The working day had been absolutely manic. Saoirse didn't know how so many people had managed to fit in the office at one time. They had been packed in like sardines, eager to collect their hard-earned money. There had been queues out of the door all afternoon and Saoirse was certain that if she never saw another wage slip again for the rest of her life it would be too soon. They were going to haunt her forever.
"Is it always like that?" she asked Arthur as they tidied up together. The noisy hum had thankfully long since dissipated leaving a relaxed quiet in its wake, and Saoirse was grateful that Tommy had insisted on having his brother stay with Saoirse all day to make sure that none of the men tried to get too aggressive with her slow speed in getting their wages to them. It wasn't so much that any of them looked as though they were about to get nasty, it was more that they were impatient to collect what was due to them. Even when Arthur had shouted at them to line up in an orderly fashion or 'fuck off', there was still chaos in the air.
"Afraid so," Arthur nodded. "They're all desperate to get their money and get to the pub before their wives can take it all."
"I don't know how Polly manages it," she said, letting out an exhausted sigh.
"It gets easier with practice," Arthur smiled warmly. "It also helps if you try and embody your inner Polly and shout at them all to behave if they start getting antsy or tell them they won't get their money and then they'll soon shut up. Also helps that I'm not in here all the time because usually I get frustrated and knock something or someone over."
Saoirse chuckled at Arthur's honesty, and she could well imagine the scene. Arthur Shelby was a formidable man, yet unlike his brother he was more of a smiling assassin. He could easily fool people into thinking they were on his good side and then he would quickly let them know otherwise with a fist in their face. She had no doubt he could kill a man with his bare hands and barely work up a sweat, but there was more to him than met the eye. There was a softness and almost a vulnerability in his dark eyes. He was also very humorous which she had discovered after being on the receiving end of far too many of his jokes throughout the past few hours.
She had also briefly met the other Shelby brothers during the day as well. John was mischievous and impish, wriggling the toothpick between his teeth with his tongue as he had flirted playfully with her. And Finn was a sweetheart; cheeky but respectful.
"You did well today," Arthur told her. "The last girl we had crumbled under the pressure and burst into tears the first time she did it, but you kept yourself together. You should be proud of yourself."
Saoirse smiled sincerely at Arthur's sweet words. She knew he was just being kind because she had, in truth, messed up a few times throughout the day when it had all gotten a little overwhelming. But Arthur had been patient and kind with her even when she hadn't been with herself.
"Thank you, Arthur. It's really kind of you to say," she said. "Hopefully, next time I'll be a little more prepared for it."
"Hey, don't knock yourself," Arthur patted her on the hand. "The first and only time John's Esme worked in here on wage day she got so angry with one of the men that she flipped over a table and smacked one poor bloke in the mouth. It was actually rather fantastic."
Saoirse grinned at that, well able to imagine the dark haired, narrowed eyed woman she had been introduced for a few moments back at Watery Lane. Esme hadn't been unwelcoming as such, but her frosty nature had certainly made Saoirse aware that the woman wasn't as friendly as the other females in the family.
"Right I'd best be off," Arthur said. "You'll be alright on your own, won't you? Tommy'll be back shortly. Anyway, if you go into that back office, you'll see a metal filing cabinet. Just file the dockets away in there and then you can go home once Tommy's here. And tell him I said he's not to find you anything else to do."
Saoirse finished filing the dockets away; the little pieces of paper that the employees had to sign when they collected their wages so that there could be no dispute about them having received them. She went to close the top drawer with a rather heavy-handed motion and it slid back open and hit her in the chest. Frowning, she tried again but it did the same thing. The third time she tried, it wouldn't close past half-way. It was stuck, but she couldn't see how for the love of God nor money.
"Oh, for God's sakes," she muttered under her breath, lifting her knee up underneath the drawer as she wriggled it, hoping it might budge. "Just bloody get in will you."
"There's a knack to that one," a voice murmured from behind her, causing her to jump and trap her finger in the drawer.
"Jesus fucking Mary and bastard Joseph," she gasped, yanking her finger out of the drawer and cradling it against her chest. She spun around and grimaced when she saw Tommy leaning against the doorframe, smoking a cigarette languidly. A hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth and if she hadn't been trying her hardest not to cry about her finger, Saoirse would have wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.
