She was coming up on an entire year as the bombshell roulette champion, putting her among other long reigning champions like Finn Whelan and J2H.
But there was still those doubters out there. Those who claim she had it easy or that her championship was no more than a paperweight.
All lies and fabrications of those who just couldn't admit the truth that Victoria Lyons operated on a level that most of the Bombshells were not ready for. Certainly not Harper Mason.
It wasn't easy when she pulled the championship from the clutches of Alexandra Calaway.
It wasn't easy when Luna Pasilno came not just for the championship but for blood as well.
It wasn't easy when Bella Madison came at her full of the fire and energy that Bella is known for.
Mercedes Vargas, Bobbie Dahl and Alicia Lukas never made it easy.
It wasn't easy when Alexandra Calaway came knocking again.
It wasn't easy when Christian Underwood pulled the rug from underneath her in the Queen's Gambit.
But Victoria had survived them all and she remained the Bombshell Roulette Champion. Harper Mason was becoming quite stubborn in her mind, she had already failed twice to capture the championship from Victoria and the third time certainly wasn't going to be the charm. Not if Victoria had anything to say about it.
In fact she was ready to remain champion for another year if she had to.
At this point who was going to stop her?
Certainly not Harper Mason.
___________
Everyone has moments that stay with them. Moments they don't forget, perhaps because they got something they wanted or perhaps because they didn't get something they wanted. Victoria Lyons remembered one of the moments that she didn't and it was the night of her senior prom.
Her and Vincent had both grown quite popular over the years in school, their family was known in the area and they both were seen as two of the most popular kids in school.
For Vincent it was athletics which meant captain of the wrestling team of course, as well as a starter on the football team. He had the respect of all his peers.
Victoria had been part of the leadership team and was even made class president.
She was a shoe in for prom queen, and the whole school knew it.
The sounds of “Rockstar” by Post Malone featuring 21 Savage faded out, Victoria stood among her fellow classmates as Dean Sanderson stepped up to the stage to announce the prom king and queen.
He went through the usual formalities, talked about what a great year they had and how everybody had such bright futures ahead of them, and he wished all the seniors well in their upcoming years of life, the typical take life by the horns speech, before making the announcements.
Timothy Duncan won Prom King because of course he did. That came as no surprise to anyone but rather it was the next announcement that did.
“And the winner of your Myers Park High 2018 prom queen is…” Dean Sanders began “Monica Saperstein!”
There was a hush over a crowd before the applause came in as vice president Monica Saperstein took the stage to accept her crown.
Victoria smiled up at her the two of them had worked hard this year organizing all the different events dances including this very prom this was a time when she was a different person and she was very happy for Monica.
“Oh wow I didn't expect this.” Monica began “Thank you so much everybody I couldn't have done it without you, but the one person I really couldn't have done it without is Victoria Lyons. Her and I made a great team this year and it was under her leadership that I was really able to find myself. So Victoria I say thank you for a great year and thank you for being a leader you are the best.”
Victoria looked at her from the crowd and nodded and gave her a thumbs up and clapped showing her respect with a smile this was Monica's moment and Victoria couldn't be more proud.
That crown wasn't to be hers but she knew she would find her own someday.
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Victoria sits on the edge of her living room couch looking through her old high school yearbook running a finger across a picture of her and Monica Saperstein. What a team they had made that year and through Monica's own words it was because of Victoria that she won that crown.
She could have recreated that with Harper Mason and led Harper Mason to that great championship victory that she's been chasing for so long, but the world is full of stubborn people and Harper Mason was one of them.
She clasped the book closed and exhaled. Back then her feelings were genuine and the smile on the face of her and Monica in that picture was real.
All she wanted to do was lead she had been a leader her whole life but there's always people that refuse to embrace true leadership and that's the route Harper Mason chose.
Victoria was done giving Harper chances she had two chances to capture the Bombshell Roulette Championship and failed twice.
Being knocked out the first time must have made her completely senseless, because the second time was apparently a suppose act of cowardice on Victorias part, because Victoria did not pin Harper Mason in the Queen's Gambit.
Of course that is why Harper Mason would continue to fail and why she truly should have accepted Victoria's lessons. Victoria wasn't afraid she was simply smarter and understood the true objective and how to overcome the Queen's Gambit.
