Marinette slammed her phone down on the table. That was the fourth call today which wouldn't even give her the opportunity to present her designs. Damn Gabriel Agreste! For some reason he'd taken a dislike to her. Some how, during her adolescence she had managed to piss off the inspiring fashion designer who now have a personal vendetta against her. Heck he went as far as almost getting her expelled from lycée ten years ago.

Damn Gabriel and damn Lila. She felt the anger creep up on her from yesterday when she saw Lila with Adrien outside the coffee shop. At least Adrien seemed as cold towards her as she was. Wow, a similarity with stinky Agreste. She laughed at the nickname she'd just came up with. That would definitely hang around for a while.

Adrien. Why did the blonde haired bimbo keep creeping back into her thoughts. He's not the guy she fell in love with all those years ago. He'd changed, a lot. He used to be one of her closest friends, but now he was just an asshole. They'd arranged to meet up today to go through possible ideas for the bachelor/bachelorette weekend, however as Marinette didn't want to be eaten alive by rats she'd asked him, no wait change that, she'd told him he'd have to come to hers. There was no chance she would be stepping into his apartment.

She picked up her phone to ring the next distributor on her list. Fifth times a charm right? Within the matter of ten minutes she realised fifth time was not actually a charm and that she wanted to throw both her phone and all her designs out the window. She managed to gain a lot of custom from online orders hidden behind an alias name. For some reason no-one wants to deal with Marinette Dupain-Cheng, including all the small individual boutiques in Paris where she had been sending orders to.

She slammed the phone down again and growled. Actually growled like a cat. At that precise moment stinky Agreste had turned up at her door and was looking at her with a confused face. Marinette lived in a tiny two bedroom bungalow on the outskirts of Paris. It was small but it was all hers and she loved it. She could see his face looking through the window at her before signalling for the door. His face was questioning why she wasn't getting up to answer it while her face was questioning what the hell had he done to his hair.

She made her way to the door to open it for Adrien and stilled. His new haircut was different to anything she had ever seen him have before. Short round the sides and textured on the top. She had to admit, it made his already sharp bone structure look like it could cut through even the strongest of materials known to man. He did have a stunning face, when he didn't look like a troll that is.

"Well Agreste, I think you've made your way back up to an eight." Marinette opened the door fully and then turned around making her way into her kitchen.

"I take it that was an invite in?" He remained in the doorway. He'd been brought up properly, he wasn't just going to waltz inside without an invitation.

"Doors open isn't it?" Geez, this girl. Sorry, not girl, she doesn't fit that anymore. This woman was infuriating. He stepped inside and shut the door behind him. Giving a huffed laugh as he made his way to the back of the house where Marinette had disappeared.

He took notice of everything around him. It was so Marinette; pink and white walls with a light wooden flooring. It was crisp and clean, polar opposite to his apartment. As he stepped into the back of the house he was met with a delicious smell emitting from her oven.

"What you baking?" He asked, he turned and came face to face with her rear. Her head was currently positioned in the fridge, and her ass was point straight towards him . He tilted his head to one side. He never found leggings sexy on a woman but there was something different about Marinette in them, they clung to her is such a way he felt his hormones bounce around his body. He was intrigued, so he took a slight step forward to grab a closer look.

"Cookie and croiss ... argh!" She turned around and almost crashed into Adrien's muscular physique. The fright knocked her off balance sending the two bottles of water she was holding straight into the air. Adrien's quick reflexes managed to grab them both, however he wasn't quick enough to catch Marinette as well. She landed on her bottom on the floor, her long bangs falling into her face.

As she puffed her hair out of her blue eyes Adrien started to laugh. She was mad for about ten seconds before joining in. Then he finally got the first complete look at her. Her snuggly fit leggings were joined with an off the shoulder Jagged Stone tee, and when he said off the shoulder it pretty much as revealing as hell.

"Errrmmm... Princess. Your top." Marinette looked down and squealed.

"I suppose we're even now?" Adrien put his hand out to help her up. The indecisiveness was there, but she slowly placed her hand into his and took the help. As their hands met he felt something volt his body, and the way she removed her hand from his he guessed she'd felt it too.

He coughed and sat down at her kitchen table.

"So, any ideas?" He asked. His voice had suddenly turned gruff. Why was she having such an effect on him?

"Well, I know they want to make a weekend of it, so maybe a beach house? Or maybe even  Monaco?" Adrien looked up at Marinette. Monaco? Did she realise how much that cost?

"I must say it's a great idea, but do you have any idea how much that'll cost?" She couldn't help but feel like he was patronising her. Yes her job wasn't as successful as the rest of their friends but there was no need for that.

"Are you indicating I can't afford it?" He took the bottle lid off his water as he looked at her. How had she came to that conclusion? Did she think her was making a dig at her?

"I'm just saying that in general it's expensive."

"Listen, just because your fathers being an ass and stopping me from making the big time, I still make a decent amount from my online sales and commissions. No need to make me feel so inadequate to the rest of you." Adrien sat gobsmacked. Firstly, that's the second time someone had mentioned his father messing around with Marinette's business, and now she felt like she was inadequate. That was not what he was implying at all. What was it with women and them taking everything out of context.

"Mari, I never ..." suddenly the timer went off on her oven. "Saved by the bell." He grumbled to himself. They were meant to be getting things sorted for their best friends, not getting into arguments with each other.

