Like Old Hollywood

by gottaLoveLOVE

Anthony is a director who can't stand the lead actress in his own movie. To make matters worse, his brother and his supposedly platonic friend display such an intense chemistry that fans are demanding a rewrite of the story.

11. Wrecked

A/N:HELLOOOOOOO!

Well, well, well. If it ain't me again with a giant chapter (I always want to apologise because I know some people dislike giant chapters, but honestly, I can not help it sometimes? I just have it in my head where a chapter should start and where it should end and sometimes the middle of it is CRAZY. Either way, grab a coffee, water, juice, whatever, take all the breaks you need, and have fun!)

I only have one comment before we begin, which I have previously made but is even more important given the arc we are about to enter with the next chapters: my choice of characters' ages was very deliberate. Especially Penelope. So I know we are approaching a point in the story where we will talk more about Penelope's romantic experiences, and people will wonder, "But how? at that age?" and I want to reiterate that it's deliberate. I think one of the aspects of Penelope that spoke to me the most was that she was a spinster, which was a real problem for her and something she had to work on—and society did (incorrectly) see her that way (as an old, inexperienced, unwanted woman). The issue with translating that sentiment to OUR society is that we will not easily see...say, a nineteen-year-old as an unwanted spinster if she is an inexperienced, unmarried woman; it is simply not realistic, and the message will not come through as effectively (also valid for Kate being 26, for example). So, keep in mind that this is a modern AU, but this IS Penelope. I have not changed that aspect of her because it is an important part of the character to develop in the future.

Without further ado, let's go

---

Hyacinth: k now that it's just us can we talk abt it

Daphne:?

Daphne: what were you up to at my wedding

Hyacinth: what r u talking abt

Daphne: whats so urgent that you need to talk abt right after I leave my own wedding

Gregory: paranoid much?

Hyacinth: no i'm talking abt colin being a backstabber?

Colin: what? it's not my fault you reached the snack table too late

Colin: that sandwich was mine

Hyacinth: no idiot i'm talking abt the fact ELOISE WAS LIVING WITH U FOR MONTHS AND U DIDN'T TELL US

Daphne: what?

Gregory: oh yeah that

Anthony: What are you talking about Hyacinth?

Daphne:didn't she get here from Berlin?

Hyacinth: NO

Benedict: no colin has been harbouring her for months like a wanted criminal

Colin: ?

Colin: I thought you all knew

Hyacinth: HOW ON EARTH WOULD WE KNOW IF YOU DON'T TELL US IDIOT

Colin: why would i tell you isn't that eloise's job

Gregory: don't you know eloise at all

Eloise: I am here you know

Benedict: Appreciate the update, El!

Eloise:

Gregory: just wait until mum hears abt this

Eloise: I've already been to see her

Eloise: like two months ago

Hyacinth: WHY DOES NO ONE TELL US ANYTHING IN THIS FAMILY

Francesca is currently typing…

Gregory is currently typing…

Eloise: It's not my fault you didn't ask

Hyacinth: so I have to keep asking the obvious here

Francesca is currently typing…

Hyacinth: noted

Gregory: Oh u dont know what u just signed yourself up for rn

Francesca is currently typing…

Hyacinth: just checking then

Hyacinth: Colin

Hyacinth: are u and Penelope dating

Colin: im going to kill you

Francesca: i don't see what the problem is

Francesca: Eloise lived with me in Berlin for almost a year

Anthony is currently typing…

Hyacinth is currently typing…

Benedict is currently typing…

Gregory is currently typing…

Benedict: what

Gregory: WHAT

Hyacinth: i quit

Colin: … what?

Anthony: Eloise, will you please inform us of your whereabouts before I decide to file a missing person report the next time you go missing?

Eloise: I wasn't missing I was working what did you think I was doing in Berlin?

Benedict: not staying w our sister when all of us were constantly wondering where you were?

Eloise:you didn't ask!

Daphne: so, daphne just passed me her phone and asked me to handle this chat while she goes to the bar. Now, who's the one responsible for turning my wife into an alcoholic?

Gregory: Eloise

Hyacinth: Colin

Anthony: why are you letting her drink right after the wedding Hastings

Benedict: Anthony

Colin: Eloise

Eloise:? traitor

Eloise: I wasn't gonna say it

Eloise: u told pen i was here but not them

Hyacinth: EXCUSE ME

Hyacinth is currently typing…

Gregory is currently typing…

Colin: it's not my fault you arrived when she was at the flat?

Hyacinth is currently typing…

Benedict is currently typing…

Francesca is currently typing…

Eloise is currently typing…

Daphne is currently typing…

Gregory is currently typing…

Francesca: Enjoy your flight to Fiji, Simon!

---

Duke of Hastings Simon Basset Privately Marries Daphne Bridgerton

The couple unexpectedly shared the exciting news on Instagram

Written by: Sheyenne Choudhuri Edited by: Day Oliveira

Simon Basset and Daphne Bridgerton are married!

Last Saturday, beauty influencer Daphne Bridgerton, surprised her followers with an Instagram carousel of photos from her wedding to Simon Basset, stunning the internet with the announcement.

The Duke of Hastings and Daphne Bridgerton surprised their fans and followers by getting married in a private London ceremony, sharing dreamy Instagram photos of their morning wedding on a hill that looked like something from a fairytale. The posts, both captioned "I AM YOURS, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN YOURS," showcased a series of beautiful photos depicting the setting, decor, and the many happy guests, including many friends and family members.

As fans showered the couple with congratulations on their wedding, some couldn't help but note that the pair had never officially acknowledged their engagement prior to that moment.

---

｡ ﾟ ︎｡ ｡ ﾟ ﾟ｡ Dan leo_norax

So Colin and Penelope saw each other this weekend

「 tami 」 bR1d6y_Qu33n

leo_norax I mean they always do lol

Lizzie redfeatherington

bR1d6y_Qu33n leo_norax are we sure she went?

billie noraswsift

redfeatherington bR1d6y_Qu33n leo_norax i don't think she did she didn't show up in any of the pictures

it's always rainy in delulutown loranator

when i read the news a Bridgerton was getting married for a moment i thought

Milena mrsleonidassoares

loranator hahahahahahahahaha

it's always rainy in delulutown loranator

mrsleonidassoares i hate myself

---

Eloise: Pen, hi

Eloise: i know you hate me for all eternity

Eloise: but can we please talk

Eloise: before you take off to New Zealand.

Eloise: in person

Eloise: I wanted to chat with you at the wedding but you weren't there so

Eloise: you don't have to forgive me or be my friend again

Eloise: i just want to talk

…

Penelope: I don't have any free time

Eloise: well are you gonna have some free time at the airport?

---

Penelope had never seen Eloise truly take advantage of the Bridgerton wealth until the day her former friend bought a plane ticket just to enter the airport VIP lounge and meet her. Granted, maybe her lawyer job paid incredibly well, with her earnings reaching astronomical figures during busy periods. But it was the casualness with which she did it that reminded Penelope of the Bridgertons' wealth.

"You have twenty minutes," Penelope announced, slowly sipping her Wild Berry Spritz as Eloise settled into the seat opposite her.

Eloise rolled her eyes involuntarily, then waved off the waitress who was coming to take her order. Which was also typical. On the other hand, Penelope planned on trying every drink and food available, considering the amount she spent on a first-class ticket and the right to enter the lounge. In fact, she intended to sample the entire selection of champagnes in those twenty minutes, not only to make her money worthwhile but also to sleep soundly on her 24-hour flight.

"Look, I was wrong about what I said about you," Eloise mumbled, nervously twisting a strand of hair as she sat in the plush, velvet armchair. "All those years ago, I mean."

"I know you were wrong," Penelope replied dryly, raising her hand to call the waitress back.

A grimace crossed Eloise's face; she clearly had no idea what a furious Penelope looked like, contrary to Colin's assumption. Despite their years of friendship, she'd never faced such a difficult situation with her former friend before.

After Penelope ordered a glass of Ayala brut champagne, she turned her attention back to Eloise, who was frowning and looking down at her lap.

"Is that everything?" Penelope asked harshly.

Eloise scoffed, crossing her arms and avoiding eye contact. "Were you this relentless with Colin?" she complained.

"Colin didn't wait five years to apologise," Penelope retorted immediately, without questioning Eloise's comparison or her knowledge of Penelope's anger toward Colin.

The other woman flinched, finally realising that her usual strategy of feigning nonchalance while refusing to be honest about her own feelings wouldn't get her anywhere. She scratched the back of her neck, wondering how to explain things she had a hard time admitting, even to herself.

"I wasn't in a good place back then," Eloise admitted, her gaze fixed on the polished surface of the coffee table that separated her from Penelope. "I was... scared."

Penelope paused, the chilled glass cool against her lips, her gaze lingering on her former friend, a wave of empathy washing over her. After all, who wasn't scared after graduating college?

"You know how my family is," she explained, but seeing the redhead's potential misinterpretation, she raised a hand to interrupt before continuing without meeting her eyes. "I don't mean you wanted to take advantage of them. I simply mean, you know how they are. They always knew what they wanted in life, perfectly aligned with our family's expectations. Even Hyacinth and Gregory, who are YouTubers, of all things. But they love it, the spotlight," she scoffed. "And you know how I always hated all of it. I was... alone. I pretended to be used to it, acted as if I was happily pursuing a law career and forging my own path, but I..." Her voice trailed off, her mouth twisting as she confessed. "I wasn't even sure if that's what I truly wanted."

"You?" Penelope asked, her eyebrows shooting up in response to this revelation.

Throughout college, Eloise never showed the slightest hint of inner conflict. In fact, while Penelope struggled and avoided any subjects that weren't mandatory, Eloise revelled in it all. She stayed late, delved into complex cases, and engaged in debates with professors.

Eloise shrugged. "I didn't know what my future would look like, and I didn't want to face it alone. When you were with me, I didn't have to confront the fact that I would have to figure it out on my own. But when I discovered that you were just like the rest of my family, it threw me off balance."

Penelope took another sip of her drink and pursed her lips. "Was that why you accused me of being a liar all those years?"

With a wince and a frustrated scratch of her head, the brunette whispered, "Nothing will ever excuse that, Pen. I was hurt, and it was easier for me to believe that you were betraying me than to accept the truth: that I never really belonged anywhere, not in my family, not in college, and not even with my best friend."

"That's not true," Penelope immediately responded, finding Eloise's statement too absurd to ignore. Eloise finally looked at her. "Even if we had different professions, you would always have been my best friend. You would have always fit in with me."

For a moment, Eloise stared, her forehead creasing slightly, the silence punctuated only by the quiet rustle of her skirt as she lowered her gaze to her clasped hands. "I don't think that's true, Pen. Otherwise, you wouldn't have felt the need to hide something so important from me, either."

"That's not fair," Penelope replied, feeling the anger from years ago resurfacing despite her efforts to rise above it.

"I'm not saying it's your fault," Eloise replied, looking at her with honesty. "Rather, if you didn't trust me then, there was obviously something wrong with our relationship."

The redhead furrowed her eyebrows, feeling uneasy about the assessment that their friendship was doomed from the beginning. Despite the pain Eloise had caused her, Penelope had always considered their friendship a constant in her life. She liked to believe it had started on an honest note, even though it had ended terribly.

"I apologise for my part," Eloise continued, surprising Penelope. She stared at the redhead with slightly teary blue eyes. "I understand that you can't unhear what I said all those years ago, even though I know I was wrong. I should have talked to you earlier, and to everyone else too," she emphasised, acknowledging that her entire family had questioned her distance. "I needed time for myself, to sort through the mess in my head, I suppose. And after a while, I convinced myself it was too late to come back."

Penelope bit her bottom lip, torn between anger towards Eloise and empathy for her inner turmoil. "So why did you come back then?" she asked, deciding to focus on Eloise's return rather than the hurtful departure.

Eloise raised her eyebrows, as if she hadn't expected that question. "Well, Daphne needed my help with her wedding," she said, her eyes twinkling with a knowing glint as she settled deeper into the soft cushions of the armchair, arms folded, a calculated nonchalance that screamed deception to Penelope. "I suppose I realised someone I love needed me and at last had a good excuse to come back," she explained, her tone more honest.

