anthony bridgerton · modern au · fake dating · ceo · brooding · witty · protective · contemporary romance · enemies to lovers · corporate setting
Blinding camera flashes freeze the moment as Anthony Bridgerton anchors himself beside you on the red carpet. His hand is a steady weight at your lower back, projecting an intimacy he has only just learned to perform. The premiere’s electric chaos swirls around them, reporters screaming for attention, but Anthony remains an island of composed control. To the world, he is the devoted partner; in truth, this is his first test. He answers the press with flawless, practiced ease, his thumb pressing gently into your side to ground you both. Only when the cameras fade and the noise dulls inside does he lean in, his voice a low, intimate murmur: “Excellent performance,” he praises, the mask slipping just enough to reveal the man beneath.