Birmingham, 1919
Old Love

After lunch Anne was unable to focus on her work. He was still thinking about George's sudden arrival. She longs to take the time to meet him and pour out all her heart, but somehow and how she can steal the time from Thomas and his family. His heart was pounding, his adrenaline was rising. It feels like I'm having an affair.

But I don't know if her feelings for George are the same or not. What is clear is that she is still afraid that George will be killed, at this time not afraid of being killed by her brother, William, but her husband, Thomas. Even though he and Thomas are not living an actual married life.

***

Today is a holiday. During the holidays, Scott's family members did not get together. They do their own personal activities. Thomas sometimes hunted or rode, while Anne painted on the balcony.

"You're not going?" anne asked Thomas who was sitting in the reading room.

Thomas shakes. "No. I have an appointment today to meet someone."

Anne scrunched her forehead. "Who?"

"George Lincoln."

The deg!

"What business is it?"

Thomas looked at Anne. "Business."

Even though she knows George is Anne's old love, she won't bring it up. Let Anne tell her herself. But since the meeting two days ago, Anne told me nothing.

"Business "business" or whiskey business?" Anne gave a quotation mark for her dark business.

"Wiskey."

Anne nodded.

"You? What are you gonna do? To welcome guests?"

Anne could not have sat between Thomas and George. He was afraid he could not hide his emotions.

"I'll paint on the balcony."

"All right."

Anne went to her studio on the second floor. There he stared at the large mirror attached to the studio wall. Slowly he caught his breath. He soon heard the sound of a car coming. Soon Anne opened the window and walked towards the balcony to see who was coming.

An ash-colored bentley car was scattered in his courtyard. After the sound of the machine ended, a man in a shirt and trousers with a casual look and blond hair appeared. The man stared at the balcony where Anne was standing looking at him.

George smiled. But that smile cannot be defined by Anne. Before long looking at each other, George went into the house and was immediately invited by the waiter to Thomas' office.

"Welcome, Mr. Lincoln!" father Thomas then shook hands with each other.

"Ah, call me George. Maybe I'm younger than you Mr. Scott" George said, replying to the hand.

"Call me Thomas then" Thomas let George sit down on his side.

Anne exits her studio and approaches Thomas's study to eavesdrop. Nothing is heard from outside. It seemed that the large wooden door was too thick to be able to steal a listen.

A while later a waiter came over with an alcohol trolley.

"Excuse me, madam."

"Let me just."

"Ah, no Madam. Later Master rebuked me," subtly refused the servant.

"Ah, apparently our guest has arrived" Anne said with a smile.

"Didn't I refuse to sit between these two men? Then why did you suddenly come like this! Stupid!" admonish Anne in the heart.

"You came for the whiskey we made, didn't you?" Anne poured whiskey into the glass and gave it to George first.

Thomas was starting to feel uncomfortable looking at the sight. Not to forget Anne also poured a glass for Thomas and another glass for him.

George gulped down his whiskey and tasted it. "Yes, whiskey is like this."

"Well, how many barrels do you need?" ask Anne, then sit across from Thomas and George.

'TOK TOK'

The waiter interrupts.

"Sorry Mr Scott, there's a call for Mr" he said.

Thomas took a sip of the whiskey, then looked at Anne. Actually, she didn't want to leave Anne with George there, but what can I do.

"Excuse me" Thomas said, then exited the room.

Anne and George were in the room. Anne stowed her glass hard on the table, then looked at George with an annoyed look.

"Tell me what do you mean to suddenly appear before me like this!" anne said with a volume of sound held back.

"I? Business" said George, responding to Anne withholding all emotions.

Anne stands. "Lied!"

George kept the glass, then stood in front of Anne. "Want to?"

"I don't know."

George held both of Anne's hands and looked at the woman before him with a deep gaze. "You know what I mean, Anne. I've come to take you."

Anne shook her hand. "Too late! I've been Thomas Scott's wife! Now you're not just going to die by my brother, but by Thomas!"

"I'm not scared! I'm different now. I have the power now."

'Tap Tap'

The sound of footsteps came closer. Anne immediately moved away from George. Before leaving, George whispered something. "Tomorrow at nine o'clock in the morning by the lake near here, I'll meet you."

"Ah, sorry to wait!" Thomas's coming.

George was back in his chair, and so was Anne. Thomas noticed Anne's changed expression.

George stand. "Well, my secretary will make a letter of agreement for our cooperation. I'll try to finish this week."

George said goodbye and left. Thomas looked at Anne who was still silent.

"Is there anything you want to talk about?" ask Thomas.

Anne shook her head, then moved out of the room.

***