Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2011 19:45:37 GMT -6
Chicago, October 23rd 2004
The rain begins to fall softly across Chicago, resting on the sidewalks in large pools as droplets form large ripple as they crash down onto the concrete. A roll of thunder roars across the sky, booming angrily before petering out and leaving only an eerie echo in its place as a flash of lightening lights up the skyline. Pedestrians weave across the sidewalks, coats and briefcases lofted above their skulls as makeshift umbrellas whilst cars trickle slowly past, their headlights lighting up the downpour across the roadway whilst lampposts burn the pavements every few metres. A few cars pass by a quiet neighbourhood, blocks of flats soaring skywards, their summits disappearing in the wet haze as a small yellow cab pulls up slowly, halting carefully as the driver does his best to avoid a cyclist lost in their own world. A few moments later a figure steps out of the rear of the vehicle, rushing to the driver’s door with a few dollars in hand, thrusting them forward as they turn and run quickly towards a small flight of stairs as the taxi pulls away back into the deluge. The figure struggles with their keys, dropping them to the floor as Roberto slowly ascends the stair way, seemingly unconcerned by the conditions despite donning a full length suit complete with long coat and scarf. Roberto reaches the unknown figure, looking down curiously, their long blonde hair has become a soggy mess as they scramble around on the floor to retrieve their door keys, a small leather briefcase slowly taking on more water.
Roberto Verona : Is everything okay down there?
The figure looks up to reveal the drenched face of Hannah Reed, attorney at law, her mascara dribbling down her cheeks giving the impression of distress amidst her befuddled expression. She scrambles around for a few more moments before wrapping a key ring around her finger and hoisting the troublesome set as she rises up.
Hannah Reed : Sorry, I just dropped my keys.
Roberto Verona : Let me help you in.
Before Hannah can reply, Roberto bends down and lifts up her briefcase, wiping the excess rainwater before twisting his own keys in the main door. Roberto pushes the door open and holds it there for Hannah to walk past him.
Hannah Reed : Thank you, it is rare to meet a gentlemen in Chicago these days.
Roberto Verona : Well clearly you are hanging around with the wrong crowd.
Roberto smiles politely as he walks in after Hannah, closing the door behind them firmly and ensuring it is locked before patting down her briefcase on last time. Hannah opens up her mailbox and removes a few envelopes before taking back her briefcase from Roberto, who politely holds it out for her to reclaim.
Hannah Reed : Thanks again, todays been a bit hectic and my mind is all over the place at the moment.
Roberto Verona : Don’t mention it, always willing to help a damsel in distress.
Hannah Reed : Have you lived here long? I don’t think I have seen you around before.
Roberto Verona : I grew up here, well in spells, but I am new to the apartments. I just moved in a few days ago, decided to treat myself to an upgrade after being a good boy at work for so long. Which floor are you?
Roberto asks, guiding Hannah towards the stair well as the pair begin to move out of the entrance hall and towards their respective apartments.
Hannah Reed : Floor 4, yourself?
Roberto Verona : Looks like we are floor mates, I’m on the same.
Hannah’s face suddenly lights up, her memory suddenly igniting.
Hannah Reed : Ohhh! You’re the new guy in Gary’s old apartment!
Roberto Verona : I guess I am, I’m not sure whether that is a good or bad thing?
Hannah Reed : It is a good thing for the female population of Chicago, let’s just put it that way.
Roberto Verona : So that is why I keep getting phone calls from hysterical women, I just thought I was cursed.
Hannah laughs as Roberto smiles, the two pacing past floor two of the apartments, a young couple descending the stair well forcing Roberto and Hannah to concede and allow them through before continuing their ascent to their own floor.
Hannah Reed : How are you settling in?
Roberto Verona : Truth be told, I haven’t really spent too much time at home since I moved in.
Hannah Reed : Oh I see, caught up in the rat race all day?
Roberto Verona : You could say that. I’ve been lining up a few contracts; I don’t think I have ever been this busy since I started. Hey, the money is good and the job is rewarding so I can’t complain too much.
Hannah Reed : I feel the same, sometimes I just wish that I could have some more time to myself but then I realise how grateful I should be to have such a great opportunity to help so many people. What do you do?
