It had been almost two weeks since it started with Elise, and even though they were meeting up to be 'papped' frequently, she hadn't even attempted to flirt with him since the evening at The Ivy. Instead, she'd been quizzing him about his girlfriend and asking to see pictures – it was a good job his phone was full of them.

She truly believed it, always fawning about how perfect they looked together, like they were made for each other... Where had he heard that before? Cue the eyeroll.

Marinette was still going out on her dates, and he had yet to inform her of the faux pas he'd got them both into. Luckily, it wasn't like Elise and Marinette were ever going to meet, so he had no real problems at the moment, except the huge one he was about to come face-to-face with.

Lana had summoned both him and Elise to meet her at The Shard for cocktails and a briefing. What she wanted to brief him about was anyone's guess. Pulling his hat further down on his head, he continued to walk in the direction of the hotel. He just hoped he wouldn't have awful hat hair by the time he arrived.

He stepped through the door and was met by a doorman asking him where he was heading to. The look on his face said he was ready to throw him out at any moment. No baseball caps allowed.

Adrien stretched up and removed the hat from his head, the doorman almost going into shock at Adrien's appearance. "Mr. Agreste, it's a pleasure to meet you! I'm a big fan."

Adrien smiled with a nod, not an uncommon meeting. "Thank you, it's always great to meet a fan. Could you direct me to the 'Aqua Shard'?"

The man almost skidded over on the shiny marble floors as he led Adrien to the lifts and pressed the buttons for him, saying a goodbye and waving all the way until the doors closed. Breathing out a sigh of relief when he was alone in the elevator, Adrien removed his phone from his pocket and pulled up the guys' group.

A group chat called: Paris' Finest with: Nino, Kim, Adri...

Received Message from: Luka
Meow-sterMind, when are you back in Paris?

Received Message from: Kim
Like he's going to come back now he's with Elise.

Received Message from: Luka
You know as much as I do, this isn't a real relationship!

Sent Message: Thanks Luk! I should be over within the next month, but it'll only be a short stay. Why?

Received Message from: Luka
I need your help setting something up for Zoé

Sent Message: Are you finally asking her out?

Received Message from: Luka
...I want to, I'm just a little scared she'll say no

Received Message from: Nino
YOU NAMED A GIRL! Seriously! Do I have to remind you both about the rules for this group! Take it to a private chat guys! NO GIRLS ALLOWED! and FYI...good on you, Luk!

Adrien flipped to the private chat with Luka, letting him know that he was 100% all in to help him romance his own Lady – as long as Marinette was busy. To go to Paris and not bask in the warm light of Marinette would be a killer. She was the main reason he flew back whenever he could, even if his friends still meant a lot to him.

Finally, the elevator slowed to a stop, letting him out at level 31 to the most romantic bar he'd ever seen. He'd been here once before, with Kagami, for the Peter Pan brunch (his choice, not hers), but that was during the day. At night it was something else. The London skyline lit up, complete with sparkling lights in the dark sky of planes preparing to land.

He looked at the class and décor and imagined Marinette in the red dress, walking beside him, With black heels and perfect red lips the colour of the dress. She would look a million pounds and every head would be turning to look at her, very much like the woman just walking in.

Elise, as always, looked like she'd rolled straight off the front page of Vogue, this time in a sleek full-length black dress with long sleeves to match. There was hardly any flesh on show but she still looked like a goddess. He looked at her hair and marvelled at the way it had been twisted and turned on the back of her head – a style he thought would look dazzling on Marinette, displaying her long, slender neck – his second favourite part of her, after her wide all knowing eyes..

"Adrien," Elise greeted, air kissing him on both cheeks.

"Elise. Looking as gorgeous as ever." He placed a hand on the small of her back and led her to a 4-seater circular table in the back of the bar.

He pulled out one of the chairs and allowed her to sit down, before moving around to sit opposite.

"Marc isn't coming...again! But Lana should be here any moment. I hope you won't mind if we cut this short tonight, I have a date." Her eyes glistened in the candlelight.

Adrien smiled with her. "Is this the third date?" Suddenly the sleek dress and updo style made perfect sense. Third date meant she was going for gold.

She nodded. "It is, and I'm sure you know what that means."

