Post by matt on Jan 9, 2023 6:49:03 GMT -6
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Miami, Florida
Off Camera
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Up until a few days ago everything had been going very smooth for Glory Braddock. Her career was blossoming yet again as The British Bombshell was MWE World Champion and she had recently advanced to the semi-finals of the SCW Trios Tournament alongside her randomly assigned tag team partners Josh Hudson and Chance Owens. Even her personal life had improved; she had overcome the painful sorrow of losing her mother by choosing instead to embrace what most would consider insanity. Yet what most would call insanity, Glory Braddock calls it a beautiful fantasy that acts as a numbing agent, to numb the painful and sorrowful losses she has endured in recent years. Instead of dwelling on the death of her mother, she simply returned to the arms of her eccentric mentor, Aphrodite Noel. Glory had once rejected Aphrodite’s advanced when she wanted Glory for a daughter. Doing so would have proven dangerous to Glory’s standing within her company, a company that greatly distrusted Noel. But Glory wanted something to ease the pain more than anything else. If she can live out a life as Aphrodite’s daughter, if she can convince herself that this fantasy is true, then perhaps her pain will be over. And a life without pain or sorrow is more important to Glory than her company.
Now a new threat to her position of power in the corporate empire she has built looms threateningly ahead; but this comes not from her newfound relationship with Aphrodite Noel. That still a remains a secret to the general public and to her corporate board of directors. The new threat to Braddock’s power and position comes from a prominent member of the Board of Directors; a man named Floyd Ryan. Glory Braddock heard from Floyd himself that there is a plot to overthrow The British Bombshell, to remove her from power within her own company. Ordinarily Glory would have ignored such rumors as just that; rumor. But Floyd is one of the few Board members that has always remained loyal to Braddock. Why would he lie to her? Plus, there is the fact that it has happened before.
When Braddock first involved herself with Aphrodite, when she first allowed Aphrodite to mentor her, the Board of Directors, under the guidance of Henry Van Stanton, moved to remove her from power due to the fact that they believed Aphrodite was too big an influence in Glory’s life. Braddock had to distance herself from Aphrodite just to regain power. This talk of another hostile takeover has Glory’s paranoia and PTSD returning with a vengeance. Did members of the board learn about Glory’s renewed relationship with Aphrodite and are now using that as an excuse to remove her from power? It would make sense and they have the perfect time to do it, especially since a member of the founding family, the Alan family, is a minority shareholder of the company. That individual is another player in this corporate game of thrones and her name is Aurora Alan.
It is Floyd’s belief that board members are plotting to try and remove Glory from power and make Aurora Alan the one singular person in charge of the company, much like how they removed her in the past and put Henry Van Stanton in charge. All of this makes sense to Glory’s paranoid mind. It makes sense that they corrupt schemers within her company would plot against her. But something about Floyd Ryan doesn’t feel right to her. The mere fact that he has sent his niece, Jamie Ryan, to seemingly be the messenger between herself and Floyd is problematic enough as it is. Then Aurora Alan herself, who Glory believes to be an honest businesswoman despite her brother’s own bad reputation, recently informed Glory that Floyd and his niece Jamie have connections to organized crime.
Now Glory is faced with a dilemma. She is convinced someone is plotting against her, but who? Is it Aurora Alan or is it Floyd Ryan? Who is the one laying the trap? In the past, The British Bombshell would have used her own judgment to decide her next move. But she no longer trusts her own judgment. She needs guidance from her mentor…now her mother…Aphrodite Noel.
We open inside the living room of Glory Braddock’s Miami home. Aphrodite is sitting on the plush luxury cream colored sofa. Braddock then enters carrying two glasses of wine. Glory is wearing a mauve blush a-line puff sleeve mini dress and sandals with a low heel. Her long blonde hair hangs straight and unrestrained to past the shoulders. Braddock approaches Noel and hands her a glass of wine.
“Thank you, Gloria.” Aphrodite says as she immediately begins sipping on her wine.
“It is the least I could do, mother. Thank you for coming on such short notice. I will have to catch a flight to Toronto today in order to make the SCW End of the Year Show.”
“Yes, you did seem rather insistent that we talk. I would have thought that you would be more concerned about your appearance on that End of the Year Battle Royal? Your MWE World Title defense against Tiff? Or perhaps the remainder of the SCW Trios Tournament?” Aphrodite asks. Glory nods her head before sitting down next to her ‘mother’ and sipping on her own glass of wine.
“All of that is on my mind, mother. But I am not concerned about my wrestling career because I am currently at the top of my game. I am a world champion in MWE and soon I will win the Trios Tournament in SCW to further advance my cause, my career, and give me the power to make any match I want. I will have anything I want and I know I can make it happen. That isn’t what bothers me.”
“Then what troubles you?” Aphrodite asks. Glory takes another sip of her wine before setting the glass down. She sighs.
“When I first set foot into the corporate world, I had people challenging my power on all fronts. They knew I was weak and vulnerable, all because I had no clue how to navigate the cruel and rough waters of the corporate world. Then you came along. You taught me everything I needed to know about how to run a business, how to succeed as a powerful female executive. Your guidance helped me survive those tough challenges to my position of power. Little did I know that the one successful coup against me would come from within my own company.”
“I recall.” Aphrodite nods her head. “Your company did not approve of our…relationship.”
“Correct, and they used that as an excuse to take executive power away from me and just out of spite they handed it to my family’s arch rival Henry Van Stanton.”
“But you have learned so much since then, my daughter.” Aphrodite says, patting Glory on the back. “You staged your own hostile takeover and regained power. You kicked the Van Stanton influence out of your company.” Noel grins. “I was a proud mother.”
“Thank you, mother, but I cannot rest on my laurels. Another threat has risen.”
“Really?” Aphrodite furrows her brow curiously. “Do tell.”
“That’s the problem.” Glory shrugs her shoulders. “I do not know the source of the threat. All I know is that someone somewhere is plotting against me.” Glory has a crazed look on her face. Aphrodite can see this and consoles her with a hug.
“Calm yourself, Gloria. Just calm yourself and tell your mother everything.”
“Very well.” Braddock sighs deeply as she reaches over and takes her wine glass back. She takes a sip to try and calm her nerves. “It began with Floyd Ryan.”
“I remember you mentioning him. He is on your board of directors, isn’t he?” Noel asks. Glory nods her head.
