Fake Dating

2 - A perfect plan

"Have you lost your mind?!" Adrien Agreste cried at his agent.

"Of course I haven't..." Plagg grinned. "It's a perfect plan, kid."

"You can't be serious..."

"I'm dead serious!"

"Except your Machiavellian smile..." Nino Lahiffe cut in. Adrien glared at his bodyguard who was standing at the door and observed the whole situation from a side.

"Your father has already started suspecting something and the social pressure is growing. You have to show with a girl. In public!" Plagg continued.

"What could my father start suspecting?"

"Your sexual orientation."

"What's wrong with my sexual orientation?!" Adrien asked outraged, and Nino sniggered.

Plagg rolled his eyes.

"I'm not sure if your father would accept the fact that his only son is gay."

"First of all, it's none of his business! Secondly, I'm not gay. Why could you think otherwise? And thirdly, what's wrong in being gay?"

"I'll answer to all your silly questions, kid. And listen carefully, because I'm not going to repeat it, because it's obvious. First: do you know your father at all?! Of course it is his business. You are his business! And he's interested in everything that is even slightly related to you!" Plagg explained, and Nino laughed in the corner that made Adrien glare at his friend again. "Secondly, I'm quite surprised that you're not gay. Are you sure?"

Adrien gritted.

"And thirdly, being gay is okay." Plagg shrugged. "Unless you're Gabriel Agreste's son."

"Confirmed." Nino muttered.

"You're exaggerating. My dad isn't that bad..."

"Yeah, right..." Plagg only shook his head. "I just want you to realise that it's high time to start living on your own. Be independent!"

"And what this independence has in common with your sick plan?" Adrien winced.

"Your father has to stop worrying about your orientation. When you start dating girls, he'll let you go a bit."

"I can find a girlfriend by myself, OK?"

"There's no time for this. If you waste more time, your father will find you someone, and you'll end up as the mayor's son-in-law."

"Chloé?" Adrien shook his head in disgust.

"See?" Plagg grinned. "A pure evil... Beware, because she's been trying to catch you for years. And I've found a girl perfect for you. Good-tempered, unpretentious, innocence personified. She's a rising star of pop music, without a scandalous past, but with good prospects for the future. You can help her, she will help you. A win-win situation."

"I don't like it."

"You don't have to. Just a few dates, maybe a fashion show. You'll hold your hands. Then she'll go on tour, you'll go back to modelling and everyone will forget about the case. Your lovely dad will be content that one day he'll become a grandfather, and I won't turn grey before my forties."

Adrien looked askance at Plagg, but couldn't even imagine him grey-haired.

"Fine..." he agreed reluctantly, that made both the agent and the bodyguard sigh with relief.

"You won't regret, dude." Nino muttered.

"I'm not so sure..." Adrien wasn't convinced.

"Great! Now I have to prepare your meeting." Plagg rubbed his hands with satisfaction. "And I have to meet her manager."

Then he left the room. Adrien folded his arms and glared at Nino. Now they'd talk.