Finally chapter 5. I had so many of you getting worked up about that cliffy, so I suppose I'll put you all out of your misery earlier than planned. Anyone see this coming? I can think of maybe two responses being close.=^-^=
Ch. 5 - The Collection
Marinette laid on her chaise looking every bit like all her dreams had been torn out of her and trampled on. She nursed a small cup of ice cream as she thought back to what had gone wrong. She was so sure she put it in the folder. When she arrived back at the studio, she'd torn the place apart looking for it. When Stephen arrived hours later he looked angry, but didn't say anything about it. He no doubt realized Marinette was already getting the worst he would've been able to do about it. His only words to her before she finally left were about trying to talk to Gabriel Agreste on her behalf, but he didn't look even slightly confident he could do anything.
Upon arriving to her home looking like she'd cry any moment, her mother sent her upstairs with ice cream, a plate of cookies and a trash can. She would be waiting downstairs when Marinette wanted to talk about it. When her phone rang she didn't make a move to grab it. A slight glance down showed it was Alya… "Not now…." It stopped and immediately started ringing again. Marinette tolerated it a few more times before she picked up. "Please, Alya I…" She stopped at hearing the feedback.
"You didn't hear me knock… I didn't think yelling would help either so…" Alya informed as she held the door up enough to fit her head.
Marinette let out a sigh and turned over. "Not now, Alya…"
"Please, Marinette. Nino told me something happened, but he couldn't say what. Adrien refused to answer the phone or do anymore texts." Marinette curled in on herself. Alya wouldn't be able to do anything about her problem, and she really didn't want to talk about it. "Is it the internship?" The designer flinched. "Thought so… Alright, something big happened right? Don't tell me they kicked you out. There's no way you aren't good enough!" Alya tried to encourage as she reached out to pat her friend's back. She turned back and saw Sabine watching in worry on the stairs. "I'm sure whatever it is, isn't as bad as you think it is, Marinette."
"It's worse!" The designer countered as she put her hands over her head. "I made a stupid mistake, and now it's over!"
Alya could see Marinette making mistakes; she made them all the time. Her mistakes, however, were never very bad. She would trip, forget to write her name, or sleep through her alarm; all very Marinette mistakes. "I don't think…" She trailed off as a muffled shout was heard downstairs. Sabine looked down before lowering the door to check on things. Alya listened a moment more and the muffled shouts continued. "What is… I'll be right back, Marinette." Alya consoled as she moved back to the door. She quickly found the source of the argument and that being a person.
"Marinette isn't available right now." Tom said with a stern tone and his big arms crossed. He was standing between Sabine and Nathalie Sancoeur who was at the door.
"If she is home, I need her to come with me."
"Let me guess?" Alya asked, none too happy about the woman who's boss probably caused Marinette's state. "Gabriel wants to dismiss her in person? Hard pass."
Nathalie adjusted her glasses as she kept her expression professional. "What Mr. Agreste wishes to speak with her about is, company business and, not your concern. I find it prudent, however, to tell you Mr. Agreste has not yet expressed an intention to dismiss her." Alya raised a brow at that. If the mistake wasn't that bad then why was Marinette so upset? Of course, maybe Gabriel really did plan to dismiss her and didn't tell his secretary. "It would do you well not to assume you know Mr. Agreste's mind, Ms. Cesaire. A reporter deals in facts. If Ms. Dupain-Cheng refuses to come with me, it'll only show a lack of professionalism regardless of what she was summoned for." Nathalie's eyes went over Alya's head when she said that, and everyone turned to spy Marinette at the stairs. She still looked a mess, but not quite as emotional.
"Marinette!" Sabine rushed over to her as her daughter hit the bottom step. "Are you alright?"
The teen shook her head as she wiped her face. "No… but… she's right. If I can't face it, then Mr. Agreste would be completely right to dismiss me." Sabine wanted nothing more than to take her daughter into her arms, and away from what had made her look so terrible before. Her daughter didn't deserve to be reduced to tears. On the other hand, however, Marinette's serious expression had her stopping.
