The Hostage // Peaky Blinders

Is This Desire?

It had been a few days since the Thomas and Amelié had seen each other and it seemed as though Amelié's nightmares were increasing like they had been when she first arrived in Birmingham. It's because of Campbell.

She was still hurt about what happened at the race and Thomas had been too busy to see her about it; or he simply felt no need to mention it. In that few days, Amelié had become rather close with Arthur. He came in regularly for ties and loved to complain to Amelié about his brothers. "They're always talkin' you know, always bloody talkin'," he would say to her.

Today Arthur came in to pick up yet another new tie. "How's my beautiful girl!" he shouts with his arms in the air.

Amelié laughs and rolls her eyes, "how's business today Arthur?"

"You know, bloody hell as usual," he answers, now stopping at the desk.

Arthur had gotten help from Amelié with some business since he wasn't good with the book, so she was learning more and more about what the Shelby's really did. She learned that they import cigarettes and whisky from all around, and also how there were stolen guns to be found and that's why Chester Campbell was there. It was relieving to hear that, but she still knew she had to be careful.

Amelié hands Arthur his new striped tie and he sighs, "always amazing work from you Amelié. Have you seen Tommy recently?" he asks suddenly.

"I— I haven't, not since the race," she replies, head hung low.

"I see, he's been as busy as a dog lately, I'm sure he'll come by and see ya soon," he reassures.

"Thanks Arthur, have a good one. And enjoy you're new tie!" Amelié calls out while Arthur walks out, "it's crazy what men will tell you after a glass of whiskey," Amelié jokes to Matthew after Arthur leaves.

"He's a nice man, I'm sure he understands that he can trust you. But be careful, Thomas will be ready to blow your head in seconds if he finds out you've been asking questions," he assures her.

"I'm not asking questions," Amelié says with a laugh, "he just tells me Matthew, I swear!"

He lets out a chuckle, "just watch your back around him, and also watch for Campbell. He may be here for different reasons but I know his eye is still on you. I've heard some things around here."

Amelié sighs. She knew she shouldn't be running around town with Campbell here, and the idea of being caught again scared her more than anything. But she also knew she couldn't sit around inside forever without going crazy. She was close with the Shelby family now, especially close with Thomas and Matthew, so she at least had some faith that she was protected.

Finally, Matthew says his goodbyes to leave for the night. Just as Amelié begins to lock up, she hears a knock at the door. Concerned about who it could be, she looks through the small window to see a Peaky Blinder. When she opens the door she is greeted with nothing but a serious face, "Hello Mr. Shelby," Amelié says in a low tone.

"Arthur tells me he's told you quite a lot about the business; what we do here," he says, "let's take a walk, you and me."

With a long pause, Amelié finally says, "let me grab my sweater."

It was a cold night, but for once it wasn't raining. Amelié thought to herself how it was a nice night for a walk, but she assumed this visit was for business rather than pleasure. They end up walking to a Catholic Church, Thomas didn't say much on the way. "Why here?" Amelié asks.

"You're a good catholic girl aren't you?" he asks.

"I suppose," Amelié answers with her head hung low while they walk to the shrine.

"Well then you know that people come here to confess," he says, looking at her. He seemed quite different tonight to Amelié.

They sit in the chairs up front and look at the beautiful display. "Well here we are Amelié. I'll confess, I need someone," he starts.

He goes on to explain the role that Amelié will play in his plan. He needs a new book keeper, someone with class, as he puts. Someone legitimate to bring to the table.

"So this is a job interview?" Amelié says, quite amused.

"Arthur says you're good with numbers," he says.

"Well that's relative, he's not the best," she chuckles.

"You told him how to keep the books in order...." he puts, "but you're a liar."

Amelié stops, stunned. How could he know? Has Matthew told him who she really was? "No catholic girl would enter a church and forget to make the sign of a cross," he says, looking straight ahead.

Amelié looks at him and then to her hands on her lap. "You're very perceptive," she admits.

"You lied about being Catholic, making you a Protestant," he begins with a sigh, "you lied about running from an abusive family. I've come to realize you couldn't have arrived here more than two years ago because no one around here knows your name, nor your last. Matthew took you in but you were more than a girl, weren't you?"

"Do you care?"

"Nope... but you lied Amelié."

"So this isn't an interview it's an interrogation," Amelié says, standing from her chair to leave out of fright and frustration.

"Sit down," Thomas demands.

Amelié sits down without another word; she looks at her hands again.

"Look, you washed up in a place where you don't belong... whatever reason it was for. Maybe my good fortune," he says, looking ahead at the beautiful scenery.

"Perhaps mine too," Amelié says, now admiring his face.

He looks back at her to admire her face as well. Their gaze met for just one moment and this gaze seemed different than the others. After a short pause he begins again, "so you know most of what I do is illegal."

She nods, still watching his face closely. "Yet you'd still be willing to work for me," he states.

"So you're offering me the job..." she looks down at her lap and then back to his eyes, "well I accept."

"There's something else you should know," he pauses, and their gaze meets again, the same it was just a moment before. He moves in closer, their faces now only inches apart, "a very important detail for my reasons of employing you."

They stare, admiring each other for just a moment before the Shelby lifts his hand and removes the hair falling in front of Amelié's face. He leans in and kisses her softly. She accepts the kiss, now knowing she wasn't the only one to feel an odd connection between them.

He leans away but keeps his hand on her cheek for only a second longer. "Do you resign now?" Thomas asks, with a small smile on his face.

Amelié let's out an exhale of a laugh and looks at him, "no, it only makes me want it more."

"I'll show you around tomorrow since you've failed to explore here the past two years," he says as he stands up to leave.

Amelié gets up and stops him, "Thomas."

He stops and turns around to meet her gaze again. She contemplates right then if she should go on to explain who her family was. But she stops herself, defeated. "Get home safe," Amelié says quietly.

Thomas turns the rest of his body to fully face her. He reaches his hand to her cheek once again, "I'll be at your shop at 9 sharp."

She nods. Thomas couldn't help but admire her beautiful complexion. After a moment of comfortable silence, Tommy finally leaves for good. Amelié sits down at the spot she sat before and stares down the middle aisle at the red dusty carpet, which reminded her of her old home back in France.