Abuse of Faith: Part 1

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June 19th, 2020

Boston, Massachusetts

Off Camera

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One week after defeating Jason Helms one on one at SCW Breakdown, “The British Bombshell” learned that another championship opportunity has presented itself to her; Glory Braddock will be participating in a tournament to crown a new SCW United States Champion.  While Glory may be allies with former champion, Bree Lancaster, she is still grateful that Bree vacated the championship.  This has given Braddock the opportunity to claim the gold as her own.  Not only that, but the self-proclaimed “Best in the World” can rub it in the face of Selena Frost in the process.  Braddock’s first round opponent will be none other than Frost herself.  The Snow Queen and The British Bombshell have been trading snide remarks, as well the occasional sneak attack from Braddock, for months now.

Despite the constant verbal and physical attacks it seemed as if a one on one match between the two would never take place.  Yet now here it is, set for Breakdown as part of the first round matches in the SCW United States Championship Tournament.  As much as Braddock will try to hide it, even she has to admit to herself that the pressure is on.  The British Bombshell wants to win championship gold, in the process she wants to bring the United States title to the Beauty Factory camp, and finally the pressure is on to back up her claims to be The Best in the World.  She wants to put down Selena Frost and end her once and for all.

Why does Selena seem to rub Glory the wrong way?  Simply put, Selena seems to be in this sport just to spread the “Selena Frost Brand” all over the world.  Glory truly believes that Selena could care less about the thrill of competition and passion towards professional wrestling and is more concerned with marketing herself.  This is one of the cardinal sins in Glory Braddock’s mind and makes Selena Frost one of the worst kind of tyrants.  And those who know Glory well know what she does to tyrants…

...Sic Semper Tyrannis.  The infamous words quoted by John Wilkes Booth as he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.  Though unlike Booth, Glory’s mission is honest, good, and righteous.  Well, at least she believes it is.  And Glory will do anything to make sure that she is the one standing tall on Breakdown over Selena Frost’s fallen body.

Glory has only battled Selena two other times; once at Cold Blooded in a triple threat match that saw Frost win after pinning Asher Hayes.  Then on the April 29th edition of Breakdown Glory would team with Sienna Swann, and Chris Cannon to defeat Selena Frost, Asher Hayes, and Ace Marshall.  Though Braddock pinned Ace to win the match for her team.  Still the two very accomplished and very talented women have yet to pin or make the other submit.  It appears as if this time a clear cut winner will be unavoidable as this is their first one on one match ever.  The British Bombshell fully intends to be on the winning side of this encounter.

Defeating someone like Frost will take a great deal of effort on her part.  She will need to be at the top of her game and Braddock knows this.  She hates being in debt to anyone but she knows she will need help and not the kind of help her allies Sienna and Bree can provide.  She needs the kind of help only family can provide.

She needs her cousin, Angelica Jones.

Why Angelica?  The former multi-time SCW World Tag Team Champion was once involved in a very brutal and very bitter rivalry with Selena Frost.  Angelica Jones hated and detested Selena Frost at the time, far more than Glory ever could.  Angelica pushed Selena to her physical limits but yet never earned a decisive victory over her.  Still, if anyone can help provide some much needed advice on how to approach a one on one confrontation against The Snow Queen, it would be Glory’s legendary cousin.

The sounds of a female grunting as well the echoes of feet against a heavy bag are heard throughout an empty gymnasium on the outskirts of Boston, Massachusetts.  The concrete floor is gray and the walls are painted an off-white color, at least the walls that still have paint on them, as most of the paint on the walls have begun to peel.  There is a standard wrestling set up in the center, weights scattered all over the floor.  At one of the far ends of the room is a red heavy bag.  The lovely Angelica Jones is standing there at the heavy bag dressed in a pair of workout shorts, black tanktop, and her long red hair pulled into a ponytail in the back, as she viciously attacks the heavy bag with her well-educated feet.

Angelica finds herself in her personal gym.  She uses this place to train and workout in preparation for all of her matches.  When she heard from her cousin that she was interested in training with her for the match against Selena Frost she insisted on meeting her here instead of traveling to Glory’s home in Miami or to the Braddock Wrestling School in London, England.  Unbeknownst to The British Bombshell, Angelica Jones has her own agenda.  Angelica Jones is none too pleased with Braddock’s recent actions and plans to confront her and she wants this confrontation to be on her turf and her terms.

Braddock has grown more and more paranoid in recent months as she has delved deeper and deeper into criminal activity in order to maintain her firm grip on the power within her company.  She has blackmailed people into helping her, bribed members of the Board of Directors, and ultimately had her own sister Julia Braddock locked up in a menta institution for one month, all to eliminate any potential threat.  So yes, Braddock is most certainly paranoid even about Angelica Jones and her insistence on meeting in Boston for the training.  But Glory’s desire to learn how to beat Selena Frost is greater than her paranoia, so she is willing to make this one exception and take this one risk.

