Chapter Text
Marlene stood up from her seat, crossing the room and standing only a foot in front of Penelope. A small smirk formed across her face. “I thought you’d be at least an hour or so late.”
Penelope blinked, tilting her head to the side in question, wondering where all the audacity had come from. “Why are you here?” Penelope asked, arching a brow. “I don’t remember scheduling you in for a meeting with Col–Mr.Bridgerton.”
“Oh. I saw he was in a meeting so I let myself in.” Marlene wiped her palms down the front of her skirt, averting her eyes. “I wanted to chat with Colin before you whisked him away to some other meeting.”
“You saw? How did you-”
“You won’t mind if I wait here for him then, right?” Marlene promptly turned on her heel, and walked back towards the front of his desk.
Marlene had annoyed Penelope since their first encounter. She had been rude and trying to get close to Colin since day one. It was obvious his ex wasn’t over him. Penelope wasn’t going to let her win.
“You can wait outside, or you can find yourself removed from the building.” Penelope remarked as a matter of fact, “I think it’s very inconsiderate of Colin’s time when he’s got a busy schedule this week.”
Marlene froze and turned to look at Penelope, her expression looked cold. “So you do have a thing for him.”
“Huh?”
“You called him by his first name.” Her arms were crossed over her chest now. “And I've seen the way you look at him, I thought I was just imagining it but…” she smirked before her face turned to disgust. “Are you in love with him?”
Penelope didn’t say anything. Because she is in love with him. He knows this. But Marlene doesn’t. And it isn’t any of her business. “That doesn’t have anything to do with you.” Great. Nice going. That definitely sounded convincing.
“Oh?” Marlene backtracked, walked back up to Penelope, squinting at her with a disapproving expression. “It does, though. He’s my ex. I’ve known him longer than you. Have you even told him? He’s not into women with…” she trailed off, looking Penelope up and down, “ your attributes…”
If only she knew.
Before Penelope could retort, there was deep voice behind her. “What attributes, Marlene?”
Colin always had a way of making an entrance.
Marlene looked past Penelope with surprise, and straightened her shoulders before clearing her throat. “Co-Colin! I was just telling Penelope how much I loved her…outfit…”
Colin walked by Penelope, giving her a knowing look, then moved to his desk plopping a large file folder on it’s surface. Marlene was still staring at him, and when Colin turned to give Marlene a volatile expression as he leaned against the edge of his desk. “That isn’t what I heard.”
Marlene’s mouth opened then closed. “Well I was—”
“You’ve always been a terrible liar.”
Then raven headed woman blinked in shock. “What are you talking about—”
“How about we start with why you were in my office to begin with?” Colin pushed off the desk, hands shoved in his pockets as he made his way across the office to stand right in front of the both of them. His firm stare was daggers, they never wavered.
“I was…Um…waiting for you to get back so we could talk…” Marlene’s embarrassment was present in the way her eyes shifted to look at Penelope before looking back at Colin.
“About how your father’s investment was dismissed?”
Her mouth drops open in shock. “How did you—”
“Or maybe about your father’s plan to steal my role, and take over the company?” He nodded, grinning slightly, amused, possibly at how distraught she looked, as if she were caught red handed.
“Has it ever occurred to you that it’s my business to know things? That’s why you’ve scurried your way back in my office on that first day. Your father put you up to it. I know when we broke up it wasn't on good terms. I wanted nothing from you and I still don’t. I told you to leave, and you just made yourself at home as if we were good friends.”
“But I never told anyone this, how did you—”
“If I want to know something, I’ll find out.” He glances to Penelope and gives her a wink. Then looks back at Marlene. “Please make your way out of my office, and the building or I’ll have you escorted. Give your father my regards, or don’t. I don’t really care.”
Marlene huffed and stomped off, disappearing behind a corner and out of sight.
Colin turned to Penelope, his eyes softening, and a light smile took shape on his face. He leaned down and pecked her on the lips, before turning to head back to his desk.
“Where did you get all that information?” Penelope asked, tilting her head to curiously to the side.
“HR brought it up to me in our meeting moments ago. I also had her looked into the moment she stepped foot in my office after all these years, so this meeting confirmed everything I was already suspicious of.”
