Hello,
I have a horrible habit of starting new fics when I have several to finish but I saw a picture on Reddit of Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley standing together outside of a bar, embracing, and I immediately got an idea for a Bridgerton present time story where Anthony is a lawyer, Kate an ER doctor that hate each other but keep bumping into each other; so, I posted that as reply to the pic.
Someone with the username of 'ShootHangFrame" suggested that Kate was tired of having to see Colin every weekend because he was doing parkour and being horrible at that and so she tells Anthony to take care of his 'idiot brother'. I thought that was brilliant and used it as a starting point where they meet.
Other notes.
I am Turkish and at our weddings we 'usually' see the same people at weddings, so I imagined the wedding Edwina and Kate go to having the same dynamic, seeing the same crowd over and over. I am aware that Indian weddings are not like Turkish ones, and I mean no disrespect. I would love to do research but at this present moment I do not have the time so please humour me.
Do not live in London but in The Netherlands. Have not been in London for 20 plus years even even though I want to visit soon, anyway my point is.. Please do not read this as London centric as I am going to make up names for streets, bars etc that probably do not exist in that city because looking things up does take a LOT OF TIME.
The dumping of granulite in nature (lake) has happened in the Netherlands en Zembla was indeed the first one to bring the matter to the forefront.
If you are interested check out my other fics "Last Chance" another story about Anthony and "A SEA BETWEEN".
"Bloody hell, Anthony it's not even 07.00 yet" the man said when he picked up the phone, grunting in dismay..
"Trust me; I am fully aware" the other sarcastically stated.
"What has that idiot done now?" Benedict wanted to know.
"Parkour.. again.. In the middle of the fricking night." Anthony replied.
"Oh, dear God, he is SHITE at parkour, haven't you told him that?".
"I have but he doesn't want to listen to me, maybe you could knock some sense into him. One of us should."
"I can try but it would fall on deaf ears for sure. So, what now? Has the doctor seen him yet?".
"Not yet... but please do me a favour. We have been waiting for them for quite some time and I must go to my office soon. I have an important meeting with our client, as you know my firm is working on the El"-"
"Elston case. Yeah I know, you have only mentioned it like 20 times. It sounds so dreadfully boring to me, I don't know how you can stand it" Benedict sighed.
"I'm sorry to bore you, but unfortunately I can't spend all day messing about with paint like you do" Anthony replied in a sarcastic tone.
His brother Benedict was one of the most talked about artists of the moment because he mixed contemporary art with the older, classical variety in his work. His work was known all over the world and his paintings were auctioned off for considerable prices.
"Jealous much?" Benedict chuckled.
"No, not at all. Listen, I really must go in like half an hour. Can you please come to Chariot Hill Hospital?".
"Fine.. I'll be there in 20 minutes" Benedict said and hung up. Out of the corner of his eye Anthony saw a tall stately woman walking towards his brother's room and assumed it was the doctor. He hurried in that direction and at the door he almost collided with the woman in question; and the two looked at each other for a moment. She had striking eyes that looked piercing to Anthony, then inquisitive he thought. Her long hair was in a ponytail, and she looked tired, as if she had been awake for the day. She had something regal about her, he thought, until he realised that he was blocking her path and could not continue.
"Sorry... Go ahead" he said, and she saw him enter Colin's room whereupon Anthony followed quickly.
"You again?" the doctor stated in an exasperated tone.
"Oh, hi Kate" said Colin cheerfully.
"The fact that you call me by my first name is indication that you come here too often, Colin" she replied.
Kate... her name was Kate..
She picked up Colin's file and looked carefully at the photos, then carefully examined his brother. Arriving at his foot, the patient winced even though he was on pain medication. The doctor quickly reported her findings, a broken foot.
"Ah no really? Fuccck" said Colin with a painful face.
"Unfortunately, yes. We are going to apply a cast on your foot rather shortly and then you'll be free to go. It will probably take about six to eight weeks for your foot to heal but that might also give you time to take things easy" she said with a disapproving face.
"Who are you?" she suddenly asked Anthony, who was upset because until then he had only been a silent observer.
"Anthony... Anthony Bridgerton... I am his brother" he said quickly.
"His older brother?" she asked for clarification.
"Uhm yes" replied Anthony.
"Mr. Bridgerton, would you make sure that Colin takes it easy for the next few weeks and moves as little as possible. Also, it might be advisable to keep an eye on him and not take part in any more foolish things like this. He was here last week and the week before that," she stated with a tired face.
