Post by matt on Mar 26, 2020 12:43:18 GMT -6
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The exquisite living room of The British Bombshell in Miami, Florida is a gorgeous, sleek modern design. It is also clean; almost to perfection with barely a spot and even if one exists, it isn’t noticeable. The cream colored sofa is soft, comfortable, and plush. It is situated in front of a large flat screen television mounted on the wall above a fireplace. The fireplace does seem slightly out of place as it is the only piece in this living room that looks relatively traditional. It isn’t used often; this is Miami, after all. Sitting in a comfortable recliner with her feet propped up is none other than “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock. Her stone faced gaze is glaring across at a television set which is tuned into the nightly news, in which she is keenly interested…
“Today a grand jury in North Carolina has indicted former businessman and wrestling promoter Matthew Alan on several charges of embezzlement, money fraud, tax evasion, and other illicit and illegal white collar crimes…”
Hearing this news from the anchorman’s face brings a smile to The British Bombshell. The gorgeous honey blonde haired beauty is wearing a pink short sleeve dress with a hemline that stops just at the knees. Her feet are encased in matching pink leather high heeled pumps. Matthew Alan is the founder of the company that she now owns, Global Championship Wrestling. It was once just a mere wrestling promotion, a small one at that, but she has built it up and expanded it to new horizons. Now she has combined it with the wrestling school she owns, creating Global Wrestling Enterprise, of which both the promotion and the school are now a part of. Utilizing her company Glory Braddock will now be able to shape the future generations of professional wrestlers.
Yet at one point this grand vision of hers seemed all but impossible. In fact, there was a time that she lost her entire company to Henry Van Stanton, the son of the man who ended her own father’s wrestling career. Needless to say, the two families have never been on good terms and Glory still isn’t exactly keen on the idea of her daughter dating Henry’s son, but for the sake of peace within the family she is remaining quiet about that. Still, Henry poses no further threat to her corporate dominance. Glory retook her company from Van Stanton and she does not wish to ever lose control of her company again.
Now she is seeking to make certain that any and all potential threats to her power are wiped out. Eliminated. And there is only one individual whom she views as a threat to her power within Global Wrestling Enterprise…
….and that person has just been indicted for multiple federal charges of white collar crimes. Matthew Alan is the founder of the company, it may be under a new form and operating with a new name, but it is his original company, and many on the Board of Directors may show loyalty to him. That loyalty would be impossible now with Matthew Alan all but assured to go to prison.
Still, there are loose ends that need to be tied up. There are still potential threats to her power. Those loose ends will be taken care of and those threats will be eliminated in time. But for now Glory Braddock can relax and be happy that one of the biggest threats has just been taken care of and she didn’t have to even lift a finger. Those other threats, however, may take some more manipulation on her part.
“Is it something good?” The voice startles Glory just slightly. She turns and smiles upon seeing her husband, retired professional wrestler Kurt Logan, entering the living room. Her beloved husband carries two glasses of wine in his hand. He approaches Glory and offers her one of the glasses of wine. “Here, I thought you’d like something to drink.”
“Thanks, love.” Glory says graciously, accepting the drink. Kurt sits down on the plush cream colored leather sofa. He waves for Glory to join him. “Come on, babe. Sit next to me.”
Braddock smiles back, perhaps naughtily? It doesn’t matter. The British Bombshell takes her glass of wine and gets up from the recliner. She approaches the sofa and sits down next to her husband. She leans her head on his shoulder. Kurt wraps his arm around her shoulders. He kisses her lovingly on the forehead. He doesn’t know yet why she seems so happy but he certainly isn’t complaining.
“Whatever it was you saw on the TV must have made you very happy…” Kurt says, smiling wryly “...unless I’m just that good looking…”
Glory chuckles, taking a sip of her wine. “You are good looking, love, and you turn me on anytime you step into a room, but this time it wasn’t just your arrival that made me happy.” Braddock points at the television.
“Matthew Alan has been indicted by a grand jury.”
“About time…” Kurt pauses as if he is thinking about what his wife just told him “...but didn’t this happen already?”
“He was arrested back in January. He has been held by federal authorities, questioning him, investigating him, and it all built up to this point, the authorities got him to a grand jury and they got the result they wanted; an indictment. Now to be fair, an indictment is easy to get. Hell, I could indict a cheese sandwich for murder if I wanted. But how many people out there know that?”
“Few.” Kurt states. Glory nods her head with a confident grin.
“Exactly. As if he wasn’t humiliated before when he nearly bankrupted and ultimately lost his own company, he is forever tarnished here by the fact that he is indicted for a criminal offense. Now the trial comes, he may yet be found not guilty but from what I’ve heard the evidence against him is overwhelming. The authorities will convict him and he’ll go to prison. Even if his defense team does manage to pull off a miracle here, he will still forever be stained and tainted with this indictment. Any and all loyalty that certain members of my Board of Directors may have had for him will be gone.”
“Well that’s good, right?”
“Bloody hell is it ever good!” Glory exclaims. Kurt then holds up his glass to toast. Braddock responds in kind, clinking her glass with his.
“Cheers!” And with that, they each take a sip of their wine in unison.
“So what does that mean for you?” Kurt asks curiously. “I mean, obviously you no longer have to worry about Matt Alan or any of his allies trying to screw with you. Does this mean you finally can focus on your wrestling career and let your new company president deal with the day to day handling of business?”
Braddock sighs deeply and shakes her head, indicating a negative response. This was not the answer Kurt had been hoping for and Glory knows it. She wishes she could just focus on her wrestling, because she certainly has her plate full now. There are other items on her mind that seem to be just as important.
“I wish I could, love, but I can’t.”
“Why not?” Kurt asks, almost in a demanding tone.
“I just can’t.”
“You’re spreading yourself thin, Glory. I know why you’re doing it, I know why you feel that you must do it, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Braddock sighs and nods her head. Her husband is right, she is spreading herself thin. But she views this as a necessity. She wants to compete and someday win her fifteenth world championship. She knows that she can still make a difference as an active competitor. She also does not want to risk losing her business again and she knows that so long as there are threats out there to her corporate power then she cannot just simply sit idly by and hope nothing bad happens. She did that once and her idleness cost her everything.
She will not wait again.
The British Bombshell takes another big swig of her wine before setting it down on a nearby coffee table. She turns and stares into her husband’s loving eyes.
“There are many people out there who are jealous of me, jealous of what I have achieved. I have been a success inside the wrestling ring as a competitor and I have been a success outside of the wrestling ring as a corporate businesswoman. No one can say that they have achieved the kind of success that I have achieved. And now there are those who want to see me lose my power.”
“It almost sounds like paranoia.” Kurt remarks stoically.
“It may be paranoia, and hell, I hope it is, but I do not want to take the risk. I want to be safe. I want to make sure every base is covered and that there is no possible way for me to lose the corporate power that I have built up.”
“But Matthew Alan is the only person who could have taken you down.” Kurt answers immediately. “And now he’s indicted. You said it yourself, he is done. Who can possible hurt you now?”
“His family.” Glory answers quietly after a long, tense pause. Kurt nods his head.
“Ok, fair enough. I still do not like where you are going with this and I want to be on record as saying that I think this is a bad idea.”
“Noted. I do ask for your support, though.” Glory states. Kurt without hesitation leans in and plants a kiss on her lips.
“You don’t even have to ask.” He says with a grin. “I will always support you, Glory. No matter what.”
“And that’s why I love you so much.” Glory returns the favor, kissing her husband on the lips. Their passionate liplock continues for a few moments until they hear a ringing throughout the house. They break their passionate kiss and begin to laugh lightly to themselves.
“It’s the door…” Glory says, her voice fading “...probably Meagan.”
“Ok, I’ll go let her in…” Kurt stands up but then pauses. He turns to face Glory with a look of surprise on his face. “...wait, Meagan as in Meagan Collins?”
“Yes.” Glory answers. Kurt just stares at his wife for several moments with no words. Nothing comes from Glory either. Finally Kurt just sighs.
“I won’t ask.” Kurt walks off, exiting the living room. Glory sighs with a sense of regret. She knows that her husband is not happy about her new working relationship with Meagan Collins. Glory may seem to have the upper hand, she may seem to have her over a barrel, but Kurt and Glory both know that Meagan is very manipulative and cannot be trusted. Still, it is someone like Meagan who can play a vital role in helping Glory achieve the firm grip she wants to have over her company.
As for Meagan, she will be loyal to Glory Braddock. She has no choice but to be loyal. Thanks to evidence obtained by private investigator Seth Rogers, Glory now has the photographs and documentation needed to blackmail Meagan into loyalty. If Meagan wants to stay off of the front page of the daily news, then she will do whatever Glory asks of her.
A few moments later Meagan Collins emerges into the living room. Typically Meagan is dressed in the finer attire but today Meagan is dressed relaxed, wearing tight denim jeans, black boots, and a plain white t-shirt.