“Yes, he is. He has been a supporter of mine for a long time so when he came to me informing me of a plot by rogue members of the board to overthrow me and replace me just as they did once before when they replaced me with Henry Van Stanton…when I heard all of that, I took the threat very seriously. He and his niece, Jamie Ryan, believe that these board members want to replace me with the minority shareholder, Aurora Alan. And it does make sense because these rogue board members, according to Floyd and Jamie, are all fiercely loyal to Aurora’s family, the same family that originally founded my company.”
“It sounds to me like your problem is Ms. Alan.”
“That’s what I thought. But then I received news from Aurora herself that a member of my board of directors has ties to organized crime. Guess which board member she is referring to?”
“Floyd?”
“Exactly.” Glory sighs deeply. “You see my problem, mother? I am certain that a faction within my own company is plotting against me. I just do not know who is leading this faction…is Aurora the leader, or is Floyd the leader?”
“It does appear that you have quite the dilemma on your hands, my child.” Aphrodite says as she takes another sip of her wine.
“That’s why I need your guidance. I feel that I need to support someone. Do I heed Aurora’s warnings and turn Floyd and his niece Jamie over to the authorities for their ties to organized crime? Or do I go along with Floyd and whatever plan he has concocted hoping that he is sincere about helping me?”
“Aurora Alan…doesn’t she have an older brother and an older sister, Matthew and Jennifer Alan, both of whom have been in trouble with the FBI for white collar crimes? And wasn’t it Matthew himself who first challenged your authority in the company?”
“Yes.” Braddock nods her head. “Matthew has always believed that the company rightfully belongs to him, yet it was his own bad business decisions that nearly bankrupted the company back in 2003. He always hated the fact that it was me who was able to salvage it and save it in 2012. His younger sister Jennifer hasn’t been much better. But Aurora has always struck me as honest and trustworthy. I believe her when she says Floyd has ties to organized crime.”
“That doesn’t mean she isn’t coming after you.” Aphrodite points out. “Hostile takeovers can be done legally, you know?”
“True. But if Floyd does have ties to organized crime, do I want to get involved in that?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time. Didn’t you once have the assistance of one Meagan Collins, who herself was arrested and charged with such crimes?”
“Yes but I had no idea she had those connections. Otherwise I never would have worked with her.”
“Well then, let me ask you this; has Floyd or his niece Jamie ever done anything to make you doubt or question their loyalty to you?”
“Never.” Glory answers emphatically with a shake of her head. “But…”
“But what?”
“...something about this feels off. Call it a gut feeling, call it a hunch, but something about what he’s been doing bothers me.”
“What do you mean?” Noel arches her brow out of curiosity. “What has he done?”
“I know for a fact that Floyd is trying to make a bid for the position of Chairman of the Board. In fact, his niece Jamie has been sending me all of these extravagant gifts. The most recent is this diamond necklace I’m wearing today.”
“Ah, I see.” She gazes at it and smiles. “It does look lovely.”
“I’ve been invited to dinner with the two of them. I’ve been specifically asked to bring no one else.”
“Not even your husband?”
“Not even Kurt.”
“That does sound odd.” Aphrodite admits.
“So what should I do, mother? Should I accept this invitation and play along with their game, whatever it is? Should I side with Aurora and tell her what they’re planning?”
“I see that you do have quite a problem, my child.” Aphrodite finishes the last of her wine and then sets the glass down. “Just remember one of the many lessons I taught you about being a successful businesswoman. Sometimes you have to play politics, dirty politics even. Sometimes you have to make allies with people you dislike or distrust. Just remember that above all else who you are really doing this for?” She holds up one finger. “Number one.”
“Myself.”
“That’s right. At least one of them is lying to you, I’m certain of it. Perhaps both are lying to you? Whatever your next move is, Gloria, make sure that move is what is best for YOU…and you alone. It doesn’t matter what is best for Aurora or Floyd. What matters is what is best for you.”
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Miami, Florida
Off Camera
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About two hours have passed since Glory Braddock met with her mentor now mother Aphrodite Noel to get advice on how to proceed with the very difficult and challenging situation facing her. The British Bombshell is facing what is most certainly a hostile takeover by a faction within her own company. The only question is who is behind it and who can she trust? She is almost certain minority shareholder Aurora Alan or board member Floyd Ryan is behind it. She just isn’t sure which one. She also does not trust either one of them. Lately, with as paranoid as Braddock has been, she doesn’t feel as if she can really trust anyone, especially not in the cutthroat world of business. Still, it is a certainty that if Glory just sits back and does nothing, something bad will happen. Someone will make a move against her. The British Bombshell knows that she must make a move, she must make a decision and she must make that decision sooner rather than later. Lucky for Braddock, she has the guidance of Aphrodite. Her ‘mother’ did not tell her exactly what to do, but the advice she did receive was sound and it did help her determine what her next move will be. Glory Braddock must make a move that is in her best interest alone. And she knows exactly what to do. She knows what truly is in her best interest when it comes to Aurora Alan and Floyd Ryan.
This is what brings the beautiful blonde out to a small cafe in Miami, Florida. Braddock still needs to catch a flight to Toronto for an SCW event, but this cafe happens to be on her way and she can make a pit stop to talk to none other than Jamie Ryan, Floyd’s niece who happens to still be in Miami after visiting with Glory just a couple of days ago.
Braddock, still dressed in that same outfit from earlier, is approaching a small white table outside on the patio seating area of this cafe. This is the same cafe where Glory met with Jamie back in July. And as she approaches the small white table, she spots Jamie also approaching. The young black haired woman is wearing green shorts, a matching green tanktop, and flip flops. Jamie is sporting a friendly smile as she waves at Glory.
“Hi, Glory! I didn’t expect to see you so soon!”
“I’ll be honest, mate, I didn’t expect you to still be in town.” Glory answers back. “I thought you would have already went back to Charlotte?”
“What can I say? I’m an optimist and I was optimistic that you would come to a decision about my uncle’s invitation. Have you?”
“Perhaps.” Glory won’t say anything more right now. First she motions for Jamie to sit. Jamie sits and then so does Glory. “First, this cannot take long. I have a flight to catch. So order something if you want but I’m having nothing because I won’t be staying.”
