The image of Apple Coren can be seen in a mirror, the camera held in the hands of Ivy seen behind her. Apple turns her head this way and that to check on the marks that shadow her face and neck. One hand reaches up to trace the faint shadow of a bruise on her cheek then trails downward to the red marks still bright on her neck.
Apple Coren: How dare she! Laying hands on me like that! I tell you Ivy, one should not have to worry about the jealous nobodies attacking one backstage.
Ivy can be heard to tsk sympathetically from behind the camera. Apple turns and nods angrily in agreement with the sympathy before turning back again to the mirror and reaches for a small bottle of foundation that she shakes.
Apple Coren: She had some nerve to get in my face like that. But you know I put her on notice that should she step up to me expecting me to back down like some scared little git, she has another thing coming. If one wants to make a statement, one must do it with an audience to see one humiliate one’s victim.
Ivy smiles slightly behind the back of Apple, her eyes lighting up slightly as she thinks back to Climax Control where the pair had engaged in a rough and tumble fight backstage. Apple watches her in the mirror, her eyes narrowing slightly as Ivy begins to speak.
Ivy the Assistant: You certainly made a statement with Amy Santino. The only thing that bothers me is how she managed to get you in that strangle hold with the curtain from the shower. I was so worried for you milady.
Apple’s eyes widen once she realizes that Ivy was talking about her rather than for Amy. She lets a slow half grin cross her face as she presses down on the top of the foundation, a light creamy dollop landing on the back of her hand. Setting down the bottle, she reaches across with her now free hand to the foundation brush nearby that she dips into the foundation on her hand. Bringing it up to her cheekbone where she stipples it against the bruise that is fading there, watching to make sure it is covered. Evening out the layer of makeup, Apple strokes the makeup downward to cover the red marks as well. Those are not covered as well which prompts Apple to toss her brush angrily against the mirror leaving a splatter of foundation.
Ivy the Assistant: Ma’am, you should not get worked up. Tonight is a night where you will need to prove to the dowager and your father that you are still in control of your temper. After all, your father had no problem pulling you away from the company before, do not give him reason to do it again.
Apple sighs, remembering that her father had given her the ultimatum when he had pulled her out of Sin City Wrestling before.
Apple slumped in the seat of the plane that her father had chartered to come and get her. Behind her, Ivy was stowing her luggage into the compartment for it as her father sat in the seat opposite Apple and leaning his elbows on the rests on both sides of the seat, he steeples his fingers as he glares at his daughter.
Lord Coren: Apple, quit pouting like a prat. You know you are still a lady of the United Kingdom and I for one believe you need to start acting like it.
Apple Coren: I do act like it Father. I do not forget for one moment who I am and just because I am a lady, it doesn’t mean that I can’t be a wrestler. You embarrassed me back there!
Crossing her arms over her chest, she regains the pout on her lips as she turns her head slightly from her father. Still angry, Lord Coren leans forward to address his daughter.
Lord Coren: You are underage Apple and as such, I still have a say in what you are doing. Once you reach eighteen, you will be able to do what you want legally…
Apple looks up at her father, a smirk breaking across her face as she interrupts.
Apple Coren: And I will immediately sign a contract once more.
Lord Coren rolls his eyes as he sits back but holds up a finger to stop his daughter from talking.
Lord Coren: Be that as it may, you will also realize that I will retain control over your finances until your twenty fifth birthday and if you continue to act like a spoiled brat in front of me or worse yet, your grandmother, I will cut you off without a cent.
The ultimatum has Apple widening her eyes in surprise as her father offers her a tight smug smirk of his own. Swallowing with difficulty, Apple nods slowly.
Apple Coren: Fine. I accept your terms Father. I will no longer have temper tantrums in front of you or Gran. Promise…
Apple holds out her hand to her father who takes it and the pair shake to cement the promise.
Apple looks at Ivy in the mirror who is still filming but now is not looking into the viewfinder of the camera but at Apple herself. Apple smiles at her assistant then looks at the clothes that are hanging in preparation for the family dinner that Apple is home for. The low cut dress of watered scarlet silk floats on the slight breeze in the room but with a sigh, Apple puts her hands on the dressing table and rises slowly to reveal herself in a pair of dark stockings with crimson garters, and a matching bra peeking out from the opening of a rose red satin dressing coat. Moving towards the dress, Apple pulls it off the rack that it is hanging on and holds it up in front of her and turns to the mirror to see that it will not cover her neck.
