The next week passed in a blur; the entire school was buzzing at the prospect of the fashion show. Lila was eating up the attention she was getting as one of the models who would be in the show, and she took credit for getting the tickets every chance she got.
Finally, it was Friday, Adrien and Lila had been excused from school to get ready for the show. Marinette had also been excused as she was technically an intern for the Gabriel and Agreste brands and needed to help wherever they needed her.
Since she had decided to remain anonymous, Marinette had been assigned to help Gabriel put the finishing touches on the outfits before each model headed for the runway. Currently, they are looking over the schedule and double-checking the clothes to make sure there are no last-minute repairs or changes.
As the time ticked by, the frenzied activity picked up, and hair and makeup artists arrived to get the models ready for the runway. Other interns arrived along with the professional dressers to help the models get into and out of each outfit as some models had a very fast turnaround for certain outfits.
Altogether there were going to be 4 new lines presented today, the launch of Mari and Adrien, the presentation of the new Gabriel line, and the introduction of the rebranded Agreste line which included the casualwear that Gabriel had been fussing over for months. While there were promising designers in the new apprentice line affectionately called Dream, none of them were ready to present as they had joined the team too late to have anything ready.
Thanks to the frenzy of activity, the appointed hour arrived before anyone realized it. Nathalie was making an all-call on the radios to announce that the guests were arriving and the doors were open. This meant there was only an hour left until the Spring Line would be presented.
Marinette paced back and forth in the wings as she would occasionally peer out into the audience. She caught glimpses of all their classmates and teachers, she even saw her parents sitting right on the runway.
"I invited them," Nathalie said as she stood beside Marinette, "I wouldn't want them to miss the debut of a promising young designer."
"You know I decided to remain anonymous, but thank you, I do appreciate it."
"I am aware," the assistant said as she checked her tablet, "however, you and I are both aware that Adrien's choice of name for your line does give away the designer."
Marinette laughed as she turned from the audience.
"You and I both know people won't put them together," Marinette said as she and Nathalie made their way backstage. "It's the Clark Kent Principle, people see what they want to see, and no one wants to see that it is me who designed the clothes."
"Perhaps," Nathalie said as she guided the young designer to the dressing area, "but there are some who are more perceptive and will figure it out. Then there are people like her who would never acknowledge the truth even with it staring them in the face."
"She'll probably try to say that she's the designer behind the line and that the name is 'marry' and that Adrien did it as a gift to her for their future wedding."
Nathalie snorted at the comment, Marinette had accurately predicted what the Italian was already saying.
"You would be correct; she is indeed already telling the other models and staff that exact thing. Of course," Nathalie paused to think of the best way to phrase her comment. "Not one of the models or staff believes her. They've all seen you with Adrien and while they don't know your relationship with him, they do know that Lila does not have anything close to what you have with him."
"That helps a lot, thank you."
"You are welcome," Nathalie said as they proceeded through the dressing area to the private dressing rooms. Stopping to knock at Adrien's door they waited a moment as the lock was disengaged and a blonde head poked out.
"Oh good, it's you," he breathed with a sigh of relief, "Lila has been practically knocking the door down to get in. I had to finally lock it and put a chair across the door to keep her out. She kept going on about the new 'marry' line of clothes and how sweet it was of an early wedding gift."
The two women laughed even as Adrien opened the door to admit them, warily closing and locking it once they were inside.
"Are we almost ready?" He asked as he sat in his makeup chair. He was already dressed in the first outfit of the night, one of Marinette's designs. It had been decided that Mari and Adrien would be presented first with a coin toss deciding Marinette's line was first. Adrien was currently wearing a simple pair of pants with a long sleeve beige shirt and a sweater pulled over it. Marinette had decided to design clothes that would be relatively inexpensive and could also be worn to school. She had designed her entire line around being affordable to students and their parents while also maintaining a designer look that could be worn to school or out for an evening.
"We are," Nathalie answered, checking her tablet for the current time, "we should be starting in about 30 minutes."
"Good, as much as I am looking forward to this show and the new lines, I just want it to be over so we can focus on the most important thing."
Marinette just smiled and patted his hand, she wanted to kiss him, but that would mess up his makeup and Gabriel would not be happy with that. While Adrien owned the company now, the fashion show was entirely Gabriel's to run, and Adrien was happy to let him.
