Chapter 1

Why me?

"Hello, my name is Marinette."

"Why have you come for this job interview?"

"I am inspired by your work and would like to study off of you. It would be a great opportunity to see and learn new and exciting things. I've studied fashion for almost six years now, so I do have experience in the field."

"I didn't get the job", Marinette said to her friend, Alya, while resting her head on her hand. Alya brushed the depressed girl's hair. Marinette had recently graduated from college with a degree in fashion. And finding a job involving it was hard. She went place after place, and they all didn't accept her.

Alya was an enthusiastic reporter, finding a job wasn't that hard.

"Girl, I think you should go and open your own fashion company."

"But Alya!", Marinette said in a whiny tone, "Some of the biggest designers have at least studied under a famous one before. I don't want to be working for fifty years then start expanding my business around the world! I was thinking of getting a little headstart first."

"How about you just open a little shop and start selling clothes! That way famous people can start buying it and spreading your store!"

"It's not that easy Alya. I have to buy expensive material for those famous people. Regular people is just fine, but important people? Forget it."

"Don't you know that famous people are regular people too?"

"Fine. But where am I going to open the shop?"

"I know the perfect place", Alya answered with a smile.

Marinette jaws fell open when the agent told her how much the building rent was. "$20,000 a month? That's crazy! How am I going to pay for this?", the dark-haired girl covered her face with her hands. Alya had dragged her to her friend, who apparently sells houses and buildings. The mixed girl knew it would be expensive, but how is she going to get the money for paying the shop? Indeed it was a very nice interior, with a beautiful balcony and two floors. There was a nice workroom upstairs and a large space to sell her designs.

"And on top of that I would have to hire workers! I know you don't know a single thing about fashion!", she said to the her friend. "I doubt you have a friend with a fashion college degree!"

"That's beside the point. Just get a loan or ask for some money from your parents! I could help too."

"I don't like asking money from other people! It would be so embarrassing!"

"Um, hello? I don't really have all day here", Alya's friend butted into their argument. "I have a couple still debating on a house. If you need a call you know my number. I suggest you think over it a little while. It's hard for somebody to buy something this big you know?", she winked and lead them both outside.

"You know Alya, starting a business isn't that easy."

"You don't think I already know that girl? It's okay, you have all your friends to support you. I know real talent when I see it."

"Thanks, but if you have not noticed, most of our friends are still trying to get a stable job."

"Just ask your parents. I think they'll be fine with it. They're pretty chill."

"$20,000? Isn't that a bit much?", Marinette's mother said after the girls broke the news to them. The parents gave each other uneasy glances. "Yeah, but it's a huge building! You guys know how dedicated I am to designing!", the girl complained.

She knew shouldn't sound desperate, it is kind of rude to ask for money. "I would get a loan, but I don't know how much clothes and stuff I would sell before - I don't know - three years? I can pay you guys back." At this time, the girl was practically begging on her knees. She already had to pay back her tuition for college, her parents said it was fine, though she promised herself that she would give back. It wasn't exactly cheap. Her family only owned a small bakery after all.

"We'll see, our shop is already on a tight line. After you went to off to your fancy school in England, it hasn't been very busy. Lots of people have been moving to the states. George is already complaining about the money we haven't paid back."

Marinette started to get worried. Her parents never mentioned anything about losing money. When she was in school, her and her friends always use to hang out after school and eat the delicious food her parents had baked. Did she pay them for the food then? Why didn't she? She never thought they would start losing popularity.

"A new bakery opened a few blocks down. They have a professional baker. Went to school and everything. I even heard he was on TV a couple times. I think we should start sponsoring or advertising soon", her father explained. "What's his name? Ivan or something?"

As much as she likes her childhood friend, she still wished he could've moved to somewhere else in France.

"How about my aunts and uncles? Do you think they will be willing to help?

Aunts and uncles specifically on her mother's side. They live in a big house in China, signifying that they're really rich. Her cousin is a singer, but she has never met the guy. Even when she asked her mother would say, "I don't think you would enjoy the music he plays. You like more poppy music don't you?" Marinette really does want to meet him, but she only knew basic Mandarin. Barely enough to be able to ask her aunts and uncles.

"I don't know... you know I don't like asking stuff from my sister", the women said scrunching up her face with the thought of her older sister in mind. Her sister married a rich businessman and she married a lowly baker. They always try to compete on who had the better lifestyle.

Marinette walked back to her small room in the attic. "First things first", she thought in her head, "I need a business plan."

She grabbed out a new notebook (One from when she visited Taiwan) and started jotting down all the things she needs for her new business.

Marinette's Magasin De Mode

She crossed that out. Too long.

After a few minutes of not coming up with anything, she decided that was the best choice. She wrote it again.

1. Hire workers

2. Advertise

3. Online shop

4. Get money for the shop

5. Buy new fabri-

"Marinette! We have some important guests!", her mother sang through the small house. "Coming!", her daughter yelled back. She ran down the stairs leaving her notebook on the table.

She smoothed out her light pink skirt, the one she wore for the interview in the morning. Then she walked through the living room door. Her jaw dropped open (again).

"Is that Gabriel Agreste?", she practically squealed. As one of the most prominent people in Paris, it is hard for people not to notice him. Right beside him was his model son, Adrien Agreste.

The boy has been in a few television dramas before. So it is kind of not hard to recognize him. Almost every girl swooned after him. Alya has done many reports and interviews with him. And she described him as, "Kind of a brat off camera."

"Yeah, me and this big guy used to go to the same high school! Crazy right?", her father put his large arm over the other mans' shoulder.

"You. Were. Friends. With. Him. And. You. Didn't. Say. Anything?!"

"I could barely recognize him! He was chubby dude back then! We lost touch after school ended." Gabriel stuck out his hand to shake, and when the girl touched his hand, she was jumping from happiness.

"So why are you here now?", Marinette asked the older man. Adrien on the other side had somewhat of a bored expression on his perfectly beautiful face. It was weird not seeing make-up on him.

"Well. After I found out that Gabes here had changed his name to his mother's maiden name, it wasn't too long to connect the dots."

"So you just randomly called him while I was just upstairs?"

"No, it was before you got home. We were talking for a few hours."

"AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?"

"You were complaining when you got back, I didn't know how I could squeeze this in with your constant whining." Marinette was already devising a plan in her head. She could be part of his company! Then she could finally get the money for her own shop!

"And since you're having, um, money troubles, we were going over some things for your new business", Mr. Agreste explained. "We were thinking if you would like to work under my company or we could give you some money to start up."

Marinette was stunned.

"But there is one catch."

"I would do anything! Thank you, thank you, than-"

"You have to marry my son."

"Ma-ma what now?"

I am really getting bored with Smile, it really doesn't go on a straight path (Like there isn't an actual plot). So I am going to write this (at least) 10 chapter story instead. If I don't update for the next few weeks it's because I am studying for finals. Please leave a comment if you want me to continue on with this story! I appreciate the feedback! Do you guys like this format? Because I think it looks a lot nicer this way. Another note: I did barely did any revising.