"Oh yes, I was indeed now that you've mentioned it" Colin chuckled. Both Anthony and Kate gave him a glare, causing him to stop and just look at both like a child waiting for his lecture.
Kate turned to Anthony again.
"Will you be able to manage that?" she asked, and it came out somehow very exasperated or condescending, which in turn irritated Anthony.
"Sure, I can do that, Mrs... I mean doctor...," he sarcastically stated. .He couldn't read the name tag properly; he probably needed glasses one of these days, he realised, but in any case he couldn't read her surname.
He couldn't read the name tag properly; he probably needed glasses one of these days, he realised, but in any case, he couldn't read her surname.
"Dr. Sheffield and it's Miss for your information."
"I don't care" Anthony said in a nonchalant tone to which her face twisted in annoyance, but she said nothing.
"Dr Sheffield, with all due respect. We are talking about a man who is 27 years old. I'm a busy person and work 60 hours a week, I can't keep an eye on him all the time, even if I wanted to" Anthony argued.
Her expression seemed to soften for a moment, but quickly hardened again.
"That may be so, but it is clear that someone has to stop him from doing stupid things" she said sternly.
"Sound plan Dr Sheffield. Will do. Colin don't do anything dumb you hear" said Anthony looking at him. Colin at that moment was watching the scene and the two of them with an amused smile until Anthony pulled him out of the moment.
"Yes, yes... I solemnly promise improvement..." he said with a grin. "For now, at least" he added to which both Kate and Anthony rolled their eyes.
"I have to go see other patients. The nurses will be by soon to put a cast on your foot and will take care of the rest. For the Love of God, Colin, don't do anything crazy" she said with a deep sigh to which Colin nodded with a smile.
She then walked out of the room and as she passed Anthony, she said curt his name in acknowledgement.
"Mr. Bridgerton"
"Dr. Sheffield" Anthony replied coolly and away she went.
Three months later
"I so don't feel like going to this wedding" whined Kate.
"Neither do I" said her younger sister Edwina "but mother insists that we go because it will break Mrs. Vingh's heart if we don't ".
"Really and how does she know that? As if she won't leave us at the first minute to go and sit with her friends herself" said Kate in dismay...
"I know" acknowledged Edwina as she looked in the mirror and brushed her hair.
"Suppose it is you and me sitting by ourselves again" Edwina mentioned.
"Yes, until you abandon me and go off dancing with one of your new many suitors again" Kate reprimanded.
"Sorry about that... I don't want to be rude" Edwina replied shyly.
"Don't apologize, dear sister of mine. I would want you to be happy. I am hoping one of these days Eeshan finally has the courage to ask you, the only thing he does is stare at you in obvious discomfort when other men approach you".
Edwina blushed; she would want that to happen to, but Eeshan had not even ventured out in her direction so far, still she didn't want to talk about that or him with her sister right now.
Kate dropped onto her sister's bed and let out a grunt of dismay.
"Ah come on, maybe it's not that bad... Maybe you'll find the man of your dreams and dance with him all night long " smiled Edwina.
"No thanks... I've had my fill of the same men who want to 'dance' only to use it as an excuse to grope me," said Kate.
"Though I guess after the last time I was at a wedding they're not so inclined to ask me for a spin around the room anymore " she grinned.
Kate had knocked someone out last time they got too 'handsy' and then treated them herself after he had come to. Edwina turned to her sister and laughed at the memory of a concerned Kate trying to tend to the guy in question after being the one responsible for causing him 'harm' in the first place.
"If I were them, I would watch out" she said smiling at which Kate reciprocated.
Anthony was tired and annoyed; he and his team had spent the whole day looking at the possibilities for a loophole in the Exxon case, but they had found nothing. The residents of Buttermere sued the municipality for dumping granulite; which can be cancerous if one is in contact with in their lake; and severe negligence. On the face of it, the government had done nothing wrong, they thought, but it was clear that insufficient decision-making had taken place and insufficient research had been carried out, upon which the dumping went ahead.
'Zembla', an investigative journalism programme, was the first to come forward with the findings and it had caused an enormous scandal. The municipality was then immediately called in and the famous law firm 'Rolston & Hydes', for which Anthony worked, took on the case. Anthony had worked there for a few years to the satisfaction of his employer and was a shrewd lawyer with an impressive winning streak. He would get his teeth into a case by doing extensive research, working long hours in the office and 'practising' his arguments several times a week, and it would result in success.