A door on the far side of the gym slowly creaks open and Glory Braddock walks in, shutting the door behind her.  Glory Braddock, wearing a pair of purple sweatpants, white tennis shoes, and a white t-shirt with her long blonde hair pulled into a ponytail in the back, begins to walk towards the heavy bag where she has already spotted Angelica.  A smirk forms upon Braddock’s face as she believes she has snuck up on her cousin, who is intensely focused on her attack upon the heavy bag.  Her hopes are dashed when Angelica speaks out in mid kick…

“You’re late.” Glory stops dead in her tracks and stares across at Angelica.  The redheaded former tag champion turns and faces Glory and taps her wrist. “Timing is everything, Glory.  You can’t miss a beat against someone like Selena Frost.”

“Nice to see you too, Angelica.” Glory responds rolling her eyes.

“You are late.” Angelica repeats herself in a cold monotone voice. “You want to win.  You want to become SCW United States Champion.  But right now you’re off to a terrible start.  I’m just being honest with you and if you want my help then you’re going to have to deal with it.”

The Dragon approaches The British Bombshell and stares coldly into her eyes.  There is a tension there and both women can feel it.  There is a tense pause until Angelica speaks, breaking the silence. “I get that you think your shit doesn’t take, Glory, but if you want to beat Selena Frost then you need to learn some humility real quick.  You need to learn that you are not perfect.  And I think somewhere in the back of your mind you know that you’re flawed because otherwise you wouldn’t be seeking my help.”

The British Bombshell stares intensely into her cousin’s eyes, contemplating her next move.  Glory then smirks and finally starts laughing a few moments later.  Angelica follows suit, almost as if the laughter was contagious.  Glory and Angelica embrace in a tight hug as if they were more than just cousins, as if they were sisters.  Upon breaking the embrace Glory sighs and shakes her head.

“Sorry about being late, Angel.  I had to take a call from my attorney.  On top of all that traffic was a bitch.”

“It’s ok, Glory.” Angelica says in a sincere friendly tone. “I apologize for my harsh start to this lesson…”

“No, don’t apologize.  You’re right, I want you to be harsh and blunt about this.  I need you to be tough with me.  And these first couple of lessons, they’re right on the money.  I was late because I lost focus.  And if I was perfect I wouldn’t lose focus.  I can’t afford to lose focus against Frost.”

“At least you’re willing to admit it, because that was my first and most fatal mistake.  I never would admit to myself that I was flawed.  I thought I was the end all be all and I didn’t need to fix anything about my game.  I thought I was perfect and that’s what ultimately led to me losing to Selena.  If you can incorporate some humility and accept that you need help, you’ll be fine.”

“I think I’m off to a good start in that regard.” Glory answers back.  Angelica nods her head in response.

“I think I can agree with that.”

“So this is your gym?” Glory asks as she scans the rather empty looking gym.  She can’t say much, her school doesn’t look much better, but neither the Braddocks nor the Jones were very interested in aesthetics when it came to wrestling.  Glenn Braddock had always said that his school was a place of learning to fight and survive not a place meant to look pleasing to the eyes.  Glory has expanded upon her father’s school a little since she has become in charge of it but she hasn’t taken too much away from his original vision.  This place in Boston where Angelica trains reminds Glory of her father’s original vision for the school.  This impresses Braddock.

“You like it?”

“I do.” Glory states, nodding her head. “Though I still wish we could have done this in Miami at my personal gym or in London.  I could have had Randall close the school for a day to allow you and me private time to work.”

“Glory…”

“Or we could have let the students stay!” Glory’s grin grows wider. “I mean, imagine the growth they could have received from watching two legends work inside the ring!  Wouldn’t that have been great?”

“Glory!” Angelica speaks louder, this time succeeding in getting her cousin to shut up.

“What?”

“Your ego is becoming a problem here.  It is distracting you from the task at hand and that’s precisely why I wanted you here in Massachusetts on my turf rather than on your turf so you can look good in front of a crowd.”

“My ego?” Glory scoffs, again rolling her eyes. “I don’t have an ego.”

“Oh yes you do and you want to know how I know that?  Because while you may be The Best in the World, I am the ultimate student of the game.  I can find all of the weaknesses of my enemies and I know your biggest weakness as of late has been your ego. It has eaten away at your defenses and made your susceptible to the easiest of attacks. If you lose to Selena on Breakdown it will be because of your ego.”

The British Bombshell stares in stunned silence at her cousin as she tries to take in and comprehend what was just told to her.  Glory Braddock refuses to believe that she has an ego problem.  She shakes her head vehemently.

“You’re wrong, love.”

“Then get in the ring.  I’ll prove it to you.” Angelica points into the wrestling ring set up near the center of the room.  Braddock looks at the ring and immediately a wave of confidence washes over her.  She has always been one step ahead of Angelica Jones inside the ring.  Her cousin has never been able to beat her.  If Angelica is looking to prove some point by humbling her in the ring then it won’t work.  Glory smirks confidently and nods her head.

