Interrogation

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April 13th, 2020

Miami, Florida

Off Camera

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The sun is bright and shining overhead on this gorgeous day in Miami, Florida.  The beauty of the day is just one avenue The British Bombshell utilizes to try and forget about the problems plaguing her.  The origins of these problems are still unknown but they all came to a boiling point on March 9th when gunmen tried to shoot down Glory Braddock and her family.  Clearly someone was targeting her.  Glory Braddock does not believe in coincidences and it is definitely not a coincidence that just as The British Bombshell begins to gain more and more power in the corporate world the bigger target she becomes.  And it doesn’t surprise her at all that someone would try and take her out the quick and dirty way via assassination, especially when you consider some of these corporate business dealings she has been involved with are less than legal.

Glory Braddock’s rise began when she retook control over her wrestling promotion Global Championship Wrestling.  Then later, when her father passed away due to complications from epilepsy, she attempted to take full control of the school and merge it with her promotion.  She ran into a roadblock when her sister, Chastity Noel, wanted her stake in the school.  And on top of all of that, she still has enemies within her own promotion and within the company itself.  Could any of those enemies be trying to stop her rise to the top?  Perhaps.

The British Bombshell wanted to beat them to the punch.  She wanted to work her magic behind the scenes and eliminate any and all potential threats, including her sister, so she could have full and unquestioned power over her company.  To do this she enlisted the aid of a scummy private investigator named Seth Rogers to dig up dirt on her many enemies.  Seth uses illegal tactics in his investigations and Glory knows this.  Could he be trying to erase Glory Braddock as a potential witness to his own personal crimes?  Another possibility is Meagan Collins, whom Glory is blackmailing into assisting her in this plan to take down her enemies.  Certainly blackmail is a big motivation to trying to eliminate Glory Braddock.

If it sounds like Glory Braddock is becoming paranoid then it’s because she is.  Glory is growing more and more paranoid by the second and it is all because of her fear, a fear of her being taken down and her fear for the safety of her family.  The gunmen came very close to success back in March and Glory wants to avoid that happening again.  Glory only trusts one person, Sophie O’Brian, and Sophie’s advice was to strike first.  Track down the person responsible and strike first.

Easier said than done, especially considering Glory has no real leads.  She did what Sophie advised though; she compiled a list of anyone close to her, anyone who would have anything to gain from seeing Glory Braddock’s downfall.  Sophie suggested to start with those closest to her and question them.  And with no leads, questioning is all Glory can do at the moment.

For now Glory needs to get her mind into a peaceful place and the best way to relax and gain some amount of comfort is to take a nap by the pool in her home in Miami, Florida.  The blonde haired beauty is wearing a hot pink string bikini while lying on a purple beach towel by the modestly sized pool.  Dark sunglasses shade her eyes from the brilliant rays of the sun.  Braddock certainly is comfortable right now, she definitely enjoys the warmth of the sun’s rays shining down upon her, but she knows that this is but merely a distraction from the problems of her personal and professional career, distractions that she does not need right now.

Braddock stares up into the beautiful Florida sky through the shade of her sunglasses.  This is not just a distraction, it is also peaceful and calming.  It is allowing her to clear her mind so that she can think things through more clearly and come up with a resolution of what to do and where to go from here.  The blonde removes her sunglasses, places them on the towel, and then stands up.  She approaches the edge of the pool and then dives in.  Upon coming up, Braddock begins to swim a lap around the pool.  Swimming is yet another way she can clear her head.  She wants to figure this out for herself and she wants to be ready.

The so-called “interrogations” will begin not long from now.  Glory has arranged for some meetings with some of her associates to try and glean some sort of information from them.  It won’t be much of an interrogation.  Glory has only managed to convince two people to come down for a meeting.

Meagan Collins and Chastity Noel.

