It took her weeks to convince her father, Polly, and Tommy that she was ready for this job. She wasn't a little girl anymore and she wanted to stop being treated like one. She wanted to prove to them she could do what was needed. This trip couldn't have come at a more perfect time. She couldn't stand to look at Michael's face right now. And she sure as hell didn't want to look at Gina's face because she was sure she would have punched it. She tried to not think about either of them; it only seemed to make the trip go by super slow. She kept hey eyes closed hoping it would make the final stretch quicker. "Miss Jessica the ship is docking," she heard and opened her eyes. She stretched her arms and legs. She forgot what it was like to be on a ship for this long. She gathered her things and started to walk off the ship. The New York sun was beating down on her. Even in the middle of December, she could feel heat on her face. "Baby sis," she looked up through her sunglasses to see her brothers. She embraced them all in a hug. "We are proud of you. And mom would be even prouder." Jessica's mom had been the lawyer for her father's business. For her following in her footsteps was the most important thing. It made her feel closer to her mother. "Let's get going. I need to call dad and let him know I made it. As well, as Tommy." It had taken about 12 days for her to get to American and would be the same back. They needed to move quickly to ensure Jess would be home before the Blake family knew what was going on. They needed her brothers prepared for a war that could happen.
Back in Birmingham, Michael was at work trying to keep it together. It had been the longest 12 days of his life. He was waiting for Tommy to tell them all that Jess made it and what the next move was. Here he was thinking that Jessica thought Greg Blake was better for her when in reality she was working completely against the Blake family. How could he not see it? Every time Greg tried to hit on her she always talked about Michael. She told him thats all she did and he knew it; he just didn't want to believe it because he wasn't necessarily doing the same. All she did was talk about him and here he was allowing this loser to make him feel inferior. "Guys at the table," Tommy yelled. Michael jumped up and immediately ran to the table. He was anxious, his foot moving yet again. Polly put her hand on his leg to calm him down. "Jess just called. Her brothers will be signing the paperwork for the new deal. They are setting up perimeters of men to watch them and her while she is there. As of right now, the Blake family is still here and will be leaving tomorrow. Jessica will be stopping by their lawyers to drop off the paperwork and then back on the boat. She should be home in 12 days. With that being said, we need to be prepared. The Blake's will not be happy knowing we pulled the deal. But, there are many families in America who know what they were going to do to us. I need everyone to have a clear head knowing what can come. The Swavorski's will handle things in America for us, but we need to handle what is to come here." Michael took a sigh of relief. She was safe with her brothers; that gave him slight comfort.
Back in America, "Sign here, here, here, and here," Jessica told her brothers. 3 copies all signed individually by each of them. "I can't believe you are finally in the business." Her brothers were shocked, but what she had written up had been perfect. Theres was nothing to question and it was all laid out. They knew she was good, they just didn't realize she was this good at her job. "Now tomorrow, all 3 of you are coming with me to the lawyers office right?" Joe, Travis, and Mike nodded in unison. Joe spoke, "Our guy told us, their lawyer was leaving for vacation and wouldn't be back to look it over for a while. It gives you enough time to get home, while they start to come back." The boys could see how stressed out she was. This was her first big deal and their sister was a perfectionist. Anything that could go wrong could derail the whole plan.
Travis broke the silence and changed the subject, "So how's Michael?" Their father had called them letting them know she might be in a terrible mood and that things were not good with Michael. She too was worried they were going to ask that question and she didn't want to talk about it. She looked at her feet nervously, "Uh we broke up right before I came here. We got into a fight. For some reason he thinks hes not good enough for me and said it would be best for us to do our own thing." A tear came down her face. Mike spoke, "Ah I could kill him for hurting you." Travis continued, "I'll go back with you and break his legs." Jess laughed, "You guys always know how to make me smile. I'll be ok. And I think we will be ok. This is actually better, if he knew what I was doing here he'd probably never let me do what I needed to do here." They all nodded in unison. They knew if she could get through the passing of their mom, she could get through anything. "Besides, this is a good break from him. And I get to see you guys again. Even though you're all so annoying," Jessica laughed, they all rolled their eyes and threw pillows at her.
The next day, New York was her favorite place in the world. During Christmas, they had a huge tree and there were lights everywhere. Everybody she came into contact with seemed so happy. So mesmerized by what was in front of them. It helped be the distraction they all needed. When Jess was little, she remembered taking so many trips with her family to New York. Her mom loved the fashion; every holiday they would get new outfits and take a family picture in front of some of the best places. The last family trip they had all made together including her mom was about 12 years ago. She was 8. It still looked the same. It still provided the same feeling of home and comfort. She convinced her brothers to walk with her the several blocks it took to get to the Blake lawyer's office. The cold air hit her face turning her nose red. She was bundled up as if ready for a blizzard. They walked past the place a few times just to make sure their informant was correct. The brothers did not want anything to go wrong now that their little sister was involved. She got the ok from her brothers and body guards. She walked up the brownstone steps and dropped the envelope in the mailbox. A weight lifted off her shoulders. She was done and could go home. Her brothers rushed her into the car back to the house. Although a short trip, this was for business not pleasure. They knew they would see her soon. They dropped her back off at the ship and would make the phone call to Tommy to let him know the deal was done.
11 days had gone by. It was a waiting game for everyone. Tommy had seen the Blake family off on the boat back to America. And now, Michael sat there waiting impatiently. Today was day 12. He had to make things right. He looked down at his watch 11:55. 5 more minutes and his mom would allow him to leave work to go see Jessica when she docked. Tick tock tick tock the clock on the wall went. Ding . 12:00. He bolted up from his chair and ran out the door saying bye. "Thank god that boy left I couldn't take his sadness any longer," yelled Arthur. "Yea Polly your son is a little bitch when it comes to feelings," he laughed. Polly snapped her head around. "Shut up John. He's in love leave him alone." Ada joined in, "You know, maybe if you were as nice to your wives like Michael is to Jessica, maybe they'd pull the sticks out of their asses." "Shut it Ada," John said annoyingly.
Michael began power walking through the streets to make it to the dock on time. It was cold, but his adrenaline kept him warm. At Shelby and Co. the phone rang. "Is this Thomas Shelby," the voice on the other line asked. "Yes whose calling?" Tommy asked. "This is Greg, Greg Blake. Mr. Shelby, I was sadly informed from my lawyer whose trip got cancelled that a certain company was no longer doing business with us. You fucked our money Mr. Shelby and now I am going to fuck with your family." The phone went dead. Tommy put it back and suddenly ran again. Tommy picked up. "Janik is everything ok?" Tommy said in a panic. By then everyone in the office was looking at him. "Leave for the dock now. We will have people waiting with you guys for protection. Yes he called us too. No, no don't worry we will make sure nothing happens to her," he told him. He quickly hung up. He looked at the faces that were staring at him. "Jess's brother were attacked in New York. They are fine, minor injuries. We need to find Michael NOW!" He yelled and they all began to run. Tommy stopped Polly. "Polly listen to me I need you to stay here. Please I am begging you. Stay here and I will come back," Tommy begged. She shook her head yes not sure what was happening. Michael rounded the corner a block away from the dock just in time to see Jessica. He crossed the street when a car pulled up on the other side. "Michael Gray" someone yelled from the car. He turned and looked towards them. Out from behind the car came out Greg Blake. He began to shoot. Suddenly it became dark and Michael was on the ground.