I was woken abruptly by Johnny Dogs shouting "Tell Tommy I've found her." I glared at his general direction before I realised where I was, who I was with and where I should be. "Shit." I muttered, sitting up as Bonnie groaned beside me. "Tommy's losing his bloody mind looking for you." Johnny told me, holding out his hand and pulling me up from the hay. "Shame on you." he scolded, looking at Bonnie as he stood beside me. "No, Johnny. Nothing happened. We were talking and fell asleep." I told him, brushing off my dress and coat. "You're meant to be at the bloody board meeting." Johnny told me, turning on me. "I know! I know!" I replied as Bonnie pulled a bit of hay from my hair. "I better go. I'll see you soon." I told him, kissing his cheek and following Johnny out as he continued to tell me off.
"I can walk in by myself, you know." I said, walking confidently down the hall being flanked by three of my Lee cousins. I had had Johnny harping in my ear the whole journey and I was growing more and more agitated as I hadn't had any snow yet. They all ignored me. I pushed open the doors and closed them behind me, stopping the three in their tracks. "Alright, I'm fucking here. Package has been picked up and delivered, do you want to fucking sign for it?" I asked, glaring at Tommy. "Michael tells me you weren't home last night." Tommy said, looking at me. "Well, you know me, Tom. I like to make new friends and I'm sure you've had a full report from Johnny by now." I countered, raising an eyebrow at him before taking my seat. The other four people at the table looked at me but I ignored them, my eyes on Tommy as he began.
"Right, before we start this extraordinary general meeting of the board of the Shelby Company Limited, I'd like to note the absence of the Deputy Vice President who has not yet arrived." Tommy started as he handed out some papers. "Why don't you send some lads to go pick him up?" I asked in a challenging tone which Tommy ignored. "We will continue without his presence." Tommy continued before clearing his throat. "Item number one, the reinstatement of the Shelby Company Limited company treasurer and company accountant. The board welcomes back the former treasurer and former accountant with generously improved terms and conditions. Due to the exceptionally difficult circumstances the company now finds itself in." Tommy told us, handing both Polly and I a piece of paper which I quickly read over.
"This isn't what Michael and I agreed." I said, looking up at Tommy who looked at me. "It was agreed that I would come back in a limited capacity on a short term basis only relieving Michael of certain duties, others which he was still to carry out." I told him, placing the contract back in front of him. "There is no need for me to take everything from Michael." I added and Tommy sighed. "Alright, Lizzie will amend the contract and will get to you for signing." he conceded as Lizzie handed me a different contract. I raised my eyebrows at Tommy before reading and signing the contract and handing it to Tommy to sign.
"Item number two, there are now two company accountants. Both responsible for the keeping of company accounts as they see fit." he handed me something which I signed and handed to Michael across the table. "Item number three. The company treasurer and company accountant, having read the terms and conditions, lodge a signed contract of employment agreeing to the terms and conditions with the two head of accounts." Another paper was handed to me to sign and then handed to Michael.
"All those in favor of the reinstatement of Mrs. Elizabeth Gray, to the position of Shelby Company Limited Company Treasurer, and Mrs Evelyn Shelby, to the position of Shelby Company Limited Joint Head of Accounts, please raise your hands." Tommy, Michael, Lizzie and Ada all raised their hands. "Why, goodness. Thank you." Polly said dryly, showing both our opinions on the ridiculous meeting. "Any other business?" Tommy asked before adding. "Right, I declare this extraordinary general meeting over." he put away all the various bits of paper before looking up at us all. "Now we can talk about the real business. But for that, we need Arthur. Where the fuck is Arthur?" Tommy asked and we all sat back in our seats to wait.
An hour later and Arthur still hadn't arrived. "All right. He's an hour late. Fuck him. This business directly affects Arthur, but he's not here, so we'll take a vote without him." Tommy told us. "What business?" Ada asked, looking up at her brother. "Official business that wasn't on your agenda, Ada." Polly told us, opening a briefcase and started handing out photographs. "An informant told us that six years ago, Luca Changretta came from New York to Birmingham to be best man at his cousin's wedding." Tommy explained as we all looked at the picture and I automatically recognised one of the men. "We found out that they used Reid and Dunn on Broadgate for the photographs. The photographer kept the negatives. I persuaded him to give us copies and to enlarge this one. That is Luca Changretta." Polly told us, handing us another picture that confirmed my suspicions.
"Shit." I whispered and all eyes were on me. "He was in Small Heath last night." I told them all, looking around the room. "He came out of the Marquis and asked me for directions to the train station." I added. "What were you doing out by yourself at night?" Polly asked, giving me a hard look. "I wasn't alone and I'm not fucking stupid." I countered. "I didn't know who he fucking was and he made no indication that he knew who I was. Obviously, looking back, he probably did." I added. "Alright, we know he's in Small Heath and if you see him again you'll know. Half the men in the photograph are Changrettas, which means, chances are they are the men who will come to kill us. We need to get both these photographs into pubs and on street corners. Then we put it about that there's a reward for information." Tommy told us before looking at me. "And no more late night walks." he added.