Meagan Collins doesn’t have much of a choice; she is being blackmailed after all.  Glory has information on crimes that Meagan has committed, most of them are white collar but Braddock has some information connecting her to some far worse crimes, such as rape and murder.  If Glory ever becomes frustrated or upset with Meagan’s performance, she can turn Meagan in.  Meagan will do as she is told.  Besides, Meagan isn’t that far away.  She lives in Palm Beach, Florida.

Chastity Noel is Glory’s own biological sister.  Their relationship has been one roller coaster of a ride all centering around the jealousy Chastity felt towards Glory.  The jealousy was warranted, because Glory was always treated better than Chastity by their father.  This is partially why Chastity no longer carries the name that Glenn Braddock gave her at her birth.  Chastity and Glory have feuded before in the past but now they are again as close as sisters can be and Chastity definitely has no problem making the trip to Miami.

 After completing an entire lap she hears the door to her home opening and then shutting.  She watches and eventually spots her husband, Kurt Logan, emerging poolside barefoot in denim jeans and a black t-shirt.  He is currently having to get around on a crutch as he is still dealing with injuries from the shooting a month ago.  Seeing him like this makes Glory feel a twinge of guilt.  She cannot help but feel at least partially responsible for his current condition.

“Kurt!  What are you doing out here?” Glory exclaims in a scolding manner not unlike that of a parent lecturing an unruly child. “You need to rest that leg, that’s what the doctor says.”

“Yes and the doctor also said that I need to keep getting at least some exercise as part of rehabilitation.  I think walking from the living room to the pool should count, right?”

Braddock smirks.  Then she ducks her head underneath the waters of the pool.  Glory reemerges and spits pool water out at her husband.  Kurt wipes the water from his face as Glory just chuckles at her own joke.

“You were saying, love?”

“Cute.  Real cute.” Kurt sighs.  Kurt sits down on one of the chairs by the pool so that he doesn’t have to stand up any longer than he has to; he smiles warmly down at his wife. “You are beautiful.”

“Thanks, love.”

“But as beautiful as you are, you are also equally as intelligent.” Kurt’s tone takes on a more serious note. “You can’t keep this up.”

“Keep what up?” Glory asks curiously, innocently.

“You can’t hide forever.  You can’t keep Melinda and myself safely tucked away under lock and key.  We need to get out and more specifically, you do...you still have obligations with Supreme Championship Wrestling.”

The British Bombshell rolls her eyes upon the mention of SCW.  “I take it someone has contacted us again?” Braddock inquires.  Kurt nods his head in affirmation.

“You spoke with Xiomara last Breakdown, that’s a good start, but SCW at least wants to see you show up this week in Fayetteville, Arkansas.” Braddock growls in response to Kurt’s statement.

“Arkansas?  The armpit of America?” Glory sighs. “Fine.  I’ll show up but not for Sasha, only for Sienna.”

“That’s good enough for them, I’m sure.  You should put in at least one public appearance before Cold Blooded and your match against Selena Frost and Asher.”

“Don’t remind me about those two…” Glory’s voice trails off.  Kurt sighs as he motions to their home.  “Anyway, I should point out that Chastity is here, she just arrived.  Want me to tell her to wait while you get dried off and changed into some clean clothes?”

Glory pauses to think it over.  She shakes her head. “No, just send her out here.”

“Whatever you say.”

Glory watches as her husband turns and hobbles back towards the home.  Braddock watches as he struggles but successfully opens the door and steps inside.  Glory then decides to make another lap around the pool as she awaits on the arrival of her sister.  Swimming as hard as she can, The British Bombshell quickly reaches the other end of the pool, makes a sudden turn to her left and swims.  She makes another turn to her left and begins the swim back around to complete the lap.  As she does so she hears the door opening and shutting.  Braddock watches as her sister, Chastity Noel, approaches the pool.  Chastity is wearing a cream colored pencil skirt, matching patent leather high heel pumps, and a black blouse.  Her long blonde hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.  Chastity sits down in one of the pool chairs and applauds Glory’s accomplishment.

