My Next Mistake || Book One

Nice to Meet You.

She walked into the club with her fur coat wrapped around her shivering body. As she entered the doorway she nodded towards the doormen. As they pushed the door open for her, she was instantly hit my the smell of smoke and alcohol. 

Men sat in suits scattered the tables around the club, talking in hushed tones. 'Probably buisness', Olivia thought.

As her heels tapped along the floor, her boss Mr Sabini sauntered over from a table just left to the dance floor.

She caught his eye and smirked his way. He nodded and continued to discuss buisness with his associates.

Olivia knew how this worked now. Sabini was a gangster. A mad one at that but still a gangster. She began working at the club after Sabini found her in the streets pickpocketing the rich of London. At only 16, Olivia's mother and father had been involved in a terrible car accident and from there she began to take her life into her own hands.

Not knowing what to do with her, he asked about a young Olivia what she was good at. She quickly responded with 'I can sing!' After a small rendition he knew that voice would take him into the boom of the 1920s and make his club the place to go in London. 

Olivia learnt the tricks of the trade. A few times on stage and it was like she had been doing jazz for years. Upbeat or slow she could sing it. And the people of London loved it. They would come from all over London to dance to Olivia's numbers as well as getting roaring drunk.

As Olivia's confidence on the stage became clear Sabini knew this girl could capture the heart and mind of any man. So how do you get information from people who won't give it you?

Olivia was horrified by the idea to begin with. Sleep with men to get information to pass to Sabini? She couldn't say no. He was the biggest gangster in all of London and the man who paid her wages. And very good wages at that. 

5 years on, now 21 years old, Olivia had experienced it all. She was now an expert in the buisness. Many called her names, whore just being one. But she didn't bother. She had everything she wanted. A nice flat, a good job. And a boss who is the biggest gangster in all of London.  What did she have to worry about?

As she took of her fur coat to unveil a gold flapper dress covered in gems and sequins, she heard footsteps invade her personal space.

'My beautiful gem! Looking as gorgeous as ever.'

Sabini. Olivia smirked his way as she powered her nose and placed her hair in a delicate bun.

'Nice choice in dress too. Your going to need that tonight. Buisness as usual'.

That what he called it. 'Buisness'. Meaning he needed information and surely enough there would be a gullible enough man standing by the bar, unaware that he would unveil that information to a beautiful woman.

'Buisness? Who with this time?' Olivia questioned.

'It's a big one this time Liv, no fucking about. If we can get this guy, then I won't just control London.  I'll control the north too.'

Olivia raised an eyebrow. Sabini was all about taking over. Power.

'He's a Peaky Blinder Liv, I need you at your best. Whatever you can get out of that little gypsy the better', Olivia raised an eyebrow, she could hear the bitterness in his voice. This 'Peaky Blinder must have really messed with Sabini. 

'Okay....what's his name? What's he look like?' 

Sabini laughed. Loud.

'Oh my dear. You'll know him when you see him. Trust me. He doesn't look like anyone from round here.' And with that he left.