Apple Coren: If Father or Gran sees my neck, there will go any chance of me getting away with keeping my temper when I will have to defend my wrestling. And if he prevents me from getting my chance to give Amy a thorough caning, I will lose it all. My temper, my legacy…EVERYTHING!
Ivy moves to set the camera down on the dressing table, adjusting it to continue filming Apple who lets the dress hang from her hand once more. Ivy reaches Apple and taking the dress from her limp fingers, she moves towards the large walk in closet that is the room that adjoins Apple’s room at the Coren estate and then can be heard to speak from there as Apple once more sits down. Now the camera can only pick up the sound of voices as Apple sets something down in front of the lens.
Ivy the Assistant: You know milady, you have many dresses that would work for tonight’s dinner that covers your neck. Why not wear one of those.
Apple Coren: This is a family dinner and then a social gathering of my Father’s cronies and their dull as dirt wives. You better believe that I will keep my temper and smile but when tonight is done, I am going to go back to America to prepare to face that git Amy at Blaze of Glory. Speaking of, you have confirmed that I will be doing that?
Ivy the Assistant: I have confirmed that you will be facing Amy Santino in a match at the supercard. I have the contract all ready to sign. It is on your desk.
Suddenly, the item is pulled from the lens to reveal Ivy standing behind Apple, a high necked dress of black lace overlaying a crimson velvet sweetheart neckline held up for approval. Apple turns to take in the clothing and a smile moves across her lips.
Apple Coren: That looks perfect Ivy, you know me too well. Let’s get ready and join Father Dearest and Gran and their guests for dinner.
Apple moves towards Ivy and taking the dress from her, moves behind a screen to peel off the dressing robe and slide the dress over her form. Stepping from behind the screen after a few moments, she has the dress on but open at the neck. Stepping in front of Ivy, Apple turns to pull her long dark curls over her shoulder.
Apple Coren: Can you please help with the fastening of the neck please?
Ivy nods and reaches up to caress her fingers over the lace as she searches for the hook and eye closure. Apple waits impatiently, her stockinged foot tapping against the thick oriental carpet of her room. Finally Ivy steps back as Apple reaches up to check that the collar has covered the red marks on her neck. Seeing the black lace conceal the marks, she moves to where a pair of heels can be seen, one laying on its side, the other ready to slip on. Apple puts on one then reaches out for help from Ivy who steadies her to put on the other.
Ivy the Assistant: Have a good time tonight milady. I will be below stairs if you need me.
Apple waves in response to Ivy’s comment as she takes one final look in the mirror to make sure that the dress is flawless before picking up a bottle of scent that she sprays on liberally. The haunting scent of Joy de Jean Patou hangs in the air as straightening up, she twists her neck and smiles at the image of herself in the mirror. Backing away, she turns and disappears through the door of her rooms.
A couple of hours later, Apple can be seen perched on the edge of a table as she takes in the group of people in the room. A crystal glass of liquid is in her hand, barely sipped as she looks over the room and sees a man moving towards her. The young man offers a smile to her as he cants his hip against the wall beside the table where Apple is perched.
Young Man: I saw you looking at me and came to introduce myself. You looked rather lonely.
Apple sips at her drink ignoring him as she continues to take in the people in the room. The man moves closer and then leans in to speak again.
Young Man: I’m the son of Lord…
Apple holds up her hand to stop him from talking. Taken by surprise, the man stops talking.
Apple Coren: I neither know or care who you are. I am here because my father decided that I was to be present to show off his little girl for the pleasure of watching me interact with boors like you with a smile.
Noting her father watching her, she smiles and rises her drink to him as he returns the motion and turns back to talk to some lady of someplace no one has heard of. Apple’s smile fades slightly as she brings the crystal glass to her lips muttering as she does.
Apple Coren: You can go now, your presences is dancing all over my last nerve.
Young Man: But your fath…
Apple Coren: Go before I show you the difference between a wristwatch and a wristlock.
Taken aback, the young man walks away puzzled as he goes in the opposite direction. Apple toasts his back and sips at the drink once more before she is surprised by the image of Ivy standing in the doorway motioning for her to join her. Raising one eyebrow, Apple turns and sets the glass on the table and makes her way towards Ivy. Every so often she is stopped by someone who offers her a comment or a hug. Finally making it to Ivy’s side, Apple turns to look into the room at the guests and offers the room a smile as she leans slightly towards Ivy.
Apple Coren: You look worried Ivy, anything wrong?
Ivy bites her lip and nods as she turns her head towards Apple.