“Good job, sis! Practicing for the Olympic swimming team?”

“Careful or I’ll do to you what I did to Kurt.”

“Then I apologize.” Chastity remarks with a smug grin. “I would hate to see this outfit get ruined.”

The British Bombshell uses the side of the pool to push herself up and out of the pool.  Braddock sits on the edge with her feet still dangling in the pool.  Glory looks up at her sister and smiles warmly.

“I’m glad you came.”

“I’m glad you invited me.  I don’t think I’ve been here since you bought this place.”

“That’s understandable considering we only recently made peace with one another.  We’ve been at odds for quite a long time, mate.”

Chastity nods her head in agreement. “This is true, unfortunately.” She sighs deeply, almost with a note of regret. “I’ve missed you, Glory.”

“I’ve missed you too Julia...I mean Chastity…”

Her sister just laughs off the mistake.  “It’s ok, mistakes like that are bound to happen.”

“It shouldn’t have happened.” Glory shakes her head. “It should never have happened.”

“I told you, Glory, it’s ok.”

“No, I mean the name.” Glory has a sad look upon her lovely face. “Your name is Julia Braddock.  You only changed it because we were at war and you wanted to stick it to me and the best way you knew how was to disown the family.  This is my fault.”

“You honestly believe me changing my name has something to do with you?”

“Doesn’t it?” Glory asks.  Chastity responds with a shake of her head.

“No.  Look, mum was never in the picture for either of us.  She ran away and to the United States and left us in the care of Glenn Braddock who went out of his way to make both of us into the perfect wrestling machines.  He didn’t try to raise two daughters he tried to raise two killing machines.  That’s why I changed my name.” Chastity is chuckling but only sarcastically as she does not think any of this is funny. “That’s one thing we always agreed on even when we were feuding.  We both hated how mom and dad treated us.”

“That’s definitely true.” Glory says in agreement with her sister’s statement. “But love, I never changed my name.  I’m still Glory Braddock.  Just because he wronged us doesn’t mean you have to turn your back on the family name.  The family didn’t do us wrong, he did.”

“Really?” Chastity asks with a knowing glare.  Glory nods her head.

“Yes, really.”

“Well it’s good that you can still represent the Braddock family but I don’t feel right about it.  However you are wrong about one point.”  Chastity reaches down and touches Glory on her nose with her right hand. “You did change your name.”

“Huh?”

“Oh come on, dear sister, do not play games with me.” Chastity stares into Glory’s eyes which are wide with confusion etched across her face.  Chastity sighs and shakes her head. “Fine, then we’ll play the game.  But you asked for this.”

“Asked for what?”

“You are the owner of a major wrestling company, and that is great, but that wasn’t always the case.  You lost control of the company for a few years because you started answering to the name Gloria Noel.  The Board of Directors did not trust your mental state and took away your authority.  They gave it to Henry Van Stanton, my agent’s brother.  Ring any bells?”

Braddock sighs and nods her head.  It was a trying and difficult time in her life when she ran into Aphrodite Noel, the woman who had used her considerable influence to manipulate her way into her sister’s life.  Glory was trying to free her sister from Aphrodite’s grip but she had no idea that she herself would be entangled in the same manipulative web.  It was intoxicating primarily because Aphrodite somehow knew exactly what buttons to push.  She knew that both Glory and Chastity never had in their lives was a mother figure; or any kind of true parental figure, for that matter.  She knew that they both secretly wanted one and Aphrodite slowly became that person for them.  So much so that both took her last name.

Glory did bring herself back from the brink of what she views now to be insanity but she cannot deny that it did happen.  It did take place.  That’s how the Board of Directors took control of the company away from her and why to this day she has enemies within the Board of Directors, members of the Board who still believe she is suffering from post traumatic stress due to the incident with Aphrodite.  It is an incident that Glory has been trying so awfully hard to forget.