Roberto Verona : Erm, let’s just say I am in the Debt Recovery business. It is a bit taxing but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I see you’re a lawyer?
Hannah looks confused before realising that her briefcase had opened in her rush to retrieve her keys, a few legal documents poking up out of the mass of papers.
Roberto Verona : Don’t worry, I haven’t compromised any of your cases. Although if you have any juicy murder cases you want to lend me I could do with some bed time reading.
Hannah Reed : ****….sorry. I should just be more careful with these things; it feels like it’d be just my luck to end up losing a case because I got a phone call in a Starbucks these days. I could do with a vacation before I go completely insane….not that I am in anyway mentally unstable!
Roberto laughs as Hannah looks at the floor, trying to hide her embarrassment as the pair reach the fourth floor. Roberto holds the door open again as the pair walk down a relatively short corridor, stopping outside apartment 4D.
Hannah Reed : Well, this is me here. Hopefully I haven’t been too much trouble, I know I can ramble on sometimes.
Roberto Verona : Not at all, it has been nice meeting somebody in this place who doesn’t complete ignore you. I think I’d feel more welcome in a bee hive.
Hannah Reed : I’d like to tell you it gets better but frankly, I’ve lived here three years and the best I have gotten out of anybody is a good morning if I am lucky.
Roberto Verona : Well, we will have to buck the trend, Miss….. sorry, I didn’t catch your name?
Hannah Reed : Hannah Elizabeth Reed….or just Hannah….
Roberto Verona : Well then, Miss Reed, I hope to get to know more about you at a later date, although if you aren’t careful I’ll know your whole life story. I will let you go, I’ve held you up long enough.
Hannah Reed : Don’t worry, I don’t mind.
Roberto Verona : Then on that note, I will bid you good night Hannah. Take care and have a pleasant evening.
Roberto bows his head politely before turning and walking up the corridor, leaving Hannah to fumble around the lock on hr door handle as she tries to unlock her apartment. Finally slotting her keys in to place she suddenly turns and shouts after Roberto who has reached the halfway mark of the complex.
Hannah Reed : Hey! You never told me your name! You know it is only fair to share.
Roberto laughs as Hannah stands, hands on hips outside her door waiting for a response.
Roberto Verona : It’s Roberto, but I am afraid you’ll have to work a little harder before I tell you the rest of my name Miss Hannah Elizabeth Reed. It was a pleasure speaking to you, if your ever feeling bored I live in 4G. Who knows maybe you’ll get a surname out of me? All the best.
Roberto turns and heads towards his own apartment as Hannah opens hers, walking in and throwing her briefcases onto a nearby table before closing the door behind her and scrambling for her phone. She punches the qwerty keyboard a few times before lifting it to the side of her head as she slowly throws different items of clothing off of her body, removing each soaked apparel on by one whilst kicking her high heel shoes to one side. Suddenly she perks up before sitting down in a small chair.
Hannah Reed : Stephanie? Hey there, you’ll never guess what…. I just bumped into the politest guy I think I have ever met in this city.
I know right? Do you think I should try talking to him again or will that seem weird?
No I didn’t make a complete idiot of myself, although I think if he was a career criminal he could have signed up to several bank accounts with my details if I hadn’t have shut up.
Your right, I shouldn’t swamp the guy, I mean he barely knows me….
Hannah suddenly picks herself up and walks into a different room, removing her wet shirt. As the garment slides off of her shoulders she shuts the door behind her, hiding her modesty as the details of her conversation soon become too muffled to hear.
Why do I get the sense of déjà vu? It feels like we have been here before Todd, in fact it feels like I just got in a car with Doc Brown and burned up the tarmac, although I am pretty sure I won’t be partaking in any episodes of incest. You see, I just cannot shake the feeling that this has all happened before and I can’t for the life of my comprehend how any man would fail so many times without learning his lesson and just keep blindly coming back for more. Surely only a complete idiot would lose so many times and then ask “Please sir, can I have some more?”. However, for some reason, you Todd are stupid enough to want to do this whole dance one last time, despite the fact that you have roundly failed to achieve anything of note the past three times you and I stood across the same ring together.
