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January 18th, 2021
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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Home is where the heart is; for Glory Braddock, home will always be London, England even if her current residence is Miami, Florida. The British Bombshell has some extended family but they live in quite the opposite of the warm, tropical climate of Miami. Glory’s extended family, cousins Angelica and Kayla Jones, live in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston is the capital city, the seat of power for the state of Massachusetts. It is the birthplace of the American Revolution, as both the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre, events which led to the American uprising in the late 1700s, took place in this grand city. For the Jones family, Boston is their own personal seat of power. It’s where they lived, grew up, and feel the most comfortable. But this visit will be rather uncomfortable for one Glory Braddock.
The discomfort comes from what she is being asked to do; she was informed by Francis Taylor, the president of her company, that the modeling agency Glory’s cousin Kayla owns and operates is having financial difficulties and is ripe for a takeover. They need money to keep afloat and if Glory’s company provides that money then, for all intents and purposes, Kayla’s modeling agency would be in debt, if not outright owned by Glory's company. Glory certainly sees the logic in Francis Taylor’s line of thought; Global Wrestling Enterprise is doing well financially, they can afford to prop up the modeling agency and, eventually take it over. And expanding into the modeling industry would add more potential profits for the company.
While the logic may seem to suggest a takeover is the right move, Glory’s own conscience is still grappling with the ethics of it all. Family has always been important to The British Bombshell, or at least it used to be, before she got involved in the corporate life. The corporate life changed Braddock and made her into a monster that no one recognized. She put profits and power ahead of family. Only recently has Glory conquered her inner demons and put that monster at bay. Since then she has promised to always to keep her family first, she has promised that family would always be her number one priority. For this reason alone Glory is doubting the ethics of a takeover of her cousin’s modeling agency. If financial assistance is what she needs that’s one thing but to outright takeover the company? Is that right? Is that fair? Would Kayla even want that?
These are all questions on the mind of Glory Braddock as she makes her way up the walkway that leads to the front door of her cousin, Kayla Jones. Despite being first cousins, Glory hasn’t visited Kayla very often. In fact, this is the first time Glory can recall showing up at Kayla’s home and the home she views in front of her face is quite the sight indeed. The house looked like a cut out from some fancy magazine. It was beautiful, but not in the olde-worlde quaint kind of way Braddock was usually drawn to. Everything was geometric, which you could say about almost any pitched roof abode with square windows, but on this house you couldn't help but notice it. The roof was flat for a start and the door was wide as it was tall. The windows took up entire walls with only polished steel beams to break them into yet more rectangles. The look would have been entirely metallic, like a mini down-town skyscraper had it not been for the cedar beams of the external porch and the matching raised plant beds that contained only white blooms. The British Bombshell makes it to the front door and rings the doorbell, which happens to be a buzzer. There is an intercom and it speaks back to her…
“Yes?” It is the voice of her cousin.
“It’s me.”
“Who?”
“Glory.”
“Oh, right...one second…”
Braddock stands there waiting, but the wait isn’t but for a few seconds as she hears the door unlatching. The door then opens and she spots her cousin, the redheaded Kayla Jones, standing there with open arms, ready to greet her with a hug. Glory accepts the warm embrace for a few moments before releasing the grip. Kayla has a wide, warm smile on her face as she clearly and obviously is thrilled that her cousin has come to see her.
“It’s so great to see you, Glory!
“It’s great to be seen, mate. May I come in?”
“Of course, Glory. You know you never have to ask.”
Kayla steps aside and motions for her cousin to come in. Braddock crosses the threshold, entering the home, all the while taking note of Kayla’s overt cheerfulness. It seems a little unnatural for a woman who, not too long ago, had been accused of being terribly full of herself and arrogant beyond anyone’s dreams. Something has definitely altered Kayla’s outlook on life. Is it the financial difficulties that her modeling agency is suffering right now? Have they taken a toll on Kayla’s mental and emotional state of mind? Perhaps.