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Why not?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Glory shakes her head.

“Glory, you and I experienced the same thing with the same person.  She got to both of us.  It’s nothing to be ashamed of.  It’s how you respond and move forward that matters and I accepted the fact that the experience changed me forever.  I’ve embraced my new identity.  You?  You certainly have changed.  The Glory Braddock I remember did not embrace the luxuries of this big lavish home in Miami.  The Glory Braddock I remember was a tomboy who loved a good joke and played pranks on people.  The Glory Braddock I remember was certainly not a corporate queen.  You practically are her, Glory, you’re just in denial.”

The British Bombshell does not want to admit that she suffers from any post traumatic stress but, unfortunately, it is there.  And Chastity just said the words that triggered it.  Glory leaps out of the pool and snatches Chastity by her neck.  She starts to squeeze which causes her sister to choke.

“Glory!  Le...let go…”

Luckily Glory does snap out of it and releases the iron like grip she had upon her sister.  Braddock sighs and shakes her head. “I’m sorry…forgive me…”

“It’s ok.” Chastity rubs her throat. “Really, I understand.  It’s an emotional scar that may never go away, no matter how much help you get.  Plus how can anyone blame you for being on edge considering the shooting.”

“You know about that?” Glory asks curiously. Chastity nods her head.

“Yes, Mason told me.”

“How the bloody hell did he know?”

“He was questioned by police.  He is a suspect because of the public rivalry you two have had.”

Braddock winces.  Silently she curses herself for not covering all of her bases.  Then again, Chastity is right, she and Mason have had a very public rivalry for a long time now.  Of course the police would go to him first.  She just hopes this investigation does not escalate out of her control.

“Well, I hope for his sake he had nothing to do with it.”

“Of course he didn’t.” Chastity remarks, defending her agent. “You don’t seriously believe that he has something to do with this shooting do you?”

“He hates me, Chastity.  Look at everything he has done in the past to try and hurt me; he tried to take the school away from me, he hired Clyde Sutter and got him a wrestling contract right after I kicked him out of the school just to spite me.  His family and ours has always been at war ever since his father ended the career of our father.  Why wouldn’t he want to take me out?”

Glory stares daggers into the eyes of her sister.  Chastity sighs and nods her head. “I admit he doesn’t have the cleanest of record and I admit that yes, he does want to ruin you, but obviously his definition of “ruin” and yours are different.  He would never resort to murdering you in order to ruin you.  Ruin your reputation?  Yes, that’s what he wants.  Prove he is a better wrestling mind that you?  Yes, that’s what he wants.  Would he resort to murder in order to achieve those goals?  No he would not.”

Glory sighs and nods her head. “For your sake I hope you’re right.  Just do me a favor, ok?”

“Sure.” Chastity says, nodding her head.

“You’re still my sister and blood is thicker than water.  If you find out that he has anything to do with this, let me know.”

“Glory, you will be the first person to know.”

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April 13th, 2020

Miami, Florida

Off Camera

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It has been a few hours since Glory and her sister Chastity had their talk.  The sisters have only just begun their reunion and as she said, Chastity hasn’t even seen her sister’s Miami home until today.  She was impressed by it but more than that she is excited about this rare opportunity to see her niece, Melinda Braddock.  While Glory is very paranoid about her family’s safe right now, Chastity is someone she feels comfortable with, someone she feels she can trust not to hurt Melinda.  Melinda, after all, is family.  So Chastity is taking this time to be with Melinda out on the town in Miami.  It gives Melinda, someone suffering from a severe bout of cabin fever, an opportunity to get out of the house and it gives Glory some time alone with her husband Kurt before her next visitor…

...the notorious Meagan Collins.

