*I have updated the cast list with the introduction of a new character in this chapter...*

-

The volatile wheel of life that Verity Grant had been experiencing as of late seemed to be turning back in reverse, as she now felt the security of her new role falling into place.

She hadn't been at the club for more than a week before she had already started earning herself as a bit of a name, the feverishly in love couples slow dancing to her music with a bit too much heavy petting at the end of the night.

Either way, the singing job was earning her a fair bit of money - and being a Shelby business, of course the pay was cash in hand. Verity avoided telling her sister where the money was coming from, lying and telling Nina that it was a bit of private psychology work she'd managed to find. Her younger sister was happy enough to accept this, unaware of the lie that lay beneath.

-

A week or so had passed, and Verity was settling into her new routine as she made her way to the Eden club late in the afternoon - ready for her usual rehearsals and sound check.

She had grown accustomed to being greeted by Arthur as she entered the vast main hall, with its expansive dance floor and elegant stage - but as she entered on this fine afternoon there was something in the air that sat stale - something that brewed an unsettling feeling in her stomach. There was surely something going on.

Before the former psychologist could linger on the gut feeling for too long, she turned and faced some motion she detected from the corner of her eye - watching as the gorgeous Scarlett sauntered across the room, a couple of empty glasses clutched between her fingertips and a half emptied bottle of Shelby gin in the other hand.

"Where is Arthur?" Verity piped up, watching the Italian-American girl plonk the used glasses and bottle of delicious gin on the deserted bar.

"They're having a meeting." Scarlett soon answered, leaning her small frame against the bar, dressed in a simple pink shirt frock, her platinum blonde hair raked up into a tight, over exaggerated ponytail that tumbled down her back in a vast spilling of sumptuous silvery-blonde.

Verity paused for a moment - 'they'?

"Someone else here other than Arthur?" The newly recruited singer asked, earning a scorning look from Scarlett.

"Tommy." She answered in an obvious tone, "and Eli Valentine." Scarlett added, raising her brows in a manner that would indicate caution.

"Who is Eli Valentine?" Verity asked, feeling as if she was treading into dangerous waters. Part of her didn't wish to know - anyone linked to the Shelby's wasn't exactly going to be the sweetest of people.

However the other half of her felt she needed to know. She needed to know how to play her cards right, and keep herself safe.

"He's big for fraudulent activities here in London." Scarlett said, in a surprisingly dismissive tone. "I don't know the full details - Arthur knows more." The blonde girl explained, pushing herself up onto the edge of the bar as her legs swung passively in her knee High suede boots that suited her down to a t. Scarlett always seemed to be wearing things Verity had never seen on other women before. She respected her unique style.

"All I know his he doesn't like Tommy's other friend... Alfie. Those two don't mix well." She seemed to laugh fondly as if it was some small humorous petty fighting - when in reality Verity was acutely aware that Tommy Shelby didn't tangle in a world with men who fought like children. He dabbled in the dangerous of men with weapons far sharper than their tongues.

Verity didn't seem to want to ask anymore, and timing seemed to be with her as those double doors at the far side of the room swung far open.

"Tah for allowing me the time to pop in, Mr Shelby." The man who Verity could only guess was Eli Valentine said, striding our first with a smoking cigarette in his mouth. His dark hair was slicked back cleanly across his head, his facial features angled and sharp. He was dressed impeccably in an all black suit, even the leather shoes he donned shone like diamonds in a cavern.

As he walked his way across the room towards the exit, his large brown eyes caught onto Verity - and the sudden eye contact had the newly found singer caught up - her own breath lodged in her throat. There was something about his stare that was so dark and dangerous, yet he flashed the most charming smile as he acknowledged her.

"Ladies." He bore a rather cool and short sounding northern accent, nodding his head to Scarlett also before taking his abrupt leave. The smallest interaction had Verity feeling rather intimidated.

Sinking slowly back into the room, she turned to face the now open double doors to the private room where Tommy and Arthur had newly emerged from.

Of course Arthur made a bee-line straight to Scarlett, who had remained perched on the bar like the sweetest songbird. The way the pair looked at each other surely should have been enough indication for them both of how each party had respectively been feeling.

"What did Eli want?" Scarlett asked, brushing a stray strand of rigid gelled hair out of Arthur's face whilst she smiled at him with intrigue.

"It's not your business to worry about our business, love." Tommy soon interjected before Arthur could say a word, a subtle but domineering way of Tommy letting his brother know not to divulge the contents of the meeting to Scarlett.

"Thomas Shelby you really are no fun." Scarlett sighed, cupping Arthur's face momentarily before she slid down from the bar-top, her heels clicking off the tiles that lay just beneath it.