What’s that you say? You beat me in our first bout? You are indeed correct Todd, you did achieve the highlight of your career when you beat me that one time on your road to your clash with Rob Diamond. The only problem is Todd, that you haven’t been able to claim any semblance of a victory in the last two encounters and more importantly you failed miserably in the only one that truly mattered. When push came to shove, you just weren’t good enough Todd. I know, I know, you’re going to tell me how you were distracted by your complete failure as a father and husband, that your mind was just not on the game and that when you are completely at your best you know you would have beaten me but here is the problem I have with that Todd. I am the NCW X-Champion and you simply are not, you’re just another former champion who laid down his short-lived reign with a whimper. All that matters Williams is that when you and I clashed for your treasured prize, which you worked so hard to gain, you just didn’t measure up, you were sub-par and my superiority shone through the suffocating presence of your mediocrity. No matter how you try and paint it Todd, you just weren’t good enough to be champion. Which brings me onto a very important question, what makes you think that you are good enough now to take it back?
You couldn’t stop me wrenching this very title from your inferior grip a month ago at the biggest night of the year, why precisely should I believe Todd that only a month later you are somehow ready to reclaim the belt you never earned in the first place? The fact is Todd, that if you couldn’t psyche yourself up to defend this prestigious championship at the single biggest night of the year you haven’t got a hope in hell of doing it only four weeks later. You lost because you were not good enough, unless you have suddenly acquired talent over the past couple of weeks, which consisted of me handing your ass to you for what feels like the hundredth time by the way, in what reality are you suddenly going to have what it takes to man up and shove my words back down my throat? Give me one good reason as to why I should be in anyway intimidated about your threat to my belt, which is practically non-existant.
Whilst you’re at it Todd, how about you explain to me just why on earth you think you even deserve another shot at me? You couldn’t put me away at Sovereign and when any self-respecting champion would have beat me black and blue at A Night To Remember you bent over and conceded like a bitch. Not only that but you claimed the X-Championship because I decided to screw Rob Diamond over and gift wrap you the title. Since then you have contrived to screw us both out of a victory over the NCW Tag Team Champions, lost your belt to me and then served up a damp squid against Chris Gardner in Belfast proceeded by an ass kicking by your truly, again. So, all things considered Williams you must be kissing some major ass upstairs to have somehow screwed over the rest of the roster for another shot at me, and for my title no less. Rest assured that you will live to regret your decision to continue this little charade Todd because there isn’t a chance in hell that I am going to be dropping this title any time soon, not least to a man who doesn’t even deserve a shot at it. In a month you lost your belt and your wife, by carrying on this stupid little ill-conceived Crusade you’re getting close to potentially losing the only thing you have got left in your life; your career.
I know you probably feel like you are owed a re-match, after all you are the former champion right? Ignoring the fact that the whole concept of a failure getting another shot at trying to redeem themselves is a complete farce and makes a mockery of the entire competition, is there any other reason why you think you are owed anything from me? I beat you for this belt fair and square Williams. There was no Trish Newborn, no Andrew Jacobsen and no Lex Sense for you to blame you defeat on. Since then I have proceeded to move onto bigger and better things whilst you have just stagnated and festered away in the cesspit of incompetence you live in. Whilst I have been slapping the taste of the mouths of men like Spike Kane and Rob Diamond, you have failed to do anything approaching significance and got your ass handed to you by me and my stable mates. Whilst I have taken the next step in my career and started to raise my game and occupy two main events, you have slinked away in the darkness and gone back to being the pathetic waste of space you’ve always been.