“Fair enough.” Jamie says. A server comes by with a pen and notepad. Jamie looks up at her. “Coffee, black. Nothing for my friend here.” The server nods and walks off. “Now then, shall we get down to business? I know you have tons of wrestling commitments to keep. You have that Trios Tournament coming up, don’t ya?”
“Let’s be real, ok Ms. Ryan?” Glory rolls her eyes. “You do not care about me or my wrestling career. All you and your uncle need me for is support. You need my support for his bid to become chairman of the board. Am I right?”
“We do care about you! And I think you care about us too…” Jamie points to Glory’s neck, specifically the diamond necklace Jamie bought “...you’re wearing the gift I bought you, I see!”
“It is beautiful, I have to admit it.”
“Only the best for you. I have always admired you and my uncle has always been a supporter of yours on the board of directors.”
“Then why would he stand by and allow a coup against me?” Glory asks with a hint of anger.
“He was not part of that coup that removed you from power years ago. He was as upset about it as you were. That’s why this time he took initiative. When he heard the talk about another such coup, he wanted to let you know ahead of time so that you could prepare to fight back and keep that injustice from happening.”
“I’m sure he has a brilliant plan already mapped out in his mind to keep it from happening, eh?” Glory smirks. “My only question is, why do I have to go to Charlotte alone to hear about it? Why couldn’t he call me? Why couldn’t he come down here to see me? Obviously he has no problem sending you down here to run his errands.”
“Who knows what his problem is?” Jamie says, laughing lightly and shrugging her shoulders. “My uncle doesn’t tell me everything about his business dealings.”
“So you’re telling me you don’t even know what he wants to say to me?”
“Not a clue.” Jamie shakes her head. “But I do trust my uncle. And I think you do too.”
“Trust?” Glory scoffs. “Shows how little you know about business. You cannot trust anyone in business. Even your closest of friends and allies will stab you in the back for a piece of power. Do I trust your uncle? No. I don’t even trust the people I personally hired to work for me. But I’ll tell you what, Jamie. Your uncle has been steadfastly loyal to me from the very start. Your uncle was opposed to the initial hostile takeover against me. Both of those facts are true. So I will give you the benefit of a doubt.”
“You’ll come to Charlotte? You’ll have dinner with us?”
“Yes.” Braddock nods her head. “But on my time. Your uncle may have dictated the place and the terms, but I will dictate the time.”
“That’s fair.”
“That’s good to know.” Glory stands up. “Because I will call Floyd myself and let him know when I will be there. I will see him when I am damn good and ready. Are we clear, Jamie?”
“Crystal.” Jamie says with a sly wink at Glory, who just rolls her eyes in response. With that Glory Braddock turns and walks away. She doesn’t see the confidence oozing from Jamie Ryan. But Jamie doesn’t see the smirk on Glory’s face, either. The British Bombshell started this day not sure if she was capable of making the right decision. Now she has made a decision and she is certain that it was the right one; a decision in her best interest.
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Charlotte, NC
Off Camera
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The End of the Year Special has come and gone. Glory Braddock made an impressive showing but she still came up short in the Open Invitational. The British Bombshell may have been disappointed with the outcome but at the same time she recognizes that her end game is much more important than the meaningless Open Invitational. She still has an opportunity to win her third Trios Tournament to start the new year. The Open Invitational was just a warm up to prepare her for the first Breakdown of 2023 which will be the semi-finals and finals of the Trios Tournament. The unlikely trio of Glory Braddock, Josh Hudson, and Chance Owens managed to advance past James Evans, Datura, and Polly Playtime in the quarter finals. But the path forward only gets more difficult as they must face two other teams in one night to secure the victory, one of them being the team of Kim Williams, Adam Allocco, and The One.
Before she can turn her full attention to completing the Trios Tournament, The British Bombshell must first take some of other business. Braddock has been dwelling on the rumors and talk of a plot to remove her from power within her own company. The rumors had been spread by her own supporters within the board of directors, namely Floyd Ryan. He has fingered Aurora Alan, younger sister of her company’s founder Matthew Alan, as being behind the potential coup. It makes sense, because Matthew Alan’s family has long believed that this company rightfully belongs to them. But then Aurora threw a wrench into the mix when she fingered Floyd Ryan and his family as having ties to organized crime. Could this all be a ruse by Floyd Ryan to try and gain power for himself or is Aurora Alan really trying to play politics and gain power? It is a difficult game of chess that Glory is playing and she feels as if she is in a position of check. She needs to move out of check to save herself and save the game. If she makes the wrong move then whoever her true enemy is, whether it is Aurora or Floyd, may defeat her once and for all.
After receiving advice from her best friend Sophie O’Brian as well as her ‘mother’ and mentor Aphrodite Noel, Glory Braddock has finally decided on a strategy. She finally knows what her next move shall be and unlike in previous months where her paranoia had been practically crippling her, The British Bombshell is certain that she has made the right move. There is no paranoia. Not anymore. Glory Braddock knows that this move she is about to make will end this game of chess and protect her for a long time. But this move that she is about to make begins first with a sit down dinner alongside a man that she isn’t sure she can trust, that being Floyd Ryan. She may not know if she can trust him or not, but she does know that she has to at least hear him out.
This is what brings The British Bombshell to Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a brief pit stop before she flies back up north to Boston, Massachusetts for the conclusion of the Trios Tournament. She stands covered in a large brown trenchcoat at the front door of a large, expensive and opulent estate in Charlotte. It is a home so luxurious that it even challenges the luxury of her own home in Miami. She rings the doorbell and waits patiently. The wait is not a long one. Braddock expects the door to be opened by a butler or a maid, as big as this house is it gives off the impression that the Ryans would have servants. Instead standing there in the doorway to greet The British Bombshell is Floyd’s niece, Jamie Ryan, who is wearing a Carolina blue bodycon mini dress and strappy high heeled sandals.
“There you are!” Jamie exclaims happily, embracing Glory in a friendly hug. “Uncle Floyd and I are soooooo happy you could make it! Can I take your coat?”
Glory isn’t quite sure what to make of Jamie’s enthusiasm. Braddock nods her head though and lets Jamie take the trenchcoat off of her, revealing the extravagance that The British Bombshell has on underneath. Glory is dressed in a red backless knee length sequin cocktail dress and black high heeled pumps. Jamie takes a few steps back to study Glory. She seems to have her jaw drop in awe.
“You look drop dead gorgeous, lady!” Jamie exclaims.
