Wouldn't You Like to Know?

Nine

            Nine

Penelope enjoyed her little, quiet life. She had wanted to be a writer for as long as she could remember, but she didn't want all of the attention that came with it. It had been different ten, maybe even twenty years ago. Most of the time writers put out their books, maybe did some interviews, and the world left them alone. But with the internet, it was hard to maintain any sense of a quiet life no matter what your job. A person could post a video of you that they took anywhere, and you could go viral. In both good and bad ways.

Her book series, The Gossip, was so popular that most of her marketing was done by fans. Girls posted fanart of the series, edits, and costume inspiration because the book took place at a private school. There were all kinds of podcasts going over every detail and every pop culture reference that Penelope included.

Her own, personal Instagram hadn't seen any action except for the message that she'd gotten from Colin the other day. But a few days after the press release for Wallflowers had gone out, her phone suddenly wouldn't stop vibrating from all of the notifications that she was getting. Enough so that it woke her up from the deep sleep she had been while using her arm as a pillow at her desk.

Penelope jolted awake and found herself staring at her phone. "What the hell?" she whispered, shocked. "What the hell?"

She looked at the notifications and found that she was tagged at least a million times in pictures of her kicking Colin Bridgerton out of her apartment. "Shit!" The article read: Mystery Woman for Colin Bridgerton?

Colin Bridgerton, who was previously linked to actress Marina Thompson, has been seen coming out of a mystery apartment. Sources say the redhead in question is Penelope Featherington, a family friend of the Bridgerton's that Colin knew from high school. Penelope and Colin both attended the same school, Whistledown Academy.

Penelope took a deep breath. "Oh, my god. Oh my god."

She grabbed the paperwork that she had gotten from Colin the other day and used the phone number that he had left to call him. She waited a few rings and then Colin's voice was on the phone. "Penelope, are you okay? What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong? You bring chaos into my life and have the audacity to ask what's wrong?"

"What are you talking about?" Colin asked.

"I'm talking about TMZ plastering my face online and now thinking that we're sleeping together! You've got to delete it, please. If my mother thinks that I'm sleeping with you, there will be invitations sent out for nonexistent June wedding."

Colin paused. "Are you really that disinterested in me? What happened to the Penelope that used to blush every time that I said hi to her in the halls? I'm feeling hurt."

"You are ridiculous!" Penelope said. "You've met my mother. If you think that she won't start booking reception halls, you don't know Portia Featherington."

Colin muttered something under her breath and Penelope couldn't make out what it was but knowing Colin, it was probably something inappropriate. "You really want me to call and tell them what? That we're not dating? Teen Penelope would be so disappointed and----"

"Fuck."

Penelope furrowed her brows together. "Colin? Is everything okay?"

"Marinas engaged."

Penelope coughed. "Oh----I'm sorry."

"Pen, I can't do a press tour for this movie getting asked questions about Marina all of the damn time."

"The movie's going to take a year to write and film anyway. What's the big deal? By that time, she'll probably be married and popping out babies."

"Come on," said Penelope, "what's the big deal? You come from one of the richest families in the world, your mother has been called America's mother, and you were one of People's Sexiest Men alive on your eighteenth birthday and four years running after that. You're fine."

"Come on, Pen. Do me a favor. We can pretend to be dating. Anyway, I need someone to do research for the role."

Penelope made face. "It's a teen drama and you are basically going to be Nate Archibald. There's no research to be done."

"Really? You don't think that the people who have waited forever to see Lulu Rochester's debut, best-selling novel adapted deserve the best, most accurate portrayal of all of the steamy scenes that everyone loves so much?"

Penelope paused. "Are you asking me to be your intimacy coordinator?"

Colin chuckled. "No, there's a whole lot of work that actually goes into being an intimacy coordinator. I'm asking for you to help with research purposes, you know."

"Research purposes?" Penelope said.

Colin paused. "Yes, research purposes. This is the first time I'm going to be the leading man. I want to make sure that I do it right. I know it's a book for teens, but it's important to me. This could be a great launching pad."

"And in order for it to be a great launching pad, that means that the two of us need to practice the sex scenes?"

"I do want it to be Oscar worthy, y'know?"

Penelope snorted. "The only films that win Oscars are depressing films about married, white people going through divorce or World War Two dramas. Maybe a World War One movie depending on who's naked in it. This is a teen drama movie for Netflix."

"Yeah, but it's basically Cruel Intentions, only the main character is a plus size lead. No one is going to take this movie seriously if you don't."

Penelope scratched her head. "I'm not the author. It's not my job to take it seriously."

"I mean, if you could give me Lulu's number, I could easily hook up with her instead."

"No!" Penelope blurted. "No. It's fine. I mean, I'm her assistant. It's my job to help her get the very best of everything. I'll.... I'll help you with whatever you need."

"Good," said Colin, "then, we won't worry about the TMZ pictures?"

Penelope sighed. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Always get your way."

"I'm that good."

"You're annoying is what you are."

"Bye, Pen."

"Bye, Colin."

The call ended and Penelope had never felt more exasperated in her life. Her heart was racing and she forgot that this was what being around the Bridgerton's felt like. There was always something dramatic going on. That was why it was so intoxicating to be around them. She only hoped this wasn't going to end up like the last time.