12. Day 1 Part 5

It was just as the lunch bell tolled that the idea struck Chloe, like a bolt of evil lightning. A plan so devious and nasty it stood out even by her nefarious standards. If it worked, it could set right a lot of wrongs and solve all her problems, both past and present.

The only bee in the ointment was that irritating little critter in her bag, who she'd never hear the end of from later on for her upcoming villainry. Oh well, she could live with the kwami's ire, as long as everything went well.

She picked up her mobile, to make the first of two calls. This was going to be fun, not to mention immensely satisfying.

...

All around the lunch hall, there were happy groups of young people chatting. Some with meals bought in from home , others content to partake of the fare made onsite. It didn't really matter which though, because mostly it was just a time to kick back after the stresses and strains of the morning's drudgery to unwind in a friendly, communal atmosphere.

That all changed soon after Miss Chloe Burgeois emerged onto the scene. With a contemptuous sneer for those with packed lunches, and an even bigger one for those resorting to the school menu, she swaggered into the room like a cowboy going into a saloon. Her ear was glued to a phone, and she seemed to be making the most effort possible to be audible above the general clamour of her surroundings.

"Yes, I'll be attending a very important function in just over a week, with the Prime Minster of Britain as the guest of honour, no less! But I want the real star to be moi! So, send me your ten most expensive outfits... And no, cost won't be an issue. My daddy is the mayor of Paris after all, and I have a blank cheque. Please don't confuse me with the pathetic riff-raff I go to school with, I won't be making up some lame excuse to return the clothes after a day. Even if I only wear the item once before throwing it out, I can afford it..."

At this juncture, Chloe cast a side glance at those present in the hall. Every single pair of eyes were trained on her, their owners having stopped their conversations to stare at the loud new arrival. Marinette's table in particular looked upset, with Alya and Nino along with the pigtailed girl also voicing quiet disapproval through their frowns. Only Adrien seemed to hold back, his mouth cast in an 'O', as if he was waiting to see what was going to happen next. Good, just the way I planned it. Now, I'll really put those paupers in their place.

"Oh, you will?! Thank you! Can you have them sent down to Collège Françoise Dupont, and when they get here, ask for Chloe Burgeois, please? I wish to model them in front of my peers, to see which one suits me the best. The more they reek of jealousy, the more likely I am to buy it...Huh? What do you mean you've never done anything like that before?! Listen: I'm the one that's paying you, so if you want my business you'll do as I ask and follow my orders. Understand? Good. I'll see you tomorrow, then. Don't be one minute late either, or I might have to spread a rumour around Paris about your shoddy service. I'm very influential in all the right circles, you know...Excellent! I'm glad we've reached a mutual understanding. Toodles."

With that she hung up, a blissful smirk plastered all over her face. "Did you hear that, everyone? A free fashion show for you all tomorrow, with the most fabulous of models... Yours truly! Come and gaze at the latest in haute couture that your kind can never afford, and let me do you the honour of helping me pick out my attire for the social event of the season! Sorry that none of you can go, apart from my Adrikins over there, but I'll try to have a good time in your absence. Well, thank you for listening to my little announcement. I'll let you get back to whatever slop you're eating, while I wait for my freshly prepared duck a l'orange I've just ordered to arrive. Oh, there it is now..."

As if she'd organised the cue in advance, a long-suffering manservant staggered in at that precise moment, carrying a large silver tray in his gloved hands. Chloe pushed him toward a central table, right in the midst of the other students. The plate was set down, and the lid lifted. Instantly, a glorious smell wafted throughout the entire room, as a meal fit for at least a lord was introduced to the world. A delicious, meaty looking bird, with no fat and plenty of succulent lentils to accompany it, had many a tastebud watering in there that day. Eyes were cast down throughout the hall from pupils who started comparing their own modest lunches with the heiress's minature feast unfavorably, the previous convivial air from before virtually gone.

"Thank you Colbert, you can leave now..." Chloe motioned her butler away without even looking at him. "And tell the chef at my five-star hotel that once again, he's outdone himself. I know you had to miss your lunch break today to bring this to me, but don't worry, if you ask nicely at the counter over there, one of those very attractive ladies in aprons will serve you some of their usual sludge before you depart. The fact the paint peels off the wall in here is just a coincidence, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the noxious gas emitting from what passes as food. If I'm wrong though, there are plenty of others who can do your job while you're off sick, so don't fret about me."

