Disclaimer: I do not own anything, but my own story idea. This is a Modern AU Victoria/Lord Melbourne Fanfiction. For the purpose of this story it is present day and Victoria is 27 and William is 43.

It is about two in the morning, in a dark London penthouse. The apartment elegantly furnished to the point that the Queen of England could live there. A soft light from a desk lamp illuminated a young woman in tears as she stared at a photo of her between two handsome men. They all looked happy in the photo as it was taken at a charity gala a few months before. Victoria Kent couldn't help but keep staring at the two very different men in the photo. Heiress and Head of Kent Financial Holdings, Victoria was no stranger to having a crisis or problems arising on a day to day basis. She had just never realized that she would have one with her heart, as she began to realize she had fallen in love with two men.

Victoria's head ached with the choice she would eventually have to make as pressure had mounted against her to find someone to settle down with. While she normally had put her foot down when her father's company had tried meddling in her personal life, Victoria had to admit that she had gotten lonelier in the past year. After becoming the head of her father's company at just 24 due to his untimely death, Victoria had watched as her life kind of took a back seat to the running of the company. While her friends from university had started their own careers, gotten married, and were now starting families she couldn't help but be jealous.

Being a head of a company as a woman scared off a lot romance and encouraged a lot self-seekers with the only interest being in her money and not Victoria herself. These failed romances pained her as she became a magnet for the gossip columns. This usually sent her into the arms of the younger man in the photo Albert Coburg. Albert was her childhood sweetheart and friend, they had grown up together as their fathers were friends each owning their own financial companies. While Albert worked behind the scenes at his father's company he understood Victoria the hassles that Victoria dealt with. They were each other's firsts in many aspects of their lives and while they weren't together they cared deeply for each other.

8 months ago

"Kent heiress Vicky was just spotted with a new man on her arm in Notting Hill over the weekend. This comes as a surprise to many as most of us thought she was in a relationship with Charles Carnegie, Earl of Southesk." Victoria flinched as the gossip reporter said her hated nickname Vicky. The smell of popcorn wafted through the room.

"Victoria turn it off you don't need to listen to that garbage, though I am curious when you found the time to hook up with Charlie?" Albert asked with a smile and a twinkle in his eye as he sat down on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.

"I do one favor of being an escort with Charlie to a wedding and suddenly were in a relationship. Though I do feel bad for George he didn't ask to be on the gossip news" Victoria with some amusement, but her face was tinged in sadness as she thought about her weekend lunch date with George a friend from her University days. "I wish the paparazzi didn't follow me like they did" sighing as she said it.

Putting the popcorn bowl between them on the table Albert scooted closer to Victoria taking her into his arms. "Oh Victoria I know this wasn't the life you chose for yourself, but you just have to put that mask on and try to show them they can't get to you" Tilting her head up to his Albert looked lovingly into her eyes. "You will do some great things someday and they will forget all about this." He said before placing a soft kiss on Victoria's lips.

Albert made her feel safe and comfortable, but was that what she wanted for her life? Victoria wasn't sure as her eyes drifted over the picture to the older man in the photo William Melbourne. Her advisor and closest ally in her father's company, William being one of her father's VPs felt the need to take Victoria under his wing 3 years ago when she became head of the company. The transition was difficult and she almost lost the company by take over from John Conroy, a former board member from Kent. Yet William stuck by Victoria through it all, seeing her as a smart business woman to be reckoned with. Their friendship blossomed through the long hours they were together; she had come to enjoy being in the office each morning just to see William. They always had such deep conversations with each other when they weren't dealing with work matters.

Victoria had always felt the spark of attraction between the two of them, though she never thought of acting on it because she didn't think William felt the same way for her. This had changed however after she had just dealt will Conroy's attempted take over 2 years ago.

2 years ago

Victoria crumbled down to the floor of her office as she shut the door not bothering to get to the desk chair or couch. Burying her head in her knees as the stress and hell she had been through started to come out. She knew one day she would be running her father's company, but Victoria had never realized just how hard it might be. Just an hour before she had been verbally torn apart by John Conroy in a board meeting on how she was unfit to run the company, because she had gotten her position based solely on nepotism. Yes she was an heiress, but he chose to forget her degrees in finance and international business not to mention the fact she had worked for the company in smaller positions since her last year of Secondary School.

Thankfully Conroy's vote had failed among the board members to oust her from her position as head of the company. It did nothing however to boost her confidence as begin to second guess everything that she had done in her life and that maybe Conroy was right in the possibility that she wasn't meant to run the Kent.

Sitting in her own self- pity Victoria was startled by the knock on the door before hearing a familiar voice say her name. "Victoria?" William called out before letting himself into her office quickly closing the door behind him. His gaze landed upon the young woman sitting on the floor, he was infuriated with Conroy for bringing Victoria this much pain when she had worked so hard to get to where she was today. "Victoria look at me," William tried to say as warmly as possible " I need you to stand up, I am going to take you somewhere." Victoria took a little more nudging before she eventually let William lead her out of the office and down to his car. They let the city fall away as he drove them to the country side, before arriving at a large estate.

"Where are we?" Victoria inquired as William opened the car door for her to step out. "Brocket Hall, It was my father's home. I don't come out here often I have a caretaker manage the estate in my absence." He said taking her arm as he led her to the stables. "When I come it is usually to think and go riding, which I felt would benefit you today." Victoria's face lit up a little at the prospect of riding as she hadn't had the time. Upon arriving in the stable William let go of her arm as he walked over to a trunk. Victoria immediately missed his warmth as she watched him pull out some riding boots and pants. "I believe these should work for you" as he handed her a pair of boots and pants. "You can change in the office right there." He said gesturing to the door to the left of her.

Once they were changed out of their business clothes they saddled up and headed onto the grounds. The air around had a chill as it had become later in the afternoon. The two of them didn't talk, while unusual for the two of them it strangely comforted Victoria today as she was able to think clearly for once today. When they reached a small river they decided to stop and rest before turning back around to the estate.

Victoria shivered as she looked out onto the countryside trying to take in all its beauty. William noticing her shiver came up behind her wrapping his arms around her and placing his chin atop her head. She instantly relaxed in his arms. Tilting her head up towards William, Victoria spoke in a soft voice as though she thought it would disturb their peace "I wish this moment would never end, thank you William for bringing me out here," Before she leaned up and kissed him on the lips taking a chance on her feelings. William in turn pulled her closer deepening the kiss, Victoria's heart soared as she wrapped her arms around his neck. A noise off in the distance broke them apart, seeing as the sun was beginning to set William suggested that they get back to the estate.

It was as though the kiss was forgotten as they rode back in silence and didn't talk of it again.

Victoria thought of that moment she didn't learn till later that William was concerned for her because of their age difference as he was 16 years her senior. That hadn't mattered to her, but the argument that had ensued from caused Victoria to not speak with William outside of business. Albert and her revolving suitors filled the void, but it just was not enough. Eventually she and William adjusted back to their normal routine even though the spark was still there they had since avoided any more moments like the one at the river.

It wasn't till they charity gala pictured in the photo that Victoria had realized she was in love with both men and ever since she has struggled with what she has wanted to do.

A/N: I hope you guys like my story I have just been so caught up in this attraction between Lord Melbourne and Queen Victoria that I just had to write my own story. Please let me know what you think, it has been awhile since I have written any fanfiction .