The fact that he had no time for love because of his job was something he accepted and did not consider important. Of course, he had flings here and there, several even, and in recent years he had built up a reputation in London as a 'fuck boy' and a 'player', to the horror of his mother, but he did not care. His career was important to him, and he was not interested in the opinions of others.
A few more years of hard work and he might become a partner and then, only then, could he slow down. He didn't really feel like going to the wedding of his former childhood friend Ayvaan today either, as he would have been better off spending his time going through the books of 'Environmental Law' again, but he couldn't help it. Fortunately, his family was also present, his mother Violet, his sisters (apart from Francesca who was currently studying in Edinburgh) would also be present at least that was the plan.
Ayvaan was Colin's friend but of the Bridgertons, everyone knew Ayvaan, and he was loved by all the Bridgertons so Anthony took a deep breath and went to his parents' house from where everyone would be leaving together.
As soon as he entered, he was accosted by his mother; Violet Bridgerton.
"Anthony, you look awful!" exclaimed the matriarch of his family; in slight astonishment.
"Lovely to see you too, mum" he smirked as he kissed his mother on both cheeks. Afterwards she put her hands on his face and looked at him intently; then she withdrew them for a moment and shook her head.
"You work too much. You need time to relax more, my dear son. Life is not all about sticking about work, you know... Honestly... look what happened to your fa- ".
Violet's face dropped and he could tell she was on the verge of tears and Anthony knew exactly why.
"But seriously, Anthony you should take some time off. Are you eating well? You look pale" Violet exclaimed with a worried expression on her face.
"I do, believe me" but Violet Bridgerton didn't seem to want to believe him much and he thought it was best to change the topic.
"Now, are you ready? We have to go, it's almost 7pm" he remarked.
Violet nodded and then called her brood downstairs.
It was just as well that the Bridgertons had always been well to do as Violet had given birth to 8 children! Their father had died at a young age due to a severe sudden stroke. Edmund had been the founder of an antivirus software company that was now run by their uncle. However, it was always intended that either Colin or Anthony would take over the family business at some point.
Colin seemed to be the right candidate for that with his degree in Business, but he was more into travelling. When he was not travelling, he was at home but could not sit still either and tried out one 'dangerous' hobby after another. His interest had been piqued by parkour, in which he had recently taken part, much to the chagrin of their mother, who Colin repeatedly tried to give a heart attack with his antics and Anthony, who then had to pick up his sibling often in the dead of night.
Eloise Bridgerton came down with a sour face, also not wanting to go, Anthony suspected, followed by Hyacinth and Gregory who, even on the stairs, could not help but harass each other.
"Stop that you two! You'll trip and fall!" their mother shouted at the two troublemakers, who struggled to stop and walked down with a disconcerted face, although Hyacinth kicked Gregory hard in the shins when Violet looked away.
Gregory let out a cry but quickly shut up when his mother gave him a scathing look.
"Will we see Daphne, Simon, Ben and co at the wedding?" asked Anthony hoping at least Daphne would indeed go and he didn't have to spend the night chasing after Hyacinth and Gregory alone.
"They will be present yes. Colin went early to help out well I think it was more too calm Ayvaan down for he was so nervous; than anything else" Violet stated.
"Good... let's go then" Anthony suggested.
Edwina and Kate were already bored, especially Kate, because almost as soon as they sat down at their table, a shy young man came and asked her if she wanted to come with him to the dance floor. Kate was not asked... and somewhere, very somewhere, no matter how many times she said she didn't mind; she did mind.
It probably didn't help that she had a resting bitch face and appeared cool at first glance, she realised. It probably didn't help either that Edwina; possessed a beauty she could only dream of; with her expressive face, beautiful long hair, plump lips, and sweet charisma, she was someone who was adored by the male company, wherever she went. She was not jealous; indeed, she was proud of her little sister who, besides being beautiful, also possessed intelligence and would soon graduate as a Major in English Renaissance Literature.
But still it stung somewhere... She was almost 28 and had done nothing more her whole life than study and work, study, and work. She had always wanted to become a doctor despite the gruelling study load, the many internships she had to do and the lack of a social life at university. The latter had been her own fault, with her reputation as a loner she was not invited to parties, which she did not mind at the time as she was still stuck in the books, but now...