“Fine, let’s do this.”

Without any hesitation and without even bothering to look back towards her cousin, Glory Braddock turns and with a headstrong stride makes her way to the ring.  The British Bombshell slides into the ring and turns to wait on the arrival of Angelica, who is making her way over much slower than Glory.  A few moments later Angelica arrives, stepping up onto the ring apron and then stepping through the ropes and into the ring.  The British Bombshell motions for Angelica to meet her in the center.

“Come on, mate.  Let’s tie up.  I’ll show you why I am The Best in the World.”

“And I’ll show you why you’re not as good as you think.” Angelica says with a confident smirk.  She walks in and ties up with a collar and elbow tie up.  Glory quickly goes to a side headlock.  Angelica pushes Glory off into the ropes, drops down, and Glory runs across her.  Angelica leaps to her feet and throws a dropkick, taking Glory down.  Braddock pops back up and charges into a deep arm drag into an arm bar.

“You were saying?” Angelica says, whispering into Glory’s ear.  Braddock struggles in the hold but shakes her head.

“It isn’t over yet.” Glory Braddock is the superior technical wrestler.  She manages to fight back up to her feet and then counters into a hammerlock on Angelica Jones.  Glory with a hammerlock suplex.  Glory locks in a rear chin lock. “I told you, Angel, I am The Best in the World.”

Angelica fights back up to her knees and then eventually to her feet.  Glory switches back to a side headlock.  Braddock still oozes confidence from every pore but Angelica manages a chuckle despite having her head locked tight in Glory’s vice like grip. “You’re not the best.  You’re just full of yourself.”

“What are you talking about?!  I have you beat!  I…” and before Glory can finish her sentence Angelica counters in a belly to back suplex.  Angelica pops back up quickly, just in time to catch Glory charging in with a superkick.  Glory falls flat on the mat.  Angelica goes to a neutral corner  and props herself up.  She stares with an almost smug smirk on her face at her English cousin, who rolls over towards the ropes.  Braddock uses the ropes to pull herself back up.  She stares angrily at Angelica, rubbing her jaw in pain.

“What the hell was that?!”

“It was a superkick.” Angelica answers nonchalantly. “I can teach it to you if you like.”

“Bloody hell!  I know what a fucking superkick is!” Glory exclaims angrily, shaking her head vehemently.

“You want my help, right Glory?”

“Yes, but…”

“Just shut up and answer my questions.” Angelica states sternly. “You said you wanted me to be stern, blunt, and tough with you.  You still want that?  Because that’s how it’s gonna be.  Otherwise you can leave now and get someone else to help.  I have some serious truth to drop on you, Glory and I want to make sure you’re receptive to it.”

Braddock pauses for a moment considering her options.  Her pride has been hurt and she doesn’t really want to continue this session but then again, she also knows she needs some help.  Angelica knows Selena Frost rather well.  Glory decides to suck it up and nods her head. “Fine, what do you want to say?”

“Your ego is a problem, Glory, and I proved it.  Everyone has an ego, even the best of us have egos, but the true greats can keep their egos in check.  That’s what made you The Best in the World.  You were able to keep your ego in check.  You never claimed to be The Best in the World.  Your fans gave you that title. You never believed that you were The Best in the World, so you kept working, training, and busting your ass to improve.  That’s how you always won.  What I’ve noticed is that recently you’ve begun to believe in your own hype.  You’ve begun to believe that you really are the best and if you are the best then you don’t need to improve, and if you believe that you don’t need to improve then you’ve plateaued and you will eventually run into someone who will smack you in the face with reality.  That person may very well be Selena Frost.” Angelica points a slender finger at her cousin who stares menacingly at her.

“You’ve changed, Glory.  And it isn’t just the words I hear you say on TV or how you wrestle in the ring that tells me that you’ve changed.  Your actions outside of the ring tell me that you’ve changed, they tell me that your personality has changed.”

“What the bloody hell are you talking about?!” Glory exclaims angrily, shoving Angelica roughly. “I haven’t changed!”

“Julia says otherwise.”

“Julia…” Glory’s face goes pale for a brief moment as it dawns on her that Angelica has spoken to her sister about the recent events that led to Glory having Julia locked up in a mental ward.  Glory’s face then grows red with rage as she charges Angelica in the corner and starts choking her.

“Don’t you fucking dare speak about my sister!  You have no idea about me and my business!  You have no idea what I have been through!  None!  So don’t even try to involve my sister in any of this or I’ll...or I’ll…”

“...or you’ll have me locked up too?!” Glory shouts back at Glory, shoving her off after breaking the choke hold. “Do it, Glory!  Do it!  I’ve been locked up before and I’m not afraid of a mental institution!”

Glory is still steaming angry but that anger slowly but surely dies down as she thinks about what Angelica just said.  Glory tries to regain composure, as does Angelica.  Both women steel themselves and brace themselves for whatever may come next. “So what is it gonna be, Glory?  Are we going to talk or do you want to fight for real this time?”

