"You okay, Marinette, you look a bit pale," I tell her, as she stares into the mirror. "No, I'm fine, really. Come help me pick out an outfit?" I place a hand on her arm. "You sure your not hiding something from me? You can tell me everything you know." "Yep, all good!" I sigh, dropping it for now. I'm probably overthinking it anyway. She pulls out two dresses, one a dark color the other a plum. "Go for the plum. That's a beautiful color with your hair color." She slips over her head and quickly brushes through her hair. Sliding into a pair of black boots, she's ready to go. "Adrien, are you forgetting something?" she asks when I walk over to the door. "I don't think so." "Clothes?" she laughs. "Don't worry. If it wasn't for Tikki when I was younger I would have gone to school half the time in my pajamas."
We hold hands as we merge into the morning Parisian traffic and my stomach growls. Thank goodness Starbucks isn't that far from her place. "I'll take a decaf, and what will you have, Adrien?" My mouth drops open. Marinette likes her cold brew, but rarely does she get it decaf. Realizing a bird might fly in my mouth if I don't shut it, I recover quickly. "I'll have salted caramel cold brew, eggs, and hash browns." "Could you make that two of the food, please?" Marinette asks. The barista nods and smiles at us, and we shuffle out of the way.
"Decaf, huh? My Lady, you are full of surprises today." I lean against one of the posts and grin at her. She surprises me by snuggling up and I wrap my arms around her waist. "You are so beautiful," I whisper as her hands tangle through my hair. "Your sweet, Kitten," she kisses me, and the world fades away. I love flirting with her, but usually she wants to do it privately so I'm not sure what brought this on.
"Order for Adrien?" "Come on, love, our food is ready." We find a little table, but there's no sign of Alden. Marinette is tucking in, and hits me. Maybe she's pregnant. Ordering decaf, having a very healthy appetite, the flirting….
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng?" We both turn our heads and get a good look at Alden, but of course we have to act like we've never seen him before. "Yes?" Marinette stands up. "May I help you?" "I heard that you want to become a famous fashion designer and I have an intern spot that you could snap up easy. If your interested, come to this address by eleven this morning." He hands Marinette a smart looking business card. He smiles at Marinette, but the smile is chilly as he shakes her hand. "I've heard a lot about you, Marinette. You'll love it at Alden Taylor."
He glances at me. "Adrien, good morning. I'm sorry for ignoring you. You must be so proud of Marinette, soon she'll have her own fashion house." "No worries. But should say sorry to her, you splashed coffee on her the other day and she was injured." "Sorry about that, Marinette. But as long as you weren't injured, let's put in the past." I grip the tabletop, taking a deep breath my anger flaring. Marinette touches my arm, and instantly I feel calmer. "I'll be there. See you then."
The morning passes swiftly and its time to get to the interview. I gasp in surprise as we find the right address and the building is made of glass and sparkles in the sunlight. "Well, its not a seedy looking building, that's for sure." Marinette takes a deep breath and squares her shoulders. "I need to go, love. Meet me here in a few hours?" "I'll be waiting, Bugaboo. I love you." I give her a kiss and though I try it make it short, my lips are greedy not wanting to let go.
Though it is a warm day, it feels like the sunlight dims as Marinette goes through the revolving doors and disappears.
Marinette's POV….
I walk up to the front desk where a woman in a dress waits. "I'm here to see Alden Taylor?" "ID, please." "Right, of course. One moment, please." I take out my wallet and take out the card, sliding it to her. "Go to the bank of elevators and go to floor five. Someone will guide to Mr. Taylor's office." "Thank you," I try to say, but she's already moved on like I'm invisible.
I have show my ID at the checkpoint, and all I can think is: this is a very fancy place. I feel alone as I head into the elevator and press five, letting a few tears prick my at my eyes as I sail upwards. Digging in my purse for a tissue, I come across a piece of paper and unfold it, curious.
