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The Gambit
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Topic Started: Jan 12 2012, 11:36 AM (253 Views)
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Deleted User
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Jan 12 2012, 11:36 AM
Post #1
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Deleted User
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Most people had no idea how busy his day was. People saw what they wanted to see. Sure, he was being monitored by cameras constantly. Project: HERO never stopped filming. So they saw him do charity appearances and appear at the latest gala events. They saw him live a high life he didn't particularly care about. It was circular. Doing tons of events getting his name out there, so that more people would want to watch the show so he could get his name out there. This constant ring of being famous for the sake of being famous. That was what people focused on.
She knew better. Amelia Terrence saw the real thing. Since they'd decided to go public with their relationship, she'd been spending a lot more time with Ross. They both had their own apartment in Jarvis Tower but she'd been spending most of her time in his. They were still in the honeymoon phase of the relationship. One she knew would pass as soon as the big, dumb farmboy did something to bother her or she decided to refocus on the business. As it was now, things were red hot. She'd spent enough nights there to see him crawl out of bed at four in the morning. She'd seen the look no one else saw.
He'd fix himself up a hearty breakfast while praying he didn't wake her up. Nothing escaped her. Back in England, back in the dark days, she learned to sleep with one eye open. Watching a man sneak about the morning after was nothing new. Maybe she'd tell him about it sometime. She'd watch him make breakfast and eat it, carefully planning out his activities for the rest of the day. By the end of breakfast he'd have a hard, focused expression on his face. He'd be ready. Ross would get dressed and give her a quick peck on the forehead. She'd stir enough to convince him she was asleep. Then he'd walk to the door, force himself to put on that million dollar smile and then open the door up where the cameras would already be waiting for him.
The cameras. That was the deal. His whole week under watch except for when he went to sleep and six hours of his own choosing. Not a lot of time.
Once he was gone, Amelia would be up. Workout first. Pushups, a little yoga, some core work and boxing. She didn't go crazy about it like he did but she liked to keep herself in shape. Then emails. Most of those charity appearances and gala events were set up by her. Oh, Tony would be the one who'd actually create the events but it was up to her to comb the massive amounts of opportunities Jarvis presented and find ones Ross would actually go for. People liked to think he was some corporate stooge, or some simpleton. She knew he was deeper than that. He went for the noble causes. The big ticket attempts to do some good. He talked about inspiration. That whole thing. She went back and forth on believing the hype.
By the time she finally headed out of his apartment, the cameras would be gone. They'd follow him. In a way, she appreciated it. She didn't get drawn into the circle of his insanity unless he made it so. She appreciated her privacy. She wanted to be off the radar as much as possible, and for months that's why she'd denied her feelings for him. Oh, it failed sometimes. His name would pop up in tabloids. He didn't mean for it to happen. For a man who made his living kicking other people's asses, he could be remarkably disarming. It wasn't uncommon for him to end up chatting with some pretty young starlet and she'd end up in line at the grocery store seeing “Ross Raines cheating with Vanessa Hudgens?” or whoever the hell the press had been desperate enough to snap a photo with. He'd call her and apologize, assure her it was nothing but innocent conversation. She knew he was telling the truth. Didn't stop her from playing the ice queen and enjoying hearing the genuine fear in his voice. Then she'd accept his apology and laugh it off.
They didn't follow her. She wasn't the star. He was. Which meant she could get to her place and change. There was very little Amelia did that wasn't carefully prepared. Her wardrobe was no exception. She was constantly dressed for business. The smartest shoes she could find. Hair well done and just enough makeup to accentuate her look rather than draw attention to it. The skirts were another matter. Length was a decision, look was important. Just enough to draw attention to her legs when people were in the middle of their shrewdest negotiation. A tiny bit of distraction could go a long way.
But she'd look like a diamond while he was still dirty and sweaty in the gym.