Braddock stops to allow her cousin to get ahead and lead the way further. This home is unknown to The British Bombshell and she will need a guide. She follows Kayla and as she does so she takes note of the surroundings. The house was welcoming from the open door to the wide hallway. Upon the walls were the photographs of children...a few of them of Marie and Jessica when they were children, Kimberly as an adult, and then there were pictures of Kayla’s own twins, all of these children Kayla so obviously so loved. The floor was an old-fashioned parquet with a blend of deep homely browns and the walls were the greens of summer gardens meeting a bold white baseboard. The banister was a twirl of a branch, tamed by the carpenter's hand, it's grain flowing as water might, in waves of comforting woodland hues. Under the lamp-shine it was nature's art, something that soothed right to the soul.
Jones leads her cousin through a hallway and then into what appears to be a living room area. It was a handsome room in the Italian mode of the Empire period--beautiful old faded tapestry panels--reddish--and some ormolu furniture--and other things mixed in--rather conglomerate, but pleasing, all the more pleasing. It was big but not too empty. It was also perfect, like a magazine cover. The couch is cream but inlaid with a fine green silk; leaves embroidered so delicately that they might have landed there in spring and just sunk in, but you know they took hundreds of hours to sew. The white curtains are linen, the kind of white that is untouched by hands and devoid of dust. A cursory look to the right shows Glory the almost hidden cords that are used to open and close them. As far as the furniture in this room goes, Glory has never seen a room with so much furniture. The furniture is rustic and dark, sprinkled liberally with vibrant cushions. There is a table in easy reach of every seat and the walls are more photographs than paint. Every one is of a happy memory, a smiling child, a birthday, a new baby. There is lively Columbian music in the background and the scent of cilantro in the air. I want to sink into the couch and never move. It isn't just a house, it's a home; she's made it that way.
“Have a seat, please!” Kayla says, motioning to a nearby sofa. Glory nods and sits down. Kayla then exits through a side door. Glory can only guess as to where her cousin went. But it isn’t long until Kayla returns with two wine glasses and a bottle of red wine. Braddock certainly loves wine but the Jones family loves it even more. Glory chuckles as she realizes that she should’ve expected this from Kayla Jones.
Glory receives a glass from her cousin and then holds the glass so that Kayla can pour some wine into it. She waits as Kayla pours herself some wine into the other glass. Kayla sets the wine bottle on the nearby table before finding a seat on the sofa next to Glory. Kayla holds up the glass, clearly offering up a toast.
“To family!”
“To family?” Glory is a little confused but toasts Kayla anyway, clinking glasses together before taking a sip in unison with her cousin.
“So, what do you think of the wine?”
“It’s good, mate. Real good.”
“Thanks. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion and I believe anytime I see family is a special occasion, don’t you?”
Glory nods her head, though this cheerful is definitely uncharacteristic of her cousin. “Of course.”
“I would ask why you came to visit, because I mean you never told me over the phone, but really I don’t care.” Kayla is beaming from ear to ear. “I am just glad to see you. You rarely visit.”
Braddock chuckles. “I could say the same back at you, love.”
“Fair enough, you’re right. I guess I should understand what it’s like, y’know? To run a business and be an active wrestler at the same time? It is damn near impossible and takes up so much of your time. I don’t know how you do it, Glory.”
“It’s tough, I’ll grant you that, but that’s why I delegate tasks and responsibilities to other people. That way I can focus on what’s most important to me.”
Kayla nods her head in agreement. “That’s probably what I should have done all along. I made the mistake of trying to micromanage my modeling agency and my wrestling career at the same time. It worked for a while but the drawback was that I almost never had any contact with family or friends unless we ran into one another at a business function or a wrestling appearance.”
Kayla sighs deeply and Glory can detect a hint of regret. “That’s the consequences of success, I suppose?”
Kayla nods her head. “Yeah, you’re right about that.” Kayla takes a sip of her wine. “But I am glad that I am not as busy as I used to be. At least this way I can take some time to be with those I love. And that’s why I am glad you stopped by for a visit. It has been way too long since we had a talk.”
“Well I’m not sure how long our talk or visit or whatever you want to call this will last, mate. I have to be somewhere next week.”
“Oh come on!” Kayla protests. “Where?”
“Denver. SCW Last Grasp of Reality and I’m defending the Adrenaline Championship against Shilo Valiant and Dylan Howell.”