The other woman eyed her suspiciously. Placing her champagne flute on the coffee table, she dabbed her mouth with a napkin. "Now that the wedding's done, are you leaving again?"

With a nervous tap-tap-tap of her fingers on her forearms, Eloise stared at Penelope and replied, "No, I think I'll stay in London for a while. I actually got a job offer last week. Can you believe it?"

Raising the glass to her mouth again, Penelope found herself smiling slightly, despite her reservations.

"But don't mention it to Colin. I don't need any more reasons for him to kick me out," she amended, causing Penelope to almost forget about everything and chuckle. "Or do... I mean, you two are definitely closer than you and me these days," she muttered under her breath.

As Penelope looked at her, Eloise realized what a misstep that comment could be and quickly waved her hands, saying, "Not that I mean you're only his friend because—"

"I understand, Eloise," Penelope replied, this time allowing herself to chuckle. She had spent so much time away from Eloise's chaotic energy that she had actually forgotten what it was like.

Wheeling around, Penelope caught sight of something behind her. With a significant glance at Eloise, she subtly pointed towards the spot with her thumb and said, "You're lucky he's asleep."

A puzzled frown creased the Bridgerton girl's face; her friend's words made no sense until she followed her gaze. There, slumped in a reading chair, lay her brother, snoring gently, drool glistening at the corner of his mouth, lost in the world of REM sleep.

Eloise, dumbfounded, exclaimed, "What is he doing here?" She was still in disbelief that she hadn't even noticed her own brother right there.

"We're on the same flight," Penelope replied simply, staring at Eloise as if she were clueless. "Don't you two live together? Didn't he tell you he was leaving today?"

"Do you even know Colin?" Eloise glared at her slumbering brother before turning her attention back to Penelope. "He told me he was leaving today but, of course, forgot to mention the time of his flight."

"Of course," Penelope replied, a small smile playing on her lips as she finished her drink

Eloise watched her for a moment, contemplating whether or not to say what she was about to say. "Do you think this is a good idea?" she asked, and when Penelope gave her a questioning look, she clarified, "You and Colin on the same flight? Isn't the media already after you two as it is?"

Penelope furrowed her eyebrows slightly, surprised that Eloise of all people would bring that up. "It's not uncommon for castmates to travel together, besides," Penelope shrugged, letting out a tired sigh. "At this point, it doesn't really matter what we do. People are always assuming things."

Slowly nodding, the brunette watched her, still unconvinced. Feeling slightly uneasy, as if Eloise could somehow see right through her, Penelope glanced at her watch and silently expressed gratitude that it was finally time to head towards the gate.

"And now I actually need to wake him up," Penelope announced, rising slowly from the armchair and swaying only slightly once she was on her feet.

"Where is John?" Eloise inquired, as if she expected the assistant to be responsible for waking up Colin, which was absurd, but she had grown so accustomed to his presence that it somehow seemed natural.

Penelope shook her head, slightly scoffing at a joke that Eloise didn't seem to understand.

"He's on a flight to New Zealand with Rae. I still don't know how, but Colin managed to trick them into taking the wrong flight," Penelope remarked, and upon noticing Eloise's confusion, she added, "Rae is my assistant," before making her way towards Colin's chair.

The notion of Pen employing an assistant left Eloise even more confused. It made sense, of course, but it still felt surreal in a way that Eloise couldn't quite describe. It was as if Penelope were still that little girl who painted her nails and shrieked whenever anyone tossed her in the pool because she hated the feeling of water in her ears. As if she was still the same young woman who had given up on becoming a lawyer and chosen to pursue acting, freezing time after their argument by Colin's house. As if she wasn't the rising star who was recognised everywhere she went by dozens of people.

Eloise watched as Penelope slowly leaned in towards Colin, gently placing a hand on his shoulder and whispering something to him. Her brother stirred in his sleep, blinking in confusion for a moment before his gaze settled on Penelope. And then there was something in his eyes when he recognised her, a calmness, a warmth, a spark of something that Eloise had observed from afar while watching their interviews online.

Indeed, Penelope was not frozen in time, nor was Colin. It seemed that only Eloise was stuck in a time when she foolishly believed she understood what was happening around her.

"What on earth are you doing here?" Colin asked, his voice sharp as he reached her, startling Eloise from her reverie with the sudden intrusion.

She glanced at him, a bit disoriented for a moment, before her expression transformed into a glare. "Apparently saying goodbye to my idiotic brother, who couldn't even bother to tell me what time he's leaving."

Knowing Eloise was bluffing, Colin rolled his eyes. "Consider yourself lucky that you even know which day I'm leaving, unlike most of our siblings."

"Fine, whatever," Eloise grumbled, standing up abruptly and mockingly opening her arms. "Just have a nice flight and don't scare the New Zealand wildlife with your ugly face."

Reluctantly stepping into her embrace, Colin replied sarcastically, "Love you too, El." He then broke the hug, glanced at Penelope over his shoulder, and said, "I'm going to grab a bottle of water while you say your goodbyes."

Penelope nodded, their eyes met in a silent exchange, before Colin, with a playful ruffle of Eloise's hair, walked past her. With a frustrated groan, Eloise shoved her brother's hands away, smoothing her hair before locking eyes with Penelope.

"Um, bye, El—Eloise," Penelope said, swallowing hard. For a moment, Eloise thought Penelope would simply leave, but then she pursed her lips and spoke. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry for not trusting you either."

In truth, she required a bit of time to process what Eloise had shared with her, and for the time being, that was the most Penelope could provide. So, with a slight nod of farewell, she strolled past Eloise.

"Pen," Eloise called, and when Penelope turned to her with anticipation, the other woman continued, "I know things will never be the same between us, and I've done plenty over the years to make you doubt my words, but...if you ever need me, I'm just a phone call away."

Penelope's forehead creased in surprise at the unexpected statement, a slight frown tugging at her lips, but she nodded again, the movement almost imperceptible, before turning to follow Colin towards the lounge exit. Watching them go, Eloise took a deep breath, a feeling of impending change stirring in the pit of her stomach.

---

"What on earth are you watching?"

Penelope stared, utterly confused, at Colin's phone, where a video showed a man attempting a clumsy jump over a narrow stream, only to plunge directly into the water with a splash.

Colin turned his phone towards Penelope, allowing her to read the video title better: "TOP FIFTEEN PLACES TO VISIT IN NORTH ISLAND NEW ZEALAND."

A low chuckle rumbled in Penelope's chest as she leaned back into the plush, black leather of the car seat. "I had forgotten how fond you are of these things," she commented.

For a moment, she gazed out the window, the lush green landscape of said North Island a stark contrast to the brooding, grey storm clouds gathering overhead. Prior to being cast as Nora, Penelope rarely ventured beyond London, let alone the UK. Colin, on the other hand, had always been a passionate traveller. He would embark on long, distant journeys that Penelope found torturous, but he eventually settled down after establishing himself as an actor.

Colin raised an eyebrow, uncertain if he was confused by Penelope's tone or genuinely forgotten how much he loved to travel. However, he had learned not to discuss certain topics that had strained their friendship, such as the period of distance they experienced after Eloise left.

"I've been following this guy on YouTube for years. He's brilliant," Colin explained, keeping his phone turned towards Penelope."He's going to be here for a few months, which is quite a fortunate coincidence."

Penelope eyed the YouTuber again; he was gesticulating wildly before three large rocks on a windswept beach.

"He's kind of cute," she remarked.

Colin grimaced at the comment, feeling an odd sensation wash over him. It dawned on him that this was the first time he had heard Penelope comment on another man's appearance, despite knowing her for a significant amount of time. Strangely enough, he didn't like it. He quickly returned his attention to his phone screen, trying to understand what was so special about the man that would elicit such a comment.

"He's… blond," he commented, his voice dripping with disapproval, as if she'd committed a heinous crime.

Penelope gasped, taking offense to his remark. "And I have red hair. What's the matter with that?"

The man blinked, perplexed at how the conversation had escalated to this point, even though it was entirely his fault. His eyes, as they frequently did in those days, were caught by her red hair, its waves moving softly in the air that drifted in from Penelope's partly opened window.

"Nothing," he replied, swallowing hard before muttering under his breath, "since when are a redhead and a blonde regarded as the same?"

While he was correct, she continued to stare at him as if he had lost his mind. "You've dated blondes!" she retorted indignantly.

Furrowing his brow, he stared at her, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach at Penelope's unusual comments about his dating history, something he'd also never experienced before.

"That's not what I mean," he said dismissively, waving a hand as he pointed at his phone. The confused look on her face didn't deter him as he regained control of the conversation, adding, "It's just common knowledge that one cannot take a blonde man seriously."

Almost impossibly, the crease between her brows deepened, her frustration clear as she finally declared, "You're not making any sense," her voice tight with exasperation.

"Just trust me," Colin insisted, his glare fixed on the man.

"Trust a man who is clearly losing his sanity after a 24-hour flight? I don't think so," she replied, pointing at her phone. "You just said he's brilliant."

The man's index finger shot up, a rigid protest against the implication, as he said, "At his job, but that doesn't mean I would take him seriously in any other circumstance."

Penelope stared at the side of his face in utter perplexity. "Okay, I give up on this conversation," she declared, crossing her arms, completely missing the driver's amused glance in the rearview mirror. Ready to tune out Colin and appreciate the view, she was suddenly drawn to something she glimpsed out of the corner of her eye.

"What is that?" she asked, pointing at Colin's phone once again, their previous bickering forgotten. The blond YouTuber was now on a boat inside a cave, with hundreds of tiny blue fluorescent lights sparkling above him, resembling a starry night sky.

A satisfied smirk played on his lips as Penelope quickly gave up her annoyance; but he chose to answer her rather than comment on it. "Glowworm caves," he said.

Bewildered by the strange name, a frown etched itself onto her forehead. However, captivated by the magical view on the screen, she leaned closer and closer, completely entranced.

"It seems that all of those lights are small insects, somewhat similar to fireflies, I suppose? But they don't fly around. I'm surprised he managed to film this part of the cave. The last time we visited, every video I came across on the topic mentioned that tourists typically aren't allowed to take pictures inside the caves. I wonder if he got a special licence or something?" Colin rambled, watching the video together with Penelope.

"It's so beautiful," she said in awe, her eyes fixated on the glowing scenery. "It's like a thousand blue stars."

"It's like a night scene from Avatar," Colin commented, and Penelope couldn't help but glance up at him, a chuckle bubbling up at the unexpected comparison. It was truly amazing how Colin, with his sensitive, poetic soul and artistic talent, could still, in unguarded moments, reveal the unadulteratedboywithin.

"What?" he shrugged, and she shook her head before refocusing on the screen, a smile forming on her lips.

Colin's attention snapped away from the screen; he found himself captivated by Penelope's engrossed expression as she watched. He couldn't help but notice the way her eyes sparkled and a bright blush bloomed across her cheeks when she was excited, and the fact he'd caused that reaction filled him with a quiet pride.

"You know, we could go there tomorrow," he suggested, and her head whipped up, almost startled. He continued, "Production doesn't start until the day after tomorrow. We should take advantage of the fact that Anthony has finally found some reason."

"Um..." Penelope blinked and settled back into her seat as Colin pocketed his phone. "Wouldn't we need to buy the tickets in advance for that sort of thing?" she asked, scratching her head and avoiding his gaze.

The man frowned slightly, realising that she was probably right. He fished for his phone in his pocket again and googled about it. Penelope was so captivated by the view that it seemed only natural to look for a place where they could see it.

"I guess... if we were to try going to a paid visit like the Waitomo Caves, but..." he trailed off, tapping on his mobile, the screen illuminating his face, "there are really lots of sites across the North Island where we can simply visit and view them for free. I think there are even a few parks? Because these glowworms don't only grow in caves, so you can see them in other places like forests and bushes and—"

"It's okay, Colin," she interrupted him, recognising that he was getting invested in the subject and feeling a wave of panic settle in her stomach.