Yet despite all this you have got yourself a re-match at Reborn and no doubt you will be pretty confident of your chances. However, whilst it would be awfully poetic that you re-ignite you career, overcome your bitter rival and reclaim the belt you always felt you have rightfully earned at the pay-per-view built around the whole concept of “re-birth” it simply isn’t going to happen like that Todd. What is going to happen is that this time, I will not just beat you, I will break you. Before just pinning you to the mat for the three count was good enough for me, then it was taking away the X-Championship earlier than I had predicted but now, now just beating you isn’t good enough Williams. Now, the only thing that is good enough for me is beating you senseless and sending you a message for the final time: do not **** around with me. You are playing with fire Todd, it was noble and admirable the way you stood up to me the past three time we fought Todd but this time your pursuit of a impossible dream is going to get your burnt. I am in no mood to carry on this little thing we’ve got going, in my mind we finished our little rivalry when I did what I said I would do and placed this belt around the waist of a man who isn’t a pathetic wreck of a human being, the fact you seem intent on continuing all this is certifiably insane.
When I am done with you Todd, you won’t be asking to fight me ever again, in fact you’ll be doing everything in your power to avoid ever stepping inside this ring with me. This time I crown the birth of my revolution with your head and put an end to your moronic one man campaign once and for all. There will be no mercy for you, every single one of your followers will have to watch me beat the life right out of you and when they are done, they can mourn one of their false idols before I move on to the rest of them and put myself at the head of this corporation, exactly where I should be.
Vive La Révolution.
Chicago, November 12th 2004
The main hall of the Chicago courtrooms is bustling with life, lawyer rush feverishly from room to room carrying briefcases and Blackberrys as they work tirelessly for their clients, both innocent and guilty as the legal machine chugs along slowly dispensing justice to those unlucky enough to find themselves in the dock. A door opens and a large crowd of people begin to pour out before Hannah Reed exits with a well-dressed man, shaking his hand before turning and heading towards the main reception. In a world of her own she walks in a straight line, the crowds moulding around her before she suddenly collides with someone, jarring her should as she yelps in pain. Hannah turns, a rage burning deep inside her until she is met by the smiling face of Roberto Verona, a leather jacket wrapped his torso accompanied by a pair of jeans and worn boots.
Roberto Verona : Well fancy meeting you here Miss Reed.
Hannah Reed : Roberto? What are you doing here?
Roberto Verona : I am working, how about you?
Hannah Reed : Working? I thought you said you were in the “Debt Recovery” business or something?
Roberto Verona : I am in a manner of speakings. Only the debts I recover are bail runners.
Hannah Reed : You mean you’re a bounty hunter!?
Roberto Verona : Well, I don’t like to brag but….yeah. I just brought in a guy who fled a fraud trial a few days ago and thought I’d drop by and see how it went.
Hannah Reed : You’re not really dressed for court, are you?
Hannah nods her head as Roberto looks down, patting his chest.
Roberto Verona : My only suit is at the dry cleaners, besides I didn’t need to testify today. I am sorry, I didn’t think I’d need to dress to impress Hannah. That and we haven’t spoken since we met two weeks ago, I got the impression you’d gotten shy on me.
Hannah blushes, quickly dropping her head to hide her face
Hannah Reed : I’ve just been a little busy….
Roberto Verona : Busy avoiding me by any chance?
Hannah Reed : I….no! There has just been a pretty tough case I’ve been swamped down with for the past few weeks. Oddly enough I just wrapped it all up in there a few minutes ago.
Roberto Verona : So you are free for the next few nights?
Hannah Reed : Well…yes, I suppose I am. Why do you ask?
Roberto Verona : Well without meaning to be too forward I was hoping you’d join me for a few drinks this Friday at my place, that is if you don’t feel too uncomfortable with that?
Hannah gulps, taken aback a little by the invitation. Composing herself she replied awkwardly.
Hannah Reed : No…I mean yes, of course… What I meant was no that sounds great. It’d be nice to get out of the apartment for a few hours.
Roberto Verona : Well, that is great! Listen, I need to dash off, I would like to get my paycheck for this case. Just meet me at mine at about eight o’clock. Don’t go disappointing me you hear?
Hannah Reed : I won’t, it’s a dat….I mean…
Roberto smiles, and begins to walk away before turning momentarily.
Roberto Verona : Just remember, eight o’clock! Congratulations on your latest victory Miss Reed, don’t celebrate too hard!
With that Verona turns and walks into the crowd leaving Hannah alone. When he is out of sight she punches the air before looking around embarrassed as onlookers stare her down. Looking at the floor she turns and makes a hasty retreat out of the building as the process of law and order comes to a close for the day.
