Love by Design - Adrienette

Marinette's PUNishment

Marinette felt awful. The way she saw it, all of this was her fault. If she had never dropped her sketchbook at the photoshoot, if she had never taken the sketchbook to the photoshoot, if she had never even gone to the photoshoot, then her parents wouldn't be in peril of losing the bakery. Sure, maybe if she hadn't gone she wouldn't now be dating her crush - but she had the feeling that would have happened eventually anyway. 

"Mom, Dad, I owe you an apology. I'm sorry."

"What did you do this time, Marinette?" her father asked in a teasing voice.

"If I hadn't left my skecthbook somewhere that I shouldn't have been in the first place, Mr. Agreste wouldn't be taking away the bakery. I'd say just let me take my due retribution, but then Adrien would be stuck with me." She gave an uneasy laugh. "It's crazy; my intended punishment is two things I thought I wanted: being together with Adrien, and working for such a prestigious designer as his father."

"Don't be to hard on yourself-" Sabine started in before Tom cut her off.

"Young lady, don't even think for a second that any of this is your fault, you hear me? I hope you know that your mother and I would give up everything we have in a heartbeat if it was to protect you."

"I know you would, but if I hadn't-"

"No buts about it! You didn't do anything wrong. You have an astounding skill that Gabriel Agreste is trying to take advantage of. He's the one that should be sorry. Understand?"

"Still, it's my designs that he wants. Can you tell him that if he'll just let everyone else be, I'll create as many designs as he wants?"

"Are you sure about that? He's asking an awful lot of you. This isn't just a one-time project, it's a regular job."

"Are you kidding? Working for the Agreste company is my dream job! It already was before I ever even met Adrien. Please?"

Her parents exchanged a look. If Gabriel would agree, there was an easy solution to their problem. "All right, if that's what you want to do, there is no harm in trying." Tom redialed the number that Gabriel had called him from before, then stayed on the line a few minutes - presumably waiting for whomever had answered the phone to fetch the boss. After repeating bits of the conversation he'd had with Marinette, Tom motioned his daughter over to him. "He wants to speak to you, but put it on speaker phone. I'd like to hear what he says."

Marinette pressed the speaker button before saying into the receiver, "Hello? Marinette speaking."

"Good, Marinette." Gabriel's voice came over the phone. "It sounds like you're willing to listen to reason."

"Maybe I am." Marinette guarded her words carefully. Everyone around her (even Gabriel's own son) was telling her to be wary of this man, but she had her own reasons not to anger him - he could easily connect her to her dream career.

"Well now, you don't understand where it is I am coming from. Don't think your designs are all that the way they are now. As of yet, they are merely good. You are an investment, Marinette. I see great potential in your work. I would like to put you through a college of the highest caliber, the likes of which your parents would never be able to afford on their income. Doing so would be well worth it, but not without cost for me; that's why I have to make absolutely certain you won't go off and work for one of my competitors. Your word is not enough. I know you're quite fond of my son; making the two of you a couple is the perfect insurance. Only one person may be distinguished in that way. You should feel honored!"

As scared as Marinette was, she was determined to undo the mess she felt she had started. If she went into another one of her rambles, she was done for. Due to this paranoia, she had written her speech and rehearsed it over until she'd memorized it. If she failed in convincing Gabriel, either her parents or Adrien would have to pay for her mistakes. "I do feel honored sir, but I'm afraid I can't accept your offer - for two reasons. One, it's just too soon to make such long-term decisions. Even when this year is over, Adrien and I have two years left of high school! Two, marriage shouldn't be based on anything except love. I'll admit, I do love Adrien, but his feelings are equally as relevant as my own. Even if he does like me, there shouldn't be an ulterior motive involved. Please understand what I'm trying to say."

Tom and Sabine were floored; they should have never put Marinette on the phone. She didn't seem to realize it, but they were both painfully aware that she was practically handing Gabriel weapons to use against her - the choicest of all being a point-blank statement that she loved Adrien. They held their collective breath, waiting to see how Gabriel would respond. To their surprise, what sounded like amused chuckles came over the phone.

"Your concerns are valid, Marinette, and I can't blame you for having them. It's admirable that you give clearly laid out reason to accompany your refusal. However, listen and I'll explain to you why my offer would be in your best interest. To address your first concern, the business world is fast-paced. You need more than a skill in designing to make it as a designer. You also need the ability to adapt; the best offers have small time windows and when they're gone you've lost your opportunity. If you can't adapt on this one, you'll never survive in the industry. However, I believe you can adapt; you have more tenacity than you know. Sure, most people don't get married at your age, but if you can only convince your parents to sign off on it with me, it'd be perfectly legal. On your second concern, you must realize what love truly is. Love is a bunch of chemical signals in your brain, purely psychological. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, it just means you can manipulate the emotion to your convenience. You need only convince yourself that you're in love, and you will be - I absolutely guarantee it. It will work for Adrien too. I know that he kissed you of his own volition on the day we had you over. He would never have done that if he didn't believe he could fall in love with you. As long as he keeps that mentality, he'll be absolutely in love too."

Well, that was just great! Marinette had used up all the talking points she had prepared; without them she was absolutely lost. What should she have expected? This man made his success by shrewd negotiations, while her skills in the communication department were below amateur. She'd carelessly fought him on his own terrain, and conceded losing the battle. She had to take up a fresh tactic to survive the war. War. Why did it have to be that way? Why couldn't everyone just get along?

"Uh... I - I'll think about what you said. Goodbye sir." Marinette hurriedly slammed down the receiver.

"You'll think about it?" Her father sounded horrified. "Why on earth would you say that!?"

Marinette laughed, but something was wrong with it. This laugh was used for coping, and was fringed with hysteria. "I don't know... I just panicked... I had to get off the phone... so I just said..." Some sort of calm fell over her. A laugh was a laugh, and it helped to brighten her mood. Wanting to spread that, she changed the subject - just somewhat. "You know what? Everything is going to turn out fine! Whatever the best solution is, it will show up before too long, and everyone is going to be happy with it!"

An infectious smile somewhat reluctantly spread itself from Marinette to her parents as she ran up the stairs to her room. She meant what she said - including listening to Gabriel's words. Well... some of them at least. Could her feelings for Adrien be that circumstantial? Should she test it just in case? She found it hard to believe she could just think of another boy and... She stopped herself there. She had absolutely no reason to want to get over Adrien. She mulled over what would happen if her parents were left no choice but to give in to Gabriel. It wasn't quite ideal but... 'It's pretty good for a worst case scenario.' She giggled quietly at the thought, maybe that sentiment was best left internalized.