For the Good of the Family

Negotiations

After the meeting in Michael's hospital room, we all split off going about our days. Lizzie, Polly and I made our way to the our own areas in the betting shop on Watery Lane. My desk was up against the bars on the left side of Polly's office, we could always see each other when we were working. The blinders that worked the betting shop were fairly quiet today. Greeting us when came inside then immediately getting back to work collecting the money from the men that came in through out the day.

I spent my time waiting for the Gold men to arrive catching up on the paperwork for the three gin distilleries our family owned. I make a note to get a plumber out to the one in London. I'll have to send Finn down to the market square for a kestrel to get rid of the starlings roosting in the rafters at the one here in Small Heath. The Sparkhill distillery seems to be running fine at the moment.

"Lizzie is the kettle still hot? There's not enough tea in all of Birmingham for the headache I've got." I yelled across the shop. Pinching the bridge of my nose didn't help.

"Well thanks for giving the rest of us a headache to match yours Princess." Henry spoke up from his usual place taking bets by the front door. He's lucky he's funny.

"Kettles gone cold, I've put a fresh one on." Lizzie called back from her desk by Tommy's office.

The shop door opened for the next customers and in steps the gypsys we've been waiting on for the last couple hours. Henry got up from his seat to lead them to Tommy's office so Pol and I could speak to them away from the customers.

"Right, come now Olive. Lizzie bring the kettle in when it's ready." Polly smoothed her skirt and gathered the documents she had drawn for this meeting.

I got up to follow behind her despite the pounding in head. Polly sat in Tommy's chair, Aberama and Bonnie sat in front of the desk. I lit a cigarette and leaned back against the bookshelves behind Pol. Through the smoke I watched Aberama glance around, taking in the expensive objects around the room before slumping in his seat in a way he looked relaxed, but he still had easy access to his gun. Bonnie sat at the edge of his seat, ready to stand at a moments notice. He looked me up and down, eyes lingering on the cigarette in my mouth.

I nodded for Pol to hand Bonnie the first packet before I began explaining it. "First is a contract of employment for Bonnie Gold. Training, housing and travel expenses will be paid for by Shelby Company Limited. You will receive a ten percent cut for every fight regardless of outcome. Your cut will increase to twenty percent if you follow the rules of a fixed match. The rules are written on the third page. Don't skip them. Failure to follow the rules will lead to less matches which means less money for everyone involved."

We waited patiently as the men leaned towards each other, both slowly reading through the contract. "How long until my first match?" Bonnie asked he neatly signed his name at the bottom of the page.

"A couple months at least we need to get your debut match set up, find you an opponent and get the paperwork to back up your punches. The first of your professional matches will likely start in April, the end of March at the earliest." Bonnie seemed to deflate a bit at my answer, leaning farther back into his chair. "You start training under Mr. Maine the day after tomorrow. He will need to sign off on your registration papers before we can get you into the professional ring. Do whatever he tells you eh, he knows what he's doing."

Polly pulled out the next stack of papers, handing them to Aberama. "This offer is from the Shelby family to you as the Patriarch of the Gold family. We would like to extend our professional relationship to more than business partners. A mingling of blood to join our families."

Aberama looked at Polly in disbelief after reading the top of the page. "You wrote a marriage offer for my daughters? My girls aren't for sale-" he stopped mid sentence before passing the packet to Bonnie.

I was completely entranced by the bright pink flush that started along the Gypsy boys cheeks before spreading to the tips of his ears and down his neck. He looked quickly from the paper to me then back down to the paper. The flush only got brighter the longer I stared at him.

Polly laughed in delight at his reaction to the marriage offer. "Now I see why you were swooning over his pale skin at the family meeting!" She just laughed harder when I choked on cigarette smoke. My lungs burning as I coughed, trying to get air. I'm certain that I've turned red now too, but I couldn't tell if it's from Pol announcing to the Golds I was swooning in front of the whole family or because I'm still struggling to breathe.

Just when I thought the embarrassment would truly kill me the office door opened and Lizzie entered with a tea tray, leaving a moment later. For just a moment no one moved. Then with a steadying breath I moved away from the bookshelf to the small table that Lizzie set the tray on. "Tea anyone?"

"If I deny this offer, will he still be promoted? Does his employment depend on marrying you?" Aberama demanded, his sharp blue eyes tracking me across the room.

Polly spoke while I poured tea for everyone. "No. His contract of employment has already been signed. A marriage to a member of the Shelby family will have no effect on yours son's boxing career Mr. Gold."

"Why isn't Tommy here to offer this? Marriage alliances are drawn my the heads of the family, not by witchy accountants and offered brides." He questioned us with narrowed eyes.

Polly took a sip of her tea, pulling her cigarette case from her skirt. "Tommy has given his blessing, but the offer comes from Olive herself."

"I'd much rather marry your son than any of the Italian cunts that killed my brother." I blinked rapidly, trying to keep my breathing even. "As long as I am unmarried, I am a prized horse to be sold to end the vendetta peacefully. I don't want peace, I want blood."

Bonnie sat back in his chair, his blush fading to showcase his pretty pale skin once more. The marriage contract held gently against his chest. "I seem to get more from this arrangement than you. A career, a house, a pretty wife." Pretty eh?

I stepped away from the tea table to speak to Bonnie directly.  "My offer is for the good of my family. Arthur and Tommy seem to make new enemies daily.  Joining our families would combine the amount of fighting men we have to defend both our family and yours. Your clan is not a large one but you have a dangerous reputation, one that we will benefit from."

He shared a look with his father before asking. "How would you benefit from a reputation of being married into a dangerous family?" Would we talk without words one day, like he does with his father?

"Tommy already benefits from your reputation as long as you wear that blinder cap." I pointed to the cap Tommy has given him in the factory. "I will benefit by being married to a successful man." Though he's not successful yet, I have no doubts he will be. Ambitious men work harder than anyone else. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a half decent man in this city? Especially after Arthur killed my fiancé."

"At least look at the girls dowry before you run for the hills." Polly held out a small sheet of paper to Bonnie. "We will waive the bride price of course, as Olive will retain her position in the company."

He took the paper, his blush returning brightly. He leaned to the right so his father could read as well. I watched him closely as he read. Watched him gulp and his eyes widen as he took in the insane amount of money and properties Tommy wrote down. Aberama leaned closer to his son, whispering in his ear. Bonnie cleared his throat before standing. "How does a Saturday wedding sound?"