The British Bombshell thinks better of the second option.  She nods her head and sighs deeply. “You spoke with Julia then?”

“Yes and I heard her side of the story.  To be fair I want yours as well.  You’re both family, Glory, and I hate to see you two like this.  I want to help.  So what the hell happened?  What would motivate you to have her institutionalized?”

Glory Braddock turns and walks through the ropes and sits down on the ring apron.  Angelica walks over and joins her on the side of the ring apron.  Angelica looks at Glory, who stares blankly ahead. “You don’t know about my business life.  I mean, you know I own Global Championship Wrestling.  You know I own a wrestling school.  But you don’t know the finer details of my business life.  It’s well documented that the Board of Directors had at one time held a vote of no confidence and I lost control over of my own company.  I lost all decision making power within my company.  What isn’t as well documented is the reason why.”

“They questioned your sanity.” Angelica suggested pointedly.  Glory nods her head in confirmation.

“I can understand why.  I mean, Aphrodite Noel tried a hostile takeover of the company once.  Then she used my sister to get to me.  And she got to me...in a big way...long story short, she had warped my mind into believing she was my mother.  So the Board of Directors, seeing me as a threat, took power away from me.”

“But you sought out help?  You saw a psychiatrist?” Angelica asks curiously.  Glory nods her head.

“I did...for a very brief time...I got frustrated as I saw other people running my company and while the psychiatric sessions were working, they weren’t working fast enough.  I wanted my company back.  So I quit attending the sessions.  I made up my mind to just pretend the sessions worked.  I no longer acknowledged Aphrodite at all.  But it was all an act to trick the Board of Directors into letting me have control again.  It was a very close vote but I won just enough support on the Board to get my power back.”

“It was all an act to deceive the Board of Directors?” Angelica asks.  Glory nods her head.  Angelica then taps Glory on her head. “So whatever was done to you by Aphrodite...it’s still up there...in your head…”

“Yes, and while I did succeed in getting power back there was still a substantial enough presence on the Board who didn’t buy the act or who just didn’t trust me to keep giving me problems.  It would be like moving mountains to get them to back anything I wanted to do.  So I needed to figure out what I needed to do to make them become a rubber stamp for whatever the hell I wanted!” A sinister sneer forms across Glory’s face as she recounts her recent string of near criminal activities.

“I knew that they didn’t trust me because of my connection to Aphrodite Noel and I knew that there was also a large presence on the Board still loyal to the former owner, Matthew Alan.  I hired a private investigator to do some digging into Matthew Alan.”

“I bet he found nothing.” Angelica says with a smirk.  Glory nods her head.

“How’d you know?”

“That bastard is good at covering his tracks.”

“Yes, well he didn’t get anything on Matthew Alan but he did get some information on an old friend of yours; Meagan Collins.  I used the information to blackmail Meagan into helping me turn the Board of Directors from an enemy into an ally of mine.  Meagan used her own knowledge of Matthew’s secrets to blackmail members of the Board.  We bribed others.  I had more leverage and more power.  But Meagan insisted I still didn’t have absolute power.  She accurately pointed out that Matthew Alan loyalists who we were unable to bribe or blackmail were still on the Board.”

“And you listened to her, I take it.” Angelica sighs and rolls her. “Listening to Meagan is always a mistake.”

“Meagan said that to win over the support and loyalty of the remaining Board members I had to ensure that my remaining ties to Aphrodite Noel were severed.  The glaring tie to Aphrodite Noel was my sister who still acknowledged her as mother, who even had her name changed to Chastity Noel.  The details are complicated but the short version is that I had my sister locked up in a mental ward.  I had donated a large sum of money to the mental hospital in question, so did Meagan, so we were able to pay them off.  My sister could get out of the mental ward any time she wanted but to do so she had to sign a legal document that changed her name back to her birth name of Julia Braddock.”

Angelica had already spoken to Julia about all of this so she had some inkling about what had happened.  Still, to hear Glory Braddock admit it is shocking.  Angelica shakes her head in disgust. “So you in essence admitted that Aphrodite was a stain upon your family and that you would never allow her name to stain you again?”

“That’s what the Board wanted to hear.  That’s what they wanted from the very beginning.  They wanted all ties to Aphrodite severed.  So I gave it to them.  Now I have full loyalty from the Board of Directors.  They are nothing but a rubber stamp.  They support whatever proposition I place before them.”

“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Angelica remarks quietly. She points a finger at her cousin. “You have always fought tyrants but now you have become a tyrant yourself.”

“You are going to sit there and judge me?” Glory scoffs. “You are a hypocrite!  You murdered your own daughter’s father!  You have no right to judge me!”

“I’m not judging you.” Angelica shakes her head. “And I will still train you today if you want me to, but I am going give you some advice whether you want it or not, and this advice will help you not just with your match against Selena Frost on Breakdown but with all aspects of your life.  Get some help.”