“Twiddle dumb and twiddle dumber.”
Glory chuckles. “You’re right about that, but it is a triple threat. I’m facing both at once. And as annoying or idiotic as they may be, they pose a threat. I need to be ready.”
“And you will be. You have a whole week to prepare but you don’t have to go to Denver right away. You know Trenton [Snow] and I have a gym right here. Plus we have a spare bedroom. Instead of going straight to Denver you can spend a few nights here and use our workout center to prepare for your match.”
“Maybe, but I was hoping to get some sparring in and…”
“And? You have the perfect sparring partner right here!” Kayla says, motioning to herself. “I may not be as active as I once was but I am still deadly, just as deadly as Shilo and Dylan. I can get you ready for your title defense.”
The British Bombshell still isn’t sure. Spending time with her cousin sounds like a great idea but her conscience is still eating away at her knowing that she is here to look into a possible takeover of her modeling agency. Braddock shakes her head. “I don’t know…”
“I won’t take no for an answer.”
Glory thinks about it for a little longer and finally sighs. “Fine. I will think about it.”
“That’s all I ask!”
“I make no promises, mate. I mean, I’d have to let Kurt where I am because we were going to meet in Denver. I’d have to change my plans entirely.”
“Understood. Just consider it, ok? I haven’t seen you in forever and spending time with you would be great.”
Something is definitely wrong with her cousin and Glory knows it. She studies Kayla closely, intensely, staring into her eyes and what is it that she sees? Sadness? Concern? “What’s wrong, Kayla?”
“What are you talking about? Nothing’s wrong?”
“Don’t play games with me, love.” Glory says with a smirk. “You’ve been overly friendly and overly cheerful since I arrived and, quite frankly, that’s not the stubborn, bullheaded Kayla Jones I know. And I seriously doubt just seeing my face puts joy into your heart. So what’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Kayla remarks. Glory notices that her cousin’s demeanor changes to a more stoic one as she immediately takes a big swig of her wine. Glory continues to apply the pressure to her cousin.
“Look, you want me to spend a few days here with you? Every single day I’m here I will annoy you and bother you with questions about whatever the hell it is that’s bothering you until you tell me. So what is it, mate? Tell me now and I may drop it, stay for a few days, or I’ll just leave right now.”
Kayla sighs and shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have to tell you, Glory. You already know.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not dumb. Like I told you, I micromanage my modeling agency. So it isn’t difficult for me to discover when someone outside my agency has been snooping into my affairs, namely your president Francis Taylor.”
Braddock sighs deeply as her concerns are confirmed. The financial difficulties of her modeling agency are indeed the cause of her emotional state. Glory nods her head. “Yes, Francis told me all about what was going on.”
“And I suppose she wants you to takeover my agency, am I right? A hostile takeover.”
“That’s what she wants but that’s not why I am here.”
“Bullshit.” Kayla drinks another big swig of her wine before setting the glass down. She gets up from the sofa and walks over towards the fireplace. Glory gets up slowly and approaches her cousin. She can hear Kayla fighting back tears, whimpering even. Glory rests a comforting hand on her cousin’s shoulder.
“I did not come here as a corporate shark who smells blood in the water. I came because you are my family and I want to help you.”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe the person who betrayed her own sister in order to maintain power.” The words sting and strike at the very heart and soul of The British Bombshell, primarily because they are true. Braddock sighs deeply and nods her head.
“You’re right, I did that, and I regret what I did. I regret everything I did when I was that person but I am doing everything I can to change and become a better person. So please, mate. Let me help you.”
Kayla looks into her cousin’s eyes with deep skepticism. “You seriously just want to help?”
“I just want to help. That’s all.”
“Fine.” Kayla walks back over to the sofa and sits down. Glory rejoins her on the sofa. Glory gazes into her cousin’s eyes and can tell she is finally ready to open up to her.
“The simple, straightforward truth is that we are losing money and we are losing models. Other agencies are poaching from us, we’re not getting as many jobs, it’s…”
“It’s unbelievable is what it is.” Glory states. “You were doing great once upon a time.”
“You’re right, all of this suddenly came upon me all at once just recently.”
