer decreed with cold anger Adrien had grown so accustomed to. "That matter aside, Ms. Dupain-Cheng hasn't been dismissed as of yet… Though I am short a design." He looked over the folder Nathalie was holding up. "Am I to assume it is hers that is missing?"

"Yes, but it wasn't her fault. She submitted one, but…" He brought up the ruined design and Gabriel instantly recoiled from the smell.

"Is this some kind of joke, Adrien?" Of course Gabriel wasn't even remotely amused.

"No, her design… Someone took it from the folder and threw it in the garbage at the shoot."

The designer raised a brow and looked at the mess of paper. "And that someone is?"

Adrien cut himself off before saying Lila's name. There was no point if he didn't have any proof. Marinette had already demonstrated that enough in College, and now he was inwardly cursing himself for being such an idiot. "I can't prove it so it doesn't matter."

"Well, even if you did have a name, it would not have done any good. That design, if you could even call it that now, is worthless as it is. Marinette is without a submission."

"But, father-"

"You need to understand this business for what it is. Those who cannot make it through hurtles like this will be crushed under-toe. It doesn't matter if it's a lost reputation or sabotage. Any good designer has a backup plan waiting in the wings."

Adrien's head fell as he recrumpled the ruined design in his hand. "So… There's nothing I can do?"

"I bend my standards for no one." Gabriel answered with a cold finality.

"Then…" Adrien trailed off. Marinette didn't deserve to be dropped this way. It was his fault she didn't have more than the one design done. She'd been finishing up the one he liked so much… Wait… "Hold on, father. What if I gave you a finished design by Marinette? Could that work?"

His father's interest was only slightly peaked, though his anger was still present. "I hope you don't expect I'll take any old design and keep her on." He stated while actually thinking about it in his head.

Adrien obviously cared even though he'd riled his anger in the process. "It's not any old design, it's one she finished for me. I have it in my room."

Gabriel stared down his son for at least a minute before letting out a sigh. "Go get it. I'll evaluate it like the others." His son looked like he was about to cheer, so he cut him off. "Make no mistake, Adrien, if it isn't to my standards, she will be dismissed." Perhaps this was her real test? Gabriel couldn't help thinking her chances were slim, but he couldn't change his standards even for Adrien's sake. His standards are what made him who he is. If she couldn't measure up to them, then she wasn't good enough for Adrien. As he watched his son leave, Nathalie cleared her throat to subtly get his attention. "What is it?" Gabriel answered once Adrien was gone.

"The one who sabotaged her was probably-"

"Lila Rossi? You think I don't know that?" The designer scoffed.

"My mistake, Gabriel, but I just wanted to make sure it was known." Gabriel turned to her at hearing her use his name. It was usually when she was trying to make a point, or didn't want to sound professional.

"It is, and quite frankly this particular act of sabotage grates on my nerves. I can't say I would approve of tampering with any designer's work, but especially not when it's within my own company." Of course he knew just how much he bent his own moral compass at times. He may have been Hawkmoth, but he was doing it for his family, not just himself.

"Should I go ahead and have her removed from the show?"

Gabriel took a moment to think on it, before shaking his head. "No, finding a replacement at this point will be too problematic. Her contract holds for the summer, and so I won't touch it. Come to think of it though, her mother is a diplomat, correct?" Nathalie gave a nod as she moved to bring up Lila's information on her tablet. "Well, an event where people flood in from around the world is about to happen. We'll need to make sure nothing happens to Ms. Rossi. Perhaps we can arrange a private security detail?" Nathalie knew exactly what he had in mind as she made a note to arrange it first thing tomorrow when the embassy opens.

The door opening again brought both of their attentions to Adrien. He had a folder in his hand, but didn't show his previous panic as he handed it over. "Here, father."

"Hmm." The man responded as he set the previous folder aside to see what Marinette had come up with. It was a bit surprising Adrien would take an actual interest in a design and yet think it Gabriel quality. "This is… rather dated…" Gabriel muttered looking it over with a surprising amount of interest. Adrien looked at his father's expressions as he silently scanned the contents of the folder, and couldn't help feeling a bit hopeful. His father hadn't torn it apart, and he actually looked interested. "Nathalie." Gabriel called after spending a good few minutes judging the work. "I want you to go and get Ms. Dupain-Cheng immediately! Have Stephen come in as well. I need to speak to both of them." He ordered in a stern tone that bordered on angry. All of a sudden Adrien's hopes started to fall as his father turned and marched back to his desk. "Go to your room, Adrien. I will call you back in when I am finished."

"But, fa-"

"I will call you in later, Adrien." He ordered again without turning to see the teen. Adrien deflated as he trudged back as ordered. He'd thought for sure it would get more consideration. He loved that design! Hell, if Marinette couldn't make it during the internship, he wanted to commission her to make it for him! Adrien's last act of defiance at his father's order was slamming the door behind him. He'd deal with the consequences later.


The drama! Betrayal! Sabotage! Murder!?(Not really, duh.) Now I'm sure you all saw something like this coming. I want to point out something about the designs. I know she was using a tablet earlier, but the submissions are done on paper. I figured Gabriel would be a bit old fashioned when it came to formally submitting something. I don't know how designers do it now, but in old movies and shows they show a physical hand drawn design. (Hence, why Marinette was freaking out about finding it instead of printing out a new one.)

Also, I planned that whole thing between Gabriel and Nino really early on. I hope I made a few of you laugh with it. Gabriel was so sure he'd gotten his point across, but under estimated just how clueless Adrien could be.=^-^=

As always, thank you for reading, and if anyone wants to leave a comment then I won't argue! Anyone wanna guess how this will go down?=^-^=