As Marinette stepped foot into 'Agreste' for her first day as a designer nothing could wipe the smile off her face. She'd had an amazing night and now she was about to start her new amazing job.

Morning Princess, I hope you're first day goes well. Let me know if your boss needs a good talking too 😉 xxx

Marinette couldn't help but feel the fluttering in her stomach from Chat's words. Knowing she could grab his support whenever she needed it helped create a powerful glow around her charisma. She had Chat and he had her. There was no way she would let anything get in the way of her new found 'almost' relationship, and she was strong with that thought. Really strong, until she saw the bounce of beautiful blonde hair making its way towards her.

She studied over Adrien's outfit. He looked so good in a suit. Today's was navy with a duck egg blue shirt, complete with navy tie. He looked every bit the model he used to be. Marinette noticed how he was playing with his tie as he walked towards him. He looked ... nervous. She prayed he wasn't regretting his choice to hire her. It would kill her moral, and their friendship.

"Morning Mari, how you feeling?" His greeting came with each step as he moved to meet her. She noticed a glow on his face that wasn't there when she saw him the week before.

"I'm fine thank you, Monsieur Agreste. How about you?"

Adrien looked at her like she was an alien.

"No need to be so formal. Your position here is a high one. Just call me Adrien."

"Ok then, Adrien." She dropped him a wink as she continued to smile. They both laughed and she found herself enjoying the playfulness between them now she didn't worry about every single little move she made.

"Come on then, let's get you settled in your office and then I just want to go through a few different things for the designs before I'll need you to make a prototype." Adrien directed Marinette the way to her office, explaining how her list of today's activities will progress.

"Sounds great. I was wondering though, when did Agreste start making women's clothing?" Marinette had been thinking about this for a while. She had men's wear in her portfolio too, mostly what she'd designed for Adrien in the past, but everything seemed to be hinted at her woman's line. Not a hot spot for the 'Agreste' company.

"Since..." Adrien pulls his sleeve back and checks his watch, "five minutes ago."

As Adrien continued his stretched out walk Marinette spotted dead in her tracks. The company started making women's clothing today? As in she was starting it? Her head began to spin and she placed a hand on the wall beside her. This was a lot of pressure. A lot more than she expected.

"But ... but ... but ... you're trusting me? You don't even know if what I do is good?"

Adrien finally stopped and turned around only to notice Marinette was miles behind him. Hurrying back he crouched down to her trying to calm her breathing.

"Hey, look at me." She didn't respond so he tried again. "Come on Mari, please just look at me. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong is I think you're insane!"

"Why? Your work is amazing." How couldn't understand how Marinette's confidence was so different to that of Ladybug. She was amazing in all forms, why couldn't she accept that.

"You've never seen my work, Adrien. You've never inspected it, you've never looked at how my edging is, or my hand stitching, or - or - or anything." She was loosing it again, she could feel the panic rising in her body.

"That's where you're wrong. I own a number of items from yourself. All which matter quite greatly to me, and are exceptionally made."

"Items? What items?" Marinette's eyebrow quirked up in curiosity. What was he talking about? Wait! Her brain began to tick back to her obsessed teenage years. Did Adrien know? Had Alya told him?

"My favourite scarf, my bowler hat and my fifth name day present. The hats are stored safely, and I still wear the scarf as often as possible. It's in my office now. I just don't understand why you never told me." Lifting her head from its permanent position looking at the ground she stared into his beautiful eyes, studying each and every flicker situated around the iris.

"You were so happy when you thought it was from your father I didn't want to spoil it."

He moved in and wrapped his arms around her. She never realised Adrien was so snuggly, not that she was complaining. It was Adrien Agreste, everyone wanted hugs from Adrien Agreste.

"Now come on Miss Top Designer, let's get down to business."

Opening the door to her room she was shocked to see a massive bouquet of red roses. Adrien looked just as shocked and walked over to them, picking up the card.

"Someone has an admirer." Walking over to Adrien, Marinette grabbed the card out of his hands. She read it over before rolling her eyes and looking at her new boss.

"They're from you, you idiot!" She started to laugh before wrapping her arms around his waist. "They're beautiful Adrien, thank you."

"Im glad you like them but I'm not going to deny, I'm slightly offended by the idiot comment. Perhaps I should connect with HR."