Glory cannot help herself as she stands up and opens her arms up wide for a hug. She is taunting Meagan and knows it. Is it wrong to taunt her? Maybe. But Meagan has done far worse things in her past. And it is these crimes that Glory is holding over her head as blackmail. Meagan is getting everything she deserves and then some. Glory feels no pity or remorse.
Meagan does not accept the hug, instead walks over to the sofa and sits down. Glory tilts her head to one side and frowns.
“What’s wrong, Megs? No hug?”
“What do you want, Ms. Braddock?”
Glory snickers nastily. “See? This is why I knew you and I would make a bloody great team. You want to get right down to business and so do I.” The British Bombshell walks back over to the sofa and sits down next to Meagan. “It does help that we live only an hour and a half away from each other! It allows us to see so much more of each other!”
“Wonderful.” Meagan remarks, with a clear hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“It is wonderful and I am so glad to hear you say that it is wonderful, after all, we are going to become fast friends. We are going to be seeing a lot more of one another.”
“What do you want?” Meagan asks, repeating her earlier question. Glory decides it is now time for her to get serious as well. Very few get to treat Meagan Collins like this and she isn’t going to squander this opportunity.
“Oh, well my husband and I were just watching the news and we saw how Matthew Alan was indicted by a grand jury. That pretty much eliminates him as a threat to my company. And I am thrilled by that, but you know that everyone has their weakness. Every Superman has a kryptonite. And you know what mine is, right Meagan?”
Meagan doesn’t answer right away. She keeps her eyes steadfastly locked upon Glory’s. This silence begins to irritate The British Bombshell. She growls lightly under her breath before repeating the question.
“Don’t play games with me, Meagan. I know how you operate as a businesswoman. You always analyze the competition. You always try to find their weakness. I’ve been one of your biggest rivals in the wrestling ring and only recently did I emerge as a rival in the corporate world. Surely you have worked out what my one weakness is?”
There is another long, tense pause. Finally Meagan smirks...almost as if she finally feels that confidence reemerging.
“You’re a rank amateur when it comes to business.” Meagan answers with a sly grin. Glory sighs and nods her head in confirmation.
“I wouldn’t quite call myself a rank amateur but yes, I am not as knowledgeable about business as I would like to be. My inexperience caused me to lose my company to Henry Van Stanton. And then I lost my identity to Aphrodite Noel. But while she took my identity she gave me valuable knowledge of the corporate world. And once I regained my identity, I used the knowledge I obtained from Noel to retake my company. That knowledge also has been of assistance in helping me get you in the situation you find yourself in...subservient to me.”
“Then why don’t you go running to mommy and ask for her help instead of crawling to me?!” Meagan growls angrily. This was a mistake by Meagan in her attempt to provoke Glory and she realizes it the moment Glory reaches over and snatches her by the throat.
“SHUT UP!” Glory exclaims loudly. “SHUT UP NOW OR…”
“...or what?!” Meagan asks, almost daring Glory to pull the trigger and squeeze the life out of her. Thankfully, cooler heads prevail and Braddock releases her grip upon Meagan.
“I apologize, Meagan. I may have overreacted.”
“Overreacted?!” Meagan exclaims in shock, rubbing her throat.
“For years she played with my mind. She got in my head and for years I couldn’t get her out. It’s the reason I lost the company. I still suffer minor bouts of PTSD from that experience. Nothing noticeable to anyone but it’s there. So for your sake, don’t bring it up again.”
“Yeah...I understand…”
“Good. Now then, like I said the business world is not my strong suit. I can defeat anyone in the wrestling ring but in the corporate world I still do not know all of the tricks of the trade. You do. I want to learn from you. And one thing I want to learn from you right now involves Matthew Alan’s family. He has just been indicted on federal charges. He poses no threat to me, I understand that. But what about the rest of his family?”
Meagan pauses for a moment to consider the question. She has had many dealings with this family and it is for this reason that Glory Braddock wanted to have her assistance in this matter.
“His daughter has no interest whatsoever in business.”
“Geneva?” Glory asks. Meagan nods her head in confirmation.
“Right, she just wants to be a wrestler. But Matthew’s sister, Aurora Alan, is a different story altogether. All she has ever done is business, but never the wrestling business.”
“What can you tell me about her?”
“Aurora in many ways is a perfect foil to her brother. As sleazy and criminal as he was, she was every bit the perfect angel. Everything she has done in the corporate world she has done fair and square, legitimately. She earned everything she has ever received.”
“So she’s squeaky clean?” Glory asks. Meagan nods her head.
“You could say that, yeah.”
“Bloody hell. What are the chances she may be interested in going after my company?”
“Hard to say.” Meagan remarks. “I mean, she has never showed any interest in wrestling before but then again, her family started your company. There are members of the Board of Directors who were there when Matthew Alan ran the company. They may encourage her to go after you.”
“So we need to get rid of her? We need to find some dirt on her so that…”
“Did you not listen to me?!” Meagan exclaims. “I told you that there was NO dirt on Aurora! She has done nothing wrong!”
“Then we’ll make something up!”
Meagan arches her brow out of shock upon hearing Glory Braddock suggest this. Then a sinister grin forms upon Meagan’s face.
“Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, I can do that. I’ve done it before, as you well know, but do YOU want to go there? You’re already walking a very thin line here Ms. Braddock, but if you fabricate evidence against Aurora Alan, you would be firmly in the criminal realm with little old me.”
The British Bombshell stares at Meagan Collins for a few moments. She allows her words to sink in and, eventually, the wisdom behind them takes over. Glory shakes her head.
“Fine...that option is off the table, for now…”
“For now?” Meagan asks with a smirk. “When is it coming back ON the table?”
“None of your business. Just tell me what you would suggest I do about this?”
“Honestly, your problems all come from one source; the Board of Directors. You have enemies on the Board of Directors. People who tolerate you but would rather see someone else running your company. Some of them you will never win over because they just hate you. But there are those on the fence whom you can either win over or at least have them become supporters. You should focus on those who are on the fence.”
“How do I get them on my side?”
“First you need to ask yourself WHY are they on the fence.” Meagan grins from ear to ear. “And little Megs knows why they are on the fence.” Meagan points a long slender finger at Glory.
“They do not trust your mental capacity. You said it yourself, you are still suffering some minor PTSD from your dealings with Aphrodite Noel and at the risk of getting choked out again I have to ask...just what the hell did she do to get inside your head that much? Clearly she is still there otherwise you wouldn’t have tried to murder me just a few minutes ago.”
The risk of Glory choking Meagan out is a legitimate one as The British Bombshell does consider it. Glory holds off. She needs Meagan right now. Glory sighs deeply as she begins to recall memories from a long time ago.
“I was a different person back then. I was more of a practical joker. I was tough, I was a badass, but I was a clown and it was all because I thought I was strong. I thought I was unstoppable. But Aphrodite exposed me. Just as I hold something over on you, she held something over my head and she used it to take away my identity. Everything that made me who I was she stripped away and replaced it with her version of who she thought I should be. I became her daughter. When the Board got wind that Aphrodite controlled me they used that as an excuse to throw me out and install Henry Van Stanton.” Braddock wipes a tear from her eye.
“I needed help but I escaped her control. And I eventually reclaimed my identity. But I never fully reclaimed all of my identity.” She taps her forehead. “A part of her is still there and I don’t think I will ever get rid of her completely. I’m resigned to the fact that the old Glory Braddock will never come back.”
“And that’s what happened to your sister then, isn’t it?” Meagan asks. Glory nods her head.
“Yes, Aphrodite did the same thing to my sister Julia. She had worse stuff held over Julia’s head, though.”
“What kind of stuff?” Meagan asks curiously. Glory smirks.
“Nice try but I’m not telling you. She did blackmail Julia and like me she stripped away her identity, she made her into her daughter, though Julia took the next big step of rejecting her own family name and renaming herself Chastity Noel.”
“That’s surprising. Obviously she didn’t get to you as bad as she did to your sister.”
“Well she almost did.” Glory remarks. “At my lowest of low points I considered completely renaming myself. It was at that point that I realized that I needed to fight back. And here I am today, not completely cured but almost…”
Meagan grins from ear to ear, an idea has popped into her head “I think you just gave yourself the solution to your own problem.”
“What are you talking about?” Glory asks.
“I’m talking about a way to win over enough of those worrisome Board members in a way that is squeaky clean and not criminal at all. Though it may be slightly immoral. So how immoral are you willing to be, Ms. Braddock?” Meagan asks with a sinister grin.
“Just tell me your plan.”
“Those Board members just want some confirmation that you are no longer influenced by Aphrodite Noel. You’re all buddy-buddy with your sister again who clearly is influenced by Aphrodite and the Board doesn’t like that. So what you could do is be the good and kind sister you are and get Julia, Chastity, or whatever her name is the professional help she needs.”
Braddock’s eyes grow wide with shock. Then she narrows her eyes into a glare at Meagan. “You want me to get my sister institutionalized?”
“Aphrodite would hate you. Your family would hate you. But the Board of Directors would be solidly in your corner. Hell, even your enemies on the Board would have no justifiable reason to oppose you, because you would have proven to them and everyone else that you are in no way influenced by Noel.”
