Choking On Sapphires

95 List of Demands

Genevieve takes her place as an equal in Alfie's business. The best way she knows how. Ollie inquires into the marriage.

Showing themselves as a solid front, as The Solomons', was something they'd had to discuss in great detail. As was their way of handling affairs such as these. Long meetings with lawyers and trusted elders of the community, accountants, criminals, and even an MP Tommy Shelby. They explored all options and outcomes of this union and prepared for any of them.

Genevieve had insisted on keeping up with certain traditions. Alfie thought it a bit daft at first, nothing about them had been, was, or ever would be traditional so what was the fuckin' point? Perhaps he was annoyed at being kept in his apartment in London for a week prior, he thought it complicated things needlessly. They were modern people with modern ethics and not speaking to each other a week before the so-called biggest day of their lives, was just something to give him a headache and have to rub that smelly cream over his new spots appearing from stress.

"It was you who told me that our connection to the community would be what makes us or breaks us. If we show dedication... together, then no one can hold it against us later. We will be a picture of rebirth, a model of modesty. No matter what they say about us afterward, they won't be able to say a fucking thing about how this wedding wasn't a testament of our dedication to each other, the community, and god. And I plan on shoving it in their fat faces every chance I get."

She had spoken with conviction, and he was moved to accept gracefully. She had a point. As she often did. It reminded him again of why he was going through the trouble to marry at all.

Before separating, they wanted to take care of a few things to make sure life was as streamlined as possible after the wedding and its following busy schedule. With their duties arranged in neat little lists, they'd almost finished, and now it was time to make Genevieve's formal introduction as part of the Solomons' business.

She'd been to the warehouse more times than she could recall now. It was a place she was intimately familiar with and almost felt comfortable there. Perhaps she would fully feel at home as Alfie did after this old song and dance of establishing changes within his men's routines. There wasn't one among them that didn't know who she was. Perhaps not by sight but by word of gossip certainly. She'd seen him address them many times, and she had been standing behind him at some of those lectures. This time she stood in front of the men that were always behind him, the senior staff if you will. Slightly behind Alfie, and only as he spoke to introduce her, he was looking to make a clear statement with not just words that she was to be treated as an owner, same as him.

"There will be changes coming from within our business and you need to know how things will be handled. I am still the boss. If anyone needs any reminding of that I have a newly cobbled boot I'd like to introduce to their lower intestine, yeah?" He taps his cane to drive home his spitted points and she stands tall and proud. "But she, Miss Durand. Soon to be Mrs. Solomons is not your equal. She may be new to some of the bakery work but she is no stranger to working with bread, eh?" He interacts with a more casual wink. "Miss Genevieve here is above you. Don't mistake her fairer sex for being below you in rank. She will be handling the office at the bakery and you will be seeing her working around the warehouse. You will respect her as if she were your own mother. Nah... more than most of ya numpties respect ya mums. Treat her as if she were me. Any man that gives her any grief will be dispatched of quickly and without regret by myself, the afflicted or however I fuckin' see fit for the crime. Right?" He stops pacing in front of the group of men. "I believe you have some things to say?" He asks more softly as he moves slightly hunched with his arms folded across him.