With a sigh, Marinette turned to Nathalie.
"Well, we should get out there, we're about to start."
"Yes," the assistant remarked as she raised her radio to her mouth. "Curtain in 15," she said over the radio. Outside the room, they could hear the bustle pickup as final preparations were made on outfits and models.
"I'll see you on the other side," Marinette said to Adrien as she rose to leave with them, she had to get into place as well. Before they reached the door he was able to grab her hand and place a kiss on the back.
"This'll all be over soon," he told her before she disappeared out the door, a smile on her face.
Taking a deep breath he steeled himself and left his dressing room, closing the door behind him.
.o.0.o.
"… in the news of the fashion world, the Spring Line reveal for the newly rebranded Agreste company was a rousing success. The show on Friday offered four new lines from the company, among them was the Gabriel line which will keep the tradition and style that the company was known for. From what our sources tell us, this line is a continuation of the original Gabriel brand and the renaming to Agreste allows the company to generate new lines of clothes that they can experiment with. The other brand lines that were introduced were Mari and Adrien, while the latter is obviously named after the Agreste heir and showcased his personal style and offered clothes designed to be both functional and stylish to the fashion-minded young adult male. The Mari brand is more of a mystery as the designer has been kept anonymous by the company and there has been no indication as to why the new brand bears the name it does. The Mari brand showcased fashionable, yet budget-conscious clothes for the up-and-coming young woman who wants to focus on comfort and style. Our sources indicate that the designer for the Adrien brand was Mr. Gabriel Agreste, who was personally requested to design the initial line by Adrien himself. The final new brand line to come from the show was a casualwear line that offered both a new beachwear collection as well as a more casual collection inspired by the blossoms of spring. The casualwear line being released under the main Agreste brand indicates the company's shift away from the formal leisurewear that the old Gabriel brand was known for and shows that the company is adapting to changing trends in the market, and while it wasn't premiered, the talk surrounding the new Dream line has many potential designers hopeful for a chance to get their designs seen in the future. In other fashion news…"
Alya turned her phone off and placed it in her pocket, the group of teens around her dispersed back to their desks, the fashion show and the new collections were all they could talk about, well, that and the mystery designer. Glancing over to her boyfriend Alya noted the small smirk on his face as he watched everyone discussing who the designer could be.
"I find it hard to believe that no one has figured out who the designer is," he commented as he turned away from the other students and back to his phone.
"And you did?" Alya asked as she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Yup," he replied as he continued to work on something on his phone.
Alya was about to reply when the door opened and Lila strode in, as proud as a peacock after the glowing reviews of the fashion show, behind her several of the other girls were singing her praises, "You looked amazing," "I've never seen a more beautiful model," and similar things. Lila preened more and more with each compliment.
Lila flounced down into the seat next to Alya, the journalist smiled at her friend and turned to listen to the conversation.
"It was nothing really," Lila said with a wave, a smile on her face. "If I am expected to help run Gabriel when Adrien and I are married, then you can expect many more shows better than that one."
"You don't buy that, do you?" Nino whispered into Alya's ear.
"Buy what?" the reporter asked.
"That she helped plan the show, you've seen her at photoshoots, she wouldn't know which end of the runway was down if she wasn't shown."
"Hey," Alya began to protest loudly, drawing the attention of some of the others, but not Lila, she was too busy going on about the behind-the-scenes that the rest of the class missed. Nino shushed Alya and pulled her slightly away from the others.
"Don't get mad at me," he hissed, "I am allowed my opinion. This is the exact thing you did with Marinette, jumped down her throat anytime she questioned Lila and we both remember how well that turned out."
As one, their eyes turned to the back where both Adrien and Marinette were sitting at their desk. Once again Alya was surprised as she hadn't seen either enter the room. Returning to their conversation Nino went on.
"You and I both know Lila could never help plan anything like that show, if she had there would have been a lot more of her and Adrien together and less of anyone else."
"Well, they are engaged," Alya started to defend the girl when Nino cut her off again.
"Do you even listen to anyone else when they talk?" He asked, his tone sharp and cutting, making Alya take a sharp intake of breath, he'd never spoken to her like that. In her shock, he continued. "Countless times Adrien has said that he's not in a relationship, he's even disproved many of her claims, yet you won't see the truth. Adrien can't stand Lila, Alya, he hates her."