The rain begins to fall softly across Chicago, resting on the sidewalks in large pools as droplets form large ripple as they crash down onto the concrete. A roll of thunder roars across the sky, booming angrily before petering out and leaving only an eerie echo in its place as a flash of lightening lights up the skyline. Pedestrians weave across the sidewalks, coats and briefcases lofted above their skulls as makeshift umbrellas whilst cars trickle slowly past, their headlights lighting up the downpour across the roadway whilst lampposts burn the pavements every few metres. A few cars pass by a quiet neighbourhood, blocks of flats soaring skywards, their summits disappearing in the wet haze as a small yellow cab pulls up slowly, halting carefully as the driver does his best to avoid a cyclist lost in their own world. A few moments later a figure steps out of the rear of the vehicle, rushing to the driver’s door with a few dollars in hand, thrusting them forward as they turn and run quickly towards a small flight of stairs as the taxi pulls away back into the deluge. The figure struggles with their keys, dropping them to the floor as Roberto slowly ascends the stair way, seemingly unconcerned by the conditions despite donning a full length suit complete with long coat and scarf. Roberto reaches the unknown figure, looking down curiously, their long blonde hair has become a soggy mess as they scramble around on the floor to retrieve their door keys, a small leather briefcase slowly taking on more water.
Roberto Verona : Is everything okay down there?
The figure looks up to reveal the drenched face of Hannah Reed, attorney at law, her mascara dribbling down her cheeks giving the impression of distress amidst her befuddled expression. She scrambles around for a few more moments before wrapping a key ring around her finger and hoisting the troublesome set as she rises up.
Hannah Reed : Sorry, I just dropped my keys.
Roberto Verona : Let me help you in.
Before Hannah can reply, Roberto bends down and lifts up her briefcase, wiping the excess rainwater before twisting his own keys in the main door. Roberto pushes the door open and holds it there for Hannah to walk past him.
Hannah Reed : Thank you, it is rare to meet a gentlemen in Chicago these days.
Roberto Verona : Well clearly you are hanging around with the wrong crowd.
Roberto smiles politely as he walks in after Hannah, closing the door behind them firmly and ensuring it is locked before patting down her briefcase on last time. Hannah opens up her mailbox and removes a few envelopes before taking back her briefcase from Roberto, who politely holds it out for her to reclaim.
Hannah Reed : Thanks again, todays been a bit hectic and my mind is all over the place at the moment.
Roberto Verona : Don’t mention it, always willing to help a damsel in distress.
Hannah Reed : Have you lived here long? I don’t think I have seen you around before.
Roberto Verona : I grew up here, well in spells, but I am new to the apartments. I just moved in a few days ago, decided to treat myself to an upgrade after being a good boy at work for so long. Which floor are you?
Roberto asks, guiding Hannah towards the stair well as the pair begin to move out of the entrance hall and towards their respective apartments.
Hannah Reed : Floor 4, yourself?
Roberto Verona : Looks like we are floor mates, I’m on the same.
Hannah’s face suddenly lights up, her memory suddenly igniting.
Hannah Reed : Ohhh! You’re the new guy in Gary’s old apartment!
Roberto Verona : I guess I am, I’m not sure whether that is a good or bad thing?
Hannah Reed : It is a good thing for the female population of Chicago, let’s just put it that way.
Roberto Verona : So that is why I keep getting phone calls from hysterical women, I just thought I was cursed.
Hannah laughs as Roberto smiles, the two pacing past floor two of the apartments, a young couple descending the stair well forcing Roberto and Hannah to concede and allow them through before continuing their ascent to their own floor.
Hannah Reed : How are you settling in?
Roberto Verona : Truth be told, I haven’t really spent too much time at home since I moved in.
Hannah Reed : Oh I see, caught up in the rat race all day?
Roberto Verona : You could say that. I’ve been lining up a few contracts; I don’t think I have ever been this busy since I started. Hey, the money is good and the job is rewarding so I can’t complain too much.
Hannah Reed : I feel the same, sometimes I just wish that I could have some more time to myself but then I realise how grateful I should be to have such a great opportunity to help so many people. What do you do?
