Work Text:
Michaela Stirling owes Colin Bridgerton one. He has yet to cash in on it though, so she waits for the day he eventually will. She met Colin five years ago in Oaxaca when she believed he was hitting on her. All he really wanted was to know what shop she had bought her Jammy Dodgers from. Theirs was a fast friendship formed by their mutual love of travel, food, and calling the same island their home. She had shared that she was travelling to get her mind off her lack of career prospects after graduating a few weeks prior. So, Colin had given her his brother’s contact information. He had failed to mention that said brother was Anthony Bridgerton of the famed and prestigious Bridgerton Group. It was one of the bigger architecture firms she had opted not to apply for because it had seemed too much like a longshot. Why would they take a chance on an architectural history & project management graduate with no tried experience? But Colin had promised to get her resume to Anthone directly, and she had allowed Colin to tag along for the rest of her trip around North America. By the time they parted ways weeks later at an airport in New Mexico—he was off to Vancouver and her back home to Scotland—she had an email from Anthony Bridgerton in her inbox.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Interview Request
Dear Ms. Michaela Stirling,
After reviewing your impressive school records and resume, I unfortunately cannot offer you a position within our research department at this time. But I would be remiss to let someone with your obvious promise of success go without offering you the opportunity to gain experience and your skills within my company. If you are willing to work hard, gain relevant experience, and bide your time, then I will do my best to make sure you achieve your professional goals.
If this is something you are interested in, please respond to this email at your earliest convenience and I will forward your information to our hiring managers to set up an interview. I do hope to hear from you soon.
Anthony Bridgerton
Senior Architect, CEO
Bridgerton Group
A round of interviews and five years later, Michaela is where she always hoped she’d be. So, yes. She owes Colin Bridgerton one and he has finally decided to cash in. Not that he is lording it over her, but Colin is asking and unfortunately for her he is her best friend.
“What exactly do you mean by put in a good word for you? He is your brother.” Michaela is confused by his request.
“Great point, but he’s never taken me seriously when it comes to anything regarding this company. He respects you and values your input, so if you could paint me in a positive light and talk me up next time you see Anthony it could only help.” Colin implores.
“Why not just show him all the work and research you’ve done while you were travelling?” Michaela genuinely asks. Til this day, she cannot understand why Colin had led his brother to believe he was goofing off in all the years he spent navigating the globe. Colin had shared with her that he had begrudgingly agreed to attend university if Anthony allowed him to do as he pleased after graduating. But Colin never expected to find architecture or building exciting until he saw the beauty in the ruins of Greece, the ingenuity in Mexico City’s retrofitted and fortified buildings, the preservation of the old and new in Baku. Colin had traveled to his heart’s content, but he had gained an admiration for the perseverance of history through its collapse and destruction. Michaela had encouraged Colin to look into building regulations across his travels and truly gain an understanding of how things persevered through history because a few people deemed enough to care. She never thought her advice would lead to Colin wanting to work for his brother, when he had deemed it out of the realm of possibility when they met.
“My own hubris got in the way of my own growth, and I know it hurt Anthony when I took off the day after my graduation party. I didn’t have a plan back then, and Ant has always had one even when dad died, he planned and planned and planned. I saw how it took a toll on him, to be thrust into something you weren’t prepared for.” It pours out of him then.
“He loves you, Colin. He loves all of you to the point exhaustion. I know nothing would make him happier than to have you here. And if a job is what it takes to keep you in London for good, he’d give you his own. Even if it were only to make your mum happy.” She would do this for him. She’d march up to Anthony’s office—well, maybe not march, there are thirteen floors between them—and sing Colin’s praises until he agreed to bring him on. But it wouldn’t be right of her to do so. This has to come from Colin.
“You know I hate when you get like this. All sappy and convincing. Reminds me of how you tricked me into hitting on that girl in Portland.” Colin jokes.
