Choking On Sapphires

CoS Part 2: Conquest

Song to go with the chapter is Conquest by The White Stripes.

Ollie stands in the doorway of Alfie's office, he's grumbling to himself, flipping the pages of 3 open books on his desk, his small golden glasses on their chain around his neck are perched on the end of his nose as his lips pursed together tightly. His finger taps hard against the same space in one of the books.

"Ollie?" he asks lightly.

"Yes, Mr. Solomons?" he asks in his usual vaguely hesitant tone to the singular calling of his name from his employer.

"Do you remember a night a few months back with a Miss Genevieve Durand?" he asks, his tone even, his finger taps the book again. He removes his glasses and motions for the tall young man to come closer.

"The lady with Tommy Shelby?" he asks for clarification, his face wincing as he leans forward to see where Alfie's finger is tapping.

"That would be correct, Ollie." he says, his voice darkening slightly, not unnoticed by Ollie's trained ears. "If you recall her by name now, why would you not tell me we've been doing business with her." he looks over at Ollie, his eyes wider than they had been just seconds before. Alfie's face is drawn, his eye staring intently at the boy leaning over his desk with him.

"Since it was all business from upstairs..." Alfie's eyes narrow slightly at him. "I don't usually bother you with that business, sir. I didn't know it was important, my apologies." he ducks his head slightly, turning his eyes from his and back to the big, swooping, feminine signature on the bottom of the contract Alfie had been looking at. Alfie takes one of the books into his hands and holds it as if to recite from it.

"Now Ollie..." his voice not immediately threatening, but not welcoming either. He replaces the glasses on his nose while he speaks, leaning the book towards the other man. "You see these names on this page, yeah?" he waits for Ollie to nod in response. "So, right, you can see 'em so is there anything that stands out on this page, here?" his lips are tight, face agitated but patient.

"Her signature, Mr. Solomons?" he asks quietly, unsure.

"Smart boy, there, yeah." he wiggles his finger at him. "You know why it's different though, boy?" Ollie's brow furrows, he shakes his head subtly. "Well that's because it's the only woman's signature in here, right?" his head tilts as he drops the book back onto the desk with a thud. "All these owners names on here, all men." Alfie crosses his arms across his chest, standing up straight but still looking at the open book. "Now let me ask you Ollie." he turns his broad form towards the lanky young man. "Do you own a business?"

"No, sir." he answered confused.

"Right, and are you a woman, Ollie?" he asks, his nose wrinkling with his expression of annoyance.

"Uh-" Ollie stutters, "No. No sir." his brows are uneven as his confusion is now worn on his face.

"Now, as an oppressed people, even without the added oppression of being a woman, you can understand how hard it would be to achieve such a thing, yeah?" his shoulders shrug slightly. "Now imagine being a woman, and running your own business. Not your husbands business, not your brothers, your fathers, just you. Just her. All on her lonesome." he puts his hand on Ollie's shoulder as he nods in agreement.

"Now, don't you think that I would want to speak to the only woman business owner, a member of another oppressed group who has shown themselves to be so resilient? That I've ever been in business with for, how long now...?" his mouth frowns as he leans back over the desk, looking with his finger guiding the way to the dates in the columns of the books. "For almost two fucking months now?" his head turns to Ollie but his hands remain on the desk.