Glory Braddock finds herself sitting next to Kurt in the living room on the cream colored leather sofa.  Her feet are tucked up underneath her.  Kurt’s arm is around her shoulders.  Glory rests her head against his strong chest.  Being with Kurt comforts her.  She feels like she can manage this crisis so long as he is here.  Glory is confident that if she would just confide in him with her secrets, with her problems, then he could come through.

Yet she doesn’t.  She doesn’t trust him to do so without judging her.  So Glory keeps her problems to herself.  And Kurt, for his part, will not keep his opinions of Meagan Collins to himself.

“I really do think you’re making a mistake by involving yourself with Meagan Collins.”

“I know, love.  You remind me of that every time Meagan and I have a meeting.”

“That’s another thing,” Kurt begins out of frustration “these meetings are always in secret.  You don’t tell me anything that goes on.  What is it that you two talk about anyway?”

“Trust me, love.  You do not want to know.”

“If I want to do my part in protecting our family then I need to know.” Kurt says strongly, harshly even.  Glory is somewhat taken aback as she looks up at her husband with wide eyes.  Kurt does not back down one inch. “Last month we were shot at.  You and our daughter were almost killed but “luckily” they hit me instead.”

“I know and I hate it, Kurt, but…”

“I’m not finished.” Kurt says sternly. “We didn’t get these kind of attacks before you started working with Meagan Collins.  Now I’m not insinuating anything but come on, I’m no dummy.  I know the rumors circulating around Meagan Collins.  If half of them are true then she is a dangerous person to be working with.  Hell, she could be the reason why we got shot at!”

Glory cannot help but admit that her husband has a good theory.  Meagan Collins is a dangerous person.  Glory has the evidence to prove that she has hired men to perform horrible acts in the past, criminal acts such as rape and murder.  It would be her MO to hire some thugs to try and gun down Glory and her family in Raleigh.  Plus Meagan has the motivation; Glory is blackmailing Meagan to do her bidding and help her take out her own enemies in the corporate world.  If Glory were taken out then that means the blackmail is over.  She wishes she could admit all of this to Kurt but she cannot.  She knows he is right but she cannot.

“Just trust me, Kurt.  I know what I’m doing.”

“I trust you, Glory.  And I love you and support you no matter what.”

“Good.” Glory says nodding her head. “That’s what I need to hear.”

“And also know that marriage is based on trust.  Ok?”

“Yes, I know.” Glory says, nodding her head slowly.  A few moments later the doorbell can be heard ringing.  Glory and Kurt both sigh in unison.  It must be Meagan Collins and Kurt knows it.

“I guess I’ll leave.” With that, Kurt slowly pushes himself up.  He hobbles out of the room.  Once Kurt is gone Glory hears the doorbell again.  Braddcok shouts angrily.

“COME IN!  IT’S UNLOCKED!”

The British Bombshell sits and waits.  She hears the door opening and then shutting.  She hears footsteps approaching but doesn’t bother to turn and look at who it is.  She knows it is Meagan.  A few moments later and Meagan Collins steps into her view directly in front of her.  Meagan’s confident looks have returned, as has her luxurious attire which includes a black dress and strappy heels.

“Glory!” Meagan holds out her arms wide as if expecting a hug. “Great to see ya!”

“Can it, Meagan.” Glory pats the seat next to her. “Sit down.”

“Right to business, then?  No small talk?” Meagan feigns a pout but does finally oblige the request of Glory Braddock, sitting down next to her where Kurt Logan had just been sitting. “What’s wrong?  Cause you’re not acting like yourself.”

“Why do you think something is wrong?”

“Well if someone had tried to kill me I’d be shaken up, that’s for sure!”

Braddock was surprised that Chastity found out but she isn’t surprised that Meagan Collins with all of her corporate connections and connections in the criminal underworld happened to find out.  The British Bombshell doesn’t even try to deny it as she just simply nods her head in confirmation.

“You’re right, Meagan.  Someone did try to kill me and my family.  And you’re right, it did shake me up quite a bit.  That’s why I wanted you here today.”  Glory reaches out and snatches Meagan by her throat. “You know what this feels like.  You know what I am capable of.”