Roberto Verona : Erm, let’s just say I am in the Debt Recovery business. It is a bit taxing but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I see you’re a lawyer?
Hannah looks confused before realising that her briefcase had opened in her rush to retrieve her keys, a few legal documents poking up out of the mass of papers.
Roberto Verona : Don’t worry, I haven’t compromised any of your cases. Although if you have any juicy murder cases you want to lend me I could do with some bed time reading.
Hannah Reed : ****….sorry. I should just be more careful with these things; it feels like it’d be just my luck to end up losing a case because I got a phone call in a Starbucks these days. I could do with a vacation before I go completely insane….not that I am in anyway mentally unstable!
Roberto laughs as Hannah looks at the floor, trying to hide her embarrassment as the pair reach the fourth floor. Roberto holds the door open again as the pair walk down a relatively short corridor, stopping outside apartment 4D.
Hannah Reed : Well, this is me here. Hopefully I haven’t been too much trouble, I know I can ramble on sometimes.
Roberto Verona : Not at all, it has been nice meeting somebody in this place who doesn’t complete ignore you. I think I’d feel more welcome in a bee hive.
Hannah Reed : I’d like to tell you it gets better but frankly, I’ve lived here three years and the best I have gotten out of anybody is a good morning if I am lucky.
Roberto Verona : Well, we will have to buck the trend, Miss….. sorry, I didn’t catch your name?
Hannah Reed : Hannah Elizabeth Reed….or just Hannah….
Roberto Verona : Well then, Miss Reed, I hope to get to know more about you at a later date, although if you aren’t careful I’ll know your whole life story. I will let you go, I’ve held you up long enough.
Hannah Reed : Don’t worry, I don’t mind.
Roberto Verona : Then on that note, I will bid you good night Hannah. Take care and have a pleasant evening.
Roberto bows his head politely before turning and walking up the corridor, leaving Hannah to fumble around the lock on hr door handle as she tries to unlock her apartment. Finally slotting her keys in to place she suddenly turns and shouts after Roberto who has reached the halfway mark of the complex.
Hannah Reed : Hey! You never told me your name! You know it is only fair to share.
Roberto laughs as Hannah stands, hands on hips outside her door waiting for a response.
Roberto Verona : It’s Roberto, but I am afraid you’ll have to work a little harder before I tell you the rest of my name Miss Hannah Elizabeth Reed. It was a pleasure speaking to you, if your ever feeling bored I live in 4G. Who knows maybe you’ll get a surname out of me? All the best.
Roberto turns and heads towards his own apartment as Hannah opens hers, walking in and throwing her briefcases onto a nearby table before closing the door behind her and scrambling for her phone. She punches the qwerty keyboard a few times before lifting it to the side of her head as she slowly throws different items of clothing off of her body, removing each soaked apparel on by one whilst kicking her high heel shoes to one side. Suddenly she perks up before sitting down in a small chair.
Hannah Reed : Stephanie? Hey there, you’ll never guess what…. I just bumped into the politest guy I think I have ever met in this city.
I know right? Do you think I should try talking to him again or will that seem weird?
No I didn’t make a complete idiot of myself, although I think if he was a career criminal he could have signed up to several bank accounts with my details if I hadn’t have shut up.
Your right, I shouldn’t swamp the guy, I mean he barely knows me….
Hannah suddenly picks herself up and walks into a different room, removing her wet shirt. As the garment slides off of her shoulders she shuts the door behind her, hiding her modesty as the details of her conversation soon become too muffled to hear.
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Why do I get the sense of déjà vu? It feels like we have been here before Todd, in fact it feels like I just got in a car with Doc Brown and burned up the tarmac, although I am pretty sure I won’t be partaking in any episodes of incest. You see, I just cannot shake the feeling that this has all happened before and I can’t for the life of my comprehend how any man would fail so many times without learning his lesson and just keep blindly coming back for more. Surely only a complete idiot would lose so many times and then ask “Please sir, can I have some more?”. However, for some reason, you Todd are stupid enough to want to do this whole dance one last time, despite the fact that you have roundly failed to achieve anything of note the past three times you and I stood across the same ring together.