It wasn't that she didn't want to go, because she definitely did, or that she didn't want to go with Colin, because she wanted that even more. But the fact that the two of them going on an impromptu trip on their own to a beautiful and magical place screamed danger to her heart. And she couldn't do that. She told herself she wouldn't.

"Actually, I promised Kate I'd go out with her tomorrow," she continued, which wasn't a lie.

As soon as they found out they'd have a day off before the start of production, they texted each other and loosely planned to fulfil their promise from all those months prior. They had to go out once in a while, after all.

"Oh," Colin said, visibly deflating before putting away his phone again.

Seeing Colin so disheartened immediately made Penelope feel guilty, so she blurted out, "You can come with us," even though her initial intention was to keep some distance between them.

However, Colin shook his head, still wearing a rejected puppy expression. "I don't want to intrude on what I assume is a girl's night," he replied, his dejection evident.

It was truly ridiculous because Penelope had every right to have friends other than him, but he had somehow assumed they would spend their free day together.

Penelope bit her lip, uncertain how to navigate that side of Colin or how to improve the situation. She never anticipated him being so upset that she couldn't go out with him.

But then, his sadness took a turn towards theatrical moping. "I guess I was hoping you'd help distract me from the impending worst day of my life," he dramatically announced, his voice laced with self-pity. Penelope's questioning gaze made him add quickly, "The kiss scene."

Recognition dawned in her eyes. "What? When?"

"Monday," he replied.

"Already?"

Colin sighed, slumping on his seat as he stared at the ceiling, "First day of shooting and Anthony is already set on torturing me. But he swears it's because of the weather," he said, his voice tight with frustration, as he gestured to the window showing a dreary, grey sky spitting out a light drizzle. "Apparently, it's going to rain all week, so he wants to take advantage by shooting the indoor scenes. And I'm just the first victim."

"It will be fine," she reassured him. "I mean, haven't you kissed dozens of people on screen?"

Her nonchalant remark should have earned her an Oscar, considering she actively avoided watching his kissing scenes. Penelope could be an actress herself, but her reasons hardly mattered when it came to Colin. She would always despise watching him kiss anyone, and after many years, she had stopped blaming herself for it. Sometimes, emotions didn't adhere to notions of right or wrong; they simply existed.

Colin's eyebrows furrowed slightly at her comment, feeling a sense of unease without being able to explain why.

"Not dozens," he defensively replied. "And none of them were Cressida," he added with a shudder, unable to contain his aversion.

A small, private smile played on Penelope's lips as she shook her head; Colin was refreshingly different from the majority of men who were completely smitten with Cressida.

"Even so, the two of you are professionals. It shouldn't be different from any other scene," she said. "Or so I'm told."

Colin looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"

She huffed, fully aware of what he was asking and instantly regretting her previous comment. However, deep down, she felt a desire to confide in Colin about her doubts and fears regarding her acting career. After all, he was the one person who had always been there to support her without passing judgment.

"I've actually…" she trailed off, her cheeks flushed, "never had a kissing scene."

"Really?" Colin furrowed his eyebrows, racking his brain in an attempt to recall any romantic moments from her shows, movies, and plays, but to no avail. "What about your acting classes?"

She tilted her head, considering how to explain it. "I guess my acting classes were more focused on the theoretical aspects. At least, that was the case for me," she said.

The truth was, she actively avoided those kinds of scenes while she was learning. However, she hesitated to explain the reasons or give any justifications to Colin. These insecurities were personal matters that she wasn't ready to share with him, and maybe she would never be. Still, as she grew older, she became less apprehensive about performing physically romantic scenes; but unfortunately, such roles never came her way. Penelope was never the type to be the beautiful love interest, always the funny friend, the inspiring co-worker who overcame body issues, the clumsy neighbour, or even the bitter bully once.

"It can get technical, I guess," Colin said with a grimace, feeling challenged by the subject matter and the fact that he was about to film a scene like this with Cressida, of all people. "You just need to understand what looks good on camera, and sometimes it depends on the director's vision," he added, scratching his head. "But I won't lie, it can be awkward and uncomfortable at times, especially if you're not particularly fond of your co-star. Because, at the end of the day, it is a genuine kiss."

Penelope also grimaced, unsure about her own thoughts regarding the situation. "But what if it's the other way around? What if you end up developing feelings for the person?"

Colin paused, surprised that such a question would come from Penelope. "Professionally, it's not supposed to happen, but... I mean, it has happened so often in the past that I'd be lying if I said it can't happen."

"To you, you mean?" Penelope blurted out before she could stop herself.

He stared at her for a moment. "No, not to me," he answered without hesitation. "I meant in general."

"Oh," Penelope trailed off, averting her eyes to the black leather seat between them.

"I'm actually pretty good at leaving my characters behind," Colin commented lightheartedly as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"So, you've never..." Penelope wrinkled her forehead, considering if she should really ask Colin this. But if he was truly just her friend, and she was merely curious, there wouldn't be any harm, right? "Developed feelings for someone you've worked with?"

Colin considered her question, the leather of his seat creaking beneath him as his heart pounded an unfamiliar rhythm. "Not really," he replied, searching for the right answer. "I suppose when you're in character, you have to bring forth those emotions somehow, but... when the cameras stop rolling, it's over."

If Colin were to be honest, sometimes it felt that way even in real life. As much as he had dated - and he had dated plenty - it always seemed that once it was over, it was truly over. He was never one to fall head over heels and remain stuck in a feeling, in a person, longer than necessary. Sometimes he wished it wasn't that way, as it didn't feel like it was supposed to be like that, at least not for him.

"Well," Penelope responded, eager to change the topic, "I'm relieved that I don't have to kiss someone I can't stand."

Colin gestured towards her as though that was precisely his argument from the beginning, then added, "I mean, no one can force us to do anything. If I felt uncomfortable, I could have refused, but..."He paused and grimaced. "It's fine. She may be insufferable, but she's still a professional. I'll survive. After all, I always knew this scene would happen for Leonidas. My main goal is to do what's best for the movie, and I trust Anthony." He glanced at Penelope and quickly added, "But please don't tell him I said that."

Penelope shook her head, smiling with exasperation. "You'll be fine. Even if she's blonde," she teased.

Colin narrowed his eyes and stuck out his tongue at her.

---

"Wow," Edwina exclaimed, her eyes widening in awe as she took in the breathtaking sight of the lush forests and rolling hills. "You were right, didi. I'll find plenty of inspiration for my book here."

"See? I told you bon," Kate said, her footsteps crunching on the fallen leaves as she closed the car door. The crisp autumn air enveloped them, carrying with it the earthy scent of damp soil. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she playfully nudged her sister and teased, "Don't forget you're here to work, too." She raised one eyebrow.

As they walked towards the trailers, Edwina playfully snatched Kate's bag. "Yes, I wouldn't want to upset my boss." Just as Kate started to respond, Edwina interrupted, subtly nudging her and smiling knowingly at something ahead. "Beware, the handsome director is approaching."

Kate blinked at her in confusion, barely able to utter a "The what?" before Anthony and Agatha reached them.

And, oh, how Kate despised the fact that Edwina was actually right. Did Anthony really have to wear a deep V-neck shirt that revealed his chest? And it was perfectly complemented by his tousled hair and sunglasses on top. She knew it was their day off, but seriously, was he moonlighting as a romantic lead in another movie?

"Kate! I'm so glad you made it here safely," Agatha said with a bright smile. She was dressed in a dark red blouse and black cropped pants. At least someone was appropriately dressed, Kate thought as Agatha turned to her sister. "You too, Edwina."

"Good afternoon, Mrs Danbury," Edwina answered politely. "Mr Bridgerton."

The older woman grimaced. "Please, call me Agatha."

Kate shook her head at her sister, a lighthearted smile on her lips. "Please forgivemy assistant. She's quite excited on her first day of work."

Edwina looked at her sister, her eyes twinkling with amusement, and playfully scrunched her nose. She then addressed Anthony, who was unusually quiet, a smirk playing on her lips as she inquired, "And you? What should I call you then?"

Anthony widened his eyes slightly while Kate furrowed her eyebrows at her sister. Because Edwina and Anthony had definitely met the previous year, and Kate could easily recognise when her sister was flirting with someone.

"Um," the director began, clearing his throat and shoving his hands in his pockets. "Just call me Anthony too, it's fine."

"Alright," Edwina answered with a smile.

And it should be alright, because Kate knew Edwina possessed a disarming charm that ensured she would never overstep boundaries and make anyone had only asked a silly question, but Kate couldn't help feeling bothered. The actress' gaze then shifted to Anthony, fearing that he would be captivated by her sister like every other man with sense. However, to her surprise, he was already looking back at Kate.

Agatha turned her gaze to Anthony, patiently awaiting his explanation of their purpose for being there, yet his attention appeared to be elsewhere. Edwina then also looked at him expectantly.

Realising he had been staring at Kate for too long, Anthony cleared his throat, placing his hands on his hips as he spoke. "Right. We'll need to change the schedule this week." He absentmindedly adjusted the shades on his head. "The forecast originally predicted sunny weather until Friday, but now there's a massive storm heading our way."

"I can see that," Kate remarked, her eyes fixed on the dark, ominous cloud on the horizon.

Anthony nodded. "I'll send the details to..." He paused, his gaze shifting to Edwina, then reluctantly finished, "...your assistant."

Edwina beamed a bright, toothy smile and gave a thumbs-up, completely unaware of Kate's stare.

"Alright," Kate answered slowly.

Anthony once again looked at her for a moment too long before saying, "That's all," and turning around.

Agatha's eyes widened slightly at his abrupt conclusion of the conversation. She spun around and had to hurry to keep pace as the director quickened his stride. "Aren't you forgetting something?" she asked sharply.

He suddenly stopped and without missing a beat, turned back to the two sisters who were now a few meters away. "Agatha and I have arranged brunch for the entire cast and crew," he called out to them. "We're celebrating the success of our first movie. It's in the cafeteria, so you two should drop by." With a nod and a firm press of his lips, he turned around and left once more, leaving Agatha confused and scrambling to catch up with him again.

But really, who could blame him? Did Kate have to wear a form-fitting off-shoulder dress, and why was her skin so radiant? Hadn't she just arrived from a flight? Was she intentionally trying to kill him?

---

Kate wished the first thing she'd look for at brunch wasn't a drink; however, that day was testing her resolve. Edwina, as usual, was completely distracted and star-struck. Her older sister couldn't blame her, though. It wasn't Edwina's fault that Kate felt so off-balance when it came to Anthony lately.

In any case, her idea of a drink vanished when, while they were lining up to serve themselves mini sandwiches, her sister stopped short.

"Are those Colin and Penelope?" she pointed out, referring to the duo sitting across from each other at a corner of a long table, engrossed in conversation and laughter. Curiously, not only Edwina but a considerable amount of the cast and crew were also staring at them. Kate wondered if they hadn't noticed the attention or if they had become so used to it that they didn't even care anymore.

Realising she had drifted off and failed to respond to her sister, Kate cleared her throat and said, "Yes, I thought you met them at the wrap party?"

"No, I think I met every single Bridgerton but them. But him, I mean," Edwina replied. "I don't think I even saw them that day."

Kate narrowed her eyes at her sister, finding her interest in them strange. "Are you going to tell me you're one of those people online thatshipthem?"

"I didn't even know you knew what that word meant, didi," Edwina joked as she poured herself a glass of orange juice. Kate widened her eyes in offense. Edwina then handed a glass of orange juice to Kate and continued with a mischievous smile, shifting her gaze to the pair. "Besides, does anyone truly have to be online to see the obvious? I did watch all of your press tour, if you're reminded."

Kate rolled her eyes at her sister. "I remember."

"So you know," Edwina answered cheekily, taking a sip of her juice as she scrutinised Kate.

"I don't know a single thing," Kate replied sharply, raising her hand to emphasise her point, even if she was lying. Surely, she had seen exactly what Edwina had seen on the press tour, if not more. But in her mind, what was revealed in dressing room restrooms after a dramatic Instagram video and an ensuing emotional outburst stayed in dressing room restrooms. Which reminded her...

"Let's say hi to them. I actually need to talk to Penelope," she said.

As Edwina smiled brightly and followed her, Kate turned around and pointed at her accusingly. "Don't make any inappropriate comments to them," she warned.