“But you don’t want to do things yourself, do you?  You’d rather have other people do your dirty work for you, that’s why you’re blackmailing me.”

Glory snickers and nods her head.  She releases her grip on Meagan. “You’re right, I blackmailed you so that I don’t have to do that kind of dirty work.  You are far superior at that kind of work than I am and I have the evidence to prove it.  That’s also why you are a primary suspect in my eyes.”

Braddock reaches out again and snatches Meagan by her throat. “You have the means and the motivation to want to see me dead, Meagan.  So I want to make two things perfectly clear.  First of all, if you are behind this and I am dead, understand that the evidence is with someone I trust wholeheartedly and that person will release the incriminating evidence against you to the public and you will be on death row in no time.  Capiche?”

This was just a bluff.  Glory has not given up the evidence just yet.  She hopes that Meagan will believe her; luckily, she does appear to be genuinely shaken by Glory’s threat as Meagan nods her head.  Glory smirks.

“Good.  Second, I want you to know that I am looking for whoever is behind this.  So if you know anything you had better tell me because if you don’t and I find out it was you behind the attack, then I will get my hands dirty and take you out myself.”  Braddock releases her grip on Meagan’s throat.  Meagan rubs the pain out of her throat and sighs.

“Well for once I did not do it.  And I don’t know anything about who did, Glory.  But I’ll talk to my contacts and see what they know.”

“That would be appreciated.” Glory says as she slowly calms down from the rage she was exhibiting just now.  Meagan is very careful about what to say next.  She does not want to provoke The British Bombshell any further.

“I can tell you something else about Aurora Alan, something you may find interesting.”

Glory hears this and immediately knows that Meagan is just trying to distract Glory and/or appease her with positive information.  Still, Braddock does want more information about Aurora Alan.  Aurora Alan is the younger sister of Matthew Alan, the founder of Glory’s company and who may have a legitimate claim to the company.  The last time Glory and Meagan spoke of Aurora, Meagan informed her that Aurora was squeaky clean with no record.  Still, her brother is Matthew Alan, a man indicted on several charges of white collar crimes and who is rumored to also be involved with some crimes just as bad as the ones Meagan has perpetrated.  If Matthew is willing to go to those lengths to achieve a goal, why wouldn’t Aurora?  Is Aurora a potential suspect here?  If she is, Glory could use the information to bring down the Alan Family for good.  Regardless, Glory Braddock does want to hear this information.

“What do you know, Meagan?”

“Don’t ask me how I know, but members of YOUR Board of Directors are secretly in contact with Aurora Alan.  I do not know which ones or how many but there is a minority group who are encouraging her to try and make a play for your company.”

“Does Aurora seem interested?” Glory asks.  Meagan nods her head.

“Yes.”

“Damn.” This is not what Glory wanted to hear.  On top of being attacked by a gunman, Glory is now aware that her company may be under hostile takeover.  Glory Braddock sighs and shakes her head. “What do you suggest?”

“You need to nip this in the bud, Glory.  Either the legal way and get some of those Board members on your side or the illegal way and eliminate the competition.”

“You mean eliminate Aurora?”

“Yes.” Meagan says.  Braddock shakes her head.

“Hell no.  I do not need the risk of incrimination right now.”

“Fine, but that means you need to convince those enemies of yours on the Board that you are competent enough to continue running the company.  And you know what that means.”

Glory sighs and nods her head because she does know precisely what that means.  The Board of Directors are worried about how close of a relationship she has with Aphrodite Noel.  Glory knows that the only way to get them off of her back is distance herself from Aphrodite.  She thought that she had already done enough distancing but perhaps she needs to do more.

What else can she do?  What else is she willing to do?  How far will she go to maintain her control over this empire she has built and keep her life from crumbling to pieces around her?