“That sounds suspicious to me.”
“Yeah, me too. I have my own ideas of what might have went wrong but I’d rather not say because I may be wrong. It doesn’t really matter if I’m right or wrong, though, because either way my agency is on the brink of going under.”
“And giving up just isn’t in your vocabulary.”
“No…” Kayla chuckles despite the situation “...you know me? That Jones stubborn streak makes it impossible for me to ever quit anything. But with modeling there’s an extra added motivation because modeling saved my life.”
Tears are forming in Kayla’s eyes, so Glory reaches for a tissue and hands it to her. Kayla nods her head in appreciation before continuing. “My foster father was an abusive drunk, but he was also powerful in the modeling industry. He wanted to use me to make money for himself and his drinking habit so he used his connections to get me started in modeling. What he didn’t anticipate is that the modeling gave me an opening to finally get away from him. Once I made enough of my own money I struck out on my own. And through modeling I discovered professional wrestling, where I became an even bigger star. So I don’t want to give up on this, Glory. In a strange way it is my dream. Wrestling will always be my first love but modeling is a close second and it has been my dream to give other women a chance much like it gave me a chance. Do you understand?”
“Yeah…” Glory’s voice trails off. She definitely understands, maybe better than Kayla can possibly imagine. Glory’s dream is to continue her father’s legacy, the Braddock Wrestling School. Glory’s dream is to give back to professional wrestling. This is why at first she never saw the logic in buying out Kayla’s modeling agency.
“I know part of why you’re here is to look into buying me out. But understand that I’m not ready to give up.”
“I understand, Kay. I wouldn’t dare force you to quit your dream. Francis may want to but she’s not the boss, I am. And all I want to do is help you in any way I can.”
“How can you help me? Seriously, outside of buying me out and putting me out of my misery, how can you help?”
“I don’t know.” Glory shrugs her shoulders. “But just understand that every resource I have, every tool I have available to me is also at your disposal. I want to help Kayla, in any way I can, because you are family and family sticks together.”
The warm smile from earlier returns to Kayla’s face. “Thanks Glory...I’ll think about it…”
==========
January 23rd, 2021
Denver, Colorado
Off Camera
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The lobby of this hotel in Denver, Colorado is quite exquisite. The floor was tiled in fine marble, which made every step echo. A chandelier made rainbow colors dance across the luxurious lobby. Embroidered silk sofas surrounded a large, flat-screen television. The twin doors that led into the lobby were a pristine white with golden handles. The desk was made of amber-colored wood and a green granite top. Exquisite paintings hung from the rich, red walls. Even the door hinges were engraved with swirls and elegant designs. Music played in the background, even though the only person around to hear it is the attendant at the desk. The music is soft, the colors gentle to the eye and the large dining room is set up and ready for dinner tonight.
Silence never lasts forever. The silence of this hotel lobby ends abruptly when “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock and her husband, Kurt Logan, arrive in the lobby. The reigning SCW Adrenaline Champion is here for a title defense tomorrow night at the Last Grasp of Reality event in a triple threat match against Shilo Valiant and Dylan Howell. They have just arrived, one day ahead of the event itself. Braddock likes to arrive early, it’s something she learned from her famous father Glenn Braddock. She was planning to arrive even earlier than this but things changed when she met with her cousin, Kayla Jones, earlier in the week and insisted that she stay for a few days.
As much as it went against her own instinctual training protocols, Glory Braddock was happy to be able to spend time with Kayla. The obvious fact is that she and Kayla, despite being first cousins, were never that close; at least not as close as Glory was to Kayla’s older sister Angelica. But there was also the underlying desire to help her family that added to Glory’s motivation. Kayla’s modeling agency is having severe financial issues right now and she was sent by Francis Taylor to organize a buyout. Instead of organizing a buyout, a hostile takeover if you will, Glory chose to just offer her assistance to Kayla in any way she can.
Unfortunately not much was said when Glory was in Boston. Kayla did not really want to talk about it as the desperate situation she’s in puts her into a depression. So no real solution was come up with; but the offer is still on the table, Kayla knows it, and Glory will be available to provide whatever assistance Kayla needs.
