No one wanted to get picked to help Gabriel Agreste with his next project.

Some say that it's all a game; a test to see which designers he should cut and which he should keep. There were whispers among the employees that a new, foreign designer would be joining them and many of them tried to remain as invisible as possible for the next week while others would try to be seen, going out of their way to do extra work.

Marinette wasn't sure what was in store for her. Certainly it isn't as big of a deal as the others make it, right? She sighed as she put her head on her desk, trying to ignore the buzz of chatter surrounding her.

"I'm sure he's just trying to find someone to marry his son," one of the designers, Cerise, said. "Adrien is coming of age and the best option is, of course, moi because I am the best designer here."

"Are you sure about that? You have a lot of nerve to think that someone as rude as you would be selected."

Marinette lifted her head when the talkative women went quiet. Lila Rossi sauntered into the room, a bright, fake smile plastered on her face.

"Good afternoon, ladies," she said. "I see you're all hard at work."

Everyone except for Cerise scurried back to their workspaces and Marinette rolled her eyes. While Lila had some power in terms of manipulation, she couldn't get them in trouble for talking. Tattling was frowned upon so if Lila were to do this, she'd be shunned by her fellow coworkers. There must be something else up her sleeve.

"What were you all talking about?" Lila offered a tight smile.

"Gabriel's next project, one of which I will be chosen for," Cerise bragged. "How could I not be picked to lead this next campaign?"

Marinette failed to hold in a groan. Why must all these people be so childish?

"What a coincidence! I just came back from his office and accepted the job offer to be the lead model." Lila lowered her voice in a conspiring tone. "Did you know they have a list of designers made? It's interesting to see who will be going on the team."

The girls lean in, listening attentively. It was no surprise that Lila would claim to have this information and Marinette found herself straining her ears to hear as well.

"Who was on the list?" two of them asked in unison.

"Well, I didn't see all of the names, but one caught my eye..." Lila's gaze fell on Marinette and everyone turned to her, deadly looks in their eyes.

"Congratulations, Marinette!" Lila said with false cheer. Marinette felt her cheeks warm and was sure that she was blushing as she sunk lower into her seat. She got back to organizing the costs of some fabrics she'd need.

Don't listen to her. Lila knows nothing. It's probably another one of her ploys to get the others to turn against me.

But a part of her hoped that the snake was right. If she got this job, this opportunity, it'd be one step closer to getting that promotion she needed. Her parents were struggling to keep the bakery open with the taxes the government imposed on the middle class. She loved the bakery and would do anything to help her parents keep it running. Even if it meant working extra hours and dealing with her immature coworkers.

It was around the end of October when M. Agreste announced the team who would be in charge of designing the line for his next advertising campaign. He personally came down to the main floor and walked between the rows of cubicles himself, handing out envelopes to certain employees.

"Keep up the good work, and maybe you'll be seeing a promotion," he said to Marinette, causing her to quickly stand from her seat. In his hand was her Golden Ticket...

A spot on the team.

***

Marinette Dupain-Cheng furrowed her brows as she moved her pencil over her sketchbook in smooth, deliberate strokes. A rough outline of what is supposed to be an evening gown forms on the paper.

Since she joined the team, work had been hectic as she tried to outdo herself and her peers. Her parents were pleased she had moved up but told her not to overwork and stress over it. If she didn't get a raise, they were still proud of her. A few weeks into the project she found that her paychecks were a little higher.

This is a good sign. Did anyone else get more money?

She had decided that it would be unwise to ask for the fear that they didn't and started resenting her because of it. Her new coworkers were much nicer than the others and she quickly fell into a routine with them. Despite this, she still worried that they would turn against her and were like Cerise and Lila.

It wasn't long until all those fears dissipated as she grew closer with her partners.

"Do you think this should be orange or auburn?" Genevieve asked. She showed Marinette a detailed sketch of a beautiful fall dress. Marinette tilts her head and takes the pencil, adding more layers to the skirt and changing the neckline.

"With winter coming up, I think this would look better in a cool color, don't you think? Many girls are getting ready for the winter dances and this would certainly catch their eye in the windows and ads."

Genevieve's eyes lit up. "You're a genius! What if we lift the front a bit, leaving a little more flow in the back?" She quickly showed her what she meant and Marinette excitedly nodded her head in agreement.

Marinette knew that she'll be disappointed once the campaign ends. Her and Genevieve had become great friends, asking one another for advice on this or that. They made each other better designers. She could only hope that she'd get promoted to be working daily with these girls.