That was the next stop. The fitness centre in the bottom of the building. This morning in question, she walked into the gym trying to figure out the day on her tablet. There was a conflict with the two o'clock. Even he couldn't be in two places at once. She looked up from her work to the corner of the room, where Ross was on the parallel bars. So much was made of his strength, his improving speed and conditioning was going unnoticed for now by most everyone but her. His resting heartrate was the lowest she'd ever seen it. His maximum heartrate? Marathon runner level. Most of all, heartrate recovery was getting better by the day. The slimming down and streamlining of his physique after the injury had been a great decision.
There was a tape playing on the big screen in front of the bars. Doc Holiday footage. With every flip, every turn, Ross locked his eyes on the screen. She smirked. That was what she loved. The work. No one worked as hard as he did. Between the speeches and the matches, there was this. She'd seen the quarter hour ratings from the show. This was when they just died. No one wanted to seem him in the gym slugging it out. That was the part she hated. More people watched that and his image might be a little bit better.
He looked away from the tape and spotted her. ”Morning hon.” Ross said breathlessly ”Let's see how my dismount is.”
The ghost of a smirk twitched at the edge of her lips. This never went well. In his mid twenties, in a lot of ways he was a dumb kid trying to impress the head cheerleader. He moved back and rocketed into the air with a double backflip. When he dropped to the ground, he rocked backward and gave a yelp before he fell to the mat. She shook her head and walked over to him as a half dozen cameras turned to face her ”I think it needs a little work.”
”You know, I really had it down before you showed up.” He grumbled and she smirked at how genuinely annoyed he looked. She kneeled down beside him and he shook his head ”Sleep well?”
”Stupid question.”
He laughed and rolled up to his feet ”Thanks a bunch, ice queen. What do we have on the go today?”
She took a look over the tablet and bit her lip, trying to resolve the conflict ”Well. You're starting with an appearance at Tony's Motors. I guess he wants you to help promote a motorcycle launch.”
Ross's face lit up with a look like a little kid who'd just found his favorite christmas present ”Tony's newest line huh? Motorcycle's? Yeah, I can't wait. I'm going to attack that thing.”
”Rich toys for rich boys.” Amelia quoted, reading the motto listed at the top of the email she'd received ”Luxury vehicles. I believe he thinks that having his superhero come drive one around is going to make a few people really interested in it. Make a good impression. Look like you're having fun and try not to die.”
”I won't die.”
She laughed ”You fight people for a living. There's a lunatic in a mask running around backstage at New Era shows who wants to snap your neck. You know what? I still think you riding on an expensive motorcycle is more likely to kill you.”
He chuckled and started wiping some of the sweat out of his hair while her tablet dinged. She clicked the new email and it popped up on screen. Urgent priority. From: NEWJacob@newerawrestling.com . Subject: Need Help. She raised an eyebrow and clicked the email. Just a phone number. Who was NEWJacob again? She thought about it for a second. The cameraman. The cameraman who'd....Oh no...
She walked away from him and fished her cell phone out of her pocket. She dailed the number and looked over to Ross. No one was paying attention to her. He was shirtless, after all, and fishing through his bag for his clothing. The only people watching him this early in the morning were creepy fangirls...and boys. Which meant she could get this done without his knowledge. The phone rang a few times before someone picked it up on the other end.
”Hello?” Fear. Not good.
”Jacob. This is Amelia Terrence, I represent Ross Raines.” She said, trying to keep her voice calm ”We received your e-mail. You were trying to get a hold of Ross?”
”I was...I-” There was a rustle on the other end of the phone, something moving about ”He's here. He's at my kitchen table. He hasn't done anything but I...We're all pretty worried. He's talking about Ross and I...”
Romeo. It had to be Romeo. She felt a chill run down her spine and she headed for the elevator at as brisk a pace as she could. ”Just...just keep him calm. What's he saying?”
”He keeps asking about Ross.”
Oh no. She sighed and ran through the possibilities while she waited for the elevator to come down ”I'm coming over there. I'll be there soon. Don't call the police.”
”What? Why not?”
