The Deal

1

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"Please, mom! Why can't I go?" Emma Dupain-Cheng begged. Her mother, Marinette Dupain-Cheng glared at her daughter, for this was the hundredth time Emma had asked to go to the fashion show. There was just one problem with that though.

   "You know why I don't want you to go," Marinette replied, continuing on fixing a hole in Emma's favorite cat shirt. The young bluenette huffed, "No. I really don't know the real reason why you don't want me to go! You always make up different excuses for why I shouldn't go!"

   "Emma, please just go to bed. I'm sure we can do something else for your fifteenth birthday tomorrow. Besides, I can't afford any tickets to the show, it's too expensive," Marinette said, feeling a headache starting to form. Emma uncrossed her arms and sighed in defeat.

   "Fine," She said then kissed her mother on the cheek, "Goodnight, mama."

   "Goodnight, kitten," Marinette replied, feeling guilty for hurting her daughter. Emma always dreamed about attending an Adrien Agreste fashion show and never asked for anything else.

   Adrien was Emma's idol and role model for as long as Marinette could remember. The young teen always wanted to meet him in person.

   Yet, there were some...complications with that.

    Marinette sighed and set the shirt aside for the night. She had work early in the morning and a long day ahead. It was tiring work but kept them stable.

The woman went to her bedroom, pausing at her daughter's door for a moment and feeling her stomach twist. She continued down the hall until arriving at her room and turned in for the night.

   The next morning was quiet as Emma gave her mother the silent treatment before heading to school. Marinette grimaced before cleaning up breakfast and leaving for work.

   Emma arrived at school a little late and slumped onto her seat tiredly, out of breath from running. She rested her chin on the surface of the desk and moped as Miss Bustier took attendance.

   "What's got you so down in the dumps, dude?"

   Emma looked over at her best friend, Joly Lahiffe. They have been like sisters since childhood. Their mothers were best friends since high school and continued on even afterward.

   "My mom is just—ugh! I don't know why my mom has a grudge with fashion shows, let alone my idol, but she is so persistent about keeping me away from stuff like that. I don't even understand why! My grandpa has told me how much she used to adore fashion, fashion shows and had a massive crush on Adrien Agreste!" Emma ranted, groaning.

   She continued, lowly, "Now, she makes up excuses and lies just to keep me away!"

   Joly pursed her lips in thought before suggesting, "Maybe something happened in your mom's past that she doesn't want you to know."

    Emma sighed, sitting up in her seat and nodded her head in agreement. She just really wanted to know the actual reason instead of being lied too. It hurt knowing that her mother was hiding things but there was no other explanation.

   Little did the two friends know, another set of ears overheard them talking and glanced over her shoulder.

   "Charlotte Kurtzberg."