• THE ONE • A Thomas Shelby Fanfic •

C12 - Rich Bitch

My future was to either go two ways. Either I end up telling Tommy about Grace's secret, and I inform him that his wife will soon die. He'll have to choose between her and I. Or, I keep the murder of Grace to myself and allow her death to possibly end my life, or get Tommy to fall in love with me.

As complicated as it sounds, it was simple. I was either going to hide a secret and possibly die, or tell the truth and lose the man I want to spend forever with.

I wake up in the morning without Tommy. I miss him dearly, but decide to not dwell on the fact that he's with his wife. Instead, I make breakfast, feed the animals, feed myself,  bathe and get dressed for a long, tiresome day.

I do what any adult do. Stopping by the grocery stop, going to the bank. I had to sort out the little bit of money my father left only to find out he had a will.

"It seems like since your mother passed on, that you are the second runner up." The gentleman who was helping me smiles at me. Taking off his glasses. "So, that means," He turns the will to me and points at the large sum of money that was in writing. "That amount there, is yours."

"What amount?" I hold my breath, genuinely afraid that he might just say that the twenty thousand pounds in writing is mine.

"Your father saved all of this money in preparation for him dying in the war." The banker tells me. "And since your mum is no longer with us, you'll be next in line for this inheritance."

"Holy shit." I fall back against the chair and let out a sigh. My eyes meet his again, "I-It's all mine?"

The banker smiles. "Yes dear." He takes the will and examines it. "It's all yours. The farm, the house, twenty thousand pounds."

"Wow." I whisper, my gaze drops. My spins in circles, I could do so much with that money. Jesus, I could start a new life.

"Ma'am, how would you like the money. Cheque? Cash? Or we, of course, can transfer the funds to you?"

I swallow. "Cash." I nod before remembering, "Please!"

* * *

A boutique that I would have never even entertained the thought of entering now caters to me. I have champagne in a crisp glass, as I am begin flattered with dresses imported from Milan, Paris, New York.

I'm afraid to admit that I'm a little bit drunk off of the amount of champagne I've been given. The store clerk named Joanna sits beside me in a massive single-couch. I told her relax, casting a spell on her to drink with me, forcing her to be my only friend.

I learned that Joanna's husband abuses her, physically harming her every night after the amount of drinks he has. It's tragic really, I mean, she's so young and innocent looking. Joanna reminds me of me, she's soft spoken, she's got a good smile and seems to care about what others think. She's kind too.

"Should I get you the navy blue dress as well, Bria?" She asks me, finishing off her drink and reaching for the bottle.

I can feel someone entering the shop very soon and grab the bottle from her. Joanna looks puzzled, but I lean in. "You're free." I whisper, and she snaps out of the daze she was in and blinks.

"I'm sorry," She looks around, shaken up and confused. Joanna grins at me, being the nice girl she is. "I'll be sure to ring you up, Miss...?" She doesn't even remember my name.

"Hearn." I calmly respond, "Before that," I push myself up to stand and take her hand, she looks at me rather nervously. I'm quick to whisper Romani words to her for the alcohol in her blood to decrease to nothing. Joanna is completely sober now, and even more confused. I smile at her, "I'd like to have that bottle of champagne."

"To go?" She asks.

I nod, "Mmmhmmmmm!"

"Right away ma'am." She pulls away and slowly walks towards the back of the shop. .

It was just me who is in the shops before I heard the door swoosh open. Her heels clack, and I'm reminded of the way it did when I was hiding in the closet the night of my father wake. It's Grace and I who end up staring at each other. I swallow the last bit of my drink before clearing my throat. She approaches me rather beautifully. She wears a dress from this shop, I saw the tag, the bloody thing costs a whole lot more than anything I've ever owned.

Her smile is small, weak even. "Bria?"

Her voice is soft, she sounds feathery. I imagine standing and stumbling, so, I decide to keep myself sat. "Grace," I pinch a smile. "Good to see you again."

"Yes, lovely seeing you." She grins, mentioning my dresses. "How are you, since... well since your father?"

"I'm alright." I state, "It's hard but-"

"I understand." She murmurs, turning to face the amount of dresses I've got ready to purchase. She turns back and looks at me. "Are you getting a dress for tomorrow night?"

"Mmhmm," I respond, knowing that I have no idea what she's babbling on about. I mean, I have no clue at all. "Remind me the time of the event again?"

"Six p.m, sharp." She mentions the black dress that sits on the rack with my name on it. "Might I suggest the black?"

I raise an eyebrow, following her gaze. "I was thinking I wear the pink."

Her face is in that tight fake smile of hers, it pisses me off. We stay staring at each other, so many things unsaid. I still remember her voice as she looked around the bedroom. I was hidden in the closet, being the other woman. The evening of my fathers wake, Thomas and I being alone for the little time that we were free.

"Miss. Hearn, I've placed your dress in the fitting room." Joanna comes back, baring a rack of dresses for Grace. "And Mrs. Shelby," She begins, "your VIP suite is available. I've prepped it with champagne and a glass–"

"Make it two glasses, please. My husband will be here any minute." Grace looks at me.

Ouch.

Finally, Joanna notices that Grace and I are so well acquainted. "Shall I bring Miss. Hearn's things to the suite as well?"

"No!" I reply for Grace. "I've got to go actually."

"But the dresses—"

Using nearly all of my strength I push myself up to stand up. I'm quick to my feet though, and before I can gather my purse, the door swooshes open again and all I can think is great, Tommy, Grace and I stuck in a shop. This'll be grand!

The bloody dresses! Damn it. "Okay!" Christ!

I could feel Thomas's smile, he was happy I was staying and it was heartwarming. But more than anything, it was pretty damn annoying because I'm drunk, and I'm in love with a married man whose wife so happens to be in the same room as me!