The office door slowly clicked closed when Penelope removed her foot, and walked to the front of his desk. She closed his laptop the moment, he sits down to tend to his emails. He looks up at her with an arched brow, then she asks, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We were kind of dealing with the blond dip-shit, and the HR thing I was going to tell you after my meeting anyways. I just didn’t know Marlene was going to be in here.”
Penelope leaned back, crossing her arms. “How’d she know you were in a meeting then?”
Colin shrugs. “She probably saw the schedule in your desk before sneaking in here. I know you keep an extra planner in one of your desk drawers.”
“How do you know that?” Penelope grins, walking around the desk, he turns his chair to face her. She leans down, placing both hands on the arm rests, caging him in. “Watching me, Mr. Bridgerton?”
He pulls her closer, in-between his legs, his large hands circles her hips before squeezing her ass. “So what if I am?” he, spins her around, pulling her into his lap. Her back was to his front, then he moves her hair away from her neck and lightly pecks at the skin. “You’re so beautiful.”
“But… Marlene said—”
“I don’t give a shit what she said. You’re perfect.” He nipped at her ear, then whispered, “so fucking perfect. You were fucking made for me.”
Penelope nibbled on her lip, whimpering in his arms. “We’re at the office…what if someone walks in?”
“They won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because my blinds are closed, my door is shut and that means I’m busy…” His hands skimmed her hips, his fingertips lowered under the band of her skirt, where they grazed the front her underwear. Her breath caught, as he trailed them along the crease of her seam through the fabric.
“Move in with me.” He murmured against her heated skin, a light kiss landed on her clothed shoulder.
“Wha…What?” Was that a hallucination?
“I want you to move in with me. I want to wake up to you everyday, and have you in my arms every night.” He kissed her neck, again and again, making her melt into his warmth. “You’re already so wet for me…”
She bit her lip, holding back a whimper. “But what about my page, and…ah…the um…”
“I’ll never tell you not to do something… if it genuinely makes you happy,” his breath was hot against her skin, “If you want to keep doing it, then who am I to—”
“I don’t… though…” his hand stilled, that glorious ache in between her legs simmered away. The room was so quiet, sounds from down the hallway could be heard. Laughter. Conversation. “Colin?”
He rested his forehead against her shoulder, but she could see his face. “That’s a relief.”
“Huh?”
“I want to be the only person who gets to see you like that. I was ready to support you if you wanted to—even though I would hate it—I just…”
“Pffft….” Penelope bursts out in laughter, and through a giggle she says, “W-While I appreciate you wanting to support me in my work,” another giggle, “if I didn’t have to do that in the beginning, I wouldn't have, but, you made feel so confident with the things you said, I couldn’t believe that someone actually found me attractive.”
He released her, she stood, then turned to look at him, his expression deemed he was confused. “Have you…seen yourself?” he stated in disbelief. “You…are the most beautiful woman I have ever met, and have had the privilege to see. How the fuck are you even real?”
Penelope was looking at him in disbelief now, before saying, “How am I real? How the fuck are you real? You walk around in a suit, and you look good, and your laugh is really hot, and you smell heavenly...I mean how—what are you doing?”
Colin had stood up, towering over her, in one swift motion he lifts her onto his desk, causing pencil cups, and papers to fall to the ground.
“I’m going to remove your underwear, then I’m going to get on my knees and eat your pussy. Later, when we get home, I’m going to fuck you into our mattress, and then we’re taking the day off tomorrow, so we can pack your stuff and move it into our flat.”
Home. Colin referring to his flat as their home.
“Sound like a plan?” his breathy, deep, and smooth as butter voice, pulled her back into the room.
Her cheeks bloomed red, and she nodded.
Then her tall, grumpy, gorgeous man, gave her a soft grin, and lowered himself to his knees and did exactly what he said he was going to do.
A few weeks later, they were pulling down the long road into Enzo’s vineyard. Colin told Penelope a few days ago that he had to take a trip to Italy to visit his good friend, and check in with him about some business matters. He insisted that she go with him, seeing how she was his assistant and this was related to business matters, it only made sense. So, they got on the private jet and flew to their destination.
Though, she had noticed how he seemed…strange.
