Peaky Blinders. One shot and imagines

Smoke and mirrors - Part 5 - Alfie x Reader

"Tonight........." Alfie suddenly said, as he and (Y/n) sat in the office. The agent looking up from the note pad that she had been scribbling in.

It had been some weeks now that she had been working for him, and she and the agency had certainly stuck to their side of the bargain; his business at the racetracks never being better. Word that more than one of Sabini's boys had been "dealt" with, after interactions with Alfie's men, winging its way to his ears. The Jewish gangster surprised that the man that he had gone to school with as a child, had not come to call on him; had not come and asked questions about what had happened to those on his payroll. But Alfie had to suppose that if there were no bodies, if there were no one that came forward that was a witness to certain events, then Darby might not know what was going on; might not think that it could have something to do with him. Though he doubted it. The big Londoner wondering if the British Italian gang leader, was just bidding his time, whether at any minute, an irate Darby would burst into his office, pointing a gun at him demanding information. But all was proving quiet at the moment, and anyway, Alfie's thoughts were taken up with other things. With the woman sat across the desk from him.

He had found himself quickly liking the idea of coming to work every day, so that he could see her. Alfie not blind to the smile that she would give him, when he walked into his office; a cup of tea already waiting for him on his desk. Not blind to the fact that that smile would never leave her lips, as they would go through all the things that he had to deal with; or take the occasional walk through the bakery. Alfie holding himself up just that little bit straighter, when she was by his side. And now, well, over the last few days that is, he had decided that just seeing her in the office, was not enough.

"Pardon...........?"

"Ya wanted ta know more about tha Shelby's, yeah? Well, Tommy is havin this thing at a place called the Eden Club tonight and I got an invite. Thought ya might want ta come..........." Alfie expounded, as he took of his glasses, and allowed them to hang around his neck before sitting back in his chair. Watching as (Y/n) placed the pad on her lap.

"An invite..........and when did you receive this invite..........?" The agent enquired. Rolling her eyes as Alfie just shrugged. (Y/n) telling herself that she shouldn't expect anything else, that despite her informing him time and time again that she needed to know about any interactions with the likes of Sabini, the Changretta family, and the Shelbys, the former captain still, annoyingly, liked to keep these things to himself.

"Tonight............?"

"Aye.............." Alfie replied. (Y/n) doing her best to not smile as she saw the glint in big man's eyes.

"And I presume it will be formal............" She continued, as she got to her feet, and straightened out her skirt. Again, rolling her eyes, as Alfie placed his elbows on the top of the desk and then his head in his hands. A small smile pulling at the corners of his lips, as he looked up at her.

"Definitely..........." The Londoner simply said, as his eyes moved up and down her body. His thoughts filled with what she had looked like that night, so many years before. How the sleek, silken gown that she had donned, clung to her every swell and dip.

"Where ya goin........?" Alfie continued, as (Y/n) turned and made her way to the door.

"You have just told me that Tommy Shelby is having a formal party at his club tonight; and if I am to attend that in anything but my birthday suit, then I will need to go shopping.........Be at the address on the note pad at eight........" She explained, grabbing her coat and giving him a wink before opening the door and leaving Alfie to watch her sway as she walked away. His imagination now not filled with images of her in a beautiful dress, but of her out of it. Sure, that her birthday suit would be more than perfect; especially if that was how she was dressed when he got there at eight.

                                                         >>-----------------------------------<<

Alfie pulled the car up out front of a rather splendid looking building. His fingers running around the inside of his tight collar, as the bowtie felt like it was strangling him; reminding himself to take the damn thing off as soon as he could. But, he had gone to a lot of bloody trouble getting the frustrating thing tied properly in the first place, and he wasn't about to take it off, until his date for the evening had seen him in his full splendour. The big man sure that he had never spent more time making sure that he looked right, in his life. Alfie even having his beard and hair trimmed for the evening.

Slowly he got out of the car and made his way up to the building; climbing the four steps that took him to the main door and then pushing his way inside. Those in the foyer not batting an eyelid at the tuxedo wearing gangster, as he made his way over to the elevator; having to wait only a few seconds before there was a loud pinging sound, and the door opened. Alfie making his way inside and hitting the button for the floor that had been written on the pad that (Y/n) had left.

He couldn't help but wonder what she would look like, as the elevator took him up through the building. He couldn't help but hope that he would find her in that birthday suit of hers. Alfie wishing that he had gone to all this effort, just so he and (Y/n) could spent the night together in her flat. But at least Tommy's little shindig would mean that he would get to spend some time with her, outside of the work setting.

"(Y/n).............?" Alfie called out, as he got to the door of her flat and realised that it was ajar. Concern building in him, as he slowly pushed it the rest of the way, before stepping into the hall. The gangster ready to reach for the gun in his jacket if needs be. He was aware that (Y/n) knew she played a dangerous game; that the smoke and mirrors she and others like her used to hide themselves away, could also be used against them. That they could reveal their presence, as well as conceal it. And he also knew that she was perfectly capable of protecting herself; being reminded of the day that he had walked into his office to find her drinking his best scotch, before pulling a gun on him. Yet that didn't mean that he could help this strange urge he felt to make sure that she was safe; to make sure that no one harmed her.

"Alfie...........? Is that you.............?" A voice finally came in reply. Alfie breathing a sigh of relief.

"Aye, luv................" He called back, looking at himself in the mirror on the wall and combing his finger through his moustache.

"I left the door ajar for you. I'm nearly ready. Just go into the sitting room and pour yourself a drink. There's ice in the bucket........." The agent's voice continued. Alfie smiling before he made his way further into the flat; the abode proving to be just as impressive as (Y/n) herself, as he walked into the main room and over to the drink's cabinet. The Londoner not sure whether the flat was actually hers, or just something supplied to her, while she was with him; but either way, it did feel like it suited her. Everything in it, as well thought out, elegant and as beautiful as she was.

"Well, will I do................?" Alfie turning on his heels as he heard her voice again. The big man nearly dropping his glass of scotch as he looked at her. Sure, that she was even more beautiful than she had been that night in Paris.

"Aye, that'll more than do............."