“She let you down easily though.” She reminisces fondly. “Maybe if your hair was longer and your name was Colleen or something like that?”
“Maybe if I had a pair of boobs for her to enjoy, you mean?” Colin takes another sip of his Guiness between laughs. “I know you went home with her that night.”
“I never kiss and tell.” Michaela teases as she throws another dart at the board. “You should know that by now.” The dart bounces off the board, like all her previous ones before.
“Will you think about it, Mich, about what I said?”
“I will put in a good word for you if-” Colin hugs her at this. “Hey let go. Listen, I will put in a good word with Anthony after you make your case to him. This needs to come from you, Colin. Deal?”
She can see him working it out in his head; how to bring it up to Anthony, how to sound best sound earnest. She’ll give him all the time he needs to deliberate it in his head. It takes him another pint, and some encouragement, for him to agree to her terms.
“Have you told Pen about this?” She wants to see his reaction to his other best friend being brought up. Michaela has her long-held suspicions about those two and the possible feelings at play.
“Not yet. I’ve only just told her about buying a place.” The dart he throws lands on the wall below the board. The first one he’s missed tonight. “Don’t want to overwhelm her all at once.”
“That was two weeks ago…” She knows he is trying to avoid her line of questioning. “You didn’t tell your family about your decision to move back until you first told her. Why haven’t you shared this with her? She’d be thrilled.”
“It’s different. This would be us working together and I don’t know if, or how…” He trails off. “Can we talk about this some other time? Maybe when my entire family isn’t around?” Colin is waving to the mob of Bridgertons, plus Penelope, Kate, and Sophie that just appeared at the pub entrance.
She can drop it. For now. This thing between Colin and Pen is more of a slow-burn thing they should figure out themselves. She can enjoy the spectacle from afar til then.
“Fine. Go gather your siblings before they get us kicked out. I’m hitting the loo before grabbing another pint for myself.” Michaela waves him off before making her way towards the bathroom.
“’kay meet me at the pool tables after. Benedict said he wanted a rematch.”
Michaela can hear Kate and Anthony arguing when she walks back into the bar area. She’ll need a moment before she subjects herself to that. Michaela has just gotten the bartenders attention when a woman slips in and orders ahead of her.
Whatever retort Michaela had dies on her lips when the most beautiful woman she has seen turns around in surprise.
“Oh, did I cut in front of you?” She asks contritely. “I do apologize. I was sort of in my own little world there and must’ve neglected to see you.” At least she sounds sincere.
“That’s, um, okay.” Michaela has never not had the words. She can talk and flirt her way out of and into situations. “I’ll just- I can take the next one.”
The woman is about to respond when Colin comes barreling in between them to swing his left arm around her shoulder and his other arm around the other woman.
“My two favorite ladies in one place.” Colin yells over the music. “I don’t think you’ve met so let me.” He lets go of both of them and takes a step back to stand next to the woman who has thrown her a bit off balance.
“Frannie, this is Michaela Stirling. Michaela this is my sister, Francesca.” He makes an exaggerated twirling gesture between them as if they need to be told this is the part where they shake hands.
“I would apologize for my brother’s behavior, but he told me about your several nights in Austin.” Francesca is shaking her hand and laughing.
“That was Michaela’s best idea. She got soooo many girls’ numbers that night.” Colin slurs.
“I did no such thing.” She’s a little embarrassed that this is how her introduction is playing out.
“So, you weren’t the mastermind behind the impromptu strip mechanical bull rodeo that led to getting a drink named after you?” Francesca is biting her lower lip and waiting for her answer. Is she flirting with her?
“The Stirling Curling Tongue Twist!” Colin exclaims. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“My reputation precedes me. I promise it’s not as salacious as Colin probably led you to believe. I just enjoy having a bit of fun when the opportunity allows.” Michaela has forgotten all about the drink she wanted and is walking next to Francesca who is following Colin back to the rest of their group.
“Wicked fun?”
So, Colin told her about Boston too.