I'm feeling in a party mood the next day, and it will be fun decorating pumpkins with my team. As designers, we're all very creative and competitive!

One of the conference rooms has been set up with pumpkins and supplies, and the sign hanging on the door reads "The fun starts here!"

"Hey, everyone!" I greet everyone, from Simon to Sophia and Grace, and a few others. "There's snacks on the table back there, Marinette," Sophia points out the food, and I laugh gently at her outfit. "I see you come dressed as a pumpkin. Does that mean we get to decorate you too?" Laughter ripples around the room, and I squeeze her hand. "We'll think of something fun," I promise her, walking to the back and loading my plate with snacks. Then I see my cup of coffee with a note attached.

"We knew you'd be a boo,

So we got you a cold brew!"

I turn to my team. "Very funny, guys!" I take my spot and we all get to work, joking about the fake plastic spiders and webs. "As long they don't start crawling, we're good," I joke, being careful not to get hot glue on myself, but then eyeball one out of the corner of my eye. "Did that thing just move?" I hiss to Grace.

"Da-dum, Da-dum, da, da, da!" Simon moves the spider along the table, humming the Jaws theme. "Very funny, that was a shark, not a spider and you know it!" The jokes fall fast and thick as autumn leaves, and I look around the table at all the happy faces.

"Guys?" I blurt, and everyone looks up at me. "What would you do if….I ever left?" "Your leaving?" Isla gasps. I shake my head. "No, but what would think?" I press. "We'd miss you a bunch," one of the workers says. "Your patient, kind, and fair, just like a boss should be." I blush at the sweet compliment.

"We'd find other jobs, I suppose, but it wouldn't be the same as working with you, Marinette," Simon eyes me carefully. "Don't worry, guys, I'm not going anywhere, yet."

A sharp rap at the door makes me look up, and I'm surprised to see Jenni at the door, along with a imposing man in a purple suit. "I'm sorry, Marinette," she tries to apologize, "He was consistent that he needed to talk to you."

"Very well," I say, crisply. Its not Jenni's fault, and I turn to the man waiting. "Shall we talk in my office?" He nods silently. "I'll be back in awhile, guys. Let me know if a spider moves!"

My party mood seems to be vanishing, and I usher the man into the office. "What can do for you?" I ask.

"I'm here on behalf of Gabriel Agreste," he says, and I stifle a groan. "Are you hoping to collaborate?" I ask, my palms are sweating. "Let me blunt. We know one of the vaults in California has been breached, and sources are you and a male in black clothing stole the contents. But my question is, how did you get in?"

What am I supposed to say? Oh, Cat Noir who is Adrien and also my boyfriend, used a Miraculous and used his Cataclysm, thus opening the vault. I catch a sight of blue and notice Dussu looking at me. She shakes her head, and I feel my shoulders slump as I answer. "I can't tell you that." I'm surprised at how calm my voice sounds.

"The only way to get was a Miraculous or explosives," he shoots back, "and I have a strong hunch, you didn't use the latter option." "I can't answer that." A dark look crosses the man's face, and he smiles a sinister smile. "No matter, I have other ways of getting back at you." "Excuse me?" "I'll see myself out," he stands and quickly exits.

I should follow him, but my legs aren't getting the signal. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself, checking in my small compact if I have pink eyes. Thankfully, my bluebell blues stare back me, with no traces of pink. I'm about to get up, when another rap on the door as me looking up.

Adrien. And he looks...upset? I put on a smile and gesture for him to come through. "Hey, you okay?" I ask, and Adrien sits down across from me, pulling out his phone. "You want to tell me what's going with Simon?" his voice sharp, not like my gentle Adrien.

I take the phone with shaking hands, scrolling through the pictures. These were taken yesterday, but Adrien's got it wrong, it wasn't a date, it was a work meeting. Though, to the unknown eye we do look "cozy".

"Adrien, he's my art director and a good friend. But your my boyfriend. I wouldn't lie to you." Then like puzzle pieces, my last guests words fall into place. "Why, that dirty, cheating sneak!" "Marinette?"

"The man who came in here before you apparently had some "dirt" on me, and these pictures prove it. He was trying to blackmail me, and tear us apart."

Adrien sighs, and I get scared, standing abruptly. "I need to go," I tell him, gathering my things. I came in today to have fun and decorate a pumpkin, and now this.

"Marinette," Adrien reaches for me, but I dart out the door, dashing past the conference room, hitting the elevator button desperately. Luck is in my favor as it opens and I guilde down to the lobby, into fresh air, freedom.

I flee to a nearby park, climbing one of the trees and at last I can sob, and not be heard. I should have stayed and listened to Adrien, but I got scared. I don't want to lose him. I love him.

Does he still want me? I curl as best I can against the trunk, my shoulders heaving. I may be Ladybug, but in this moment, I have never felt so small.