Love by Design - Adrienette

Adult's Talk

The next day Gabriel stood in front of the Dupain-Cheng Bakery, his hand poised above the door handle. He had never set foot inside a bakery before. No, he had people  for that. Today's task, however, warranted a personal visit. To a baker and his wife? Well, they did have a daughter with rather extraordinary skill, so he supposed he could bring himself to speak with them.

As soon as Tom heard the door he came out of the kitchen, positively covered in flour. "Welcome! What can I get you?" His demeanor deadpanned as he came face to face with the ever frowning Mr. Agreste, whose perpetual sour mood could apparently not even be lifted by the smell of baking pastries.

"I do not require any of your wares, Mr. Dupain. I've come to speak with you about your daughter."

"Marinette? Is something wrong with her?"

"No, nothing is wrong, but I must speak with you urgently."

"Oh, all right. Come on back into our house. Sabine! We have company!"

Tom's wife came out from deeper in the house, disappearing into their smaller private kitchen. She reappeared momentarily, balancing a tray of three cups of coffee: one for herself, one for her husband, and one for... a Parisian business man? It was unusual to entertain someone so socially important in their home.

Gabriel hesitantly took the cup as though he were doing them a courtesy, and not the other way around. "I'm sure you know that I own a high end fashion company, by the same name as myself. Recently I hosted a competition for high school students to design a bowler hat for one of my lines. Initially, your daughter won by a long shot. Unfortunately, my son, who is also my prize model, was allergic to her creation. I had to use the next best, and overlooked Marinette's talent. Yesterday I found her sketchbook dropped in the park. I've never seen such raw talent in somebody who hasn't gone through college specifically for that purpose!" He reached down and dug a hand through his bag, bringing it out again empty. "I was sure I had her book in there. Anyway, on to my point. I have a son her age. If you'd arrange for her to become my son's wife-"

He stopped. Tom and Sabine sat frozen in their seats, obviously shocked by his suggestion. The thought was still processing... three... two... one.

"NOT INTERESTED!" Tom roared. The large man usually seemed unintimidating despite his stature, wearing a light blue apron and a large smile. Not right now. He considered Gabriel's suggestion an insult, a threat even, to his precious daughter's human rights.

Gabriel seemed unabashed. "Think about it. I could easily put her through a prestigious college to develop her skills to their apex. That is more than you could ever afford to do for her. She would have a secure, well paying job for as long as my company is around - for all her life even if my successor manages to keep things afloat after I'm gone."

"Couldn't you just offer her a job?" Tom's tone was civil, but he was still glowering.

"Absolutely not. I can't have talent like that in a position where she would be able to leave and start working for one of my competitors."

Tom and Sabine shared a look, suddenly holding back the impulse to laugh. How could this man believe that his demands of their daughter were reasonable?

For the first time in the conversation, Sabine spoke up. "We can't accept your offer, but I for one wouldn't mind setting them up on a date."

"Sabine?" Tom sounded disapproving of his wife. "This really isn't something I would like to get involved in."

Sabine grinned at her husband. "Do you realize who his son is?" Sabine leaned in and whispered something in her husband's ear.

Tom got an 'oh' look on his face. "Adrien, huh." He cleared his throat. "Maybe she'd forgive us if we set up a date."

"You're familiar with my son?" Gabriel asked. What was it with everyone but him knowing who everyone else was? Maybe it was because he spent so much time in his business meetings.

"Yes. Adrien and Marinette were partners in a tournament once. He came over to practice with her. Let's just say her focus wasn't on the practice." Sabine bit back another memory of the encounter: Adrien had seemed to lap up up the attention they had given him, much as a cat laps up a saucer of cream. He clearly was attention deprived at home.

That was good news for Gabriel; it sounded as if Marinette already had a crush on his son. He could work with that. As for what his son may or may not feel, Gabriel still felt free to use fatherly persuasion.

"Agreste residence. 20:30. Be there, and you'd better bring the girl."

*meanwhile at school*

Between classes, Marinette and Alya were standing and chatting. Nothing special, just normal best friend interaction. Then Adrien approached. "Oh, hey Marinette!" Then he nodded politely to her friend "Alya", before turning back to the person to whom he had come to talk.

Mari stared, dumbstruck, until Alya elbowed her in the back - hard. "H-Hi," she stammered.

"My father found this in the park. I think it belongs to you." He held out her sketch book. What he didn't tell her was that he'd had to sneak and lift it from his father's bag. He knew that Gabriel was interested in the designs, and was afraid that he had no intention of returning the book to its rightful owner. He didn't want to see his father producing lines he didn't have the right to.

"Oh, Adrien, thank you!" Mari threw her arms around him, then realizing what she was doing, backed away blushing... "hehehe?"

Adrien placed the book in her palm. "Well, I'll be seeing you." With that he walked away to where his friend Nino was standing against a wall and looking bored.

"Really? You can't even talk to him." Alya shook her head dramatically.

Mari rolled her eyes.