As Ela walked into the warehouse, she immediately noticed the strong smell of alcohol, and with the barrels lining up from the door to the far end of the room, as well as the tools lying around at the nearby tables, she could already tell what Mr. Salomons' business was.
She remembered Jonah discussing the growing and profitable business of distilleries in the country to contraband to North America due to their prohibition. It was surely frowned upon to engage in such a business being an illegal one to run if ever discovered shipping it in that direction, but many would overlook it having strong opinions on the ridiculousness of the prohibition itself.
As she was taking in her surroundings, a single talk bulky man appeared from the shadows, cane in hand and dressed in elegant clothing yet looking somewhat disheveled with his unkept beard and wrinkled shirt. He stepped forward until he was about five feet away from Ela and remained silent.
Ela did not speak, only looked at the man who smiled a little with his eyes wide open.
Alfie immediately noticed she was from a wealthy background, not only her clothes were tailored and composed of the best materials, but she was also well-mannered in the orthodox Omega way.
Not speaking until spoken to when an Alpha man walked into the room, or until her mate instructed it was alright to do so.
It was obvious all her glands were well-covered by her garments, not wanting to display them for any reason, even more so when she was alone in a room with an Alpha male with only a middle-type beta to look after her.
No matter her cover, he could still smell her plenty, she had a virginal sweet scent, honey-like, but it was quickly changing to reflect her current anxious state, he could tell she was a Top Omega too, the smell of her radiated even in a room drenched with alcohol, and in the gloom of the room he could hardly tell her hair color but he thought he could see trails of purple somewhere in the abundant chestnut of her waves. Although hair color had been discredited centuries ago for holding any value in determining the Omega rates, he still liked to consider it from time to time.
Since her scent was reflecting fear now, he thought it would be best to put her out of her jumpy state, but he wondered for only a second if that was her fear smell, how she'd smell when being happy and excited. He pushed the idea from his mind easily, knowing too well his wife Edna would know by his own smell when he met her later in the evening if his mind had been wondering on dangerous thoughts about another woman, and in all honesty, Edna was the only one he could love.
-"Hello there love, I'll be your gracious host for the evening and the days to come," he said simply with an accent that was hard for Ela to recognize, he had a particularly humorous way of talking, but by the way he stood, Ela could tell he was a confidently smart man.
-"Nice to me you Mr. Solomons, it is very kind of you to take me in for a few days" She bowed her head a little while saying her thanks.
-"Yeah, it is, it is, but you know during my conversation with Jonah I found myself thinking, right, what could I do to help a friend in need, while helping another friend in need" he said with his very thick accent not tearing his eyes from hers.
-"Then that shows me how much you care for your friends Mr. Salomons" Ela said graciously, trying to not deviate her eyes from the strong gaze of her host.
-"Ah well you know, being a good Samaritan in my line of business does not come across very often, and if the holy book is right, I may be going down in flames when the day comes, so... when a good simple action comes my way, right, I should rather take it, yeah". His words were spoken clearly and with enough sentiment attached, but he sounded serious.
-"I'm sure God will take your good deeds into consideration as he knows the good it'll bring me," Ela said truthfully as she was a firm believer, not a fanatic of any sort, but she had managed to hold onto God's word throughout the pain she'd experienced in her short lifetime.
-"Let me tell you something love, I hope he still feels the same considering the exorbitant amount your friends were willing to pay and I accept for the service rendered, so I will give them their money's worth, you know" With a simple smirk he finished looking away.
Ela looked startled and guilt ran through her veins, she would never be able to repay her friends with money or enough gratitude. They were as loyal as you can come across, so at that moment, she promised herself she'd do anything to survive and make them proud of living up to their common beliefs.
-"Nonetheless, sir, I am most thankful for your help, be sure that I won't cause you any trouble," she said politely bowing her head again.
She was a lady indeed Alfie thought, but there was such resolution in her eyes that it had him wondering why she would be going through all the trouble not to mention her friends to stay away from her family, although, considering what was said about noble blood and their treatment of Omegas, especially top rated ones, he certainly had an idea.
-"Right, well, it's been a long night, let us show you where you'll be staying, but don't expect anything fancy lass, after all, this is only my humble business," Alfie said placing an overly dramatic hand on his chest while closing his eyes which would have been more convincing if it wasn't for the expensive looking rings around his calloused fingers and the bright pocket watch he had attached to his vest, but he quickly changed his posture indicating the path to follow and both she and Curly walked in that direction.
-"I assure you, Mr. Salomons, I won't mind, I rather like the looks of your bakery," she said with a playful smile.
-"Ah, so you're a bread lover I see, what's your bread of choice love, dark or white?" he said immediately easing up on his guest liking her way with words.