The British Bombshell shakes her head furiously. “No! Out of the question! I will not do that to my own family!”
“Suit yourself.” Meagan shrugs. “I’m only here to offer advice.”
“Just leave!” Glory angrily points towards the door. “Leave and think of better advice!”
“Will do...Ms. Braddock…” Meagan playfully salutes as she gets up off of the sofa, blows Glory a kiss, and then walks off. Once she hears the door shut Glory pulls out her cell phone. She dials a number and waits.
“Yes, Bob? This is Glory. Please contact Mason Van Stanton for me. I have an idea…”
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March 9th, 2020
Raleigh, NC
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Vivace is a traditional Italian restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina. The British Bombshell Glory Braddock stands just inside the entrance of the restaurant, gazing at the dining area. She is disappointed that this particular meeting has to happen, not only due to the fact that this is taking place in North Carolina, a place she absolutely abhors, but also due to the individual she is meeting with…
...an old arch rival of hers, Mason Van Stanton.
The Van Stanton family and the Braddock family have been at odds for as long as anyone can recall. It is a bitter feud that, for professional wrestling, is almost as iconic as the Hatfield and McCoy blood feud. It is a feud that has transcended the mere confines of a wrestling ring and has taken place backstage and in the corporate world as well. Yet the very same backstage politics that seemed to drive a wedge between these two feuding families has also created a situation where Glory may need the Van Stantons, or at least Mason in particular. She does not like it, but she will tolerate it for the good of wrestling and for the good of her company.
The restaurant was full of action; an old couple eating side by side, one glass of wine each, studiously bent over their meals. A group of young women in their thirties collapsing with helpless giggles as a stern woman dining alone nearby looked on and frowned, businessmen in their grey suits lighting up cigars, tourists, trying to decipher the menu, A family and their teenage children. The noise level was high and the lovely blonde beauty, who has come here for a purpose, is finding it quite difficult to focus on her objective. She’s impatient.
“Where the bloody hell is he?” Glory growls under her breath.
Rarely does Braddock ever feel awkward these days. Lately she has gotten used to feeling like the center of attention. In fact, she tends to like it. In this case she isn’t particularly fond of the spotlight being focused upon her. She is standing here in the waiting area, along with a few other people, waiting on the arrival of Mason Van Stanton. She doesn’t trust him anyway. Mason Van Stanton has manipulated his way into her sister’s good graces and she is convinced he is using her to his own advantage. Mason has tried to use and manipulate Glory Braddock. Mason’s brother, Henry, was involved in Glory’s loss of the company many years ago. Now he is managing Clyde Sutter, a man who Braddock is convinced raped her daughter Melinda, even if Melinda refuses to admit it.
Glory Braddock has already done many questionable things all in her quest to maintain power within her company. This one act right now, working with a man has heinous and sleazy as Mason, perhaps is the most questionable one to date. Still, she had her attorney Robert Odom set up this meeting. And even if it was done somewhat as a knee jerk reaction, there is no turning back now. What’s done is done and all she can do is wait.
Hopefully it won’t be much longer.
“Miss?” Braddock is startled when she hears a rough sounding voice. She turns and spots a brown haired, tall lanky individual dressed nicely in a black server’s uniform standing a few feet away. He has a pleasant smile on his face. “Do you need to be seated?”
“Uh, yes, but I am waiting on someone else.”
“How many will be in your party and I can go ahead and prepare a table?” The polite young man asks. Braddock holds up two fingers.
“Two.”
“Very good.” With a nod of his head, the man turns and walks away to prepare the table. The British Bombshell sighs and shakes her head. She definitely would rather be anywhere else but here but Raleigh is where Mason has his office. Raleigh is his headquarters. Raleigh is where he wanted to meet Glory Braddock. He knows that she needs him, not the other way around, so he gets to determine the terms, the time, and the place.
“Waiting for someone?” Braddock turns around and spots Mason Van Stanton there a few feet away. He is wearing a black suit and white button up shit. His hair is slicked back and he has a sinister grin on his face. “Looking good, Glory.”
“You’re late.” Braddock remarks flatly.
“Nice to see you too. But really, you shouldn’t complain. You’re lucky I even came. You realize, of course, that I do not like you. You realize that I would love to see the fabulous little empire and reputation you’ve built up come crashing down in flames around you.” Van Stanton sneers nastily. “Best in the World? Ha! Wrestling fans at least are beginning to see the real you but the rest of the complacent idiots out there still love you and for what? Why?”
“Charity work does wonders, Mason. Then again, you wouldn’t know that considering everything you’ve ever done is selfish, all for your own gain.”
“And you’re any different Ms. Fourteen Time World Champion?” Mason asks with arched brows. Braddock nods her head.
“Yes, I am different. Everything I do and am currently doing is for the best, what’s best for wrestling. It may not be popular with all of the fans right now but when all is said and done they will understand.”
“Said every tyrant that ever existed.” Mason says with a sneer upon his face. Glory rolls her eyes.
“I don’t have time for this petty squabbling, mate. Are you willing to do business or not? If not I can gladly leave. I hate being in North Carolina anyway.”
“I know how much you hate this state.” He smirks. “That’s why I chose to meet you here. We are going to do business and we’re going to do business on my home turf, Braddock. Not yours.”
The British Bombshell would strangle him right now if she could. Unfortunately this is a public place and public strangulation of another human being is illegal. So she holds back her anger. Lucky for her, she doesn’t have to wait long for a reprieve. The tall brown haired server from earlier approaches.
“Your table is ready, ma’am.”
“Excellent!” Mason exclaims loudly, taking Glory’s hand and kissing it. “Me and my lady friend cannot wait to sample your fine cuisine!”
Glory wants to explode but she manages to maintain her composure. The server, with menus in hand, leads Glory and Mason into the main dining area of the restaurant. Glory can almost feel the eyes upon her, even if it isn’t true, but she feels like it, especially with Mason Van Stanton clutching her arm as if they are a couple. For Braddock this is embarrassing. For Van Stanton, he is enjoying every minute of this. It seems like an eternity for Glory but in truth it isn’t very long until Mason and Glory are seated at a table.
“So may I interest you in a beverage while you look over our menu?” The server asks.
“Miller Lite for me.” Mason says with a snicker.
“Pinot Noir.” Glory answers.
“Very good. I will return shortly.” The server nods, turns, and then walks off.
“This place is very good.” Mason says, breaking the ice quickly, almost immediately after the server left. “I used to take Destiny here. She particularly enjoyed the wine.”
“Destiny…” Braddock’s anger grows and begins to boil over. “Destiny”, as in Destiny Blair, is Mason Van Stanton’s ex wife, who Mason recently threw off the top of a hell in a cell and then the next week requested a divorce. Destiny was also a student of Glenn Braddock, Glory’s father, and a good friend of Glory Braddock. This mention of Destiny is just another reminder of the kind of man Mason is makes her question whether she truly is doing the right thing in associating herself with him.
“You do know her, right?” Mason asks mockingly.
“Damn right I do. And I am not particularly happy about what you did to her.”
“I got bored with her and shoved her aside like yesterday’s news.”
“In favor of whom? My sister?”
“Chastity was always my goal, Glory. You knew that. I always wanted her as a client and Destiny served a great purpose in helping me get your sister to become my client. Once I got that, I no longer needed Destiny. Me and Chastity are doing what was once thought to be impossible; a Braddock and a Van Stanton working together. We are ending the bitter rivalry between our families, all the while you remain bitter and angry towards me.”
“Oh am I bitter?” Glory asks with arched brows. “The way I recall it, I was the one who requested this meeting between you and me. I’m the one who wants to do business with you.”
“Point taken…” Mason says with his interest clearly peaked. A few moments later the server returns, placing a glass of beer, the Miller Lite, in front of Mason. He places a glass of red wine in front of Glory Braddock. The server looks at Mason and then at Glory.
“Do you know what you wish to order? An appetizer perhaps?”
“Not yet.” Braddock shakes her head. “Give us more time.”
“As you wish, ma’am.” The server nods and then turns to walk away. Glory turns back to face Mason with a grin on her face.
“So, are you interested in why I want to do business with a con man like you?”
“A con artist? Moi? Honestly, I could say the same thing about you. But I will admit that I am intrigued about why you want to do business with me, especially after our family history.” He takes a sip of his beer. Glory watches on with a confident grin upon her face. Her anger is finally subsiding and the confidence she has had in recent weeks is returning.
“I wish to talk with you for two reasons, Mason. Primarily, I wish to discuss my sister...Julia…” Glory is emphatic about using her sister’s original name, her birth name, as opposed to the name she wishes to use now. Mason notices this and sneers.
“Chastity, yes...what about her?”
“You are aware that she and I went into business together. We agreed to share ownership of the Braddock Wrestling School as part of a larger deal to merge the school and my own wrestling promotion under one umbrella.”
“Yes, I am aware.”
“You weren’t pleased with her decision, were you?” Glory asks with a sly grin upon her face.
“No, I wasn’t. She agreed to that deal without my knowledge. We did have words about it after the fact, but ultimately it was out of my hands. It was a family matter and despite her name change, she is still your blood.”