”Because the last thing we need is this getting out to the media.” Amelia snapped back, her concern causing her to be unnecessarily aggressive ”You're in no danger. He wants to hurt Ross, not you. I'll make him stop.” It'd be a media circus if they heard about this. Romeo going after an innocent man's family because of an argument with Ross? She'd never hear the end of it and it would do unbelievable harm to the business. No, she had to take care of this herself. This was a problem that couldn't be dealt with with muscle. It required finesse.
”Hey, you alright?”
Amelia turned away from the elevator to face him. He stood with his hands on his hips and a smile on his face, but his eyes looked softer. He was worried about her. She flashed her warmest smile back at him and stepped forward to give him a kiss. She took a minute to drink it in. To remember this. Him. With a man like Romeo, there was no telling what he'd do. This might be...
No. Don't think like that.
”Tony's being difficult about some residuals you're owed.” She said, with a dismissive wave of her hand. He'd believe that. Their financial backer was always being a pill about something. She nodded to the trio of cameraman behind him ”Go ride the bike. Have fun and you can tell me about it over dinner tonight. Maybe a little wine? You could use some culture Raines.”
He chuckled ”Fine, fine. See you when I get back.”
The door hissed open in front of her and Amelia gave him a final nod before she stepped inside. He turned to head back to his workout and she watched the door close shut in front of her.
*~*~*~*~*
Jacob had a pretty nice place. One of those little manufactured suburban homes. Perfectly middle class and far enough from the hustle of New York for him to be able to raise his little girl. Amelia sat in the limo and looked out the window, trying to spot Frankie Romeo through one of the dining room windows. No such luck. How carefully had he planned this? Did he know Jacob lived near New York City when he chose him to be his cameraman two weeks ago? It was close to Ross's base of operations. He had to know. During Ross and his first confrontation, she'd been happy. The luchador was smaller. More concerned with gimmickry than going out there and winning matches. She thought Ross would of been able to walk through him. It'd get his name back out there. Make him look good. She hadn't counter on him being this dangerous.
”I'm going in there.” Amelia told the driver ”Twenty minutes. If I'm not back in fifteen minutes I want you to call the police. Then, I want you to call Ross.”
The man nodded and she stepped out off the vehicle. The air was crisp. The neighbourhood quiet. She walked up to the front door and knocked. There was a bit of hesitation that put her on edge, but soon enough a woman opened the door. Hispanic. Middle aged. Jacob's wife. Those big brown eyes were wide with fear and Amelia stepped into the house ”Where is he?”
”Dining room.”
Amelia nodded and stepped into the house. Her heels clicked loudly against the wooden floor. Good. Any advantage would help. This was negotiation, and she knew negotiation. The sound gave her presence. Make her sound like a big deal. She walked through the living room into their dining room. Nice enough room. Family portraits on the wall, a nice big china cabinet, the whole thing was like something out of Norman Rockwell. The family was sitting at the table. Jacob was near the front, staring at her and not making a sound. Across the table sat adorable little Claudia, looking confused as could be at the situation. Beside her, Jacob's wife took her seat at the end of the table.
Romeo sat at the head.
He was dressed quite nicely. A precision tailored Armani suit. Nice shoes. Right down to the golden cufflinks he wore. He looked like he'd just stepped off Calle Serrano. His facemask sat on the table in front of him. This was a man obsessed with his looks. Most of the lucha types wore masks out of respect and honor, a chance to make themselves bigger than life. He had no problem showing his face in non combat situations. He wore it to protect it. Even she had to admit, he was handsome. Unearthly so. There was an uncanny valley thing going on. A bit too much time spent on how he looked, to the point where it was more off putting than anything.
”Miss Terrence.” He said with a smile, his voice just dripping with insincerity ”While I never mind the opportunity to dine with a woman as beautiful as yourself, I'm somewhat disappointed. I expected the hero.”
”Boyscout's busy.”
Romeo's made a hmm sound and shook his head. Amelia gritted her teeth, but kept her voice perfectly level ”Why are you here, Francisco?”
