Marinette found herself seated across from Adrien and wished she was with anyone other than him.

They had finally decided that the event would be held in the top Ballroom in Paris. Marinette had only seen pictures online but was convinced it was perfect, even if it was Adrien's idea.

Now here she was debating with him why snow is better than cliche red and green.

"We're trying to upstage the Bourgeois. Why would we do the same theme they did?" she argued.

"To prove we can do it better!" Adrien didn't know why he was trying with Marinette. It's obvious by now that he hates his guts and won't listen to a word he says.

"Okay. But we want people to do a double take. And I'll be dead if I let you ruin this thing just so you can prove a point to Chloe."

Adrien's mouth opened and then closed again. "This has nothing to do with Chloe Bourgeois."

"Really?" she said, faking surprise. "I thought you two were dating since you're both rich and snobby people who love to spread rumors and ruin people's lives."

Why must she always bring things up but never elaborate?

"For the last time, I didn't do anything!"

"Did I say that? No!" Marinette crossed her legs. "You know I'm right. We are doing winter wonderland."

"Fine. It won't be my fault when people start asking where the Christmas party is when they're supposed to be standing in it."

"Grow up!"

Adrien wanted to shout, scream, and yell at her but managed to conceal his anger and annoyance with a slight tick in his jaw.

"If we're doing a more wintery theme, what would it look like?" he questioned calmly.

Marinette raised an eyebrow at the words but pulled out her plans anyway. She laid out pictures and sketches of what her brain was imagining on Adrien's desk, hoping he wouldn't rip them, as she didn't have a second copy made yet.

"Well?" She wondered what he was thinking in those several moments of silence.

"It's not half bad, considering it was you who came up with it."

Marinette didn't take the bait. Instead, she pulled up several photos on her laptop showcasing intricate three-dimensional paper snowflakes and crafted table toppers.

That's what Pinterest was for.

"I was thinking something like these, you getting my vibe here?"

"Yes," he murmured. Marinette acted indifferent to his words; her eyes sparkled.

"Also, didn't your father say that we were supposed to present our pitch for the gala for approval on Monday?"

Adrien knew that she knew the answer to the question but answered nonetheless.

"Yep. And you're making the slide show presentation." Adrien knew she wouldn't allow him to do it if he had asked.

"Why me? You do it! I have to come up with some ideas for the fashion line. I don't have time to make an entire presentation, too," Marinette protested.

"I suppose I can do it, then." Adrien couldn't hide his smirk. Reverse psychology was always the way to go when it came to the likes of Marinette.

"I'll get some copies of these for you since I'm sure you'll need them," Adrien said, slipping the printouts into a folder.

"Don't think about ruining those," she threatened. "You've ruined enough things in my life."

"I can't feel bad for you, Dupain-Cheng. How can I when I've done nothing to you?"

Marinette pointed at him. "No. You've done nothing for me or anyone else for that matter."

The amount of money he had once spent on her, the amount of his time and attention she got, and now she was saying he had done nothing for her at all?

"Oh? Do all of those gifts, all of those dates mean nothing then?"

"I..." Marinette didn't want to appear ungrateful for those wonderful moments but she knew deep down none of it was real. That he was using her.

"I did try my best, princess. Really, I did. But something happened and..."

"And you turned to the dark side."

Adrien sighed and stood up. "I don't know what you want me to say. There was no dark side. It was just you, me, and some great memories. Why did all of it have to disappear?"

Marinette said nothing and Adrien tidied his desk. "I'll see you tomorrow. I'll need those designs by Monday so I can add them to the presentation."

Marinette felt a strange solemnity between them at that moment. A heavy burden. A Secret

Adrien was generous, considering he was giving her until Monday to finish the sketches. His father would've demanded them the next day. She didn't read too much into it as she stepped into the adjacent room.

She was sure that Adrien was watching her but didn't care.

This was to be her office. It was bare, save for a decent-sized desk and two white filing cabinets.

"I don't know what my father sees in you but..." Adrien took a key off a large ring and handed it to her contemptuously.

Marinette felt the full weight of what the small key symbolized. She was unlocking a new chapter of her life, one where she was going to be the top dog, besides Adrien, in the company.

