Criminal

Chapter 12: Champagne

Gabriel sat in his office, patiently seated as he looked at the photos  placed on his desk. Marinette was a beautiful woman, that was something he could easily tell when he looked at the shots of her from yesterday's photo shoot. Normally it would be quite unprofessional to model your own designs, but he thought it was quite unique.

He thought it was great that she'd be willing to happily represent her designs and go as far as to model them herself when the director asked her to.

His thoughts were interrupted when one of his newly assistants placed a paper cup of coffee on his desk. "Is there anything else I can do for you, Gabriel?" She asked in a sickeningly sweet tone. He glanced up at the woman, she had long dark brown hair that looked a bit red in the right lighting, and olive green eyes.

When he looked at her, he realized that he missed Nathalie.

"No thank you, Ms. Rossi." He spoke, taking a sip of the coffee. It was a little too sweet, Nathalie always made it quite bitter the way he liked it. He set the cup down and turned his attention to the front of the room when he heard a polite knock, "Come in." He said and Lila stood at his side.

A petite woman walked into the room, noticeably smaller than the woman who walked in the room a minute before. Right beside her was his son, a large masculine man who was a perfect example of perfection. Marinette became nervous, not just because of Gabriel...

But because she noticed the assistant standing beside his chair.

What was Lila doing here?

"I've spent quite a while looking at the photos and..." He fixed his glasses, folding his hands in front of him. "The designs in the photo shoot aren't quite my brand's style." Gabriel spoke and Marinette looked straight at him, she didn't even wince. "You didn't quite meet my expectations, Ms. Dupain-Cheng."

The bluenette nodded and noticed the small smirk forming on Lila's lips covered in matte nude lipstick. She felt like she had been stabbed through the heart, yet she didn't show a single sign of it.

"You exceeded my expectations, Marinette. I've never seen designs so unique and, I think we need something a little different than what we usually offer here at the Agreste brand." Gabriel spoke, making Adrien's jaw drop and Marinette's lips part. "I'd like to welcome you a full time job designing here at my company, along with working specifically for my son in whatever job he sees fit for you."

Marinette grinned, exposing her pearly white teeth surrounded by her glossy pink lips. Adrien nudged her with a small smile, no one noticed the glare Lila sent at Marinette when he did so. "That is... If you'd like." Gabriel finished, and Marinette could swear she felt tears at the brim of her eyes.

The bluenette nodded, "Yes, I'd really like that Gabriel." She said softly, Adrien thought her reaction was precious. He was also pleasantly surprised himself that his father would welcome her with open arms. Not literally, of course.

"That's great for you, Marinette. Let me know if you need anything." The attention was turned towards the assistant in the room, a fake smile plastered across her face. "I- Thank you Lila." Marinette said, looking to the side. She didn't want to look her in the eyes, she didn't want to reminisce all the horrible things she did to her in high school.

Adrien frowned a little at Marinette's unexpected behavior, only because he knew her well... He knew that there was something going on with her in that moment. "You impressed me today, Marinette. Your office will be beside Adrien's, along with any material you need for your new designs. Don't hesitate to ask Ms. Rossi if you need anything."

"Thank you, Gabriel." Marinette smiled, and walked out of the room with Adrien. When the door shut, she was pulled into a tight hug, "I'm so happy for you, Marinette." Adrien said, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm just so glad he liked it." She spoke, her eyes watering when the door suddenly opened once more.