“I appreciate the compliment, Jamie, but I am a busy woman, and I am certain that your uncle has more pressing matters of his own. So can we get on with this dinner meeting?”
“The food is still being prepared by our staff.” Jamie states. Glory smirks; she suspected that with a home this large, Jamie’s uncle would have some staff on hand. “But if you and uncle Floyd want to go ahead and talk business then he is in his study. I can take you to him.”
“That would be nice, thank you.”
Jamie nods her head politely and motions for Glory to follow her. Jamie proceeds to lead Braddock down a long hallway. Eventually she comes to a door on the right. Jamie opens the door and steps inside, with Glory following closely behind. The British Bombshell immediately spots Floyd Ryan sitting at a large oak desk inside a room with large bookcases on all four walls. Floyd stands up upon noticing Braddock’s arrival.
“Uncle Floyd…Ms. Braddock has arrived.”
“Thank you, Jamie.” Floyd nods his head. “You may leave us.”
“Do I have to?” Jamie seems disappointed. Floyd nods his head.
“Yes. Why don’t you go check on dinner?”
“Yes, uncle.” Jamie sighs as she turns and exits the room, shutting the door behind her. Floyd approaches Braddock, who despite being pleased by Jamie’s removal is still cautious around her uncle Floyd.
“I am happy that you agreed to come and have dinner with us, Glory.” Floyd takes her hand kisses it. “May I say that you look positively ravishing?”
“Thank you. And I am grateful that you sent your niece away. I really want to get down to business and get this over with, I believe Jamie would have hindered that. No offense.”
“None taken.” Floyd chuckles softly. “I apologize for her…exuberance. She is quite enamored by you, you know?”
“I kind of figured that.” Glory says as she is led across the room towards Floyd’s desk. Glory sits down in a chair and then Floyd returns to his seat behind the desk.
“I apologize that dinner isn’t ready yet. I swear to you that it will be worth the wait. Flounder, Alaskan White and…”
“Hush.” Braddock states defiantly. “I don’t really care about dinner, Floyd. I just want to get down to business. I know something is going on because I heard it from you and from Jamie. I heard the talk about some group within the company, maybe even within the board of directors itself, wanting to remove me. And that talk isn’t the only talk I have heard lately, Floyd. So now I am here not for some pleasant dinner between good friends. I am here for the truth. Nothing more.”
“Fair enough.” Floyd nods his head. “You want the truth and you deserve it. Glory, I have always been a supporter of yours on the board of directors. You know that. Do you remember that party back in June of last year?” Glory nods her head. Floyd grins from ear to ear. “That party was my idea. I wanted to throw a party in YOUR HONOR because you deserved it.”
“It was unnecessary.”
“Oh but you are wrong. It was necessary. Who brought Global Championship Wrestling back from obscurity? You did. Who expanded our reach beyond simply wrestling to also include other outlets including modeling? You did. Who got full health coverage for EVERY SINGLE employee, part time and full time? You did. And when Matthew Alan returned and tried to retake power, who crushed him? Who kept him at bay? You did.”
“I thought the board loved him?”
“Many nostalgic idiots on the board love him, yes.” Floyd nods his head. “What they fail to see is that Matthew Alan and his family are tainted and would hurt our image. He was charged with white collar crimes. Embezzlement. He was never convicted but the stain and bad reputation remains. We cannot afford to have his family’s fingerprints on our beloved company. You got rid of him. And that group of nostalgic Matthew Alan supporters, they are nowhere near as numerous as they once were. They are just a loud, vocal, but powerful minority. But they are still a minority nonetheless. The majority of the board doesn’t even want to deal with his little sister Aurora.” He points a finger at Glory. “They would rather see you remove her and take her position as well.”
“I hate to disappoint you, Floyd, but I am not coming back.” Glory shakes her head. “I am far too busy as an active wrestler to return to my duties managing the company. That’s why I have Francis Taylor, Tabitha Silverstone, and Aurora Alan to manage things in my stead. So if you called me here to talk me into resuming my active duties as head of the company then you are wasting your time. I am not going to resume micromanaging the company.”
“That is indeed a shame. You are popular and very influential. Someone like you could really go places in a position of power.”
“What are you getting at?” Glory asks curiously.
“Let’s just say if you do not want to run the company then perhaps you could appoint someone else to run it?”
“Like you for instance.” Glory states. “I already know that you are jockeying for the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. Is that what you want? My support?”
“That and much more.” Floyd snickers. “I think you should run for Mayor of Charlotte.”
“Seriously?” Glory states. Floyd nods his head. Glory starts laughing. “You are bonkers. I have no interest in politics, mate. Besides, I don’t even have residency in Charlotte. I couldn’t run.”
“You do own a home in Charlotte.”
“But I don’t live there.” She points out. “I use it for corporate business.”
“But you still have a home in Charlotte. Rules can be bent if you know the right people and you can qualify to run. You can get your name on the ballot. Wouldn’t you like to be Mayor of Charlotte?”
“Not really.” Glory rolls her eyes. “First you wanted me to return to power in the company. When I turned that down you tell me to run for Mayor of Charlotte. What do you want from me, Floyd?”
“Look, Glory, you know that I am a businessman first and foremost. If I were to become Chairman of the Board and if I were to get to run the company, I could make it into a global powerhouse. I just need some help…political help. I need some business friendly politicians to help push through initiatives that are friendly towards our company and my…” he pauses momentarily “...my people.”
“Your people? You mean organized crime? Yes, Floyd, I know about your connections to organized crime.”
“This has nothing to do with criminal activity.” Floyd remarks. Glory notices that he never denied his involvement with organized crime. “I just need a mayor to help advance friendly business initiatives that will assistance myself and my business associates.” He grins from ear to ear. “I know you can win the mayorship. You are very popular.”
“I do not want to be mayor, Floyd.” Glory states defiantly.
“I thought you might say that. Just think it over. I know you miss the trappings of power. I remember when you once thought yourself to be royalty, a queen. Imagine being in charge of one of the largest cities in North Carolina. You could use your influence to help our company in ways you couldn’t imagine. Think of what you could do with that power.” Glory is about to answer but Floyd stops her. “Don’t answer yet, Glory. Dinner is about ready. Let’s have dinner. Then you go to your next wrestling booking. You can make your decision later. Just consider my offer.” He grins from ear to ear. “And think about you being the Mayor of Charlotte.”