-"Dark bread is my preference Mr. Salomons, but I must confess, after having a taste of the Irish goods all my life, I'm not sure I'll get to prefer your kind" Her playfulness seemed to be working to get the man beside her to accommodate to her presence without being so guarded, but having no experience dealing with criminal she could hardly tell if that was the case, or if he was just good at acting relaxed.
-"Right, that's one thing you'll have in common with Tommy then, yeah, let me indulge you in some of my fine product, to see if you're easily persuaded to change from those Irish alliances," Alfie said with a smile while pouring her a drink of a fine Whiskey as they reached a table with some bottles displayed.
At the mention of her potential new employer Ela just had to inquire more but tried to do it subtly while accepting the drink from his hand.
-"You're most kind Mr. Salomons but I suppose it's best to inform you you'll find I'm loyal to my predilections," she said sipping from her glass and finding it enjoyable all the same" Besides our common likes for baked imports, is there anything else I should know about Mr. Shelby?" she continued looking unfaced and Alfie could only smirk at the naivety of the woman walking next to him.
-"He's a dear old friend of mine, and I'm sure you've been briefly informed of some of his nature, and more talk will come your way in the near future no doubt, but for the experimental nature in me, I shall let you meet him on your own and form your own opinion as well love, next time we meet you'll indulge me with your findings," he said adamant and wondered what she'd think of Tommy from working for him.
Ela nodded in agreement, but he could smell the disappointment in her from the denial of information she was desperate to get.
-"Very well Sir, but I admit both yourself and Jonah's refrain from speaking on the man it's surely unusual," she said candidly still pouring confusion from her every pore.
-"Ah yes unusual, just like the man you'll meet" a smirk still playing on the corner of his mouth knowing very well he could not begin to describe Tommy Shelby even if he tried, so instead he changed the subject "But Jonah, eh, how's the young chap and his lovely wife Elizabeth?"
-"Threatening, Mr. Salomons" Curly interrupted before Ela could answer. "The lady sends her regards threatening your life if any harm on your part comes Miss Ela's way" Curly finished with raised eyebrows and nodded rapidly to show he was telling the truth.
-"Well, she never disappoints in showing me her charming nature, eh" Alfie smiled broadly.
-"You must forgive my dear friend Mr. Salomons, she feels rather protective over my safety and can sometimes forget herself" Ela tried to apologize on Effy's behalf knowing she meant good, but a threat could hardly be a good way to accompany a request.
-"She just knows me too well that one, please lassie, under the circumstances, we're past the formalities of your class, call me Alfie," he said while opening the door to the room Ela would occupy for the days to come.
Ela didn't know how to react to the disclosure but decided to trust her gut as the man hadn't given her any reason to be afraid.
"Very well Alfie, please call me Ela" he nodded, and with that, they said their goodbyes while Ela stepped into the room and gulped down the rest of her Whiskey preparing for bed with her thoughts flying from barrels to her dreadful parents, to ideas of a man she had yet to know but was proving to be a mystery on all fronts.
Ela fidgeted with the purse in her hands feeling nervous about meeting the woman who'd be interviewing her that bright morning.
So, she took a deep breath to calm herself and rang the doorbell to the house she had been accompanied to by a Beta man Alfie had dispositioned as her driver for the day.
It only took a few seconds, and she was greeted by a young-looking woman in a maid uniform who inquired about her visit, so after Ela explained her reasons, the maid guided her to the back patio to wait for Ms. Grey, she offered her tea, and Ela accepted with a warm smile.
The house was surely luxurious, the fine carpets and furniture looked well-kept and expensive, but Ela noticed that although it was meant to look as if it were antiques, everything had mostly a new look to it, which confirmed the Shelby family did not come from money, they had worked for it, illegally as it may be, but worked hard to ensure a lavish lifestyle, now she was no longer nervous, but curious to meet a member of the family and get to know more about them.
Just as the maid brought the kettle and served her a generous cup of tea, the host arrived, and Ela stood to introduce herself holding out her hand to the woman, and noticing right away she was an Alpha female.
-"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Grey, My name is Ela Dawson" bright smile showing her perfectly white teeth.
Polly took the young woman's hand and examined her face curiously, if every horror she had seen in her research was true, the girl was not showing it firsthand.
-"So, tell me child, why's a woman from your statue hoping to get hired for a common job such as this when it wouldn't suit the type of expectations your family certainly holds?" Polly said eloquently while lighting a cigarette and quirking an eyebrow at the young woman in front of her.
Ela was taken aback by the woman's bluntness but reminded herself that this family was a consolidation of fearful gangsters, for them to do a thorough research on her must be the least harmful thing they were used to. She had spoken too soon, afraid she was.
-"As you surely know my background Ms. Grey, I can only assure you that a simple job and a simple life are a dream to me, no matter the family expectations," she said with clear eyes looking softly and submissively at the middle-aged woman sitting barely two feet away from her.
