Chapter Text
Penelope
Penelope’s stupid, pink heels tapped on the marbled linoleum as she made her way to the front desk in the lobby. Bridgerton Firm would be her seventh interview this week, and she was starting to panic. She’d be ending her two year contract as a trainee in six weeks, and she hadn’t lined up a job at a firm yet. Three of the firms she’d interviewed, called and had regretfully informed her that they filled the position with another candidate. Thus, the heels, the skirt, the blasted ruffles on her blouse, the extra layer of makeup. She was desperate, but determined.
Bridgerton Firm was a long shot, most often hiring more seasoned applicants. And although female lawyers made up fifty percent of most firms in the UK, Bridgerton Firm was eighty percent male. The last woman they hired was five years ago, one Kathani Sharma, now Bridgerton. Hell even the receptionist was a man.
He greeted her with a warm smile, “Hello! How can I help you?”
Penelope smiled and glanced at his name badge, “Hello… Theo. I’m here for an interview, Penelope Featherington.”
Theo tapped his keyboard in response. “Ah, yes! Please sign in here,” he passed her a clipboard. “You’ll take the lift to the second floor. An assistant will be expecting you there and will escort you further. Good luck!”
Penelope thanked Theo and proceeded to the lift. Once inside, she pressed the button for the second floor and the doors began to close.
“Hold the lift please!”
Penelope placed a hand between the doors, then stepped back to allow a tall, brown haired man in a blue suit to step in. He moved to press the second floor button, noticing it already lit.
He looked toward her briefly before turning forward and catching the lift door, holding it open, “Client meetings are usually held in the offices or conference rooms on the first floor.”
She looked up to find his mouth in a smirk, and deep blue eyes glinting in humor.
“I’m sorry?” She asked, confused.
“Second floor is for associates, partners, the occasional failed interview,” he shrugged
on his last words.
Penelope crossed her arms and scoffed lightly, “Noted. Now if you’d please,” she gestured toward the lift door that his hand still held open.
“Listen, I have somewhere to be. So if you have a word with Theo at reception he can point you in the right direction,” he pointed toward Theo.
Penelope huffed, “I can assure you, I am well aware of the right direction. Thank you.”
This man had quickly turned Penelope’s anxiety into fury. His eyes glanced up at her red hair, moved down her face, then her pink buttoned top and black pencil skirt that regrettably was a touch too short, as if studying her. His lips quirked into a brief smile when his eyes met her pink heels, she tapped one impatiently.
“My apologies,” he said softly and stepped back, letting his hand drop from the lift door. “I thought… nevermind.”
He hadn’t taken long to look her over, but Penelope grew nervous and slightly heated under his stare. His smile infuriated her and she couldn’t help but press him, “No, go on.”
The lift doors shut and he turned to face her fully, “Well for one, you are a woman. Not to say that’s a bad thing, but not many women apply here. We’re a high profile, lucrative law firm. Of the six partners, five are men. Second, this pink top and pink heels you seem to incessantly tap, tight little skirt, not to mention your stature; it’s all rather cute, not typically what I’ve seen in interviewers. More in the hopeful clients that come in because Daddy’s suspended their allowance, or their husbands have brought out the old prenup during a divorce.”
The lift doors open and he steps out ahead of her, “But hey, good luck.” He winks and strides forward, darting into a hallway before she has the chance to answer or even exit the lift.
The doors begin to close, and she hurries forward. A woman with dark brown hair waits outside the lift and greets Penelope.
“Hello! I’m Siena Rosso. Mrs. Bridgerton’s assistant,” she held a hand out and Penelope shakes it.
“I’m Penelope. I’m so sorry, but is there a restroom I can use?”
“Of course!”
Siena leads her to a private restroom and Penelope slips in, quickly locking the door. She pulls out her phone, and calls her close friend. Eloise answers on the second ring.
“What the fuck, Eloise! You helped me pick this outfit!” Penelope whisper yells.
“What are you on about?”
“Some arsehole just said I don’t look like I’m here for an interview!”
“Ugh! Probably fucking Fife. Babes, you look great. This is a formality anyway. I told you, I could call my brothers and the job is yours.”
“Eloise! I haven’t even met your family! They aren’t going to hire a stranger they haven’t interviewed. This has to be my way.”
“Okay, okay! Can I at least tell them my friend is interviewing?”
“No! I got the interview myself, and if it’s meant to be I’ll get the job myself!”
Penelope could hear Eloise roll her eyes.
“Alright. Calm the fuck down. You are Penelope fucking Featherington. Top of your class. Everyone loves you here at The Crown! You can do this!”
“Thanks, El. Love you!”
“Aww, babes. I love you too!”
Penelope hung up and shoved her phone back in her bag. She glanced in the mirror. Makeup still meticulously perfect. Her long, curly, red hair pulled high in a ponytail. She took a deep breath, tugged the edge of her skirt down to cover a tad more of her legs, then tucked her blouse back into her skirt.
She leaned toward the mirror and stared at herself, “You’re a badass bitch…. Even if you do wear pink heels.”
She sighed, stepped back, looked down, and stepped out of her shoes. She pulled out the pair of black flats she’d stowed in her bag for after the interview, and swapped them. After slipping on the flats, she leaned toward the mirror again on her tiptoes, missing the extra three inches the heels gave her.
“And you’re still a badass bitch even if you don’t.”
She left the restroom, and found Siena waiting near the lift again. “Ready?” Siena smiled.
“Ready.”
Penelope was led down a long hall, past a few offices, and an open space with a dozen or so cubicles. Siena turned into a large room where several people were seated around a conference table. At the head of the table closest to the door, a man with a nice smile came toward her and grasped her hand in a firm shake.
“Hi, Penelope. Very nice to meet you. I’m Anthony Bridgerton, Senior Partner and I run our Corporate, Commercial, and Finance Division. Come. I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
She followed him back toward the table where everyone now stood and gestured toward the woman at his left.
“This is Kate, my wife and one of our Partners here at the firm.” Kate is beautiful and tall, black hair falling in waves down her back. “She runs our Costs and Litigation Management Division.”
Anthony led her around the table and she continued to shake hands, smiling with what she hoped was confidence, and taking mental notes.
“Will Mondrich. Partner and head of our Criminal Litigation Division.” A rather large man, with a bright smile.
“Alfred Debling. Partner and head of our Dispute Resolution, Family and Divorce Division.” Tall, blonde, bearded. Kind eyes.
“Paul Suarez. Partner and head of our Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Division.” Longer, dark hair. Hot and he knows it. Cocky.
One left and Penelope had seen him. She’d caught the familiar chestnut brown hair and dark blue eyes in her peripheral, and begged it not to be him. Almost like she could will him out of the room, to not be waiting until it was his turn to be introduced. That stupid smirk still on his stupid face. Fucking Fife.
“And finally, this is my brother. Colin Bridgerton. Partner and head of our Private Clients Division, which as per your application was your preferred placement. Correct?”
Every single inch of six feet looking down at her. Hair that curled slightly and looked soft, but thick. Strong arms and broad shoulders that couldn’t be hidden even in his dark blue suit. A mouth that smiled broadly at her, with a perfect Cupid’s bow on his upper lip. Light stubble, as if he hadn’t shaved in a couple days. Deep blue eyes that glimmered with mischief and confidence. Absolute arsehole, who she vowed to hate for eternity. Colin Bridgerton.
Penelope placed her hand in his large outstretched palm, forcing herself to keep eye contact. He bit his lower lip slightly, as if trying not to laugh.
“Very nice to meet you,” he grinned.
Fuck.