Birmingham, 1919
Gathering

Anne enters the house and Aunt Julie welcomes her. “Evening is ready, Miss.”

“Good,” Anne directly walked into the dining room, and the view like this morning was visible. It's just that with a different menu and the clothes that William and Charlotte are wearing that have changed.

William's face was more relaxed than this morning. Apparently Charlotte has done her job as a lover well. Anne pointed her wine glass at Charlotte, a sign of gratitude. The understanding Charlotte smiled knot.

“Ahm..” William cleared his throat.

Anne and Charlotte continue to eat dinner. Dinner was over and Anne prepared to return to her room.

“Wait, Anne. There's something I want to talk to you about.”

Anne sat down and waited for what William would say.

"It's time you joined the family business" William said.

Anne was confused to respond, all this time William forbade her from being involved in the family business, then suddenly she changed her mind like that. "Well, what a surprise."

"But in a different way" added William, and his serious expression re-emerged.

"You mean?"

"Yesterday, you know me and the Blinders were negotiating and in the end I had no choice but to follow the offer from The Blinders."

Anne's feelings turned into unpleasant feelings. "What offer?"

"Political marriage."

Anne still doesn't understand.

"With this marriage, the two camps will make peace and there will be no more bloodshed. The Blinders won't mess up our market anymore. And all will return to peace as ever. Sure that's better, isn't it?" said William.

"certain. But who are you getting married to? What about Charlotte?" anne asked, glancing at Charlotte who was also tense to hear William's words.

"I'm not married."

Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief, but not Anne. His life was taken from his body.

"You're going to marry Thomas Scott, the leader of The Blinders" Wiliam said.

Anne got up while pounding the table. 'BRAK!'

"You want to sell me to the mafia? You have so much heart!" shout Anne.

Anne stared intently at the solemnity of both of William's jet-black eyeballs.

"You must accept this match, Annie! This is for the sake of peace, there will be no more blood battles after this. I promise," he said, firmly.

All of Anne's emotions were mixed up so she didn't know what to answer. Angry, sad, hurt, not accepting mixed into one. But she knew, she would not be able to refute what her brother ordered. After both of their parents died, she was the only person Anne had to obey in this world. Anne obviously rejected this match.

"What about George?" he screamed in his heart.

Although her brother said George was a weak man for Anne. But Anne liked the softness of her heart. Now, his brother will match him to a Birmingham mob boss who is clear of his status as a mob leader, he will have no gentleness.

"Before I say ready, I want to meet the man first" he said in the end. William nodded too.

Anne left the dining room irritatedly and entered the room. "Nurrkk!" his yell.

"Thomas Scott, will I remember that name as the bearer of my happiness!" mumbling Anne.

When she thought of George, she shed her tears.

***

"Darling, are you really gonna hand your sister over to The Blinders?" charlotte said from behind William's back, stroking the back of her field lover.

"Are you sure Anne will be happy with Thomas?"

William pensive. Her sister was the only precious responsibility her parents had given her. If she does not follow the offer, she fears that Anne's life will be forever threatened. Although she was not sure Anne would be happy with Thomas, she was confident Anne would be safe under Thomas's watch.

***

Charlotte's in Anne's room tonight. They both wear night dresses with their best makeup. William invited Thomas to dinner at this house. This was the first meeting between the two of them.

"Anne are you okay?" tanya Charlotte held onto Anne's shoulder and looked at her through the glass of the dresser.

Anne who sat at the pensive dressing table.

"How am I alright, I will be sold by my own brother to the enemy."

"I understand, but maybe your brother means well."

"Hem.. mean well? Oh yeah, to save business of course," sardonic Anne.

"Not that. William thinks, if you're under Thomas's watch, you'll be safe" Charlotte's trying to change the situation.

"Maybe I shouldn't have been born into this family. If my brother wasn't a mobster, I'd never be threatened."

"It could be that you'll be happy with Thomas."

"How can I be happy with someone I don't love? I better elope with George..."

"Akh!" Charlotte's surprised. "Are you still in touch with George?"

Anne looked at Charlotte and nodded.

"Anne, if your brother finds out about it, George could be threatened! Get rid of your bad thoughts to elope with George! You'll be caught wherever you go. And you know the ending, whose life will be lost. Surely not your life."

Anne breathed a heavy sigh.

'TUK TUK TUK!'

Aunt Julie came out the door.

"Miss, dinner is ready and guests have arrived" said Aunt Julie.

"Well," said Charlotte. "Come on Anne."

Anne stared from behind the window curtains, looking crowded outside. Two mafia camps with guns ready, stand guard in the yard of his house.

Charlotte went down first, then Anne. William and a man with a distinctive Blinders haircut in a dark blue suit. His expression was so calm, even William who looked tense. But from that calmness, felt a pitch-black aura from his gaze. Have you ever been on a boat? when the ocean is calm, be prepared for a storm to come. That's what Anne feels right now.

"This is Charlotte, my beloved," William said, then greeted by a nod of Thomas's head.

"And this is my sister, Maria Anne," said William.

Anne looked at Thomas boldly. "I won't look weak in your eyes" Anne said in her heart.

Thomas smiled briefly then extended his hand to Anne. Anne slowly returned the hand, Thomas kissing the back of Anne's hand wearing a brocade glove.

"Thomas Scott" he said in a deep voice, like a rumble of thunder from behind a hill.

Anne swallowed her saliva.  Thomas' charisma was strong, but Anne was not yet interested in the man before her.

"Let's go to the dining room!" William and Charlotte walk first to the dining room.

Anne and Thomas were still staring at each other, and Thomas allowed Anne to walk before him.