"I was taught growing up to always be one step ahead of your opponents. To anticipate anything. That hasn't changed. I knew that Griffin Hawkins would be victorious on Sunday, how? Because I do my research. Travis Levitt talks a big game, but in the end, he is just like every other flash in the pan that glides through SCW. He couldn't hold onto the Roulette title the first time, thinking he could do it again was laughable. But now, it is my turn. See I am not content to sit by idly and wait for things. The Irish dullard known as Lachlan Kane can complain all he wishes about my ability to vocalize my wants, in the end, it does get me what I need."
"I wanted a match this week and conveniently, another company buffoon couldn't compete. So now instead of seeing a monkey brawl, the fans will be treated to the sight of me, beating Kane so badly he'll wish he stayed in tags where the competition is easy. Not to insult his lady friend. I think she will do quite well in the bombshells division. No more carrying around 220 pounds of dead weight on her back."
"While on the topic of the tag division, let's talk about how once he lost the tag titles he was jumping ship to try his hand at singles competition. He acts like he has made the tag team division what it is? Well here's the thing, planting a seed is easy, it's the care you have to provide after that turns it into a flower. It's easy to say you made the division when you are the best of the worst. And look now, those video game simpletons are acting like they are god's gift to this company. Char Kwan was the reason I am competing for a title I don't want. All because she's too weak to be in her team or a wrestler in general, but I digress. Where were we? Oh yes... the leprechaun."
"I offered you respect and you decided instead to jump on Alex Jones's broken down bandwagon. So sad because I actually do feel you will be decent competition, it's a shame really that you seem to be easily distracted my shiny bobbles, in particular, the fake ones hanging from between Alex's legs. All you knuckleheads are the same. But please, tell me how I'm just a... what did he call me? A whiny git? I think I'd prefer that to being a coward who can't put my own brother in his place. But what do I know? I am actually a good brother and my sister doesn't hate me."
"I am not here to make friends. I am not here to have a gaggle of hens following my twitter and talking about how much they would like to have coitus with me. I am here solely to win matches and win titles, in particular, the Heavyweight title. But I am not calling for that shot. My complaints come at not being booked. I am an athlete and I want to do what I trained to do. Sitting on the sidelines is a waste of not only my time, but all of those people out there that are excited to see me because let's face it, the fans love a survivor."
"I may have a wealthy family, but since when is hard work frowned upon? My grandparents came to the United States following a dream. That dream became King's family bookstore. It grew until my grandfather sold it to put my father through law school. Despite what stereotypes you get in your head, I have had to work twice as hard as everyone else in this world because of this ridiculous pigeonhole ideal you force on me. I had to prove that I have gotten where I am based on my own hard work. You can't buy talent."
"So no, my arrogance doesn't come from being wealthy or good looking, it comes from years of training. Years of pushing my body to its limits. That's why I call myself the perfect eleven. I have that extra something no one can explain or deny. I have never been pinned in SCW. My only loss has been at the results of a bad drawing. Char Kwan. What a joke."
"So yes. I will not hesitate to make my voice heard and no match is going to change that. So be annoyed. Rant on the tweet box all you like. The fact remains that I would burn this city to the ground if that was what stood between me and my crown. Here is some free advice Lachlan."
"Stop underestimating your opponents. Stop acting like you are the best when your accomplishments are because you had a partner to help you. When you start winning singles matches, start winning titles... then... then you’ll have something to brag about. Everyone eventually loses, it is inevitable in life. I don’t expect everything to come easily but what I can tell you is that those that work for it, end up getting it. Just not when facing me. I put my title shot on the line because I’m not a coward. I know that even in the very slim chance I lose to you, I could just as easily get it back... if I wanted it. How is my tweeting about wanting a match any different than you complaining about your obviously more talented brother? Heck, even your sister is a better person than you are. You are not Jack and I am not the giant. Beating me is not going to prove anything. In the end, you didn’t earn this shot, I GAVE it to you. Me. So even if you win, you will forever owe it to me for having it. Just remember that.”
***
~Off Camera~
“GO away...”
