Cinnamon and Vanilla

Chapter 18

"Wouldn't wool be too hot and itchy?" Spencer asked as he regarded the designs that Marinette showed him in her sketchbook. "I like the idea, but..."

"Merino wool." Marinette answered cheerfully, picking up a sample from off her desk. Well, temporary desk she reminded herself, in Adrien's office. "It's not itchy, is breathable and helps wick away moisture. Warm enough for cool mornings, but cool enough for when the sun gets warmer later in the day which makes it perfect for Autumn, especially if paired with the right kind of sneakers." She looked over to Adrien who grinned at her, giving her an encouraging wink.

Spencer scratched the top of his bald head and moved the designs around the table with the swatch samples Marinette had gathered. He was a portly man with more than a hint of a broad Yorkshire accent in his French. "It would push the price up for an urban wear line though." Marinette nodded in agreement, grabbing a spreadsheet of figures from Adrien and handing it to him

"It would, but not as much as the haute couture line. It is more of a middle ground between that and the streetwear range. Think maybe more young university graduates rather than teenagers. They have their first professional jobs meaning more disposable income for something more expensive, but not enough to drop a few thousand Euros on." Spencer's lips curled up into a grin.

"Gabriel said he thought you would learn fast Marinette, now I can see why." He looked over to Adrien, love and admiration written all over his face. "I'd hang on to this one if I were you Adrien." The blonde slid his arm around his girlfriends back.

"I have every intention too." He beamed, bending his head down to kiss the top of her hair, unaware of footsteps walking through the door behind them.

"I'm glad to hear that Adrien." Gabriel reached out a hand to shake with Spencer. "So how have you all been getting along the last few days while I was in London?"

"Like a house on fire." Spencer said, slapping Adrien on the back and looking up at him. "I still can't get over how big you are now. You know I tailored your first suit when you were just a wee little lad." Spencer said, holding an open hand down about waist height. "You went with your parents to Milan for your first fashion week, you remember that one Gabriel?" Adrien blushed a little as his girlfriend giggled at him. Gabriel nodded, his heart clenching a little at the memory.

"And how have you settled in Marinette? I hope Adrien hasn't been too distracting for you here in the office." It was Marinette's turn to blush this time.

"Of course not Mr Agreste." She said, trying to read his face. If it was one thing that Marinette had learned over time, it was that Gabriel Agreste was a man of few expressions. "We've been very productive and I have so many ideas for this Autumn campaign." She casted her eyes over the desk that looked like she had been there three years, not three days. "I'll be sure to clean up my mess at the end of the week." Gabriel waved his hand around.

"No need for that Marinette." He said in his usual monotone. "I'm sure you will continue to make good use of the space after this week." Adrien stepped excitedly towards his father.

"Does that mean Marinette gets the internship?" To his surprise, his father shook his head.

"No, she won't be starting as an intern." Gabriel replied flatly. Marinette could feel herself physically deflating and Adrien put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "You must understand Marinette, in light of your relationship with my son, it would be inappropriate for you to work here as an intern." Marinette nodded her head slowly. She had expected as much, but had clung to the hope that things would have been different.

"Yes, Mr Agreste...I understand." She said quietly,wrapping an arm around herself, but Adrien was shaking his head, feeling affronted on her behalf.