Tom placed a hand on her shoulder as he gently pulled the mother aside. "Alright, Marinette, we'll be here waiting for you to get back." Alya crossed her arms and watched Marinette go with the older woman. She still wasn't buying this was a misunderstanding. There was something behind it, and she was going to try and get anything she could out of Nino later.
Adrien paced his room, irritation still clear on his features. "Geez, kid, you're gonna wear a groove in the floor." Plagg halfheartedly scolded as he arranged a few cheese slices on a plate.
"Father can get over it." The model snapped back with a stomp of his foot. "He can't just dismiss Marinette when it was someone else's fault! Marinette did everything he asked of her! She doesn't deserve it!"
Plagg rolled his eyes and glanced at him. "Sure, but stuff like this happens all the time. He gave her design a shot you know."
"No he didn't! And since when are you on father's side!?" Adrien countered in annoyed surprise.
Plagg floated up with a shrug. "I'm not, but he did look at the new one. If he didn't like it, there's nothing to be done."
The growl that escaped Adrien's throat at that comment didn't sound humanly possible as he punched the nearest wall. "Damn it! That design was great! Marinette is a great designer!"
Plagg let out a sigh and floated over to his chosen. "Look, kid, I think what you think you're angry at, and what you're really angry at, are 2 different things." His chosen's glare did nothing to the kwami who merely crossed his paws. "Quick question then, what about the other girl?"
The anger fell away a bit as Adrien tried to understand the question. "What other girl?"
Plagg rolled his eyes again. "You know, the girl we heard them dismissing outside your papa-sicle's door? The one you thought was pigtails."
"What about her?" Adrien asked, still not seeing the point.
"You're going on and on about pigtails and her design not getting enough credit, but what about the other girl? You've spent at least a little time with all of the intern girls, so why aren't you trying to defend her too?"
"Well I… Marinette's my friend, Plagg-"
"Yeah, but she's working as your father's intern, which means your father decides what he likes and doesn't. You can't be mad at him just because he doesn't like pigtails' design if you won't even give the others a thought!"
Adrien appeared to think it over a few moments, but his actions showed Plagg didn't get through. "Marinette is more important!"
"Why?" Plagg asked as he dodged Adrien's hand.
"Because she's my friend!"
"Hmm? Funny, I don't remember you throwing a tantrum like this when your papa-sicle rejected Nino." The kwami recalled with a bite in his voice. His chosen were always so stubborn, and why did he have to deal with it!?
"Plagg." Adrien called with a suddenly calmer tone.
"What? Mad I'm right?"
"Just leave me alone." And with that the model laid on his bed to promptly ignore his kwami.
"What?! You…..urg!" Plagg was not in the mood to deal with this shit anymore. He stuck out his tongue, in a show of equal immaturity, and phased right through the wall.
Marinette couldn't help thinking that this was what criminals on trial felt as they were marched into the court room. Being led through the Agreste Mansion's cold décor, was reminiscent of a prison. Was this how Adrien felt? Why hadn't she noticed before!? She'd been in his house several times now! Mr. Agreste's office was right up the stairs on the left. Not far from the door, though it still felt like the walls went on forever. "Mr. Agreste? I have Ms. Dupain-Cheng with me." Nathalie informed as she knocked on the door.
"Come in." Was heard and Nathalie opened the door, gesturing Marinette to go ahead.
"Stephen?" She asked noticing the designer was also present, but he looked as anxious as she felt.
"Stephen is here for the same matter, but he will refrain from speaking until I've heard from you." Gabriel announced as he stood from behind his desk. There was a podium up with his drawing tablet, as well as a large object covered in a sheet. Marinette could only assume it was an outfit Gabriel was putting together himself. "To begin, I will warn you. If I think you're lying to me in the slightest, you will be dismissed, no questions asked. This is no laughing matter, and I want you to treat it as though your very career depends on it. It does."