“I don’t need help.” Glory insists.

“Yes you do.  You said the Board of Directors took power away from you because they questioned your sanity.  And you admitted that they had every right to question your sanity.  You sought out help from a psychiatrist but you quit attending the sessions.  So you’re still not right in the head.  You tell the world that the old Glory Braddock is back but you’re lying to them and you’re lying to yourself.  The old Glory Braddock would never have been so easily taken down by me inside that ring.  The old Glory Braddock always put family ahead of everything else.  I remember when you challenged Isis Derrida for the FWA World Championship.  You took a count out loss because Derrida’s allies had attacked your father and you left the match to make sure he was ok.  You put family ahead off a world championship.  Now?  Now you lock up your own sister so you can maintain power in your company.  I shudder to think at what you would do to win a world championship.”

Glory stares with an icy cold stare at Angelica. “Yeah?  And I shudder to think about what I might do to Selena Frost on Breakdown.  Now are we going to prepare for that match or not?”

“We will.  But promise me you will seek help?”

“I don’t want to go back to that psychiatrist, Angelica.” Glory remarks.

“You should but if you’re willing to do that then at least talk to your family.  Obviously there has to be some underlying problems there in order for Aphrodite to convince you to abandon your Braddock name many years ago.”

“Again you’re right; my mother, your aunt Mary Ford, was barely around.  She and my dad split up and he raised me, meanwhile she left.  She never visited me. She never played a part in my childhood.  She was never there when I needed her growing up.  So you can understand why I am a little upset with her.”

“That’s one thing we have in common…” Angelica says a sad smile “...we have troubled families.”

“So what do you want me to do about it?”

“For a start try talking to her.  So what if she was never there for you?  Maybe you should be the one to initiate contact?”

“I tried.” Glory says with a sigh. “And we had a promising start, but then after dad died Mary...mom...she grew distant again...I haven’t heard from her since dad died.”

“Don’t give up on her, Glory.” Angelica places an arm around Glory’s shoulder. “You’re lucky that she is still alive and able to see you.  I would give anything to have my mom with me but she was murdered before my very eyes when I was just thirteen.  Don’t waste any of the moments you have with your mom, because you have no idea when those moments will be gone.”

“Fine...I’ll try to visit her, if I can even reach her that is…”

“You can reach her.  With all of these wonderful new contacts you’ve made and this power you have, hell, you’re almost like a mafia boss.  Surely you can muster up the resources to find your mom.  But I’ll make it very easy for you.  She’s in Boston today visiting me.  I’ll make sure she’s at the house so you can stop in and see her.”

“You would do that for me?” Glory asks.

“Of course.  We’re family.  And unlike you, I always help my family.”

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June 19th, 2020

Boston, Massachusetts

Off Camera

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Paranoia can eat away at a person like a cancer.  In Glory’s case, she has two cancers eating away at her; paranoia and guilt  She is paranoid because things now are spiraling out of control.  She had only wanted this to be a simple trip to visit her cousin Angelica in Boston, Massachusetts to help prepare for her match against Selena Frost.  That was all this was supposed to be.  Yet now, thanks to Angelica’s words, Glory finds herself approaching the front door of her cousin’s home, a home Angelica mockingly calls “Purgatory”.  Where does the guilt come in?  Glory won’t admit it, but her cousin made very good points.  Angelica really hit home by stating that Glory isn’t the same as she used to be, that she has changed and not for the better.  What hit home the most was Angelica’s accusation that Glory no longer cares about family.

Glory does care about family; or at least she used to.  Recently she had her sister locked up in a sanitarium.  In doing so The British Bombshell has also coerced Julia into doing what Glory herself had done little over a year ago; disavowing and rejecting any and all connection to Aphrodite, a woman whom both were so close to that they had considered her a mother figure.  Would Glory do that to someone she considered family?  Glory is facing the real possibility that she has changed.  Even if this is not true she must at least consider the possibility.  She must do something to put her mind at ease.

“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re doing this.” Angelica says to her cousin as she and Glory approach the front door.  Both women have already showered and changed out of their exercise gear and into different attire.  Angelica is dressed more casually in a maxi-skirt, flip flops, a white t-shirt, and her signature black leather jacket.  By contrast Glory Braddock is wearing a sleeveless pink midi-dress and pink patent leather high heel pumps.  The British Bombshell rolls her eyes and turns to face Angelica as they stop at the front door of Angelica’s Boston home.

“Right, just do me a favor.  I want to speak to her alone.” Glory is stern and defiant.  She means business and she will dig in her heels on this if she has to. “Let me do this on my own and deal with this on my own.  Can you handle that?”

“I’m not sure I should…”

“Oh don’t worry about me.  I can handle it.  But can she handle me?”

“I’m not worried about that.” Angelica says with a smirk on her lovely face. “Aunt Mary grew up in one of the worst environments imaginable.  I think she can handle someone like you.”

