Sin - [T.Shelby]

A Wedding and A Betrayal

     Stella walked through the bakery with her head high and her same teasing smirk on her painted lips, the men glanced or stared as she passed, they didn't see many people, let alone women, walking unattended through the shop. A skittish boy hurried over to her "Ms. Newel, I-I'm so sorry I didn't know you had a meeting today-" he was cut off "It's fine, Ollie, go back to what you were doing....just here for a check in." Stella waved him off as she rounded the corner "I really don't think he-" Ollie tried "Goodbye, Ollie." she said in a hard tone, Ollie got the point and hurried away. 

Stella leaned in the open doorway, arms crossed and smiled as she watched Alfie scribble on some papers. "So, this is what my big bad customer does in his free time." she said, Alfie's head jerked up in surprise "Stella, what a lovely surprise." Alfie sat back in his chair as she walked in and sat across from him. "I was coming to check that your order came in." Alfie smiled "Of course love, your shipments always come in safe. Why do you think I buy solely from you?" Stella smiled "Mmm, solely from me, huh?" she asked quirking a brow "I hear word that you've been dealing with the Jacobson boys next town over." Stella tilted her head, eyes narrowing in on Alfie as he sat forward with his hands clasped in front of him. 

    "The Jacobsons? Darling, you know I would never! Where did you hear these lies, ay?" he asked, Stella knew he was lying to her though. "Oh, just rumors floating around." she waved her hand "You know how people can talk, which is why I came to hear it from the man himself." Alfie shrugged his large shoulders "Well rest easy love, no betrayals from this bakery." Stella smiled softly "Oh of course, and I thank you for your loyal service. I'm sure you know the consequences for those who cross me..." she narrowed her eyes, of course she knew he was going behind her back, he was lying to her, but she was giving him a chance to confess. "Anybody cross you, love, I bloody take them down myself, yeah. Take 'em out back and sacrifice 'em like the goat, that's what I'll do." Alfie nodded with a lot of hand gestures. Stella stood and placed a hand on his cheek "Which is why you're my favorite customer." she smiled and pat his cheek, a little harshly, before turning and walking back the way she came.

    Stella was back at her factory, in her office pacing as she puffed a cigarette "I want you to take some men up there and kill one of the Jacobson brothers, make a show of it, leave the boy on Alfie's front gate." she spoke as she paced "Oh!" she turned to Ewan "Or find out their next exchange and shoot a Jacobson and have Alfie take the blame for it so a war breaks out between them. Could be good for business, Alfie will need more guns if that happens." Stella smiled and turned to her desk "Have fun with it, just be sure that Mr. Solomons gets my message." Ewan nodded, there was a knock on the door. 

"Miss?" Stella waved a hand "Come in."  a woman walked in "Lizzie's here, Miss." Stella smiled "My favorite girl, How are you Lizzie?" Stella asked as the tall willowy woman sat across from her. Lizzie glanced at Ewan and cleared her throat "The plan didn't work, Stell. Thomas came to me and offered money, said one last time before I married his brother...I took the money." Stella frowned a bit "Thomas told me I was never going to be a part of their family, John called off the engagement." Stella ran her thumb over her lip in thought "You took the money?" she asked "Yes, but only because I thought that perhaps he wanted to keep a relationship while I was with his brother, perhaps I could get into their family meetings." Stella leaned forward to flick her cigarette ash into the tray "It's fine, Lizzie, You didn't know. Thomas has eyes for Grace at the Garrison, I believe he's already hired her as some sort of....secretary." Stella puffed her cigarette "You did good, thank you, Lizzie. You keep an eye out though, yeah? Report back to me?" Lizzie stood and nodded "Are we still on for tea?" Stella smiled "Course." Lizzie smiled and left.