Marinette reflexively gulped under his piercing gaze, and nodded. "Y-yes sir… If this is about my missing design-"
"Silence, I haven't asked my question yet." Gabriel snapped as he picked up a folder from his desk before walking over to the terrified designer to be. "Whatever your ruined design was, doesn't matter. It's unusable as it is. This design, however, warrants investigation." He flipped open the folder to show the Chat Suit with the tailcoat Adrien adored so much.
"H-how did you…?"
Gabriel gave a grin, though the sinister tone it had only made the man more terrifying. "My son brought it to me to replace your ruined one. Whether you should be thankful or not, remains to be seen. Tell me, what made you design this?"
Marinette found herself struggling not to step back. "I… I wanted to make a suit… inspired by Chat Noir?"
"I could tell, but why?" Gabriel reiterated with a stern brow raised.
"Why? I… what do you mean? I just wanted to make a suit and-"
"Yes, make it look like Chat Noir. I can see that. I want to know what supposedly inspired your use of such a dated appearance. The tailcoat, the cravat, the cane; why those things? Why even a suit!?"
"Mr. Agreste, with all due respect-"
"Stephen, you will wait your turn." The older man declared as he shot a glare from the side.
"I-It was just a joke… at first…" Marinette finally admitted with that brief reprieve from Gabriel's hard gaze. "On that first day with Stephen, he told me you like interns who design for themselves during the internship. I remembered most of your best lines were in formal wear, and so I thought about a suit. Stephen said something about not having to start so seriously on the first day, and that I should do something more fun. I said, "Like what? A super hero suit?" and he laughed and said he looked forward to seeing any catsuit I designed, and I said "how about a Chat Suit" andthenIjuststarteddrawing….." Though her words began to jumble together at the end, she was just grateful she was able to get them out at all.
"So what you are telling me is," Gabriel began as he took a glance at Stephen. "That this design here started with a joke derived from a play on words?" After Marinette nodded he looked to Stephen again for any sign that wasn't exactly what happened. He made it a point that no recordings were done in any studio while designers were working on sensitive materials. Even the video in his office was off while he was working to make sure nothing was leaked. This meant he couldn't go to video to check their story. "Stephen?"
"I told her nothing Mr. Agreste, I promise you. She was helping me with the butterfly dress, but that had nothing to do with that Chat Noir design of hers. It was just a coincidence."
Gabriel raised his hand to stop him before clearing his throat. "You understand the repercussions if this was not, correct? If Marinette was given this idea from an outside source?"
"Of course, sir, but I was there! She clearly knows nothing, and I assure you, none of my notes ever left my locked desk."
"Um… What's going on?" Marinette finally asked after working up the courage. This was suddenly sounding less and less like she was being dismissed and more like he was paranoid about something.
"It is Mr. Agreste's new collection." He gestured to the sheet covered garment. "With it being so close to Haute Couture week, here in Paris, having information leaked could be catastrophic for the brand."
Marinette furrowed her brow. "Okay… but what would that have to do with my design? The only person I showed not with the company was Nino, and he signed that nondisclosure contract, right?" It would be the only reason he would be allowed in the building at all.
"Mr. Lahiffe and his companion have already been checked several times over the course of the last few weeks." Gabriel informed as he made his way to the project he covered. "And your design has everything to do with the collection I planned to introduce in my presentation."
The man pulled off the sheet to reveal a radiant red ball gown with black accents and a few well hidden spots. "Is that… A Ladybug themed ball gown?"
"Indeed, though it is quite obvious. This was to be one of the spotlight gowns that would be featured in my "Noble Miraculous" collection. That Butterfly dress is also a part of this collection, and I planned to have one inspired by 4 more as well; this would include Chat Noir." Gabriel then brought up his collection of designs to the screen of the tablet. "Take a look for yourself." Marinette looked at each one, and quickly found the Chat inspired elements. Each one was beautiful… though unfinished. Despite the brilliant details put into each one, there was something missing. They all reminded her of Chat Noir in some way, but none of them really looked like him; mostly they had cat details. Of course Chat wouldn't ever wear a dress like this… or if he did it would be weird, but even that Butterfly dress had an element that showed HawkMoth now that she thought about it. The dark purples meshed into the lace gave a sinister yet refined look that matched the villain to the letter. None of these really said Chat Noir over any other cat miraculous holder. "The look on your face tells me you see the same thing I do."
