Suppose You Let Me Run My Business
Adrien felt like he was overheating. Max had no idea what he had just handed over – or who he had really just handed it to. Andrien nervously patted his jacket pocket to make sure the envelope was still there.
"You have no proof what's in there, Adrien," he told himself under his breath. Sure, Max had alleged that the envelope contained information on the location of the Black Cat miraculous, but until Adrien saw for himself, that was really just hearsay. As long as he didn't confirm for himself, there would be no requirement for him to report this information back to his father. At least, that was what his panicked brain was telling him.
Max had slipped off to hustle some VIPs at one of the poker tables in the private lounge, so Adrien, desperate to put some distance between them, exited the VIP area and returned to the main club. He walked along the edge of the room, making his way over to the DJ booth.
Nino was adjusting some equipment, and while his back was turned Adrien slipped the small envelope under the topboard of the upright piano that sat mostly unused behind the electronic audio setup. He turned back to face Nino as his friend finally noticed his presence.
"Hey dude, haven't seen you all night," Nino greeted him, "VIPs being needy for attention?"
Adrien laughed, "not tonight, though we did almost have an incident with Bob Roth earlier."
"I saw," Nino said, raising his eyebrows. "Good on you for telling him to get lost dude, that guy's a scrub."
Adrien smiled. Nino was an excellent judge of character.
"I'm sure I'll get a strongly worded email from Nathalie on behalf of my father about it," Adrien half-joked. "Apparently he and my father are friends."
"Speaking of your father's friends," Nino said looking over Adrien's shoulder, "It looks like the Queen of England has arrived."
Adrien furrowed his brow in confusion and turned around to follow where Nino was looking. He immediately caught sight of who his friend was referring to, as the new arrival had just entered the front of the club.
"My cousin isn't that bad," Adrien insisted.
"I know dude," Nino said, holding his hands up in front of him. "But he's such a square, he kills the vibe. And he's always got some dumb opinion about how you're running the club."
"Well he is technically my business partner, he's allowed to have opinions," Adrien replied.
"Yeah dude, bad opinions. I'm convinced your cuz has never actually experienced fun," Nino complained. "There's a reason your old man put him in charge of the retail side of the brand and not the recreation side."
"I don't need to experience fun to know how to profit off it," Felix interrupted the pair, having quickly crossed the room to join them.
Startled at being overheard, Nino's eyes widened and he awkwardly turned to adjust some dials on his tape deck, hiding his embarrassment.
"I think I'm turning a profit just fine, thank you Felix," Adrien greeted his cousin, turning him away from Nino.
"Yes, well if you ever change your mind about letting me take over management of Chez Adrien, my offer still stands. I'm sure I could expand your profits," Felix said smugly.
Adrien laughed off the offer.
"Don't worry Felix, you won't get rid of me that easily. My club is not for sale."
"Your father's club," Felix corrected.
Adrien rolled his eyes at the statement and tried to steer his cousin away from the DJ stand where Nino was trying — and failing — to hide his contempt for Felix.
"Suppose you let me run my business, and you run yours," Adrien said to Felix.
Felix smirked.
"Suppose we do," he replied.
Felix pulled away from Adrien's embrace, instead turning back to Nino.
"I've heard that your music is performing well, Nino" Felix addressed him. "If you are interested in expanding your reach, I have a few advertising projects your work may be well suited for…"
"Name one of my tracks, Felix," Nino interrupted, a little more aggressively than was appropriate.
Felix did not reply, instead giving an amused smirk to Adrien.
"I could double what he pays you," Felix countered, not even attempting to respond to Nino's challenge.
Nino was not impressed. He plastered on a diplomatic but clearly fake smile.
"Dude, I ain't got time to spend the money I make here," Nino brushed off the offer.
"Sorry, Felix," Adrien cut in, firmly placing his hand on his cousin's shoulder and steering him away towards the main club area. As they left he turned back to give a quick wink to Nino who was shaking his head and chuckling under his breath.
Over at the bar, Zoé was drying glasses with a bartowel while her sister Chloé sat at one of the barstools, slumped over and resting her face in one hand, her elbow propped up on the bar. The two sisters could not have looked more different at this moment. Zoé wore her work uniform – a white button-down with a black tie tab, tucked into black slacks and paired with practical canvas shoes. She stood with good posture and was keeping herself busy tending to customers and keeping the bar area clean. Chloé, on the other hand, was wearing a short glittery yellow party dress, with strappy matching sandal heels that were not meant to be walked any distance in. The outfit flattered her while she was dancing, but by this point in the night her dress was wrinkled, and she had her face bunched up in one hand, showing off a dramatic pout.
Zoé took pity on her sister, grabbed a bottle from under the counter, and filled a glass of brandy that she slid over to Chloé.
"The boss's private stock, because I love you Chloé," she said playfully, trying to cheer her up.
"Ridiculous," Chloé said morosely, although she took the glass anyway.
"Utterly ridiculous," Zoé replied fondly, going back to cleaning up.
