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Upon entry into the club, Rowan blushed under realisation of the scandalous nature of it. People were literally 'doing things' around her, and since she had only been active for a day; it was a little overwhelming. On the way in she couldn't help notice Alfie Solomons confused gaze on her, he had absolutely no idea who this girl was and that left him with a lesser power. They approached the table with the infamous Darby Sabini seated, his grey suit and plumb accessories hinted at his wealth but looking around, you could tell he wasn't short of money anyway.
"Mr Shelby." Sabini spoke, the table he sat at crowded with large bodied guards all armed beneath their suits. "Sabini." Tommy said nonchalantly taking a seat opposite him, Arthur and John on either side and Ada and Rowan heading to the bar for drinks as Tommy had told them to. "Now who may that be?" Sabini asked with a hint of an Italian accent, motioning to Rowan as she laughed at Ada. Her smile lit up the rather dim room, full of dancers and jazz music that played the new style of music that had come in from The New World. "We're 'ere to talk business Sabini." John said, not allowing Rowan to get caught up in this business. "Yes... lets talk business." Rowan and Ada returned to the table with two bottles of whiskey and some water and cordial for Rowan.
"Do you not drink?" Rowan looked at Tommy warily and shook her head. "No I don't." Sabini smiled and took her glass in his hands, sipping it gently. "It's rather nice I suppose, but it doesn't warm you up. If you know what I mean?" Rowan looked around and noticed almost everyone that had once been in the club had evacuated in the realisation of what was going on. "Business Sabini." Tommy reminded the Italian man, and he tore his eyes away from Rowan, staring at Tommy's calm composure.
"Roight, instead of starin' at each other maybe we can discuss business, as it has been mentioned about 500 fuckin' times since sittin' down." Solomons said, his thick heavy accent sounded like he had an unhealthy build up of saliva in his mouth. "Girls, go sit at the bar." "No... can either of you lovely ladies sing? Or play an instrument?"
"Oh shit." Rowan muttered ever so quietly under her breath that no one had heard but the look on her face made it obvious. "What do you sing Tesoro?" Tommy wanted to blind the man right there for saying that but he kept his composure as usual.
"Erm... I'll think of something." Rowan wandered to the stage where the band of jazz musicians had been playing all night. She walked to the bass and plucked a rhythm, directing the bassist to play it the way she had. The drummer was made to play lightly and jazzy while the pianist was made to improvise. She was ready.
"You had plenty money, 1922 You let other women make a fool of you Why don't you do right, like some other men do Get out of here and get me some money too"
Rowan began to channel her inner Jessica Rabbit as she sang the Peggy Lee version of the song. The sultry tone fit the feel of the club to perfection. She stood before the microphone clicking the beat of the rhythm to stay in time with tune. The band were acting as if they had played together for years, they followed her all the way along.
"You're sittin' down and wonderin' what it's all about You ain't got no money, they will put you out Why don't you do right, like some other men do? Get out of here and get me some money too."
Rowan looked to the table, all eyes on her and suddenly her voice began to shake under the Italians and Jews eyes. Then she turned her gaze to Tommy, he didn't show any expression but nodded his head a little. She smiled and suddenly her nerves were cured and it was as if no one else had ever been in the room.
"If you had prepared twenty years ago You wouldn't be a-wanderin' now from door to door Why don't you do right, like some other men do? Get out of here and get me some money too."
Ada was amazed by the pure talent of the girl she had befriended but that wasn't what had put such a wide smile on her face. It was the effect she had had on her most troubled brother, a man who had returned from France with nothing on his mind but business. It seemed that he had changed since her arrival, the overwhelming brightness to her soul would help Tommy through the dark. She would be a beacon of hope for the once buried Tommy that she knew Tommy wished he was again. Though Ada knew Rowan cared not for the old Tommy, she liked this one just as well.
"I fell for your jivin' and I took you in Now all you got to offer me's a drink of gin Why don't you do right, like some other men do Get out of here and get me some money too
Why don't you do right, like some other men do Like some other men do."
Her hanging on to every note might've caused the men to fall at her feet. As she walked back to the table, her head down and a small smile on her face, she looked at Tommy. A playful, teasing smirk on his face made her lock eyes with him.
It was like time stopped but before her mind could catch up, she tore her eyes away to the men surrounding her. She was dragged and thrown into a chair beside Sabini whilst Tommy stood up and prepared to fight anyone who dared put their hands on her. "Now... we have something we can negotiate with Mr Shelby." Sabini said, stroking Rowan's face while she whimpered against the harsh restraint of her against the chair.
"Negotiate what? Mr Sabini. Whereabouts I'm gonna put the bullet in ya?"