What’s that you say? You beat me in our first bout? You are indeed correct Todd, you did achieve the highlight of your career when you beat me that one time on your road to your clash with Rob Diamond. The only problem is Todd, that you haven’t been able to claim any semblance of a victory in the last two encounters and more importantly you failed miserably in the only one that truly mattered. When push came to shove, you just weren’t good enough Todd. I know, I know, you’re going to tell me how you were distracted by your complete failure as a father and husband, that your mind was just not on the game and that when you are completely at your best you know you would have beaten me but here is the problem I have with that Todd. I am the NCW X-Champion and you simply are not, you’re just another former champion who laid down his short-lived reign with a whimper. All that matters Williams is that when you and I clashed for your treasured prize, which you worked so hard to gain, you just didn’t measure up, you were sub-par and my superiority shone through the suffocating presence of your mediocrity. No matter how you try and paint it Todd, you just weren’t good enough to be champion. Which brings me onto a very important question, what makes you think that you are good enough now to take it back?
You couldn’t stop me wrenching this very title from your inferior grip a month ago at the biggest night of the year, why precisely should I believe Todd that only a month later you are somehow ready to reclaim the belt you never earned in the first place? The fact is Todd, that if you couldn’t psyche yourself up to defend this prestigious championship at the single biggest night of the year you haven’t got a hope in hell of doing it only four weeks later. You lost because you were not good enough, unless you have suddenly acquired talent over the past couple of weeks, which consisted of me handing your ass to you for what feels like the hundredth time by the way, in what reality are you suddenly going to have what it takes to man up and shove my words back down my throat? Give me one good reason as to why I should be in anyway intimidated about your threat to my belt, which is practically non-existant.
Whilst you’re at it Todd, how about you explain to me just why on earth you think you even deserve another shot at me? You couldn’t put me away at Sovereign and when any self-respecting champion would have beat me black and blue at A Night To Remember you bent over and conceded like a bitch. Not only that but you claimed the X-Championship because I decided to screw Rob Diamond over and gift wrap you the title. Since then you have contrived to screw us both out of a victory over the NCW Tag Team Champions, lost your belt to me and then served up a damp squid against Chris Gardner in Belfast proceeded by an ass kicking by your truly, again. So, all things considered Williams you must be kissing some major ass upstairs to have somehow screwed over the rest of the roster for another shot at me, and for my title no less. Rest assured that you will live to regret your decision to continue this little charade Todd because there isn’t a chance in hell that I am going to be dropping this title any time soon, not least to a man who doesn’t even deserve a shot at it. In a month you lost your belt and your wife, by carrying on this stupid little ill-conceived Crusade you’re getting close to potentially losing the only thing you have got left in your life; your career.
I know you probably feel like you are owed a re-match, after all you are the former champion right? Ignoring the fact that the whole concept of a failure getting another shot at trying to redeem themselves is a complete farce and makes a mockery of the entire competition, is there any other reason why you think you are owed anything from me? I beat you for this belt fair and square Williams. There was no Trish Newborn, no Andrew Jacobsen and no Lex Sense for you to blame you defeat on. Since then I have proceeded to move onto bigger and better things whilst you have just stagnated and festered away in the cesspit of incompetence you live in. Whilst I have been slapping the taste of the mouths of men like Spike Kane and Rob Diamond, you have failed to do anything approaching significance and got your ass handed to you by me and my stable mates. Whilst I have taken the next step in my career and started to raise my game and occupy two main events, you have slinked away in the darkness and gone back to being the pathetic waste of space you’ve always been.
Yet despite all this you have got yourself a re-match at Reborn and no doubt you will be pretty confident of your chances. However, whilst it would be awfully poetic that you re-ignite you career, overcome your bitter rival and reclaim the belt you always felt you have rightfully earned at the pay-per-view built around the whole concept of “re-birth” it simply isn’t going to happen like that Todd. What is going to happen is that this time, I will not just beat you, I will break you. Before just pinning you to the mat for the three count was good enough for me, then it was taking away the X-Championship earlier than I had predicted but now, now just beating you isn’t good enough Williams. Now, the only thing that is good enough for me is beating you senseless and sending you a message for the final time: do not **** around with me. You are playing with fire Todd, it was noble and admirable the way you stood up to me the past three time we fought Todd but this time your pursuit of a impossible dream is going to get your burnt. I am in no mood to carry on this little thing we’ve got going, in my mind we finished our little rivalry when I did what I said I would do and placed this belt around the waist of a man who isn’t a pathetic wreck of a human being, the fact you seem intent on continuing all this is certifiably insane.
