For days after the nightmare Adrien found excuses to stay up throughout the night. Sometimes he would suggest watching back to back movies over at Marinette's house. Sometimes he would go on all night patrols on his own and run across the rooftops. He binged caffeine and frequented the coffee shop across the street multiple times day and night. If Marinette brought up any concerns about his lack of sleep or asked about what the nightmare had been about Adrien would immediately switch topics and detour the conversation. It was starting to really worry her, and yet he wasn't willing to confide in her at all.
Marinette was swarmed with work, and had a laundry list of designs that needed to be finalized at SQ. She had frequently tried to take on multiple tasks at a time, and still she couldn't remember being this tired. With Adrien's nocturnal routine of staying up all night starting to effect her, she let out a ear splitting yawn. She had never been a coffee drinker, but this morning even she had caved and hovered over a mug of lukewarm lifegiving black liquid. She wondered how long either Adrien or herself could keep this up. Something was bothering him about that nightmare, but surely he would eventually give in and get some sleep. He couldn't keep doing this to himself. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice when Chloe's boyfriend, Komar, came in.
"Something bothering you?" Komar cut in to her inner ponderings.
Marinette sat up straight in surprise, and her head swung towards him. "Oh, it's just you," Marinette said unimpressed, and leaned back over her designs, hoping he would take the hint and move on.
"You seem tense Gorgeous," Komar went on. "What is on your mind? Boyfriend troubles?"
"What? No," Marinette snapped, not removing her eyes from her work.
"After seeing all of the news about what Adrien did to you...you know...messing around with all those models and fans of his...I thought you might be feeling a little down," Komar said sympathetically. "Maybe I could cheer you up."
"Things aren't always what they seem. The news got it all wrong, Adrien isn't like that at all," Marinette defended Adrien.
"Yeah, yeah of course not. What guy could possibly be interested in girls hanging all over him, and throwing their selves at him," Komar nodded as if he wasn't being completely sarcastic. "I'm sure with Adrien it is different. He must always tell you everything right?!"
This last line hit a cord with Marinette, and she finally looked up, and bit her lip.
"Or maybe some things he keeps to himself. I mean it's not like he would keep anything really important from you..." Komar continued, noticing her hesitation.
"I trust him. He can tell me when he is ready," Marinette said resolutely.
"What an understanding girlfriend you are. Chole is always giving me a hard time, and wondering where I run off too," Komar leaned against the design table, tilting his head towards her.
"Maybe she'd trust you more, if you were not flirting with random girls just to make her jealous," Marinette said under her breath.
"You really think you have me all figured out don't you?" Komar replied in amusement.
"Don't I?" Marinette crossed her arms looking over at him. "What are you doing here if not trying to waste my time?"
"That stings," Komar clutched his chest dramatically, but then his swagger was back with his next breath. "Actually, I thought Chloe and I could go out with you and Adrien on a double date next week. You two seem like you've been going through a little rough patch, so why not show a little encouragement to a fellow couple?!
"Us go out on a double date? You've got to be kidding," Marinette stared at him.
"What is so strange about that? Chole and Adrien have known each other forever, we all work for the same company, we're all ridiculously good looking...plus didn't we have some fun in Fiji?!" Komar said in a perky voice.
"I think we'll take a hard pass on that one," Marinette glared at Komar.
"You're so grumpy today! You're no fun!" Komar pouted. "Just a little double date?"
"That's not gonna happen any time soon," Marinette scoffed, rolling her eyes and getting back to measuring the fabric at her table.
"Sooner than you think," Komar mused leaning on the table.
Just then Marinette's mentor, Alexis bustled into the room. She was a woman on a mission checking off countless tasks on her tablet. "How is design 346 coming along?" she asked, but before Marinette even had a chance to answer Alexis glanced up, noticing Komar, and carried on, "Oh good, you're both here. I've been trying to coordinate the new deal with our main textile supplier, but apparently some things just have to be dealt with in person. I've got a flight booked for next week to finalize the contract."
"Don't worry! I'll make sure that I keep to our schedule here, and finish off my work," Marrinette assured her.
"You're not understanding me. I've got to stay here and keep all our departments on track for our upcoming show in New York. You are the one who will be representing us on the business trip to Spain to close our textile deal."
"Me?!" Marinette gasped in surprised. "Thank you! I mean this is huge. Are you sure that I..."
"I am way too busy right now to leave everything in Paris. Even though you are still green, you have a good eye for fabrics, and you've been by my side and know what we need to make this show a success...Oh, and you won't be on your own. When overhearing about the opportunity to go to Spain, Miss Bourgeois convinced her mother that both she and Komar here, needed to come along as well...to uh...practice her "business acumen." I guess the Style Queen liked the idea about having an extra set of eyes on the decision making process."
Marinette's face dropped, and she leaned in and tensely whispered to Alexis, "Choe and Komar? No offense, but this is already going to be a lot of work! If I have to bring those two along this is going to be such a headache!"
"A headache is going to be the least of our worries if we go against Ms. Bourgeois wishes," Alexis whispered back with a strained tone. "Style Queen herself has declared that these two will accompany you, so you might as well consider them your carry-on baggage, because they are coming whether you or I like it or not!"
Marinette nodded mutely, and her shoulders dropped. Alexis was right. Whether she liked it or not if she intended on continuing in the fashion industry she would have to find a way to survive a trip with these two.
Komar crowed under his breath to Marinette, "I guess I'll have to settle for a threesome, instead of a double date."
Marinette cringed, and Alexis looked up from Marinette to Komar, and then back to Marinette. Then she readjusted her glasses that had slid down the bridge of her nose. "You do bring up a good point though Miss Dupain-Cheng," Alexis said authoritatively. "This is a big account for us, and it will involve a lot of work. You should hire an assistant for yourself to accompany you as well. Someone with a fashion background and someone who knows the business. Someone like...Adrien Agreste. His family has been in the business long enough he will know how to negotiate difficult waters and keep certain people in check!"
Marinette looked up with gratitude in her eyes and mouthed "thank you!" to her mentor.
Alexis just nodded decidedly, and checked off another of the boxes on her tablet. "I'll have Sophia email you the details of the contract, accommodation details, and your plane tickets. Make sure that you get all your designs completed before you leave next week. If you need to put in for overtime, just let Jared know."
"Absolutely," Marinette nodded. "I won't let you down."
Alexis nodded, and turned to Komar. "Didn't you have a fitting to get to before noon?" she enquired.
"Just on my way," Komar saluted, flashing a undeterred grin.
"Make sure you are," Alexis looked over her glasses with a warning glare and him, and then headed out the door.
Komar leaned further over the table and grinned widely at Marinette. "I guess we'll get to spend some quality time together after all Bluenette!"
"It is a business trip," Marinette replied curtly. "Don't start thinking that this is some kind of pleasure cruise!"
"Just because we're there on business doesn't mean we can't party a little," Komar laughed, and headed out the door. "Lighten up Little Lady, this is going to be fun!"
Marinette let out a huff and chucked her pencil down on the table as Komar strutted down the hallway. How was she going to pull off this deal with Komar and Chloe along for the ride?! Marinette wondered in frustration. But she didn't have time to worry about it! She had to finish a whole weeks worth of work in advance, and prove that she could do this. As long as Adrien was by her side she would find a way to survive the unwanted stowaways attempts to disrupt this trip, ruin her career and destroy her peace of mind. They would be in Spain after all. Maybe it would actually be good for Adrien to get his mind off things. Maybe this could end up being fun?