"Ooh! That'd look amazing with some beading!" Marinette points to the bottom of the simple jacket sketch that Camille was holding. The blonde woman had arrived in the department the same time that Marinette had and became quick friends with her.

"Oh, I wouldn't think it would. I was imagining a different stitching to add more to it. What do you think?" After scribbling something on the pad, Camille turned it around and Marinette's eyes widened slightly. It was perfect.

"You know, you're really lucky Marinette," Genevieve said, not taking her eyes off her work. "I've been here for two years and just recently got moved to work up here. You signed on, what, three months ago?"

A small thud came from across the room. Camille had thrown her sketchbook onto the polished tiled floor. "You're kidding, right?" She shook her head in disbelief. "I signed three years ago. It's like M. Agreste had forgotten I existed until now, when he needed a replacement."

"Well, he couldn't choose just anyone to be a replacement, so that means he's been paying attention. If I know anything about that man, it's that he knows who has skill and chooses only the best for his team." Marinette offered them a warm smile. "You both are two of the most talented designers I've seen. It's no wonder that you're here. I just don't get why he chose me."

Genevieve wrapped her arm around Marinette's shoulder. "Are you kidding, Mari? You are better than the two of us combined! It's amazing that M. Agreste has seen your talent so quickly."

"Is it true that you went to school with his son?" Camille asked. Genevieve sent a glare her way while Marinette raised an eyebrow.

"Don't listen to that gossip, Cam. Lila Rossi and her posse know nothing." Genevieve turned back to Marinette. "She has been spreading some lies that honestly made us," she gestured to her and Camille, "distrust you at first. But then we saw how genuine you are and so we figured Rossi was just jealous of you."

"Who wouldn't be, though?"

"Camille!"

Marinette laughed, surprising Genevieve. "It's alright. Yes I did go to school with him and Chloe Bourgeois."

"The mayor's daughter?" Camille asked incredulously. "You knew her?"

Marinette rolled her eyes good naturedly. In hindsight, it didn't make sense why one of the richest girls in Paris would go to a public school, especially if she didn't even do her own work and pay attention. She guessed it was so Chloe could be with her "Adrikins". Ugh.

Adrien Agreste.

One of the most fake, selfish, and stuck-up people she had ever met. Marinette can't believe that she had a crush on him back in school. How could she have been so stupid to be like half the girls in Paris and claim to have fallen in love with the most popular, and good-looking, young adult in the fashion industry.

What an idiot.

"So, what was he like?" Camille had forgotten about her sketches and was now leaning in. The fact that Camille was so interested in someone so rude annoyed Marinette, but she decided if her friend wanted answers, that's what she'd get.

"He was kind to others, especially me," she started in a disgusted tone. "But it was all fake. He got close to me to mess with my head. He betrayed me in a way I never thought he could."

Now Genevieve was the one intently listening for more details.

"So, you're saying that the richest boy in Paris was nice to you only so he could ruin your life?" Gen shook her head. "Sounds possible if you're being stereotypical, but don't you think you're blowing things out of proportions a bit?"

No, she wasn't. Not in her mind. She believed that it was all somehow one big ploy, that he had never actually loved her.

That she didn't still love him.

"I know what he did. Thanks to him, my name had been tainted. People at school would cast me suspicious looks and it wasn't until I overheard some of them talking that I realized Agreste had told everyone the secret I thought was safe with him."

Everyone had assumed she and Adrien had slept together after the dirt was out, and Lila managed to get the gossip to go from ridiculous rumors to ludicrous conspiracy theories, one of them which Marinette herself had to stand in front of the class and defend herself against.

Genevieve shifted uncomfortably. She wanted to ask Marinette about what caused all of that, but knew it wasn't her business. Gen just wanted to look out for her friend and help her see that some things are just mistakes.

"Ugh! I'd hate it if I told a guy I liked something personal only for them to end up sharing it with the whole school." Camille picked up her sketchbook and balanced it on her crossed legs. "I no longer have any respect for Adrien...even though he's insanely good-looking."

"He's not that handsome," Marinette mumbled.

Genevieve reached out and took Camille's sketchbook. "That was years ago, though. Don't you think Adrien has changed by now? Maybe it was all a misunderstanding."

Marinette already ran that scenario through her head dozens of times, but there's no possible way it could be a misunderstanding. He had spilled the beans. Period.

Instead of responding, she moved back to her work and the others did the same. Knowing Genevieve, Marinette had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time she'd hear about this.