Hey everyone, sorry this took soooooo long to update but I thank you for your patience. Please enjoy!
The next morning, Felix was eating breakfast with Bridgette as Emily walked in.
"Okay everyone, I need to head back to the gallery to get things ready. Michael is on his way to pick me up. Bridgette, Adrien can you come by later and help with the brochures?"
"Yeah, sure," said Bridgette.
"I guess," Felix shrugged.
"Great, Micah is here to pick me up. I'll leave the keys to my car here for you Bridgette."
Emily raced back out of the kitchen while both Bridgette and Felix bristled. Felix looked over at Bridgette and narrowed his eyes at her.
"Who's Micah," he asked.
Bridgette just shoved a spoonful of cereal into her mouth to keep from answering. Tikki came in unaware of the new tension.
"Why is everyone so quiet," she asked.
"We forgot to tell him about Micah," said Bridgette after swallowing.
Tikki's eyes went wide.
"Okay, who is he," demanded Felix.
"Micah Blake," Tikki started. "He's a publicist from San Francisco. He started doing some work for the gallery at the beginning of summer and one thing led to another and now, your mother and him started dating."
"It's kinda gross really. He's really touchy feely with Aunt Emily," added Bridgette.
"How," Felix asked unsure if he wanted to know.
"He sneaks little pecks here and there, pinches her butt; one time I've caught them in the back in a full make out session."
"Okay, so what's so bad about that," Felix asked.
"I know of his type. He's a shark; after only one thing," stated Tikki. "I'm sure your mother's money has something to do with it. I did a Google search on him and he has a string of ex-girlfriends who were pretty well off."
"Not to mention he has a friend wanting to get into the art world," said Bridgette.
"So he's using my mother's influence to get this guy's friend a shot and he wants her money?"
Both Tikki and Bridgette nodded. Felix had a bad feeling settle in his stomach. Meanwhile back in Paris, Adrien had settled into his brother's room nicely. He tried the rock wall, the zip line, the skateboard ramps, the arcade machines. Played games, watched movies and finally crashed into the big bed. He was then rudely awakened by an alarm clock and knocking.
"Felix, you have to get up. There's a photo shoot today," came a female voice.
Adrien groaned and knocked the clock off just as the door opened. Nathalie walked in with a stoic expression and carrying a tablet.
"Felix, I know Plagg lets you sleep in but you still have work to do. We have the new campaign to shoot, plus a fitting, and you also have fencing practice as well."
"Wait, this is summer right," Adrien thought to himself. "Man, Felix has it rough."
"Are you listening to me," asked Nathalie.
"Yes, Nathalie," Adrien replied in his best non expressive voice. "Where is Plagg?"
"He had some business to attend to but he will meet up with us at the shoot. Now please get dressed, breakfast will be ready shortly."
Nathalie quickly exited the room to give him privacy. Adrien quickly dressed and ate his breakfast in the dinning room, alone. No wonder Felix was so grumpy. No time to himself, no friends and no father in sight. He's been in his brothers home for almost a day and he hasn't seen his dad at all. Why is that? Did it have something to do with their parents splitting up? He'd ask Plagg when they were alone, that is if he had the time. He heard the horn of the car and quickly races to the door. He then saw Nathalie speaking to a huge man who would best be described as looking like a gorilla. Felix mentioned his name once but Adrien couldn't remember it, so Adrien decided to call him Gorilla instead. When they arrived at the location of the photo shoot, it was at a park and lo and behold, the bakery Marinette lived above in was across the street. Adrien smiled a bit at the thought of not only getting some pastries but seeing Marinette again. He was in the middle of a pose when he heard the photographer cry out.
"I need more! More romance! More passion! We need a girl!"
Adrien perked up a bit as he knew just who to ask.
"I know someone, she lives not far from here. I will go fetch her," Adrien volunteered.
"Perfecto, please hurry Monsieur Felix!"
Adrien ran to the bakery as fast as he could. He saw Sabine tending to a few customers but she smiled when she saw him.
"Felix! Be right with you." Once the customer left, she addressed him. "What can I do for you?"
"Is Marinette here," he asked.
"She's in her room, just go on up. The door is open."
"Thank you," he said as he walked past her.
"Oh wait," Sabine cried. She then gave Adrien a croissant. "On the house," she smiled.
Adrien smiled and hurried up the stairs. He took a bite of the croissant and moaned in delight. It was so buttery and flaky and so good. If this was what heaven tasted like, he would eat these all the time. He entered the Dupain-Cheng's home and immediately saw the difference between his brother's house and Marinette's. Her's was much warmer and more inviting, it felt like a home. Adrien consider himself lucky his home with his mother was just as warm as Marinette's so he hoped it would help Felix. He barely heard the footsteps coming his way till he heard a voice.
"Adrien? What are you doing here?"
Adrien turned to see Marinette by the stairs.
"Hey there Mari. I need your help. Do you want to model with me?"