“It took you longer than expected to get here, but at least you’re finally here.” These are the words of Kurt Logan as he and his wife walk across the tiled marble floor of the hotel lobby. His wife, the SCW Adrenaline Champion, just rolls her eyes at the somewhat sarcastic remark made by her husband.
“I take it you didn’t approve of me staying with Kayla for a few days?”
“Huh?” Kurt looks somewhat confused, then shakes his head. “Oh, you misunderstand. I actually like the fact that you decided to stay with your cousin for a few days.”
“Then why the sarcasm, love?”
“It’s just that I was surprised. That’s all. But I’m glad you did it, because it shows that you’re still the woman I love.” He leans over and kisses her on the lips. “The woman I love cares about her family, friends, and loved ones and would make tremendous sacrifices for them.”
“I’d hardly call spending a few days with my cousin a sacrifice.”
“It may be a very small gesture but it shows that you do care. And that woman who cares about those she loves, that’s the woman I married, that’s the woman I love.” Kurt kisses her again, this time on the cheek. “Keep that woman around.”
Glory forces a smile upon her face but cannot help but feel reminded about her past. She cheated on Kurt not long ago because of her selfishness and greed. She is lucky that their marriage didn’t go to hell. She is lucky to have salvaged their marriage. She is lucky to still have Kurt with her to this day. But he is right, this version of herself truly is the best version of Glory Braddock. Glory Braddock does care about her family and friends and would do anything for them. And that’s why she is willing to do whatever it takes to help her cousin. She just isn’t sure what form that help will take. She knows that Francis Taylor wants to take over the agency. In fact, Francis has already tried to contact Glory several times since her first meeting with Kayla a few days ago but Glory has intentionally ignored the calls. She knows Francis will continue to pressure her to force Kayla into a buyout but that’s not what Glory wants to do. She wants to do what’s best for Kayla. She wants to help Kayla.
Braddock and Kurt make their way to the front desk so that they may get checked into their room. It is there that they are greeted by a man in a nice polo shirt and khaki pants. He has short black hair and seems to be in his late twenties or early thirties. “Yes, may I help you?”
“We have a reservation.”
“What’s the name?”
“Logan. Kurt and Glory.”
“Let me check on your room…” he does some keying into the computer while Kurt and Glory wait patiently “...ah yes, your room is still being cleaned but it shouldn’t take much longer.”
“Ok, that’s no problem.”
“We apologize for the wait. This matter should have already been taken care of; the cost of your room will be reduced because of this.”
“Oh, thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome, sir. Just wait over there on the sofa. When the room is ready I’ll have someone go retrieve your bags.”
Kurt nods and then leads his wife Glory over towards a sitting area nearby. He and Glory spot a cream colored plush leather sofa. Braddock is the first to sit down, followed by Kurt. He wraps an arm around her shoulders and sighs.
“I suppose we bear some of the responsibility for this. I mean, we did have to reschedule the arrival time.”
“You’re upset, aren’t you?”
“Not at all.” Kurt says with a smile. “I just hope this doesn’t screw up any of your plans. I know heading into any major match you have your rigid schedules of what you want to do, when, and how.”
Braddock nods her head. “I do, but I think I’ll be fine. I spent the last several days working with Kayla.”
“Did you spar?”
“Oh yes. I don’t know many better sparring partners to have than Kayla and Angelica Jones. So I took full advantage of it. I am more than ready for what Shilo and Dylan can bring to the table at Last Grasp.”
Kurt sighs deeply. “I still think challenging them both to a triple threat match was a mistake. You don’t even have to be pinned or made to submit to lose the title.”
“That’s true but this way I can get them both out of my hair in one swift blow. Besides, I trust myself and my ability. I know I am good enough to beat them both. I will beat them both, because I am the Best in the World.”
Braddock rests her head upon Kurt’s shoulder. They continue to wait for their room to be ready. They sit in silence like this for a few moments with an uninterrupted bliss. But that silence is shattered when a booming voice sounds out loudly from across the lobby…
“Braddock!”