”You're being rather rude.” He sighed ”First, you deny me my appointment with Ross and then you call me by my first name. I don't believe we have any personal relationship. I doubt you're seeking one.”
”Afraid I've already got one, Mr. Romeo.” She had to play his game. He was dangerous and she had to protect the people sitting around the table. He hadn't done anything dangerous...yet.
”With Raines, yes. Raines.” He said slowly. Jacob went to move from his seat. Romeo snapped his head sideways to glare at him. He stopped and sank back into the chair. Romeo turned back to her and continued ”You seem like such a smart woman. I'm quite surprised you're willing to listen to his lies.”
She shook her head ”He's never lied to me.”
”Oh, he has. I'm sure he has. You probably just don't know it yet. Ross is a liar, through and through.” Romeo replied with a grin ”Come now, he was paling around with the Fallen Angels for months. He's a decent looking man. You don't think he ever ended up in bed with Zenna? Maybe even one of the Lacroix's? I know they were getting close....
”Ugh, really?” Amelia rolled her eyes ”This again? Do you know how often someone accuses him of trying to get one of them in bed? Pedestrian. Boring. For a supposed artist, you're pretty derivative. Besides, he and I weren't even together back then.”
”You're together now.” Damn, he was good. Not even a second to go off the path he wanted this conversation to go in. He had to formulate it in seconds too. It's not like he knew she was coming. ”How long do you really think you can keep a hold of a man like him? He's a celebrity. America's big brother. Nearly every man in the country wants to have a beer and take in a football game with him. The women want....something else. You think he can stay a one woman man forever? He's only human.”
She sighed ”I've heard this dozens of times. Like I said. You don't know him like I know him. He cares about me.”
”Cares enough about you to head off to some motorcycle exhibit while you trap yourself in a house with a man who would do anything to hurt him.” Romeo smirked. He looked to the little girl at his side ”Claudia? Look at her, nińita . You see how scared she is? How confused? She knows I'm telling the truth. Ross abandoned her here. He left her here and now all the bad things that happen to her are going to be his fault...”
”Leave my daughter alone.” Jacob growled. Romeo slammed his hand down on the table and the little girl cried out in terror. Her father fell silent and Romeo stood up from the table.
”Hurting me is just going to make your life a hell of a lot worse.”
”Will it?”Romeo asked as he walked around the table ”Who says I'm going to hurt you? This is what I'm talking about. None of you see. I say bad things will happen, you assume I will hurt you. I talk about my vision and none of you understand. Maybe I should make you see now. Maybe I should prove what a liar Ross is. There's no hero to save you. There's no light at the end of the tunnel. You're alone"
Then, they heard it. An engine. The howl of a very powerful engine roaring it's way down the street. Both of them stopped and turned down the street. A motorcycle. The thing looked impossibly expensive and Amelia's jaw dropped as it came snarling to a stop in front of the house. Ross hopped off the bike as a van full of cameras came driving up behind him. He yanked off his helmet and tossed it aside, running across the lawn toward the door. She turned to watch Romeo as he walked to the table and snatched his mask up. He quickly tugged it onto his head, clearly expecting a fight.
”Your day is about to get very, very bad.”
The front door slammed open and Ross stepped into the dining room. He looked at Amelia for a second, checking her over to make sure she was okay before focusing his attention on Romeo. His eyes narrowed. The glare. ”You've taken this too far.”
”So nice of you to join us, Ross.”
”You've come into the home of innocent people. You've frightened them. Terrorized them. For what? Because of some trouble at work? Because we came to blows at a wrestling show? If you want me in the ring, all you have to do is ask.”
Romeo took a step back, feigning confusion ”Frightened them? Terrorized them? I sat down at their table and I said I wanted to see Ross Raines. He works for New Era. His daughter's a fan of yours. I'd imagine you could get a hold of them, even with a connection that small. They worried for no reason. See, you're manipulating again. You're trying to make me into the villain so you can be the hero. I just wanted to talk.”