Ivy the Assistant: If you consider having to team with Amy Santino wrong then there is something terribly wrong.
Apple’s smile freezes on her face as she links arms with Ivy and the pair walk away from the door and towards the stairs. As the two climb, Lord Coren appears in the hall to look up at the two women.
Lord Coren: Going somewhere Princess?
Apple stops and plants a smile on her face and turns to address her father.
Apple Coren: I forgot I had to speak to Ms Willow about the match coming up at Climax Control and we had made arrangements to have an interview via facetime. Please extend my apologies to your guests Father.
Not waiting for a comment from him, she turns and heads upstairs once more trailed by Ivy. The pair slam into Apple’s rooms with her ladyship tossing herself onto the bed and gives Ivy an irate look.
Apple Coren: Explain how I am teaming with THAT woman.
Ivy opens her laptop and the email from the company and turns it to Apple.
Ivy the Assistant: I received this email that shows you are teaming with Amy against charlotte Elliot and Winter in a tag match at Climax Control that will lead into Blaze of Glory. Seems that management wants to have you two tag and Charlotte and Winter who are also in a match at the supercard. I suppose it is for ratings because after the fight that you had with her, they want to see if you can co exist I wouldn’t wonder. After all, I suspect they are expecting you to walk away and let Amy suffer.
Apple Coren: I should but rather than do that I should prove to her that I am more of a threat than she can imagine. I know that I have better things to do than carry her sorry rear. Oh and I am probably the last person that she would want to team with considering that I am rather fond of her husband. Or rather, having the attention of her husband which if I am honest is getting into the head of hers.
Ivy the Assistant: But milady, you are teaming with her against Charlotte Elliot and Winter.
Apple scoffs at the mention of her opponents.
Apple Coren: Really Ivy, Charlotte Elliot is nothing but a total bird that has nothing going for her. I mean really, only thing that she is good for is beating down mugs and her partner, if I can call her that isn’t much better. So, in reality, why am I worrying over nothing?
Apple’s mood lightens as she sits up once more. Giving Ivy a slow nod, she gets to her feet and moves towards the screen where she reaches up to open the lace neck of the dress.
Apple Coren: I think we have earned a night out at the pub. Because if you believe that I am going to go back downstairs with the Downton Abbey set, you are daft.
The sound of the door of Apple’s closet is heard as the scantily clad lady moves to grab a pair of dark denims and a sapphire blue midriff shirt with a silver spray of stars down one shoulder. Dressing quickly, Apple moves around the screen and grabs a pair of knee high boots. Holding a finger to her lips, she moves to the doorway to listen for her father. Hearing the party spilling out into the hallway, Apple rolls her eyes and moves to the fireplace and pulls at a sconce to reveal a small door that leads to a staircase.
Ivy the Assistant: A hidden escape?
Apple Coren: Of course…how do you suppose I was able to be the rebel my father thought I was?
The pair move through the door that closes behind them to hide them from view.
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Final words, that is what I have decided to do right now because in only days, I will have to team with someone that I am going to beat at the supercard to face two rather second-rate wrestlers who will be looking to beat the hell out of each other as well.
What’s a girl to do?
Firstly, I suppose that I will have to address Winter and Charlotte Elliot. Ladies…if I can call you that…I would rather ignore you like the dirt under my shoes but I realize that both of you are rather well versed in tag matches. And what I mean by that is that you are very content to ride the skills of your partners but one does have to wonder, which of you will be carrying your team? Will Winter let Charlotte do all the heavy lifting like the beast of burden she resembles or will Charlotte leave Winter to suffer in the cold of a ring that she has no chance of leaving with a win.
Secondly, Amy Santino, I want you to know that I am not going to leave you to suffer with a partner that has no intention of having your back. Just because I owe you the beating of a lifetime, I am not adverse to carrying your sorry arse to a win for our team. But once our hands are raised in victory, that hand that the referee holds up will be brought down on your head just as easily at the supercard.
And thirdly, I am ready to completely dominate this match because if you believe everyone else, they underestimate me because of the silver spoon that I was born with in my mouth. And that is the wrong thing to do in this world. I may not have earned my title but I have earned a reputation of being able to set my mind to beating down anyone that I so desired so enjoy this period of teamship because in a couple of weeks at Blaze of Glory, it will be you and I in the ring Amy and that is where you are going to suffer badly at my hand.
So Sunday will be the first step in the tag match against Charlotte and Winter then will be the chance for redemption for me in the ring by beating you bloody Amy.