Miami, Florida
Off Camera
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Up until a few days ago everything had been going very smooth for Glory Braddock. Her career was blossoming yet again as The British Bombshell was MWE World Champion and she had recently advanced to the semi-finals of the SCW Trios Tournament alongside her randomly assigned tag team partners Josh Hudson and Chance Owens. Even her personal life had improved; she had overcome the painful sorrow of losing her mother by choosing instead to embrace what most would consider insanity. Yet what most would call insanity, Glory Braddock calls it a beautiful fantasy that acts as a numbing agent, to numb the painful and sorrowful losses she has endured in recent years. Instead of dwelling on the death of her mother, she simply returned to the arms of her eccentric mentor, Aphrodite Noel. Glory had once rejected Aphrodite’s advanced when she wanted Glory for a daughter. Doing so would have proven dangerous to Glory’s standing within her company, a company that greatly distrusted Noel. But Glory wanted something to ease the pain more than anything else. If she can live out a life as Aphrodite’s daughter, if she can convince herself that this fantasy is true, then perhaps her pain will be over. And a life without pain or sorrow is more important to Glory than her company.
Now a new threat to her position of power in the corporate empire she has built looms threateningly ahead; but this comes not from her newfound relationship with Aphrodite Noel. That still a remains a secret to the general public and to her corporate board of directors. The new threat to Braddock’s power and position comes from a prominent member of the Board of Directors; a man named Floyd Ryan. Glory Braddock heard from Floyd himself that there is a plot to overthrow The British Bombshell, to remove her from power within her own company. Ordinarily Glory would have ignored such rumors as just that; rumor. But Floyd is one of the few Board members that has always remained loyal to Braddock. Why would he lie to her? Plus, there is the fact that it has happened before.
When Braddock first involved herself with Aphrodite, when she first allowed Aphrodite to mentor her, the Board of Directors, under the guidance of Henry Van Stanton, moved to remove her from power due to the fact that they believed Aphrodite was too big an influence in Glory’s life. Braddock had to distance herself from Aphrodite just to regain power. This talk of another hostile takeover has Glory’s paranoia and PTSD returning with a vengeance. Did members of the board learn about Glory’s renewed relationship with Aphrodite and are now using that as an excuse to remove her from power? It would make sense and they have the perfect time to do it, especially since a member of the founding family, the Alan family, is a minority shareholder of the company. That individual is another player in this corporate game of thrones and her name is Aurora Alan.
It is Floyd’s belief that board members are plotting to try and remove Glory from power and make Aurora Alan the one singular person in charge of the company, much like how they removed her in the past and put Henry Van Stanton in charge. All of this makes sense to Glory’s paranoid mind. It makes sense that they corrupt schemers within her company would plot against her. But something about Floyd Ryan doesn’t feel right to her. The mere fact that he has sent his niece, Jamie Ryan, to seemingly be the messenger between herself and Floyd is problematic enough as it is. Then Aurora Alan herself, who Glory believes to be an honest businesswoman despite her brother’s own bad reputation, recently informed Glory that Floyd and his niece Jamie have connections to organized crime.
Now Glory is faced with a dilemma. She is convinced someone is plotting against her, but who? Is it Aurora Alan or is it Floyd Ryan? Who is the one laying the trap? In the past, The British Bombshell would have used her own judgment to decide her next move. But she no longer trusts her own judgment. She needs guidance from her mentor…now her mother…Aphrodite Noel.
We open inside the living room of Glory Braddock’s Miami home. Aphrodite is sitting on the plush luxury cream colored sofa. Braddock then enters carrying two glasses of wine. Glory is wearing a mauve blush a-line puff sleeve mini dress and sandals with a low heel. Her long blonde hair hangs straight and unrestrained to past the shoulders. Braddock approaches Noel and hands her a glass of wine.
“Thank you, Gloria.” Aphrodite says as she immediately begins sipping on her wine.
“It is the least I could do, mother. Thank you for coming on such short notice. I will have to catch a flight to Toronto today in order to make the SCW End of the Year Show.”
“Yes, you did seem rather insistent that we talk. I would have thought that you would be more concerned about your appearance on that End of the Year Battle Royal? Your MWE World Title defense against Tiff? Or perhaps the remainder of the SCW Trios Tournament?” Aphrodite asks. Glory nods her head before sitting down next to her ‘mother’ and sipping on her own glass of wine.
“All of that is on my mind, mother. But I am not concerned about my wrestling career because I am currently at the top of my game. I am a world champion in MWE and soon I will win the Trios Tournament in SCW to further advance my cause, my career, and give me the power to make any match I want. I will have anything I want and I know I can make it happen. That isn’t what bothers me.”
“Then what troubles you?” Aphrodite asks. Glory takes another sip of her wine before setting the glass down. She sighs.
“When I first set foot into the corporate world, I had people challenging my power on all fronts. They knew I was weak and vulnerable, all because I had no clue how to navigate the cruel and rough waters of the corporate world. Then you came along. You taught me everything I needed to know about how to run a business, how to succeed as a powerful female executive. Your guidance helped me survive those tough challenges to my position of power. Little did I know that the one successful coup against me would come from within my own company.”
“I recall.” Aphrodite nods her head. “Your company did not approve of our…relationship.”
“Correct, and they used that as an excuse to take executive power away from me and just out of spite they handed it to my family’s arch rival Henry Van Stanton.”
“But you have learned so much since then, my daughter.” Aphrodite says, patting Glory on the back. “You staged your own hostile takeover and regained power. You kicked the Van Stanton influence out of your company.” Noel grins. “I was a proud mother.”
“Thank you, mother, but I cannot rest on my laurels. Another threat has risen.”
“Really?” Aphrodite furrows her brow curiously. “Do tell.”
“That’s the problem.” Glory shrugs her shoulders. “I do not know the source of the threat. All I know is that someone somewhere is plotting against me.” Glory has a crazed look on her face. Aphrodite can see this and consoles her with a hug.
“Calm yourself, Gloria. Just calm yourself and tell your mother everything.”
“Very well.” Braddock sighs deeply as she reaches over and takes her wine glass back. She takes a sip to try and calm her nerves. “It began with Floyd Ryan.”
“I remember you mentioning him. He is on your board of directors, isn’t he?” Noel asks. Glory nods her head.