"But they're all beautiful, Mr. Agreste."
Gabriel scoffed. "Don't distract from the point, Ms. Dupain-Cheng, from the moment I saw your design earlier this evening, I knew exactly what mine lacked." Though he was loath to admit it, Marinette's design instantly brought that lumbering cat hero to his mind, unlike his own. "Say it."
Marinette flinched at the order and only hoped he wouldn't dismiss her for doing what she was told. "N-None of them really captured Chat Noir… I see black cats, and magical aspects but…"
"Exactly. None of these dresses represent Chat Noir." And despite hating the hero for always getting in his way, he wanted his designs to be perfect. His pride wouldn't let him have it any other way. "Stephen, is the Butterfly dress finished?" He suddenly asked turning back to his employee.
"Uh, yes sir, I was just checking over the stitching, and planned to have it to you by Friday morning."
"Bring it tomorrow instead. After that, you and Marinette will begin working on this suit, everything else can wait. The rest of your work will be given to Ulrich and Katrina until you're finished. I expect a full list of materials for acquisition to be finished before either of you leave the studio, is that clear?"
Marinette was looking terrified and confused all at once. "So I'm… Not dismissed?" She wondered.
"No, Ms. Dupain-Cheng, not at the moment."
"Sir, do you mean to use that in the collection?"
Gabriel raised an irritated brow at his lead designer. "Is that not obvious? Would you have me use one of these inferior gowns instead?" The designer growled out, not enjoying the idea of admitting someone else was better at his specialty in the slightest.
"No… I mean, yes, sir. I just wanted to make sure. Marinette, and I will get straight on that first thing."
Adrien eventually felt like an ass about arguing with Plagg. The kwami was usually so apathetic, and he should have been grateful with how he was trying to help. "Plagg?" He called as he rummaged through his room. Plagg was nowhere to be found, and so he wandered out of his room. He was greeted with a very stunned Marinette and Stephen as they started down the opposing staircase. "Marinette? Are you okay?" He'd completely forgotten about his kwami now, and dashed over to see her. "What's wrong? Marinette?"
"…Adrien?" She asked still looking out of it.
"Yes… What happened? Did my father dismiss you?" He growled as he glared at the office door.
"No… I…"
Stephen took hold of her shoulders from behind. "Marinette's just a bit surprised, nothing to worry about, Adrien. She hasn't been dismissed… quite the opposite actually. Just let me take Marinette home, and I'll fill you in after."
"Wait, let me come to drop her off at least."
"Adrien, your father needs to speak with you again." Nathalie cut in, effectively ruining his plan.
"Don't worry, Adrien. I'll make sure she's home safe." The model grudgingly let them go and went back up the stairs to his father's studio. Surprisingly enough, Nathalie didn't follow him in, and it was just the two of them once the door was closed.
"You wanted to see me, father?" Adrien's cold tone was not lost on the man. Mr. Lahiffe's information was sounding more credible as the night went on.
"Yes, I did, Adrien. Your attitude earlier tonight was inexcusable. I understand you felt as though I wasn't being fair, but it's my job to make hard decisions. Do you think I built this company on slacking off? On letting people not do their part?"
"Marinette did do her part. I saw it before she turned it in." Adrien growled back trying his best to remain composed.
"And when you inherit this company, you may make that decision. I did not see it, and so, it was as good as not done." Gabriel then let out a sigh. "But, your behavior in doing so aside, you did make a good choice in bringing that other design. Marinette will not be dismissed, and I do believe that the ruined design was not her doing nor, do I see her as the type to make excuses. She is very hard working, if a little meek under pressure."
Adrien's rage visibly started to leave him at his father's words. "So… You liked the design then? Why didn't you say that before?" It would have made him less of an ass, especially to Plagg.
