Please, Forgive Me || ADRIENETTE

11. You're the first.

"Any thoughts, Adrien?"

"Any thoughts, Mr. Agreste?" Marinette asked as she flipped through the menu book in deep thought of what to order, snapping the blonde back to reality.

"A million..." Adrien muttered to himself, before grabbing onto his menu.

It was such a coincidence that the Marinette of the past and the Marinette of the present asked the same question. But it scared Adrien a little, realizing the major difference between then and now. He pressed his lips into a line, uncomfortable with what Marinette just called him, "You know, Marinette, were outside of work. I wouldn't mind if you called me Adrien."

Call me Adrien, like you used to.

The bluenette smiled and shrugged, "With all due respect, Mr. Agreste. You are still my boss."

"Nathalie called father by his name." He pointed out. Adrien would never let go of the way Marinette compared Gabriel and Nathalie's relationship to their own. The thought of their relationship one day turning into his father and former secretary put his mind at ease. Even if the girl didn't mean it in that way.

As she told herself multiple times today, this was strictly employer and employee. That's why she always forced herself to keep the formalities with Adrien. So she wouldn't forget who they were to each other, and possibly mix business with private matters.

And if Marinette had to explain herself, she could never bring herself to trust the blonde, like she had before. She wouldn't make the same mistake twice of ever believing him. For all she knew, he was still the same. Hell, his temper hasn't changed at all, that's for sure.

Marinette thought that; the moment she put her guard down, was the moment Adrien bites. Just like he had five years ago. She couldn't afford another traumatic event to go down again. Marinette could only handle so much.

"I haven't been to this place before... I'm not too sure what to get." Marinette said, quickly changing the topic before Adrien had the chance to speak again. "Is it new?"

He hummed, "yeah. Opened about 2 or 3 years ago." Adrien furrowed his brows, noticing Marinette's attempt to ignore his suggestion. He didn't like the fact that she wouldn't comply, but he could do nothing more than sit quietly. "I'd suggest the steak and lobster."

Marinette scoffed at his suggestion and scowled. "Do you think I can afford steak and lobster right now?"

Maybe it was Adrien's preference, or maybe he was just so high class and rich but, Adrien brought the two to a 5-star restaurant, that probably only celebrities and CEOs like himself could afford.

Marinette wasn't opposed to the idea, she thought she could treat herself to something delicious once in a while. But, that was until she saw the inside of the restaurant. It was something you'd see in movies; dim lights and sparkling chandeliers with red and gold decorations hanging on every wall.

And not only was the interior extremely beautiful, but the prices were not to be ignored. Almost everything here ranged from $50 to $200.

How in the world was Marinette supposed to afford the luxury? "Jesus, even the appetizers are expensive."

"Please Marinette, did you think I'd just bring you to one of Paris' most expensive restaurants and have you pay? You underestimate my wealth."

The girl raised a brow at his statement, "So you're saying you don't bring all the new hires here? As a welcoming dinner?"

"No," Adrien said confidently, sipping on his water that had probably cost $20. "You would be the first."

Marinette's eyes widened. I was.. the first? Marinette wasn't sure if she liked the thought of him not bringing his staff, which consisted of mostly women, to dinner. She was flattered, but she couldn't help her feelings become twisted in thought.