Her playful giggle caused him to chuckle. "Well, I hope it all goes well for you, El."

As the chatter continued easily, a waiter came to take their orders, an additional white wine being ordered for Lana. He checked his watch. She was really pushing it tonight.

A speedy click-clack of heels alerted him to the swift movements of someone coming their way, and there she was. Lana Bourgeois. A stern, serious look took over her face as she spotted them and made a beeline in their direction, a look which formed into a fake smile as she reached them. "Adrien, darling, looking as dashing as ever. And Elise...well just look at you."

As soon as Adrien had stood to his full height, he was sitting back down, Lana not wasting any more time on formal greetings as she downed the glass of wine and pulled out her iPad.

"The tabloids are loving you!" she announced, her fake nails tapping over the screen. "Both of you have an increase in interest and internet searches, and the public are trying to come up with some sort of ship name for you. At the moment we're pushing Eldrien, but Adelise is a close second."

She hadn't even looked up, instead typing frantically on her iPad with one hand and grabbing her phone from her bag with the other. "Marc won't be joining us tonight, Elise. Apparently his toddler has caught a cold."

Elise went to respond, only to be cut off by Lana's quick movement to down the rest of the glass and hold it in the air. She looked around, finding a waiter and summoning him over. "Anybody want anything else?" she asked, Adrien and Elise looking at the waiter and shaking their heads, before glancing at each other and smiling. This was surreal.

The fun was abruptly stopped by Lana's hands slamming down on the table and her eyes glaring into Adrien's. He shuffled back slightly, terrified she was about to tell him off and send him to the naughty step.

"The producers for 'Without Hope' have been in touch. Their interest has been really sparking over the past couple of weeks, so I think we need to play it up a little more."

"Play it up?" Adrien asked quizzically.

"Yes, play it up! We want you to take Elise to your home in Paris – show her around the area and introduce her to your nearest and dearest. It'll help solidify the seriousness of the relationship."

Elise frowned, her attention firmly placed on Lana. "But we haven't even released a statement to say we're a couple."

Lana puffed out air, causing her lips to raspberry. "Your interest has increased by 100%, Elise. Thanks to Adrien, everyone is eagerly awaiting your debut album. Just think what it would be like if Adrien showered you with gifts in the most romantic city in the world."

Elise began to nod, obviously willing to go along with this.

"But that's not all," Lana continued. "Whilst you're there we're going to plan a private boat trip where you will be alone, but noticeable, by the crowds - and Adrien can propose."

"What?" Adrien shot up straighter in his chair, kneeing the underside and knocking the wine over. "Oh, shit! Sorry!" He grabbed a napkin and began to dab the wet stain on the table before it could create Niagara Falls and fall over the edge and onto Elise's dress.

Engaged! It was one thing being believed to be dating, but to be engaged! No! No! No!

Waiters flocked around the table, mopping up the spills and getting them all new drinks, Adrien presenting his credit card (with a rather hefty tip) to cover the new costs – and ordering something to snack on.

"Adrien, this will be good for you. For you both." Reaching out, Lana placed her hands on theirs, one on Elise's and one of his. "Just think about it! Two of the sexiest people in the world are getting engaged. People will want to know all the details, from 'who' Elise will be wearing to who your best man will be – I'm thinking either Tom Holland or Zac Effron."

Lana let go as quickly as she grabbed them and started tapping around on her iPad again, completely unaware of the shock on Adrien's face. He didn't want Zac Effron to be his best man, and he most certainly didn't want to get engaged to Elise. Dating was one thing, but getting down on one knee to the wrong woman...not a chance in hell.

A waiter came over, complete with the appetisers Adrien had ordered. However, the hunger was gone, along with his patience.

"I – um – I don't think this is a good idea." Elise's quivering voice pulled Adrien back to the room.

"And why's that?" Lana said, her nails tapping harder on the screen.

"Because Adrien has a girlfriend."

Lana stopped and looked at Elise before turning her eyes onto him. He felt the prickle of a rather unpleasant sensation on the back of his neck, which was swiftly followed by damp hands as both women were staring at him – one in curiosity, the other in support.

Before he could think this through, words evaporated from his mouth just like all the liquid. "Well, actually Lana. She's not just my girlfriend anymore...we're kinda engaged!"