7. Flashback: Part 3

Chloe Burgeois stood outside the school totally alone, as she had been for the majority of her life since... That day. She scanned left and right, hoping against hope that her father might actually make good on his words for once, and he'd be on time to pick her up from this crumbling old monstrosity of a school.

All around her that afternoon, people walked past, either parents picking up their children, or kids themselves starting their respective journeys home. She felt that every pair of eyes that glanced her way, every casual conversation she heard, every little stifled laugh, was focused on her. Just like she had been the victim of subtle ridicule inside all day long, now that behaviour had passed into the playground. She couldn't wait to escape from it all, the gibes, the smears, the sensation of feeling so small...

One day though, I'll have my revenge. I resolve to never make friends with any of these people for the shame and humiliation they've heaped on me today. I'll use everything within my considerable power to make their future lives as miserable as possible. The only two who'll be exempt from my wrath will be my darling Adrien, and the only person who tried to befriend me here soon after I arrived...

Chloe paused briefly to reflect on the current status of her relationship with Sabrina. After the whole unsavoury incident involving the eclairs, the glasses-wearing girl did ask a few questions as to why the heiress had acted in such a terse way.

The response from Chloe was that people of that stock sometimes need to be taught a lesson if they got too ahead of themselves, because words alone wouldn't be effective at dealing with their miniscule brains. Besides, sometimes it was fun to watch the underclasses squirm a little bit.

Sabrina seemed happy enough with this brief explanation, just as she seemed pleased with everything else the heiress did throughout the day. Chloe liked that. The less questions asked, the more they'd get on.

But how had Sabrina rewarded her later, for this sage advice? Abandoning her at the front gate and going off with her father for 'ice cream'. How incredibly selfish. She better have my homework ready first thing tomorrow, so she can begin to make amends for this outrage...

Chloe glanced, for the fifth time since class was dismissed, at her gold-plated watch. He was going to be at least ten minutes late. No surprises there, really... His oh-so-important meetings always seemed to overrun. She couldn't remember the last occasion they'd organised a Daddy-Daughter date that didn't have to be cancelled, due to his heavy schedule.

In the end, they'd just given up on trying to spending any time together. A goodnight kiss was the best she could expect these days. It's almost like he's trying to hide what happened by enveloping himself in work...

Suddenly, the glimpse of a certain person speeding past made Chloe snap to attention again. Blue hair, divided into two separate bunches, rushing to the pick-up area. Yep, it was her new sworn nemesis Marinette Dup-something, and she seemed to be in quite a hurry. If she did see the heiress standing forlornly by herself at the gate, she didn't pay her any mind.

Chloe had no idea why, but something made her follow Marinette to just around the corner, where a van was waiting. It was a cheap-looking model, the kind her limo always seemed to get stuck behind on the motorway. There was a logo emblazoned on the side reading 'Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie', and as the blue haired girl ran towards the front seat, two people stepped out to greet her. A large Frenchman and... A Japanese woman?

Chloe stopped for a minute to piece things together. No wonder Marinette was so funny looking. Couldn't her dad find a decent girl from his own country to marry, instead of heading all the way overseas to get one? Perhaps because he was so weird, just like his daughter, that no decent local female would have him. Oh, this was rich! She could have some fun with this...

Marinette had finished hugging her parents, and was just about to hop into the back-seat, when she saw someone approaching. Realising who it was almost immediately, she froze in mid-step, her eyes widening at the sight of the cruel girl from earlier advancing so brazenly towards them.

"Hello, Mr and Mrs Marinette!" The blonde falsely smiled at the two grown-ups. "My name is Chloe Bourgeois. You might have heard of me, I'm the daughter of the mayor. I'm also one of your daughter's new classmates..."

Taken aback for a split-second, Tom and Sabine looked at each other, then to Chloe. "Hi there, Chloe. Now don't you look smart..." Marinette's father was the one that broke the ice. "I had no idea that my daughter would make such a fancy friend on her first day. Those eclairs her and my wife made must have gone down a treat!"

"Yeah, they sure did..." Chloe continued to give off the fakest of grins. For some reason, Marinette obviously hadn't mentioned the specifics of the run-in they'd had earlier. Oh well, her mistake. "It was such a shame though, what happened, her falling over like that. Does she do that a lot at home?

"Oh yes, plenty!" Now it was Sabine's turn to speak. "In fact, when she was a little girl, she had so many boo-boos my lips ran dry from kissing them all better!"

At this point, both parents laughed along with Chloe, although hers was considerably more mean-spirited in tone. Marinette just blushed in shame, unable to decide whether to enter the fray, or stand there and hope against hope that her new bully would get bored and eventually go away.

After the joviality had died down, Tom thought for a moment, while leaning against the side door. "Tell you what, Chloe. I've just finished off some fresh macarons, which I'm sure are absolutely delicious. Would you like to come back to the bakery with us now, to sample one? I would love to get your opinion, as Marinette's newest friend..."

There it was. That dreaded word again, 'friend'. Chloe had to almost swallow her bile at the mere thought of such a thing being true. Deciding that she couldn't keep up this pretense for much longer, she shot a nasty glance at the nervous pigtailed girl nearby, before deciding to reveal her true intentions.