"That's some very colourful language to come from a proper young lady such as yourself," Tommy noted.
"I trapped my finger in the filing cabinet," she offered by way of explanation.
"So, I noticed," he smirked openly now, walking over to her. "And now you're bleeding all over your dress."
Saoirse looked down and saw that he was indeed right. But before she could do anything about it, he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wrapped it around her finger.
"I'm not usually so clumsy," she muttered, a blush creeping up her cheeks. She told herself that it was because she was embarrassed and not because he was so close that she could feel his warm, smoky breath on her cheek.
"I'm sure there are many people who've had their fingers chewed off by rabid filing cabinets," his eyes flashed up and met hers, his cigarette dangling precariously from the corner of his mouth. Saoirse grinned at his teasing, fully aware that he was still holding onto the handkerchief and pressing it onto her finger.
"The question is, have they lived to tell the tale?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
"Guess we'll have to wait and see, won't we?" he replied, widening his eyes ominously. "Arthur tells me you did well today. I'm glad to hear it."
"It was interesting. Not what I expected. I had no idea that giving out wages could be so chaotic."
"That's what happens when there are two hundred and odd men to pay," Tommy tilted his head in agreement. "But it's not scared you off then?"
"Nah," Saoirse shook her head. "It takes a lot more than that to scare me away, Mr Shelby."
Tommy allowed his eyes to wander over her face now that they were so close to one another. Her porcelain skin was free from any blemishes and the freckles on her nose were begging to be kissed. His gaze flicked down to her full lips and he almost licked his own subconsciously. Shaking his head to rid himself of the very inappropriate thoughts he was having about his assistant, he set about inspecting Saoirse's finger.
"There you go," he said, clearing his throat. "All better."
"Thank you," she said quietly, feeling unnerved by the way he was still watching her. "Well, I guess I should get going. That's if you don't need me for anything?"
"No," he shook his head.
"Can I have my finger back then please?"
"Oh," Tommy dropped her finger like it had burnt him.
Saoirse tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled nervously. "Good evening, Mr Shelby," she said. "I'll see you on Monday."
Tommy nodded, extinguishing his cigarette in the glass ashtray on the table. "We've got a few meetings on Monday that I'll need you to take notes for, so I'll need you here early to prepare for them beforehand."
Before Saoirse could reply, Ada came bursting through the door.
"Oh, I'm glad I caught you before you left," she panted, trying to catch her breath. Her face was red and she had obviously been running. "I wondered if you wanted to come for a few drinks? I told you I wanted to have a chance for a proper talk, and it's Friday which means there's no work tomorrow and no reason to go to bed early."
"That's really nice of you, but I don't think I should," Saoirse answered, hoping she didn't sound too rude. "Joe will be wanting his dinner."
"So, come after dinner then," Ada wasn't taking no for an answer. "Heck, bring Joe with you. I'd be rather interested to meet the man who you would gladly move to Small Heath for."
"I don't know," Saoirse pulled a face, and for some reason found herself looking to Tommy for help. Or was it for his opinion? But he just looked at them both impassively, doing little to help Saoirse's decision.
Despite his indifferent demeanour, Tommy was rather interested himself to meet the man who had persuaded his young secretary to move to Birmingham. Well, he told himself he was interested, but the emotion that was actually coursing through his veins was closer to jealousy than anything else. He frowned. What did he have to be jealous about? He'd known the girl for a few days and he had known from their first meeting that she was taken. And if he was being honest, he wasn't short of women fawning over him. He could have a different woman every night of the week if he wanted. But maybe that was the problem. He couldn't have her and it bothered him. Tommy Shelby wasn't a man accustomed to not getting what he wanted.
"Tell her Tommy," Ada dragged him into the conversation, distracting him from his thoughts. She tugged on Tommy's sleeve like a petulant child trying to get their own way.
"She's a grown up, Ada," Tommy lit another cigarette. "I can't tell her what to do."
"Well technically you can," Ada crossed her arms and pouted. "Just tell her she has to come."