Summer XXXtreme aboard the Princess Cruise would be Harper Mason's final lesson, and Victoria was ready to make sure she had chosen her leadership all along.
___________
The cameras open with a clearly photoshopped image of Victoria Lyons and Harper Mason standing over the fallen body of Cassie Wolfe. I want to give you guys bloodied and laid out with Harper resting her foot on Cassie's prone body, raising her arm in the air Victoria standing alongside her.
“This is what could have been Harper.” the voice of Victoria Lyons cut through “But you chose to remain defiant. Oh what could have been.”
The image gives way to flame, revealing another photoshopped image of Harper Mason standing over the fallen bloodied body of Bella Madison. The internet Championship raised high above her head.
“This could have been real.” Victoria's voice cut through again “But you chose defiance and Mercedes Vargas reaped the benefits instead. Now Mercedes is a champion and you're not.”
The image gives way to flame to reveal the face of Victoria Lyons amidst fog and darkness shrouded by the moonlight.
“You have no idea Harper.” Victoria said “You have no idea the things I can guide people to. It seems nobody around this company does because despite the fact that I have held this championship for damn close to a year now people still choose to disrespect me.”
She scoffs shaking her head.
“Why because I say mean things about the people they like?” she hissed. “Because I speak the truth? Isn't there something about not being cocky if you back it up and have I not backed it up for an entire year?”
She pauses for a moment letting the words linger about.
“And there've been those who have gotten the better of me”, said Victoria “But did I not show some respect after they did? Did I not show some respect to Kayla Richards? To Luna? To Andrea Hernandez? I gave Lillith Locke and Frankie Holliday their flowers after they were able to defeat me. But because I didn't go out bowing before them or anything all that goes I noticed by everybody.”
She exhales heavily.
“Is it because I kept the crown and called myself Queen for a year?” she said “Because again I earned my right to be. Don't any of you act like you weren't entertained. I know all of you are out there wishing you still had me as your queen because I made that shit interesting.”
She takes another pause, her eyes not wavering from the camera.
“Your entire problem Harper....” Victoria said “...Is this hero complex of yours. The world needs a hero and her name is Harper Mason! That's your mantra right?”
Victoria shakes her head with a laugh.
“The world doesn't need heroes.” Victoria said “The world needs winners. People who aren't out to impress anybody. People that aren't going to answer to anybody but themselves. You are too concerned about what the fans and everybody else think of you and that's what's holding you back Harper. Like me, hate me, I couldn't care less. I haven't held this championship for a year by giving a damn what anybody thinks about me, and I damn sure didn't do it by trying to be anybody's hero.”
She holds out her Bombshell Roulette Championship before resting it back on her shoulder.
“You've had yourself a fun little run over the past few weeks.” said Victoria “And I'm sure your confidence is riding high. But I must remind you this time it's going to be just you and I in that ring. There will be no Cassie Wolfe to have your back and there will be no Kate Steele to come buzzing around like a fly and ruin things. Just you and I sweetheart exactly how you wanted it.”
She laughs to herself.
“That's the best part you'll have nobody to blame but yourself” said Victoria. “Just like you have nobody to blame for yourself for your failures against Bella Madison. What did you do after? You chose to come after me. Why didn't you choose to go after Kayla Richards? Are you afraid of Kayla Richards?”
She raises an eyebrow.
“You're the one that said I'm swimming in the kiddie pool because I'm afraid to go after Kayla or Bella or I guess now it would be Mercedes.” Victoria said “So why did you choose to step back into the kiddie pool? Why didn't you choose to go after our Bombshell World Champion? I have a championship, that's my excuse, but I sure would love to hear yours.”
Victoria pauses for a moment.
“I assure you my division is no kiddie pool.” said Victoria “I have turned it into a shark tank, and if you think I'm a lesser champion than Kayla or Bella or Mercedes or anybody else you're about to find out what all my opponents over the past year I have found out the undeniable truth that Victoria Lyons like it or not is the real deal, and there's nothing they can do about it.”
She smirks confidently looking proudly at her championship.