Kate had thought that when her studies were over and she was accepted, things would change, on several fronts; but that was not the case. She still lived at home with her stepmother and sister, didn't go out at the weekends and had few friends. She was supposed to move out sometime next year; but living in London was so bizarrely expensive and she needed to find a flat as 'close' to the hospital as possible; two factors that made the search difficult. So, she stayed where she was now... and she felt... stuck. Mind you her stepmother, whom she considered a 'real' mother since she had lost hers at a young age, repeatedly told her she could stay if she wanted.
Kate looked around bored and saw the same people she saw at every wedding and sighed. Then she looked at Edwina who seemed uncomfortable and threw a few glances in Eeshan's direction, but he was staring at the scene with a pained face again.
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she did not realise that someone was walking in her way until this person was right in front of her.
Kate looked around bored and saw the same people she saw at every wedding and sighed. Then she looked at Edwina who seemed uncomfortable and threw a few glances in Eeshan's way, but he was staring at the scene with a pained face again.
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she did not realise that someone was walking in her way until this person was right in front of her.
"Kate; hello" smiled Colin. "What a coincidence! Nice to see you".
"Colin... Likewise. How are you? Is your foot healed?" she asked him.
"Completely, I'm glad to say and how are you? Are you still working at Chariot Hill?".
Kate nodded.
"I am. Hey, now that you mention it... I haven't seen you in a while, has your brother given you some sense" she teased.
"No... my mother and friend Penelope have forbidden me to engage in 'dangerous' activities. I appease them for now at least" he smirked.
"Bride or groom? I mean who do you know; the groom or the bride" he then asked.
"Bride in my case, yours as well?"
"No, groom. Good friend of mine, of all of us actually" and his gaze fell on the entrance.
"Ah there they are my family". Kate looked at the entrance and to her horror saw Anthony Bridgerton enter with what appeared to be a large group of people behind him.
Anthony was clearly searching for his brother, to which Colin replied that he had better lead them to their table appointed to the Bridgerton.
"Have a nice evening" he said kindly to Kate.
"You too" Kate replied and just at that moment her gaze crossed with that of Anthony whose expression suddenly changed at the sight of her, and he seemed suddenly not very amused to find her here. Kate looked back in annoyance for a moment before deliberately looking the other way.
Arrogant man... Arrogant; self-righteous man... It was a pity that someone as handsome as him had the personality of... and then her thoughts suddenly stopped as she realised that she had just called him very handsome.
And inwardly she scolded herself for thinking such a silly thing, because it felt a bit... strange especially after he had been so rude to her. She decided to occupy herself with him as little as possible, even though she occasionally looked in his direction, well, more at the Bridgertons as a whole, she told herself.
Fortunately, Edwina returned; complaining that her partner had stepped on her feet several times and that she now 'would not move from her seat' and so the two were soon engaged in conversation and again the ever so attentive Kate seemed not to.
"Kate, do you remember my brother?" said Colin suddenly when he saw Anthony returning to dance with Ayvaan's younger sister and he was near their table.
'Yes of course' she said with a stiff face.
"How are you Mr. Bridgerton?" she asked out of politeness but also just that.
"Well thank and do how you do Dr. Sheffield? " he asked mimicking her curt yet polite tone.
"Excellent thank you." she replied.
Colin looked at the two amusedly and suddenly got an idea in his head which would only increase his amusement.
"Kate, I noticed you haven't moved from your seat all evening. Have an idea. Why don't you dance with Anthony?" he asked very innocently. Both Kate and Anthony gave him a scathing look which Colin ignored.
Kate seemed to want to say something but then abruptly shut up; she was so upset that Anthony took the floor.
"That would be inappropriate, Colin, as I don't know Miss Sheffield well enough. " Anthony replied to her relief.
"Besides, I don't think the lady is the type to have fun" he said mockingly.
The jerk. He called her boring to her face and the remark was unnecessary, he did it to be mean. Immediately she felt her blood boil but oh... oh she would get back at him.
"Ah but au contraire, Mr. Bridgerton. I believe your brother is right. I have been sitting an awful lot indeed as he so pointed out. I would like to join to the dancefloor if that is okay with you?" she said with a sarcastic; oblique smile and she stood up, to Anthony's dismay.
He looked perplexed and so was he. He had not expected this move and of course he could not turn her away now as that would be very rude.
"It would be my pleasure" he said with gritted teeth.