Marinette started to laugh as she stroked the petal of a perfect red rose before moving around to sit at her desk.

"So Monsieur Agreste, what brings you to my office?" Marinette pulled her chair under the desk and rested her joined hands on the black glass table.

"Miss Dupain-Cheng, I feel we have a winning combination with some of your designs and I would like to get them into production as soon as possible. You see, at the moment we're only making millions, but I want to be making billions." He let out an evil villain laugh which was surprisingly accurate.

"It's terrifying how good a villain you would make." Marinette said as she pulled her sketch pad in front of her noticing the post it notes sticking out from everywhere.

"Apparently I was the best." Marinette's head shot to Adrien. The scariest villain ... Chat Blanc. No way! It couldn't be Adrien right? Regardless of what her papa and Alya have said, there is just no way.

Adrien saw the fear in her eyes and realised he'd most likely gone too far. Letting out a cough he came and stood round her side of the table and began to open the book. He knew the whole Chat Blanc thing terrified her. Eventually she'd opened up and told him, well she'd told Chat Noir the truth. That was the main catalyst to them holding onto their civilian identities.

Ladybug knew Chat was akumatised and it was something to do with the two of them being together. Only Hawk Moth would do that, obviously something triggered such an assault.

Adrien flicked through the book until he landed on the brown dress. She looked up at him and studied his face. There were so many similarities between him and Chat, that she thought maybe she just had a type, but her kind couldn't stop playing with the idea that Chat is Adrien and Adrien is Chat.

"This dress is phenomenal and I want to commission this one straight away. Nothing needs changing on it, it's already beautiful." As Adrien spoke he turned his head eventually locking eyes with Marinette. They glowed, they were seriously glowing at her. They were beautiful. He smiled causing crinkles to edge each of his eyes and she'd never found him more beautiful.

"Mari? What do you think?"

She shook herself out of the trance and looked down to where Adrien was pointing. The brown dress. The dress she'd designed based on her Guardian robe. It was a chocolate brown chiffon dress edged with a thin strip of gold and the Miraculous logo. Looking at it now, it was very similar to the new 'Agreste' logo. The right angle designs almost matched, as if this dress was designed purely for Adrien and his company. That must be the reason he wanted to market it.

"It's my favourite. I designed it whilst I was away and it just means so much to me." She stroked her hand over the page. She wasn't one to name clothing but this one she did. This one was a tribute to her old mentor.

"Has it got a name?" Adrien asked.

"Fu."

"Fu?" Adrien felt his mouth quirk. Of course it would be named after the man who bought them together. Here he is again, pulling them into this strange whirlwind. If there was such thing as red strings then there's would be undoubtedly attached.

"It's someone who was close to me. A mentor you could say. He meant a lot. He bought me to my best friend."

"Should I be jealous?" She burst out laughing at his words.

"So what do you want me to do? Does it need any changes before I start on it?" Marinette lifted her head to look into the eyes of her male companion.

"Not at all fair maiden. It's perfect just like you." He winked and Marinette could feel every blood vessel in her cheeks begin to tingle. This was so unlike Adrien, how was she going to work with this.

"Marinette, I ..." his intense green stare was broken by a knock on the door. They broke eye contact to look towards the door before looking back at each other.

"Come in." Adrien announced.

The door pushed open and revealed Janice. She walked in anxiously, seemily scared that she'd interrupted something between the two young adults.

"Sorry to interrupt Monsieur Agreste, Madam Dupain-Cheng but Mayor Bourgeois is on the phone. He wants to know if you'll be available to open the Christmas Market this Thursday, Sir."

"I'll come now and speak to him. Thank you Janice." They were left alone and Adrien sighed looking at Marinette.

"As if attending his Christmas Eve Gala isn't enough? Now I've got to attend the Christmas market." Adrien rolled his eyes and started to walk towards the door. "Please can you make a start on that dress. Ask Janice and she'll get you whatever you need."

And with that he was gone. With that he left her in midst of a mild panic attack. He was attending the gala? Why was she even questioning that? He was Chloe's oldest friend and he was famous, very famous. How was she going to cope? Adrien and Chat in the same venue at the same time, of course she'd been under the persona of Ladybug but still it was complicating her heart.

With a deep breathe she calmed her heart down. She'd worry about that problem later, but for now she had a dress to make.