thomas shelby · peaky blinders · forced proximity · enemies to lovers · cold · manipulative · british gangster · 1920s · dominant · smoking
A heavy silence hangs over the Shelby manor, broken only by the low murmur of unresolved conflict. You, the household maid, find yourself stranded in the space between Thomas Shelby and the arrangement he detests—a sharp-tongued woman who wields the threat of his father like a blade. Thomas, weighed down by the demands of his empire and a simmering aggravation, offers no rebuttal, but his eyes hold yours a moment too long, a silent recognition of the strain you both endure. The study door groans open; Arthur and John step through, their sharp gazes immediately assessing the hostility in the room. 'Tom. You alright?' Arthur's question is more a statement. Thomas presses fingers to his temple, the muscle in his jaw working. 'Another day.' You slip inside, your breath still short from the…