Bête noire → Peaky Blinders [Tommy Shelby] [ BOOK 1 ]

Forty seven.

Chapter forty seven: Hope hurts

Caroline stalked towards Michael's office with high hopes to avoid the tenacious atmosphere shared between Polly and John. They'd been bickering back and forth for ages, debating the characteristics of a true leader and what it took to diffuse the declaration of war between their gang and the Italians. 

She knocked first, but had little to no patience for waiting, so she opened the door and her features immediately hardened simultaneous to her heart faltering at the rate of a thousand miles per hour in her chest.

"Oh! Caroline Kimber! Well, Caroline Shelby now. It's a pleasure to meet you! Your wedding was absolutely splendid. Thank you for the invitation."

Caroline raised a brow and studied the other woman's features. "Pardon my cloudy memory, but I assure you, the pleasure was all mine."

Michael cleared the lump in his throat, though the thick blanket smoke from his cigar covered the room. "This is Charlotte Murray. Her father makes cars." He then leaned over his desk, coming ever so closely to Caroline. "Polly says you should phone her. There's been some trouble. I'm guessing it's the stuff she doesn't like to tell me about."

"Perhaps we should enclose details." Caroline glanced over her shoulder with an icy stare. "Alone."

Charlotte raised her head with her lips agape. "Very well then. I shall see you later, Michael. It was lovely to meet you at last, Missus Shelby. I've heard lots about you."

After Charlotte walked out on her own accord, Caroline released a hesitant sigh as she sat opposite Michael. With one leg over the other, she watched as Michael merely lit another cigarette, seemingly disinterested by the eyes that licked over every feature on his sullen form.

"Your smile was beaming whilst she was in the room, now all of a sudden, it's disappeared."

"Why are you here, Caroline? If you want to slap me again, then just get on with it then be on your way. Business awaits, as per usual."

Instead of frowning, a teasing smile played on her mauve lips. "You see, I came to apologise for that incident, up until I found out you invited a lady guest without my knowledge."

"As if you care. You've made your intentions pretty clear and now, it's time for me to move on."

Her tongue poked the inside of her cheek. "With the likes of her? She's too nice, Micky. The next time I spot her in this office, I will send her on her way myself."

"Then who do I go for, Caroline?" Michael looked up from his desk with irritated eyes fixating on her poisonous form. "If I can't have you then I must spend my time with someone who fills the void. Maybe someone nice will do me the world of good."

She cackled venomously. "Night and day, eh? That's the comparison between Charlotte and I."

He repeated, this time, with more agitation in his gruff tone. "As if you care."

"Oh, of course I care! You and I are close, therefore, I must look after you as you should for me."

"No, no. See, every time you open your mouth, it's a double ended sword. Whatever you say, I'll get hurt no matter the outcome. Please just leave. Polly needs you more than she needs me."

Caroline sighed and reluctantly rose to her feet. "For your information, I didn't deserve you, nor does Charlotte, nor any other woman that catches your eye. You have a heart of gold and I hope you keep it that way."