“I had a feeling you wouldn’t approve.” Glory answers, taking a sip of her wine. “You are always the opportunist, Mason. You would have wanted to use your influence as her agent to try and tear away at least some stake in my school...or my company...something, you would have done something to poison the empire I built. An empire that you yourself said you wanted to burn to the ground. But what you didn’t count on was my sister and I finally burying the hatchet. You didn’t count on our bond as family, as sisters, overcoming whatever influence you hold over her.”
Van Stanton takes a big sip of his beer and then slams the glass down on the table out of frustration. “Are we here to actually talk business or is this going to just be you and I taunting one another for the next hour?”
“We are going to do business, Mason. In fact, we’re going to do business right now. This is my proposal...I want my sister back. No longer under your control, no longer under your contract, and no longer using that bloody horrendous Noel name. I want my sister back. And you will help me. Sometime soon, or maybe sometime in the distant future, I will call upon you to do me a favor to help me get my sister back and you will obey me.”
“Or what?” Mason sneers angrily. “You have nothing to threaten me with, Braddock.”
“I have plenty to threaten you with, Mason. In fact, that’s the other item I wish to discuss today. Clyde Sutter…”
Mason laughs nastily. He knows that Glory Braddock detests Sutter. She kicked him out of her school and she has never had to kick anyone out of her school. She had hoped she could blackball Sutter from ever appearing in a wrestling ring but Mason Van Stanton used his influence to get him signed to a wrestling contract. It was done out of spite to provoke Braddock. It worked.
“Ah yes, my young pupil. A young prospect fighter. You wanted to keep him from achieving his dream but as usual I made dreams happen and I made his happen.”
“You make me sick, Mason.” Glory sneers angrily. “You have no idea who you have signed to a contract when you signed Clyde Sutter.”
“I know he is a monster who can take anyone in the ring. He pushed a reigning World Champion to the limit. With a little more work Sutter himself could be a world champion someday. How would that look on your sparkling record, eh Glory? You kicking out a future world champion.”
“Oh I think I’d still look rather sparkling, mate, especially when everyone finds out that said future world champion is also a rapist.”
There is an immediate silence from Mason Van Stanton as he stares long and hard into Glory’s eyes. He is trying to take in what he just heard. He isn’t sure he believes it. He has to hear it again.
“What did you just say?”
“You heard what I said and you know damn well that Sutter once dated my daughter. I have proof that he took advantage of her and raped her. That evidence can easily disappear for good but you have to do what I say and help me get my sister back.”
“You’re bluffing.” Mason states confidently. Glory snickers.
“Want to bet? How lucky do you feel?”
In truth, Glory has no evidence to prove her claim. The only witness would be her daughter Melinda, who is insistent that everything they did was consensual. Glory, however, firmly believes that she is saying this out of fear, fear of reprisal from Clyde Sutter. But Glory cannot prove any of it. All she can rely on is this bluff. Lucky for her, Mason cracks…
“Fine. You win, Braddock.”
“I always win, Mason.” Glory says with a nasty laugh.
“Mind if I ask what you need me to do? Helping you get your sister back is rather...vague…”
“There’s a reason for that, Van Stanton.” She takes a sip of her wine. “And I’m not telling you. At least not yet, not until it is time.”
==========
March 9th, 2020
Raleigh, NC
Off Camera
==========
Kurt Logan and his step-daughter, Melinda Braddock, stand just outside the of a Hilton hotels and suites in Raleigh, North Carolina. The bright Carolina blue sky with the sun shining down is enough to cheer anyone up and a good cheering up is what the father-daughter pair really need right now. Melinda and Kurt are awaiting the arrival of Melinda’s mother, Kurt’s wife, The British Bombshell Glory Braddock.
“Where is she?” Melinda asks, sounding like the whiny teenager she is. Kurt ignores his step-daughter for now. To be honest, he is just as frustrated as Melinda but not for the waiting. Glory Braddock is indeed late. She was supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago and it isn’t like the self-proclaimed Best in the World to be late. Still, Kurt and Melinda find themselves standing here, waiting, and probably looking rather foolish for it.
“Just be patient, Mel.” Kurt remarks. “I’m sure she’ll be here shortly.”
“Can’t we go back inside?”
“I suppose we could, but didn’t you want to enjoy the fresh air?”
“No, that was your idea...dad…” Melinda says with a playful wink. She knows how much Kurt enjoys being called dad. He is not her biological father but he has spent most of his life raising her. He truly does love and care for Melinda as if she were his daughter, just as much as he cares for and loves Melinda’s mother Glory and it is that love and care which is the true underlying reason why Kurt is growing more and more frustrated with this wait.
Melinda was told that they were stopping by Raleigh so that Glory could do some “business” involving her company, Global Wrestling Enterprise. Kurt, however, knew that the “business” involved a meeting with Mason Van Stanton, whom Kurt did not trust at all. He voiced his concern with Glory who would hear none of it. He doesn’t understand why she insisted on meeting Mason here today. He doesn’t understand why she insisted on meeting him at all, to be perfectly honest. But Glory Braddock is stubborn, just as stubborn as her cousins Angelica and Kayla Jones. When she sets her mind to something you cannot talk her out of it. And Glory was hell bent on having this meeting with Van Stanton.
It’s been more than fifteen minutes now, Kurt realizes as he checks the watch on his wrist. He sighs and nods his head. “Let’s go back inside then, Mel.”
Kurt turns and starts to walk towards the front doors of the Hilton. Mel is about to follow when she spots a long black limousine approaching. She grins from ear to ear at what she knows is the arrival of her mother. “Wait! She’s here!”
Kurt Logan stops and turns around, looking in the direction where Melinda is pointing. Sure enough, it is the limousine that Glory took off in earlier and it is now returning to the hotel to pick up Kurt and Melinda. The luxury vehicle pulls right up close to Kurt and Melinda and slowly comes to a stop. Kurt approaches the back passenger’s door and opens it. Glory Braddock exits and embraces Kurt in a tight loving hug.
“Sorry I was late, love! The business meeting ran long…”
“I was afraid it might.” Kurt remarks with a hint of sarcasm. Glory shoots her husband a glare, letting him know to keep quiet about the fact that it was Mason she met with. Kurt understands immediately and nods his head.
“What was so important that it kept you busy for so long?” Melinda asks curiously. Glory smiles warmly down at her daughter. She leans over and kisses her on the forehead.
“It isn’t important, Melinda.”
“Did you at least accomplish...uh...whatever it is you wanted to do?” Melinda asks. Glory smirks knowingly and nods her head.
“I did. A deal has been secured that should help the secure Global Wrestling Enterprise for the foreseeable future.”
“And what does that mean exactly?”
“Does it matter?” Glory counters as she hopes to divert this conversation away from the meeting she just attended. The last thing she needs is for her oh so curious daughter to start sticking her nose into her business. “I have a busy week this week, wrestling all over the world, you two won’t get to see much of me.”
“Sooooooo what are you suggesting?” Melinda asks.
“I’m suggesting that the three of us get our stuff, put it in that limo right there, and before we get the hell out of this rat infested city, we stop by a nice ice cream shop and get some sweets.”
“Awesomeness!” Melinda exclaims happily. “I think I saw a Dairy Queen down the road!”
Glory Braddock nods her head with a grin, a grin of victory. The quickest and easiest way to a child’s heart is ice cream, even if that child is almost fully grown. Glory has successfully distracted her from what happened today, as was intended.
“Ok then, let’s go.” Kurt says, chiming in to agree with his wife. “Our stuff is already loaded up on a cart just inside the lobby. We can get the cart and go.”
Glory nods her head but just before any further action can be taken, loud screeching of tire wheels can be heard. It is enough to distract Kurt, Glory, and Melinda. The three turn around to see what is causing the commotion. They see a car stopping just in front of the hotel. The windows are down but they cannot see inside. What Kurt does see causes him to open his eyes wide in fear.
“They’ve got guns!”
Kurt reaches out and snatches Melinda by her arm, and roughly throws her and Glory onto the ground right as shots are fired. Kurt shouts in pain. He is hit but it isn’t clear where. He falls down upon his wife and Melinda. Gunshots continue to ring out for several moments that seem like an eternity before the car drives off. As soon as she is certain the gunners are gone, Glory takes an assessment of her family.
“Melinda, are you ok?”
“Yeah...I’m fine…” Melinda answers. Glory looks over at her husband who is clearly in pain. She can see bloody on the ground.
“Kurt! Someone get help!” Glory shouts.
“They got me in the leg…” Kurt’s voice trails off.
“Melinda…” Glory looks at her daughter “...go inside and get help. Call the police.”
“Ok, mom.” Melinda nods and gets up, runs off. Glory looks down at her husband.
“Bloody hell, Kurt...are you going to be fine…”
“I think so. It sure hurts like hell…” he winces in pain. “...but why? That couldn’t have been random?”
“No...it couldn’t have been…” Glory says slowly, realizing that Kurt is right. This was targeted. Someone wanted her dead.