"No, I don't think so. I do believe I'll be dining on smoked salmon with steamed vegetables tonight, prepared by the star chef at my luxury five-star hotel, so your common fare won't really be necessary. There is something I'd like to know though, if you don't mind me asking. Your wife appears to be Japanese. Why did you choose her, and not someone else?"

Normally, at being presented with such an inflammatory question, the Dupain-Chengs might have been offended. But, thinking the query was just the innocent inquisitiveness of a little girl, their response was considerably milder, although there was an obvious air of discomfort from the family, especially from Sabine.

"Well, Chloe..." Tom tried to explain. "When you love someone, it doesn't matter where they're from, you just know they're the one. That's what I felt for my wife, so now we're together. And, by the way, she's from China, not Japan. I know it's an easy mistake to make, especially for someone of your age, so I hope you understand now..."

"Japan, China, who cares..." Now that the facade had ended, the true Chloe Burgeois was emerging. "It's not important to me. I must say though, her French is very good for a non-native speaker. Did she learn all that by herself? How cute! I also know now why Marinette is so weird-looking. Poor girl... No amount of make-up can hide that. Oh well, I have to go now... I think I see my Daddy's limo arriving. Good luck with your bakery, or whatever it is you own. Until my father runs you out of business, that is. Must dash, hugs and kisses!"

Chloe caught a brief look at the absolutely horrified expressions of both Sabine and Tom, as well as the sight of Marinette lean over to frantically whisper something in her father's ear. I wish I'd bought a camera with me. She spun on her heels to jog over to the side-door of the higher end vehicle which had arrived that very second to pick her up. Better late than never, Dad. At least you timed your entrance to perfection, I'll give you that...

The minute she opened the door, she knew what her father was going to say. His usual litany of excuses, probably rehearsed long in advance. "Oh darling." He put on his best puppy dog-eyes. " I'm so sorry to leave you alone here for so long. The meeting ran for much longer than I thought it would. One of the treasurers was sick, you see, and we had to..."

"It's okay, Daddy. I know you'll make it up to me." Even though Chloe was screaming inside, there was no point in getting mad now. Besides, her venting against her hated rival a moment ago had calmed her internal fires somewhat, and she was just desperate to get out of that grimy locale as soon as possible..."

"Excuse me, are you this young lady's father?"

Chloe heard a male voice at her back, and she stopped instantly upon hearing it. No, it can't be. He wouldn't dare...

Actually, he did dare. Marinette's father had taken it upon himself to pursue Chloe to her ride, and was now staring at the heiress in disgust, his mood of affability from earlier completely gone.

The mayor seemed a little confused by this unexpected encounter, but thinking it might be some kind of prospective voter, left his car to greet the man, while Chloe also turned to face the irate baker.

"Yes, I am he... Mayor Andre Burgeois, at your service. How can I..."

"You can start by doing something about your out-of-control daughter there! What are you teaching her at home?! She insulted my wife and daughter in the most horrible way, and what's more, from what I've just heard, purposefully tripped up my Marinette in front of the entire class, causing her to miss half her first day at school! What do you intend to do about this?"

The mayor's response to these allegations against his daughter provoked no more than a sigh, as Chloe remained nonchalent by his side.

"Is any of this true, my dear?"

"Of course not, Daddy. Marinette fell down by herself, and is only blaming me because she's jealous. As for the other stuff, he's just making it up. I'd never say anything like that. You trust me, don't you, father?"

"...Yes, of course I do, cupcake. Sorry sir, I can't help you. This is something you'll have to deal with yourself. Come, darling... Let us depart. I have a very special present waiting for my patient little princess when we return..."

"I love you, Daddy. And I forgive you for earlier"

"I love you too, sweetheart."

"WAIT JUST A SECOND..." Tom wasn't impressed at all with this turn of events, and went to take a step forward...

Until the sight of a pair of large goons in sunglasses, who were even bigger than he was, emerging from the limo at the first sight of any trouble, made him think twice.

The car doors were slammed shut, Jeeves revved up the engine, and the limo went on it's way...

But not before a cheeky little girl in the back was able to make plenty of lewd gestures to the stunned Dupain-Chengs, aimed at one blue-haired freak in particular.

Oh yes, life was good again.

...

"Whatever my Daddy's faults..." Chloe mused, as she finished off her story. "He's always been able to get me out of trouble. Not that I'm ever the one at fault. Honestly, the amount of people that have it out for me, because of who I am! Pure envy, of course. Ever since that day, he's done his best to protect me from those who would do me harm, just because they're not lucky enough to be me, especially that loser Marinette..."

Zzubo was strangely quiet. She'd landed on the other side of the bed in the middle of the second part of the tale, and seemed deep in thought.

"Not got anything to say, huh?" Chloe snorted. "Well, I must say, that makes a nice change. If it's all the same to you, I'm going to sleep now. You've already taken up enough of my time tonight. We can discuss what I'm going to do with you tomorrow. In the meantime, try and stay out of sight of the servants, and if you need any more nougats, I took the liberty of ordering an extra bag. It's inside that cupboard there. Just eat them quietly this time, 'kay? Goodnight, Zzubo. "

As Chloe put on her sleep mask, and turned off the light, Zzubo continued to sit there, brooding.

A while later, she reached a decision. She turned to stare at her new owner, who by now was well into dreamland, to make a silent vow.

It all starts tomorrow, Chloe Burgeois. I hope you're ready.

I am.