Who the hell is that," Marinette hushed to Adrien as they escalated the staircase.
"Not here," he shushed her quietly.
"When then?" She tugged at his arm, inconspicuously, to slow him down as they got to the top of the stairs.
He shot her a warning look stooping down slightly, "later."
That's specific!
Rolling her eyes, she fixated her gaze on what appeared to be their destination. The big oak door shut firm, Marinette's grip tightened in excitement, pushing the nagging feeling she had to the back of her mind.
"You'll be fine," she felt his breath on he skin as he whispered in he ear, he was really close. She jumped as a tingling sensation went through her causing a shiver to engulf her body.
What the fuck Junior!
Marinette inhaled deeply with this feeling, moving away slightly, she met his admiring gaze with a questioning one. No time to think about it now as they approached their destination.
Before Adrien had even knocked to gain permission to enter the room, a voice came from within.
"Come in."
Resisting the urge to bounce on the spot, Marinette was escorted by Adrien into his fathers office. The room was large and spacious, a coffee table was positioned between two black leather sofas. The walls white with large pieces of art draped across them, and a glass desk sat before a portrait of a beautiful blonde lady. Resembling Adrien, Marinette guessed this was a painting of his mother, she knew his mother was not was not around, but did not know why.
Gabriel looked up from behind his desk, in his hands was Marinette's portfolio, as his eyes scanned his son and new apprentice. Marinette quickly dropped her hand from the crook of Adrien's arm and Gabriel chuckled as he looked back down to her designs.
Was that a good chuckle or a bad chuckle? Bollocks.
"Miss Dupain-Cheng, Marinette if I may?" His voice smooth like dark chocolate, he kept his gaze on her portfolio. "Where is your sketch book."
Shit it's on my terrace.
"My apologies Mr Agreste-" she started but he held his hand up to signal her to stop.
"I have to say I am rather disappointed."
Marinette's breath caught in her throat. Feeling overly emotional at the prospect of dissatisfaction caused by her, to the person she had held in such high regard.
"I was hoping to have seen one of your designs in the flesh today." He finished his sentence and looked up with a glance at Adrien before turning to Marinette. With an expectant look about him, he continued. "I am disappointed because you are not showing your flare in what you wear." He gestured to her clothing.
"This is nice, but this is not the Marinette Dupain-Cheng I saw on Friday." Finishing with an encouraging smile, Marinette knew what he was getting at.
"Tomorrow Mr Agreste," she smiled with relief, "I will most definitely have flare."
"I'm glad, and your sketch book?" His voice cool and calm while addressing her.
Marinette nodded, and started breathing properly again.
"Good, I would very much like to see your raw designs, I find them more indicative than portfolio work." He pinched the bridge of his nose in thought, looking back down at the drawings in front of him. "Adrien, you and Marinette were in school together yes?"
Adrien tensed at his fathers question, wondering where he was going with this.
"Yes father."
"And you two get on quite well?"
Adrien shot a look at Marinette before looking back to Gabriel, Marinette could see the confusion he was experiencing at his fathers question.
"I would like to say we do?"
Gabriel looked up at the pair in front of him. Peering over his silver rimmed spectacles, his eye fleeted between the two, his lips pursed. "I was going to have Chase work on this but I have had an...idea...yes, that's what will happen." Straightening up he focused on Adrien. "As you and Chase do not exactly see eye to eye, and Agnès does not work well with you either, this is an opportunity for my new intern to show me what she can do."
He focused his gaze on Marinette, he adjusted his glasses and laced his fingers in front of his solar plexus, lips pursed with a thoughtful look in his slightly squinted eyes. Marinette could feel a burning sensation radiating on her cheeks spreading to her ears. Nervous, she had an idea of where this was going.
"Under my supervision," he continued, "I would like to see what you can do." He gestured to her portfolio, "I can see these lovely pieces you have designed for ladies, I would like to see your capabilities for men's haute couture."
Eyes wide Marinette was flabbergasted! Her heart racing, she had the opportunity of a life time, working under the superb eye of Gabriel Agreste.
"I do not know what to say!" She told them in astonishment. Face red, she bit her bottom lip with a mixture of nerves and excitement.
"You say thank you." Gabriel smiled at her.