The younger girl rolled her eyes as they continued walking. "Don't you know me at all?" she muttered under her breath.

Penelope spotted Kate as soon as she approached them, waving excitedly. Colin turned around to see who his friend was greeting and nodded at Kate with a smile.

"Hi, you two," Kate said with a smile, then turning to her sister, she introduced, "I don't think you met her last year but this is my sister Edwina. She's working part-time as my assistant while she seeks inspiration to complete her book."

"Oh!" Penelope exclaimed before beaming. "That's amazing."

"Nice to meet you, Edwina," Colin said politely, and the girl smiled at him.

"Why don't you join us?" Penelope suggested, pointing to the empty seats to their right.

"Actually, I came here with a purpose," Kate commented as she sat beside Colin, positioning herself to face Penelope for their conversation, while Edwina sat across from her, next to Penelope. "What time do you want to go out tomorrow?"

"Go out?" Edwina immediately questioned, raising her eyebrows at Kate. "Who are you and what have you done with my sister?"

"Tell me about it," Colin said, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he gestured towards Penelope as if he couldn't recognise her either.

Kate and Penelope exchanged eye rolls before the redhead shifted her gaze thoughtfully towards her plate of shakshouka. She absentmindedly twirled her fork in the sauce, deep in contemplation. "As long as I can get some sleep today, I'm available at any time tomorrow," she replied.

"Personally, I feel like I could sleep for twelve hours straight," Colin commented, taking a sip of his coffee and grimacing at the bitter taste.

"That's how you always feel," Penelope noted, a grimace also accompanying her coffee sip.

Edwina observed them as Colin focused on responding to Penelope."But I can't always sleep that long, so trust me, I'll grab every minute of sleep I can today."

Penelope narrowed her eyes, pretty sure she had once woken him up with a call at 1 pm a few months ago, but she chose not to mention it. She attempted to drink her coffee again, but the bitter, burnt taste made her quickly stick out her tongue and shake her head in disgust.

"Urgh. Why does this taste so bad?" she asked.

Colin made a face as he looked down at his cup, swirling the dark liquid inside. "I'm pretty sure Anthony must have instructed them to make this as bitter as possible."

"If you hate it, why are you drinking it?" Edwina finally inquired, taking a bite of her sandwich.

The co-stars exchanged a glance before Colin chuckled, shaking his head as he dug into his quiche with enthusiasm. Penelope gave him a look, then turning to Edwina, stated, "For no reason."

"Sure," Colin nodded dramatically, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he enthusiastically chewed on his food.

Edwina looked at them with confusion, while Kate couldn't help but smile. It was always amusing when someone met Colin and Penelope together in person.

Meanwhile, Penelope stabbed at her eggs with a fork, the metal clinking harshly against the ceramic plate as she huffed in frustration. "Fine. I may be a little..." she sheepishly admitted, "hungover."

A mixture of shock and confusion painted Edwina and Kate's faces as they stared, the silence broken only by Colin's muffled chuckle behind his hand.

Penelope then glared at him before saying, "So, is Colin, by the way."

"Oh, and why am I hungover, Pen?" He leaned toward her, fork dangling from his fingers, chin resting on the back of his hands, and defiantly posed his question. "Would you care to share that with the class?"

The redhead looked at him with indignation. "I was going to drink everything by myself," Penelope said defensively, placing a hand over her chest.

Colin twisted her face in a disbelieving grimace. "You were laughing so loudly that the flight attendant asked me to take care ofmy wife."

Penelope's cheeks flushed, completely unaware of that detail of the story. She quickly recovered, erasing the wordsmy wifefrom her brain at lightning speed before raising her hands defensively. "It was a funny movie!"

"It was The Shining," he replied, staring at her indignantly.

She opened her mouth, but then realized she had no leg to stand on because she could only remember a few glimpses of the movie, like a pool of blood and a guy writing on a typewriter. She tilted her head and asked, "Was it?"

He raised his eyebrows and said, "Yes," before taking a sip of his coffee and groaning. "Which is a film I've been trying to get you to watch for ages, I might add."

"You know I hate horror films," she replied.

"Well, drunk you doesn't," he said, his fork cutting through the flaky, buttery crust of the quiche—oddly, always his favourite part.

Penelope groaned and covered her face with her hands. "Why can't I be the kind of drunk that just falls asleep? All I wanted was to sleep."

"I told you to try the sleeping pills instead," he said, finally taking a sip of water.

"They don't work for me, okay?" Penelope answered, raising her hands in frustration. "I tried them when we stopped in Los Angeles and I was still wide awake. All I got was watching you snore. Again."

Colin pursed his lips, suppressing a smile at his friend's expense, to no avail—his friend could see right through him.

"Fine, go ahead and laugh," she pointed at him, making matters even worse. "You can sleep on a rock, and I haven't slept in two days because those airplane seats are unbearable."

"Listen, I had empathy for your pain," Colin pointed to his chest in mock offense. "I drank an entire bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon so you wouldn't end up in airplane jail."

Penelope glared at him as Kate chimed in, "Are you two sure you're not still drunk?"

"Not with this headache," Colin replied bitterly, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I feel like I could definitely recognise The Shining if I watched it now," Penelope replied.

"May I sit here?" a fifth voice interrupted their conversation, causing all of them to turn and see Genevieve pointing to the empty seat next to Edwina. The cafeteria had become crowded while they were distracted, leaving very few seats available.

Before Edwina could respond, Penelope's eyes widened with excitement as she exclaimed, "Gen!" She quickly got up and hugged her.

Colin and Kate exchanged a confused look since neither of them remembered the two of them being close the last time they were filming.

Genevieve chuckled softly at Penelope's enthusiasm and gave her a gentle pat on the back. "The flowers and messages were thank you enough," she said.

"Of course not," Penelope replied. As they broke off their hug, Penelope held Genevieve's hands and said, "I've always wanted to thank you in person, but I didn't want to impose."

"Oh, you have already repaid me, believe me," Genevieve said with a smirk, squeezing Penelope's hands before both women sat down.

"Business is doing well, then?" Penelope asked, taking another bite of her now cold shakshuka.

"Too well," Genevieve answered, digging her fork into her slightly scrambled eggs. "I had to bring in a bit of help, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to make it, and I wouldn't have missed this for the world." She took a sip of her cappuccino and then pointed at Kate and Penelope, saying, "The designs I have in mind for your dresses this season." With a flourish, she kissed the tip of her fingers, being as theatrical as she often liked to be.

Kate smiled at that, excited to see Genevieve's recent work. They had already tried on a few outfits back in London, and she could tell that she would finally be able to ditch the brown coats and ashy-toned dresses. Penelope, on the other hand, didn't need to attend any fittings in London, as her outfits would remain almost the same for the second movie, only requiring a few adjustments. Which was precisely why she was confused.

"My doublets and pants you mean," Penelope said, a self-deprecating smile playing on her lips as she took a final, slow sip of her coffee.

"No," Genevieve asked, furrowing her eyebrows. "They told me to design two dresses for you."

"What? Why?" Penelope asked, completely at loss. As far as she remembered, she spent most of the movie, if not all of it, in the same drab brown outfits; the only variation was the increasing amount of mud splattered across them.

The designer raised one hand, her palm up as if it were obvious. "Wouldn't you wear one of them in one of your scenes?"

Penelope blinked, wondering if she had somehow been too distracted during the table read. "I don't—"

At that point, Colin also began to doubt his own sanity. "I don't remember that in the script, or even in the book. Did they add any scenes for you, Pen?"

"Not that I'm aware of," she replied, almost defensively. If Colin didn't remember any dress-required scenes, she couldn't be going insane. Although there would be a few scenes where they were apart, the majority of the movie would feature them together.

Shrugging, Genevieve said, "Well, I hope they make good use of the dresses," she took a sip of her frothy cappuccino, muttering under her breath, "And of my valuable time."

"Speaking of time," Edwina interrupted, her high-pitched voice bright with excitement, a questioning eyebrow raised at her sister. "I remember someone mentioning going out tomorrow, and I want the details."

As Genevieve perked up, Kate let out an exasperated breath at her sister.

"I'm interested too," the designer said.

Colin, on the other hand, huffed. "And I'm finally going to sleep," he declared, standing up and gathering his plate and cup. As the women looked at him questioningly after his abrupt interjection, he glanced at Penelope and raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't want to intrude on the girl's night," he explained before nodding at them and making his way out. Penelope gave him an exasperated look before he left.

Kate stared at her questioningly, and Penelope simply answered, "He's slightly upset I'm bailing on him tomorrow," the emphasis onslightlydripping with sarcasm.

Casually biting into her sandwich, Edwina shared, "It's only natural. Back when we were dating, my ex wasn't too fond of me going out with my friends and leaving him alone." Penelope, seated across from her, had a sudden choking fit. Meanwhile, Kate and Genevieve stared at Edwina with wide eyes and an amused smirk respectively. Shrugging her shoulders, Edwina put on an innocent expression and added, "What? I thought this kind of thing was normal in relationships."

Penelope, clutching at her chest, managed a hoarse, strained, "We're not dating."

"Oh?" Edwina replied, taking a final sip of her juice. "I'm sorry, my mistake."

---

After a whooping twenty hours of sleep, lulled by the rhythmic drumming of rain against her windowpanes, Penelope felt ready to make the most of her Sunday. The clouds, less menacing than the previous day, were intermittently pierced by rays of sunlight, creating a strangely unsettling blend of cheerfulness and foreboding. Strangely enough, this matched Penelope's mood perfectly as she prepared for what Colin referred to as theirgirls' night, now expanded to include Edwina and Genevieve alongside Penelope and Kate.

Fortunately for the original duo, Edwina and Gen were much more experienced in finding ideal hangout spots, and they eagerly took on the challenge of planning the perfect night out. The only request from Penelope and Kate was to avoid any places where they might be easily recognised. Edwina grumbled a bit, realising that her plans to visit Auckland were quickly dashed, but she soon discovered a charming medium-sized town just an hour's drive away. And to her delight, it even had a cocktail bar that piqued her interest.

However, upon entering the establishment, they quickly realized that it wasn't the trendy, Instagram-worthy, high-end venue that the younger Sharma had anticipated. Instead, it was a simple bar with rustic wooden tables, unfamiliar music blaring in the background, and boisterous conversations filling the air.

"Maybe I got the address wrong," Edwina commented, glancing down at her phone, while the other three girls surveyed the bar, which seemed to be surveying them back, recognising them as newcomers.

"Do you know of any place nearby that serves food?" Kate inquired, trying not to sound overly grumpy, but their last meal had been five hours ago, and after an hour-long drive to the wrong place, she was simply famished.

Edwina frowned as the glow from her cellphone illuminated her face. "Maybe," she replied.

"I think they serve food here," Penelope said softly, gesturing towards a free table with a menu laid out on top.

"There's another restaurant that I found interesting," Edwina commented, still engrossed in her Instagram. "It's a twenty-minute drive," she then looked at Kate, who had been their driver. However, the woman didn't seem that excited about the prospect.

"Those fries look good," Genevieve said, eyeing the golden, crispy fries a group of boisterous men were sharing. She then glanced at the empty table that Penelope had pointed out before walking towards it. "Maybe we can just take a look at the menu?"

Kate and Penelope followed her, while Edwina reluctantly dragged behind until they all settled down to see what food they had to offer. After seeing a list that included garlic pizza bread, parmesan fries, nachos, and a wide selection of mouthwatering hamburgers, Penelope had to admit her stomach was growling.

"I mean... the pastrami club does look tempting," she said, her voice tinged with hesitation as she contemplated just placing the order instead of continuing the search for a different place to eat, uncertain of her companions' preferences.

The music changed, and a wave of cheers swept through the crowd as people began to dance with wild abandon. Genevieve watched with a warm smile, while Kate nodded in acknowledgment of Penelope's comment.

"I mean, there's also that restaurant by the vineyard I told you about, didi," Edwina commented, pointing at her phone as she looked at Kate.

"It's alright, bon" Kate replied, handing the menu to her sister. "Maybe we should just eat here. What do you think?"