"We also propose that we give a copy of this photograph to Mr. Aberama Gold." Polly told us and Ada looked up. "We need to forget the idea that it has to be Arthur that pulls the trigger. Tradition will just fuck us up." Tommy added. "We should wait for Arthur." Ada told us, putting the photographs on the table in front of her. "Arthur's not here, Ada." Polly reminded her. "We need Luca Changretta dead. That's it." Tommy told us. "What's Arthur going to say when he hears about this? The bullet has already been written, Tommy." I said, backing up Ada. "Dropping the law of the bullet is part of the process of modernization that I was working on before I… Before I was executed." Polly informed us, looking between me and Ada.
"You weren't executed, Pol." Michael said, the first time I had heard him speak since I entered the room. "What did you call me?" Polly asked, turning to her son in disbelief. "Right. Let's take a vote. I'll deal with Arthur." Tommy told us, trying to diffuse the growing tension in the room. "All those in favour of giving the photographs to Mr. Gold, raise your hand." he added. I looked at Ada for a moment as Lizzie, Tommy, Michael and Polly all raised their hands. I raised my eyebrows at her and she subtly nodded before both of us raised our hands. "Then it will be done." Tommy told us as Polly stood.
"Mum.." Michael started. "Oh, 'Mum' now, is it?" Polly snapped, looking at him. "I smelt perfume when I came in here." Polly told Tommy and I glanced at Ada who shrugged lightly. "Yeah, it was the flowers." Tommy replied. "Right, that's it." Tommy told us as we all stood, gathering our things. "Who came in here, Michael?" Polly asked and my eyes flickered to Michael. "The truth is, Polly, the woman that raised him came in here. She has every right to come in here. She brought him fucking apples and she left. We are in the middle of a vendetta and Arthur is missing. We need to find him. Concentrate on what unites us. This is all temporary." Tommy told us, putting on his jacket and coat. "Yeah, temporary." I echoed, picking up my coat and putting it on. Polly turned on her heels and left as Tommy let out a heavy sigh.
When Michael and I got back to the house, I went straight upstairs to my room and fulfilled my craving for the cocaine that was stashed in my nightstand. I also got changed and brushed my hair, thinking about my night with Bonnie. He had been a perfect gentleman and we spoke about our families and childhoods all night. The closest he got to being improper was when he pulled me down next to him, my head on his chest as he pointed out the constellations before we fell asleep.
I was brought out of my thoughts as my door opened. I looked in the reflection to see Michael watching me. "What's going on with you and the Gold lad?" he asked, putting his hands in his pockets. I rolled my eyes as I turned. "Nothing is going on, Michael. Tommy has asked me to get close to him, so that's what I'm doing." I explained, leaning against my dressing table. "Did you fuck him?" he asked, his eyes hard and I scoffed. "No, Michael, I didn't fuck him." I told him, giving him a hard look. "You know, jealousy really doesn't look good on you." I commented, my brow furrowing. "And being a whore isn't a good look for you." he countered and my eyebrows shot up. "Is that what you think of me?" I asked, tilting my head. "You're making me look like a fucking idiot, Eves." he told me, his voice raising and I scoffed again.
"You're making yourself look like an idiot, Michael. We are not together. No one knows about our relationship and it was my understanding that you knew that's how it was going to be for the foreseeable future." I replied, keeping my voice level. "I am sorry if I have given you the impression that we are together but this is how it is. I'm doing this for our family. The Golds are a good asset to have on our side and as long as I have Bonnie wrapped around my finger, they will be on our side. If you have a problem with the way that I do or do not do that then maybe we should just call whatever it is that we have quits now and save a little bit of your fucking ego." I continued, giving him a hard look. "You want me to leave?" he asked, watching me. "That's what you need to decide, Michael. I need a strong man by my side, not an insecure boy. Once you have figured out which you are, let me know." I countered, watching him. He paused for a brief moment before leaving, slamming the door behind him. I heard him stomp down the stairs then the front door bang as he left.
The next morning, it was just Finn and I at breakfast. I looked up from the paper as we heard a gun go off. Finn was out of his seat. "Finn!" I called following him through the house and into the street. Tommy stepped out of his house. "Finn? Evie?" Tommy asked, looking over us both. "It came from Arthur's house." Finn told him, pointing at Arthurs door. "Both of you, stay here." Tommy told us as he went into the house. Finn put his arm around me as we stood in the road, watching the door intently. After what felt like a lifetime, Tommy reemerged. "Is he alright?" I asked, fearing the worst. "He's fine. He shot the bullet. Go back in the house." Tommy told us before going into his own house. I looked up at Finn for a moment before doing what we were told and retreating back into the house.