𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒓𝒆 » 𝐀. 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒

❝𝒊𝒗.❞

𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧, 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

Eleanora Gray was on high alert and on the shortest of fuses. The morning after Sabini's men attacked her, she called a meeting with the jezebels and she did not hold back. she lost her voice as she screamed at the top of her lungs at all of them. Someone had left the doors to the opalite wide open, letting the infiltrators attack. One of the girls approached her after the meeting, swearing on her life it was an accident, and Nora had no reason to not believe her. She did put her on a temporary probation, but it was just so she could really learn her lesson. The jezzies were a group that formed rather quickly, but Nora loved and respected these women as her own. They receive a lot of kickback from society just for existing, but they were strong, they were united and that's all that mattered. These were women that were always armed and dangerous, and can do the job of a woman and a man. Marie Toussaint and Polly Gray taught her well.

Today, Alfie was stopping by to talk about the liquor contract. Nora was a little shaky.

"We don't have to do this y'know sorciere," Clara suggests. "I was there...he's not trustworthy." "Clara, it's us. We'll be fine. It's tentative. We need liquor, we're in a crisis. If we sign this, we'll have liquor for tomorrow. We'll buy more time to find someone more permanent if need be. Besides, Mr. Solomons saved my life. I at least need to pay that debt." "I know men like that, at least let me be there with you. Please, sorciere."

Nora hesitates as she tilts her head. "You're always soft with me." "Am not!" "It's adorable, don't get all winded up. It's good to be soft sometimes. It reminds us, even though we live in a harsh harsh world, that we're human. It's good to be able to feel things."

After a knock on the door, Nora's assistant Mallory enters, "Alfie Solomons is here, sorciere." "Have them searched and send him in, my dear, thank you." Nora checks her face in a compact mirror before meeting eyes with Alfie and a younger man. "Good morning Ella." Nora nods curtly, "Alfie." The two stare at each other for a brief moment before Nora clears her throat, "This is my consigliere, Clara." "Hello Clara, ladies, this is Ollie," Ollie nods his head as he passes Alfie a basket of bread. "For you."

Nora and Clara exchange glances as Nora takes the basket from him, "Oh wow, erm, much obliged. Please, please have a seat." Nora inhales sharply, still sore as she takes a seat. "You feeling alright?" "Trust me, you wouldn't believe the situations I've been in, the other night was nothing." "I believe it."

Nora smiles softly as she opens a folder to reveal the contract. "So I had a lawyer draw this up for me, I will give you some time to look it over," Alfie slips on his reading glasses as she continues, "I will be more than willing to flow your product at the opalite, the garden of eden, and sodom and gomorrah, I just ask that we start off with a tentative contract." "Tentative, eh?" "You are guaranteed six months. That I will not take away, but just before I get into something long term, I do tentative contracts."

There was a long pause as Alfie read through the contract. Clara and Nora look at each other waiting for his response. "Alright then, this is very unlike me, but I will accept these terms, but I have one term that needs to be met before I sign this." Nora raises her eyebrow. "And that is..."

He leans in towards the center of a table. "un repas du soir... with yours truly." Nora inhales sharply as she looks at Clara. "C'est un peu... non professionnel, vous ne trouvez pas, monsieur. salomons ?" "Tsk, tsk, We're a little different you and I." "Are we? I don't see it." "Well I could show you, this evening. If you do, you'll have shipments by the next morning. Your choice."

Nora huffs, her liquor supply could not be pulled any more thin than it was. "Where am I meeting you?" "Here. I'm a gentleman, I'll pick you up. Six this evening. Bring the contract, I'll sign it then."