In response to the reviews on chapter one;
JasH63 – thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it ;D I wasn't so confident in uploading it ha ha.
Lolobarn – ha ha I will! I'm super busy writing more chapters ^^
SPARKLES77 – eh? xD
Guest – thanks dear, I can't wait either. There's just something about Tommy Shelby isn't there?
LadyRedStar – ha ha isn't it though? We all know that Tommy doesn't like not gettin' what he wants ;)
Waterlily91 – yeah I know, she really needs to watch her back. Who knows how far he's willing to go?
Ariel – yeah I feel you. I can't really stand Grace, mainly because she deceived in him the first place and he totally falls for her. Just…nah.
ShelbyPrincess12 – ha ha ha, yeah I wanted to give it a try, I'm glad you gave me the suggestion ;)
Guest – Oh I will don't worry ;)
Ilynany – ha ha yeah where would the fun be if she gave in that easily?
KD- well here you go ^^
…
'I must say, Mr. Shelby, I'm surprised you wished to see me.'
Robert Swann put out his cigarette in his ashtray, folding his fingers together as he observed the man in front of him.
'Well your reputation precedes you, Mr. Swann. I've heard your horses never lost a race', Mr. Shelby opposite him spoke.
Swann had to smile. So that was the reason the Blinder wanted to see him? And here he had thought it was to welcome him and his family to Birmingham.
'Indeed they haven't. Though I wonder why that would interest you?' he asked.
The blue-eyed man opposite him folded his hands together against his waist.
'I've always had an interest for horses. I wish to do business with your family on this matter', he sat straight up; 'if your horses are as formidable as you claim…I would very gladly have them race for me. The winnings would be split between the two of us', he explained.
Swann chuckled. 'And if I refuse?'
Thomas shifted impatiently; the arrogance of this man was astounding. If it weren't for the horses, he would've gladly shot this man.
His face, however, remained free of emotion. He wasn't intimated easily, certainly not by this man; a pompous, arrogant rich man. He acted like he owned Birmingham. But oh was he wrong.
'You should know that I hold a lot of power in this city, Mr. Swann. And as your beloved daughter tried to tell you yesterday night…you shouldn't step where you don't belong.'
The other man's fell instantly and he brushed off his tie uncomfortably. It was crystal clear to the young Shelby that Swann knew he meant business. Though he guessed his daughter had always been worrisome, hence he hadn't taken her words to heart. But Thomas knew that his threat had sunken in; the other man appeared quite nervous now.
He stood up.
'How about we take a look at the horses then? You'll be able to pick your champion for the next race', he offered with a faked smile.
…
Alice was busy in the stables that morning, brushing out a white mare's mane, when her father came into the stables, accompanied by one of the Shelby brothers. As soon as she felt those blue eyes on her, she stopped brushing the mare's coat and turned to greet both her father and the stranger.
'Ah Alice. I'd like for you to meet my new business partner', her father spoke, looked to the man beside him; 'Mr. Shelby, this is my oldest daughter, Alice', he smiled.
Alice put the brush down, allowing the blue-eyed man to pick up her hand and plant a light kiss on the back of it. His lips seemed to linger longer than they should have and Alice timidly pulled her hand back. She knew the Shelby man already from their encounter yesterday night. She hadn't been able to forget about him. And now…here he was.
'Miss Swann, it's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance', he spoke with that deep, chilling voice.
'Likewise, Mr. Shelby', she paused to find her father's gaze, very briefly; 'please go easy on my father. The years have made him a bit overconfident at times', she answered.
Her father laughed, shaking his head. 'Please, go help your brother, dear girl. This sort of business is none of your concern -' 'I happen to disagree.'
Both frowned at Shelby's words. Alice inhaled deeply.
'I beg your pardon?' she asked.
'As the oldest child, you might take over the company one day', the blue-eyed man moved towards the mare, running his hand down her mane; 'I'd say you could learn from your father', he stated.
Alice could easily notice that Mr. Shelby had a passion for horses. It made her wonder about him. Surely he hid behind that mask of indifference. Though she was wise not to wonder too much about him. She had clearly already peaked his interest last night; she wished to refrain from fueling that interest. He frightened her.; she didn't want to be intrigued by him.
'Fair enough', her father interrupted her thought, coming for her to extend his arm, which she took gratefully; 'then, let us begin, shall we?'
…
As they moved about the estate and the stables, Thomas could not keep his eyes from the dark-haired girl, on the arm of his new business partner. She was a very pretty girl; she wasn't very tall, but still had a nicely defined figure. Though her eyes were what drew him in; those stunning, bright green eyes that held so many secrets in them.
