I do not own anything, this is a fanfiction. This was nothing I had planned to write, it just happened. It´s mostly form a scene from seasong 4.
Rothstein pays a visit
She knew he was a dangerous man, after all he is one of the biggest gangster bosses in the states. But she found it hard to believe as she never had seen him other then nice and well spoken. She did not really knew so much about Mr. Rothstein other then what her husband Nucky Thompson had told her. Nucky was long gone now and she had to provide for herself and her children. They had separated as soon her young lover had died, but Nucky had also had a younger lover with was known in the whole city. He had never been discrete in his love affairs, she did not mind since she herself had fallen in love with his lifeguard. But now she had none as her young lover had died and she waited to divorce her husband, which seemed to never happen. They had simply just left each other and moved on, without seeking a divorce.
She was all alone and worked in a business office and called herself her last birthname Mrs. Rohan to get a fresh and clean start. She worked hard but still lived a poor life as all her money went to the rent, food and cloth for the growing children. She was always worried the money wouldn't last until the next payday. She often worked late and sometimes helped her boss to play small tricks to the investments men that visited the office, tell them lies about the markets so they would invest in what they believed would be a profit deal. It was there she had meet him again, Arnold Rothstein the partner-in-crime-boss to Mr. Thompson. Her heart had stopped as she realised it was him, she knew to well what power the man in front of him had. She had run off the room he and her director had been in not knowing what to say as Mr. Rothstein surly recognized her too and would know they tried to scam him into a bad investment.
As he walked out from the office minutes later he had come up to her and offer a deal. Hers true inside information about the business deals in the markets and he would provide her with a free apartment more suitable for raising children. She had accepted and called him to invite him to hers to talk terms and deals.
And so they sat down at her small and dark apartment, she had sent her children away to a friend of hers for the evening not wanting them to disturb the meeting; but also because she did not want them to meet the gangster boss who she had heard being refered as "The Brain" . Although Rothstein was always talking and moving with an perfection of a gentleman, but she know that behind his well behaviour that man had made other people suffer and die just because they had failed to make business with him. She was nervous and told him so. Mr. Rothstein gave her a smile and said;"No need to worry, I'm a married man". Margaret Thompson née Rohan exhaled in a small chock and said; " You must be joking?". The words just dropped out from her and as soon they had fallen out she regretted it as it was rather rude. Mr. Rothstein on the other hand almost kept his smile all the time, looking perhaps a bit disappointing at her outburst and answered; "I´m" and nodded to her. "Although, what would Mr. Thompson think?", he proceed and put down his fork into the apple pie Mrs. Rohan had made for him as he was known to love cake and milk.
"He can think what he wants. My life is my own.", she said and looked down at her plate. "Not that this is that", she put in after a while of silence. "This is business".
Mr. Rothstein smiled and nodded friendly and said with his soft voice; "drink your tea, it settles the nerves".
Mrs. Thompson looked down on her tea and exhaled again; " It´s impossible to get ahead. Believe me I have tried, I work hard I save money-"
"You owe no any explanation Mrs. Rohan" , he said and gave her a look that showed her that he knew how hard life could be. She felt a gratitude towards him for calling her by her made up name as it made her feel more of a woman of her own that Mr. Thompsons old wife. Mrs. Thompson mostly preferred to be called Margaret as it was less confusing for even herself, although this was business and then her old last birthname last name was to prefer.
"Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bennet is no better criminal then..." she said and silenced and looked with a small horror at the man before her again. Knowing she maybe had said to much again. Mr. Bennet, her boss that makes her scam their customers into bad market investments. Mr. Rothstein only smiled at her but this time his eyes got more serious. It almost looked as if a part of him enjoyed seeing her as this nervous around him, only because he knew she actually had nothing from him to fear.
"Then me?" he asked her. "I was going to say my husband.", she answered and looked down again. Mr. Rothstein raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Though, could be fare and paint me with that same brush."
Mrs. Thompson née Rohan moved with an unease on her chair in silence. She put up a paper from her office which provided Mr. Rothstein insider information about the market to the business he had invested in. She told him what she knew and when they thought it best to sell it, she promised him she would keep an eye on it and contact him further on.
"In return for what?", he asked her. She sat in silence again as to gather strength. "A rent-free apartment for five years in a safe neighbourhood, with rooms for the children.", she said in a definite voice and gulped when done. Mr. Rothstein chewed on a piece of apple pay and looked at her for a moment, put down his fork and took a gulp of milk. "You except nothing from Mr. Thompson yet you will from me?", he asked her and looked at her with curiosity. "I earn this." , she simply answered; "And when this is over I owe you nothing." Mr. Rothstein though for a short while and raised his hand towards her and said; "We have a deal.". Mrs. Thompson took his hand and smiled nervously; "Very well.". Mr. Rothstein gave her a friendly and contempt smile, his gaze still fixed on her when she looked down again and finally took a mouthful of her tea. Mr. Rothstein put down his fork into his apple pie again but before putting it to his mouth he looked up again." I have never done business with a woman before.", he said and smiled. "Well how did you like it?" she asked. Mr. Rothstein looked serious and answered; "Quite the treat", and put apple pie in his mouth and smiled. She smiled to.