Rising | Thomas Shelby

fredrick hayes

—————

As we settled into our seats across from one another. I reminded myself that, this was in fact a business meeting meaning that no matter how I feel about Tommy or our past I have to try and stay professional. I kept my face emotionless which was matched by his own.

"What can I do for you Ms Best?" he starts. "Oh please, call me Edith. Ms Best makes me think of my mother!" I smirk at him. I've done a good job of staying professional, 2 minutes in and i'm already making jokes.

"Mr Shelby, have you heard of Fredrick Hayes?" I saw a flicker of surprise go past his eyes. That wasn't what he thought she was going to say.
He clears his throat slightly, and sits back up in his chair "I may have heard of him once or twice" unsure of where I was going with this. "So I take it, you've never met him?"
He shook his head taking a drag before removing it, "No, Scar, I haven't"
"Wrong, Mr shelby. You've met him multiple times, in fact, you're quite close with him" I was teasing him. Confusing him. Thomas didn't like it. You could basically seeing the cogs turning in his head.
You put your hand out for him to shake for the second time that day. He then quickly clocked on.
"Wow Scar. You really did make a name for yourself" he breathes out in shock.

Thomas didn't think he could find her anymore amazing than right now. Tommy was usually 2 steps ahead in every situation with every person. Scarlett was the only one that had him on his toes, never knowing what she was thinking or what was going to happen. Tommy can say wholeheartedly he had never seen this coming. His little Scarlett was Fredrick Hayes?

"I'm impressed, Scar, truly" he says taking a sip from his drink. I was happy with this reaction.
"I have ideas Mr Shelby, I think we could be greatly beneficial to one another" she says which intrigued him. Nothing she said could not intrigue him.
He raised his eyebrows and tilts his head, in a way to tell her to expand.

"I want to take down Billy Kimber. I think with your help we could just do that. You see, Fredrick is a 'trusted friend' of Kimber's, he comes to me, I know all his weaknesses. What I want you to do is fix a race of his to get his attention, then once that's done I need you to gain his trust"
"How do you expect we do that?" he interjects.
"You know of the Lees, correct?" Tommy nods at me. "Well, the Lees are also at war with Kimber, they're attacking his bookies and taking his money. Kimber needs men. Now, I know for sure you Peaky boys have men. I offer you my knowledge and you offer him your men, you gain his trust, make him think that you want to take down the Lees together."
"Why do you think I'd be interested?" Tommy questions me, which in turn makes me roll my eyes. "Tommy, I know how much you want to run the races and the mighty king Kimber is in your way."

Tommy sits back taking in all the girl has said to him, he watches me as I reach out and pull a cigarette from his pack. He grabs the matches and leans over towards me to light it.
"And what reason would I have to want to take down the Lees?" He pushes. Tommy was trying to catch her out on a question. Scarlett smiled at her dear friend. "Well I don't care how but you need to start a war with them, they're hanging round the fair, wherever the fair goes, the Lees follow."
"You seem to have all the answers figured out" I laughed out my smoke, "You didn't expect me to come unprepared did you, Mr Shelby?"

I'm proud of myself for not stuttering, in a business environment he could be quite intimidating, if only I didn't know he still had his childhood blankie under his pillow at the grand age of 22. I wonder if he still has it.
"You seem to have everything sorted, how did you know I was going to go along on your little idea?"
"Really? You're being serious?" He agreed, didn't even need a pretty please.
Tommy smiled me at me "We always planned to take over the world together, didn't we?"