Mary Ford is Angelica’s aunt but Glory’s mother.  May Ford wasn’t always her name, though.  Maria Kurensky was the birth name of Mary.  Mary’s sister, Kelly, was Angelica and Kayla’s mother and her birth name was Klementina Kurensky.  Both women were from Soviet Russia and daughters of an ex-KGB agent who defected from the Soviet Union to America when he became overcome with a rush of conscience and guilt.  He changed the names and identities of his family in order to protect them.  Mary’s father had always been concerned that Stalin’s agents would try and track them down.  They lived in constant fear of reprisal due to their defection.  Needless to say, Angelica isn’t concerned about whether Mary can handle this.

The British Bombshell rolls her eyes.  Angelica opens the door and steps inside.  She motions to the living room, indicating that Mary is there waiting.  Angelica turns and walks down the hall towards the kitchen while Glory makes her way into the living room.  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.  Glory notices her aunt Mary sitting in a recliner in the corner of the room.

“Mom…”

“Gloria?” Mary looks up at her daughter and a warm, loving smile that only a mother can produce forms upon her face. “I didn’t believe it when Angelica told me you were coming.  But you’re here.  You’re really here.”

“Yeah, I’m here.” Glory says as Mary gets up off of the recliner.  The two meet in the middle and embrace in a tight hug.  Mary laughs lightly as she motions to the sofa, seeming to suggest that this may be a better place for the two of them to sit.  Glory nods and follows her mother to the sofa.  Mary sits down first and Glory sits down next to her.  Tears are evident in Mary’s eyes, despite a low laugh that escapes her lips.

“It’s been far too long, Gloria.”

“I know.  I don’t think we’ve spoken since dad died.”

“We haven’t.” Mary admits with a sigh and a nod of her head. “I admit that I took your father’s death exceptionally hard but, still, that’s no excuse.”

“It’s ok, mom.  I haven’t exactly gotten over his death either.”

“He’s still with us, Gloria...in our hearts…”

“I wish he was here physically, you know?  I wish he was here to talk to.  There have been so many things I have endured lately, so many difficult decisions I have had to make, and I wish I could have asked him for some advice.”

“Don’t you have new friends you can talk to?” Mary suggests. “I do still follow your career.  Aren’t you friends with Sienna and Bree now?”

“Yes but I’m not sure they would understand some of the decisions I have had to make.  To be honest, I’m not sure anyone could understand the decisions that I have had to make.”

Glory Braddock seems to long for her mother’s warm embrace but she still emotionally keeps her at arm’s length.  A part of her is still unsure whether she is ready to fully accept her back into her life.  Since Glory is unwilling to reach out, Mary decides to reach out instead.

“Gloria, I do not pretend to understand everything that you go through.  Your father was an amazing man, he was a great wrestler and his wisdom and teachings helped create a movement in British wrestling.  But you have far surpassed anything he could have ever imagined.”

“I’m not better than dad…”

“Yes you are.  He won European wrestling tournaments and European championships.  You are a fourteen time world champion.  He started a wrestling school and now you are running that school but you went and topped that by purchasing your own wrestling promotion and building both up into its own power house corporation.  So no, i do not pretend to understand what you have to deal with from day to day, but there is one question I do have for you…”

“What’s that?”

“Why did you have your sister institutionalized?”

Glory’s starting to lose control again.  Her anger and PTSD is boiling over. “You’re right, Mary, you have NO IDEA what I go through in my day to day life!  That’s been your family’s M.O. since day one!  When the going gets tough you run away, right?  Things got bad in Stalinist Russia and did you stay and fight the good fight?  Did you fight the tyrants?  No, you ran away.  When life with dad became difficult did you even try to work things out with him?  No, you left him to raise me on his own.  And I tried to put all of that aside and work things out with you, I tried to make peace with you, and we made significant progress but then dad died.  And what happened?  You left me.” Tears are now flowing down Glory’s cheeks.  She points an accusatory finger at Mary.

“You haven’t been in contact with me since dad died so don’t pretend that you have any moral high ground here, Mary!” Glory’s voice is dripping with venom.  Things go silent immediately after Mary rears back and slaps her daughter across the cheek.  For her part, Glory is shocked that Mary did that.  Braddock rubs her cheek.

“I’m sorry, Gloria, but you were being out of line.  I don’t pretend to have any moral high ground.  I just want to know why you had your sister locked up.  That’s all.”

“You want to know why I had Julia institutionalized?  It was for this family’s own good.  It was for the good of the Braddock family.  I already had this discussion with Angelica but I’ll tell you the same thing I told her.  We were traumatized and mentally twisted into becoming the children of Aphrodite Noel, we were tricked into joining her “family”.  And we have you to blame for that because we never had a true mother figure to speak of, since you left when we were young.  I got the help I needed and then I got her the help she needed.”

“What kind of help did you get her?”

“All you need to know is that she is once again a Braddock.  I saved our family.  Our family is once again whole, no thanks to you.”