"That's not true, she said…"
"Do you have any proof?"
"What?"
"Proof," Nino repeated, "you know, evidence, the same thing that you asked Marinette for and then ignored. Adrien was right, you were never her friend, and I'm starting to question this relationship. If you believe everything that comes out of Lila's mouth without checking it for yourself, what would happen if she started saying things against me?"
"Babe, that'd never…"
"Never happen? Just like you'd never turn your back on your best friend?" He asked as he nodded toward the back.
Alya turned to look and saw Adrien and Marinette smiling as they watched something on his phone. For the first time in a long time, she looked happy. Alya hadn't noticed it until now, but Marinette had been miserable until Adrien stepped up and became her friend. Had she been the reason for Marinette's unhappiness? No, Alya realized, had they been the reason, the entire class except Adrien had turned their back on her.
Nino turned away from his girlfriend when he saw the gears moving in her head, she was processing, and he had a recording to make.
A laugh from the back drew the attention of everyone in the room, even Lila. For the first time that day, the rest of the class realized that Adrien and Marinette were there.
"Adrien," Lila gushed as she jumped from her seat and rushed to embrace him. As she approached Adrien only sat there, uncaring of her approach until the last second when he raised his foot and used it to stop her.
"What do you want?" he asked without looking up from the phone and the video he was sharing with Marinette. Lila's eyes narrowed as she replied.
"I wanted to tell you how amazing the show was, that we did an amazing job planning it."
"Oh?" He asked with a drawl as he put the phone down and looked at her. "We? That's funny, I don't remember seeing you at the meetings with my father and the production team. Do you remember seeing her Mari?"
Marinette pretended to think before she replied.
"No, I don't remember seeing her there except during rehearsal and the fittings."
"And why would you be there?" Lila asked with venom, the tone trickling to the rest of the class. Many were surprised as they had never heard the Italian girl use a tone like that. She was usually so sweet and nice.
"Did you forget that Mari is an intern for my company?" Adrien asked as he just started Lila down.
"You mean she actually works for your father?" Lila asked in surprise.
"No, she works for me, remember I own the company now." He corrected with a smirk, a beeping from his phone made the smirk grow, and a matching one grew on Marinette's face. "If I am not mistaken then you are about to see how much the company is indeed mine Lila."
"What do you…" she was cut off as the door banged open and their teacher and principal entered, escorted by Lieutenant Raincomprix and several other uniformed officers.
"Lila Rossi," Ms. Bustier said as she came to a stop at the front, "these officers need to speak with you."
"Y-yes," she replied, suddenly sounding unsure in the face of law enforcement.
"Ms. Rossi, we need you to come down to the station and answer some questions for us." Lieutenant Raincomprix said as he signaled one of the other uniformed officers to approach Lila.
"But, I haven't…"
"Miss, this will be a lot easier if you just come quietly," the officer told her as he took his handcuffs from his belt.
"Is she under arrest?" Damocles asked as Lila backed into the desks with no place to go, the officer approaching.
"She is," Raincomprix replied as Lila kept trying to escape.
"Adrien," she said as she turned and faced him, throwing her arms around his neck, and holding on. "Don't let them take me, don't let them take your fiancée away."
Adrien forcefully pulled her arms from his neck and pushed her into the officer who proceeded to cuff her.
"That's the thing, Lila," Adrien said as he wiped his neck, "I am going to let them take you, and you aren't my fiancée, we were never a couple."
Damocles took this moment to grow a spine when he spoke up.
"Wait a minute, it is my understanding you cannot take her without her guardian being present."
"Actually," Max said as he stood, watching with hidden joy as Lila fought the officer as he led her down the stairs. "They can arrest without a guardian; her guardian just needs to be present for the questioning."
"But I didn't do anything," Lila wailed as she was led from the classroom, the escorting officer could be heard reading Lila her rights.
Lieutenant Raincomprix and the other officer nodded to the class and left to follow the officer leading Lila.
There was absolute silence until Marinette snorted, turning to Adrien she smirked.
"Karma," was all she said before smiling and returning her attention to the phone in Adrien's hand. He likewise snorted and went back to the phone.
Ignoring the following outburst from those who were still Lila devotees, Marinette and Adrien continued to watch funny cat videos as the room erupted into chaos.