Roguish Women- Tommy Shelby

The Green Fairy

            Kate would continue to work for Tommy but she took any opportunity to work in London. That way, she could have some distance without him getting all up and arms. Eventually, Tommy offered to let her stay in London to do some work for the company. Whether or not he had larger plans, he didn't really let her know. But she was there in that field with him. She couldn't ignore the talk about Winston Churchill. She just hoped he knew what he was doing.

"Have you ever been in love, Alfie?"

"That is quite the question, my dear." The man looked up over his half-moon glasses at the young woman who was sat on the floor of his office.

Kate was kneeling by Cyril's bed giving him a nice belly rub. She'd grown fond of the dog even though she'd never had one herself. He was a gentle giant and very sweet to her. It was the little thing like Alfie's dog that kept her in a somewhat good mood. Despite the fact that she felt empty.

"I know it's personal but I felt like we've talked about everything else."

"Why d'you wanna talk 'bout love, aye?" Alfie shuffled a few papers around his desk, still planning on working even if he was lead into some conversation about something silly like love.

"Because I didn't know if you'd ever been in love or not." Kate stood up, giving Cyril one final pat and going to sit back down across from Alfie.

"Pretty sure you didn't come in here thinking 'bout me love life. Think you're probably thinking 'bout something else. Your love life, perhaps?"

"Intuitive." She mumbled and rested her elbows on his desk. "What I say cannot leave this office."

"Love, if you think I'm gonna go rat on you to Tommy, then you wound me." He replied. "Thought I made it clear enough that he don't need to know anything that we talk 'bout in private."

She frowned and glared at him. "Who said this has anything to do with Tommy?" She demanded.

Still busy with papers, Alfie rolled his eyes. "When you told me he was expecting a baby and planning a wedding, it sounded like you were telling me someone fucking died. If you didn't have feelings for him, then you wouldn't've acted so gloomy."

Sinking lower in her chair, Kate buried her head in her arms. "I'm miserable, Alfie. Absolutely, miserable. Why on Earth did I have to-to fall in love with someone like that?" She protested.

"You're asking the wrong person. I figured a long time ago that I ain't gonna be the dutiful Jewish husband that a dutiful Jewish wife welcomes home every night." Alfie reached for a paper that had been pinned under Kate's arm. He tapped her elbow, making her move with a frustrated groan. "Now, I can't see what you see in Tommy Shelby. But I also can't tell you to just move along. If ya wanted to move along, you would've done it by now."

Kate lifted her head, propping her chin on her arm. "So, what do you suppose I do?"

Alfie paused and finally looked up from his work. He removed his glasses. "Do you want me to fucking lie to you and tell you that Tommy'll ditch her and come running to you? Or do you want me honesty?"

"Honesty." She replied meekly.

"We're creatures of the underworld, yeah, we can't afford to love."

It pained Kate to know exactly what Alfie meant. All those years she spent either thriving or surviving. She did it alone because she had to. She couldn't chance it on a love that could ruin her. Her trust was limited. She ruminated on his words for a moment. "Then why does it hurt so much when I see him with her?"