Chapter Text
“Fuck you! Fuck you, Tom. You’re a prick. You did this to us! You cheated on me!” Kate spat, her jaw clenching tighter, if that was even possible.
“I didn’t cheat on you, Kate. You wouldn’t touch me, you wouldn’t even…you were always too fucking tired! Or too busy, or you couldn’t be bothered. ‘Cheating’ is a stretch, because we weren’t really together!” Tom growled back. Kate scoffed, shaking her head at him, picking up and throwing a lamp at him, which he managed to duck, even though her throw was weak anyway.
“We were together, I was working! You cannot say that we weren’t together, you practically begged me to be your girlfriend. So don’t pretend that you are the innocent one in this, just because I wouldn’t fuck you!” Kate walked through the house, up the stairs to their bedroom. “I was working in the office whilst you were having sex with my assistant, Tom. In the next room!” She began throwing his clothes and belongings out the window at this point.
“You’re a fucking psychopath!” Tom shouted back, “a workaholic, psychopathic bitch!” The words hit Kate like a knife. She couldn’t even look at him, she could feel the tears filling her eyes.
Kate looked at the ground. “Get out.” She said, softly, painfully. “Get out of my house. And don’t ever come back, Tom.” Kate raised her gaze, but didn’t meet his eyes.
Tom instantly knew he had hurt her, and he smirked, because that was his plan. “You’re…I don’t know what I ever saw in you, Kate. You’re sexy, but…it’s not enough. You’re not…you’re just another woman. And I want…not this.” He sighed, before shaking his head and turning back to walk down the stairs. Kate took a shaky breath, before shaking her head, hoping to shake away the tears from her eyes and the lump in her throat. The door slammed and she jumped, sniffing up hard.
Fuck him! Fuck Tom Dorset, he was a prick. He didn’t deserve Kate, he never deserved Kate. Or maybe Kate didn’t deserve him, she wasn’t sure.
•••
Daphne Bridgerton was absolutely, 100% in love with her boss, Friedrich. And he knew it. And that was her downfall. Because Daphne would do absolutely anything for him, she would drop everything in an instant, to help him, to be there for him.
They’d had sex. A few times, when Friedrich had broken up with his ex-girlfriend. And Daphne wanted to be there for him, so she was. Enough times. And she had hoped it would turn into more. But it didn’t, it just became…complicated.
“Daph?” Friedrich smiled, into her office. “Free for a coffee?” He added, finally entering, holding a wrapped Christmas present.
Daphne’s head neatly spun off her shoulders. “What? Yes, of course! Yes, sorry. Just…give me a minute.” She looked over her email that she was writing, and pressed send.
“Alright, come on. Let’s go. You work too much sometimes.” Friedrich laughed, as Daphne stood up and put on her coat.
She smiled. “I do work too much. You tell me everyday.” Daphne followed him out of the office and he led her to their favourite coffee shop.
Daphne took a seat next to the window, her favourite spot, so she could people watch. The Christmas season, the winter weather was her favourite.
Friedrich sat down opposite her, and her hands immediately wrapped around the warm coffee cup.
“So, Daph,” Friedrich smiled, shouldering his coat off. “This is…for you.” He handed her the wrapped gift and she took it from him, almost desperately. She read the gift label, hoping it would come with some sort of sentimental message, but it didn’t. ‘From F.’ Was what it read.
Daphne’s stomach sunk a little, but she grinned as she ripped open the gift. “Oh my…oh my god!” She exclaimed, holding the book tightly. “My favourite. And it’s a first edition! She smiled, hugging the book to her chest. ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ had always been Daphne’s favourite. “Thank you,” she smiled at Friedrich, before placing the book down on the table, carefully. “I didn’t get you anything. Not yet.” She took a sip of her coffee, but was taken aback when Friedrich grasped her hand.
“I have to tell you something,” his voice was quiet, and Daphne’s stomach flipped. She was convinced he was going to finally confess he loved her just as much as she loved him. Of course that’s what he was going to say. What else was there to say?
Daphne smiled softly. “Alright, don’t leave me in too much suspense.” She laughed, her cheeks blushing lightly.
Friedrich cleared his throat, taking both of Daphne’s hands in his. He couldn’t quite meet her eye—guilt, perhaps.
Daphne swallowed. “What…what is it?” She sounded slightly nervous now.
“I’m getting married. To Cressida.”