The Double Face of the Designer's Son

Chapter 2.

Adrien woke up in his father's room. All of his belongings were there, but it seemed larger, and a portrait of his mother adorned a far wall."Good morning, sir," said a voice loudly over an intercom."Who are you?" Adrien yelled, not sure if the person on the intercom could hear him."No need to yell, sir. It's Claire. It is currently 8:37 am. Would you like me to wake you up at a specific time tomorrow?""That would be great. Please wake me up normally at 7:15 am.""Yes, sir. Anything I can get you for breakfast?""If you don't mind, I'd prefer to take a shower first.""Of course, sir. Would you like an outfit prepared for you, or would you prefer to pick out your own clothes?""I'll pick out my own. About breakfast... in about an hour, can you have a cup of coffee and a croissant ready for me?""How do you like your coffee, sir?""Do you know what a café crème is?""Yes, sir. I'll have a croissant and a café crème on the table for you in an hour, then. Anything else you need from me?""My schedule, if there's anything for me to do today.""Trust me, you've got plenty to do today. I'll make your schedule and send a copy to your phone."Adrien put on his robe. He was uncertain about the sudden responsibilities put onto his shoulders. As he got into the shower, he pondered the matter of running the company. Without his father's company, he had no income unless he could find a job. Not that any job would be half as lucrative as an exclusive fashion company. He knew how to run a business; it was all his father would allow him to study in college in between fashion shows and photoshoots.He didn't want to be lonely in this big house with just Claire. He hadn't seen any of his old high school friends for ages and they certainly hadn't been at the funeral. If they had, he hadn't recognized them. He also no longer had a bodyguard. This he did not see as a problem.The problem with running the fashion business is that he was fine with wearing clothes and looking handsome for adoring fans, but designing clothes seemed a much more daunting task. Perhaps he could hire a designer. He'd ask Claire about it as soon as he could. Maybe he could learn a bit about clothes and art, and then design.And then there was the matter of a suitor. Adrien's mind went immediately to Ladybug, but he dismissed the idea just as quickly. He'd spent years looking for Ladybug in her civilian form with so little to go by. He knew that he didn't act like Adrien Agreste when he was Cat Noir. Why would Ladybug act normal? He couldn't think of anyone like her. She was... flawless. The obvious choice for a wife and probably suitable to his father's standards, whatever they were. He shook his head. Ladybug was a persona, nothing more, and she wasn't important right now unless he could figure out who she was. She had always seemed so real, but she had always been a fantasy. Adrien sighed. Anyone else... Claire? Claire seemed nice. Not enough to go by to make judgments about her, but Adrien would see. He didn't know whether anyone was married. He'd been away from his home for four years, and just days after he got back, two of the most prevalent people in his life fulfilled a suicide pact, and the third was gone without a trace. Just the luck of a black cat.Speaking of black cats, it seemed Paris had forgotten its lost hero. He'd have to give them a little show after breakfast. These people needed to be reminded that Ladybug wasn't the only hero in town.The steamy air of the shower was as suffocating as the loneliness he felt after spending 4 years in America, so he got out and tried to think of a reason to bring back Cat Noir. Even with Hawkmoth disappearing off the map, someone would need to be patrolling the streets. The only problem was how to sneak past Claire. He'd worry later. He couldn't think as well on an empty stomach. He dried himself off and went to the closet to put on a suit. According to his phone, he had to meet with the lawyer at noon."Good morning, sir," said Claire as he came down the stairs. "Your coffee and a fresh croissant are on the table.""You... don't need to be so formal," Adrien muttered, walking into the dining room. Breakfast had been placed at the head of the table, where his father would normally have been sitting. He paused in his tracks. "Please put my breakfast at the opposite end of the table next time.""Of course, sir," Claire said, picking up the little tray with his breakfast and setting it on Adrien's place setting. "Anything else I can get for you?" Adrien took a bite of the pastry next to his coffee. "Just one thing. Where did you get this croissant? It's amazing.""A little place down the street. I think it was... the Dupain-Chang Boulangerie."