Her younger sister twisted her mouth slightly in distaste, but she took the menu, anyway. After reading its contents, she raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "This looks delicious," while pointing at a picture of a coastal lamb rump dish.

Kate smiled and nodded, knowing her sister would warm up to the idea. Meanwhile, Penelope and Genevieve were watching the animated crowd dancing and clapping along to the unfamiliar but catchy song. That was, until Penelope's eye caught someone by the bar.

"He's quite handsome," Genevieve remarked playfully, noticing Penelope's gaze following a certain direction.

However, Penelope's eyebrows furrowed as she responded, "I think I've seen him somewhere before."

"Oh?" the designer raised an eyebrow while the Sharmas turned their attention to the subject of their conversation.

Edwina then gasped, an excited smile forming on her lips, "I had no idea he was in New Zealand!"

"Who's that?" Kate asked, confused as to why everyone's focus was on the blond guy sipping a tall glass of beer at the bar counter.

"He runs a travel channel on YouTube," Penelope finally recalled where she had seen his face. "Colin did mention he was spending a few months here."

"Well, he may not be as handsome as Anthony, but..." Edwina's words trailed off.

"Edwina," Kate interrupted, widening her eyes at her sister.

"What?" Edwina replied, a mischievous smile on her lips as she misinterpreted her sister's exasperation. "Are you going to tell me you don't see it?"

Kate's mouth opened and stayed that way as she struggled to formulate a response, which didn't seem likely to happen anytime soon.

"I see it," Genevieve commented, a smirk playing on her lips, and the two women burst into giggles while Kate felt her cheeks burning. She needed to check the drink menu ASAP… if only she wasn't the designated driver.

Meanwhile, Penelope grimaced, never having seen Anthony in that light. The mere idea of seeing him in a romantic light was, in fact, about to give her nightmares. As much as she rationally knew all the Bridgerton's were pretty — the world sure seemed to voice that sentiment repeatedly — to her, Colin was by far the most handsome. His strong jawline, the intensity in his dark blue eyes, his well-defined muscular chest, and his impressive biceps. Not to mention, he was also taller than all of them. In Penelope's eyes, there was simply no competition.

"Don't look now, but I think he's looking back at you," Edwina suddenly said, breaking Penelope out of her daydream.

"What?" Penelope blurted out, momentarily confused.

Edwina nodded towards the bar, and as Penelope glanced over, she saw the blond man staring directly at her.

"Go talk to him," Genevieve suggested.

"Wait, no," Edwina interrupted, raising her hand and sitting up straight. She added, "Let him put in some effort."

Penelope couldn't help but chuckle at their advice. The idea of her approaching a man and striking up a conversation seemed absurd to her. It was even more ridiculous to think that a man would be interested enough in her to approach her first.

"They're right, he's looking at you," Kate said in a gentler tone, her gaze fixed on Penelope as if she could see the inner turmoil within her. Suddenly, Penelope recalled the advice she had received six months ago — not to let the lies of the world become truths in her head.

With this in mind, she glanced back at the blond man and managed a slight smile.

---

"Have you talked to your brother yet?"

Anthony carefully placed his warm coffee mug on the table, his eyes fixed on Agatha, who arched an eyebrow inquisitively. The serene Sunday afternoon enveloped him, with a breathtaking yet ominous sight of the sun piercing through the dark clouds on the distant horizon. The set felt quiet and deserted, as most of the cast and crew had gone to explore the nearby areas on their day off before filming began on Monday. Anthony, however, chose to stay behind with his metaphorical ship, savouring the warmth of his coffee in the cafeteria while surrounded by the cheerful chirping of birds.

"Not in the past 24 hours," he replied. The producer had been pressuring him to inform Colin about the additional scene they had added to the movie for several weeks now, and it had been the first question she asked him when they saw each other the previous day. Turning the question back to Agatha, he asked, "And you?"

With a shocked expression, Agatha pointed at her chest and questioned, "Me?"

Anthony nodded and took another sip of his steaming coffee, his lips pressed tightly together. "After all, it was your idea, wasn't it?" he stated.

Agatha scrunched up her face in distaste and lowered her shades to shield her eyes from a particularly stubborn sunray. Despite being autumn in New Zealand, the day was surprisingly hot, causing her to regret her choice of a long-sleeved linen blouse.

"It was," she conceded. "But you eventually agreed, didn't you?"

The director nodded, acknowledging that Agatha's idea, once outlined by her and written into the scene by Charlotte, had indeed fit the story well. However, he still struggled with how to break the news to Colin.

His brother and he had very few things in common, except perhaps their shared passion for movies and their mutual disdain for anything related to the media. That was precisely why he expected Colin wouldn't take the news of a script change lightly, especially when the reason was the media itself. Granted, Agatha seemed to see the benefits of the change for the story, and somehow Charlotte had listened. However, he questioned whether Colin would comprehend the situation well when they informed him he would need to kiss Penelope, a girl he likely considered a little sister.

"I think maybe the news will be better received if it comes from you," Anthony commented. "Working with family has many advantages, but also some disadvantages. This might be one of those times."

Agatha looked at him, studying his expression as understanding washed over her. "I see," she said. Although she had witnessed Colin and Penelope growing up over the years, she couldn't claim to know much about their friendship or their current relationship, which seemed to be a mystery to almost everyone.

"But I have to be honest," Anthony said, crossing his arms and leaning on the table. "Maybe we should wait a bit before letting them know, as it might change how they interact in the scenes."

Raising her eyebrows, Agatha considered that he might be right. "We can't wait too long, though. Aren't we scheduled to shoot it soon?"

As Anthony finished his drink, he extended his hand and made a wavering gesture, as if answering with amore or less.

"I can't believe you're still drinking that," Colin's voice suddenly sounded behind the director, and they turned to see him pointing at Anthony's cup. "Didn't you have an endoscopy last month?" He asked, oblivious to the topic his brother and the producer had been discussing.

"I did," Anthony commented as Colin sat beside him, "which is why I know I can drink this without worry." He raised his cup with a self-satisfied smile before adding, "Only level two gastritis."

The other two stared at him in disbelief.

"Either way, shouldn't you be out?" He turned to his younger sibling. "Enjoying the first day off you begged for."

With a sigh, the other Bridgerton replied, "Well, apparently I have no one to enjoy it with, so."

Anthony blinked and shared a surprised look with Agatha, both taken aback by Colin's bad mood.

"That's a shame. The weather seems quite lovely for a football match," Agatha commented casually, raising a pointed eyebrow.

Colin and Anthony immediately exchanged a knowing look. The Bridgertons were known for more than their looks and worldwide fame; they were also a ridiculously competitive bunch who spent their summers disputing over various games, including ball sports.

"We couldn't..." Anthony trailed off, shaking his head to dismiss the idea.

"Honestly, I think I'm still hungover from yesterday," Colin confessed. "The thirties are finally catching up to me. I can't even imagine how it must be for you."

Anthony glared at him before turning to Agatha. "Besides, there aren't enough people."

"I saw Thomas around," Agatha commented, crossing her arms over her chest. "And Kendrick."

Anthony looked at her pensively, while Colin pursed his lips. The duo exchanged another look, their Bridgerton competitive fire brewing right in front of Agatha's eyes, as planned.

"Well, I'm not hungover," Anthony stated with an annoyingly pleased smirk.

"And I'm not over forty,"Colin retorted, a mischievous glint in his eye as he rested his chin on his hand.

That seemed to be the breaking point for Anthony, who narrowed his eyes before abruptly standing up and striding away from the cafeteria. Colin, who quickly grasped the situation also stood up suddenly and chased after his brother, calling out, "Kendrick will be on my team. He runs faster than you!"

---

Kate and Penelope watched as Edwina and Genevieve energetically danced among the intoxicated crowd, their laughter blending with the music. Although the night was young, both women were satisfied after their meal, and Penelope was already longing for her bed once again.

"So, are you going to talk to him?" Kate asked, nodding towards the blond man who was still at the bar.

Penelope looked at him and let out a deep sigh before taking a sip of her coke. Unlike the other two, who swiftly became intoxicated and threw themselves into the crowd with wild abandon, she knew Kate wouldn't let it go.

"And leave you here alone?" Penelope asked, fully aware that this was the kind of excuse the other woman couldn't argue with.

Kate narrowed her eyes at her before shifting her gaze to a tall, strong, dark-haired man on the other side of the bar. She pointed to him with her water bottle and said, "I will if you will."

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, suggesting she thought Kate was cheating, but then she took a deep breath and decided to be brave. She slammed her hands on the table and stood up. "Deal," she said, as she waited for Kate to rise as well.

Kate winked at her, and both women walked confidently towards their targets, determined to follow through on their decisions to put themselves out there.

Penelope had no clue what she was doing, but she figured ordering a drink next to the man and attempting to strike up a conversation was a safe bet for the night. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a good idea because as soon as she leaned on the bar counter and asked for a pink pepper lemonade, she caught his attention.

"At least someone in this establishment will stay sober," he commented, smiling at her.

Despite her success, Penelope instantly felt nervous. She had received so little romantic attention from men in her life that her mind went blank, and she forgot how to engage in small talk.

"Um, I figured I had enough to drink yesterday," she replied, grimacing slightly.

He raised an eyebrow, not expecting that response from such a petite woman. "So you're just here to keep your friends company," he observed, pointing his thumb towards Edwina and Genevieve twirling happily together, with Edwina later blowing a kiss to the towering, robust man beside her.

"Something like that," Penelope responded, barely able to contain her amusement at the girls' behaviour. Her cue to leave came when the bartender placed a glass of lemonade in front of her, but she lingered by pretending to look for a straw.

"That's a shame," he responded. "There's plenty to do here besides waiting for your friends."

"So, you're here to work?" she asked, cringing at her own social awkwardness. "I'm sorry, I just..." she trailed off, and as he looked at her quizzically, she explained, "I know who you are."

As he looked at her, she felt a twinge of nervousness that dissipated when he let out a chuckle. "I suppose that's fair. I also know who you are."

Penelope's eyes widened as she momentarily forgot the possibility of being recognised, considering that nobody had approached her or Kate. Perhaps that was why he was looking at her in the first place, not because he was interested in her.

He extended his hand and introduced himself, "Alfred Debling," even though it was completely unnecessary.

Looking at his outstretched hand, she couldn't help but chuckle before finally shaking it and saying, "Penelope Featherington."

He nodded before taking a sip of his beer. Penelope picked up her lemonade, slurping it with her straw before mustering up some courage.

"So, what else is there to do here, then?" She asked.

That seemed to be the right move, because Alfred smiled at her.

Meanwhile, Kate was equally successful on her end, although she wished she wasn't.

"I mean, a hottie like you shouldn't be alone here."

"I'm not," she replied through gritted teeth. She had already explained that to him three times, the drunk idiot.

It was the third time she'd told him that, and he nodded again, a third time.

"So, what do you do for a living?" Kate's voice sounded strange and impatient, partly directed at the foolish man and partly at her own lack of small talk skills.

He grimaced, finding that type of conversation odd. Pointing to himself, he mentioned, "I'm a primary school teacher," the words slightly slurred as he swayed.

Kate's eyes widened. "Really?" She struggled to imagine how that tall, muscular, heavily intoxicated man could possibly teach young children math, especially considering he couldn't even remember his own name just ten minutes ago.

He nodded, pointing a finger at her before speaking. "You know, you look real familiar, like that girl from that movie—"

"I get that a lot," she interrupted, waving him off before he could start rambling about her work, even though he wasn't aware of it.

She was just about to ask him if he planned on going to work the next day after drinking all evening when a deafening thunderclap shook the building, drowning out the music from the bar.

Kate winced at the sudden loud noise, feeling her heart racing in her chest as panic began to take hold. "Is it raining?" she asked, her voice shaking.

He shrugged and replied, "I don't know. They said it's going to rain all week."

The woman let out a groan of frustration. She knew all about the forecast, but she double-checked and verified that there would be no rain on Sunday, with storms coming on Monday. However, she concluded that depending on a drunken fool for help would be rather pointless. So, she turned around and headed off towards the exit.

"Wait, I didn't get your name!" he shouted after her, but Kate only waved her hand dismissively without looking back.