“Rue and I are ready to celebrate our one year anniversary.” Victoria said “And you are not going to be able to take that from us. Just like last year I will walk into the Princess Cruise as champion, and I will walk out as champion. Sure Harper, one day there will be someone to pry this from my grasp and then I can set my sights on the Internet or World Bombshells championships, but until then someone's going to have to prove that they're good enough to take this from me. Because if you're going to be my successor, you're going to do it right and I can tell you right now the one to succeed me certainly isn't going to be Harper Mason.”
Her eyebrows furrow as she continues.
“You chose not to fight by my side.“ said Victoria "But after Summer XXXtreme, you're going to wish you had.”
She smirks confidently and rests her eerie gaze on the camera until the scene fades to black.
__________
Victoria was seated in the Patio Lounge area on the Lyons estate when Vincent approached her. She held a photo in her hand, an old one from high school it was her and her three best friends. The four of them were the Myers Park “It girl” squad. Victoria Monica Rachel and Jasmine.
“What you looking at Vicks?” Vincent said on his approach.
"Just an old photo." she said "The girls and I back in the day."
“The Queens of Myers Park?” he said with an eyebrow raised and a slight smile. “You four made quite the team.”
“We sure did.” said Victoria smiling has she set the picture down “We ran that school and everybody loved us.”
“Didn't Rachel and Charlie go to prom together?” Vincent asked.
“They did.” said Victoria looking him in the eyes “But remember, we weren't going to discuss Charlie anymore because everything about the island needs to be put behind you.”
“I know..” said Vincent “I was just saying..”
“Vincent..” said Victoria “It's time to forget the island. Continuing to let its memory haunt you will only hold you back. It's time to let it go.”
“Yeah I know..” said Vincent sorry.
“It's okay Vincent, don't worry about it.” she said.
“So why are you looking at a picture of the ol’ Myer Park Elite?” Vincent asked
“Maybe I'm just getting caught up in my own past memories too.” said Victoria “But I kind of miss this, you know? We all went our separate ways after high school and I don't know what became of the girls, but I miss being part of a badass take no nonsense girl squad.”
“Is this about Harper rejecting you?” said Vincent.
“I just wanted to help.” said Victoria “That's all I wanted to do Vincent, lead. But nobody will let me. It could have started with Harper and then more could have followed and I could have led another bad ass girl squad that could have taken over SCW but nobody wants to accept actual leadership.”
“Sounds like their loss to me sis.” said Vincent trying to reassure her.
“I thought maybe I could build something again with Harper.” Victoria said “Pull her out of the hero complex that holds people like her and Eddie back. but it's like they don't want to listen to the success that's right in front of their face, because in their own arrogance they think they're somehow better than me.”
“Then show them that they're not.” said Vincent.
“That's what I've been doing.” said Victoria “Yet, it still doesn't seem enough for them I still don't get enough of the respect that I deserve I don't get the praise or the adulation that I've earned for making the Bombshell Roulette Championship mean something again.”
“Well I'll always be in your corner.” Vincent reminded her.
“I know Vin.” she said “I know.”
“And if they're getting mad at you for having to stranglehold on the Bombshell Roulette Division..” said Vincent “Then they need to find somebody that can do something about it.”
“Well that was Harper Mason's complaint.” said Victoria “So she's going to try but like everyone before her her efforts are going to be in vain.”
“Of course they are.” agreed Vincent, “Just like I will finished Jaden Harris now that he has that false sense of security in his head.”
“That's my little brother.” Victoria said with a laugh.
She looked back down at the picture of her and her old squad with a smile she was a different person then but she was still the leader of the group because that's what she was born to be.
__________
Black, that’s all that can be seen as the cameras open, the only sound comes from distorted audio clips of Victoria's past opponents, each of their faces flashing on screen with X’s on their eyes, as their voice is heard.