Jack’s words are pretty venomous. They are directed at the pretty blonde girl from Climax Control last week. She had been following him around Las Vegas for the last week. He’d gone for a coffee, only to find she was at the shop he frequented. She was there, running on a treadmill of the gym he was using. She was here now, slipping into the empty seat in front of him while he had lunch.
“Why won’t you just listen to my reasons?”
Emmie Ward, the first cousin, once removed of SCW co-owner Mark Ward was eager and young. Jack recognized the fire in her eyes. He saw that she was fresh, new and annoyingly innocent. He knew it as soon as he met her. She had no personal boundaries. No idea on a man’s body language. He didn’t think she liked him in a romantic sense, but she still couldn’t read the signs. In fact, he actually admired her tenacity, but not enough to agree to partner with her.
“I don’t need too. My sights are firmly set on being the Heavyweight Champion. Not Tag, not Roulette... the Main title.”
She gives him a smirk. He had to admit, she was cute but this whole good girl from London setup was not his bag. Also, he just left a relationship with someone who appeared to be cute and she came with a whole mess of emotional baggage he had no closet space for.
“So are you going to lose the Roulette title shot?”
He rolls his eyes.
“Of course not. I may not want it, but I”m not going to just give it away either. Look, You seem like a good kid...”
She scoffs, “Kid...? I’ll have you know that...”
He puts up a hand to shut her up.
“Yes, Kid. You are what? Eighteen... Nineteen?”
She looks down at her hands. “Nineteen...”
“Yeah. You’re new to adult life, not just wrestling. Why not pick someone that can actually do something for your career. You’re the cousin of the owner. You basically have them eating out of your hand. Use that. Become the Bombshell Roulette champion. Move mountains, take names... whatever... Don’t saddle yourself in the Tag division with a partner that is just going to let you down.”
“So you’re saying we would lose if you were my partner?”
He once again rolls his eyes. “Of course not, we’d dominate simply on my talent alone. I mean, I assume that you are actually good? I don’t think your cousin would bring you in if he didn’t think so. Better partner than Char Kwan. She was so bad they had to bring in another chick to their group to even it out.”
She smiles. “I don’t see anything here to say that it’s not a good idea.”
He sighs deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose in agitation.
“Are you not listening? I don’t want to be in a tag team. I tried to rely on someone else and they ended up betraying me. I am not setting myself up for that again.”
She leans forward on her elbows, watching him take a sip of his wine.
“We’re not dating though. Nor do I want to date you. You are not my type. That’s the difference. You and Calia were dating. You loved her so you didn’t see all the faults. The fact that for all the training she got, she wasn’t very good. For all the trouble you give Char about losing Blast From the Past for you, she was no better than Calia was as a partner. That’s where I am different Jack. I am actually good. And I am not going to let you down like she did, like Char did. And I know you would like nothing better than to defeat Char and make her pay for taking away your chance to get a chance at the title you want so bad.”
The words sunk in. Revenge. As much as he liked to play up the fact that he was cultured and refined, revenge was something that coursed through everyone’s veins. For a brief second, he considered it and then brushed it off.
“No. Absolutely not. I have a Roulette title to win.”
He waves his hand in the air, calling for the Martire D.
“Yes, Sir?”
“I’d like the check. And please, put anything Miss Ward wants on my tab.”
The server nods and leaves. Jack looks back to Emmie.
“I’m going to give you a final warning Miss Ward. Stop this. Find someone else. I will press charges if I have too, but I don’t want to have to do that. You’re a smart girl. Know a lost cause when you see one.”
He pulls out his wallet and throws three hundred dollar bills onto the table. He then dabs at his face with the cloth napkin and rises.
“Stay. Get yourself something to eat. You probably survive on Pizza and ramen noodles. A good meal will do you good. Consider it my good will gesture.”
He then nods at the approaching waiter and leaves the restaurant. Emmie suddenly feels underdressed for the place. The waiter makes quick change and hands the remaining money to Emmie. Unsure what to do with it, she gives him a large tip and escapes with a hundred dollar bill burning a hole in her pocket. She wasn’t going to stop though. She had to get through to him. She’d done the research. She down the statistics spreadsheets. Jack was the best suited to help her save the tag division.
