"It's funny when people discuss Love Marriage Vs Arranged. It's like asking someone, if suicide is better or being murdered." Unknow

Dear Ada,

I hope you're feeling better after what happened ? I know he's already taken care of getting you to safety. After all, this is what he did best. He's still an idiot and an asshole but he protects his family.

Just like I do. I already know what you are thinking when reading these words… He and I are not as similar as everyone likes to think. The proof, I have evolved. I mean, hold back your cry of joy because I went on a date with William Gibson.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I also made sure to provide you with protection.

I went to London the other day. I know, I haven't been through Camden Town, You'll have all the luxury you want from yelling at me in your next letter. I just want you to know that the Italians won't bother you anymore from now on.

On a more frivolous note, I took care to have a package sent for Karl. I know he likes wooden toys.

I can't wait to hear from you.

With all my affection,

Adele

Adele let out a weak sigh as she put her pen next to her letter before sinking back into her office chair. She couldn't deny the slight tonsure along her limbs. She had been particularly tense since Ada's letter recounting her misadventures with the Italians. They had not only taken their rage on him but also on Ada.

That was what made her react.

She hadn't hesitated to go in person to make a deal with the Sabini. Niccolo had been her spokesperson, of course.

Honestly, there was no more misogynistic than the Italians. Adele had hated every moment of her trip. But she had done it for Ada and in the end she knew she had made the right decision. Even if that implied a good advance of pounds and a diversification of their business. Looks like they're going to have to stretch out on the racetrack now.

Adele wasn't particularly anxious to start.

Knock, knock, knock ...

"Yes?" She sighed.

She made sure to fold the letter for Ada before taking one of her secretary's envelopes and putting it inside. She moistened the edge just as the door opened.

Soon enough, the distinct sound of her grandfather's cane echoed across the French-quality floor of her office.

"You seem busy lately."He declared as he stopped at her desk before pulling out one of the chairs to sit down.

Adele looked up from the envelope as she set it aside before giving Gerald a glance."I thought those were your watchwords, "hard work and success."

"Exactly." He nodded with a firm nod."I came here to congratulate you. You did well in London. But I see that I am still treated as a hostile person."

Adele rolled her eyes at his exaggeration before resting her flat eyes on him."I'm not sure that can really be considered a success."

"Why ?" He asked as he leaned against the back of the chair."Horse racing brought me to you, right? It's as legal of an expansion as any."

"Surrounded by fucking gangs?" Adele snapped back."There is a new war brewing. I've been in a war before. I would not participate in another. Especially not a war over who has the biggest."

Gerald let out a huff of laughter at her outspokenness before slipping his cane between his legs as he rested both hands on the head of it. He took in the wonderful, distinguished and powerful young woman Adele had become before shaking his head, fond."You know you would make the women of London turn pale with such language?"

"I know how to adapt to the situation."

"I know you can." Gerald confirmed."I know there are a lot of things you can do, Adele. And I also know that the prospect of a new war isn't really what makes you reluctant. " Adele paused. "It's because of this man. Thomas, isn't it?"

Adele closed her eyes with a slight shudder at the hearing of his first name. She hadn't heard his name for so long. It was sort of an unspoken rule between her and Seamus. He never referred to him by his first name. It was always him or his. But he made sure to always avoid his first name.

Gerald didn't really care.

She clenched her jaw as she returned her eyes to her grandfather with impassivity despite the emotions swirling in her mind."If you already know the answers then why ask the questions?"

"I like to be in the know." Gerald immediately replied with an arched eyebrow."Now I thought I heard you went back to Small Heath a few weeks ago. Jarvis told me he drove you to a hospital."

"Your point exactly?"

"Did you go to see him?" Gerald asked bluntly.

Adele pursed her lips clearly frustrated by his questioning before meeting his gaze in silence. She didn't look down as he suddenly leaned in with a suddenly icy, almost threatening look.

"I'm not going to repeat myself, Adele." He warns. "Did you go to see him?"

"He wasn't here." She replied out of courtesy rather than fear.

"But you went to see him." He concluded with a nod."Is that going to be a problem?"

Adele held his gaze in a further moment of defiance before finally looking away."He's in the past. The past is not my concern. "

"I see." Gerald nodded as he used his cane to stand up."You did a good job, Adele. I feel that the business is going to be successful in the future."

Adele narrowed her eyes on his back as he walked away.