“Do you remember what it felt like when you first realized you were afraid of me, Victoria? Not just wary. Not just cautious. But afraid?.-Alexandra Calaway
“You want a war, Queenie? You’ve got one. But remember this—when you step into that ring with me, it’s not about survival. It’s about destruction. It’s about who can endure the most punishment. And Victoria, I promise you, I’m willing to bleed for this. Are you?” -Bella Madison
"You've been riding high on that overinflated ego of yours for far too long. I'm going to puncture it, deflate it, and leave it in tatters. They say history is written by the victors. Well, I'm about to write you out of the history books entirely. Your chapter in this company is coming to an abrupt and painful end.” -Mercedes Vargas
“It doesn’t matter the stipulation, it doesn’t matter where fate takes us. The end will always be the same when it comes down to you and me, Victoria. You’re going to lose, and I’m going to relish in the tears. I’m going to relish in knowing you’ll be wallowing in your own self-pity. Your own self-doubt. Your own self-hatred. I’m going to drink in the tears and pain, and know.” -Luna Pasilno
“I just hope the wheel gives me the opportunity to pin Victoria so I can have some bragging rights. Because knowing her? She’ll cry foul if she isn’t the one to lose the title herself. That’s the thing about Triple Threat matches, ya know? But that is exactly why I am determined to prove myself better than Victoria, because how else could I claim to deserve the title if I don’t beat the best?” -Bobbie Dahl
“You see Victoria has fallen into the same trap that I fell into. She is talking about how everything that I’ve done was in the past and now it is her time and the future of the company. And in a way she’s right. Trust me Victoria you are completely correct. You are the present when it comes to this company and the Roulette division and you could also step up and be a bombshells world champion.” -Alicia Lukas
“Victoria—that name, that title—you wear it like armor made of mirrors. Polished. Pretty. Reflective. But easily destroyed.” -Lilith Locke
“Lyons can talk about dominance. Mason can talk about respect. And after this match? They can keep talking. Because I’ll keep winning. And when Into the Void IX is over? I won’t be looking up at anyone. I’ll be standing—with championship gold in hand”. -Song
“I don’t drop the ball this time because I am leaving Tokyo with the Bombshell Roulette Title, sorry Victoria but the fans are tired of you already and it’s time some fresher blood held that title! - Harper Mason
The blackness fades open on Victoria Lyons, with her Bombshell Roulette Championship.
She sits on a bench behind her you could see the decor of the decaying flowers and twisted brambles.
“Do you hear them Harper?” said Victoria “Do you hear the echoes of the ghosts? The ones who tried before and were made to eat their own words?”
She grins arrogantly.
“That includes you Harper.” said Victoria “And you failed to capture this championship twice. So what makes you think you deserve a third opportunity? Do you think you're better than all these other women? Are these the ones that I've been swimming in the kiddie pool with? I mean that seems to imply I've had it easy does it not? Please tell me, who are these kids I'm supposed to be swimming with? Swim with the real sharks? What makes any of them not what you consider a "real shark?" ”
She cocks an eyebrow and grins.
“Because if that's what they are.” said Victoria “Then what does that say about your opinion of them? Were none of them real competition? Why don't you go tell Bella Madison that she wasn't real competition when I defended this against her? Why don't you tell that to Alexandra Calaway who I won this championship from? Why don't you be the one to tell Luna Pasilno that she was easy competition for me? I don't think someone like Lilith Locke would appreciate being referred to as easy competition from the kiddie pool. Neither would Mercedes Vargas, Alicia Lukas, Bobbie Dahl or any of the others that I fought to defend this championship against.”
She pauses again for a moment.
“You should apologize to all those women.” she said. “Apologize for the implication that they were lesser competition in any way. You're the one that said I'm a shark swimming in a kiddie pool, not me. I may have said harsh words about them going into our matches but they were all fine competition…. of course I still proved to better.”
She laughed again always topping off any words of respect with that sprinkle of arrogance.
“Of course you'll make excuses," said Victoria. "You'll say I'm twisting your words, this and that but you know what you said and you know what you meant. You do think you're better than all those other women that's why you're so insistent that you will be the one to end my reign and do what they couldn't. The problem is you won't admit it to yourself and that's what holds you back.“
She pauses for a moment.
“Do I think that I'm better than all those women?” Victoria said with a smirk “Yes. I absolutely do, but I've also beaten all of those women so I would argue I have a right to say that, and if they have a problem with it then they can come and try to do something about it.”
She stares daggers into the camera as if begging someone to try.
“You're getting the fight you wanted Harper.” said Victoria “But don't think this is going to be some third times the charm for you, because it's going to be the exact opposite. I'm going to put an end to you and end this little heroes facade once and for all. Because in this case Harper it'll be three strikes and you're out.”