With that, the heiress daintily tucked a perfumed napkin into her front, before picking up her own personal knife and fork. She slowly cut a small piece of the duck, before plopping it in her mouth and preserving the flavour there for as long as possible, with accompanying raptuous sound effects, before swallowing. Without bothering to check, she knew by the silence of her surroundings that all attention was still focused on her, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

A combination of the sumptious aroma and Chloe's orgasmic response to her meal eventually had the desired effect: By the time she'd placed the tenth sliver of duck in her mouth, a mass walkout had already begun, unable to cope with the contrast of their own meagre dishes with the heiress's glorious banquet, as well as a general unwillingness to even share the same air with the show-off, stuck-up snob. The last four to leave were a disgusted looking Alya, Nino and especially Marinette, and Adrien, who looked as though he wanted to stay and say something, but eventually decided on following his friends.

Now the whole room was clear apart from the rich blonde, who having achieved her desired goal, stopped eating immediately. Without a word, she callously binned the less than half-eaten bird, before marching over to the kitchen counter to deliver the tray to the stunned dinner ladies who she'd insulted earlier.

She wasn't finished yet, either. "Wash that for me, and have it ready before hometime. Take special care with it... It's solid silver, and I guarantee is worth more than any of you earn in a year. One scratch, and you'll find yourself on the dole. In case you think I'm bluffing, remember who I am. I'll be back shortly. Don't screw it up."

And, with her nose in the air and a spring in her step, the heiress departed feeling as smug and self-satisfied as she ever had. Maybe today isn't turning out to be a total disaster, after all.

What Chloe didn't notice a moment after she left was her butler creep back into the room, to profusely apologise for his young lady's conduct, and to assure them they wouldn't have to polish the expensive tray at all, as that sort of thing was done by the hotel staff. He also tried to come up with a litany of excuses for her outrageous behaviour, including over-indulgence at home and missing parental figures, but he needn't have bothered.

Chloe Burgeois's ways were known to everyone in the building by now. But, thanks to her father's position and the protection it gave her, they were powerless to stop the heiress.

All they could do was accept it, and move on. Perhaps punch a pillow later, if it would help.

...

"Hey Chloe, wait up!"

Even in the middle of her celebratory saunter through the corridor, half-wondering why no angry kwami had come out of her bag to confront her as of yet, the heiress stopped to talk to the owner of that voice. After all, she always had time for her Adrikins.

What she didn't like so much was the blue-haired, pig-tailed girl who was following behind the love of her life, subtly urging him forward. Ugh. What does she want. Doesn't she realise what a moment killer she is...

"Adrien!" Chloe shrieked, ready to envelop her friend in another of her infamous hugs. "I'm sorry you didn't get chance to help me pick out some dresses today, but if you want you can join me tomorrow on the catwalk at school, while I'm modelling for my upcoming soiree. It won't be that different from your usual profession, so you should fit right in! We can work together, maybe you can even give me a few pointers..."

"No, Chloe!" Adrien's tone was so harsh, it even made the overconfident blonde pull back in shock, the arms that were ready to embrace the teenage boy in a hug, now flopping at her sides in surprise.

"Do you even know how much you offend people, sometimes?" He continued. "Do you purposefully set out with the intention of trying to making as many people hate you as possible? Because if so, I would say you've outdone yourself today. You might think everyone is talking about how envious they are of you for the stunt you just pulled, but you couldn't be more wrong. All they're saying is how angry they at having their meal ruined like that, and your rudeness not just to them, but to the staff too..."

"W...Wha?" Chloe sniffled, wishing she hadn't thrown out all of her tissues earlier to make way for a certain kwami in her bag. "You don't hate me too, do you Adrikins? Because I'm sure I couldn't live with knowing you feel that way..."

The blonde's sudden vulnerable state made Adrien pull back on his criticism a bit, and he slapped his hand to his brow in frustration. "No, I don't 'hate you'..." He sighed, while Marinette nearby rolled her eyes at both of them.

"Oh, I knew my Adrikins would understand!" Chloe felt a palpable sense of relief. "If you've got the money, flaunt it I say! Those other peasants wouldn't understand the way we do..."

"I'm just very disappointed, that's all..." Adrien interrupted her with a shake of the head, and Chloe's smile quickly faded. " I thought after seeing you come to school this morning with a new look, you might be looking at a fresh start. But, I guess Marinette was right... You're the same as ever. In fact, you may be even worse today than usual..."