Once outside, it was already too dark to see if the clouds in the sky were heavy, but it wasn't raining yet, which she considered a small victory. She pulled out her phone from her pocket and checked the weather app, which predicted rain in their area at around nine pm. With a sigh, she realized they would have to cut their night short and hurried back inside the bar.

With a quick glance, she located Pen near the bar, still engaged in a conversation with the youtuber, her face displaying a polite smile. And as Kate approached, the redhead couldn't help but notice the concern etched on her face.

"Kate, what's wrong?" she asked as soon as the brunette was near enough.

"There's a storm coming our way," Kate replied, as if it explained everything. "It's going to last all night."

"Yes, this week is expected to break records for rainfall in this area," Alfred chimed in matter-of-factly, causing Kate to do a double take before turning back to Penelope.

"We really need to leave. I can't drive in a storm," she said urgently.

Penelope gazed into her friend's brown eyes, sensing fear within them. She couldn't quite comprehend the reason behind it at that moment, but she didn't dare ask. Especially since Kate was their only viable option for driving, with the other choices being two intoxicated girls and one who couldn't drive to save her life.

"Alright," Penelope replied, meeting Kate's eyes with a reassuring look. Then, she turned to Alfred with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, but I really have to go."

"It's okay," he responded calmly. "You have my number."

She smiled at him one last time before taking Kate's hand and making their way to the dancefloor. "Do you?" Kate couldn't help but ask as they headed towards Edwina and Genevieve, earning an exasperated look from Penelope.

Untangling the other two from the dancing crowd proved to be a challenge, especially with Edwina's protests and pouts. However, they managed to swiftly get them into the car.

"Kate, slow down," Edwina complained from the back seat as Kate drove at lightning speed. "I'm going to be sick."

"Actually," Genevieve interjected, placing a hand over her mouth. "I'm not feeling well either."

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to endure it," Kate said, gesturing widely with one hand while firmly gripping the steering wheel with the other.

The cityscape transformed into a blur of trees through Kate's window, and checking the clock at 8:30 pm, Kate realised they had a chance to make it. That was until a third thunderbolt struck, causing her to nearly jump from her seat.

"Are you alright?" Penelope asked from the passenger seat, noticing Kate's growing anxiety.

"I'm fine," she replied quietly, wiping her forehead. The main road was darker than she preferred, and that single lightning bolt sent her heart racing at an unhealthy pace. However, she was determined to make it. She had been fighting her fear of storms for many years, and this was just a light rain—nothing to be afraid of. She could handle it.

And then Edwina's voice, weak and sleepy, came from the backseat once again. "Didi, I think it's raining," she said softly, pointing to the droplets trickling down the window.

Kate's breath caught, and she noticed the drops falling on the windshield. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened significantly, her nails digging into her palms. She could handle it, everything was fine. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck to their right, causing her to place a hand over her heart and breathe rapidly.

"Kate," Penelope called, noticing her increasing distress.

"I'm... I'm fine," she weakly replied between breaths.

Penelope was about to comment that it didn't seem that way when the rain started pouring heavily, making everything ahead of them blurry and filling the car with the sound of water pounding on metal. Kate's breathing became even more erratic as she clutched her chest. Another thunderous roar, and she had reached her limit.

"Okay, I can't do this," she gasped, trying to pull over to the side only to realise they were on a stretch of road without a shoulder.

Another flash of lightning to their side made her squeeze her eyes shut, the sound of rain pounding in her ears. She then turned on the car's hazard lights and pulled over, silently thanking that the road was empty for now.

"I'm sorry, I thought I could," Kate said, still with a hand over her heaving chest. "I can't... I still can't..."

"It's alright, didi," Edwina replied, though still in a drunken state and only partially understanding what was happening.

Penelope placed a hand on Kate's shoulder, feeling completely lost as to what she should do. "Breathe, Kate, just breathe," she repeated, scanning the surroundings for any sign of approaching cars.

"We shouldn't stay here for long," Genevieve said, more aware of the dangerous situation than Edwina. Opening the window, she leaned out to look behind the car, feeling the cold rain on her face, which helped clear her mind.

"I can't..." Kate repeated, wincing at the sound of rain outside Genevieve's open window. "I'm sorry, I really can't."

"Gen, you didn't drink that much, can't you drive?" Penelope asked desperately, her hand still on Kate's shoulder.

Genevieve widened her eyes, as if Penelope had completely lost her mind. "Not for at least a couple of hours," she replied.

Penelope cursed under her breath right before the dreaded question arose from the designer. "Can't you?"

With a grimace, the other woman confessed, "I haven't been behind the wheel since I passed my driving test," and when Genevieve seemed to think it was no big deal, Penelope clarified, "Fifteen years ago."

"Do you want me to drive?" Edwina asked, but all she heard in response was a unanimous "No" from the others, right before a passing car honked loudly at them for blocking the lane.

Penelope placed a hand over her heart, startled by the sudden noise, then looked at Kate and asked, "How far are we from the set?"

"Pen," Kate shook her head, "You don't have to—"

"How far?" Penelope interrupted, raising her eyebrows.

"About twenty kilometres," the other actress answered.

Penelope tilted her head, considering that it wasn't too far.

"It's a straight line until we get closer to the set, then we can stop the car safely," Kate explained.

"Alright..." Penelope trailed off, her heart pounding as she looked up at Kate, "I can try, if you help me?"

Another car zoomed by at a dangerously high speed as Kate nodded. She manoeuvred herself to sit in the back seat between Genevieve and Edwina, who grumbled drunkenly. Penelope then got into the driver's seat. Luckily, it was on the right side, just like when she first learned to drive, or they would have faced issues from the beginning.

"Alright, so," Kate said as she leaned over the backrest of the driver's seat, her hand still over her heart, "When you learned, did you drive a manual or an automatic car?"

Penelope glanced at the gear change, which was obviously an automatic, and answered with a trembling voice, "Manual."

Another thunder rumbled and Kate flinched, keeping her eyes closed as she said, "It's alright, driving an automatic car is easier."

"Sure," Penelope muttered, thinking that nothing about the situation felt easy at all. Her hand hovered over the gear change, causing Kate to almost leap out of her seat.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Driving?" Penelope asked, hearing a distant honk of complaint from another car.

"Adjust your seat and mirrors first," Kate pointed toward the rearview mirror with a trembling index finger. It shouldn't have felt so commanding, considering Kate was shaking, but somehow she made it work.

Penelope nodded and tried to follow instructions to the best of her recollection, which wasn't much, but she kept that to herself. Kate then started explaining how to operate the gears in the automatic car, and soon after, the redhead pushed the accelerator, and they started moving.

"Alright, good," Kate commented, taking deep breaths as the wiper blades cleared the water from the windshield. "Just remember not to drive too slowly, as that can also be dangerous."

Their driver pursed her lips, feeling sarcasticallyfantasticwhile her hands became sweaty on the steering wheel. Despite her fear, she slightly increased the speed, and for a while, everything seemed fine. There weren't many cars on the road, and Kate was able to provide her with important instructions, despite the heavy rain.

Ten minutes passed, and it seemed like they were going to reach their destination without any issues. That is, until an animal, which Penelope later realized was probably a possum, ran right in front of their car. Penelope screamed, and almost instinctively, Penelope turned the car to the right, even as Kate shouted, "Don't swerve—".

Unfortunately, the damage had already been done, and their car veered off the road and crashed into a tree. Surprisingly, after Penelope hit her head on the steering wheel, the first thing she did was look ahead at the damaged hood pressed against the wet tree and groan, "Oh, I'm going to end up on the news."

---

Depending on one's perspective, their football match was a success. It was almost inconceivable how the two teams could consistently… tie.

If anyone asked a member of Colin's or Anthony's team, they would simply tell the truth – that the two brothers were too competitive for their own good, and halfway through the match, everyone else was ready to quit.

And so, after four exhausting hours of playing, the boys finally gave up due to the heavy rain. They sought refuge in the cafeteria, their appetites prepared to devour an entire cow if necessary.

"I don't owe you anything. I already treated you to brunch yesterday," Anthony said, waving dismissively at Colin before plopping down on one of the long benches in the cafeteria.

"You're seriously going to make me eat soup after running for hours?" Colin complained, standing by the edge of Anthony's table. He wiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm. "I might have to report you to the employment tribunals."

Anthony glared at him, ready to respond, when Agatha suddenly approached them.

"Don't you dare complain about the smell," Anthony warned her before she could say anything, pointing at their sweaty selves. "It was your idea."

However, he failed to notice the fear in the woman's eyes until she cryptically said, "Dolores just returned from Auckland."

Colin and Anthony furrowed their brows, failing to understand the relevance of that information at that moment.

"She mentioned seeing a car wreck on her way to the set," Agatha continued. "It looked like a red Toyota Camry."

Colin was still utterly confused, but Anthony's heart raced with panic. "Didn't Kate—" Agatha nodded before he could finish his question.

"Is she okay? Did you call her?" Anthony rushed towards the producer, bombarding her with a million questions.

"What are you two talking about?" Colin asked, feeling anxiety grip his veins. The last time a car accident was brought up and he was only given vague details, it didn't turn out well.

"Kate rented a car just like that," Agatha answered Colin, unknowingly shattering his world. The producer then turned back to Anthony and said, "She and Edwina aren't answering their phones."

"Pen," Colin whispered, and the duo looked at him, his eyes filled with worry. "Penelope is with them."

Agatha pursed her lips, already aware of that fact. "Her phone is going straight to voicemail."

Colin's heart skipped a sickening beat, and he turned to Anthony, his pulse roaring in his ears. "Tell me you have a car."

Anthony looked at him as if the question was ridiculous before he started walking past him. Without another word, Colin ran after his brother, while Agatha yelled, "Where do you two think you're going?!"

As soon as they exited the cafeteria, the rain poured down on them, but the two men appeared unaffected by the cold, determined to reach the car. Luckily, Anthony's black Highlander was nearby, and he swiftly got into the car, knowing exactly where it was parked, allowing him to reach the driver's seat before Colin could object.

"Go, go, go!" Colin shouted as Anthony started the car, as if he needed to be told twice.

They soon sped away from the set, much to Agatha's dismay, who watched with her hand on her forehead. While they sat quietly, observing the rain hammering down on the asphalt, both brothers couldn't ignore the obvious thought. A repeated, desperate,not again.

Please, not again.

"It could be any red Camry," Anthony said, slightly breathless, his wet hair falling on his forehead as he focused on the road.

Colin swallowed hard, feeling that they weren't that lucky in life. "Maybe they haven't even left yet," he croaked, his stomach twisting.

But then they spotted a red blur a few meters away - a car smashed against a tree. Anthony's breath caught audibly, and Colin felt his eyes well up. But then, another red object caught their attention, and he almost died from relief. A tiny woman stood in the rain, holding her phone up to the sky.

Colin let out a loud sigh, a tear streaming down his cheek, which he quickly wiped away. Anthony clenched his jaw, overtaking the girls' spot on the road just to make an illegal U-turn and pull over next to them.

As soon as the car stopped, Colin jumped out and landed on the ground. "Pen!" he called out above the heavy rain.

Finally, she tore her gaze away from her low-reception phone, startled to see not only a car beside her but also two Bridgertons.

"Colin?" she asked. "What are you doing here?"

He didn't bother answering, choosing instead to cup her face in his hands and search for any injuries. "Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice muffled by the raindrops on his face.

"I'm fine," she replied. As his thumb hovered over a reddening bruise on her forehead, he stared at it as if she had lied to him. She continued, "You were right. I needed to learn how to drive."

Colin frowned, confused by her words. "It doesn't matter now. We have to go," he told her.

She nodded and turned to open the back door for Edwina, noticing Anthony doing the same for Genevieve. Edwina let out a small shriek as the water hit her head, quickly covering it with her hands in a futile attempt to shield herself.

"Go with Colin," Penelope instructed her, exchanging a look with him to convey that she would stay behind.

However, Colin took her hand and pulled her along, reassuring her that Anthony was with them. He led the girls to the car, opening the door for them. Genevieve quickly followed suit, eager to escape the pouring rain.