She went over to the oven and pulled out the perfectly baked goods. The smell was divine, as always and he could feel himself practically drooling. Placing them on a cooling rack she realised what she'd said to Adrien had been out of line. She'd taken what he said the wrong way, but she wasn't going to admit that.

"So Monaco?" He said as she sat back down.

"Alya and Nino have always mentioned it, and I'm quite sure the rest of the gang will be up for it too." She stated, pulling out her pink notebook. Seriously, did this girl like any other colour but pink.

"Who's 'the gang'?" He asked.

" Oh you know; us four, Kim, Alix, Max, Rose, Juleka, Luka, Kagami ... "

"Kagami?" He questioned, eyebrows creasing. Oh yay, he can get his balls busted by two females instead of just one.

"Yes, Kagami. She's a really close friend of ours now." Marinette wrote the list down in her notebook.

"Just don't tell me Chloe is coming too?" He slammed his hands on the table and the temptation to say yes was overwhelming, but instead she laughed.

"Of course not. We do all have taste you know." She answered back. He sighed out the breath he didn't know he was holding. God Chloe, a thorn in his backside. He'd slept with her once in high school and she wouldn't leave him alone ever since. Even after these past seven years he thought she'd still tell everyone they were together.

"Leave the accommodation to me. I'll see what I can do." She nodded at him and grabbed the now warm delicacies she'd just baked.

"Want a croissant?" She asked as she devoured a cookie. He nodded and took one from the plate thanking her. There was something about watching Adrien eat which picked up her pulse. How can he still have this effect on her? She was a grown woman now dammit and she didn't have silly one-sided crushes.

"Cute place you've got here." He broke the silence surrounding them.

"Thanks, it's clean too." He groaned at her as he took another swig of his water.

"Next time you're at mine you'll see a difference."

"Who said I was ever coming round again?" He looked up slightly hurt by her words the thought of her not coming around again made him feel oddly unnerved. He looked up sadly, until he saw she was smiling at him. She'd always had a great smile, one you'd automatically smile back to. It's was obvious she'd said it as a joke. Now who's taking things the wrong way.

"Marinette, I need to ask. What's happening with my father?" Marinette's eyes opened wide. Had they always been such a clear blue.

"Your father? No, I don't know what you mean? Nothing ... why would you ask?" She was rambling. A clear sign of her lying. He decided to let it go for now and ask Nino later. Marinette and Nino had always been good friends so hopefully he'd have an answer for Adrien. It'd be easier than keep asking Marinette.

"Never mind." He continued to stare at her and instinctively she covered her chest again. She wasn't going to let this Lothario see her as his next meal. "So ... the house." He said again.

"Want a tour?" She responded, a glint taking over her eyes.

"Yeah, sure." They both stood up as she led the way. Each room was designed and styled in a very Marinette way. As they made it to her bedroom he gulped. There was something almost possessive and he had to ask.

"Do you errrmmm... Do you live alone?" He scratched the back of his neck.

"Yup," she said popping the 'p'. She looked at him curiously as he nodded. What the hell was running through his mind? And why did it give her a little thrill that he wanted to know?

The final room she led him to was her make shift studio/design room. Unsurprisingly this was the biggest room in the entire house. She really did have so much pride in her own work.

He walked around the room looking at the designs on the wall, the half completed clothing and the studio lights she had set up in front of a white backdrop. He couldn't understand how she hadn't made it into the big time yet. The clothes he was looking at were better than most of what he'd modelled or seen modelled. Touching a black hoodie he smiled.

"You make male clothing now?" He asked, examining the piece his fingers were just touching. It was the perfect cotton blend. Black with green trimming and a tiny paw print on the zipper.

She looked at him as he examined her work. This is the closest she'd ever gotten to someone major seeing her brand. Major as in someone linked to the fashion world that is. Although Adrien had stopped modelling for 'Gabriel', his fame in the sporting world had led him to front a lot of other clothing, perfume and underwear campaigns. Marinette can say honestly she has a copy of every magazine he's ever been on the front cover of, not that she would ever tell him that though. His ego was big enough.

"I've just started. I've done bits and pieces in the past but nothing too major. I want to ask Nino to model for me next week helping to advertise it. A lot of companies won't take my clothing seriously because I have no big names supporting it. Nino's one of the biggest names I know, well apart from Luka and, well, you so hopefully he can help me out." Adrien hummed, a little taken aback by what she said. Why was his name last? If anyone could help her it'd be him. After all he's the one with the fashion contacts, or at least he used to have fashion contacts. Without thinking too much he spoke.

"I'll do it." His eyes were still firmly on the item of clothing he was examining.

"Excuse me."

"I said, I'll do it. No need for Nino or Luka." She looked at him considering. He was handsome, and people all around the world were very interested in him. Plus with his links it might actually work. On second thoughts she wanted to do it herself, off her own merit. Not because Adrien used his name to help her.

"I wasn't asking you to." Marinette looked at Adrien again.

"You got me out my house, so see it as a thank you."

"So you admit, I am the reason you're back in the land of the living?" Marinette smirked.

"Yes, but don't keep bringing it up." As if becoming conscious of his time and place, he let go of the item of clothing and walked back to the door. As he opened it he turned around to look at Marinette. "4pm on Tuesday?"

"Sure."

"See you then."