A fan? Glory and Kurt both look over in the direction of the voice; it’s coming from the entrance. They spot a man in a navy blue suit and tie approaching waving his hand at them. He has brown hair which is neatly done up. He truly does look like a million bucks. This could be a fan but the way he’s dressed and the way he presents himself makes it unlikely that this is a regular ordinary fan. But he does seem to know Glory.
“Does he look familiar to you?” Kurt whispers.
“Maybe…” Glory has to admit something about him looks strangely familiar but she can’t put her finger on it.
“I swear I’ve met him before. Just not sure where.” Kurt chimes in. That’s the last thing they can say before this stranger finally approaches them. Glory and Kurt stand up to greet him. His hand is outstretched, offering a handshake. Kurt is reluctant to accept at first but does finally shake the man’s hand. Glory shakes his hand next, also after a momentary reluctant pause.
“Ms. Braddock...Ms. Glory Braddock…” despite the fact that he doesn’t appear to be a starstruck fan he certainly sounds like one as he gushes over The British Bombshell “...it is a pleasure to meet you. And this must be your husband? Kurt Logan, right?”
“That’s right.” Kurt says sternly. “Do we know you?”
“Ah, my apologies. My name is Kennedy. Ronald Duane Kennedy.” He winks. “But you folks can call me RDK for short, everyone else does.”
“RDK?”
“Uh-huh…”
“So that’s where I know you from!” Kurt says. “You used to wrestle for Global Division of Wrestling, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I had a brief stint as a wrestler.”
“We wrestled once, if I remember correctly.”
“Probably. To be perfectly honest, Mr. Logan, I remember very little about my time in professional wrestling. It was just something I wanted to try. I’m kinda glad I got out, to be honest with you guys, because I heard it went bankrupt and bought out. Is that right?”
Glory nods her head. “Yes, my company bought it out.”
“Good to see it went to capable hands.” RDK says with another wink. “Now don’t go getting me wrong, I enjoyed wrestling but not as much as I enjoyed business. Business, making myself money, making other people money, that’s where I realized I belonged. I realized that was my strong suit.” He nods towards Glory Braddock. “I hear you’ve become quite a businesswoman yourself.”
“I suppose I’m decent enough.”
“Decent? My, my, you are humble too, aren’t you ma’am? You run a successful wrestling promotion, a successful wrestling school, and on top of all that you are a reigning champion in an active promotion. You truly are the Best in the World.”
Months ago, Glory Braddock the greedy corporate monster would have loved to have her ego stroked like this; but not this Glory Braddock. She is still suspicious of this man. She still has questions that she wants the answers to. “Thanks for the compliment, mate, but if you don’t mind me asking how the bloody hell did you find my husband and I here?”
“Oh, right, sorry. Normally I don’t do business like this; normally I call ahead and arrange for a meeting but I knew this was a rare opportunity for both of us to make a profit and I had to talk to you as soon as I could.”
Braddock smirks. “Nice dodge but that doesn’t answer my question, mate. How did you know we would be here?”
“Every good businessman...or businesswoman in your case...has to have plenty of good contacts. And I have contacts of my own who have somewhat of a good idea about your schedule.”
Glory sighs deeply as she immediately realizes what he is insinuating. “Francis Taylor.”
“That’s right! Francis and I aren’t exactly what you would call friends but we are certainly allies in the business world. Whenever I see a potential profit to be made I let her in on it and vice versa. Ms. Taylor sees a gold mine ready to be excavated and she is worried that you, Ms. Braddock, are going to let it slip away.”
Kurt looks over at his wife with a curious gaze. “What is he talking about?”
“My cousin’s modeling agency. That’s what the meeting between Francis and I last week was about. She wants me to organize a hostile takeover of her modeling agency.”
“Hostile takeover has such a negative connotation to it, Ms. Braddock; it’s just a buyout. Nothing more. And it isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if you consider your cousin’s modeling agency is about to go under.”
“But that may not be what she wants.”
“So you’re going to let her agency suffer a slow painful death? You could end it quick, merciful. In business these buyouts are not bad, they are a thing of mercy. It finishes a failing business quickly instead of dragging it out. And in the process you can make more money. I mean, it wouldn’t be the first time you did something like that.”
“What do you mean?” Glory asks. RDK chuckles.