"It's not my job to be the entertaining one, is it?" He remarked back with the slightest hint of a smug smirk, throwing his signature cap back onto his head as a freshly lit cigarette hung unsecurely from his lips.

Scarlett approached the Blinder with a sarcastic chuckle, standing just short of him - Verity only could imagine how tiny she'd be without her huge heels.

"You should be, you're constantly making wise cracks." She smiled, helping herself to his silver case that was always filled plentifully with cigarettes. She eagerly plucked herself one from the case, and Arthur was there in a heart beat to light it for her.

"Changing the subject," Tommy suddenly started after a small drag, clearing his throat. He looked to Verity, who felt as if she'd very much been withdrawn from the situation over the last few minutes.

"I hear you've been performing in the same dress night after night." He remarked directly, and Scarlett's eyes sheepishly hit the floor, holding her cigarette elegantly between her index and middle finger. A dead giveaway that she'd been the one feeding this information back to Tommy.

Of course, Verity frowned. She was embarrassed by it, she knew this was a different world and she needed to look constantly glamorous- but she simply hadn't collated enough pay yet to go out and buy multiple fancy frocks, not to mention the jewellery and accessories to rival that of Scarlett's designer collection.

"I'm working with what I can afford right now. Which are my old function dresses." Verity defended herself curtly, her arms folded across her chest, her camel faux fur coat draped over her arms.

"I won't allow it." Tommy interjected, his cool eyes steadying on Verity's as he reached into his coat and pulled out a banded-together stack of notes. Oh how her stomach churned and pulled in sickness at the sight of that money. He offered it to her.

"No, Tommy." Verity said, shaking her head as she refused. "I can't."

"You can and you fucking will." He pressed, although his tone remained surprisingly level despite the profanity. "Take it." His hand shook the cash as if to make a point. "Go and get yourself the things you need to do your job effectively."

She had to scoff at that line - it wasn't exactly along the same lines as a worker going out to buy tools for his toolbox.

Verity showed no sign of caving, feeling uncomfortable about accepting any sort of significant amount of cash - especially from Tommy.

"God, is it really that difficult?" Scarlett huffed,  reaching out and snatching the money from Tommy as she marched towards the stage where she had left her designer bag and coat.

"I won't give her a choice, Tommy." Scarlett smiled sickeningly sweetly, stuffing the money safely into her back and throwing on her exuberant looking coat, with its fur collar and sleeves trim. Scarlett offered out her arm to link, taking up Verity's before the woman could get a word on edge ways.

"We will see you later!" Scarlett cooed in her sing song accent, marching both herself and a rather reluctant Verity out of the club door and into the bustling heart of the city.

-

The uncomfortable feeling didn't settle, even as the two ladies went through racks of fine clothing in a beautiful Prada shop. Verity felt sick to the stomach, she hated borrowing money at the best of times but - something about it being from Tommy made her wonder whether he would expect some kind of returned favour in the future. She never liked to feel indebted to anybody.

"You look like you've seen a ghost." Scarlett said, peeking over a set of clothing rails at Verity who tried to play it cool, despite knowing she had been ratted out.

"I'm..." she sighed, deciding putting up a front to hide it all was a silly idea. She'd cave eventually.

"I'm just not comfortable accepting money from people like that. Especially Tommy." Verity mumbled, picking out a gorgeous silk white dress to distract herself from the conversation.

"Why do you say 'especially Tommy'?" Scarlett pressed, her dark eyes looking up to find Verity's hazel ones. "You're not... afraid of him are you?"

"I've heard stories about what he's done in the past." She replied hastily, "and I don't want to think that he feels gifting me gives him the right to control me." She followed up with a sigh, not feeling it was wise to discuss any further. Could she really trust Scarlett? Who was so close with Arthur?

It seemed however, Scarlett was only looking to help. Not to stir up trouble.

"You know he's giving you money because he likes you, right?" She laughed, making Verity look up at her with a grimace.

"Don't be silly. You heard him - he just wants me to look the part so it earns him and Arthur more money." Verity dismissed, shaking her head as she looked through more items of expensive clothing.

"It's not just that, Verity. He clearly sees something in you." Scarlett explained, "I'm no doctor or anything but... he acts different towards you." She smiled innocently, "maybe give him a chance? Let your guard down a bit, before making your mind up about him." She advised, making Verity's mind churn and scramble with this confused onslaught of emotions.

"After all, I know those Shelby boys," She smiled, her brown eyes blazing cheekily.

"Trust me, their bark is worse than their bite."