“Yes, he is. He has been a supporter of mine for a long time so when he came to me informing me of a plot by rogue members of the board to overthrow me and replace me just as they did once before when they replaced me with Henry Van Stanton…when I heard all of that, I took the threat very seriously. He and his niece, Jamie Ryan, believe that these board members want to replace me with the minority shareholder, Aurora Alan. And it does make sense because these rogue board members, according to Floyd and Jamie, are all fiercely loyal to Aurora’s family, the same family that originally founded my company.”
“It sounds to me like your problem is Ms. Alan.”
“That’s what I thought. But then I received news from Aurora herself that a member of my board of directors has ties to organized crime. Guess which board member she is referring to?”
“Floyd?”
“Exactly.” Glory sighs deeply. “You see my problem, mother? I am certain that a faction within my own company is plotting against me. I just do not know who is leading this faction…is Aurora the leader, or is Floyd the leader?”
“It does appear that you have quite the dilemma on your hands, my child.” Aphrodite says as she takes another sip of her wine.
“That’s why I need your guidance. I feel that I need to support someone. Do I heed Aurora’s warnings and turn Floyd and his niece Jamie over to the authorities for their ties to organized crime? Or do I go along with Floyd and whatever plan he has concocted hoping that he is sincere about helping me?”
“Aurora Alan…doesn’t she have an older brother and an older sister, Matthew and Jennifer Alan, both of whom have been in trouble with the FBI for white collar crimes? And wasn’t it Matthew himself who first challenged your authority in the company?”
“Yes.” Braddock nods her head. “Matthew has always believed that the company rightfully belongs to him, yet it was his own bad business decisions that nearly bankrupted the company back in 2003. He always hated the fact that it was me who was able to salvage it and save it in 2012. His younger sister Jennifer hasn’t been much better. But Aurora has always struck me as honest and trustworthy. I believe her when she says Floyd has ties to organized crime.”
“That doesn’t mean she isn’t coming after you.” Aphrodite points out. “Hostile takeovers can be done legally, you know?”
“True. But if Floyd does have ties to organized crime, do I want to get involved in that?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time. Didn’t you once have the assistance of one Meagan Collins, who herself was arrested and charged with such crimes?”
“Yes but I had no idea she had those connections. Otherwise I never would have worked with her.”
“Well then, let me ask you this; has Floyd or his niece Jamie ever done anything to make you doubt or question their loyalty to you?”
“Never.” Glory answers emphatically with a shake of her head. “But…”
“But what?”
“...something about this feels off. Call it a gut feeling, call it a hunch, but something about what he’s been doing bothers me.”
“What do you mean?” Noel arches her brow out of curiosity. “What has he done?”
“I know for a fact that Floyd is trying to make a bid for the position of Chairman of the Board. In fact, his niece Jamie has been sending me all of these extravagant gifts. The most recent is this diamond necklace I’m wearing today.”
“Ah, I see.” She gazes at it and smiles. “It does look lovely.”
“I’ve been invited to dinner with the two of them. I’ve been specifically asked to bring no one else.”
“Not even your husband?”
“Not even Kurt.”
“That does sound odd.” Aphrodite admits.
“So what should I do, mother? Should I accept this invitation and play along with their game, whatever it is? Should I side with Aurora and tell her what they’re planning?”
“I see that you do have quite a problem, my child.” Aphrodite finishes the last of her wine and then sets the glass down. “Just remember one of the many lessons I taught you about being a successful businesswoman. Sometimes you have to play politics, dirty politics even. Sometimes you have to make allies with people you dislike or distrust. Just remember that above all else who you are really doing this for?” She holds up one finger. “Number one.”
“Myself.”
“That’s right. At least one of them is lying to you, I’m certain of it. Perhaps both are lying to you? Whatever your next move is, Gloria, make sure that move is what is best for YOU…and you alone. It doesn’t matter what is best for Aurora or Floyd. What matters is what is best for you.”
==========
Miami, Florida
Off Camera
==========
About two hours have passed since Glory Braddock met with her mentor now mother Aphrodite Noel to get advice on how to proceed with the very difficult and challenging situation facing her. The British Bombshell is facing what is most certainly a hostile takeover by a faction within her own company. The only question is who is behind it and who can she trust? She is almost certain minority shareholder Aurora Alan or board member Floyd Ryan is behind it. She just isn’t sure which one. She also does not trust either one of them. Lately, with as paranoid as Braddock has been, she doesn’t feel as if she can really trust anyone, especially not in the cutthroat world of business. Still, it is a certainty that if Glory just sits back and does nothing, something bad will happen. Someone will make a move against her. The British Bombshell knows that she must make a move, she must make a decision and she must make that decision sooner rather than later. Lucky for Braddock, she has the guidance of Aphrodite. Her ‘mother’ did not tell her exactly what to do, but the advice she did receive was sound and it did help her determine what her next move will be. Glory Braddock must make a move that is in her best interest alone. And she knows exactly what to do. She knows what truly is in her best interest when it comes to Aurora Alan and Floyd Ryan.
This is what brings the beautiful blonde out to a small cafe in Miami, Florida. Braddock still needs to catch a flight to Toronto for an SCW event, but this cafe happens to be on her way and she can make a pit stop to talk to none other than Jamie Ryan, Floyd’s niece who happens to still be in Miami after visiting with Glory just a couple of days ago.
Braddock, still dressed in that same outfit from earlier, is approaching a small white table outside on the patio seating area of this cafe. This is the same cafe where Glory met with Jamie back in July. And as she approaches the small white table, she spots Jamie also approaching. The young black haired woman is wearing green shorts, a matching green tanktop, and flip flops. Jamie is sporting a friendly smile as she waves at Glory.
“Hi, Glory! I didn’t expect to see you so soon!”
“I’ll be honest, mate, I didn’t expect you to still be in town.” Glory answers back. “I thought you would have already went back to Charlotte?”
“What can I say? I’m an optimist and I was optimistic that you would come to a decision about my uncle’s invitation. Have you?”
“Perhaps.” Glory won’t say anything more right now. First she motions for Jamie to sit. Jamie sits and then so does Glory. “First, this cannot take long. I have a flight to catch. So order something if you want but I’m having nothing because I won’t be staying.”
“Fair enough.” Jamie says. A server comes by with a pen and notepad. Jamie looks up at her. “Coffee, black. Nothing for my friend here.” The server nods and walks off. “Now then, shall we get down to business? I know you have tons of wrestling commitments to keep. You have that Trios Tournament coming up, don’t ya?”