"Because, Adrien, and this is something you need to keep in mind in the future, a designer's designs are invaluable to them. A successful designer will always have to worry about having others copy or even steal right from under their nose. It was unfortunate that you didn't understand my caution earlier, and it is why I'm explaining it to you now." It may have been just Adrien hoping too much, but that could kind of be… an apology? "I didn't know whether I would dismiss Ms. Dupain-Cheng at the time. I needed to investigate first." He then cleared his throat. "Now, starting tomorrow, you'll need to spend the majority of your time in Stephen's studio. They are starting a project which will serve as a companion spotlight piece in my latest special collection. I want to make sure they have as much of your time as needed since you will be modeling it." Though his father never forced models to spend time with the designers for such a reason, Adrien decided to let that part go, and concentrate on the fact he wouldn't have to feel guilty about hanging with Marinette.
To say Marinette was shocked was an understatement. She still looked like a space cadet when she walked into her own home, causing her parents to worry a bit more than before. Alya was still there and waiting to find out if Marinette was really dragged off to be dismissed in person. "No… He didn't dismiss me… he… Sorry, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it." Marinette apologized as she sat down at the table.
"Well hurry, girl, you look like he sprouted a second head right in front of you or something."
"No, it was my design. The design I submitted for the upcoming show went missing, and when I couldn't find it I thought I was done for. Gabriel Agreste doesn't take excuses. Anyway, when I got there he told me Adrien gave him another design I did. He liked it."
Alya raised a brow. "Um… okay? He's liked your stuff before, though."
"Yes, but this was one similar to what he was doing. I can't really explain too much because I'm just not allowed to, but at first he wanted to know if his design plans got leaked because the design Adrien gave him fit perfectly into what he planned. He even showed me what he'd been doing, and liked mine more. It's… unbelievable."
"Not to me." Alya countered with a smirk. "If anyone can out-do Gabriel Agreste, it's my girl!" She then grabbed her into a hug. "And I'm so glad things didn't go spiraling out of control and you come back a wreck. I'd have had to do some not so moral things to that-"
"Alya!" Marinette interrupted hearing the intent to cuss in her voice. "My parents are right over there." The designer warned with a sigh. "It's still hard for me to believe. Maybe when I wake up, I'll realize it was all a dream?"
"Well then, I'll be sure to call in the morning to remind you it wasn't. Also, it would have totally sucked if it was a dream since I got clearance to help cover the shows during Haute Couture week." The reporter informed as she held herself proudly. "And when your design turns out to be an awesome hit I expect to be allowed an exclusive interview!" The cheeky grin she gave made Marinette laugh.
"Okay, if it's a success and I get permission."
Alya rolled her eyes. "And why would you need permission to tell me all about your awesome design?"
"Because in accordance with the contract I signed before starting the internship, all designs or products I produce during the hours of my internship are owned under the Gabriel brand. I still have the right to do what I want with them, but they're treated as company assets as well. If I say anything about the design it would reflect on the company, not just me." Marinette explained with a serious expression.
"Geez… All this hush-hush nonsense is getting on my nerves. I can't even talk to Nino about how close you and Adrien are getting without him clamming up over something."
The designer blushed as she looked away. "Alya!... It's just-"
"Nu-uh, don't even tell me its nothing. When you guys finally get together I'm going to cover the entire engagement! It'll be ground breaking and romantic!" She then hugged Marinette again. "But I also expect to be your Maid of Honor too, so I guess I'll have to get someone else to cover the wedding part." And now she was getting way ahead of herself. It was starting to sound like one of Marinette's old rants on how she would live happily ever after with Adrien… Or screw up. Come to think of it, she did more worry rants than happy ones. Marinette lamented her fluxuating confidence and gave up trying to stop Alya completely.
And thus the drama turns in a weird way, no? Lila's attempt to get Marinette kicked out backfires in a fun way. It probably won't be the last time that happens either. hint hint.
Anyway, thanks for reading. Comments are welcome, as well as guesses! Any idea of what Lila will try next?=^-^=
