Marinette was ecstatic. She had started to work as Adrien Agreste's assistant two weeks ago and this weekend, it will be the first time she would accompany him for a modeling contract.

Adrien's bodyguard was picking them up at the office in half an hour, and after a one hour drive they would be in a freaking castle for the photoshoot of next year's spring collection.

Since she was still learning, her role would mainly be to follow the model like his shadow all day and help whenever someone needed her. She had reviewed the planning of the day 100 times at least, and knew it by heart. She just hoped her clumsiness wouldn't strike today… With all the professionals there, it would be quite embarrassing… or would potentially kill her designer career before it even started.

She couldn't wait to see all the "behind the scenes" of a modeling day. That will definitely help her for when one day, she would present her own creations.

"Ready?"

Marinette was startled by the voice behind her, almost tripping over her own foot. She was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't heard Adrien coming.

"Woah sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." he said, grabbing her arm to steady her.

"No that's ok! I was just distracted. But yes, I'm ready!"

She gathered her things and followed him. They both sat on the back seat of the black sedan a bodyguard was driving.

She didn't know his name, but heard that he was being called the gorilla. Even if he was a big guy (less than her father, but still) who looked serious and only grunted half answers, Adrien told her he was a really nice guy. He had been his bodyguard since he started modeling in his teenage years. He considered him as part of the family.

The two young adults chatted animatedly during the ride. She had heard him speak Mandarin to a client yesterday and she must say she was impressed. Since her mother was Chinese, she was accustomed to hearing the sonorites of this language so she recognized it right away.

"I wish I'd be as fluent as you to be able to have a full conversation with my mom's family." she told him.

They arrived at the photoshoot site and immediately, Adrien had to get his hair and makeup done. Marinette followed him around and he didn't hesitate to introduce her to the team. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming.

After having been styled, Adrien went to the designated dressing space. Marinette was surprised when she saw him undressing to his underwear right there, in the middle of the room, in front of 3 people.

"I guess you become less self-conscious when you have been modeling for a certain time…" she thought, turning around to give him some privacy. It didn't go unnoticed by him, and once he was dressed, he came to talk to her.

"Marinette? I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I'm so used to changing clothes anywhere for photoshoots or fashion shows… I tend to forget that it's not necessarily the case for everyone. If you prefer, I can change behind a screen." he told her, concerned.

"Oh hum… no it's ok. I just wasn't expecting for you to undress all of a sudden." She laughed nervously. "I'll get used to it."

She followed him to the place where the pictures would be done. She observed him as he posed for the photographer, following his instructions perfectly (even if sometimes it didn't make sense, in her opinion). It was clear that he had done this a lot and knew the drill.

He had a total of six outfits to model. One part that Marinette really enjoyed was to see the seamstress doing the last minute adjustments at an impressive speed. Maybe one day it would be her.

As she was looking at Adrien's fourth modeling of the day, she heard a commotion.

"How come she can't be here?? What's her reason this time?" an angry voice shouted.

"Well she said she had a broken malleolus, whatever that is…" answered another voice who seemed jaded.

"How can we properly work if she's missing half the assignments?!" the first person replied."

"Hey, what's going on?" Adrien asked as he was heading to change in the fifth outfit.

"Lila Rossy didn't show up… again! I don't understand why your father keeps her as a model. She's totally unreliable!" the man, who Marinette recognized as one of the head designers, told him.

"Hmm… Wait, I have an idea! Just give me a few minutes." Adrien exclaimed, before looking in Marinette's direction. He made a sign to tell her to follow him.

"Yes, what is it, Adrien?" she asked him once they were back in the changing room.

"I think you could help us." he answered.

"Hum ok but how? It's not like I can find a model on the corner of the street…"

"True, but you could replace Lila." he said, smiling brightly.

"W-what? I can't do that! I'm far from being a model and I-I don't know what to do and what if I fall or rip the clothes or-" she rambled, her eyes wide.

"Hey… you don't have to if you don't want to." he assured her softly. "But… I would help you. I'll be in the photoshoot too so you could just follow my lead."

"But I don't have the looks of a model…" she objected weakly, not looking at him.

"What are you saying? Look at you, Marinette, you're a beautiful woman. Don't ever doubt that."

Hearing those words, her heart skipped a beat and she blushed. Did he just say she was beautiful?

"Hum… o-ok? I'll do it, I guess?" she mumbled shyly.

"Thank you, Marinette. Come, we'll go talk to the team.

She followed him and he explained his idea to the others. They all agreed. The shooting would have to be delayed for an hour or two, since some adjustments on the clothes would be necessary, Marinette being shorter than Lila.

The head designer made her try the two outfits and the seamstress took her measurements, pinned the fabric and started the alterations right away.

"Hey Adrien! I just negotiated a one hour break while they are doing the modifications on the clothes. What would you like to do?" Marinette asked him.