She laughs again and smirks confidently into the camera, the Bombshell Roulette Championship proudly resting on her shoulder as everything fades to black.
_________
It would be the second Princess Cruise for Victoria Lyons. Last year she entered not only as Bombshell Roulette Champion but also as Queen. This year she returns, no longer a queen but still the Bombshell Roulette Champion.
Last year hadn't been the best of times for her either. She spent the entire trip seasick, a seagull crapped on her face and someone stole her crown which thankfully was found and recovered by her cousin Eddie, who of course didn't even get a thank you.
She promised herself to have a better time this year and make sure to pack some Dramamine this time. She had no crown to be stolen and she would just have to watch out for those damn dirty seabirds.
She just wanted to have a simple relaxing time on the cruise and enjoy it before she had to put an end to Harper Mason.
But Harper wasn't her only concern there was also Vincent. She could see it in her brother he was growing more frustrated with the Jayden situation by the day and she wished there was more she could do to help him. She only hoped he could win his match because if he lost this time even she wasn't sure what he would become.
She glanced at Vincent as the two stepped onto the Princess Cruise, the whole thing with him Jayden started over comments made about her comments even she herself had forgotten about. But that was Vincent, always standing up for her.
It always been Vincent, since day one when he got into his first fight. A situation that to this day he didn't know was actually caused by his sister.
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Her halls were perfect. Maybe too perfect. The young Victoria had enforced her will on the halls of Alexander Graham Middle School so well that nobody dared try to break any of the rules when she was monitoring the halls. Her iron rule was an annoyance to many of the students but the staff did nothing to stop her, because in their eyes the less trouble from students the better it was for them.
It was becoming slightly boring for the young Victoria however. Everything was in order and there was nobody for her to enforce her authority upon. What was the point of being able to enforce if there was nothing to actually enforce?
Then she saw it. Almost as if someone sensed her desires, the eighth grader Blake Webber had just exited the boys bathroom and didn't notice that he dropped his hall pass.
She could have done the right thing and gave it back to him, but instead she kicked it underneath the nearby trash can and then stomped right over to the young boy.
“Webber!!” she called out “Show me your hall pass.”
“Oh right.” Blake said with a slight eye roll, reaching into his pocket “Of course I have it right here.”
Of course, as Victoria already knew, he didn't have it right there, patting his pockets a few times, a look of dread slowly appeared on Blake Webber face.
“No… wait… what?” he said confused “I swear I just had it I must have dropped it in the bathroom or something.”
“A likely story..” Victoria replied “I'm going to need you to report to the office immediately.”
“Come on!” he said “I'm on my way back to math class anyway, can't you just let me go? Follow me there if you want. Just let me go.”
“If I just let people go when they broke the rules.” Victoria said “I wouldn't be much of a hall monitor now would I?”
“Come on!” Blake begged.
Victoria shook her head and spoke into her walkie-talkie.
“Yes this is Hall Monitor Lyons.” she said “I am sending Mr Blake Webber to your office for roaming the halls without a pass.”
“Understood. We will be expecting him.” came the voice of an adult over the walkie-talkie.
Victoria smirked at Blake as he glared back at her.
“This is complete bullshit.” he said “You can't keep roaming these halls acting like your Eric Cartman or something.”
“Look don't be mad at me because you chose to break the rules.” said Victoria.
“I had my hall pass!” insisted Blake. “It was in my pocket.”
“Well is it in your pocket now?” said Victoria.
“No…” said Blake “But I swear it was there.”
“Well I'm afraid rules are rules Mr Webber.” said Victoria “You better hurry up, they're expecting you in the office. You wouldn't want to be late.”
With an annoyed exhale and no other choice Blake Webber stomped off in the direction of the office leaving Victoria completely pleased with herself.
When he was out of sight she reached underneath the trash can retrieving the hall pass, and tossed it into the trash bin. She didn't know the incident would lead to Vincent's first fight, but even if she had she would have done it anyway.
She just needed to feel powerful and in that moment she did. Blake Webber ended up with a detention which turned into a suspension after the fight with Vincent, and that made it even more sweet.
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They entered the check-in area together Vincent checking into his room and Victoria checking into her own separate suite reserved for the champions. There wasn't much more she could do for Vincent at this point, except hope that he was able to succeed over Jayden this time if not it would be her picking up the pieces.
