Gabriel Agreste felt bored. Event's like this were important for networking, but they got in the way of his real work. A movement on the dance floor caught his eye, and he realized Adrien was out there whirling a dark-haired girl around. Good, he thought, He's showing off his outfit to great effect. His eye's softened briefly. He looks like her, He thought, so carefree, then he shook his head slightly, shutting down the memory. He focused on the girl his son was dancing with. She was was wearing an impeccable gown. It shimmered and moved as she spun around the floor.
"Natalie, who is that with Adrien?" he asked.
"Her name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She's one of Adrien's class mates," Natalie said.
"One of his classmates? I thought the only class mate of his here was the Bourgeois girl."
"Adrien escorted her," Natalie said, glancing at her boss.
"Escorted her? Why wasn't I informed Adrien was bringing someone?" Gabriel shot Natalie a cold glance.
"I told you about it during the daily meeting," Natalie said, looking a little nervous.
"You did? Well, I must have forgotten. I've been very busy lately."
Natalie let out a small sigh of relief. Gabriel had always been high strung, but since he started his other extracurricular activities, he could be irrational and demanding. Not a stable combination.
"Next time, I expect you to make sure I am aware of any new developments in my son's life," He added.
"Yes sir," Natalie said.
He watched the two children dance. They moved around the dance floor effortlessly, like they had been partners for a long time. Was there something going on that he didn't know about, or were they just naturally suited for each other.? He turned his attention firmly on the girl. Well, he thought ruefully, I suppose its time the boy started dating, and the girl seems to have taste. It's not a Gabriel piece, he thought critically, analyzing her dress, but not bad, not bad at all. It's not easy to pull off wearing such a bold design, and she moved well in it. The girl stumbled, and Adrien caught her. She still has a lot to learn, though, he concluded. He watched them move off the dance floor. There was something familiar about this girl, and he wanted a closer look.
"Adrien," Gabriel's voice cut through the noise of the party.
"Father," Adrien answered, "It's nice to see you so early in the evening."
"Yes, well, I can't stay long tonight, I have to much work too do," he glanced at Marinette, standing shyly beside Adrien. "I notice you are keeping yourself busy. Very good." He raised a perfect eyebrow, "introduce me to your charming companion?"
"Father," Adrien gestured formally, "may I present Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
"Enchanté mademoiselle," Gabriel took Marinette's hand, and bent his long frame into a graceful bow.
Marinette felt her face grow hot. Here was her all time favorite designer, bowing over her hand. Where have I seen that gesture before? Marinette wondered.
"Have we... met before?" Gabriel asked, looking up into Marinette's eyes, "You seem very, familiar."
"She won the design contest we had at my school," Adrien answered, "don't you remember?"
"Ah, yes. The feathered derby hat. That was a lovely piece of work." He released her hand and stepped back, running a professional eye over Marinette, "Your dress is exquisite. Who designed it? Its too fresh for Channel, and too current for Dior. Don't tell me it's an American designer, it's much to chic too be from America."
"Marinette is the designer and creator," Adrien said proudly.
"You made this dress?" Gabriel asked.
Marinette nodded, blushing slightly.
"Well," he was silent for a moment, studying her, "I will have to keep a very close eye on you young lady. Talent like yours does not come along everyday."
"Sir," Natalie materialized from behind Gabriel, "I have a phone call for you." She held out a slim cell phone to her boss.
Gabriel held up a silencing index finger towards Natalie, not even turning to look at her "We will talk later Adrien. It was a pleasure to meet you Miss Dupain-Cheng." Gabriel reached out, and plucked the phone from Natalie's hand, "Yes?" He turned on his heal and was striding away, "Yes, what is it?" Marinette heard him say before he disappeared into the crowd.
Adrien watched his father's departing back, "I think he liked you."
"But I didn't say anything," Marinette said, realizing she had completely froze in front of her all time favorite designer.
"Don't worry about that. He thinks people talk too much when they have nothing important to say."
"Well, that's lucky for me, I suppose," Marinette smiled slightly.
Adrien lifted his glass to Marinette in a toast, "Here's to being lucky,"
Smiling wider she raised her glass to meet his with a small clink.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm proud to announce our newest exhibit, ''Haute Couture: Past, Present and Future,' is officially open!" A man behind Marinette boomed. Startled, Marinette jerked, bumping into Adrien. Both glasses of water spilling over his face and down his suit.
"Oh, no." Marinette gasped, looking helplessly at Adrien's startled face, dripping with water.
Adrien looked stunned for a moment, then his mouth quirked, and he began to laugh. "I would say I was dripping with good looks, but turns out, it's only water."
Marinette fished in her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, handing it up to Adrien.
"Thank you" Adrien said taking the small square of fine linen and dabbing his face with it, "Perhaps I should excuse myself for a moment, and dry off," Water still dripping from his hair, he imitated his father and took her hand, bowing over it.
"Oh.. oh… OK," she managed to stammer out, a pink flush staining her cheeks.
"Shall I meet you down at the exhibit?" He asked, looking up at her.
Marinette nodded, and Adrien straightened up. Flashing a grin and a cheeky wink, Adrien turned and headed toward the bathroom. Marinette watched him go. Did he have a slight swagger in his step? She had never noticed that before. A memory niggled at the back of her mind, but she couldn't draw it up from the recesses of her memory. Maybe his father, she thought, remembering the way Gabriel had bowed over her hand. There was definitely a strong resemblance.
Shaking her head, she sighed. Of course there was a strong resemblance, Adrien was his son after all, still… Marinette watched as Adrien disappeared into the crowd. Trying to dredge the memory from the depths of her mind, shrugging, she turned toward the exhibit hall. It will come to me sooner or later I suppose, she thought.