He waited for her with a face set on severe annoyance, but she pretended not to see that. Colin in turn pretended not to see Anthony's unspoken threat which he had mouthed to him; something akin to "you're dead" and sat down with his fiancée.
She walked up to him with her head held high and with a daunting look on her features then Kate put her hands on his shoulders with obvious reluctance.
Anthony did the same but then put her hands on her back. Neither seemed to want to touch the other and looked like two awkward teenagers on a middle school function. Colin was chuckling but Penelope nudged him with his hand, so he quickly ceased doing so.
In the meantime, Anthony and Kate were both in misery in what seemed to be the longest minutes of their lives and the song just didn't seem to want to end.
"So how have you been?" he asked her again as he didn't know what he should be talking about.
"Excellent... as I told you" she brought out coolly to which Anthony sighed and nodded. She didn't ask him this time how he was doing, so she just looked somewhere and saw Edwina looking at them admiringly.
"Who is that?" he asked suddenly as his gaze dropped to Edwina.
"My sister Edwina" she replied gruffly.
"Hhm" he said in a slightly admiring tone and she had to frown because she found his reaction a bit strange.
"Hhm what?" she asked him for clarification.
"Oh nothing, she's very pretty" he said with an innocent twinkle in his eye.
"She certainly is" she replied and that wasn't a lie even though she suddenly felt a pang of something... whizzing through her body. They were both silent for a moment until Anthony asked a question that threw her off balance.
"Is she single?" he asked her simply; as if it was nothing; not important, not terribly insulting.
"What?" she asked him sharply.
"I asked if she was single" he explained innocently while knowing that what he was doing was not innocent at all.
"And what business is that of yours?" Kate retorted.
"Well... I might want to ask her out... but then of course I need to get her number" he grinned.
"Will do that right after we... AAAH-" he suddenly exclaimed.
Kate had stepped on his foot. And hard.
"Oh, my apologies, did I step on your foot? How awful but I'm a bit rusty you know" she said with a sardonic expression.
"You don't have to apologise to me, Dr. Sheffield. I imagine you haven't had much experience of being asked to dance... which I can understand of course given your personality...".
She let out a gasp in indignation, so offended was she, and wanted to walk away immediately but several eyes were on them, including those of Mary Sheffield, her stepmother.
"If you accuse me of being dull then I'd rather have that than all of London talking about me" she retorted. Oh, she had done her research on him after their first meeting and had heard that he did not take his relationships seriously; neither did the women in question, nor did he care whether his conquest of the day was married or not...
"My reputation... is none of your business" he hissed furiously after staring at her in anger for several minutes. She didn't know what to say, he had a point, but she couldn't help stepping on his foot again 'very accidentally'.
"Sorry. I'm very clumsy" she said.
"Oh, you certainly are..." he hissed. He wanted to kill her right there and then.
Finally, finally, the song was over and almost immediately after, they parted ways. Fuck: he was in pain, but he wasn't going to let her know.
"Thank you for the dance" she said with a chagrined face.
"It was my pleasure, Dr. Sheffield..."
"I wish you a pleasant evening" she said quasi politely...
"Same to you, but you're not rid of me yet. I still want to ask for Edwina's phone number so maybe you'll see me after dinner is served and-"
"Oh, I don't think so Mr. Bridgerton" she said venomously.
"We'll see about that" he replied equally venomously.
"No, we won't. You will stay away from my sister, is that understood?" she ordered in a high-pitched tone, shoving her finger in his face.
He only smiled... which made her even angrier.
"Well, you know what... I'll ask for her number some other time. I am sure a young lady like she is has some form of social media? A Linkedin perhaps where I can reach her" he said as he looked at her angry face. She was positively fuming he could tell which he found rather funny.
"Listen here you pompous sack of-".
"Woow woow... I am guessing that you haven't noticed but the orchestra has stopped playing. You guys can go back" Colin intervened. Kate looked around briefly and saw that all eyes were on her and then, after giving a last glare at Anthony, walked towards her table. There she whispered something in Edwina's ear, whereupon the two got up and left shortly afterwards...
Anthony looked at Kate and had to chuckle for it was extremely easy to rattle her cage as he found her weakness... Edwina. He certainly wouldn't mind messing with her once more in the future; Anthony thought to himself even though a part of him hoped to never encounter her again.
"What did you say to her? "Colin wanted to know.
"Oh nothing. Nothing at all" Anthony smirked as he watched as the Sheffield sisters exited the venue.