The British Bombshell gets up and walks over to a window.  She stares blankly outside, thinking about how she just reacted towards her mother.  A few moments later Mary speaks up, breaking the silence. “You know, I was very hurt when I heard you and your sister had joined Aphrodite’s ‘family’ and had become her daughters.”

“Good.  You deserved to be hurt.” Glory snaps back, spinning around and facing Mary with an angry glare etched across her face.

“It hurt me even more when I learned that your sister was not coerced into joining, that she did so willingly.  I had run from my problems, just as you said, and that meant I had failed as a mother.  I’ll admit that.”

“At least you’re willing to admit it.” Glory says sarcastically.

“But are you willing to admit your part in this?  I mean, this is a two way street.  You could have come to me anytime, you know.  And tell me this, Gloria; did you become Aphrodite’s daughter voluntarily like your sister or were you coerced?”

There is another tense pause as mother and daughter stare into one another’s eyes.  The British Bombshell can tell that Mary Ford is studying her intensely, looking for any sign.  Braddock steadies herself and quietly says…

“No…”

“No what?”

“Just...just no…”

Mary chuckles. “My dear child, you’re not the only one who learned things from their father.  Your grandfather was KGB.  I learned many things from him, one of the simpler things I learned from him is how to tell when someone is lying.”

“I’m not lying.” Glory says weakly as tears once again flow down her cheek.  Mary approaches her daughter lovingly.

“You aren’t lying...but only because you never definitively answered my question.” Mary reaches out and takes her daughter by the hands. “Your father isn’t here anymore to help you and I have been absent most of your life but I would like to make up for that.  I would like to help you but I need to know what’s wrong.  I need you to be honest with me.”

Glory walks slowly back to the sofa where she sits back down.  Mary sits down next to her and wraps a comforting loving arm around her daughter’s shoulder. “My mind isn’t…”

“It isn’t what?”

“...it isn’t right.  What I mean is that I’ve changed and I’m not sure if it’s a good change or a bad change.  I’ve done things, mom.  I’ve done horrible things that I never would have even conceived of doing, all in the name of the greater good.”

“Have you been to see a psychiatrist?”

“Yes and I was told it was a form of post traumatic stress syndrome.  And to answer your next question, no I am not seeing that psychiatrist anymore.”

“Well you should.”

“But my reputation…”

“Suck it up and deal with it.” Mary says scoldingly. “Your reputation can deal with it.  If the public were to find out they’ll forgive you.  There’s nothing wrong with having a problem so long as you are seeking help for that problem.  So go see a psychiatrist and I admit that I have played a role in this because I was never there for you growing up.  I want to help you now.”

“How are you planning to help me?”

“You were right earlier, Gloria.  We were making great progress just before your father died.  I stopped calling and stopped visiting because I knew seeing you would bring back memories of your father would make me sad.  Maybe it’s time we helped each other?  Maybe we need to try again?”

Glory Braddock nods her head. “Yeah, I like that.”

“You help me move on from your father’s death and I’ll help you become a better person.”

==========

June 24th, 2020

Little Rock, AR

On Camera

==========

The camera cuts outside of the Verizon Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas.  It is bright and sunny outside.  Fans, bystanders, and officials are walking around in the background, some of them going in and out of the arena.  It isn’t long until “The British Bombshell” and self-proclaimed “Best in the World” steps into the scene from stage left.  The blonde haired Braddock beauty is wearing a little purple dress that hugs her every curve and matching purple high heeled patent leather pumps.  A confident grin is etched across her lovely face as she stares into the camera.

“Behind me isn’t just the Verizon Arena.  It isn’t just the host of SCW Breakdown.  No, this fine venue behind me is the beginning of a journey, a journey for me at least that has been long overdue.  It is the beginning of a journey that will end in me being crowned the NEW SCW United States Champion.” It isn’t certain whether or not any more arrogance can ooze from Glory’s face.  Nevertheless The British Bombshell looks quite confident.

“I am among the most talented pure wrestlers in this company.  I am indeed The Best in the World.  Yet how many championship opportunities have I had since Rise To Greatness?  The answer is one, my one and only television championship opportunity against Regan not too long ago.  Now why is that?  Is it because of the company I keep?  Am I being held back because I am allies with Sienna Swann and Bree Lancaster?  Or maybe it’s because I speak the truth.  The truth hurts and SCW doesn’t like hearing the truth that it so desperately needs to hear.  The truth that the fans are fickle; fans that once hated Jason Helms now cheer him, fans that once loved Giovanni Aries and his insanity now boo him.  The truth that SCW’s role models and hand picked heroes are all frauds.  Asher Hayes is little more than a perverted drug addict and Selena Frost is a glory hound who doesn’t give a damn about this business but instead only care about expanding her brand.” The British Bombshell points a finger at the camera and winks.