The last couple of days, she noticed his whole demeanor change. He seemed more tense, or maybe…anxious? When she asked him if he was alright, he straightened his shoulders, his expression softening then gave her a sweet smile and peck on the lips for reassurance. Now that they were pulling up to Enzo’s estate, she noticed how his grip tightened on the steering wheel. Maybe it was about the business matter? It must be very important if it’s making him act like this.
Penelope places her hand on his leg after they had parked, and gave it small squeeze. His hands loosen on the steering wheel, and he turned slightly to kiss her on the head. “Wait here.”
Before she could say anything, he opened the door, closed it and disappeared into the estate. She watched for a few moments waiting for any kind of movement. Why would she have to wait in here? She was his secretary, she had every right to be in there as him.
Seconds later, her phone buzzes, she pulls it out of her bag, and taps the screen.
MY BOSSY BASTARD: I forgot to grab some paperwork, can you bring in the yellow folder from my bag? Should be in the backseat.
Now he asking for her help? She removes her seatbelt, grabs the bag from the backseat, opens it, pulls out the yellow folder, then climbs out of the vehicle and walks to the door of the estate. She knocks but there’s no answer. Again, no answer.
What the hell?
As she lifts her fist to knock again, the door whirls open, and standing there is…well Elio. Enzo’s son. “We have a doorbell too. No one really comes to the door for knocking, we think its the neighbors and we like to pretend we’re not home.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
Elio raises a brow. “Are you lost? Come in.”
Penelope clears her throat, and steps inside. It had been awhile since they had been here. It’s still as beautiful as she remembers.
“Colin is out back with my father.” Elio says then turns to walk down another hall, disappearing around the corner.
Penelope walked through the estate until she found the back of it. The sliding door covered with curtains that must lead to the back patio. She slides the door open, and steps out on the wood patio, “Colin, here’s the—”
Penelope doesn’t know where her eyes land first, the candles, or the roses, or the beautiful man standing in the middle of it. There was no one else in sight.
“Penelope. Come here.” Colin holds out his hand, she walks over to him, heart pounding her chest. He takes the folder from her hands once she’s standing in front of him, and sets it aside on a nearby table.
He turns to her, then takes her hands, looking at her in the eyes, he slowly descends onto one knee. “Penelope.”
“Wait—is this why you were—” She covers her mouth in shock, tears start to bead in the corner of her eyes.
He smiles, then nods. “I wanted this to be special. I was so nervous, I didn’t know what to do.” He takes a deep breath then as if he’s trying to get the last the nerves to leave his body, then he says, “Penelope Anne Featherington, I find myself falling more and more in love with you everyday. I was certain that I’d never want to do this, spend the rest of my life with anyone, until I met you. You are the reason I smile, you are the reason…” he smiles, “I have the courage I do now. I don’t want to spend another minute without being able to call you my wife.” He pulls a small black box out of his pocket, and opens it, presenting her with a diamond ring. “Will you marry me?”
Penelope giggles through the sob that escapes past her lips, she nods quickly, and he puts the ring on her finger, stands and kisses her deeply.
Suddenly, there’s the sound of applause. Penelope and Colin are looking towards the back entrance, and Enzo and his family come out and step onto the deck. “Beautiful! Beautiful! Congratulations you two!” He shouts with glee.
Penelope blushes and Colin smiles, then they both back at each other and laugh together before he leans to rest their foreheads together.
“Did you show her the paperwork yet?” Enzo asks a moment later, drawing Colin’s attention him.
“What paperwork?” Penelope questions, watching her fiancé turn to grab the yellow folder she brought in, then handed it to her.
Once it was in her hands, Colin says, “Open it.”
She raised a curious brow then looked down at the folder, and opened to reveal a picture of a gorgeous two-story, light blue house. She looked up at him in confusion, “what is this?”
He gave her a small grin. “Our house.”
She blinked. “What?”
“I bought us a house.”
“Oh my god.” She took the picture out, and examined it. It looked perfect to start a family in. “You bought us a house,” she echoed in disbelief.
“I signed the papers a few weeks ago, around the time that you moved in.”
She froze, then looked up at him. “Wait…how’d you know that I even accept your proposal?”
“I didn’t,” he pulls her into his arms, “I just hoped that you would.”
“And I did.”
“You did.” He affirmed. “Now, I’ll spend the spend the rest of my life hoping you’ll love me too.”
“I already do.”