It was when her mother called for her father from the estate, that they were left alone, her father promising her he'd only be gone for a little while.
She pulled her scarf more tightly around her frail shoulders, leaning against the fence of the outdoor arena where several staff members were taking the horses out for a run.
Sighing, he stood beside her, putting his hands on the fence.
'Your father has a growing business, I gather', he spoke.
She didn't look at him; 'my father is a fool', she answered him.
He chuckled at her words, stepping closer to her. He watched her fiddle with her hands; she was nervous. And for some strange reason…it humored him that he was the cause for her unsettlement.
'I'm well aware of that', he answered.
She turned her eyes on him, before casting them back towards the running horses.
'So why do business with him?' she wondered.
'I enjoy horses. Though your father has much more precious possessions to offer', he stated rather honestly.
He wouldn't lie; he wanted her and he would do anything to get her. And with her father in his pocket…it would only be a matter of time…
She chuckled dryly, nervously. 'Yes, my mother is a picture of beauty', she answered.
He suppressed his scoff. Either she was dim-witted and didn't catch his meaning, or she was too much of a timid girl to respond to his confession. He guessed the latter; he had seen how he unsettled her.
'A man doesn't touch a married woman, Miss Swann', he paused to take out a cigarette, lighting it; 'no less the wife of my associate', he went on.
'Well you have a lot of honor for a gangster.'
That comment set him off. Before he knew it, he had her pinned against the fence, holding a tight grip on her chin. He stared her down, finding fear in those beautiful eyes.
'Your mouth seems to run faster than your mind, Miss Swann', he brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, resisting the urge to grab her by her hair and take her mouth as his own; 'and yet you warn your father not to cross me? My dear, you've succeeded in that department quite well on your own', he almost whispered to her.
She squirmed against him. He gripped her firmly by the hip, digging his fingertips into her skirt. He wanted to bruise her, to mark her, to remind her not to mess with him. She played dumb, but she was much smarter than she made herself out to be.
'L-let go', she whimpered.
'Miss?'
He released her, as one of her staff members came closer to where they were standing. He straightened out his coat, giving her a quick glance. Her eyes were bloodshot from holding back her tears and her body was shaking.
'E-everything's fine, Gerard. I'm fine', she answered, looking at him with tearful eyes; 'g-good day to you, Mr. Shelby.'
She practically ran away from him and he watched as she met her father halfway. The latter frowned at his daughter's behavior, as he came for him.
'Mr. Shelby? What happened?' he inquired.
'I have no idea, Mr. Swann. We were discussing your horses and all of a sudden she became distressed.'
He made half a lie, but wouldn't tell his new partner he had cornered his oldest daughter. That surely wouldn't benefit his business. Though a more primal, animalistic part of him enjoyed the thought of her being marked by him, more than he should. He could only imagine her face when the bruises would form.
…
A few days had passed since that close encounter and Alice couldn't stop herself from replaying that moment over and over again in her head. The way he had grabbed her so firmly…
Tears stung in her green eyes, as she closed the door of the bathroom behind her. She turned open the faucets, allowing hot steaming water to pour into the golden bathtub. She removed her silky bathrobe, more tears stinging in her eyes at the fingertip-shaped bruises on her left hip.
She dropped to her knees, clinging onto the bathtub, sobbing. Why was she getting herself into this mess? She had promised herself she wouldn't get involved with dangerous men again. She knew the trouble it had caused in the past. Coming to Birmingham was supposed to be a fresh start. Why had she provoked Thomas Shelby like that?
'Alice? Are you alright?'
She raised her head, at the voice of her younger sister. She quickly put on her bathrobe again, watching Olivia as she entered.
'What's wrong?'
The younger girl kneeled down, putting a hand on her sister's shoulder.
'Sis, you've been acting strange ever since you ran into that Mr. Shelby -' Olivia stopped mid-sentence as Alice revealed the bruises on her hip.
Olivia sighed. 'You promised mom and dad you wouldn't go looking for your…odd preferences again', she said quietly.
'I-I didn't. It was that damn Peaky Blinder- I-' Alice sobbed again; 'don't tell mom, or dad', she almost pleaded.
'I won't, but you have to be careful. You know what happened last time', Olivia stated worriedly.
'I know, I know', Alice wiped her tears, her hand absently travelling towards the scar on the side of her neck; 'I know…'
…
So what's Alice hiding? What did she mean by 'getting involved with dangerous men'? And what is Mr. Shelby up to? Stay tuned to find out :D
Lots of Love,
~TheOneWithTooManyInterests