OFF CAMERA
=============
The exquisite living room of The British Bombshell in Miami, Florida is a gorgeous, sleek modern design. It is also clean; almost to perfection with barely a spot and even if one exists, it isn’t noticeable. The cream colored sofa is soft, comfortable, and plush. It is situated in front of a large flat screen television mounted on the wall above a fireplace. The fireplace does seem slightly out of place as it is the only piece in this living room that looks relatively traditional. It isn’t used often; this is Miami, after all. Sitting in a comfortable recliner with her feet propped up is none other than “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock. Her stone faced gaze is glaring across at a television set which is tuned into the nightly news, in which she is keenly interested…
“Today a grand jury in North Carolina has indicted former businessman and wrestling promoter Matthew Alan on several charges of embezzlement, money fraud, tax evasion, and other illicit and illegal white collar crimes…”
Hearing this news from the anchorman’s face brings a smile to The British Bombshell. The gorgeous honey blonde haired beauty is wearing a pink short sleeve dress with a hemline that stops just at the knees. Her feet are encased in matching pink leather high heeled pumps. Matthew Alan is the founder of the company that she now owns, Global Championship Wrestling. It was once just a mere wrestling promotion, a small one at that, but she has built it up and expanded it to new horizons. Now she has combined it with the wrestling school she owns, creating Global Wrestling Enterprise, of which both the promotion and the school are now a part of. Utilizing her company Glory Braddock will now be able to shape the future generations of professional wrestlers.
Yet at one point this grand vision of hers seemed all but impossible. In fact, there was a time that she lost her entire company to Henry Van Stanton, the son of the man who ended her own father’s wrestling career. Needless to say, the two families have never been on good terms and Glory still isn’t exactly keen on the idea of her daughter dating Henry’s son, but for the sake of peace within the family she is remaining quiet about that. Still, Henry poses no further threat to her corporate dominance. Glory retook her company from Van Stanton and she does not wish to ever lose control of her company again.
Now she is seeking to make certain that any and all potential threats to her power are wiped out. Eliminated. And there is only one individual whom she views as a threat to her power within Global Wrestling Enterprise…
….and that person has just been indicted for multiple federal charges of white collar crimes. Matthew Alan is the founder of the company, it may be under a new form and operating with a new name, but it is his original company, and many on the Board of Directors may show loyalty to him. That loyalty would be impossible now with Matthew Alan all but assured to go to prison.
Still, there are loose ends that need to be tied up. There are still potential threats to her power. Those loose ends will be taken care of and those threats will be eliminated in time. But for now Glory Braddock can relax and be happy that one of the biggest threats has just been taken care of and she didn’t have to even lift a finger. Those other threats, however, may take some more manipulation on her part.
“Is it something good?” The voice startles Glory just slightly. She turns and smiles upon seeing her husband, retired professional wrestler Kurt Logan, entering the living room. Her beloved husband carries two glasses of wine in his hand. He approaches Glory and offers her one of the glasses of wine. “Here, I thought you’d like something to drink.”
“Thanks, love.” Glory says graciously, accepting the drink. Kurt sits down on the plush cream colored leather sofa. He waves for Glory to join him. “Come on, babe. Sit next to me.”
Braddock smiles back, perhaps naughtily? It doesn’t matter. The British Bombshell takes her glass of wine and gets up from the recliner. She approaches the sofa and sits down next to her husband. She leans her head on his shoulder. Kurt wraps his arm around her shoulders. He kisses her lovingly on the forehead. He doesn’t know yet why she seems so happy but he certainly isn’t complaining.
“Whatever it was you saw on the TV must have made you very happy…” Kurt says, smiling wryly “...unless I’m just that good looking…”
Glory chuckles, taking a sip of her wine. “You are good looking, love, and you turn me on anytime you step into a room, but this time it wasn’t just your arrival that made me happy.” Braddock points at the television.
“Matthew Alan has been indicted by a grand jury.”
“About time…” Kurt pauses as if he is thinking about what his wife just told him “...but didn’t this happen already?”
“He was arrested back in January. He has been held by federal authorities, questioning him, investigating him, and it all built up to this point, the authorities got him to a grand jury and they got the result they wanted; an indictment. Now to be fair, an indictment is easy to get. Hell, I could indict a cheese sandwich for murder if I wanted. But how many people out there know that?”
“Few.” Kurt states. Glory nods her head with a confident grin.
“Exactly. As if he wasn’t humiliated before when he nearly bankrupted and ultimately lost his own company, he is forever tarnished here by the fact that he is indicted for a criminal offense. Now the trial comes, he may yet be found not guilty but from what I’ve heard the evidence against him is overwhelming. The authorities will convict him and he’ll go to prison. Even if his defense team does manage to pull off a miracle here, he will still forever be stained and tainted with this indictment. Any and all loyalty that certain members of my Board of Directors may have had for him will be gone.”
“Well that’s good, right?”
“Bloody hell is it ever good!” Glory exclaims. Kurt then holds up his glass to toast. Braddock responds in kind, clinking her glass with his.
“Cheers!” And with that, they each take a sip of their wine in unison.
“So what does that mean for you?” Kurt asks curiously. “I mean, obviously you no longer have to worry about Matt Alan or any of his allies trying to screw with you. Does this mean you finally can focus on your wrestling career and let your new company president deal with the day to day handling of business?”
Braddock sighs deeply and shakes her head, indicating a negative response. This was not the answer Kurt had been hoping for and Glory knows it. She wishes she could just focus on her wrestling, because she certainly has her plate full now. There are other items on her mind that seem to be just as important.
“I wish I could, love, but I can’t.”
“Why not?” Kurt asks, almost in a demanding tone.
“I just can’t.”
“You’re spreading yourself thin, Glory. I know why you’re doing it, I know why you feel that you must do it, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Braddock sighs and nods her head. Her husband is right, she is spreading herself thin. But she views this as a necessity. She wants to compete and someday win her fifteenth world championship. She knows that she can still make a difference as an active competitor. She also does not want to risk losing her business again and she knows that so long as there are threats out there to her corporate power then she cannot just simply sit idly by and hope nothing bad happens. She did that once and her idleness cost her everything.
She will not wait again.
The British Bombshell takes another big swig of her wine before setting it down on a nearby coffee table. She turns and stares into her husband’s loving eyes.
“There are many people out there who are jealous of me, jealous of what I have achieved. I have been a success inside the wrestling ring as a competitor and I have been a success outside of the wrestling ring as a corporate businesswoman. No one can say that they have achieved the kind of success that I have achieved. And now there are those who want to see me lose my power.”
“It almost sounds like paranoia.” Kurt remarks stoically.
“It may be paranoia, and hell, I hope it is, but I do not want to take the risk. I want to be safe. I want to make sure every base is covered and that there is no possible way for me to lose the corporate power that I have built up.”
“But Matthew Alan is the only person who could have taken you down.” Kurt answers immediately. “And now he’s indicted. You said it yourself, he is done. Who can possible hurt you now?”
“His family.” Glory answers quietly after a long, tense pause. Kurt nods his head.
“Ok, fair enough. I still do not like where you are going with this and I want to be on record as saying that I think this is a bad idea.”
“Noted. I do ask for your support, though.” Glory states. Kurt without hesitation leans in and plants a kiss on her lips.
“You don’t even have to ask.” He says with a grin. “I will always support you, Glory. No matter what.”
“And that’s why I love you so much.” Glory returns the favor, kissing her husband on the lips. Their passionate liplock continues for a few moments until they hear a ringing throughout the house. They break their passionate kiss and begin to laugh lightly to themselves.
“It’s the door…” Glory says, her voice fading “...probably Meagan.”
“Ok, I’ll go let her in…” Kurt stands up but then pauses. He turns to face Glory with a look of surprise on his face. “...wait, Meagan as in Meagan Collins?”
“Yes.” Glory answers. Kurt just stares at his wife for several moments with no words. Nothing comes from Glory either. Finally Kurt just sighs.
“I won’t ask.” Kurt walks off, exiting the living room. Glory sighs with a sense of regret. She knows that her husband is not happy about her new working relationship with Meagan Collins. Glory may seem to have the upper hand, she may seem to have her over a barrel, but Kurt and Glory both know that Meagan is very manipulative and cannot be trusted. Still, it is someone like Meagan who can play a vital role in helping Glory achieve the firm grip she wants to have over her company.
As for Meagan, she will be loyal to Glory Braddock. She has no choice but to be loyal. Thanks to evidence obtained by private investigator Seth Rogers, Glory now has the photographs and documentation needed to blackmail Meagan into loyalty. If Meagan wants to stay off of the front page of the daily news, then she will do whatever Glory asks of her.
A few moments later Meagan Collins emerges into the living room. Typically Meagan is dressed in the finer attire but today Meagan is dressed relaxed, wearing tight denim jeans, black boots, and a plain white t-shirt.
Glory cannot help herself as she stands up and opens her arms up wide for a hug. She is taunting Meagan and knows it. Is it wrong to taunt her? Maybe. But Meagan has done far worse things in her past. And it is these crimes that Glory is holding over her head as blackmail. Meagan is getting everything she deserves and then some. Glory feels no pity or remorse.