At the mention of her hated rival, Chloe stopped looking down at the floor in self-pity to glare at the other girl, who was right next to Adrien far too close for my liking with her arms folded, nodding at his every word as if to say thank goodness he's finally putting that snob in her place. Instantly, all traces of sadness were wiped from her mind, and she glowered at Marinette with undisguised derision.

"Oh, I get it. She put you up to this, didn't she? I know that because the Adrien I know would never speak to me in such a brusque manner. Let me guess... Her one functioning brain cell figured out that this was revenge against the school population for that eclair incident when we were both kids, and she told you. Well, congratulations Marinette. Give yourself a gold star. As for you Adrikins, I forgive you. I know it's being around this bad influence which made you lash out in such an unrefined way. If you're got any sense, you'll see the effect she's having on you, and keep well away. My offer for tomorrow remains open. Come and see me once you've changed your mind. Later, darling."

And with a blown kiss, Chloe left both of them standing stock-still, before skipping gleefully away, sure that her wise words would sink in and Adrien would come around to her way of thinking.

After she'd gone, Adrien remarked more to himself than his companion "She's never going to get it..." before turning to Marinette with a raised eyebrow. "Eclair incident?

The blue haired girl sighed with annoyance. "It's a long story..."

...

Unbeknownst to the trio, three other much smaller figures had been watching the scene from the air with interest, as well as what had unfolded in the dining area.

"Do you see what I'm up against, you two? We're lucky Chloe didn't akumatise anyone, in that very room just now! And I'm supposed to transform her into a superhero. Every time I think I'm making progress, it's one step forward, two steps back."

"Hey, don't give up Zzubo! We have faith in you, don't we Plagg?...Plagg?!"

"Oh, I'm sorry Tikki. I'm just trying to decide how to eat this cheese. All at once, or a piece at a time. I can either have one big taste explosion, or lots of smaller tingles of pleasure in my mouth. What do you guys think?"

(Sigh) "Please excuse him, Zzubo, he cares in his own special way. We're all on the same team here, after all. Now, as I was saying..."

"Not to worry, Tikki. I have no intention of 'giving up'. The Master gave me a job, and I intend to see it through to it's completion. I will turn Chloe Burgeois into the hero I know she can be, and soon Hawk Moth will have a third adversary on the streets of Paris. I swear it on this combof mine."

"No offense Zzubo, but you're talking about Hawk Moth's biggest beneficiary there, not adversary. You've got more chance of making Camembert smell like roses, then you have of turning that spoiled brat into a superhero. Rather you than me, kiddo..."

"Plagg!"

"It's alright, Tikki. I know exactly where he's coming from. On the face of it, it does seem an impossible task. But, I disagree. In the few glimpses I've seen of it since I've met her, and the way her childhood friend describes how she used to be, I know there's good in Chloe. It's just a case of somehow penetrating through the hard coal, to find the rough diamond that lurks within. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but working as one I think we can do it. Now, who's with me?"

"I am, Zzubo! Let's do it together!"

"Thank you, Tikki! And you, Plagg?"

"After listening to that analogy, I don't know. How powerful is your drill, Zzubo? It would have to be on an industrial scale..."

"Plagg!"

"Oh alright, Zzubo! Just quit buzzing those wings in my ear. The sound almost puts me off my food. Almost..." (gulp)

"Thank you, Plagg. Now, do you know what you have to do, before the final class of the day?"

"Piece o'cheesecake, Zzubo. You can count on me. Honest."

"I hope so, Plagg. This could be make-or-break time for her future, and the world's. Now, I better return to my mistress before she gets suspicious. See you both later..."

"We better get back too. You never know when Ladybug or Cat Noir might need us... Akuma could crop up at any time... We must be vigilant, selfless... Hang on, Plagg, where are you going?!

"To the cafeteria, Tikka. I've run out of cheese, and I don't think Adrien has any in reserve. What a way to treat your precious kwami. I'm after Camembert, of course, but I suppose in a pinch I could make do with Stilton. Even Cheddar. Cheddar. If that doesn't show you how desperate I am..."

(Groan) "Plagg, you haven't changed at all in hundreds of years, have you?"

"Of course I have, Tikki. My favourite used to be Edam. Edam. Can you imagine? The only cheese to be made backwards. Get it? No? Oh, who cares. Now, where's that fridge..."