“Let’s be real, ok Ms. Ryan?” Glory rolls her eyes. “You do not care about me or my wrestling career. All you and your uncle need me for is support. You need my support for his bid to become chairman of the board. Am I right?”
“We do care about you! And I think you care about us too…” Jamie points to Glory’s neck, specifically the diamond necklace Jamie bought “...you’re wearing the gift I bought you, I see!”
“It is beautiful, I have to admit it.”
“Only the best for you. I have always admired you and my uncle has always been a supporter of yours on the board of directors.”
“Then why would he stand by and allow a coup against me?” Glory asks with a hint of anger.
“He was not part of that coup that removed you from power years ago. He was as upset about it as you were. That’s why this time he took initiative. When he heard the talk about another such coup, he wanted to let you know ahead of time so that you could prepare to fight back and keep that injustice from happening.”
“I’m sure he has a brilliant plan already mapped out in his mind to keep it from happening, eh?” Glory smirks. “My only question is, why do I have to go to Charlotte alone to hear about it? Why couldn’t he call me? Why couldn’t he come down here to see me? Obviously he has no problem sending you down here to run his errands.”
“Who knows what his problem is?” Jamie says, laughing lightly and shrugging her shoulders. “My uncle doesn’t tell me everything about his business dealings.”
“So you’re telling me you don’t even know what he wants to say to me?”
“Not a clue.” Jamie shakes her head. “But I do trust my uncle. And I think you do too.”
“Trust?” Glory scoffs. “Shows how little you know about business. You cannot trust anyone in business. Even your closest of friends and allies will stab you in the back for a piece of power. Do I trust your uncle? No. I don’t even trust the people I personally hired to work for me. But I’ll tell you what, Jamie. Your uncle has been steadfastly loyal to me from the very start. Your uncle was opposed to the initial hostile takeover against me. Both of those facts are true. So I will give you the benefit of a doubt.”
“You’ll come to Charlotte? You’ll have dinner with us?”
“Yes.” Braddock nods her head. “But on my time. Your uncle may have dictated the place and the terms, but I will dictate the time.”
“That’s fair.”
“That’s good to know.” Glory stands up. “Because I will call Floyd myself and let him know when I will be there. I will see him when I am damn good and ready. Are we clear, Jamie?”
“Crystal.” Jamie says with a sly wink at Glory, who just rolls her eyes in response. With that Glory Braddock turns and walks away. She doesn’t see the confidence oozing from Jamie Ryan. But Jamie doesn’t see the smirk on Glory’s face, either. The British Bombshell started this day not sure if she was capable of making the right decision. Now she has made a decision and she is certain that it was the right one; a decision in her best interest.
==========
Charlotte, NC
Off Camera
==========
The End of the Year Special has come and gone. Glory Braddock made an impressive showing but she still came up short in the Open Invitational. The British Bombshell may have been disappointed with the outcome but at the same time she recognizes that her end game is much more important than the meaningless Open Invitational. She still has an opportunity to win her third Trios Tournament to start the new year. The Open Invitational was just a warm up to prepare her for the first Breakdown of 2023 which will be the semi-finals and finals of the Trios Tournament. The unlikely trio of Glory Braddock, Josh Hudson, and Chance Owens managed to advance past James Evans, Datura, and Polly Playtime in the quarter finals. But the path forward only gets more difficult as they must face two other teams in one night to secure the victory, one of them being the team of Kim Williams, Adam Allocco, and The One.
Before she can turn her full attention to completing the Trios Tournament, The British Bombshell must first take some of other business. Braddock has been dwelling on the rumors and talk of a plot to remove her from power within her own company. The rumors had been spread by her own supporters within the board of directors, namely Floyd Ryan. He has fingered Aurora Alan, younger sister of her company’s founder Matthew Alan, as being behind the potential coup. It makes sense, because Matthew Alan’s family has long believed that this company rightfully belongs to them. But then Aurora threw a wrench into the mix when she fingered Floyd Ryan and his family as having ties to organized crime. Could this all be a ruse by Floyd Ryan to try and gain power for himself or is Aurora Alan really trying to play politics and gain power? It is a difficult game of chess that Glory is playing and she feels as if she is in a position of check. She needs to move out of check to save herself and save the game. If she makes the wrong move then whoever her true enemy is, whether it is Aurora or Floyd, may defeat her once and for all.
After receiving advice from her best friend Sophie O’Brian as well as her ‘mother’ and mentor Aphrodite Noel, Glory Braddock has finally decided on a strategy. She finally knows what her next move shall be and unlike in previous months where her paranoia had been practically crippling her, The British Bombshell is certain that she has made the right move. There is no paranoia. Not anymore. Glory Braddock knows that this move she is about to make will end this game of chess and protect her for a long time. But this move that she is about to make begins first with a sit down dinner alongside a man that she isn’t sure she can trust, that being Floyd Ryan. She may not know if she can trust him or not, but she does know that she has to at least hear him out.
This is what brings The British Bombshell to Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a brief pit stop before she flies back up north to Boston, Massachusetts for the conclusion of the Trios Tournament. She stands covered in a large brown trenchcoat at the front door of a large, expensive and opulent estate in Charlotte. It is a home so luxurious that it even challenges the luxury of her own home in Miami. She rings the doorbell and waits patiently. The wait is not a long one. Braddock expects the door to be opened by a butler or a maid, as big as this house is it gives off the impression that the Ryans would have servants. Instead standing there in the doorway to greet The British Bombshell is Floyd’s niece, Jamie Ryan, who is wearing a Carolina blue bodycon mini dress and strappy high heeled sandals.
“There you are!” Jamie exclaims happily, embracing Glory in a friendly hug. “Uncle Floyd and I are soooooo happy you could make it! Can I take your coat?”
Glory isn’t quite sure what to make of Jamie’s enthusiasm. Braddock nods her head though and lets Jamie take the trenchcoat off of her, revealing the extravagance that The British Bombshell has on underneath. Glory is dressed in a red backless knee length sequin cocktail dress and black high heeled pumps. Jamie takes a few steps back to study Glory. She seems to have her jaw drop in awe.
“You look drop dead gorgeous, lady!” Jamie exclaims.