Meagan does not accept the hug, instead walks over to the sofa and sits down. Glory tilts her head to one side and frowns.
“What’s wrong, Megs? No hug?”
“What do you want, Ms. Braddock?”
Glory snickers nastily. “See? This is why I knew you and I would make a bloody great team. You want to get right down to business and so do I.” The British Bombshell walks back over to the sofa and sits down next to Meagan. “It does help that we live only an hour and a half away from each other! It allows us to see so much more of each other!”
“Wonderful.” Meagan remarks, with a clear hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“It is wonderful and I am so glad to hear you say that it is wonderful, after all, we are going to become fast friends. We are going to be seeing a lot more of one another.”
“What do you want?” Meagan asks, repeating her earlier question. Glory decides it is now time for her to get serious as well. Very few get to treat Meagan Collins like this and she isn’t going to squander this opportunity.
“Oh, well my husband and I were just watching the news and we saw how Matthew Alan was indicted by a grand jury. That pretty much eliminates him as a threat to my company. And I am thrilled by that, but you know that everyone has their weakness. Every Superman has a kryptonite. And you know what mine is, right Meagan?”
Meagan doesn’t answer right away. She keeps her eyes steadfastly locked upon Glory’s. This silence begins to irritate The British Bombshell. She growls lightly under her breath before repeating the question.
“Don’t play games with me, Meagan. I know how you operate as a businesswoman. You always analyze the competition. You always try to find their weakness. I’ve been one of your biggest rivals in the wrestling ring and only recently did I emerge as a rival in the corporate world. Surely you have worked out what my one weakness is?”
There is another long, tense pause. Finally Meagan smirks...almost as if she finally feels that confidence reemerging.
“You’re a rank amateur when it comes to business.” Meagan answers with a sly grin. Glory sighs and nods her head in confirmation.
“I wouldn’t quite call myself a rank amateur but yes, I am not as knowledgeable about business as I would like to be. My inexperience caused me to lose my company to Henry Van Stanton. And then I lost my identity to Aphrodite Noel. But while she took my identity she gave me valuable knowledge of the corporate world. And once I regained my identity, I used the knowledge I obtained from Noel to retake my company. That knowledge also has been of assistance in helping me get you in the situation you find yourself in...subservient to me.”
“Then why don’t you go running to mommy and ask for her help instead of crawling to me?!” Meagan growls angrily. This was a mistake by Meagan in her attempt to provoke Glory and she realizes it the moment Glory reaches over and snatches her by the throat.
“SHUT UP!” Glory exclaims loudly. “SHUT UP NOW OR…”
“...or what?!” Meagan asks, almost daring Glory to pull the trigger and squeeze the life out of her. Thankfully, cooler heads prevail and Braddock releases her grip upon Meagan.
“I apologize, Meagan. I may have overreacted.”
“Overreacted?!” Meagan exclaims in shock, rubbing her throat.
“For years she played with my mind. She got in my head and for years I couldn’t get her out. It’s the reason I lost the company. I still suffer minor bouts of PTSD from that experience. Nothing noticeable to anyone but it’s there. So for your sake, don’t bring it up again.”
“Yeah...I understand…”
“Good. Now then, like I said the business world is not my strong suit. I can defeat anyone in the wrestling ring but in the corporate world I still do not know all of the tricks of the trade. You do. I want to learn from you. And one thing I want to learn from you right now involves Matthew Alan’s family. He has just been indicted on federal charges. He poses no threat to me, I understand that. But what about the rest of his family?”
Meagan pauses for a moment to consider the question. She has had many dealings with this family and it is for this reason that Glory Braddock wanted to have her assistance in this matter.
“His daughter has no interest whatsoever in business.”
“Geneva?” Glory asks. Meagan nods her head in confirmation.
“Right, she just wants to be a wrestler. But Matthew’s sister, Aurora Alan, is a different story altogether. All she has ever done is business, but never the wrestling business.”
“What can you tell me about her?”
“Aurora in many ways is a perfect foil to her brother. As sleazy and criminal as he was, she was every bit the perfect angel. Everything she has done in the corporate world she has done fair and square, legitimately. She earned everything she has ever received.”
“So she’s squeaky clean?” Glory asks. Meagan nods her head.
“You could say that, yeah.”
“Bloody hell. What are the chances she may be interested in going after my company?”
“Hard to say.” Meagan remarks. “I mean, she has never showed any interest in wrestling before but then again, her family started your company. There are members of the Board of Directors who were there when Matthew Alan ran the company. They may encourage her to go after you.”
“So we need to get rid of her? We need to find some dirt on her so that…”
“Did you not listen to me?!” Meagan exclaims. “I told you that there was NO dirt on Aurora! She has done nothing wrong!”
“Then we’ll make something up!”
Meagan arches her brow out of shock upon hearing Glory Braddock suggest this. Then a sinister grin forms upon Meagan’s face.
“Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, I can do that. I’ve done it before, as you well know, but do YOU want to go there? You’re already walking a very thin line here Ms. Braddock, but if you fabricate evidence against Aurora Alan, you would be firmly in the criminal realm with little old me.”
The British Bombshell stares at Meagan Collins for a few moments. She allows her words to sink in and, eventually, the wisdom behind them takes over. Glory shakes her head.
“Fine...that option is off the table, for now…”
“For now?” Meagan asks with a smirk. “When is it coming back ON the table?”
“None of your business. Just tell me what you would suggest I do about this?”
“Honestly, your problems all come from one source; the Board of Directors. You have enemies on the Board of Directors. People who tolerate you but would rather see someone else running your company. Some of them you will never win over because they just hate you. But there are those on the fence whom you can either win over or at least have them become supporters. You should focus on those who are on the fence.”
“How do I get them on my side?”
“First you need to ask yourself WHY are they on the fence.” Meagan grins from ear to ear. “And little Megs knows why they are on the fence.” Meagan points a long slender finger at Glory.
“They do not trust your mental capacity. You said it yourself, you are still suffering some minor PTSD from your dealings with Aphrodite Noel and at the risk of getting choked out again I have to ask...just what the hell did she do to get inside your head that much? Clearly she is still there otherwise you wouldn’t have tried to murder me just a few minutes ago.”
The risk of Glory choking Meagan out is a legitimate one as The British Bombshell does consider it. Glory holds off. She needs Meagan right now. Glory sighs deeply as she begins to recall memories from a long time ago.
“I was a different person back then. I was more of a practical joker. I was tough, I was a badass, but I was a clown and it was all because I thought I was strong. I thought I was unstoppable. But Aphrodite exposed me. Just as I hold something over on you, she held something over my head and she used it to take away my identity. Everything that made me who I was she stripped away and replaced it with her version of who she thought I should be. I became her daughter. When the Board got wind that Aphrodite controlled me they used that as an excuse to throw me out and install Henry Van Stanton.” Braddock wipes a tear from her eye.
“I needed help but I escaped her control. And I eventually reclaimed my identity. But I never fully reclaimed all of my identity.” She taps her forehead. “A part of her is still there and I don’t think I will ever get rid of her completely. I’m resigned to the fact that the old Glory Braddock will never come back.”
“And that’s what happened to your sister then, isn’t it?” Meagan asks. Glory nods her head.
“Yes, Aphrodite did the same thing to my sister Julia. She had worse stuff held over Julia’s head, though.”
“What kind of stuff?” Meagan asks curiously. Glory smirks.
“Nice try but I’m not telling you. She did blackmail Julia and like me she stripped away her identity, she made her into her daughter, though Julia took the next big step of rejecting her own family name and renaming herself Chastity Noel.”
“That’s surprising. Obviously she didn’t get to you as bad as she did to your sister.”
“Well she almost did.” Glory remarks. “At my lowest of low points I considered completely renaming myself. It was at that point that I realized that I needed to fight back. And here I am today, not completely cured but almost…”
Meagan grins from ear to ear, an idea has popped into her head “I think you just gave yourself the solution to your own problem.”
“What are you talking about?” Glory asks.
“I’m talking about a way to win over enough of those worrisome Board members in a way that is squeaky clean and not criminal at all. Though it may be slightly immoral. So how immoral are you willing to be, Ms. Braddock?” Meagan asks with a sinister grin.
“Just tell me your plan.”
“Those Board members just want some confirmation that you are no longer influenced by Aphrodite Noel. You’re all buddy-buddy with your sister again who clearly is influenced by Aphrodite and the Board doesn’t like that. So what you could do is be the good and kind sister you are and get Julia, Chastity, or whatever her name is the professional help she needs.”
Braddock’s eyes grow wide with shock. Then she narrows her eyes into a glare at Meagan. “You want me to get my sister institutionalized?”
“Aphrodite would hate you. Your family would hate you. But the Board of Directors would be solidly in your corner. Hell, even your enemies on the Board would have no justifiable reason to oppose you, because you would have proven to them and everyone else that you are in no way influenced by Noel.”
