Post by jamesradford on Dec 19, 2016 21:26:35 GMT -5
The Tsongas Center
Lowell, Massachusetts
12/18/2016 – 1 Hour After Massacre
James Radford celebrated in the ring after his victory over Kimitsu Zombie as if he'd just won the Olympics. He slapped hands with fans, held up homemade signs that bore his catchphrases, and even shared a hug with Bobby Benson, who wildly screamed into his microphone about James being the greatest.
What a difference an hour could make. After making his way to the backstage area he was confronted by backstage interviewer, Sam Young, who bombarded him with questions about his controversial victory. That was just it though, James didn’t know anything about the controversy. After dealing with a skeptical broadcaster, he was taken to a nearby monitor and shown the ending of his match. The effects of the playback were sobering, and the high that James was once own quickly faded to a somber expression, dark intent flashing towards Bobby Benson’s direction.
Bobby, to his credit, never missed a beat, claiming that his interference was minimal at best, and that it was a foregone conclusion that James Radford should be the man to watch throughout the rest of the Alpha Cup Tournament. He also powdered the landscape with a few bombs of his own towards Dominic Lawson, James’ next opponent, claiming that ‘The Mic better lay off the sauce if he expects to hang with someone of my client’s caliber.’
Having heard enough, James made his way to his dressing room with clenched teeth, while Bobby continued the media barrage of his impending victory over all Alpha Cup contenders.
By the time Benson made his way to the lockers, James was sitting on the dressing room table looking as if he had lost the match rather than won it. Bobby didn’t bother with the usual pep talk, making his way right over to his bags, and began packing up.
James’ jaw was still tight when he spared a glance in Bobby’s direction. “What the hell, Bobby?”
Bobby Benson didn’t so much as bat an eye as he continued putting away his products. “James, it is what it is. I don’t know what you want me to say, and quite frankly, it probably wouldn’t be the truth anyways.”
James came up off the bench threateningly, as if it were taking everything he had from throttling the smaller man where he stood. “God damn it, Bobby, that’s not the way I do things!”
Bobby sighed, zipping up his bag, and then turned to face James square shouldered. “I know, and that’s why you shouldn’t feel too bad about it. You didn’t do anything, I did, and that’s what the people are going to say.”
“But you represent me, Bobby! The things that you do reflect on me.”
“And vice versa!” Bobby cried in a shrill voice. “You were going to lose, James, and I couldn’t afford that. Neither could you, so just take the victory and focus on your next match. This thing’s not finished yet.”
James fell back on his heels in dismay, and then a resolute expression washed over him. “This tournament might not be done, but this partnership is. I’ll go it alone from here.” James turned to his own bag, and started roughly shoving his clothes into the compartment.
“Oh, so it’s like that is it. Fine!” Bobby fired back, snatching up his bag, and making his way for the door. He stopped short of the handle, and held his finger up as if a light bulb had just gone off, turning back to regard James with a villainous sneer. “Then you’re prepared to pay me.”
James paused in his packing, and he looked over his shoulder vehemently. “What?”
Bobby’s eyes narrowed while the smile grew wider. “Oh, you know, the money that you owe me. What, you thought this little venture was out of the goodness of my heart?” He asked in mock fashion. “No, James, you owe me for quite a few things. For starters, my cut from this cycles revenues, 20% to be exact. Oh, and the breach of contract clause that you wish to invoke, which is a flat fee of $5,000. Not to mention the $6500 you owe me for floating the hotel, travel, training, and clothing expenses. I believe that brings us to a total of right at $13,000. I’ll take a cashier’s check, something insured. I’m not saying that I don’t trust you, but I’ve seen your bank statements, and I just don’t want you to have to pay any fee’s for a bounced check.”
Bobby smirked at the end, crossing his arms over his chest, and tapping his foot expectantly. James had shrunk back from the little man in horror, his mind trying to wrap around all the figures that were just hurled at him like missiles. He didn’t have that kind of money just laying around, and even if he was able to win every match for the next six months, it would take about that long to generate that kind of money. He shook his head in frustration as Bobby watched his internal meltdown evenly.
“Or…” Bobby began, uncrossing his arms and holding them out at his sides. “We can continue on with the original arrangement we’ve both grown accustomed to, and you can allow me to continue to represent you until such time as you can afford to break ties.”
James closes his eyes, wracking his brain to find some loop hole, but unable to see one he reluctantly flopped down on the bench behind him.
“This isn’t how I pictured it.”
Bobby raised an eyebrow, stepping forward to sit down beside his ward. “What’s that?”