“I appreciate the compliment, Jamie, but I am a busy woman, and I am certain that your uncle has more pressing matters of his own. So can we get on with this dinner meeting?”
“The food is still being prepared by our staff.” Jamie states. Glory smirks; she suspected that with a home this large, Jamie’s uncle would have some staff on hand. “But if you and uncle Floyd want to go ahead and talk business then he is in his study. I can take you to him.”
“That would be nice, thank you.”
Jamie nods her head politely and motions for Glory to follow her. Jamie proceeds to lead Braddock down a long hallway. Eventually she comes to a door on the right. Jamie opens the door and steps inside, with Glory following closely behind. The British Bombshell immediately spots Floyd Ryan sitting at a large oak desk inside a room with large bookcases on all four walls. Floyd stands up upon noticing Braddock’s arrival.
“Uncle Floyd…Ms. Braddock has arrived.”
“Thank you, Jamie.” Floyd nods his head. “You may leave us.”
“Do I have to?” Jamie seems disappointed. Floyd nods his head.
“Yes. Why don’t you go check on dinner?”
“Yes, uncle.” Jamie sighs as she turns and exits the room, shutting the door behind her. Floyd approaches Braddock, who despite being pleased by Jamie’s removal is still cautious around her uncle Floyd.
“I am happy that you agreed to come and have dinner with us, Glory.” Floyd takes her hand kisses it. “May I say that you look positively ravishing?”
“Thank you. And I am grateful that you sent your niece away. I really want to get down to business and get this over with, I believe Jamie would have hindered that. No offense.”
“None taken.” Floyd chuckles softly. “I apologize for her…exuberance. She is quite enamored by you, you know?”
“I kind of figured that.” Glory says as she is led across the room towards Floyd’s desk. Glory sits down in a chair and then Floyd returns to his seat behind the desk.
“I apologize that dinner isn’t ready yet. I swear to you that it will be worth the wait. Flounder, Alaskan White and…”
“Hush.” Braddock states defiantly. “I don’t really care about dinner, Floyd. I just want to get down to business. I know something is going on because I heard it from you and from Jamie. I heard the talk about some group within the company, maybe even within the board of directors itself, wanting to remove me. And that talk isn’t the only talk I have heard lately, Floyd. So now I am here not for some pleasant dinner between good friends. I am here for the truth. Nothing more.”
“Fair enough.” Floyd nods his head. “You want the truth and you deserve it. Glory, I have always been a supporter of yours on the board of directors. You know that. Do you remember that party back in June of last year?” Glory nods her head. Floyd grins from ear to ear. “That party was my idea. I wanted to throw a party in YOUR HONOR because you deserved it.”
“It was unnecessary.”
“Oh but you are wrong. It was necessary. Who brought Global Championship Wrestling back from obscurity? You did. Who expanded our reach beyond simply wrestling to also include other outlets including modeling? You did. Who got full health coverage for EVERY SINGLE employee, part time and full time? You did. And when Matthew Alan returned and tried to retake power, who crushed him? Who kept him at bay? You did.”
“I thought the board loved him?”
“Many nostalgic idiots on the board love him, yes.” Floyd nods his head. “What they fail to see is that Matthew Alan and his family are tainted and would hurt our image. He was charged with white collar crimes. Embezzlement. He was never convicted but the stain and bad reputation remains. We cannot afford to have his family’s fingerprints on our beloved company. You got rid of him. And that group of nostalgic Matthew Alan supporters, they are nowhere near as numerous as they once were. They are just a loud, vocal, but powerful minority. But they are still a minority nonetheless. The majority of the board doesn’t even want to deal with his little sister Aurora.” He points a finger at Glory. “They would rather see you remove her and take her position as well.”
“I hate to disappoint you, Floyd, but I am not coming back.” Glory shakes her head. “I am far too busy as an active wrestler to return to my duties managing the company. That’s why I have Francis Taylor, Tabitha Silverstone, and Aurora Alan to manage things in my stead. So if you called me here to talk me into resuming my active duties as head of the company then you are wasting your time. I am not going to resume micromanaging the company.”
“That is indeed a shame. You are popular and very influential. Someone like you could really go places in a position of power.”
“What are you getting at?” Glory asks curiously.
“Let’s just say if you do not want to run the company then perhaps you could appoint someone else to run it?”
“Like you for instance.” Glory states. “I already know that you are jockeying for the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. Is that what you want? My support?”
“That and much more.” Floyd snickers. “I think you should run for Mayor of Charlotte.”
“Seriously?” Glory states. Floyd nods his head. Glory starts laughing. “You are bonkers. I have no interest in politics, mate. Besides, I don’t even have residency in Charlotte. I couldn’t run.”
“You do own a home in Charlotte.”
“But I don’t live there.” She points out. “I use it for corporate business.”
“But you still have a home in Charlotte. Rules can be bent if you know the right people and you can qualify to run. You can get your name on the ballot. Wouldn’t you like to be Mayor of Charlotte?”
“Not really.” Glory rolls her eyes. “First you wanted me to return to power in the company. When I turned that down you tell me to run for Mayor of Charlotte. What do you want from me, Floyd?”
“Look, Glory, you know that I am a businessman first and foremost. If I were to become Chairman of the Board and if I were to get to run the company, I could make it into a global powerhouse. I just need some help…political help. I need some business friendly politicians to help push through initiatives that are friendly towards our company and my…” he pauses momentarily “...my people.”
“Your people? You mean organized crime? Yes, Floyd, I know about your connections to organized crime.”
“This has nothing to do with criminal activity.” Floyd remarks. Glory notices that he never denied his involvement with organized crime. “I just need a mayor to help advance friendly business initiatives that will assistance myself and my business associates.” He grins from ear to ear. “I know you can win the mayorship. You are very popular.”
“I do not want to be mayor, Floyd.” Glory states defiantly.
“I thought you might say that. Just think it over. I know you miss the trappings of power. I remember when you once thought yourself to be royalty, a queen. Imagine being in charge of one of the largest cities in North Carolina. You could use your influence to help our company in ways you couldn’t imagine. Think of what you could do with that power.” Glory is about to answer but Floyd stops her. “Don’t answer yet, Glory. Dinner is about ready. Let’s have dinner. Then you go to your next wrestling booking. You can make your decision later. Just consider my offer.” He grins from ear to ear. “And think about you being the Mayor of Charlotte.”