She rested a hand and her brother's shoulder and looked at him at the comforting nod. Whatever happened during this Cruise, afterward they would still have each other.
Leader and protector.
_________
The cameras open up in one of the Grand Suites of the Princess Cruise, one reserved for the champions of Sin City wrestling, the same treatment Victoria Lyons received last year.
She sits looking relaxed in a small lounge area with a glass of her favorite Red on a table next to her. Taking a sip of the wine she smirks into the camera.
“Nice place isn't it Harper?” Victoria said “You know had you accepted my leadership you could have had one of these suites as well. Instead it seems like the keys will be going to Mercedes Vargas.”
Victoria shrugs and sips her wine.
“You still want to sit there and blame me for the whole Cassie and the chair situation.” said Victoria “But let's not forget that you were the one holding the chair. All I did was step aside and let your own conscience do the damage. Deep down you knew that's what you wanted you're just not strong-willed enough to admit it, and that will continue to hold you back until you do.“
She casually takes another sip of her wine.
“And you're going ride the whole you pinned Song not me into the ground aren't you?” said Victoria “You act like it proves something because I didn't pin you. But you fail to realize that champions seek to WIN. That's why I left that ring that night still holding a championship and you left that night still chasing one.”
With a confident exhale she said some more wine
“You can continue to believe you have the better of me all you want.” said Victoria “And maybe you did get one over on me a few times and get away with it. But the truth is Harper, when the Championships on the line and the moment actually means something where have you been? You do understand that getting the better of me in side quests means nothing unless you can actually defeat the boss.”
She continues to speak with her usual confidence mixed with arrogance as she sips some more wine.
“I'm going to prove that you don't even belong in this supposed to kiddie pool as you called it.” said Victoria “You understand me? I could have made you something but now you're not even good enough to swim with the kids. No, you're in the little baby pool because that's what you are becoming a little baby, complaining about my reign and me having a stranglehold on this division like I'm supposed to just roll over and die.”
She laughs at the idea.
“You talk about the Bombshell Roulette Championship is meant for those starting their career in SCW “ said Victoria "I suppose there's some truth to that, after all what I won this Championship I was breaking into this company, only took me a few weeks to become champion if you recall.”
She looks proudly at the championship she has resting on her shoulder.
“Since then I've carried this championship to greatness” said Victoria "You can be mad all you want about this supposed stranglehold I have on this division, but you say it like I'm supposed to give up. I don't give up Harper. Just because nobody's been able to take this from me it doesn't mean I'm going to allow it to happen because you don't think it's fair.”
She pauses taking another sip from her wine glass.
“You're just desperate for validation.” said Victoria “And the fact that you yourself said you've held a grudge since I put you in that handicap match over a year ago shows how emotionally fragile and unbalanced you are. You're unable to grow from any setbacks. A thirteen month grudge is called obsession and if that's all it took to shake you and get under your skin maybe this will be easier than I thought.”
She laughs arrogantly.
“I've been here the entire time Harper.” Victoria said “I haven't been backing down from any challenge I've been facing and winning them. You just want to be seen as a hero so bad it blinds you from reaching your true potential and that will be forever your downfall. What even is a Slaytanic Avenger?”
She pauses raising an eyebrow to the camera.
“I mean it sounds like a play on satanic and slaying to me.” said Victoria “Those don't exactly sound like the traits of a hero to me. They sound like your true self trying to speak for you if you want to be slaytanic as you call it then be slaytanic. Be the devil you truly desire to be and slay somebody.”
She pauses again for another sip of wine.
“By that I mean truly break somebody.” said Victoria “Truly make somebody bleed and scream for their life, make them feel pain, make them scared to even think of the name Harper Mason. But you won't, you'll continue to be soft and play nice because that's what these fans want from you and you need to be seen as their hero.”
She shakes her head, disappointed.
“You're not going to prevent me from any milestone," said Victoria. "I will complete a year as champion and I will continue to have one of the strongest and dominant championship reigns in the history of SCW. But you worry not, I'll be gracious Harper. I'll send you one of the first “year two” t-shirts as a consolation prize. When I defend my championship and complete a year as champion, I'm going to continue my dominance over this division and continue my reign for ONE MORE YEAR.”