"Of course!" Marinette squeaked, struggling to contain herself. "Thank you for this opportunity Mr Agreste!"
"Call me Gabriel, I'm trying this new concept where I take away the formalities to encourage creativity." He smirked to himself, "so far I find it's working, but some are reluctant to allow the barriers, put in place by hierarchy, to be dropped. With free flowing communication, we can feel free to express ourselves in our work." He focused on Adrien, "how do you think it is panning out?"
"It's definitely a new concept for everyone!" He nervously grabbed the back of his neck, "but I do find people are working better together, mostly."
Gabriel nodded in agreement to his sons words. "Could you show Marinette to our sample fabrics in the design room please," he smiled with calculating eyes. "I am intrigued to see how this dynamic works."
"No problem," he half smiled at Marinette who was almost shaking with eagerness to get started. He gestured for her to follow him, as they got to the door Marinette stopped and turned to Gabriel.
"I am really grateful for this opportunity," her face full of gratitude, her hands clasped at her chest. "Sincerely, thank you,"
"You are very welcome Marinette," he looked at Adrien with a warning look. "Let's not have a repeat of last time with Agnès, and also Marinette, please keep your designs to just me and Adrien for now if you will." With these last words he sat at his desk and turned his attention to other papers on his desk.
As they left his office, Adrien escorted Marinette again in a gentlemanly fashion. Marinette observing all the extravagant pieces of art on the walls, and the sculptures placed ornately. Taking everything in, she was lost while admiring her surroundings, it was only when the came to another big oak door, that she realised they had arrived.
The bluenette had so many questions about keeping her designs to herself, Chase, and who Agnès is, along with what happened. Adrien could see her wanting to ask questions, with her furrowed brow and troubled bottom lip, he put his hand on her shoulder before opening the door, stopping her for a moment.
"I know you have questions, but there are some questions I can not answer here, OK?"
"When then?" She looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"I-erm, can I call you tonight?" He hesitated but looked hopeful.
Sighing, she knew how tired she would be, "fine." The curiosity of wanting to know, had overcome her want to binge Netflix and eat her weight in chocolate. "Now," she turned to the door, "distract me from being nosey, Agreste and let me into this cave of wonders!" Excitement gracing her eyes as he obliged.
Behind that door lay an abundance of high quality fabric samples, intricate fixings, beautiful threads of all types and a sea of buttons and beads. Marinette was in her element. Everything was organised, everything was at hand to put together the most extravagant pieces and this, was all at her disposal.
Adrien watched her in awe, as she traced the intricate patterns on the fabric samples on the table. Moving through the samples, her eyes rested on the most beautiful black silk, laced with a thin gold trellis pattern, so thin, the gold looked more like a sheen than a pattern. Eyes wide Marinette knew this material would be featured in at least one of her creations.
"They're the new samples brought in this morning," his words brought her out of her fabric induced trance. "Do you like hem?" He chuckled.
Marinette rolled her eyes, but internally smiled, getting in on the action she replied, "they're fabric-lous!" Marinette brought the black silk closer to her face to examine it. "This fabric is just for what I have in mind." Focusing on Adrien, she bit her lip in thought looking him up and down. Leaning on the counter, Marinette propped her chin on the back of her hands. "What?"
Adrien had been looking at her with fondness a little bit too long and it had become uncomfortably noticeable.
"You punned."
"Yeah, and so did you!"
"Nothing, nothing," he replied aloofly, rubbing his nape in the process. "You just, su-purr-ised me that's all."
"Ok," Marinette was bewildered by his behaviour. "Was that a cat pun you just punned?!" Lips agape, and brow furrowed, Marinette found herself staring at him, heart rate elevated slightly as she caught his eye.
The similarities are seriously getting me confused!
Sighing out of her thoughts, as Adrien had just stared back looking a little uncomfortable, she turned her thoughts back to the fabric. Raising an eyebrow, she mused at the fabric, "this fabric, with your look, would be a match shade in heaven!"
They both snorted at her terrible pun, releasing the slight tension that had descended. Adrien proceeded to show her everything contained within the room. The afternoon had gone by too quickly for Marinette's liking, although she wouldn't admit it, Adrien's company had been almost as delightful as the fabulous cave of wonders she had been shown.