Chapter 6
Marinette and her aunt sat in Madame Giry's apartment, the letter that Marinette had received was sitting on the old oak desk. After handing the letter to her aunt and having her aunt read it, Marinette could have sworn it had been on fire with how quickly she gasped and dropped it. "I-it can't be." Her aunt clasped her hand over her now pale face as she leaned on her dresser for support. "I know I wasn't expecting a patron so early in our re-opening! This opens so many new doors for us!" Marinette could see the opera house now, full seats and happy customers flooding her pockets. "Marinette, use your senses girl! Have you personally met this Patron? You can't throw all of your hard work into the hands of the first patron you meet!" Madame Giry gripped the paper tightly. The once expensive delicate paper crumpled in protest as she balled it up and let it fall to the floor below her. "No, we will find another. There has to be another!" Marinette gulped slightly, she'd rarely seen her aunt in such a fit in the time she'd been staying with her. Usually, her frustrations were aimed towards the ballet rats, not at a simple message. "I don't understand Aunt, we've been advertising for two months now. No one's come forward, it's not too out of pocket for a patron to remain anonymous." Marinette couldn't help but feel irritated with her aunt.
"Usually those who wish to remain in the shadows are those who wish to do harm." Madame Giry turned toward her niece and sent an icy stare on her. "There will be others, until then I will hear no more of this mystery patron. Goodnight Marinette." Marinette pouted slightly as she made her way to the door. Usually her aunt held her in such a kind and gentle regard, why did that letter change her whole personality all of the sudden? Madame Giry was hiding something and it was something big. And Marinette was going to find out exactly what it was.
"So we have a mystery patron?" Meg asked as she lightly skipped down the hallway beside her cousin. "Not if your mother has a say in it, we don't." Marinette shuffled down the hallway, sorting through the new list of demands from the builders. "Twenty more minutes for breaks?! They already have an hour's lunch on top of fifteen minute water breaks!" Marinette rubbed her temple as she hastily stepped to the side while one of her builders carried a large wooden plank. "Sir, you tell that union representative of yours that I want him in my office no later than noon!" She shouted after him and Meg chuckled lightly. "You're turning into one of those cruel overseers Mari." Marinette sighed and smoothed out her skirts. "I'm nothing like those monsters, at least I care to listen to their complaints and give in to their tantrums." Marinette began walking again, the kitchens had become her safe haven of sorts. It was the one place that the builder hadn't touched or even began to go near. One could argue it was the most quiet part of the opera house.
"So about Maman disagreeing with your choice of patron?" Meg had been dying to hear the latest about her cousins and mothers tiff. She had to admit, at the best of times their relationship made her jealous. "Ah yes, well your mother believes that we should have a more public patron rather than an anonymous one." Marinette opened the discoloured cabinets, she'd hidden two scones on the top shelf, behind some old cookbooks. "But aren't you the owner? Couldn't you simply override Maman's decision?" Meg sat on one of the many mismatched chairs, the chair tipped slightly and she yelped. "First thing to go is that dining room set, and no I can't just override your mother. She's been a part of this opera house far longer than I have, she knows how things work here. This is all foreign to me and the more I consider it the more I begin to realize she has a point." Marinette grabbed one of the stools and began to frantically search for her scones.
"Oh, and how did you reach that conclusion?" Meg watched as her cousin rumaged through the cabinets like a rabid raccoon. She hadn't the heart to tell her that she and Camille had snuck down to the kitchens for a late night snack. She recalled seeing Marinette hide her scones and consequently they became the victim of the girls cravings. She would buy her new ones later. "Well, having a secret patron may only further damage the opera houses reputation. The last thing we need is the people believing we accept money from a money laundering neerdowell. Also, this opera house will be my legacy one day. I shouldn't be so quick to hand over her future to the first rich dandy that steps forward." Marinette sighed as she gave up her search for the scones, she was going to murder Oliver if had been the one to get his grubby hands on her most prized possession...at the time. "But no one else has stepped forward and without funds we can't even afford to powder our noses!" Meg sighed.
"Correct, if only there was some way we could get some wealthy people through our doors. WIthout the need of a production." Marinette sat down and leaned forward. "We could hold a Midsommar ball?" Meg teasingly smiled as she twirled her long blonde hair. Marinette sat up straight and a look that had a mixture of relief and incredulatin washed over her features. "Meg you wonderful genius! That's exactly what we'll do! I have a little money left over that might be just enough to put an ad out and pay for some decor!" Marinette rushed over to her cousin and encased her in a bone crushing hug. "Glad I could be of service." Meg smiled but was then washed over with an overwhelming sense of guilt. "Marinette?" Meg's small voice croaked as she looked up at her cousin. "Yes my dear wonderfully brilliant cousin?" Marinette smiled gently as she pulled away from Meg.
"I was the one who ate your scones." With that admission Meg was sent out to replace Marinette's beloved scones. Any affection Marinette had for Meg in that moment had been replaced with the most barbarous betrayal one could ever face. Of course, Marinette withheld the fact that she had a stockpile of scones hidden away in her room, but this was a lesson Meg needed to learn.
"Steal my scones once, shame on me." Marinette laughed slightly to herself. She would forgive Meg, as she wasn't truly upset with her to begin with. But then again...those were pretty damn good scones.
AU: Hello my wonderful readers, I just wanted to take a moment and thank you guys for taking a chance on my story! Sorry about not updating as frequently. I'm currently in school and I also had to take some time to care for my mental health. On top pf that the spring allergies are kicking my butt! I should be back to updating regularly again, thank you for being patient with me! With all my love,
K