Its a picture of Cat holding out a flower with a silly grin on his face and underneath in messy scrawl he's written: "See, you and me, it was meant to be!" The loneliness dissipates and I straighten up, tall and confident.
I reach what seems to be the main desk and ask for Alden Taylor, but he turns from the water cooler when he hears my name. His grip is firm as he shakes my head. "Come, let's talk in my office."
His office is massive, and it has a great skyline. "How did you find out about me anyway?" I ask, once we're seated. "Gabriel Agreste is a friend of mine and I read an article about you in a fashion magazine. I'm afraid the internship would be a bit mundane, getting coffee and helping with the sewing on the machines." "Hey, you have to start at the bottom of the ladder and climb to the top." "Well said, Marinette. You have drive to become one of the most famous fashion designers in the world, almost as popular as Ladybug." "She has her own brand?" I act like don't know, though I've launched a small online only store awhile ago. Alden nods. "You know, you bear a striking resemblance to her."
I nod, and smile. "Anyway, if you'd like to join the team just fill out this paperwork." He takes some papers out of the drawers and slides them towards me. "Just sign here, here, and here, and welcome to the team!"
I scribble quickly, and give him a smile. He takes me on a tour, and I am impressed. Its a very well-kept business, and I begin to think. What if Cat and I were wrong about Alden? But that's impossible, we both watched the conversation between him and Hawkmoth. Could it be impossible that he's been akumatized and still looks normal? That happened to a girl in my class when I was younger. I'll have to discuss the possibility tonight with Adrien….
My stomach suddenly lurches. "Mr. Taylor?" "Please, Marinette, call me Alden." "Might I use the restroom?" "Of course, head off the hall to the right. I'll wait right here." "Thank you."
I walk as fast as I can without attracting attention to myself and make it to the bathroom just in time. I deposit my breakfast in the toilet and I close my eyes. "You okay, Marinette?" "Oh, Nikki. I think I'm pregnant. Right now, I just want to lie down, but the interview isn't over." "Give yourself a minute, Marinette. Take deep breaths, that's right."
I put on a brave face and finish, glad when I can return to the fresh air and sunshine and my boyfriend's waiting arms. "You okay, love? You look pale." "Just a long day. I want to go home. Will you hire a car?" Before Adrien can answer, I plop down on a bench my legs feeling like jelly.
When we get home, Adrien wants to come in with me, but I tell him I'll be fine, and I'll see him tomorrow. I check my messages once I change, and thank goodness my new job doesn't start for a day or two.
I pack up a couple of outfits, hoping Autumn and Orion won't mind me dropping in unannounced. I text Adrien telling him I'll be gone for a day or two, saying I'm visiting a friend that is true.
I transform, reaching into the Miracle Box and draw out the Horse Miraculous and unify to make the portal. Taking one last look around my room, I walk through the portal onto the white sand.
"I know she's probably left already, Plagg. But maybe she'll at least have time for dinner." I knock quietly at the door, but no one answers.
Feeling a bit lonesome, but not feeling like chatting, I decide to take a walk, picking some yellow flowers as I go. I find myself in the mansion and going into Father's old office. My feet lead me over to the portrait and my hands find the buttons taking me down to Mother. "Claws Out."
I step off the elevator, and walk towards Mother, and sit down, beginning to weave the yellow flowers into a crown. I don't realize that I have beginning talking, pouring out everything to Mother. I wonder if she can hear me, but it doesn't matter. I'm with Mother, and it feels good to talk out my feelings.
Once the wreath is done, I set out Mother's resting place, thinking how much I miss her. I find it hard to sleep that night, especially since I begin to sleep with Marinette, its been a long time since I've slept alone.
My phones dings in the morning and at first I think its some advertisement at Leo's Cheese Shop. "Authorities rushed to the scene of this apartment building early this morning where there was a break-in." I gasp as they show the building, its Marinette's. However lonesome I was last night, its a lucky thing she wasn't there last night. But it still doesn't answer the questions, why was the thief there and what were they looking for?