“Global Division of Wrestling once owned the rights to GCW. But then you purchased the rights to GCW from Francis Taylor when she was the owner of GDW because they were in desperate need of financial help. So you gave them a financial shot in the arm by buying GCW from them. Alas, their financial difficulties didn’t improve and who was there to swoop in?” RDK points an accusatory finger at Glory Braddock. “You. When it was all but obvious that GDW was failing you then swooped in and bought them out too. Once Francis Taylor was your boss when you were just a competitor. Now you are her boss. Funny how things work out, don’t ya think Ms. Braddock?”
Braddock shakes her head. “That was a different set of circumstances.”
“Were they? Look, Ms. Braddock, I’m not judging you. I think what you did back then was the right thing. You gave a lot of people working for that company a second chance by buying them out. Kayla Jones is a sweet lady but she is failing. She has people working for her, models she represents, who are unsure of their future. You can swoop in yet again and save them.”
“I think you should leave.” Kurt says angrily. Glory holds out her hand to stop Kurt.
“Hold on...why do you care about what I do with my cousin or her company?”
“I want to help the agency. Francis told me all about the conversation she had with you and one of your concerns was the fact that neither you nor Francis knew anything about the modeling industry. But I do...and Francis wants me to take over the day to day operations of Kayla’s agency once you buy it out.”
Braddock rolls her eyes. “Bloody hell! I wish Francis would tell me these things…”
“If you would answer her phone calls then maybe she would have told you about me and my visit.” RDK winks again. Kurt again steps in between RDK and Glory.
“I really think you should leave. Now.”
Kennedy takes a few steps back. “Ok, I’m leaving. This is me leaving. But Glory, just consider it ok? I do want to help, that’s all. And if you do decide to take me up on my offer, Francis knows how to reach me.” That annoying wink from RDK comes yet again before he turns and does leave. Kurt shakes his head.
“I don’t like that guy. He strikes me as very sleazy...almost like…”
“Mason Van Stanton?”
“Not sure I’d go that far but yeah.”
Braddock sighs. “I don’t get a good feeling about him, either.”
“So you’re in agreement with me that we just ignore his pompous ass?”
“Maybe. I want to talk to Kayla first and see what she wants. She may decide that letting me and Francis takeover is the best and if that’s what Kayla truly wants then I’ll do it and I may let this Ronald Kennedy bloke run it. But if Kayla doesn’t want to quit then I’m not going to make her. That agency has always been her dream and I’m not going to pressure her into giving up on her dreams.”
==========
January 23rd, 2021
Denver, Colorado
On Camera
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It truly is a nice day to be in the park. The sunbeams pour through narrow openings of the pale clouds as it outlines the fringes of the lazy drifting clouds. The calm relaxing shade of blue in the background supports the clouds and sun. The park itself covers a wide area that could fit about three small houses. It is hilly with a tall tree or two near one hill. There are benches for people to sit in every corner and jogging tracks are all around the edges of the park. The west corner has some swings too on which many children come and play. Flower hedges and bushes grow all around; this makes the park look more pleasant and attractive. They had benches, ornamental trees, flowers year round and water fountains in clear lakes that were stocked with Koi carp.
The camera gets a closer look at one particular bench. The bench had been exposed to the elements for many seasons. It had come to resemble driftwood, the bright tones of its once fresh state had become a somber but beautiful shade. The bench is typical of the parks, the rosy cedar browns married to the iron that curved into the great arms and grew into ever-blooming flowers to rest on.
This bench remains empty for a few moments until a figure enters the scene from stage right. This is none other than “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock. The beautiful blonde is wearing torn denim jeans, flip flops, and a bright purple short sleeve blouse. Her long blonde hair hangs straight and unrestrained to shoulder length. Her SCW Adrenaline Championship title belt is draped over her right shoulder.
Braddock moves towards the bench and then sits down, crossing one leg over the other. She lets her championship belt rest in her lap. A confident smirk is etched across her lovely face as she stares into the camera.