Adrien approached the bar, having successfully ditched Felix in a conversation with some wealthy investors to "discuss future ventures." As he got near, Zoé flagged him down to get his attention, pulling out a bill folder with some slips of paper in it.
Adrien leaned up against the bar, his back to Chloé, paying her no mind.
"Adrien, some Brits paid with these cheques, are these alright?" Zoé asked.
Adrien held up one of the bank cheques to examine it.
Nino had started another set, and guests were flocking to the dancefloor, but Chloé stayed put, never taking her eyes off Adrien.
Adrien handed the cheque back to Zoé, but before he could reply, Chloé interrupted.
"Where were you last night, Adrikins?" she demanded.
"That's so long ago, I don't remember," he replied smoothly, nodding to Zoé to indicate that the cheques were fine.
There was a heavy pause between them, when finally Chloé spoke again.
"Will I see you tonight?"
"I never plan that far ahead."
Chloé let out a distressed sigh and turned back to her sister, extending her already empty brandy glass. Zoé moved to refill the drink, but Adrien held up his hand to stop her.
Chloé sneered at Adrien before turning back to Zoé.
"Give me another," she demanded.
"She's had enough," Adrien told Zoé.
"Don't listen to him, Zoé, I'm your sister. Fill it up."
Zoé hesitated, looking at Adrien before putting the bottle down.
"I love you sis, but he pays me," Zoé said feebily.
Chloé turned angrily towards Adrien, getting up from the bar stool and drunkenly wobbling before catching her balance.
"Ridiculous! Utterly Ridiculous!" Chloé screeched, raising her voice. "Adrien, I'm sick and tired of having you–"
"Zoé, call a cab," Adrien interrupted.
"Yes boss," she replied quickly, looking relieved for an excuse to step away. She rushed off to the break room to make the call.
Adrien took Chloé by the arm and began ushering her to the coat check.
"Get your hands off me!" Chloé spat, flapping her arms.
Adrien promptly let her go, but remained standing between her and the bar, not letting her sit back down.
"Chloé, you're going home. You've had a little too much to drink," Adrien insisted, the kindness in his voice seeping into the faux coldness he had tried to maintain.
—--
As they stepped outside into the chilly Paris night, Adrien draped Chloé's coat over her shoulders and tried to comfort her, but she was having none of it.
"Who do you think you are, Adrien, pushing me around like this?" Chloé snapped. "I was a fool to fall for a guy like you."
Zoé appeared out of the staff door just as a taxi pulled up in front of the club.
"You'd better go with her, Zoé, to be sure she gets home safe," Adrien suggested.
"Thanks boss," Zoé replied gratefully.
As Adrien headed back inside, he paused when he saw that one of the outdoor heaters had been flipped on. The club's street-level terrasse had just closed for the season, so there shouldn't have been anyone seated outside. Most of the outdoor furniture was tied down and the terrasse lighting was off, but as Adrien approached the unlit section he saw a figure seated underneath the heater, sipping a coffee and watching the whole scene with Chloé unfold.
Kagami Tsurugi sat alone outside Chez Adrien, and she gave Adrien her signature stiff smile as she saw she had been spotted. Adrien noticed her coffee cup and saucer were the club's dishware, and supposed that she had somehow convinced one of his staff members to set up this private table out here, presumably with a generous tip.
"How extravagant you are, Adrien, throwing away women like that," Kagami said, completely straight-faced. "Someday they may be scarce."
Adrien sighed and silently sat down in the chair next to Kagami, staring out with her at the traffic on the street.
When Adrien didn't reply, Kagami continued.
"Maybe I should give Chloé a call, catch her on the rebound?"
Adrien didn't want to give a reaction to Kagami's teasing, but he smiled despite himself.
"When it comes to women, Kagami, you're a true diplomat."
They sat in silence for a little while longer, just watching the people pass by on the street and come in and out of the club. No one noticed them sitting in the dark, and Adrien wondered how often Kagami came out here, just to be alone.
"I suppose congratulations are in order," Kagami broke the silence again.
Adrien gave her a confused look.
"On France's win, in the quarterfinals of the UEFA European Championship tournament, they beat Italy 2-to-1," Kagami clarified. She spoke as if she were reading straight from a press release.
Adrien returned an awkward pained smile. He knew he was supposed to be following the Euros, and he vaguely recalled some of the facts from the brand image side deck Nathalie had sent over. Nino had even tried to help catch him up to speed on the current players and tournament structure, but Adrien just had no interest in following football and couldn't retain any of it.
"I myself was hoping for an Italian victory, but just as well," Kagami finished stiffly when Adrien did not reply.
Adrien heard Nathalie before he saw her. He thought for sure her observant gaze would finally catch the two of them sitting outside in a rare moment of peace as she approached the club. But his father's assistant was too engrossed in a conversation with Lila Rossi to even look their way. As the pair of women entered the club, he overheard Nathalie cut Lila off several times as she briefed the young protégée on the Gabriel Fashion communication strategy.