James looked over at Bobby with a resigned expression. “I thought you were here to help me get ahead, cause you said you saw something in me. I guess I’m just another business venture. Another Terry Hero.”
Bobby’s sudden laugh caused James to start, his face going sour at being mocked. Bobby held up a hand to ease his client, and shook his head in order to get control of himself.
“James, I signed you cause I do see something in you. You got all the tools in the woodshed, son, but even then sometimes you have to get creative to clear the forest. If you want to be on par with Terry Hero, then you need to get a few things straight. Number one, Terry might have been everyone’s favorite baby face, but that didn’t change the fact that behind the scenes he was cut throat and downright nasty. Two, Terry was a lot like you in the beginning, but even he learned that sometimes you have to gain that extra advantage by any means necessary. It’s too easy to be forgotten in this business otherwise. Three, at the end of the day, Terry listened to my direction, and it made him millions.”
Bobby paused long enough to check and make sure that James was following him. Country Fine didn’t seem to like what he was hearing, but he was still paying attention.
“Look, in order for this to work you need to do your job, and you need to let me do mine. For all of that uppity bitch’s commentary about the South, she was right when she said you can’t just ‘Aww shucks’ your way out of things anymore. You’re being considered for a top spot here in the AWE, and winning the Alpha Cup Tournament would go a long way in cementing the foundation of your future. I appreciate that you want everything to be on the level, on the up and up, but bottom line, I’m going to do whatever I have to in order to make sure you win. So if you don’t want me interfering in matches, I suggest you unlock some of that mean streak I know you got inside you, and make it so that I don’t have to. You dig?”
James’ shoulders deflated, and he nodded in resignation. He knew that he couldn’t win today, but deep down inside, he viewed this as a betrayal, and would dedicate the next few months towards worming his way out of Bobby Benson’s debt.
Bobby, seeming satisfied, grabbed up his bag and made his way for the door. He looked over his shoulder, and nodded toward the hallway. “I’ll bring the car around. When you’re ready, we’ll make our way on down the road.”
With that he disappeared, leaving James to lean against the lockers in contemplation. He didn’t get long before a knock came to the door, followed by the entrance of a camera man being led by Sasha Sloan. James barely had time to try and acknowledge the duo before the camera was in his face, and Sasha was plopped down beside him with a microphone in her hand.
“Hello AWE fans, I’m here with everyone’s favorite cowboy, ‘Country Fine’ James Radford, and the burning question on everyone’s mind is what exactly happened out there?”
James searched for a way out of this, but could hear Benson’s voice in the back of his mind screaming at him to say something. With a heavy sigh, he turned his face towards the microphone.
“Well, Mrs. Sloan, I’m afraid there was a mix up in communication. I didn’t want to win the match like that, and it was never my intention, but sometimes my manager, Bobby Benson, gets a little overzealous for his own good.”
“So you’re saying that Benson’s interference wasn’t you’re plan all along? I mean, Mr. Radford, you don’t expect us to believe that do you? After all, if he’s not out there to be a distraction, then what is he out there for?”
“Bobby’s out there to help steer my ship in the right direction, to ensure that things go my way. He and I don’t always see eye to eye on that direction, but the fact is, I owe the man a lot. Enough so that I can’t, and won’t just drop him due to a difference of opinion.”
“And what difference of opinion is that?” she asked eagerly.
“On what it takes to be a success here in the AWE. Here’s the thing, I can forgive Bobby for what he’s done, cause I know at the end of the day he had my best interests at heart. It’s not what I wanted, but now I have to deal with it. As for Kimitsu Zombie, she’s a hell of a wrestler, and she gave me a few well-placed stingers, but tonight wasn’t her night. I apologize to you Mrs. Zombie for what Bobby did, and I’m not even going to try and make up excuses for the fact that it probably cost you the match. Far as I can tell we’ll never know, but I’m sure we’ll get a chance to dance in the future. Matter of fact, I’m looking forward to it.”
“Alright, so what about the Alpha Cup Tournament? You’ll be going up against Dominic Lawson in the quarter finals.”
James smiled.
“Mr. Lawson has been on a tear as of late in the AWE, and I don’t figure he plans on surrendering that streak to me. Of course, I don’t plan on leaving him much of a choice. Truth is, I have a lot of training to do and matches to watch. I’m going to need to know everything there is to know about Dom Lawson, but luckily, I have Bobby Benson. See, that’s what he does for me out there. He gathers the information I need to succeed, and if I’m sure as shine, this won’t be any different. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll talk to ya’ll later.”
James didn’t give her any chance to argue, before hopping up and making his way towards the door.