❝𝒙.❞

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𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧. 𝟏𝟗𝟐𝟏

"No fucking way."

Clara stared at the ring in shock as all Nora could do was grin. "I know you have your reservations, Clara, but chin up. Sabini has stood down, we're safe again, Alfie will always be a resource, and most importantly, we love each other. I know you're usually set in your ways, but I hope at some point you can be happy for us." Clara sighs and looks up at her friend, "You look happy." 'I am." She pulls her in for a hug, "If he hurts you we're killing him." "Deal." Nora counted herself lucky. She had a family that would do anything for her, she had a man that loved her, and for a woman of her stature, she had a high status. Pulling away from Clara she locks eyes with Elliot. The two had barely spoken since she caught him trying to pay Alfie to end things with her. His eyes fall on her ring. It was hard to miss. Clara takes in the awkwardness, "Alright then, I'm gonna go run some errands. Congratulations, Nora." Nora smiles softly as Clara leaves her office. Elliot steps into her office, treading lightly, "Nora-" "Don't say a word." "I know you're still upset-" "Upset. Upset?! You're lucky I haven't found another accountant, you would've been long gone." "I was trying to protect you-" She slams her fist on her desk, "Protect me. Protect me?" "Yeah, because I love you, Nora!" "I-" She calms herself down. Today was a good day, no need for it to be ruined. "You can go, Mr. Murphy."

"Nora. I am begging you to hear me. Don't marry him. He's a bad man."

"If you keep disrespecting the man I am to marry, I will dismiss you." "You'd dismiss me for a bastard you barely know? It's me, Nora." Nora pauses for a brief moment before rising to grab her coat. "You take time to think about whether you can learn to respect and accept us, if not there's no place for you here."

She was done talking. She wouldn't take any disrespect towards Alfie. Elliot would come to leave, which breaks Nora more than she'd let herself admit, but Alfie served as a great distraction. The two were coming together, as were their 'gangs'. She was happy, and no one was going to rob her of that happiness. An engagement was something she never thought she'd experience but here she was, engaged to a man who made her feel safe, special. She wanted to enjoy this; she had the rest of her life with Alfie, but she was only going to be a bride once. It took a lot of convincing, but Alfie Solomons had a way with words, and within a month Nora was living in Camden Town, having a driver and security detail attached to her when she commuted to and from work. Whatever his Ella wanted, Alfie had it ready for her. She wanted to bring him around her family, her mother at least but the idea of it alone brought her to nerves. Two months into her engagement and she was still stuck on that sentiment. What was she to do? Her family didn't even know she was getting married. She'd tell them soon...she has to. She wouldn't get married without her mother there...nor the Shelby's. The Jezzie's were her family but her heart still had attachments to Birmingham, the Shelby's & the Peakys.

The two finally had a weekend that was open ended. Weekends were a time that the two spent the most time together, even when Nora had to go to work in evenings. But this time Nora took off, and Alfie was free. She woke up in the morning and decided to give the housekeeper a reprieve as she made breakfast for her fiance. Cooking kosher was an acquired taste, but she was learning. Relinquishing certain foods was a difficult transition for her but she would do that and some for the sake of her upcoming marriage. She rounds up breakfast as Alfie emerges from upstairs, wrapping his arms around her waist, nipping the nape of her neck. "Hm...good morning pet." She tilts her head as his lips continue to latch on her neck, "Good morning, darling. I hope you're hungry. I decided to give Eloise a break." "It's our weekend off, we're supposed to be resting." "We are, I just wanted to treat you." "Fuck...am I the luckiest man alive." He throws a quick slap to her ass before grabbing it. Nora rolls her eyes playfully as she sits him down before pouring him tea and serving him his plate. "Thank you, love." "You're welcome." Before she can sit down Alfie pulls her down onto his lap and kisses her deeply. Nora giggles against his lips before pulling away, resting her head in the nape of his neck. "What would you like to do this weekend, hm? We don't have much time before we go back to barely seeing each other." "Hm...well that wouldn't be the case if you stopped working so fucking much." "We talked about this, Mr. Solomons. I will when you will. Hm?" He groans in response, stroking her cheek, "I picked a stubborn one to marry, eh?" She chuckles, pecking his cheek, "Your food is going to get cold." She slides into a seat of her own as he starts to eat. She subtly watches his face for a reaction. He nods in pleasure, resulting in a small sigh of relief flowing off Nora's tongue.

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