“More about you later, Selena.  But back to why I’ve been denied championship opportunities, because I do have another theory.  Maybe it’s because I do not fit the mold of who SCW wants as its figureheads.  See, I am already a fourteen time world champion and I am the successful owner of my own company.  I don’t do this because I need to do it, I am involved with wrestling because I love this sport.  I am passionate about this sport.  I have given my blood for this sport.  I would give my life for this sport.  I am more passionate for this sport than anyone else in this company and that is a fact.  And that brings me to my first round opponent, Selena Frost.”

A sinister grin forms across Glory’s lovely features. “It makes me laugh every time I hear you speak.  If I am ever feeling down all I need to do is listen to one of your tired old promos to make me laugh.  Because it makes me laugh to think that you are SCW’s golden goose.  I laugh my ass off thinking about you as The Face of SCW.  You know why that makes me laugh?  Because you don’t get it.  You and every other half whit who has come before you claiming to be The Face of SCW just don’t get it.  You never will get it because all you think of is popularity and making sure that you are pleasing the fans that you are doing and saying whatever they want so that you can continue to hear their cheers.  It’s like a drug for you. It’s like an addiction.  You are addicted to their adulation.  You have to hear their cheers in order to feel as if you are an accomplished competitor.”

“There are many things wrong with your outlook, Snow Queen.  First of all, you are horribly misguided and very weak if you need the support of the fans in order for you to be mentally sure of yourself.  In my twelve plus year career I have been cheered and hated and everything in between, but never have I changed.  Never once did I change my mission statement and never did I change my outlook.  I do not need the fan support in order to prove anything to anyone.  I know I am The Best in the World when it comes to professional wrestling and my fourteen world championships, my wrestling promotion, and my wrestling school, say otherwise.  I have done more for this sport, inside AND outside the ring, than anyone else.  I do not need cheers to prove it to me.  I know it because I have the record to back it up.  But you, Selena, you need the cheers to justify yourself as The Face of SCW.  You need the cheers to justify yourself as The Snow Queen.  Their cheers only justify you as their hero.  And you want to be their hero.” Braddock nods her head.

“That’s fine if you want to be their hero.  I’m not judging you.  But I do think you are missing the mark as far as true heroism goes.  A true hero does what is right and just whether the action is popular or unpopular.  A true hero will speak the truth whether it is popular or unpopular.  GK Chesterton once said that ‘fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.’  I speak the truth and I am unpopular for it.  But I speak the truth, I do what is right, I fight against those who are hurting the sport that I love.  You think you are the hero for the fans but you are just an enabler.  You are giving them what they want.  A crack addict wants crack...would a hero just give the crack to the crack addict?  No, a true hero would put the crack addict in a rehab program or in jail.  One or the other.”

“I, on the other hand, am a true hero.  I am the only true hero in Supreme Championship Wrestling and I am a hero for the sport of professional wrestling.  I will do anything and everything necessary in order to take good care of the sport I am passionate about.  And right now that includes an egomaniac like yourself gets nowhere near the SCW United States Championship.  Do you think you really deserve to be in this tournament?  Newsflash, Selena; you’re only in this tournament because you’ve been kissing Sasha’s ass.  You’re in this tournament because you are the golden goose, The Face of SCW, and Sasha wants you to win.  And perhaps most importantly, you’re here to make sure I don’t win.” Braddock chuckles lightly.

“Think about it for a moment, Snow Queen.  You’re not a complete idiot, surely you can figure this out.  Sasha never could find someone to take the US Championship away from Bree.  It was Bree herself who relinquished the championship.  Do you really think Sasha wants the title to back to the Beauty Factory camp?  And do you really think she wants the United States Championship to be around the waist of someone who proudly and defiantly speaks out against the monstrosity she has created?  In this first round you are little more than Sasha’s hired assassin and your job is to take me out.  Problem for you is that you cannot and will not stop me.  I am driven by a passion to compete, a passion that is unmatched by anyone else.  I am not a gold digger seeking championships for their glory.  I am just a competitor seeking to prove myself against the best.  That’s why tournaments are my specialty.  I love tournaments.  I thrive in the tournament atmosphere.  Tournaments separate the great from the good.  Tournaments separate the best ever from the mediocre.  So that is one thing I am thoroughly happy about, one thing I can honestly say was a good decision; that this United States Title will be decided in a tournament.”

Braddock sneers angrily and nastily at the camera. “I am also driven by the fact that I cannot allow someone like you to march through this tournament and become United States Champion.  Unlike me, you ARE seeking this for glory and the accolades.  You are seeking this for selfish motives and not for the good of wrestling.  You are seeking this to add yet another accomplishment to your SCW trophy case.  If you become United States Champion you will just use that platform to further enable the fans.” Braddock slowly shakes her head.

“I cannot allow that to happen. You see, Selena, as much as you desire to be viewed as the hero, you are, in fact, just another villain.  You are just another tyrant that I need to stop.  And you know what happens to tyrants.  Sic Semper Tyrannis…” Braddock shuts her eyes “...thus always to tyrants…”