Ross let loose an animal snarl and stepped forward. Amelia's eyes widened and she stepped back. She'd never seen him that angry. Romeo held up his hand ”Now, now. Calm down. Believe me, there's nothing I'd like more than to settle our issue. I've got every intention to snap that neck of yours. I will not fight you in front of a little girl. What's the matter with you, Ross? You're supposed to hold yourself to a higher standard. Supposed to be the everyman. A role model. Here you come revving in here on an obscenely expensive bike and trying to be violent in front a child. Shame on you.”
Ross hesitated and looked to Amelia for guidance. She looked behind him to the cameras, where they were filming eagerly Ross about to snap and destroy him...all they'd seen was Romeo talking to her and Ross came bursting in ready to fight. Oh no. Oh no. This was what he'd wanted the entire time. She swallowed nervously and turned to Romeo as a wide cheshire grin appeared on his face. Even if they watched the shows, even if they knew about Romeo's attitude? There would be those who didn't. There would be the fans who just watched Project: HERO and had no idea who Romeo was. All they'd see is some man in a mask and a frightened little girl at the table...
”Nothing I do is an accident, Ross.” Romeo told him venomously ”Nothing. I want you to think about this when you're in the ring with Doc Holiday. He'd beat you at your best. Like this? Distracted? You don't stand a chance. He's going to soften you up for me, and then I'm going to get the killing stroke.”
”All this to distract me from winning a wrestling match.”
”You keep saying that. You keep saying 'just a wrestling match'.” Romeo sighed sadly ”We're more than that. It's the field of combat. The one place where men can still fight hand to hand without silly rules to hold us back. When honest men like me can ascend to great heights. Where lies like you get exposed. The rules don't apply to you and I, Ross. Not the way they apply to normal people. We're supposed to teach them. Show them a vision...however far we must go to do so.”
”I swear I'll-”
”I'm sure you will big man, and I'm sure it'll be positively righteous.” Romeo stepped toward them and waived Ross out of the way. Ross made a fist but turned to look at the camera behind him. Romeo chuckled and stepped through the gap, out the door and out of the house.
Ross right away crossed the room to check on Claudia. The little girl hopped up from the table and ran over to hug Ross. He stayed on one knee and held her tight, looking past her up at her father ”Jacob...I...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to drag you into this. I didn't-”
”Just get out man.” Jacob said wearily, moving to take his wife's hand ”Claudia. Upstairs sweetie....I'll make you a snack.” The desperation in his voice was heartbreaking. A normal man desperately trying to make normal the abnormal. Claudia moved away from Ross and past her father, before heading off to her room. Jacob and Ross looked at each other for a moment before Jacob and his wife left the room.
Ross stood up and turned to face her. He never looked at anyone else like that. Like he was lost. He needed guidance and she couldn't offer any. Nothing like this had ever happened to them. Finally, he spoke in a hoarse voice. Hurting. ”Are you okay?”
She nodded ”Yeah...Yeah, I'm fine. How did you know I was here?”
”You kissed me in front of the cameras.” Ross said softly ”You never kiss me in front of the cameras. You hate the cameras.” When he looked past her and right at the lens, she knew he did too. "I got a hold of Tony. Tony got a hold of your driver."
He put his hands over his face and ran his hands back through his hair ”Jesus, I really screwed this up didn't I?”
”No. He manipulated you...He...” Calm Amelia. Take a second. Process. You're smart. Smarter than a freak wrestler in a mask. You can figure this out ”Jesus, he had to know I'd get the email. He knew I'd come here first. He knew you'd be at a function, maybe even the motorcycle thing. He had to know you'd charge in here angry....how did he know all this? This is...”
”It doesn't matter.” Ross said weakly. He walked up and wrapped his arms around her. She rested her head on his chest, and her on his shoulder. He felt heavy. He'd crumple if not for her. His next words were just above a whisper. A tone so shaky her heart ached ”Can we go home?”
”Yeah Ross...Yeah, we can go home.”
((OOC: Counts for Ross))
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