𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟖

The sun beamed through the large window of Maeve's home. She walked through the halls, her heels echoing as they tapped along the wooden floors.

"There's more post for you, Miss Shelby." Her trusted driver said as he entered the house, envelopes in hand. She smiled softly and accepted them. "There's food on the table, feel free to go sit and eat." She offered.

He smiled gratefully and nodded before she walked off.

Maeve entered her office and allowed the door to fall closed. Her eyes quickly scanned the front of each envelope. Most of which were invitations to social gatherings.

But one stood out to her. It wasn't as neat as the others— implying that it was somebody from the office.

Maeve hummed, shrugging and throwing the pile onto her desk before standing by the window. She admired the sky whilst the sun had began rising.

Suddenly, the phone rang. "Maeve Shelby, who's speaking?" She answered, her eyes going over anything that had been written into her diary for the next few days.

"Miss Shelby— it's Denise from the exchange, we have a Miss Lillian Dean wanting to talk to you." Denise spoke with a slightly confused tone. Maeve hummed and slowly sat in her chair, "give her the number."

The line went dead for a few moments before somebody finally answered. "Maeve?"

"Hello mother," Maeve replied. "How are things?"

There was a clear smile that Maeve could hear whilst Lillian spoke. "Happy to hear you're still okay. How has New York been?"

Maeve leaned back in her chair. "No different than the last time you called me mum. Nevertheless, it's good." Maeve nodded despite Lillian being unable to see her.

The day Tommy had organised for Maeve to leave, she decided to pay her mother a visit. She thought it was only right— even though she owed the woman absolutely nothing.

The call didn't last long, it was like their typical phone call they'd have every other week. "Okay— yeah you enjoy you evening." Maeve said. She placed the phone down and glanced at the clock. Still early morning for her.

She looked back at the letters and decided she'd look at them when she could be bothered.

Maeve's life had improved majorly since her move to New York. Tommy had given her an incredibly nice house to live in. He'd given her a job, she was working in an office for a man called Jonathan Davies doing god knows what. She also had limited control over Shelby Distillery. Maeve was on medication that didn't make her feel more insane, just more relaxed. She had been seen by a doctor or two.

She was doing better.

The only thing that would get in her way from time to time would be how it went down the day she left. The way Arthur was so upset with her— the words that left Isiah's mouth.

By Maeve's request, Tommy had kept her contact information completely private. Only him and Lizzie knew how to contact her due to the fact she still had connections with Shelby Company Limited.

Did she feel guilty for leaving? Sure. But did she regret it? No.

Maeve was approaching her twenty second birthday and she was excited. She had been gone for almost four years and she was glad.

Because if she hadn't have made the decision to leave, god only knows if she'd have ever gotten better.

-

"Well if it isn't Micheal Gray," Maeve approached a table with a large smirk on her lips. The club she had entered was fancy, typical New York kind of thing. It was loud too.

A blonde woman sat beside Micheal and they both looked up. Only when he saw her face did he realise who it was.

"Maeve." He said, nodding at her. "Gina, this is my cousin Maeve." Micheal introduced her as his cousin in attempt to keep it simple. "Maeve, this is Gina."

"Well, it's lovely to meet you Gina. And lovely to see you Micheal. What has you in here tonight?" She asked, looking over her shoulder.

Micheal shrugged and sipped from his glass. "Had a busy week i suppose."

Gina was somewhat observing Maeve but she didn't care. Maeve had nothing to hide and nothing to be scared of, not anymore.

"Gorgeous ring," Gina gasped, suddenly grabbing Maeve by the hand and inspecting the diamond that sat on her finger. Maeve swallowed hard and nodded at the engagement ring that sat on her finger.

"You're married?" Micheal asked with a warm smile. Maeve took a breath. "Engaged." She corrected. Micheal nodded in approval and hummed. "Who's the lucky man?" He asked in a teasing way.

Maeve bit her tongue before speaking. "Jonathan Davies— you may know him. He's got quite the name here in New York, he's a successful man." She said.

Maeve was engaged to her boss.

"Let me get you something to drink before I go attend the business I had came here for." Maeve offered. Micheal and Gina looked at each other before shrugging. "Only if you're offering— and if you don't have a blade or gun in your purse." He joked.

Maeve let out a breathy laughed. "Please, I carry both." She retorted. Gina's face dropped. "I'm kidding, Gina." Maeve's tone changed.

Micheal raised an eyebrow. "Been gone from Birmingham for years and yet you still have your same attitude and humour." He said.

She shrugged. "What can I say? Suppose it runs within the Shelby blood. You can take the girl out of the city but you can't take the city out of the girl." She said. Micheal chuckled and raised his empty glass.

