Alice walked into the phone booth and picked up the receiver.
"It's me." She said before pausing.
"it went well. He was actually very nice."
Another pause.
"I'm not going to be charmed by him… No, I know there is too much at risk right now…." She insisted, attempting not to sound irritable.
"I know what you have done for me!" she said raising her voice to the phone. "I'm not going to tell him!... I know! I-"
The voice on the other end cut her off.
"You're not listening to me! I'm not going to tell him anything. He keeps asking me questions though. About where I'm from and-"
"Yes, I am going to tell him exactly what happened as well as who sent me to him." Alice said sarcastically.
She paused.
"Right. Bye." She said before she hung up the telephone.
Frustrated, Alice threw open the door to the phone booth, hitting a passerby.
"Oh! I'm so-" She stopped in shock as she looked up at Tommy Shelby.
They stared at each other a moment, his eyes searching hers and panic flowed through her. Soon, her panic turned to anger.
"What are you doing here?" She insisted.
"I'm a Shelby. I go where I please." He said, internally taken aback by her anger.
"Were you following me? Were you listening to my conversation?" She pressed.
"No, I didn't hear any conversation. But I was coming to see you." He said, his curiosity peaked.
"Why?" She asked more forcefully than she had intended.
"Thought you might like a drink… Apparently not." He said as he pulled out a cigarette.
A moment passed as he lit his cigarette and exhaled a deep breath.
"I'm sorry." Alice finally said. "You surprised me."
Tommy nodded his understanding and looked around at the once reputable neighborhood.
"See you at the office." He finally said before he turned and walked away.
Alice leaned her head back and closed her eyes in frustration. She turned to walk toward her flat, cursing herself every step of the way. How had a day that started out so good, have ended so badly?
Hearing her heels on the pavement, Tommy turned to watch her. He hadn't expected her to be angry at seeing him. He couldn't help feeling disappointed as he watched her walk. Involuntarily, he glanced at the sway of her hips before he turned to walk back toward his car.
Fire blazed, its flames reaching the tops of the trees. Alice stood watching, her hands and dress smelling of petrol. She looked down at her blood covered hand and saw the gun. She gripped it tight, feeling the power it brought course through her. Suddenly, a light shined in her face and she raised her gun.
Alice opened her eyes. Bringing her back to the present as the sun shone through the window onto her face. She sat up, allowing her feet to dangle limply from the side of the bed. Walking to the washbasin, she splashed her face and looked in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy from staying up too late worrying about whether her temper would cost her her job.
Coming into the office, Alice went straight to her desk, not making eye contact with Lizzy. After yesterdays ham sandwich, Alice knew making friends with her officemate was a lost cause. She sat down and began to go through her desk, seeing what office supplies Lizzy had given her. She found pencils, notepads, nice stationary paper, an ink bottle, a fountain pen, and a datebook. She quickly found December 3rd and wrote in large letters, BIG EVENT. That was the day. Her entire job rested on that event being a success. That is, if she still had a job.
Lizzy walked into Tommy's office and opened the curtains. As she sat at her desk, she looked at Alice and shook her head in disapproval. As Alice began practicing her calligraphy to make handwritten invitations, Tommy walked in. He didn't say anything, he walked straight into his office and began making calls.
At noon, Lizzy left to get Tommy lunch and Alice, unable to contain herself, walked into his office.
"Yes?" He asked not looking up at her.
"I owe you an apology." She said in a small voice and he paused to look up at her. "You surprised me is all and well, I am a woman that lives alone. When a man follows you home, it's a bit unnerving."
The crease that frequently formed between Tommy's eyebrows reappeared as he considered her.
"I apologize. I didn't realize I made you uncomfortable." He said and Alice could see the concern in his eyes.
Alice's stomach dropped. She thought if she had told him she was unnerved that he had followed her, he would simply accept her actions and her apology. Never had she thought it would cause him to feel unsettled.
"No! You don't! I mean…" she searched for any way to backtrack her lie. "It gets dark so early and the neighborhood is full of people I don't know. I always try to be mindful of my surroundings so when I stepped out of the phone booth, I was shocked to see anyone. And it just happened to be you."
"You need a gun." Tommy said after a moment.
"I wouldn't even know how to use it." She said as she chuckled a relieved breath.
"Simple, you just point and pull the trigger. It does the rest."
"You make it sound so easy." She said offering another small smile.
They stared at each other a moment, Tommy's blue eyes reading hers. For a moment she forgot there were other people in the building. His eyes were so calculating and complex, she couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking as he stared at her.
Tommy stared into her hazel eyes. He felt an overwhelming desire to stand and walk to her but before he could, Lizzy walked in his office. He sat there, still staring at Alice as she turned and looked over her shoulder at Lizzy. She turned to him gave him one last look and then walked out of the room.
"Come, I'll drive you." Tommy said to her that evening as they both prepared to leave the office.
"Oh, I don't know." She said shyly. "it's out of your way."
"It's not that far." He said as he grabbed her bag. "You can tell me how unnerving I am."
Alice stopped and looked at him, her jaw dropped slightly and the edges of her mouth curling up.
"You're teasing me? Honestly? I thought I was going to get canned when I came in this morning."
"You're not the first woman to yell at me on a street corner." He said nonchalantly as they walked down the steps.
"Oh, I'm quite sure of that." She said laughing.
"And if I fire you, I would have to plan the anniversary party." He said shaking his head.
Alice laughed "I've started on invitations. They look nice, I will show them to you tomorrow if you have time."
It only took a few minutes for them to get to their destination. Alice began up the steps that lead to her door when she heard his footsteps behind her.
"Thank you for the ride." She said stopping short of the door.
"You're welcome... I have men in this area. If you feel unsafe, I can have them watch your flat."
"I'll be alright." She said, grateful for the offer but nervous of the thought of people watching her.
She stood between him and the door. He was so close, she could almost feel his breath on her.
He can be very charming….. a voice said in her head. Guard yourself. We both depend on it. The conversation rang in her mind.
"I should go in. Thank you for the ride, Mr. Shelby." She said in a breathy voice as she opened the door and took a step inside.
slowly she began to push the door to.
"Are you sure you don't want a gun?" he asked, his words serious but his tone gentle and almost seductive.
She looked at him through her lashes and slightly shook her head, giving him the faintest smile as she slowly shut the door, leaving him outside.
She stood for a moment, until she heard his footsteps on the pavement toward his car. Then her smile dissipated, and she walked to her nightstand. Pulling open the drawer, she reached in the back and pulled out a stained, green, silk handkerchief.
Unwrapping the handkerchief, she grasped the grip of the revolver and held it up in front of her face.
"I already have one." She mumbled under her breath as she looked at the dried blood still lingering on the trigger.