Once she heard the door slam, she finally released the breath she had been holding during this interview. She rested her elbows on the desk before clutching her face in her hands in exhaustion. She tried to ignore the feelings rushing through her chest. Unfortunately it was stronger this time.

She knew it wasn't that easy. It wasn't enough with a snap of your fingers to make it all go away. Worst of all? She had never felt so lonely since leaving Small Heath. It didn't matter how many meetings she had. It didn't matter how many people were around her or how many hands she squeezed. At the end of the day, she was left completely and utterly alone.

She had no one to talk to and no one who could make her come alive again. She didn't have anyone she could hug and she just had this fucking urge to just scream sometimes.

Sometimes, sometimes, she just wanted to throw everything away and isolate herself for days on end.

It was so taxing to have to wear a mask all the damn fucking time.

She had to manage the company, manage her brother and control her feelings at the same time. She had to be flawless and she also had to be straightforward enough not to get ousted.

If she thought the nightmares of war were appalling; it was because she had yet to experience the pressure a woman doing business had to handle.

Suddenly her door was opened again, forcing Adele to lift her head just to roll her eyes at her brother's suave expression."Well, well, well, looks like someone's got her ass spank by grandpa."

"And you don't look at all happy about it." Adele commented sarcastically. "Do you want some salt to rub in the wound?"

Seamus rolled his eyes."You really know how to ruin a good mood, eh?"

"Just tell me what you want and go. I'm a busy person." Adele sighed as she picked up the envelope for Ada to write down her address.

Seamus settled into the same seat previously occupied by their grandfather before giving Adele a curious look."What did he want?"

"To congratulate me." She replied absently with a hint of sarcasm in her tone."Apparently, keeping a girl from being raped and a man from getting beaten up in an affair is acceptable to him."She looked up at Seamus."As long as business is booming. Who am I to judge, aye?"

"Okay, now I'm worried." Seamus said seriously."You've never been so mean to him. What did he really say to you?"

Adele paused in her writing before clenching her jaw as she resumed her notes in silence.

"Adele…"

She rolled her eyes knowing that he wouldn't stop hovering around her until she answered.

Honestly she should have known by the time that there was no point in trying to keep things from her brother. He was no longer that young man she could send back with one look. He had grown up now. It was a man.

She let a weary sigh pass her lips before straightening up as she let go of her pen to gauge him."He spoke about the new case on the races."

"Yeah?" He asked. "Where's the problem? It's good for business."

"He also asked if my connection to… you-know-who is going to be a problem."Adele added, shaking her head as she waved her hand at Seamus to prove her point.

Seamus instantly grimaced in understanding."Okay now I get the rash mood."

"Not helping." She warned him as she slipped the envelope for Ada in his direction."Can you pass that over? Please."

Seamus took the letter between his fingers before giving it a flat look. "What am I? Your postman ? Go pass it yourself."

"You're going to town tonight. Not me."

Seamus paused as he immediately turned his head to her in discomfort. He suppressed a grimace as he sat up in the upholstered leather chair before awkwardly clearing his throat. He rubbed his nose in confusion."How do you know?"

Adele took a breath as she took on a new land mining contract to build a new building at the behest of a Turkish prince before opening it up, giving her brother a sharp look.

He really thought he could still hide things from her. Adorable. Stupid but adorable nonetheless.

"How long have you been in contact with John?" She asked casually as she picked up her pen again to skim over the contract mentions. She could feel Seamus's gaze on her as she tried to act as unmoved as possible. She knew she wasn't fooling anyone, let alone Seamus, but it was necessary. If she wanted to talk about something like this then she had to make sure to keep the feelings under lock and key.

Seamus cleared his throat as he pulled a box of solid silver cigarettes from his jacket pocket before pausing."May I smoke in here?"

Adele simply raised her hand in response. She listened as he lit his cigarette with a match before hearing his hoarse breath pass his lips as he released the smoke from his lungs.

He removed the cigarette from his lips before using his thumb to rub his lower lip as he watched Adele lean back casually against the back of her chair."I never really stopped. But given your reaction, I doubt I'll teach you anything new."

She crossed out a few conditions she disagreed with before pointing at Seamus with the tip of her pen."You're smart. Well, sometimes."

"It's too nice." Scoffed Seamus."You could almost see a man."

"Funny." She said as she gave him a smirk."Considering that I'm more of a man than you ever will be."

Seamus let a scoff before raising his hand in her direction."You know what? I'll let it go this time. We're civilized people."