When I am done with you Todd, you won’t be asking to fight me ever again, in fact you’ll be doing everything in your power to avoid ever stepping inside this ring with me. This time I crown the birth of my revolution with your head and put an end to your moronic one man campaign once and for all. There will be no mercy for you, every single one of your followers will have to watch me beat the life right out of you and when they are done, they can mourn one of their false idols before I move on to the rest of them and put myself at the head of this corporation, exactly where I should be.
Vive La Révolution.
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Chicago, November 12th 2004
The main hall of the Chicago courtrooms is bustling with life, lawyer rush feverishly from room to room carrying briefcases and Blackberrys as they work tirelessly for their clients, both innocent and guilty as the legal machine chugs along slowly dispensing justice to those unlucky enough to find themselves in the dock. A door opens and a large crowd of people begin to pour out before Hannah Reed exits with a well-dressed man, shaking his hand before turning and heading towards the main reception. In a world of her own she walks in a straight line, the crowds moulding around her before she suddenly collides with someone, jarring her should as she yelps in pain. Hannah turns, a rage burning deep inside her until she is met by the smiling face of Roberto Verona, a leather jacket wrapped his torso accompanied by a pair of jeans and worn boots.
Roberto Verona : Well fancy meeting you here Miss Reed.
Hannah Reed : Roberto? What are you doing here?
Roberto Verona : I am working, how about you?
Hannah Reed : Working? I thought you said you were in the “Debt Recovery” business or something?
Roberto Verona : I am in a manner of speakings. Only the debts I recover are bail runners.
Hannah Reed : You mean you’re a bounty hunter!?
Roberto Verona : Well, I don’t like to brag but….yeah. I just brought in a guy who fled a fraud trial a few days ago and thought I’d drop by and see how it went.
Hannah Reed : You’re not really dressed for court, are you?
Hannah nods her head as Roberto looks down, patting his chest.
Roberto Verona : My only suit is at the dry cleaners, besides I didn’t need to testify today. I am sorry, I didn’t think I’d need to dress to impress Hannah. That and we haven’t spoken since we met two weeks ago, I got the impression you’d gotten shy on me.
Hannah blushes, quickly dropping her head to hide her face
Hannah Reed : I’ve just been a little busy….
Roberto Verona : Busy avoiding me by any chance?
Hannah Reed : I….no! There has just been a pretty tough case I’ve been swamped down with for the past few weeks. Oddly enough I just wrapped it all up in there a few minutes ago.
Roberto Verona : So you are free for the next few nights?
Hannah Reed : Well…yes, I suppose I am. Why do you ask?
Roberto Verona : Well without meaning to be too forward I was hoping you’d join me for a few drinks this Friday at my place, that is if you don’t feel too uncomfortable with that?
Hannah gulps, taken aback a little by the invitation. Composing herself she replied awkwardly.
Hannah Reed : No…I mean yes, of course… What I meant was no that sounds great. It’d be nice to get out of the apartment for a few hours.
Roberto Verona : Well, that is great! Listen, I need to dash off, I would like to get my paycheck for this case. Just meet me at mine at about eight o’clock. Don’t go disappointing me you hear?
Hannah Reed : I won’t, it’s a dat….I mean…
Roberto smiles, and begins to walk away before turning momentarily.
Roberto Verona : Just remember, eight o’clock! Congratulations on your latest victory Miss Reed, don’t celebrate too hard!
With that Verona turns and walks into the crowd leaving Hannah alone. When he is out of sight she punches the air before looking around embarrassed as onlookers stare her down. Looking at the floor she turns and makes a hasty retreat out of the building as the process of law and order comes to a close for the day.