And then there was one.

"Kate!" Anthony called out, relieved to finally see her clearly since she was sitting in the middle of the backseat. "Are you alright?"

She nodded, but her arms were folded across her chest, and she was trembling. With furrowed brows, Anthony couldn't understand why she wasn't budging.

"We brought a car," he explained, still watching her from the open door. "I can give you all a ride."

Kate nodded again, but remained unmoving, flinching at the sound of thunder.

"Come on, Kate, you can go back to hating me once you're safe," he said, misunderstanding why she wouldn't leave the car.

This earned him a half-hearted glare and a weak response, "I can hate you just fine from here."

Surprisingly, this didn't frustrate him as it usually did, but rather left him confused. Anthony then climbed into the car, placing a hand on her arm. "Come on, Kate," he urged, realising her heavy breathing. "You're safe now, everything is alright."

"It's not the car accident," she clarified when she realized the man was not grasping the reason for her distress. "It's the storm," she gestured to the ceiling.

Anthony blinked, taken aback by her honesty. Despite being soaking wet and with four people waiting for them in the other car, his patient gaze remained fixed on hers, awaiting her explanation.

"My mother..." her voice trailed off, as she hesitated to continue. "The day she passed away was..." she paused once more, unwilling to relive the painful memories of her mother's death and the storm that brought it all rushing back to Kate. Since then, she had developed an intense fear of storms, even seeking therapy in her youth to overcome it. But occasionally, she would still succumb to her fears. "I thought I was getting better," she exclaimed, frustration evident in her tone. "I was supposed to be better by now."

As he nodded, Anthony moved his hand from her arm to grasp her shoulder. "I understand," he whispered.

Kate scoffed, flinching as lightning struck a few meters away from them. "What is there to understand? This is humiliating. I'm a grown woman who's terrified of storms," she said.

"You're much more than that," he said firmly, causing Kate to pause and gaze at him in astonishment. He squeezed her shoulder gently and continued, "But right now, we need to get out of here, Kate."

She shook her head and said, "I can't," feeling like a child.

"Here's what we're going to do," Anthony announced in his business-like manner. "You're going to close your eyes and cover your ears, and I'll shield you until we reach my car."

Kate shook her head once again, doubting the effectiveness of the plan. However, Anthony's hands firmly cupped her cheeks, his intense gaze locking with hers, and she felt a surge of electricity spreading through her body, momentarily forgetting about the rain. All she could see was his face, illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights, and all she could hear was his soothing, deep voice resonating in her ears. With unwavering conviction, he said, "It's going to work," and she believed.

With a nod, she allowed Anthony to guide her out of the car, closing her eyes and covering her ears as soon as her feet touched the ground. The heavy rain immediately soaked her skin, but suddenly, everything felt warm. Anthony's chest pressed against her back, his head hovering over hers as he wrapped one arm around her chest and the other over their heads. Together, they swiftly made their way towards the car.

In an instant, she found herself squeezed into the crowded back seat, the scent of damp upholstery filling her nostrils as she opened her eyes just in time to close the door on her right. Anthony walked over to the car, and quickly settled into the driver's seat, his hand sweeping through his black hair to push it away from his eyes.

"That was... impressive," Genevieve remarked, fanning herself with her hand as she smirked at Kate. Beside her, Edwina raised an eyebrow, while Penelope pressed her lips together in an attempt to remain neutral.

Kate felt her face instantly flush, meeting Anthony's gaze in the rearview mirror, realising they had an audience for the stunt they had just pulled. Clearing his throat, Anthony nervously swallowed, his Adam's apple visibly bobbing.

He started the Highlander and before anyone in it could silently judge them any longer, Kate pointed at the window and said, "We can't just leave the car there."

Her words seemed to have the desired effect as Anthony looked at her in disbelief through the rearview mirror. "Oh, we're leaving it."

"It's easy for you to talk when it won't be your name all over the news for abandoning a rented car at a wreck," she said, crossing her arms over her chest, only slightly startled by another clap of thunder.

"I'm going to ask someone from the crew to help us contact the highway patrol," he replied. "So I'm pretty sure all of our names are going to be on the news," he concluded, waving his hand to emphasise his point.

Colin then let out a loud groan. "If you two are going to argue all the way to the set, just tell me now so I can open this door, jump out of this car, and die."

---

Upon their return to the set, Anthony and Colin found themselves facing what would undoubtedly be the most humbling moment of their careers.

In the cafeteria, the nearest escape from the rain in the parking lot, Agatha's voice, as sharp as a knife, cut through the gentle hum of the other chats. "Have you completely lost your minds?!"

The two soaked Bridgerton men flinched, their heads bowed in shame as if their own mother was berating them, a humiliating scene witnessed by several people.

"We could have called the police or waited for the rain to lighten up," Agatha exclaimed, motioning towards the outside. "You could have done anything other than putting yourselves in danger."

Thomas, who had been waiting for them since their football match ended and they heard about the accident, quickly urged the remaining cast and crew in the cafeteria to leave rather than gawk at the situation. However, the girls stood behind the duo, their faces etched with concern as they watched Agatha unleash a torrent of criticism upon them, despite the fact that the two brothers were not at fault.

"Agatha, they were just worried—" Penelope attempted to defuse the situation, only to be silenced by Agatha raising her hand.

"I'm the producer here," Agatha said, tapping her chest, which made everyone bow their heads even lower. "I am fully aware of the safety protocols, and what you did was not in line with them." She directed her finger directly at Anthony. "You, more than anyone, should be aware of that."

"Yes, I am aware," Anthony responded impatiently. "I am also aware of how slow the road police and ambulances can be. It was a no-brainer."

Agatha widened her eyes at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. She continued, "It was a no-brainer. Just imagine for a moment if I had to call your mother and deliver the news that she had lost both her sons in a car accident because I..." Agatha gestured to herself and continued, "...hadn't properly managed my own production. Do you reckon that would be a no-brainer?"

Anthony and Colin both squeezed their eyes shut, flinching at what she was implying. They knew she was right, but it was a difficult truth to face. And Agatha didn't want to have to state the obvious, but she felt it was necessary to get through to their thick heads.

"Agatha, please," Kate interrupted, taking a step forward as she felt personally responsible. "It was my fault entirely. I was the one driving. I knew it was going to rain all week, but today I thought..."

"It was an accident, Kate," Agatha replied, more calmly as she turned to the actress. "My concern is with these two speeding off the set, thinking they're immortal."

"I understand that, but they were just concerned," Kate replied, even though she believed they were reckless. However, they did what they did out of worry for them, and she couldn't let them bear all the responsibility. "You can't fault them for that."

With a tired gaze, Agatha looked at Kate and the other girls, whose pleading eyes confirmed her suspicion that the battle was irretrievably lost.

"Alright, I give up," the producer huffed, crossing her arms. "It's impossible not to if these two can agree on something," she said, gesturing between Anthony and Kate. As they all let out a collective sigh of relief, she added, "But no more reckless driving on this set. And you," she pointed at Penelope, "go see the doctor immediately. There's a bruise forming on your forehead."

Penelope widened her eyes, placing a hand on her forehead and wincing upon realising the bruise. Colin looked at her, noticing that the red area on her face had indeed darkened, and shook his head at the whole situation.

"Come on, Pen," he said, motioning for her to follow him to the infirmary. She reluctantly followed, grumbling that she was fine.

"And I'm off for a shower, effective immediately," Edwina declared to anyone interested, earning a nod from Genevieve, who planned to do the same. The two then headed towards their quarters, leaving only Agatha, Anthony, and Kate behind.

The producer gave one last warning look to her director, as if to ensure he wouldn't repeat the same mistake. Anthony nodded, albeit reluctantly.

"Good night," she said before making her way towards her trailer.

Anthony and Kate both took deep breaths, with the man biting his bottom lip as he stole a glance at her from the corner of his eye. The woman was completely drenched, with the weight of the water clinging to her clothes. Her blue jeans had turned almost black, her lilac sweater a dark, muddy purple, and her typically full, wavy hair was now plastered to her face, appearing straight and lifeless. She looked incredibly exhausted and subdued, to the point where she didn't even resemble the Kate Sharma he had always known.

"Are you sure you don't need to see a doctor as well?" he asked.

She levelled a tired, exasperated look at him. "I'm sure," she replied. "It was worse for Pen since she was in the driver's seat."

Anthony nodded slowly, and they stood in silence for a moment before he suggested, "Let me accompany you to your trailer, then."

"What?" exclaimed Kate, her eyes widening in surprise as she glanced at Anthony. It was at that moment that she unfortunately noticed his white shirt had become completely see-through. While that sight was distracting in itself, it served as a reminder of the absurd fact that he had actually rushed out of the set and walked under heavy rain just to come to her aid. The thought of him wasting even more of his time to accompany her to her door, after everything he had already done, seemed utterly ridiculous. "No, there's no need for that," she firmly stated.

He twisted his face as if to say he wouldn't take no for an answer. "Come on," he said, walking towards her trailer regardless of whether she followed him or not.

"Anthony, I'm absolutely fine," she said, hurrying to catch up with him. "I really can't stand storms, but the rain's lighter now. I assure you, I don't mind a bit of drizzle, if you remember."

The memory of their race through the rain to catch a horse made him smile. "I remember," he said with humour. It was rather appropriate, really, as they bickered and strolled alongside each other, a light drizzle started to fall on them once more.

"So, you know I'm alright," she insisted, her voice tight with stubbornness, although her small, grey trailer was already visible through the trees.

"No, what I know is that you're the most stubborn woman I have ever met," he remarked, the words dripping with exasperation, his shoes sloshing through the rain-soaked puddles as he hurried toward a hopefully drier spot. "That's what I know."

A scoff escaped her lips, the damp strands of her hair clinging to her skin and lightly slapping her cheek. "Stubborn? I just saved your skin back there," she pointed towards the cafeteria, easily keeping up with Anthony's fast pace. "Again, I might add. And it was probably a mistake considering Agatha was right in the first place. What you did was reckless."

It was Anthony's turn to scoff, the sound a harsh rasp as he forcefully swung open her trailer door, the metal screeching on its hinges, grating against the silence.

"Understood. Next time, I will simply leave you stranded in the middle of a wreck, waiting for the road police to arrive two hours later," he said.

"Good!" Kate exclaimed, her heavy footsteps echoing on the metal stairs as she stormed up to her trailer, ignoring whether Anthony followed. Which, of course, he did. "Then next time, I won't have to defend you for not following protocol when I was perfectly fine," she snapped, her voice slicing through the darkness, her hands cutting through the air in agitated gestures.

In the trailer's dimness, with the only light filtering in from the window, Anthony's humourless laugh reverberated. He couldn't believe her, he simply couldn't. After everything that had transpired between them that afternoon, she still had the audacity to act as though she didn't need his help. And then, as she was rambling and waving her hands around, he caught a glimpse of something.

Swiftly, he grabbed one of her hands mid-air, silencing Kate instantly. "Fine, huh?" he remarked, displaying her palm, marked by a crimson stain and deep, angry nail marks.

Kate pressed her lips together, unsure why she was so insistent on pretending that what had happened that day was inconsequential. However, the sound of Agatha, of all people, screaming about how Anthony had put himself in danger to help them, left her unsettled. She wasn't a damsel in distress, she wasn't someone who made messes for others to clean up. And she certainly wasn't a vulnerable, helpless person in need of assistance. Kate was the one who fixed the messes, the one who had everything under control even when everyone else didn't.

"Still," she said, her voice growing softer as she swallowed hard. "You didn't have to do that," she murmured, her brown eyes, illuminated by the lights outside, locked onto his.

"Out of everyone on this set," he responded, never breaking eye contact as he continued, "you know exactly why I did."

Those words hung in the air between them, the silence thick with tension as they stared into each other's eyes. Because, unfortunately, he was right. It was a repeat offense, which made it even more embarrassing for Kate. The first time she unintentionally reminded him of his father's accident had been awful; now she'd done it again.

"Anthony, you really can't put your safety at risk every time someone gets hurt on set," she whispered. Glancing down at their hands, she felt a flutter in her chest as his thumb brushed against her skin. Looking back up at him, she reassured, "I know you worry about everyone, but we'll be okay, I promise."