"Ada," Tommy glowered, but one look at the young girl's face and he crumbled. Ada was one of the few people in the world who he would move mountains for, and she knew it as well. He sighed and looked to Saoirse. "Would you please come to the Garrison tonight at eight o'clock, either alone or-"
"-With Joe," Ada butted in quickly before giving Tommy a sickly sweet smile.
"With Joe," Tommy repeated, rolling his eyes. "If for no other reason than to stop Ada nagging at me for the rest of my miserable life."
"What about tomorrow night instead?" Saoirse suggested. "That way I can make sure Joe has no excuse not to come?"
"Yay," Ada squeaked, grabbing Saoirse's arm excitedly. "Ok, tomorrow it is. Eight o'clock. I'm off to tell Polly and the others now. Esme might even give you a smile tomorrow with a few drinks in her. Then again, probably not.."
"Sorry about that," Tommy apologised as Saoirse grabbed her coat and bag. "She likes to get her own way that girl."
"It's alright," Saoirse smiled. "I'm sure it will be nice to get out and see the area at night."
Tommy snorted and let out a small chuckle. "Only someone who wasn't from Small Heath would say something like that."
"Surely it's not that bad," Saoirse frowned, unsure if he was just teasing her.
"Guess you'll have to find out for yourself, won't you?"
As he watched Saoirse leave, Tommy couldn't help but think about the lingering smell she left behind her. It was sweet and innocent smelling; like roses in the spring when they first bloom. He wished he could capture that scent and keep it with him always. Disgusted with himself, he set about finding someone to rid him of the sappy thoughts he was having about his employee.
Saoirse was just plating up dinner when Joe walked through the front door, slamming it loudly behind him. His steps were loud and thunderous and the expression on his face matched.
"What's wrong, love?" she asked him, looking up from the potatoes she was scooping onto his plate.
"Just had a shit day," he grunted, grabbing a bottle of rum out of the cupboard and taking a swig straight from the bottle.
"Well why don't you sit down and I'll bring dinner over? Then you can tell me all about it," she smiled, picking the plates up and carrying them over to the table. Joe followed with the rum bottle and a glass tumbler.
"There isn't very much to talk about," Joe said. "I just had a bit of an argument with one of the other lads and it's put me in a stinking mood."
Saoirse got the feeling there was perhaps something more to it, but she didn't want to push him. Especially not after the previous night when he had gotten so angry. Obviously, this new job and the extra pressures the role had were affecting him and she wished she knew how to help.
"Well, I've got something that will cheer you up," she announced. "We've been invited out to the pub for a few drinks tomorrow night with Ada. You remember I told you about her? Mr Shelby's sister."
"I'm not in the mood, Saoirse," he said, stabbing at his mashed potatoes.
"Oh, come on, it'll be fun," she tried again.
"I said no."
"Joe, by tomorrow night you'll be rested and whatever happened at work today will be long forgotten. And it will be so nice to go out together."
"What part of fucking no don't you understand?" he threw his plate at the wall and screamed.
Saoirse swallowed as her heart began to pound and a lump appeared in her throat. She jumped up from her seat and quickly set about picking up the broken pieces of crockery. Her vision began to blur and she couldn't stop the tears that dropped onto the floor.
"I'm sorry love," Joe placed a hand on her shoulder, making her jump. He bent down and helped her pick up the mess. "I'm just tired and I didn't mean to lose my temper."
"It's alright," Saoirse answered shakily.
"Look at me," Joe grabbed her face gently and forced her to look at him. "I'm sorry if I scared you."
"Don't worry," she whispered, sniffing and wiping at the tears on her face.
"You know I'd never hurt you, right?"
"I know that," she nodded. And she did. No matter how angry Joe might have gotten the last couple of nights, she knew he would sooner hurt himself than lay a finger on her in that way. "I'm sorry for pushing you about going out. It was a silly idea."
"No, it's me who should apologise," he told her. "We should go out and have some fun."
"Joe, we don't hav-"
Joe put a finger to her lips to silence her. "We're going out," he kissed her nose. "I'm gonna show the men of Birmingham that I've got the most beautiful girl around."
Smiling, Saoirse kissed him gently on the mouth. "I love you."
"And I love you."