-"Well, that must be the case for one to resign to titles, fortune, and an opulent lifestyle, but then what are you expecting to gain after what you've lost?" Polly knew she was drilling the girl, and although she felt the utmost compassion for what she had learned, her family always came first, and she'd be as rigorous as she wished to get all the details from the interview she was conducting, although it was turning to be an interrogation, Tommy could be far worse, leaving no stone unturned.
Ela had been prepared for the conversation to be challenging, but the woman was going to great lengths to extract as much truth from her as possible, so she took a deep breath to calm herself and decided to be transparent.
-"Freedom Ms. Grey and a voice of my own, not to live in constant fear. That's what I'm looking for, and I'd give all my possessions a million times over to get it, I'm not one to attach to wealth when the other end is a ball and chain with a heated metal cross waiting to mark me at the first misstep I take" her words were truthful, and the rise and fall of her chest along with the firm scent of resolution that was steaming from her told Polly she was of strong convictions, no doubt grown from her painful past, and although her top-rated Omega genes made her look fragile and delicate, her upbringing had stolen some of the light in her soul.
-"Research can only tell you so much child, what ghosts follow you from your past? the energy surrounding you tells me your packed bags are not your sole baggage".
Ela looked at the woman curiously, but then she remembered Effy mentioning the Shelby's roots were Gypsy, so she composed herself and decided she'd only disclose the necessary amount of information, not wanting to remember much.
-"To be honest, I'm not fond of dwelling in the past Ms. Grey but my upbringing turned difficult, that is, from the Omega training, and when I came of age and my heats started, my parents, their class, have a certain relentless way of handling such occasions".
-"Child that's only a fancy way of saying you went through royal torture; I'm guessing that heat-fasting is only the tip of the iceberg" Polly said with a kind smile and offered Ela a cigarette and the young woman refused it carefully but could see she the older woman already easing up to her.
-"For noble families, they're just common practices, but I find them barbaric, and my parents implemented them at home as normal habits to punish me for not complying with their standards of perfect behavior, after many attempts I ran away Mrs. and I'm not planning on ever going back", Polly could only smirk, she was finding a new fondness for the girl in front of her, she was strong-minded, and rising from trauma was something she found courageous, from what Polly knew she had severed most connections in her life, only having a few people she could call friends in her back, and still, after seeing such horrors and sacrificing so much, she was ready to start a new life for herself.
Polly was done talking about the past, she wanted to talk about the task at hand.
-"In the midst of your situation, we both know you have far more appealing prospects than being a child caretaker, you might be in a hurry, but I need someone who's serious about the job to stay with us for the longest time". Polly was serious, she wanted to help the girl, but it was not only a job that'd require dedication, but also time, years even.
-"This is the perfect job for me Mrs. Grey, I'm looking for stability on a job and one far away from my parents' reach, I'm not interested in lavish prospects as they'd attract unwanted attention, my family would never consider me to be working a decent but common job, and I assure you I do have experience with children as I helped the nuns countless hours over the years in afternoons and evenings with the orphans they'd take to the institute I studied at" she said.
-"Why were there Orphans in your lady's institute?" Polly said looking out of her element for the first time since their meeting started.
-"Oh... well, they were part of the classes where they'd teach us how to raise our babies and toddlers soon after we were married," Ela said a bit confused thinking it was common for it to happen in ladies's academies.
-"Oh, those noble people are sure crafty and make their money's worth on those expensive schools," said Polly shaking her head in disbelief at the methods of experimenting and teaching not only with live subjects but with babies. Nothing was above those rich bastards.
Ela felt ashamed to share the experience, but in all honesty, the contact with those helpless children had filled her heart with joy, since most of the other classes were so technical on the Alpha/Omega dynamics and how to please your Alpha's desires with submission techniques.
Polly noticed and reassured her.
-"Nothing to be ashamed of child, I wasn't aware of those practices that's all, well, I have all I need to know, you're hired Ela. You'll be moving to Arrow House in Birmingham's countryside in four days' time" Polly said with a wide smile.
-"Oh Mrs. Grey thank you so much, I'll be sure to never disappoint you, I'll make sure Charlie gets the very best attention and education in the country," said Ela smiling from ear to ear, feeling her triumph.
-"Call me Polly, I'll be calling you Ela all the same child", Polly chuckled at the girl's excitement smelling the joy and relief that was permeating her whole being, she surely was a top-rated Omega, not only her well-thought manners, her submission even before a female alpha, her posture while standing and sitting, but also her strong scent even when all her glands were completely covered in the best materials possible.
For a moment Polly felt unsure of her decision. She realized the girl was more than capable, but she was too beautiful for her own good, her scent too penetrating and heavenly, and despite her experience with anciently cruel methods, she didn't seem to be opposed to Alpha/Omega dynamics, submission ran heavily through her veins, maybe Polly was setting up her own Nephew for trouble.