"I didn't..." His brow furrowed with confusion, and his eyes held an indescribable emotion. "I didn't get on that car because it was just anyone from the set. I did it because it was you."

"What?" Kate gasped. "Why?" she asked, her heart racing as she searched for the answer in Anthony's eyes. It was strange because she had a feeling that she already knew it, that his eyes had been telling her the answer for a while, but it seemed impossible.

"Because," He wrinkled his forehead, his gaze fixed on their clasped hands, struggling to comprehend the answer himself. His grip on her hand tightened. "Because…"

Then he let go of her hand, turned away, closed his eyes, and placed a hand on his forehead. "Because... you annoy me."

Kate's eyes widened, their fragile truce shattered by his absurdity. "I annoy you?" she exclaimed.

Anthony nodded, avoiding eye contact. She let out a scoff as she approached him, standing closer than she should have. "You are the one who annoysme," she spat.

He opened one eye to meet her gaze. "I annoy you?" he questioned.

"Yes, deeply," she declared, her voice filled with anger and frustration from the day's events and the bewildering man before her. "You are the most confusing man I have ever met," she stated, causing him to take a deep breath and look up at the ceiling.

"Can't you, for once, just decide what you want?" she continued, accusingly. "Do you want to be the director who thinks I'm too old, or the man who tells me I'm going to be the biggest star in the world? Do you want to be the exasperating guy who never listens to me or the one who rushes into danger to help me?"

He bit his bottom lip, finally turning his gaze back to her as she vented, her forehead creased in frustration. "One day, you seem to understand me better than anyone else, and the next day, you're the most stubborn person I know."

His heart skipped a beat as she said that he understood her, because that was exactly how he felt about her, although he didn't understand how these emotions came to be. And what troubled him the most was his inability to provide her with an answer. If only he could make sense of it all in his mind, he would gladly explain it to her.

As they stood in silence, their eyes locked on each other, Kate realized that she wouldn't receive any answers. She let out a sigh and covered her face with her hands. "I'm so tired. Just... exhausted."

He watched her, taking in her aggravated state, which was a scene he had actually witnessed too many times to count. However, this time, it felt overwhelming.

"And, honestly," she said, her voice carrying a hint of exasperation, "what is it that you're always wearing?" She finally pointed at his wet shirt, which clung perfectly to his body. The conversation would be a thousand times easier if he didn't have that perfectly slicked-back wet hair and his muscular chest almost on full display.

Glancing at his torso and then meeting her frustrated expression, he felt his breath catch in his throat as he grasped the implications of her words. For all that time, he had thought he was losing his mind, feeling completely alone in this peculiar infatuation he had for her. He had buried it deep within, hoping it would fade away, and the world began to make sense once more. But perhaps that madness wasn't so one-sided after all, and that changed everything.

"Fine," he said, putting a hand on his hips as he walked closer to her, "do you want me to choose?" He raised his eyebrows at her, a droplet of rain trickling down his temple, a harbinger of the absolutely most demented course of action of his life. But that was what Kate had always done from the start—she turned off every rational switch.

She stared at him. "Will you?"

His gaze, slow and deliberate, fell to her lips, a movement Kate initially dismissed as a figment of her imagination, until he closed the distance between them with another step forward. She didn't step away, which for Anthony was a confirmation in on itself. As he slowly approached, Kate felt a growing sense of anticipation, her breath hitching in her chest, and her mouth parted slightly. His eyes then went back to hers and they stared at each other in silence, each trying to gauge the feelings of the other, as their breaths mingling in the space between them. Kate's gaze then wandered to his mouth, and in that moment, she realized that she wanted to cross that line, regardless of the consequences.

"Didi, can I borrow your hair..." Edwina swung open the trailer door, dressed in a fluffy pink robe and a matching hairband, but stopped abruptly when she saw Kate and Anthony standing together, both still soaked to the bone. "...dryer."

Anthony and Kate quickly moved away from each other, averting their gazes at the interruption. Kate then glanced at Edwina, pressing her lips together as she weakly replied, "Of course, bon."

Clearing his throat, Anthony suddenly stood up straight, fixing a neutral expression as he stared at Kate as if they were merely discussing a scene they were about to film the following day, rather than on the verge of kissing each other.

"That's all, Kate. Good night," he declared before turning and striding towards the door.

"Good night," Kate said, her voice trembling a little as he walked by.

"Good night, Edwina," he nodded at her sister before leaving Edwina utterly perplexed at the doorway, gazing at Kate with raised eyebrows.

---

"I told you I was fine."

Colin, flicking the switch to illuminate her trailer, chimed in, "You may not have any serious injuries, but that's completely different from being fine." He motioned towards the chair beside the dining table and firmly instructed, "Sit."

She placed her wet purse onto the table, causing drops of water to form a small puddle. A soft whimper escaped her lips, resonating throughout the empty trailer. "Colin, I'm really fine," she reiterated.

He eyed her skeptically, not believing her for a second, and repeated, "Sit."

She begrudgingly complied as he headed to her bathroom to find the first aid kit. Penelope pursed her lips as she waited, the silence punctuated only by the rhythmic clatter of Colin's movements as he opened and closed cabinets. He soon returned with a small bag in hand, kneeling in front of her and examining the bruise on her forehead.

"Doctor Monro already had a look at it," she said, her voice losing its edge as Colin's face came closer to hers.

"Right, he had a quick look and said you were all good, then just went back to watching House of the Dragon," Colin said absentmindedly, placing a hand on the side of her face. His thumb grazed the reddened area, and she had to resist the urge to lean into his touch.

He looked down at the small bag, carefully opening it to find antiseptic and cotton. Penelope watched his movements, feeling guilty and foolish after everything that had happened that day.

"You were right. I shouldn't have gone out with the girls tonight," she whispered.

Colin glanced up, surprise flickering in his eyes before refocusing on his task. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air as he delicately dabbed it onto her bruise, his touch gentle yet determined. A hush settled between them, punctuated only by the soft, rhythmic sound of their breathing. She found herself captivated by his intense blue eyes, so close she could feel the warmth of his skin ghosting over her face, his lips pursed in intense concentration. Suddenly, he shook his head ever so slightly, as if dismissing her comment.

"The real question is, did you have a good time at least?" he whispered, his gaze fixed on his work as he pondered if there was anything else he needed to do. "Before everything, I mean," he elucidated, his voice a low murmur that sent shivers down her spine as he moved away, much to her dismay.

"Um... Yes, I suppose," she replied, watching as he once again inspected the contents of the first aid kit.

She debated whether or not to share with him the details of that night. Throughout their friendship, she had always been able to confide in Colin about almost anything—except her own feelings—and that was one of the reasons why their bond thrived. However, there was something about divulging the specifics of her attempts at flirting with strangers in bars that just felt inherently wrong, even if it shouldn't be, not anymore.

"I..." she cleared her throat. "I actually saw that guy from the World Travel Channel there."

Colin snapped his head up, staring at her as he asked, "Really." The word sounded flat, carrying with it an unsettling heaviness in his stomach. With a furrowed brow, he shifted his gaze downwards and reached for a band-aid.

"Yeah... he's an interesting man, I guess," she commented, uncertain if she enjoyed her conversation with the blond or not, though she knew she didn't despise it.

Ultimately, it didn't really matter, she realized. That was how real life should be—neither here nor there, free from the romantic, delusional fantasies that occupied her mind.

Colin then refocused on her, gently placing the band-aid on her forehead and applying slight pressure to keep it in place. "So, you two talked?"

She nodded, wincing slightly as Colin's hand still rested on her bruise. "He actually knew who I was."

A subtle smile curved his lips as he slowly lowered his hands, eyes locked on hers, and softly said, "Of course he did.

Colin never appeared surprised by her fame, as if he had anticipated it just as surely as he awaited the rising sun in the east. And for a long time, Penelope doubted it, thinking it was merely Colin being polite. Colin beingColin. But now rising fame was no secret, even though she felt like she had escaped from dealing with most of its consequences by returning to New Zealand.

Sending him a small smile, she couldn't help but feel a bit flustered. Even though she had experienced countless heartbreaks, Colin remained unfailingly loyal, supportive, and dedicated. Most days, it was enough to make her resent him for holding such a tight grip on her heart. But on that day, as she gazed at him kneeling in front of her, with his wet hair clinging to his forehead and his soaked outfit, she couldn't help but feel guilty.

"I'm sorry," she said. When he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, she continued, "For worrying you. You didn't have to do that today."

He shook his head, glancing downwards at the floor. "You don't have to apologise, Pen," he said while zipping up the first aid kit bag. Looking up at her, he placed his hands on his thighs and took a deep breath. "Worrying about you is just something I do, regardless of your actions."

Her heart leaped; a blush warmed her cheeks as their eyes met, and for a moment, she was unsure how to respond to his words. What she knew was that she shouldn't read too much into it, and she wouldn't, since it was nothing out of the ordinary between friends.

She bit her lip. "I know the feeling," she replied.

Remarkably, those words seemed to hold a peculiar power, making Colin's eyes sparkle and the corners of his mouth turn upward. His gaze lingered a bit too long, the silence punctuated only by their shared breaths, before his eyes dropped to her mouth. Penelope's pulse quickened, and she felt her control over her breathing slipping away. Suddenly, without warning, he reached out, deliberately grazing her bottom lip with his thumb. The touch sent a wave of shivers down Penelope's spine, and she gasped, the sound echoing in the confined space of the trailer.

Colin's eyes widened, and he quickly pulled back his hand as if it had moved on its own. He cleared his throat, the sound raspy and uncertain, and pointed at her mouth. She stared at him, speechless, her chest rising and falling heavily. "There was a strand of hair stuck on your lipstick," he explained, his voice slightly shaky.

Lipstick? Penelope's mind was too confused to comprehend the words. Her fingertips instinctively brushed her lips, feeling the lingering texture of the MAC gloss she had applied earlier, which a dubious YouTuber had claimed would last a ridiculously long time.Indeed, she thought ironically, as she observed Colin refocus his attention on the kit, placing it on the table and avoiding eye contact.

A knock on the door interrupted the moment, and Colin immediately stood up, heading towards the source of the sound. Penelope remained rooted in her seat, still watching him with her hand on her lips.

"Am I in the wrong trailer?" Agatha's voice echoed from the entrance. "I thought this one was Penelope's." That instantly sobered Penelope, and she blinked before standing up.

"You're in the right one," Colin answered, opening the door wider and gesturing for the producer to enter.

"I just wanted to check if she was alright," Agatha explained as she slowly climbed the stairs, her gaze shifting between Penelope and Colin, her eyebrow raised in curiosity about what he was doing in her trailer.

"Doctor Monro said everything is fine," Penelope reassured with a polite smile on her face.

The producer assessed her from head to toe, nodding once she confirmed that Penelope was indeed unharmed. Then she glanced back at Colin, who was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed.

That was actually the perfect opportunity to talk to the duo about the kissing scene they would have to shoot for the movie. It was a private moment without any crew members around, and she would be spared from awkwardly asking for a meeting without revealing the subject in advance. But still...

"Was there something else you wanted to discuss, Agatha?" Penelope asked tentatively, noticing the unusual hesitation in the typically confident woman.

Agatha turned her head towards Penelope, taken aback by the question. She gazed at the exhausted actress, whose forehead was bandaged, greasy hair clinging to her face, and clothes drenched, mirroring Colin's drained appearance.

"No," the producer replied, folding her hands in front of her. "There's nothing else."

---

Blind Item #17

This nepo baby actor despises the idea of kissing his co-star

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A/N: Don't drink and drive, kids! Don't... forget how to drive and end up in a car wreck, kids?

Jokes aside, there is so much to unpack in this chapter that I do not know where to start. And I probably can not because I feel like this chapter was so important, but I can not explain why yet, aside from the obvious.

In any case, do not forget to leave your likes and reviews; you know how much I enjoy talking to you about whatever topic you want to discuss.

And don't forget to check the LIKE OLD HOLLYWOOD playlist because, you guessed it, I made a few changes.

God bless you and have a wonderful day!