Starting in the Red Night

6. The Proposal

Outside the tempest rain, across the outside Small Heath, Inspector Campbell remained his evening studying the latest newspaper, more like tagged the moves of the veil man he had encountered in the past, Thomas Shelby. The resounding of his name makes his stomach revolt to the heinous indestructible his gang has become, the Peaky Blinders. Envy, on how the more he stays alive, the more powerful he becomes. Watching away from the trails, the movements both men carry could be very similar, both want respect, power, yet one of them believes to act on protecting their fellow citizens. That was the recurring thought, keeping Campbell to fight amongst the terrors of the lost streets. He lowered the tip of his hat, retaining the latest scrap of information his competent sheep, Sergeant Moss delivers around.

"Is this all the documents I'd asked for?"

Sergeant Moss quivered,"Yes, sir. May I ask, why were these files urgent?"

Campbell gave an unbothered stare, "Don't ask questions, just keep doin' what I tell ya'."

He kept walking away, with the aid of his hideous cane, a reminder that he will avenge Thomas Shelby.

Every morning, Leonora felt the heaviness of the pillows on her head. Winter weighting on her body, barely any signs of sunlight gleaming her face. She could sense the dry humorless soul has become in a matter of days. She glimpse at her window seal waiting for any further sign that she will get back home, yet her hopes shattered as she noticed Thomas getting near her residency.

His voice grew once he came inside, Nora sensing every footstep he made. The heaviness of his aura assured her the immense control he carried, as if he already had visualized how everything was getting done.

Nora rushed to check, ducking away from any visible entry, afraid of being discovered she waited until Thomas closed the door of her father's study to recline her ear, to see what he is about to say.

Thomas retrieved the thought to lose his sense, especially for men that do not really understand the implications of working under him. He easily could've hunted down. Cool breeze from the winter covered his shoulder, warming a little bit, lighting himself a cigarette.

He was met by surprised looks from Mr. Madrigal, "Senor Shelby," he called out, gasping as he once viewed him entirely. "You didn't tell me before we met again."

"I like to improvise around my fellow associates, especially the ones that are new around me," he jerked around the corner of the office. Without breaking any of his solid expression he continued, "You may have not understood at first, but when you agreed to make business with Shelby Limited Corporated, you agreed to obey my requirements to fully proceed to our expansion of goods. I know it hasn't been quite long since your arrival, still I value my time very wisely, sir."

Thomas sense the droplets of sweat that the man started to stirred around his face, contained his demeanor, Mr. Madrigal said, "Oh I keep that in mind, I have gone through the projects, how our product can benefit," he handed the pile of documents detailed by the information.

Thomas took a peek, raising his brows without any further gesture, he threw the files across the entire office. "You and I both know exactly what you promised before, we signed a contract remember, do you remember?"

"I remember Senor Shelby, es que, it hasn't been the precise moment to tell her the news."

"You do not have to worry about that, because the precise moment is right. Leonora Madrigal, your daughter is right across from listening to our conversation at this moment."

"What?"

"How pathetic, you haven't noticed that your daughter is sneaking around Birmingham, just as how she sneaked through our previous meeting without your knowledge. C'mon, get inside, darlin'."

The door swung open, revealing Leonora stare swinging from Thomas to Carlos, overwhelmed without having any clue what was going on.

"Tell 'er, what your proposal was in order to get along with your plans of expanding your family business."

"De que habla? What is he saying?"

A weight of terror crumbled through how Nora's father became soundless, looking for the perfect way to get out of the mansion at this moment. She couldn't help but notice the grin on Thomas' face, as if he felt satisfaction making her father be humiliated.

"Your father proposed, in order for me to get along with his plans of expanding our goods, to marry his dearest and only offspring, Leonora Madrigal."

"Que?" Leonora's view felt heavy, turning to her father, while Thomas' words kept hitting like bricks onto her face. She repeated, "What is he saying father?"

"The only purpose of your presence here is because you are part of the requirements to finalize our agreement eh,"Thomas interjected without letting Carlos jump over his wing. "Without you agreeing to the proposal, we cannot continue to make business."

A heat wave stream formed on Nora's chest, as time stopped the minute she felt everything of her life crumbled at that second. She didn't know who to be angry at the most, at her father not telling her about it, or at Thomas for knowing that her fate was under his palms. The urge of escaping to the nearest ships, to evacuate from this nightmare became the only thought in her mind.

"No,"she cried, "No, como pudiste hacerme esto, padre. How did that thought cross your mind?"

She grinned at her father. He swiped his handkerchief across his face, "Mija, it's the only way..."

Without letting her father finish his sentence, the oxygen inside her felt heavy, as her heartbeat rose once she stepped out from the study. Ignoring Thomas or her father. Her face was horrified by the image of her father being defenseless, the powerful presence was destroyed from her mind since Thomas stepped on him. An arrow of maldiciones formed inside her soul, naming her madre on her thoughts, wishing that she will be alongside her at this precise moment.

Nora made it to her room, before she closed the door, her father interrupted opening it as he said, "You need to come downstairs right now."

"¿Cómo pudiste vender a tu propia hija? Con ese maldito, what would mi madre say?" How dare he come into her room, as if he wasn't the one who gave away her own fate. "I'm not marrying that man, father."

"Basta! We all have to make sacrifices in life, just like you told me time and time again– you want to be part of la destileria, you have to come in terms of the hard work you have to give in. Now stop this cryin', and decide what you need to do for the good of our future."

Night came faster than Thomas was anticipating, checking his watch as it hitted the eighteen hours. Adjusting his hat, the rise of Leonora's warm scent lingered through his aura. It was easier to confront anybody he has met, yet for her, deep down wishes that there could be another way. He faced her without breaking her composure, he noticed the marks of tears she left on her cheeks, and her nose flushed a hint of red.

Thomas got closer, waiting, intrigued by her sudden appearance. She only opened her mouth, "I thought things through, and the fact that my choice is limited, I came to terms that the only option I have is to agree upon your proposal. I will agree to marry you, Thomas Shelby." 

Hello everybody, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, for once I felt that this was my most exciting thing I've wrote! I felt that the story is moving how I have visualized in my head, and I'm so proud of myself to keep consistent on my writing. Anyway, please comment any of your thoughts.