The British Bombshell shakes her head furiously. “No! Out of the question! I will not do that to my own family!”
“Suit yourself.” Meagan shrugs. “I’m only here to offer advice.”
“Just leave!” Glory angrily points towards the door. “Leave and think of better advice!”
“Will do...Ms. Braddock…” Meagan playfully salutes as she gets up off of the sofa, blows Glory a kiss, and then walks off. Once she hears the door shut Glory pulls out her cell phone. She dials a number and waits.
“Yes, Bob? This is Glory. Please contact Mason Van Stanton for me. I have an idea…”
==========
March 9th, 2020
Raleigh, NC
Off Camera
==========
Vivace is a traditional Italian restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina. The British Bombshell Glory Braddock stands just inside the entrance of the restaurant, gazing at the dining area. She is disappointed that this particular meeting has to happen, not only due to the fact that this is taking place in North Carolina, a place she absolutely abhors, but also due to the individual she is meeting with…
...an old arch rival of hers, Mason Van Stanton.
The Van Stanton family and the Braddock family have been at odds for as long as anyone can recall. It is a bitter feud that, for professional wrestling, is almost as iconic as the Hatfield and McCoy blood feud. It is a feud that has transcended the mere confines of a wrestling ring and has taken place backstage and in the corporate world as well. Yet the very same backstage politics that seemed to drive a wedge between these two feuding families has also created a situation where Glory may need the Van Stantons, or at least Mason in particular. She does not like it, but she will tolerate it for the good of wrestling and for the good of her company.
The restaurant was full of action; an old couple eating side by side, one glass of wine each, studiously bent over their meals. A group of young women in their thirties collapsing with helpless giggles as a stern woman dining alone nearby looked on and frowned, businessmen in their grey suits lighting up cigars, tourists, trying to decipher the menu, A family and their teenage children. The noise level was high and the lovely blonde beauty, who has come here for a purpose, is finding it quite difficult to focus on her objective. She’s impatient.
“Where the bloody hell is he?” Glory growls under her breath.
Rarely does Braddock ever feel awkward these days. Lately she has gotten used to feeling like the center of attention. In fact, she tends to like it. In this case she isn’t particularly fond of the spotlight being focused upon her. She is standing here in the waiting area, along with a few other people, waiting on the arrival of Mason Van Stanton. She doesn’t trust him anyway. Mason Van Stanton has manipulated his way into her sister’s good graces and she is convinced he is using her to his own advantage. Mason has tried to use and manipulate Glory Braddock. Mason’s brother, Henry, was involved in Glory’s loss of the company many years ago. Now he is managing Clyde Sutter, a man who Braddock is convinced raped her daughter Melinda, even if Melinda refuses to admit it.
Glory Braddock has already done many questionable things all in her quest to maintain power within her company. This one act right now, working with a man has heinous and sleazy as Mason, perhaps is the most questionable one to date. Still, she had her attorney Robert Odom set up this meeting. And even if it was done somewhat as a knee jerk reaction, there is no turning back now. What’s done is done and all she can do is wait.
Hopefully it won’t be much longer.
“Miss?” Braddock is startled when she hears a rough sounding voice. She turns and spots a brown haired, tall lanky individual dressed nicely in a black server’s uniform standing a few feet away. He has a pleasant smile on his face. “Do you need to be seated?”
“Uh, yes, but I am waiting on someone else.”
“How many will be in your party and I can go ahead and prepare a table?” The polite young man asks. Braddock holds up two fingers.
“Two.”
“Very good.” With a nod of his head, the man turns and walks away to prepare the table. The British Bombshell sighs and shakes her head. She definitely would rather be anywhere else but here but Raleigh is where Mason has his office. Raleigh is his headquarters. Raleigh is where he wanted to meet Glory Braddock. He knows that she needs him, not the other way around, so he gets to determine the terms, the time, and the place.
“Waiting for someone?” Braddock turns around and spots Mason Van Stanton there a few feet away. He is wearing a black suit and white button up shit. His hair is slicked back and he has a sinister grin on his face. “Looking good, Glory.”
“You’re late.” Braddock remarks flatly.
“Nice to see you too. But really, you shouldn’t complain. You’re lucky I even came. You realize, of course, that I do not like you. You realize that I would love to see the fabulous little empire and reputation you’ve built up come crashing down in flames around you.” Van Stanton sneers nastily. “Best in the World? Ha! Wrestling fans at least are beginning to see the real you but the rest of the complacent idiots out there still love you and for what? Why?”
“Charity work does wonders, Mason. Then again, you wouldn’t know that considering everything you’ve ever done is selfish, all for your own gain.”
“And you’re any different Ms. Fourteen Time World Champion?” Mason asks with arched brows. Braddock nods her head.
“Yes, I am different. Everything I do and am currently doing is for the best, what’s best for wrestling. It may not be popular with all of the fans right now but when all is said and done they will understand.”
“Said every tyrant that ever existed.” Mason says with a sneer upon his face. Glory rolls her eyes.
“I don’t have time for this petty squabbling, mate. Are you willing to do business or not? If not I can gladly leave. I hate being in North Carolina anyway.”
“I know how much you hate this state.” He smirks. “That’s why I chose to meet you here. We are going to do business and we’re going to do business on my home turf, Braddock. Not yours.”
The British Bombshell would strangle him right now if she could. Unfortunately this is a public place and public strangulation of another human being is illegal. So she holds back her anger. Lucky for her, she doesn’t have to wait long for a reprieve. The tall brown haired server from earlier approaches.
“Your table is ready, ma’am.”
“Excellent!” Mason exclaims loudly, taking Glory’s hand and kissing it. “Me and my lady friend cannot wait to sample your fine cuisine!”
Glory wants to explode but she manages to maintain her composure. The server, with menus in hand, leads Glory and Mason into the main dining area of the restaurant. Glory can almost feel the eyes upon her, even if it isn’t true, but she feels like it, especially with Mason Van Stanton clutching her arm as if they are a couple. For Braddock this is embarrassing. For Van Stanton, he is enjoying every minute of this. It seems like an eternity for Glory but in truth it isn’t very long until Mason and Glory are seated at a table.
“So may I interest you in a beverage while you look over our menu?” The server asks.
“Miller Lite for me.” Mason says with a snicker.
“Pinot Noir.” Glory answers.
“Very good. I will return shortly.” The server nods, turns, and then walks off.
“This place is very good.” Mason says, breaking the ice quickly, almost immediately after the server left. “I used to take Destiny here. She particularly enjoyed the wine.”
“Destiny…” Braddock’s anger grows and begins to boil over. “Destiny”, as in Destiny Blair, is Mason Van Stanton’s ex wife, who Mason recently threw off the top of a hell in a cell and then the next week requested a divorce. Destiny was also a student of Glenn Braddock, Glory’s father, and a good friend of Glory Braddock. This mention of Destiny is just another reminder of the kind of man Mason is makes her question whether she truly is doing the right thing in associating herself with him.
“You do know her, right?” Mason asks mockingly.
“Damn right I do. And I am not particularly happy about what you did to her.”
“I got bored with her and shoved her aside like yesterday’s news.”
“In favor of whom? My sister?”
“Chastity was always my goal, Glory. You knew that. I always wanted her as a client and Destiny served a great purpose in helping me get your sister to become my client. Once I got that, I no longer needed Destiny. Me and Chastity are doing what was once thought to be impossible; a Braddock and a Van Stanton working together. We are ending the bitter rivalry between our families, all the while you remain bitter and angry towards me.”
“Oh am I bitter?” Glory asks with arched brows. “The way I recall it, I was the one who requested this meeting between you and me. I’m the one who wants to do business with you.”
“Point taken…” Mason says with his interest clearly peaked. A few moments later the server returns, placing a glass of beer, the Miller Lite, in front of Mason. He places a glass of red wine in front of Glory Braddock. The server looks at Mason and then at Glory.
“Do you know what you wish to order? An appetizer perhaps?”
“Not yet.” Braddock shakes her head. “Give us more time.”
“As you wish, ma’am.” The server nods and then turns to walk away. Glory turns back to face Mason with a grin on her face.
“So, are you interested in why I want to do business with a con man like you?”
“A con artist? Moi? Honestly, I could say the same thing about you. But I will admit that I am intrigued about why you want to do business with me, especially after our family history.” He takes a sip of his beer. Glory watches on with a confident grin upon her face. Her anger is finally subsiding and the confidence she has had in recent weeks is returning.
“I wish to talk with you for two reasons, Mason. Primarily, I wish to discuss my sister...Julia…” Glory is emphatic about using her sister’s original name, her birth name, as opposed to the name she wishes to use now. Mason notices this and sneers.
“Chastity, yes...what about her?”
“You are aware that she and I went into business together. We agreed to share ownership of the Braddock Wrestling School as part of a larger deal to merge the school and my own wrestling promotion under one umbrella.”
“Yes, I am aware.”
“You weren’t pleased with her decision, were you?” Glory asks with a sly grin upon her face.
“No, I wasn’t. She agreed to that deal without my knowledge. We did have words about it after the fact, but ultimately it was out of my hands. It was a family matter and despite her name change, she is still your blood.”
