KEEPER OF MY HEART - TOMMY SHELBY
KEEPER OF MY HEART - CHAPTER ONE
I take a deep breath, clutching the job advertisement in my hands.
INNKEEPER NEEDED.
ENQUIRE WITH SHELBY LIMITED.
I’m new to Small Heath, Birmingham. I’ve only been here a week and I’m desperate for a job. Although I have years of experience keeping my families Pub, I know not many establishments wants a woman as the face of their business.
I roll my shoulders back, straightening my posture to stand as tall as I possibly can at a mere 5 ft 3. Trying to assert myself in a display of confidence. God knows I’m going to need it.
I force myself forward, pushing the heavy doors open, entering into the Garrison.
The smell hits me straight away. Cigarette smoke and whiskey.
It’s weirdly familiar and comforting.
There is no one at the bar, just a group of men sitting in the middle around a table. Laughing, drinking and smoking.
These must be the Shelby brothers.
I waits for them to turn to look at me, to address my entrance into the room. To begin the interview. But they don’t.
That is until one of the younger men notices me, and nudges the tall and slim man next to him.
And just like that, all of the men slowly turn their attention towards me.
I try to ignore their unimpressed gazes. Their eyes looking me up and down judgementally. I give a tight lipped smile, feeling as though a theatre spotlight has just been shone on me. Now is not the time to back down.
“I’m here for the job interview”
By the look on their faces, you would have sworn I had spoken in a foreign language.
Confusion, amusement, prejudice.
The tall, slim member of the Shelby family speaks first, after what felt like hours of painful silence.
“I think you’re in the wrong building sweetheart” he says, trying to be nice but unsuccessfully hiding a smirk.
I knew to expect this.
I pause before speaking, as I catch the eyes of one of the Shelby’s sitting at the back of the group. He puffs on his cigarette, smoke shrouding his sharp features. Our eyes lock in on one another. How could they not. They’re piercing through the dimly lit building. It takes a lot to make me feel small, but his gaze alone makes me want to shrink.
I try to offer him a smile, but he doesn’t return it. He just grazes his eyes over me, thinking god knows what.
I try to shake off the interaction, turning back to the brother at the front.
“No, I’m pretty sure I’m in the right building, Mr Shelby”
“Well unless you’re… Z Jones…” he says, referring back to the list of applicants on the table beside him, then looking back up to me doubtfully.
“Yes, thats me”
“You’re Z Jones?”
“Yes, Zoe Jones”
“Well fuck me” he laughs, entertained and dumbfounded “Z for Zoe Jones”
I feel a sense of relief. He hasn’t completely kicked me out of the building. And my tactic of not revealing my full name on the application worked. Now I at least have my foot in the door.
I tempt a quick look at the brother in the back, and he still sits unwavering. Not amused in the slightest like the other men. He hasn’t so much as moved or said a word. He just studies me.
“And you are aware of the job you have applied for?” The tall brother questions, his amusement morphing into concern.
“Innkeeper, Matron of the bar, Bartender” I list of all the names that this job falls under “I am well aware of the role I will be taking on”
“How old are you sweetheart?” He questions. I knew my age would be in question. But I already have years of experience.
“Old enough to pour a beer” I retort, smirking. There’s not one question they can throw at me that I haven’t heard before.
One of the younger brothers smiles, beaming up at me. “I like her Arthur” He tells the eldest brother. So that’s Arthur. The eldest Shelby brother.
“Shut up John” The older brother nudges his younger brother, who I now know as John.
But his smile doesn’t fade, in fact, he gives me an encouraging nod. Like he’s rooting for me.
“Alright I’ll level with you, darling. The kind of crowd we get here is not… they’re not just your usual crowd of singing drunks. We need someone that can handle the money, as well as the fellas that come in here. I don’t doubt that you can pour a beer, but they’re going to take one look at you and chew you up. We need someone that folks will take seriously”
I just smile back politely. Nodding at his speech. I feel my hopefulness start to falter, but I won’t show them. If I don’t get this job, I will have no where to go with no way to pay my rent. I need this, and they need me.
“If I could level with you…” I begin, taking a breath before I continue “I’ve worked my fathers pub since I was 14. When he died I took over. Business died off, so I had to sell. I think I’m more than capable. And I say let them underestimate me. With all due respect, sir, letting them underestimate me has been my greatest strength. I can run the money. I can pour beer. I might not be able to fight with my fists, but I’ve never had to. The mind is where half the battle is. I was smart enough to put my name down as Z because I knew if I put my full name down I wouldn’t even get a foot in the door. And I’m not sure what kind of business you’re running here at Shelby Limited, but I know a lot of places deal in secrets. And you’ll be surprised what people will talk about around a woman. What they say when they think you’re not listening because they think you wouldn’t understand. Let them underestimate me. So… if you could just give me one night?”
The men stare up at me. If they kick me out, at least I stood my ground. They all look around at each other, trying to come up with an answer.
“Tommy?” Arthur asks, turning to the Shelby who has been sitting stone faced the entire time.
Thomas Shelby.
I had done some asking around before I applied for the job. Everyone had a lot to say about the Shelby brothers. But not many could say anything about Thomas. He was the mysterious brother. The silent assassin. Not the oldest, but the leader of the family. What was said about Thomas was much of the same. He’s deadly. He’s a killer. He’s the puppet master of the entire company.
I straighten my back, trying not to falter or waver underneath his unforgiving gaze. If there’s anyone I need to convince, it’s him.
He stands, taking a swig of the drink in his glass before he begins to stalk his way towards me.
His eyes wander all over me, scaling me up and down. Sizing me up.
The room has fallen silent. Their eyes darting between Thomas and I.
“Zoe Jones” he repeats my name, inching closer to me.
“Thomas Shelby” I address him back, unsure of where the courage to do so came from.
“If anything goes wrong, you’ll pay the price” His voice is husky as he threatens me. This is what I can only assume everyone in town was talking about when I asked about The Shelby Brothers.
I swallow, trying to find the right words.
“Good. I like a challenge. But that won’t be necessary”
I raise my chin, tilting my head upwards to meet his stern gaze. I won’t back down. It’s not even about the job anymore in this moment. I won’t be made to feel small. I know my worth.
For the entire 10 minutes that I have known Thomas Shelby, he hasn’t shown one ounce of expression on his face, besides slight disapproval at my presence. But for a second, I swear I can see a hint of interest in his eyes when I spoke back. He didn’t expect me to push back when he descended on me with his intense, heaviness.
“One night” he says finally “Tonight”
I nod, smiling up at him.
That’s all I need.