"Oh that's great! Hum, maybe relax and eat? I could give you tips for later at the same time." he answered.

She modified Adrien's schedule on the tablet and gave him a thumbs up, making him chuckle.

After grabbing food that the team had brought for them, they went outside and sat on a low wall at the edge of the castle. It was still pretty warm outside even if the autumn was well in its advanced stage.

Adrien was silent, lost in his thoughts as he took a bite of the hard boiled egg he was holding.

"Is everything alright?" Marinette asked, pulling him out of his reverie.

"Oh hum yeah sorry." he answered, rubbing his nape. "I was just thinking that if it was Nathalie who was here instead of you, she wouldn't have asked me what I wanted to do. She would have planned something else to make productive use of that hour."

"Well… Making sure that you're well fed and rested to be in top form for the rest of the shooting IS productive in my opinion." she answered.

Adrien smiled at her. If his eyes were the sun, she would have melted on the spot. There was so much warmth in his gaze right now…

"That's not what Father thinks." he answered, looking away.

"What? Even eating?" she said, dumbfounded. Having grown up above a bakery made food the center of her life, after all.

"Yeah… You don't know how many meals I had to skip in order to keep up with my busy schedule. It was just crazy when I was younger. At least now that I'm 21, I have more liberties."

She was looking at him, and Adrien was sure he saw a hint of sadness in her bluebell eyes. She was so kind and considerate. He didn't regret having hired her as his assistant. It was pleasant to work with her, refreshing even.

"So!" he exclaimed, after clearing his throat. "Do you have questions about modeling?"

They had discussed for half an hour when someone texted them to come back.

Marinette was having her makeup done while Adrien's hair was getting styled. They switched places and then went to change. Marinette was relieved to see that a screen had been put up for her.

Adrien waited for her while she struggled putting on a dress with a particularly intricate design. After making the last minute adjustments on their outfits, they were ready for the shooting.

The photographer had to take pictures of them separately first. Marinette observed the model who posed first, then got in place.

"Okay miss…?" the photographer hesitated.

"Marinette." she answered.

"Yes miss Marinette! Please stand on the cross on the floor. Alright. Now, do as if you were lost in your thoughts, daydreaming about something nice. Look up a bit. Smile. More natural! Not that wide! Turn a bit towards me. Too much! Ok. Now look down…"

She was nervous and was getting a bit flustered with all the orders the man was giving her. She felt panic starting to rise in the pit of her stomach. She looked at Adrien and he must have noticed her discomfort because he asked the photographer to hold on and joined her.

He was now facing her, his hands placed on her shoulders, his body kind of shielding her from the man.

"Hey, it's alright. You're doing great for your first time." he whispered, smiling softly. "I know he can be demanding but don't worry. Try to relax and think of something related to the emotions he asks you to show. It will be easier to be more natural. You think you'll be alright?"

"Y-yes thank you…" she answered shyly.

Adrien took a step back and gave her a thumbs up before going back to the photographer. He talked to him briefly and the latter nodded.

Marinette could still feel the warmth on her shoulders, where his hands had been resting. She took a calming breath and the photoshoot resumed.

When her part was done, it was time for the pictures in duo. Adrien joined her and they followed the instructions of the photographer.

"Now Adrien, put your left arm around her shoulders, your hand gently resting on her upper arm. Marinette, turn towards Adrien a bit. More. Yes like that. Put your left hand on his sternum. Good."

Marinette was hoping that he couldn't feel or hear the rapid beating of her heart. It was the closest she physically got to him and it didn't help that he was freaking gorgeous and that she had been on a dry spell for a year… His cologne or whatever he had put on smelled heavenly good. Like subtle warm spices with a hint of something sweet.

"Alright, last pose for this outfit." the photographer declared. "Face each other, and Adrien hold her left hand with your right. Let them hang beside you. Cup her face with your left hand. Now gaze into her eyes. Yes. Marinette, look back at him from under your lashes. Both of you, keep your expression serious, like you were seeing each other for the last time."

Marinette felt like time had stopped. She was getting lost in the bright green of his eyes, his intense gaze almost hypnotizing. He was gently rubbing her cheek with his thumb, while softly squeezing her hand. Unconsciously, she pulled on her lower lip with her teeth.

Adrien swallowed thickly at the sight of her slightly lustful gaze, making his Adam's apple bob up and down.

It was definitely more enjoyable to model with her than Lila, who was always all over him. There was something magnetic about Marinette, pulling him in, making him want to know her more, inside out.

"Ok now go change!" the man behind the camera said, breaking the spell.

The rest of the session went smoothly (there were no romantic poses this time), and two hours later everything was wrapped up and they were back in the car, rolling towards Paris. They didn't talk much on the way back, Marinette having fallen asleep against the window and Adrien lost in his thoughts.

"Yeah, it has been an interesting day…" he thought.