“I had a feeling you wouldn’t approve.” Glory answers, taking a sip of her wine. “You are always the opportunist, Mason. You would have wanted to use your influence as her agent to try and tear away at least some stake in my school...or my company...something, you would have done something to poison the empire I built. An empire that you yourself said you wanted to burn to the ground. But what you didn’t count on was my sister and I finally burying the hatchet. You didn’t count on our bond as family, as sisters, overcoming whatever influence you hold over her.”
Van Stanton takes a big sip of his beer and then slams the glass down on the table out of frustration. “Are we here to actually talk business or is this going to just be you and I taunting one another for the next hour?”
“We are going to do business, Mason. In fact, we’re going to do business right now. This is my proposal...I want my sister back. No longer under your control, no longer under your contract, and no longer using that bloody horrendous Noel name. I want my sister back. And you will help me. Sometime soon, or maybe sometime in the distant future, I will call upon you to do me a favor to help me get my sister back and you will obey me.”
“Or what?” Mason sneers angrily. “You have nothing to threaten me with, Braddock.”
“I have plenty to threaten you with, Mason. In fact, that’s the other item I wish to discuss today. Clyde Sutter…”
Mason laughs nastily. He knows that Glory Braddock detests Sutter. She kicked him out of her school and she has never had to kick anyone out of her school. She had hoped she could blackball Sutter from ever appearing in a wrestling ring but Mason Van Stanton used his influence to get him signed to a wrestling contract. It was done out of spite to provoke Braddock. It worked.
“Ah yes, my young pupil. A young prospect fighter. You wanted to keep him from achieving his dream but as usual I made dreams happen and I made his happen.”
“You make me sick, Mason.” Glory sneers angrily. “You have no idea who you have signed to a contract when you signed Clyde Sutter.”
“I know he is a monster who can take anyone in the ring. He pushed a reigning World Champion to the limit. With a little more work Sutter himself could be a world champion someday. How would that look on your sparkling record, eh Glory? You kicking out a future world champion.”
“Oh I think I’d still look rather sparkling, mate, especially when everyone finds out that said future world champion is also a rapist.”
There is an immediate silence from Mason Van Stanton as he stares long and hard into Glory’s eyes. He is trying to take in what he just heard. He isn’t sure he believes it. He has to hear it again.
“What did you just say?”
“You heard what I said and you know damn well that Sutter once dated my daughter. I have proof that he took advantage of her and raped her. That evidence can easily disappear for good but you have to do what I say and help me get my sister back.”
“You’re bluffing.” Mason states confidently. Glory snickers.
“Want to bet? How lucky do you feel?”
In truth, Glory has no evidence to prove her claim. The only witness would be her daughter Melinda, who is insistent that everything they did was consensual. Glory, however, firmly believes that she is saying this out of fear, fear of reprisal from Clyde Sutter. But Glory cannot prove any of it. All she can rely on is this bluff. Lucky for her, Mason cracks…
“Fine. You win, Braddock.”
“I always win, Mason.” Glory says with a nasty laugh.
“Mind if I ask what you need me to do? Helping you get your sister back is rather...vague…”
“There’s a reason for that, Van Stanton.” She takes a sip of her wine. “And I’m not telling you. At least not yet, not until it is time.”
==========
March 9th, 2020
Raleigh, NC
Off Camera
==========
Kurt Logan and his step-daughter, Melinda Braddock, stand just outside the of a Hilton hotels and suites in Raleigh, North Carolina. The bright Carolina blue sky with the sun shining down is enough to cheer anyone up and a good cheering up is what the father-daughter pair really need right now. Melinda and Kurt are awaiting the arrival of Melinda’s mother, Kurt’s wife, The British Bombshell Glory Braddock.
“Where is she?” Melinda asks, sounding like the whiny teenager she is. Kurt ignores his step-daughter for now. To be honest, he is just as frustrated as Melinda but not for the waiting. Glory Braddock is indeed late. She was supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago and it isn’t like the self-proclaimed Best in the World to be late. Still, Kurt and Melinda find themselves standing here, waiting, and probably looking rather foolish for it.
“Just be patient, Mel.” Kurt remarks. “I’m sure she’ll be here shortly.”
“Can’t we go back inside?”
“I suppose we could, but didn’t you want to enjoy the fresh air?”
“No, that was your idea...dad…” Melinda says with a playful wink. She knows how much Kurt enjoys being called dad. He is not her biological father but he has spent most of his life raising her. He truly does love and care for Melinda as if she were his daughter, just as much as he cares for and loves Melinda’s mother Glory and it is that love and care which is the true underlying reason why Kurt is growing more and more frustrated with this wait.
Melinda was told that they were stopping by Raleigh so that Glory could do some “business” involving her company, Global Wrestling Enterprise. Kurt, however, knew that the “business” involved a meeting with Mason Van Stanton, whom Kurt did not trust at all. He voiced his concern with Glory who would hear none of it. He doesn’t understand why she insisted on meeting Mason here today. He doesn’t understand why she insisted on meeting him at all, to be perfectly honest. But Glory Braddock is stubborn, just as stubborn as her cousins Angelica and Kayla Jones. When she sets her mind to something you cannot talk her out of it. And Glory was hell bent on having this meeting with Van Stanton.
It’s been more than fifteen minutes now, Kurt realizes as he checks the watch on his wrist. He sighs and nods his head. “Let’s go back inside then, Mel.”
Kurt turns and starts to walk towards the front doors of the Hilton. Mel is about to follow when she spots a long black limousine approaching. She grins from ear to ear at what she knows is the arrival of her mother. “Wait! She’s here!”
Kurt Logan stops and turns around, looking in the direction where Melinda is pointing. Sure enough, it is the limousine that Glory took off in earlier and it is now returning to the hotel to pick up Kurt and Melinda. The luxury vehicle pulls right up close to Kurt and Melinda and slowly comes to a stop. Kurt approaches the back passenger’s door and opens it. Glory Braddock exits and embraces Kurt in a tight loving hug.
“Sorry I was late, love! The business meeting ran long…”
“I was afraid it might.” Kurt remarks with a hint of sarcasm. Glory shoots her husband a glare, letting him know to keep quiet about the fact that it was Mason she met with. Kurt understands immediately and nods his head.
“What was so important that it kept you busy for so long?” Melinda asks curiously. Glory smiles warmly down at her daughter. She leans over and kisses her on the forehead.
“It isn’t important, Melinda.”
“Did you at least accomplish...uh...whatever it is you wanted to do?” Melinda asks. Glory smirks knowingly and nods her head.
“I did. A deal has been secured that should help the secure Global Wrestling Enterprise for the foreseeable future.”
“And what does that mean exactly?”
“Does it matter?” Glory counters as she hopes to divert this conversation away from the meeting she just attended. The last thing she needs is for her oh so curious daughter to start sticking her nose into her business. “I have a busy week this week, wrestling all over the world, you two won’t get to see much of me.”
“Sooooooo what are you suggesting?” Melinda asks.
“I’m suggesting that the three of us get our stuff, put it in that limo right there, and before we get the hell out of this rat infested city, we stop by a nice ice cream shop and get some sweets.”
“Awesomeness!” Melinda exclaims happily. “I think I saw a Dairy Queen down the road!”
Glory Braddock nods her head with a grin, a grin of victory. The quickest and easiest way to a child’s heart is ice cream, even if that child is almost fully grown. Glory has successfully distracted her from what happened today, as was intended.
“Ok then, let’s go.” Kurt says, chiming in to agree with his wife. “Our stuff is already loaded up on a cart just inside the lobby. We can get the cart and go.”
Glory nods her head but just before any further action can be taken, loud screeching of tire wheels can be heard. It is enough to distract Kurt, Glory, and Melinda. The three turn around to see what is causing the commotion. They see a car stopping just in front of the hotel. The windows are down but they cannot see inside. What Kurt does see causes him to open his eyes wide in fear.
“They’ve got guns!”
Kurt reaches out and snatches Melinda by her arm, and roughly throws her and Glory onto the ground right as shots are fired. Kurt shouts in pain. He is hit but it isn’t clear where. He falls down upon his wife and Melinda. Gunshots continue to ring out for several moments that seem like an eternity before the car drives off. As soon as she is certain the gunners are gone, Glory takes an assessment of her family.
“Melinda, are you ok?”
“Yeah...I’m fine…” Melinda answers. Glory looks over at her husband who is clearly in pain. She can see bloody on the ground.
“Kurt! Someone get help!” Glory shouts.
“They got me in the leg…” Kurt’s voice trails off.
“Melinda…” Glory looks at her daughter “...go inside and get help. Call the police.”
“Ok, mom.” Melinda nods and gets up, runs off. Glory looks down at her husband.
“Bloody hell, Kurt...are you going to be fine…”
“I think so. It sure hurts like hell…” he winces in pain. “...but why? That couldn’t have been random?”
“No...it couldn’t have been…” Glory says slowly, realizing that Kurt is right. This was targeted. Someone wanted her dead.