Heartless

Preparations

The next morning, everyone put on older clothes and went ahead to the limo, the gorilla drove them to the Eiffel Tower, where they had blocked it off to start cleaning. They took brooms and swept, then mopped and started cleaning the walls before setting up a few tables, Marinette and Adrien came with Alya and Nino, the floor was pretty big, so they needed all the help they could get, the news was filming them, which Mr. Sanceour felt a bit weird about, but other than the Sanceours, everyone was used to it. 

MS- Why are they filming us while we're cleaning?

N- Because Gabriel's a designer, so they want to get as much footage of him as possible. 

MS- Oh.

They kept cleaning and once they were done, Nathalie got a call from Michelle, she'd forgotten about the dresses. So she brought her mother, and Gabriel's to the shop with the girls, except for Alya, she stayed with everyone else to help get anything back home. It was late when they arrived at the dress shop, Michelle was there waiting for them.

N- We have to retake the measurements for two of the dresses, will that be a problem?

MI- Not at all, I haven't done theirs yet, but I am finished with yours.

N- We'll do the measurements first, but then I'll try it on.

L- It's beautiful, you'll love them and the wedding dress Nathalie chose.

MA- I'm excited to see which one you've chosen.

She brought out the bridesmaids dresses and measured them.

MA- These are beautiful, good choice Nathalie.

N- Thanks, it took a while, but I had some help from Michelle.

MI- Alright, it's time for you to see how yours fits.

She led Nathalie to the back and gave her the dress, then left and let her try it on, they girls were back in their regular clothes and Nathalie came out of the room, and spun around a bit. The slit in the side had been cut so it was in the middle of her thigh, so lower than before, and the back was tighter, which is what she was going for, and the sparkled sleeves were a bit longer, and there was a loop on the end that she had to slide her finger through.

MS- Oh, you look beautiful!

MA- It's even better than I'd imagined, it suits you.

N- Thank you, I love it too.

L- I wish she were here.

Loren said quietly, only Nathalie had heard her, she went back to take off the dress, and got the clothes back on that she'd worn during the cleaning, she'd braided her hair instead of leaving it in the bun she usually wore. It was dark when they went out to the limo, they arrived at the Agreste mansion and went straight to the office, where Adrien was with the rest of the people who were staying in the Agreste mansion, Alya and Nino had gone home, Marinette and Adrien went back home as everyone stayed in the office, just talking in general, careful not to say anything about the dress, although Loren desperately wanted to brag about how good it looked on her, she held in her excitement.

G- Things went well today.

MA- I don't know about that Gabe, the press is pretty fierce now with the wedding coming up.

N- Yeah, so is Audre Bourgeois.

L- How Audre?

Nathalie passed her phone to them, all of the text messages she'd sent.

"When will you finally get my dress ready for the event?"

"I'm sorry, but we're busy, you can come get your dress tomorrow afternoon."

"But I want it now."

"I'm sorry, I can't help you now."

"You useless bitch, all you ever do is suck up to Agreste, he was better off with Emilie. Your just as useless as my husband, you useless, utterly useless!"

"We can deliver your dress if you'd rather that, but it would still be tomorrow."

"I have a fashion event and I want to make sure I have it in time to buy new jewelry, how dare you not bring it to me now! Your fired, I never want to hear from you again, you soul less little slut!"

The Nathalie played a few of the messages she'd left on her voicemail.

AU- Oh, your getting married, well congratulations, I don't give a shit! You have a job and that should be your main priority, I don't know why Gabriel does't just fir you already like the rest of his useless staff. Personally, I don't know what he sees in you, he may have good taste in fashion, but he's lost his taste in women.

AU- Still no dress, I told you to bring it to me now. Is it too much that you get off your lazy ass and bring me something I'm paying for? You listen to me this time bitch, if it were't for me, you wouldn't have a job, so pay attention to what I'm going to say carefully, if it's not too much work. I want the dress now, and if I don't receive it soon, I will make sure your fired, I can ruin your career, so sick it up and get over her now!

AU- One hour later and I still don't have my dress dipshit! Looks like someone is getting fired to day and it won' be my problem this time, I've been patient enough, have I not? How dare you make queen of fashion, Audre Bourgeois wait for a dress, what a useless employee, utterly useless. I can't believe Gabriel actually hired someone as selfish as you.

Nathalie put her phone away.

N- That's enough criticism for tonight.

G- When did she say that?

N- When I didn't answer her while we were cleaning today.

MS- I'm sorry love, that isn't right.

N- It's fine, I haven't spoken to her since she she yelled at me in high school.

G- Except it's not, Nathalie, this is define toy not okay!

N- I've moved on, if she goes from verbal to physical abuse, then yes, we have a problem. But for now, we're fine.

Mr.A- Why don't we celebrate? Got to the bar or something other than sitting around, we haven't been here for that long.

Mr.S- What do you say? I'm up for it.

MA- You need to loosen up a bit, let's go.

MS- You all go, I'll keep an eye on the house.

N- Are you sure?

MS- Enjoy yourselves, and stay safe.

They thanked her, then went upstairs to get dressed for now. Nathalie put on a short deep purple dress and black flats, she wore her hair in a bun and left two strands of hair down at the front, the put on a black belt and flattened the wrinkles out of her dress, then sat on the bed. Gabriel came out from his walk in closet and stared at Nathalie, blushing intensely.

N- Something wrong?

She smirked, then walked over to him, playfully running her hand down his arm.

N- Ready?

G- Yep.

He kissed her forehead and they went back downstairs, Gabriel was still wearing his suit, but he'd un tucked his shirt from his pants and had taken off his tie and still had his miraculous, but it looked more like a button, just in case. They were waiting at the door for their parents, then once everyone was down, they walked to the bar down the street. There weren't many people there, which is good. They went ahead in, Nathalie got vodka and so did Mrs. Agreste, the rest got skotch.