"If that girl manages to get a word in, it will be a major Italian victory," Adrien joked.
Kagami reluctantly smiled at his comment but tried to cover it by taking a sip of coffee.
While Tomoe Tsurugi had been working with Adrien's father for some time now, Adrien had only known Kagami personally for a year now. At first they had only interacted on official business, and when Hawkmoth had trusted her with the horse miraculous Adrien had helped her train a bit with it, but Kaalki, her kwami, was still recovering from damage sustained years before and despite their extensive research efforts, they had been unable to get the miraculous back to full functionality. As such "Ryuma" had only made limited appearances supporting Hawkmoth's battles in Paris.
Adrien and Kagami were not friends, but they had certainly built a friendly working relationship, and bonded over their shared secrets. Adrien was always happy to see her on the nights she came to his club, but tonight she clearly had something on her mind if she felt the need to sit out by herself in the dark in 5C weather.
Kagami stared at the night sky, watching a plane as its lights disappeared into the distance.
"I wonder where it's headed," Adrien commented, trying to keep the casual conversation going.
"It's the plane to Oujda," Kagami said confidently.
"What's in Oujda?" He asked.
Kagami shrugged, like it was completely normal to know the flight schedules for France to Morocco by heart.
"Nothing for us, I suppose," she finally decided. "Different scenery than here, perhaps."
"You can see different scenery whenever you want," Adrien said, pointedly looking at her handbag.
Kagami pursed her lips.
"The horse miraculous is still not safe to use. I only transform when Hawkmoth requires it," she said curtly.
"I thought Kaalki was doing better?" he asked. He hoped the kwamii would come out to join them, but he knew his father had instructed everyone he trusted with a miraculous to never be seen in public with their kwamii, and Kagami would not invite Kaalki out.
"She is," Kagami assured him. "But she still can only transport two people at a time, and needs weeks in between transformations to recover."
"I see," Adrien replied. "Well, I'm glad our parents decided to let you hold on to the glasses anyway. Kaalki has made more progress in this last year with you than any of our efforts to rehabilitate her before. You were clearly meant to wield this miraculous."
"I often wonder, Adrien, what exactly happened to your miraculous," Kagami said, shifting the focus off of herself.
Adrien swallowed but did not answer. He did not like talking about this topic. Especially not after what had already happened earlier tonight.
"Did you drop it down the sink drain?" Kagami asked facetiously. "Or perhaps traded it for that lovely Klimt painting you have hanging in the VIP lounge?"
Adrien stifled a chuckle, wondering when Kagami had finally developed a sense of humor.
"I like to think Ladybug seduced you, and stole it from you in your sleep. It's the romantic in me." She sparred.
Adrien smiled.
"Maybe it was a combination of the three," he teased back.
"And why didn't you take a new miraculous?" she asked.
"I've got my hands full with this club, and my business with Felix," he defended.
"You gave up having superpowers to… run a lifestyle brand with your cousin?" She seemed doubtful.
"Yeah, well, it makes my father happy," Adrien said half heartedly.
"I didn't know Mr. Agrest was capable of experiencing happiness," Kagami said under her breath.
"You were misinformed," Adrien clipped, ending the discussion.
Before Kagami could respond, they were interrupted by Alix Kubdel, who had burst out the staff door and came rushing over to the two of them. Alix was unofficially an employee at the club, but she was not "on the books" and did not wear a uniform. While it was an open secret that there were gambling tables in the VIP lounge of Chez Adiren, casinos were technically illegal in Paris and therefore Alix's duties as a croupier were meant to be kept… subtle.
"There you are!" She exclaimed. "Been looking for you everywhere, Agrest!"
Adrien stood up.
"Alix, is everything alright?" He asked, looking concerned.
"I'm so sorry," she started him, pausing to catch her breath. "But someone inside has just won 5,000, and the cashier needs the money to pay him."
Relieved that this was all the trouble was, Adrien replied calmly.
"It's not trouble, I'll go get it out of the safe."
Alix did not look nearly as happy.
"I'm humiliated, Agreste," she continued. "I don't know how it happened, I don't understand how-"
"It's ok Alix," Adrien interrupted. "Mistakes happen all the time, we can't go back and fix them. Best just to move on."
"I know I know," Alix replied, still clearly perturbed. "But I won't let it happen again."
Kagami rose to join them as they headed inside.
"Alix, I'll take care of this excitement," Adrien said. "Can you grab one of the waiters from inside to buss this table?"
"Of course boss," Alix replied, happy that Adrien wasn't too upset by the money she had lost the club tonight. She rushed off to the staff entrance as Kagami and Adrien headed to the main door.
"Adrien, there's going to be some more excitement here tonight," Kagami said ominously once Alix was out of earshot. "There's going to be an arrest in your club."
Adrien looked not at all excited by this prospect.
"I suppose you're here for business, rather than pleasure, tonight?" he asked.
Kagami's mouth widened into a stiff grin.
"I think it will be both."