She takes another sip of wine finishing the glass off.
“Don't like it?” said Victoria “Then try and stop me.”
She glances confidently into the camera as the scene fades to black.
__________
Victoria stood on the balcony of her private grand suite aboard the Princess Cruise, overlooking the people on the decks below.
She never wanted it to come this far with Harper Mason but some people simply refuse to learn and now all Victoria could do was teach Harper Mason a lesson she would never forget.
Harper Mason didn't know what she had missed out on. Victoria was a shoe leader she always had been ever since she met her first disciple.
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It was lunch time at Alexander Graham Middle School and Victoria sat with her usual boot lickers. But today they were boring her. They only hung around her because they felt it would keep them out of trouble anyway.
That had become the problem, she had enforced her call monitor duties so strongly that nobody even bothered to cause any trouble either out of fear or just deciding it wasn't worth dealing with her.
But today it was the toadies that were getting on her nerves. These kids she saw as nothing more than suckups, and she needed something more that's when she saw her, the perfect investment. Monica Saperstein.
She was a quiet girl who always sat alone with her nose in a book. Today it was The Secret History by Donna Tartt. This was the type of girl who didn't cause trouble, not out of fear of Victoria or anything like that but simply because she wasn't a troublemaker to begin with.
“Disperse.” Victoria said to the handful of students around her, before making her way over to the table where Monica sat alone taking a seat directly across from her.
“Um…May I help you?” Monica said and a rather monitoring voice looking up from her book.
“You look like you could use some company.” said Victoria.
“Oh it's okay you don't need to worry about me.” said Monica.
“That's the problem.” Victoria said "I know who you are. You're Monica Saperstein. Clean record, perfect attendance. Always stays out of trouble, never so much as an issue. I mean even the nerds get in trouble for trading Pokémon cards during class.”
“I'm sorry..” Monica replied “I don't understand.”
“Don't you ever want to be more?” Victoria said, closing Monica's book for her. "Don't you ever get tired of being in the background?”
“I'll be okay…” Monica said.
“You know why they ignore you right?” said Victoria.
“Look Victoria I'm really not interested in…” Monica began
“It's because they're afraid of you.” Victoria interrupted “You're smarter than all of them and they know it. That makes them scared. But you choose to remain hidden when you have so much more untapped potential. All you need is presence. That is what I can give you.”
“And why me?” said Monica with an eyebrow raised, "Why not one of your little groupies?”
“Because I need someone of your intelligence level.” said Victoria “Do you know what it's like hanging around those boot lickers all the time? We can help each other. I give you presence and pull you from the shadows, and you just give me someone to have a coherent conversation with.”
“I don't know..” said Monica.
“Then take a day to think about it.” said Victoria, "Just remember it can be a tough road going through school as a loner bookworm. But if you want to matter, if you want to become somebody and you want people to notice you sit with me tomorrow at lunch and then everything changes. You're a smart girl, I'm sure you'll make the right decision.”
Victoria stood up from Monica's table and walked away as Monica watched her with a curious expression.
The next day at lunch, Monica sat at Victoria's table.
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Her and Monica ended up becoming best friends and even formed their own clique through High School. Monica ended up becoming prom queen and thanked Victoria for making her visible.
Harper Mason had no idea what she had missed out on Victoria was not only a former Queen herself but a Queenmaker.
Unfortunately for Harper it was time for Victoria to put an end to the whole charade and wipe herself clean of Harper Mason once and for all.
She stood, there on her balcony, her thoughts echoing in her mind.
All Harper had to do, was sit with me.
__________
The cameras open back in the private Suite of Victoria Lyons aboard the Princess Cruise, see of course has more of her favorite red and she looks into the cameras with a confident in knowing smile.
“So you like stories right Harper?” said Victoria “You told your own story about our history which in the end only made you look weaker because you held a grudge against me for thirteen months over a booking decision. Does that sound like someone with any sort of strong will? Because to me it shows just how weak your mind is Harper.”
She casually takes a sip of her wine.
“But I have a story of my own. A story of power and influence.” Victoria said “A story about a girl named Monica, who I guided from being absolutely nothing to becoming a queen.”