Although Adrien being her future employer didn't dissuade her, it dampened her good mood.

"Is there a time I must be set up by?" Marinette asked, mentally plotting how and where she'd organize things.

Adrien had an idea and she wasn't going to like it. "Father said by midnight tonight."

The bluenette spun around, eyes widened slightly. "Midnight? Tonight?"

"Yes. I should hope you don't have any plans this evening."

She didn't have an—"Shoot! I have a date tonight!"

Adrien's smile grew when he realized that he was stopping Marinette from spending time with Luka. That garbage musician.

Okay, maybe not garbage but he's still icky...

"I'm sorry but sometimes we don't get to do the things we want. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some work to get done, as do you." Adrien went back to his desk and started reading through his ever-growing stack of mail.

Marinette walked back into his office and grabbed her things. "I'll see you soon, I guess. Yay."

She quickly departed, leaving Adrien there to wonder whether he was dreading or looking forward to her coming by later.

********

A few hours later, around four 'o clock, Marinette came upstairs to Adrien's office carrying two wooden crates filled with office supplies, books, and files, as well as smaller cases filled with pens and pencils.

Her shoulders sank when she saw Adrien there going through some letters. He looked up from what he was reading and saw her struggling to carry the boxes but didn't move to help her.

Such a jerk.

"What? Disappointed to see me?" he asked, a sparkle in his eyes.

"Very," she grunted. "Could you lend me a hand?"

Adrien stood up with a sigh and took one of the crates from her arms. "I can't believe the great Marinette Dupain-Cheng is asking for help."

"Well, I'm only human, after all. I'm not perfect."

"You sure act like it. I mean, insulting those above you as if they are always in the wrong...sounds like you think of yourself highly to me."

Marinette sent a glare his way and walked into what is now her office, heaving the crate onto her new, modern desk. Adrien set the second crate down and moved out of her way as she began to unpack them.

"That's a lot of stuff," he commented.

"Yeah, well this is only half of it. Thanks to your father, I'm missing a date. I barely get any time off and work so many extra hours. The one time I want to have a free night with someone I love, he makes it so that I have to work all evening."

Adrien felt slightly bad for lying to her. Slightly.

"If you'd allow me to help, I'm sure you could still make it out in time. It's only 4:23. What time's your date?"

Gah! Why are you trying to help her, Adrien?

"Pardon me, but are you offering to help me?" she asked, her eyes wide in mock surprise.

"Is that a crime? I may be the bad guy in your mind, but that doesn't make me a bad guy." He opened the crate he carried in and began to unload the supplies. Adrien couldn't tell if she was happy for the help or annoyed he was there.

Probably the latter.

"So what did you have planned with your stupid boyfriend?" Adrien kept his eyes trained on the desk, knowing that if he looked at Marinette, she'd want to slap him.

"We were going to go to this really nice and expensive restaurant he managed to get a reservation for but since I'm stuck here—"

"Did you tell him to cancel?" he asked quickly.

"No, not yet. Although I probably should..." She grabbed her purse and dug around for her phone. Adrien stopped her, with both her thumbs hovering over her keypad.

"No. If this date is really that important to you, I can go speak to my father."

"I can't ask you to do that, Agreste. What would Gabriel think? And how do I know you won't try and make me look bad?"

Adrien raised his right hand. "I promise I won't if you promise you won't be such a grouch."

"Me? You're calling me a grouch, you Scrooge?" she replied, a glimmer in her eyes. Marinette almost caught herself enjoying his company before she remembered this is Adrien Agreste, her worst enemy; a backstabbing, traitorous liar.

Don't fall for it again.

But her heart never did listen to her mind. "Would you really do that?"

"If you promise not to be such a grouch," he chuckled, "then yeah."

"Okay, I promise. Thank you so much Agreste!" She hurriedly grabbed her purse and ran out the door, hoping to catch a taxi to make it to the bakery in time for her date.

"I don't know what I am doing anymore," Adrien said to himself with a sigh.

A/N: I wrote two chapters today just for you to make up for no updates on Wednesday :) See you in three days! I wanted to let you know that due to my studies in school ramping up updates will now be once or twice a week instead of three or four.

Bug Out!

-Relreal