Fandom: Peaky Blinders
Pairing: Alfie Solomons
Prompt: "I can't believe you dragged me into this."
Warnings: use of gypsy slur
Word count: 1442

CHARIS COHN was an extraordinary woman. Something that surprised many men was that she was incredibly smart. And she used this skill of hers to get what she wants. That's how she became one of London's most successful businessmen. She would say businesswoman - but there wasn't enough female competition for Charis so she instead challenged the opposite sex instead. And she was good at it.

Charis soon became known as 'Trigger' as she was never afraid to pull a trigger when the time came to it. She loved it. She liked how mysterious it was. Usually, when she had a meeting (especially with a man), they would be surprised to find that Trigger was actually a woman. And a relatively young one at that.

But there was one man that she had met that differed from the rest. His name was Alfie Solomons. When he saw Charis, he knew that she was the person he was having a meeting with. He knew that she was Trigger, without even speaking. He simply looked in her eyes and knew.

That was a few years ago. And the two gangsters were still in business to this day. Alfie would usually invite Charis to galas, balls, dinners and business meetings that he had with other businessmen. Especially when the other person's first language was not English. Charis could speak 20 or so languages. English, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, French, German, Arabic, Yiddish, Japanese, Italian, Romany were the main ones that Charis had to use for her own and Alfie's businesses. Of course, Alfie could speak a few himself - like English, Italian, Russian and Yiddish - but he enjoyed Charis' presence so invited her anyway.

It worked well for both of them. They were perfect partners. But somedays, Alfie would invite Charis to meetings that she had no interest in.

And that is what happened today.

He had arranged a meeting with a gangster from Birmingham called Tommy Shelby. Charis had heard of him and his gang; the Peaky Blinders. She had also heard about their little performance in Sabini's Eden Club the other day. They were a dangerous bunch - perhaps the most dangerous people she had ever heard of. And Alfie Solomons just had to arrange a meeting with the leader.

"I can't believe you dragged me into this," Charis complained, pacing around Alfie's office. Tommy Shelby was to arrive any minute now and Charis was nervous. She saw the state of the Eden Club after their visit and it was, frankly, terrifying. "You do realise that they're psychos, right?"

Alfie chuckled as he watched Charis move around the office. "It'll be alright, Charis. He's not gonna hurt ya. He may be a pikey, but he'd never hurt a woman — no matter how dangerous they are," he laughed. But it didn't settle Charis.

"It's not me I'm worried about. It's you!" She exclaimed, falling in the chair opposite his desk. She crossed her legs, her back slumping against the black leather cushions. "I know what you're like, Alf. You're gonna screw him over, aren't you?"

Alfie remained silent. Only a smile on his face as he stared at the woman opposite him.

"Of course, you are," Charis smiled. "I'm surprised your not dead yet, Alfie!"

Alfie stood from his chair and rounded the desk to perch on top of it, directly in front of Charis. "That, love, is because I have you here to keep me check, don't I?" Charis grinned with a nod and a shrug as if saying 'you've got a point'. Alfie held his large hand out to Charis. The woman grabbed it and Alfie hauled her up from her seat. "Now, come on, can't have the missus sitting next to the enemy. You belong on the other side of this desk, love," he winked.

She hated to admit it, but she felt a red blush creep up onto her face. Alfie had a tendency to call her his 'missus' even if they weren't a couple. And it did please Charis a lot.

A knock came at the door just as Charis took a seat next to Alfie. Ollie, Alfie's right-hand man, entered with a shorter, well-dressed man behind him. "My Shelby is here, Mr Solomons."

"Let 'im in, Ollie," Alfie grumbled, dropping his soft persona when business, literally, began knocking on his door. The shorter man walked into the room. He had a peaked cap and dark trench coat, that massively contrasted with his piercing bright blue eyes. "Tommy!" Alfie exclaimed. "Take a seat, mate."

Tommy nodded whisky sitting opposite the desk. "This your secretary?" Tommy nodded to Charis. "I thought your business partner was joining us today?"

Charis mumbled under breath, so Alfie could hear. "Not this shit again."

Alfie frowned. "This, mate, is Charis Cohn. You might know her as Trigger. Yeah, this, Tommy, is my business partner, aren't you, love?" He turned his attention to Charis. She nodded proudly, crossing her legs under the desk. Alfie nooses with a hum. "Hm. That's right. So you better give her the respect she deserves, Shelby. Or else you have no business here, you understand?"

Charis admired when Alfie defended her. He didn't need to do that. She could fight her own battles, but something about Alfie getting angry for her did something to her that she couldn't begin to describe.

Tommy noticed her eyes linger on Alfie. "I apologise, Miss Cohn," Tommy lovely spoke.

"That's alright, Mr Shelby."

"I wasn't aware that Trigger was a woman, let alone Alfie's business partner," Tommy dug out a cigarette and placed it in between his lips before lighting it. "You sure you two are just business partners?"

Alfie raised his brows, taken back by the question. Charis merely blushed, lowering her head to look at her interlocked fingers. Alfie coughed gently, gaining both Charis and Tommy's attention. "That's none of your business, mate."

His voice wasn't as confident. It caught Charis by surprise but Tommy didn't seem to notice. She looked at his profile until he turned to lock eyes with her. She raised her brows in question. Alfie tightly smiled before turning back to Tommy.

"Right onto business, hey?"

They proceeded with the meeting but Charis couldn't stop thinking about Alfie. After Tommy had made his departure, Charis remained in her seat.

"Wasn't that bad, was it, ay?" Alfie asked, pouring himself and Charis glasses of gin.

Charis nodded. "What was that about? At the start? About the thing that Tommy said about us."

Alfie was silent. He took the seat opposite the desk, the seat where Tommy once sat. "Our relationship is no one's business."

Charis raised her brows, sipping on her drink. "Is it my business?"

Alfie chuckled behind the crystal glass. "We can make it your business, love," Charis gestured for Alfie to proceed.

He seemed hesitant so Charis stood up and took a seat on top of his desk, in front of him. "Go on, darling. Tell me what you're thinking."

Alfie sighed, running his tattooed hand over his face before peering up at Charis. "I'm no good with my words or emotions, you know that, Char. But I'll just say it and get it over with. I love ya."

Charis' eyes widened slightly. "For how long?"

"I'd say 2 years now."

Charis gasped. "You could've fucking told me earlier, you numpty!" Charis laughed. "I've loved you for a while too, I didn't know if you felt the same though."

Alfie grinned. He placed his glass on the table before standing up, his tall stature towering over Charis'. He closed the distance between them. His hands found her knees and he separated them so he could fit himself between them. With each word he said next, he grew closer to her face, until his lips hovered over hers. "Well, love. I can tell you now that the feeling is mutual."

Charis' breath hitched in her throat. Her hands trailed up in muscular arms until they rested at his broad shoulders. "Are you gonna do anything about it then?" She teased, her fingers twisting the hairs at the base of his neck.

Alfie chuckled. He lowered his head further and pressed his lips to hers. After a minute of bliss, they separated, both heaving for air. "Will ya be my girl and business partner?" Alfie whispered, pressing his forehead to Charis' while his hands ran up and down her legs, subconsciously pushing her dress up her thighs slightly.

Charis grinned and nodded. "I'd be honoured."

THE END