There were many people scattered across the streets and their words all jumbled together into a chatter. They each made their way around an overwhelmed young woman who held a tray of coffee in one hand and a phone to the ear in the other.

The concrete was cracked and broken through, causing her to stumble ever so often.

"Yes, yes I know Mrs.-" she closed her eyes as her face winced, you could tell the other end of the phone would not let her finish her statement.

"But Mrs. Bourgeois I- yes, I know, but Mr. Agreste said-"

"Yes, of course. Goodbye Mrs. Bourgeois."

She dropped the phone from her ear and clicked the red, circular button to end the call. She let out a sigh as she placed the phone in her skirt's pocket.

Gabriel Agreste. The world's biggest fashion icon, right next to AB Fashions. AB Fashions was the place where Marinette worked, although she questioned herself almost daily on whether she should have left or not...

Gabriel and Audrey had become likely rivals in the industry, but Gabriel was never one for the tension... but for the anger it could arouse. And just like his assumptions, it had brought about many akumatized victims. He was smart, but Audrey had a plan to end the back and forth competitiveness.

Marinette.

A fresh, bold sense of fashion and a new perspective to add to her team. This was the reason Marinette... left.

"Ok, Marinette. Today's the day. Don't. Mess. Up." she told herself, reassuring that she would succeed. She tucked her shoulder bag under her arm as she patted it to make sure the case of designs was still there. "You can do this, you can do this, you can do this..."

----

There it was. The entrance to AB Fashions; she had never actually been inside, she only ever worked from the penthouse Audrey had given her, those months ago.

She stood and stared at the large, white-framed glass doors. This was it.

Either Audrey loves her designs and it puts Gabriel's latest Spring Fashions to shame, or...

No. She's gonna make it, no ors or ifs.

She walked towards the giant doors, taking deep breaths. The doors opened automatically, a good thing in her case.

----

"Dupain-Cheng! About time! Did you bring my French Vanilla coffee with the hazelnut creamer?"

"Yes, extra hot." Marinette jumbled her belongings until they eventually left her arms and rested on the table. "I brought the sketches, but I was wondering if-" Marinette paused as she struggled to pull the leather-like briefcase from her bag.

"Oh yes, yes. Now! Let's get ready to showcase your ideas, Milly- er uh, Marinette."

"Uh yeah, but I was just-"

A soft yet distinct sound echoed through the large, modern room; a picture of the Agreste logo came across the large screen stationed in the middle of the back wall.

"Gabriel?! Why would he need to video call on such an occasion?" Audrey shouted with her typical sass in the back of her words. She pulled her glasses to the tip of her nose as her eyes scanned the screen.

"Just accept it, let's see what this nuisance needs of me."

A man who walked about with a tablet and clipboard swiped quickly on his small screen and looked up, straightening his posture. A loud beep came across the room as the live feed of Gabriel took up the surface.

"Hello, Mrs. Audrey Bourgeois. I see the young girl with pigtails has come to work with you. How... exciting."

"Well yes, her talent is far beyond what you would expect, Gabriel. In fact, she has brought some new designs here for examination." Audrey glanced over to Marinette as she finally brought the briefcase loose of her side bag.

"How about you stick around to see your defeat, Gabriel, hm?"

Marinette looked up from her designs as she felt her words scrambling in her mind. "Well I wouldn't- I uh wouldn't say defeat, per se, Aud- Mrs. Bourgeois,"

Audrey looked to Gabriel, ignoring Marinette's statements.

"Please do join us, Gabriel."

"Of course, as long as I get front row seats. You know how I am, Audrey."

Audrey released a slight giggle as she smirked, "Of course, Gabriel."

----

"I hope you don't mind, but my son will be joining us, as he is a model."

Adrien sat there next to Gabriel, having a shy grin on his face as he waved, but the moment he saw Marinette he lit up.

"Marinette! Hi!" he let out, as he leaned excitedly closer to the camera.

Marinette squinted as she looked closer at him, her confusion spoke clearly to him. How did this famous model from Paris know her?

"Hello-- Mr. Agreste..." she stared into his green eyes, suddenly looking away to her side and then to her designs.

She lifted the sketches to her eye level, taking a deep breath. Once she gave them a good look, she set them gently and flat against the smooth, white table.

"Here are the- I mean, my designs,"

She had laid out about 7 concepts on the surface, each having the corresponding color of a light pink shade to them.

Marinette held her breath as she held her hands tightly behind her back.

Adrien's eyes bolted across the screen looking over each sketch, "Wow, Marinette! It's-"

"Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous! Light pink? That was last season! The new trend is butterflies!"

Gabriel felt a rush of emotion hit him, his face forming a devilish smirk as he rose from his seat, whispering under his breath, "It most certainly is."