She runs her fingers along the rim of her wine glass.
“We were in middle school at the time.” said Victoria “I was in leadership I had become quite popular, always surrounded by my bootlickers, the kids who followed me not out of respect but out of fear.”
She pauses taking a sip of her wine.
“It grew quite tiring.” said Victoria “And I began to desire something else. I wanted somebody that would actually respect me for being the leader I am and that's when I noticed Monica in the lunchroom. She was a quiet girl always stayed out of sight and usually kept to herself and her books. That day she was reading a book called The Secret History. The type of girl that went so unnoticed the bullies didn't even pick on her she was basically non-existent.”
She takes another sip of her red.
“But I knew who she was.” said Victoria “As I said I was in leadership and I was voted class president so I knew she had one of the highest GPAs in school and I knew she had untapped potential. She just needed to learn how to take charge and become visible.”
She takes another sip of wine emptying the glass and taking a moment to pour another.
“So I extended an olive branch.” said Victoria “I offered her recognition. I offered her the chance to become noticed, to become a name, to become somebody that mattered. I told her that she has the brains but I can give her the stage. All she had to do was come sit at my table the next day.”
She takes a sip of her freshly poured wine glass.
"The next day at lunch guess who sat across from me at the lunch table?" said Victoria "Monica Saperstein. Who made the greatest decision she ever made in her life by accepting my leadership because do you know what happened to her?"
Victoria paused through another sip of wine.
“She became somebody.” said Victoria. “It started with a makeover and a new wardrobe. Then kids began to learn and even fear the name Monica Saperstein. Her and I became inseparable and we kept our relationship through High School even adding a couple new girls to our crew Rachel and Jasmine.”
Victoria smiles and there's actually something genuine about it as she speaks of her old high school friends.
“But Monica and I were the true “It” Girls”. said Victoria “I continued as class president throughout all four years of high school with Monica always as my VP. When graduation rolled around she was voted prom queen.”
Victoria takes another casual sip of wine.
“I led her to that.” said Victoria “I took a shy quiet bookworm and turned her into a queen. People went from not even noticing her to fearing her name.”
She laughed slightly, proud of herself.
“Of course after High School we all went our separate ways.” said Victoria “I chose to continue the family business and focus more on my training at the Lyons Den. Monica went to a college in New York and these days she's one of the most respected lawyers in New York City.”
Victoria takes another sip of wine, longer this time.
“I wanted something like that for you too Harper.” said Victoria “You didn't even need the stage, you've already got a spotlight. You just need to stop caring about others' opinions of you. You need to learn how to go into business for Harper Mason and nobody else. You need to stop trying to be the hero.”
Victoria pauses shortly.
“I elevate people Harper.” Victoria said "I build them up and I make Queens but I can only do that if they're willing to rise. You looked to me in the eye and defied me. You acted like you were above me, like you were supposed to scare me but the truth is you had no idea what you were doing.”
She laughs to herself and taking another sip of wine.
“Look deny it all you want." Victoria said “But when I put you in that handicap match last year, that was the first time people really took notice of Harper Mason. Even though you lost you showed that you could truly go up against two of the very best on your own. But then you did nothing with it, squandering every championship opportunity that was presented to you and now you choose to be part of a tag team that can go nowhere in this company.”
Victoria shakes her head.
“Oh what could have been.” said Victoria “You and I, enforcing our rule over the entire division. Nobody would be able to stop us. But it was you who refused to let it happen. It was you who refused greatness.”
Victoria sips some more wine.
“I could have made you somebody“ said Victoria. "We could have been STRONGER TOGETHER, instead you chose to be my enemy. Now you're going to find out very quickly how wrong of a decision you made. Unfortunately after this I'm done with you. You had your chance, so don't even try to come crawling back asking for forgiveness after I completely dismantle you because I'm not big on second chances so I'm wiping myself clean of Harper Mason.”
She takes another sip of wine and looks directly into the camera.
“When that bell rings…” Victoria said “Harper Mason is going to understand the true meaning of I told you so.”
She laughs to herself again and sips more wine.
“All you had to do Harper, was sit with me.” Victoria said.
With a disappointed shrug she sips a final sip of wine, looking into the camera confidently as everything fades to black.
__________