"Are we now?" She asked.

"Mhm-mhm." He hummed before letting a mocking smile curl his lips."Besides, I know you only attack my masculinity when you feel trapped in the ropes. Which means that I touched a nerve."

Adele took a short breath at her brother's mischievous intelligence before fighting her smirk as she clicked her tongue against her palate. She kept her eyes on her little brother's cocky expression before leaning casually against the back of her chair. She put down the pen she was playing absently as she slid it through her fingers before pointing at her brother with a bittersweet smile."Take back what you just said or I'll show you things worse than death."

"Poetic." He deadpanned.

Adele rolled her eyes as she let out a long sigh before sitting up in her chair to pick up her things. She waved her hand absently in her brother's direction to fire him."Okay, enough. I still have a lot to do. Go to annoy someone else."

"And now you're avoiding the subject."

Adele froze as she kept her eyes on the contract without really reading it before puckering her lips in a scowl. She took a breath before clicking her tongue against her palate as she lifted her head to gauge her brother in an act of surrender."Fine, what do you want from me?"

"That letter…" Seamus stated as he bent down with his elbows resting on his thighs before waving the letter she had given him for Ada as proof."Write another."

"Why would I do this? Better yet, for whom?"

Seamus gave her a blank, unamused look."You know for whom. He wrote you a letter and you never answered him. Hell, you didn't even open it."

Adele instantly rolled her eyes as she leapt out of her chair, clearly restless now. She turned to the two huge windows giving her access to a small metal balcony before leaning against the wall to observe the grand exterior of the estate.

"You know what's going to happen, Adele!" He insisted."You are going to have to get married eventually. You know that Gerald is preparing for your future nuptials. Do you really want it to be for business gain?"

Adele immediately left a scoff as she turned to her brother."Do you seriously think I would let him marry me without saying anything?"

"No. Exactly. I know you are going to fight. That's what worries me."

Adele shook her head as she returned her eyes to the outside."It's ridiculous. I wouldn't discuss my plausible future with you. It will never happen."

Seamus clenched his jaw as he narrowed his eyes down on his damn stubborn sister's back. He expected this reaction but still."You will end up marrying a man for business. I know it. You are far too ambitious to miss an opportunity to elevate the company to the top."

"Well, since you already know everything why talk about it then?"

"Because I'm tired of seeing you suffer all the time!" Seamus suddenly exploded as he leapt from the chair to hit the desk in frustration.

A heavy silence suddenly fell across the room as Adele jumped at his outburst before looking at him with wide eyes, speechless. She had never thought her pain could affect him so much.

Nonetheless, it was probably a lie. She knew Seamus cared about her as much as she cared about him. They were a bit addicted like that.

She closed her gaping lips as she tried to find the words to allay his frustration.

However, Seamus beat her as he let out a cold laugh before hitting the desk again in exasperation."Damnit, Adele! Do you think we haven't suffered enough? After Ma? And you, after the war?"

"It was my choice." Adele finally admitted after resuming her surprise. She pushed herself off the wall to join her brother with an insistent gaze."It was my choice, Seamus."

The latter rubbed his forehead in agitation before shaking his head, speaking through clenched teeth as he pointed at her."Promise me. Promise me that you will never marry a man for the sake of business. Promise me, Adele!"

Adele hesitated a moment before shaking her head, contrite."You know I can't do this. I never kept a single one of my promises. I'm not going to start now."

Seamus swallowed as he met her gaze, torn between the urge to knock some sense into her head and the urge to hold her tight against him. He raised his hands to clench his fists in indignation before letting out an exasperated groan. He shook his head as he turned abruptly for the exit in too much emotion.

However, he suddenly turned around.

"You can be a fucking heartless bitch sometimes!" He seethed as he pointed his finger in her face, annoyed."You know that?"

She shrugged."It's part of my character."

Semaus rolled his eyes as he exhaled in irritation before raising his eyes to the ceiling as he restrained himself from clasping his hands around her neck. Adèle could sometimes make him want to murder. He swallowed as he rubbed his lips before walking towards the exit. He suddenly changed his mind as he returned to sit in one of the armchairs in the commotion. He pulled the legs of the chair lightly to the ground with his weight before returning his eyes to Adele impatiently.

Adele watched him silently with a threatening smile surfacing on her face before arching an eyebrow as she finally met his irritated gaze."What now?"