“The question on the mind of every single one of my fans and the fans of Supreme Championship Wrestling has been why? Why would you, Glory Braddock, go to Sasha and request a title defense against not just one, but both of those delusional idiots Shilo Valiant and Dylan Howell? It certainly is a fair question because it goes against all logic, doesn’t it? This is a triple threat matches and in any triple threat match the championship advantage goes out of the window. I do not have to be pinned or made to submit in order to lose this…” she pats the championship belt that rests over her right shoulder.
“...but that’s not how I operate. I do not take the easy way out. Once upon a time I would have gladly taken the easy way out but that was someone else. That was not the real me. I was raised to believe in myself and to believe in my abilities. I was trained by the best wrestler to walk the earth and I learned every trick, every hold, every strike he knew. I have the utmost faith in my abilities. And I truly believe that I am the Best in the World, so the Best in the World should have no problem taking down two clowns at once.”
“But make no mistake about it, boys, that this challenge I laid down, this request I made to have this triple threat Adrenaline title defense, wasn’t done because I feel either of you deserved the title shot, because let’s face it, neither of you deserve a shot at this title and neither of you have earned it. Let’s take you for instance, Shilo; other than harassing the ever living crap out of Aaron Blackbourning or showing up at random moments to laugh like a bloody hyena, what exactly have you done to maintain your relevancy in this company? I mean you were bitching about not getting a spot on the Last Laugh card. You thought that the event was named for you. I hate to break it to you, mate, but it wasn’t named for you. Hell, SCW has forgotten about you.”
She smirks devilishly. “And deep down inside you know it. You know that you’ve become some forgotten fossil of SCW lore. You have lost any and all relevancy that you once had. So in order to regain your relevancy you stepped up and attacked The Best in the World. If you want to make yourself relevant again, if you want attention, then you certainly did the right thing. You definitely got my attention at least but the thing is you also managed to piss me off. Do I respect you? No, I do not respect whiny children who feel they are entitled to the spotlight and throw tantrums when they are ignored. And that’s your weakness, Shilo; you have to have that spotlight, you have to be the center of attention, and when you’re not you throw a tantrum. So let me ask you this, mate; how does it feel having to share the spotlight with not just me but Dylan Howell? And then when it’s all done and I walk away STILL the SCW Adrenaline Champion, please contact me and tell me how it feels to descend back into irrelevance, because that’s what will happen. You will be ignored yet again because you failed.”
“Then there’s everyone’s lovable lunatic Dylan Howell.” The British Bombshell throws her head back and laughs. “Oh Dylan, you are truly a unique character, you know that? Seriously, mate, what am I supposed to make of a person like you? You are the man who once married this very Adrenaline Championship. You even gave it a name...Addy, if I recall. Tell me, who was the bitch of that relationship? You or Addy?”
Braddock chuckles. “Here’s an even better question; what makes you think you belong in the ring with me, challenging for this Adrenaline Championship? Let’s see, what have you done lately of any significance? You have been a manager for Konrad Raab. And you spoke to Shilo Valiant. That’s quite a resume you have there, buddy! But it’s hardly one that warrants a championship match. Hell, for years you’ve been little more than a loony tune crying to be reunited with your Addy. And yet somehow you go from a delusional nutcase who attacks me because he thinks I’m hurting his fake girl “Addy” to being the “real Dylan Howell” again? All in the span of what, one week? Two weeks? That literally makes no sense, mate and I live in a little place I like to call reality, so forgive me if I don’t exactly buy into this bullshit you and Shilo are selling.”
“Just one more time allow me to be perfectly clear with the both of you; you do not deserve this championship opportunity. You are getting one only because I have allowed it. You are getting this title shot because I am so damn good that I know I can beat you both at once. Sure, I could beat one of you in a one on one match and then go on to beat the other. I could do that but then that would mean having to deal with you little nitwits for an extended period of time. I would rather move on from the likes of you two clowns and defend against competitors who are not entitled children or insane lunatics. I want to move on and defend against the best of the best who have earned a championship match. But first I have to rid myself of Dylan Howell and Shilo Valiant.”
“So here it is, your opportunity to reclaim relevance, your opportunity in the spotlight, enjoy it while it lasts, because when I decide that the time is right, when I decide that the time for fun and games is over, I will put an end to it all.” She snaps her fingers. “Just like that!”
“Sic Semper Tyrannis…”