Once Maeve had gotten the pair a refill of drinks, she went and accompanied two men who had arranged to meet her on behalf of Shelby Distillery. One was dark haired, the other older with grey hair.

"Miss Shelby," the older one stood to shake her hand, his thick New York accent catching her off guard. She shook his hand and sat opposite them.

"Mr Gomez." Maeve sat straight, trying to seem as professional as possible. "What is it that you wanted to meet about tonight?"

The conversation consisted of the three agreeing on a deal for Shelby whiskey and gin to begin being sold in the Gomez family bars and clubs. Nothing new, she'd done this before.

Just before the conversation came to an end, somebody approached the table and leaned down beside her ear. "There's a phone call for you." The server said quietly.

Maeve tried her best not to roll her eyes and just nodded. Clearing her throat, she stood. "I apologise but i've got something to do— i'll have the contracts sent over as soon as possible and once you're ready you can send them back to Mr Davies."

They didn't argue. Maeve followed the server into a back room of the club. The Shelby name was well known in parts of America due to the Liquor business they had running. And most bars seemed to know Maeve's name.

"Speaking?" She held the phone to her ear.

"Hello Maeve." Tommy's voice came from the other end. She groaned loudly and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Uncle Tommy— what a pleasure it is to hear from you! What is it you want?" She quickly turned from the sarcastic niceness to an upfront tone.

Tommy scoffed. "Is that any way to speak to the man that has given you your new life?"

"Forgive me, uncle." She sighed. "But please enlighten me as to what it was that was so important it needed to intervene a business meeting." She said, looking down at the diamond that was shining in the light. Tommy took a breath. 

"You're coming back, Maeve. I've already booked your flights and what not but something has came up and we need you home." He admitted. Her heart quickened and she grew annoyed. "You said i'd never have to go back if I didn't want to."

"Yes i know but— i've got a plan."

A loud, pathetic laugh escaped her mouth and she slammed a hand into the table. "A plan!? Tommy fucking Shelby has a plan!"

"Maeve."

"Sorry— do go on..how's John and the kids?" Maeve asked quickly. Tommy took a breath in attempt to remain calm. "John is good. After Esme went back on the road with the Lee's, she soon came back to take the kids."

"Oh well that ain't good is it."

"Maeve." He warned again. She grinned to herself. "Sorry— continue."

"I'm going to be arranging a family meeting. There's matters that need to be discussed. And coincidentally, you'll just happen to walk into the room whilst it's going on." He said. Maeve raised her eyebrows, trying to envision the whole thing in her head. "And what's the point in that?"

"Nobody will fucking suspect a thing. You coming back will make everyone start listening again— it'll give them a reason to be on their guard."

"My family needs to be on their guard around me? God, Tommy, am I some sort of monster."

"No but they've not seen the new Maeve Shelby, have they? Therefore they won't know what to expect." He continued. Maeve hummed as she finally understood what he wanted to happen. "I'm guessing everybody has gone off their heads and ain't doing their jobs no more?"

"You could say that." Tommy agreed.

"Speak to my accountant and get her to write all the details down for when i'm set to fly back. Be expecting me Tommy." Maeve said, not waiting for him to reply before slamming the phone down.

"Fucking Tommy Shelby is back at it again." She sighed.

-

Tommy sat in his office, picking up the phone for the third time. "Evening brother," he greeted. Arthur grunted. "The fuck do you want?"

"I'm calling a family meeting at Arrow House on Friday. I want you and Linda there— it's important." Tommy told him. Arthur frowned. "How important?"

"Important enough that I want you both there, Arthur. Do you understand or do you need me to spell it out to you?" Tommy hissed.

"You've been speaking to her haven't you?" Arthur scoffed, referring to Maeve but refusing to say her name. "I can tell by the way you're talkin, brother."

"What I do when it comes to your daughter doesn't concern you anymore, Arthur. Shes apart of the company." Tommy defended. "And incase you had forgot, her name is Maeve. Maeve Lillian Shelby and she's your daughter, not some enemy that we made along the way. Accept that she needed a break— it was four years ago, Arthur. You need to let it go."

"Fuck you." Was all Arthur said before slamming the phone down.

The only reason Arthur didn't say anything else was because he knew his brother was right. And he hated it.

Tommy sighed and flicked through some last minute paper work before getting ready to lock up the office. His niece was coming back. The Queen who sat beside him on his blood throne would be making a return.

And if it was for the better or worse, he couldn't tell. All he knew was that Maeve Shelby coming back would make everybody sleep with one eye open.

And that's exactly what he wanted.

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i apologise for any grammar or spelling mistakes i didnt proofread this.