"You know what ?" Snorted Seamus as he waved his finger with animation in her direction."You're going to come with me to the Garrison. Yep, you're gonna come and you're finally gonna get that fucking brooms up your ass that you've had since you moved in here!"

"Yeah, right." Scoffed Adele as she crossed her arms over her chest."Oh, and fuck you too."

"It's the pub's grand reopening." Seamus reminded as if it was meant to make a difference. He suddenly tried a new approach." I mean, you work so hard. You should take a break. You could have a little fun. Plus, Ada will be there."

Adele rolled her eyes at his futile attempts before giving him a pointed look as she settled back behind her desk."I think you've been enjoying yourself enough for both of us lately."

Seamus let out a hilarious sneer as he sank back into the chair before sitting up with his feet bending over the armrest. Adele glanced sharply at his position before rolling her eyes as she closed the binder containing the contract. She put it on a growing pile of uninteresting contracts.

"Do you know how many servants I've had to dismiss with gracious compensation to buy their silence over the past few months?"

"I don't know. Three or four ?"

"Two." Snapped Adèle before giving her brother a dark look."Per month."

Seamus let a wolfish smile curl his lips."Well, as Ma used to say, I'm growing."

Adele let out a sigh as she rubbed her outstretched neck before letting a small smile curl her lips anyway."Young, old, dead or alive, mens are a real pain in my ass."

Seamus snickered as he straightened up before leaning over to take one of the contracts she planned to study later. Adele gave him a bored look before letting it go as she returned her eyes to the one she had before her eyes. He might as well help her while he was here.

Reading the new contract, Seamus frowned before taking a puzzled breath."Have you read this contract?"

"Mhm Mhm? I doubt it." Hummed sarcastically Adele."Since it was in the unread stack."

Seamus rolled his eyes impatiently before leaning in to swap the contract she was reading with his. Adele immediately leaned against the back of her seat with her hands raised at his impudence."Do you see what I see?"

"What's that ?"

Seamus frowned further as he pointed to one of the mentions with his index finger."There is a mistake in the numbers. It's marked that we each have a third of the company but it looks like there's a new player in the game. Look at the name."

"Marks?" Read Adèle out loud before giving an alarmed look at her brother."Like in the family of Lords Marks?"

"I think I know what it is." Seamus swallowed."I overheard Gerald talking about it with Caleb and Billy. They were planning on getting into politics, Adele. They want an alliance to reach parliament."

Adele scoffed."I assumed you're joking?"

"Sadly, no." Refused Seamus.

Adele gritted her teeth as she leaned back against the seat in irritation."They obviously haven't thought of telling me about it."

"If we ever get into politics, what's going to happen?"

"Well for starters, we'll be a lot richer than we can even imagine." She said."And we'll probably have to cut some of our associations. Hence the reason why Gerald let me go to London. Dammit!"

"What? What do you mean?"

Adele sighed as she gave Seamus an annoyed look. She pursed her lips before glancing in the direction of the door."Jarvis!"

She waited patiently under her brother's watchful eyes before quickly taking the contract in hand once her bodyguard entered the room. Jarvis paused beside them with his eyebrows raised in curiosity at their grave expressions."You asked for me?"

"Can you read this please?" She asked, a deep frown on her face.

"What's that ?" Jarvis asked as he picked up the contract before reading it curiously.

"A contract from the Marks family lawyers apparently." She said before raising an eyebrow at the sight of the man freezing."Did you know what Gerald was planning?"

Jarvis put the contract back on her desk."Well, you both know your grandfather is an English army colonel. His relations are very high."

"But the parliament?" Seamus hissed."How is he going to do it?"

Jarvis pursed his lips in a thin line before turning his eyes in sympathy on Adele."By using the oldest trick in the book. He will bind his family to that of another even higher up through marriage."

Hi, guys,

So this chapter is a little more of a filler chapter than anything else. This is mostly to show the dynamic between the characters of the Lancaster family. Adele and Gerald Vs Adele and Seamus.

But above all, we will start to get into Gerald's subterfuge. He's not as selfless as he claims he is. He has goals and ambition.

Unfortunately, he will stop at nothing to make it happen.

On a side note, I really want to thank everyone who has continued to follow this story and who have all commented throughout the chapters.

I would particularly like to thank : kmhappybunny24, SnowLeopard167, Anna.B, Allana Winchester, Dear author, SightlessWriter15 and all the good people who take time to leave a review.

Really, thank you all.

Xoxo, Imagine-write-and-love