New York State of Mind (feat. Kai Stevens and Aliyah Jaxon)
Feb 13, 2018 17:00:30 GMT -5
Wayne Richards, Blake Archer, and 1 more like this
Post by Kai Stevens on Feb 13, 2018 17:00:30 GMT -5
New York City has often been alluded to in warm regards and in a commending, respectful fashion. They've endearingly nicknamed it the city that never sleeps and the big apple. But for those who have actually spent considerable time there, you belong to one camp or the other with very little middle ground at all. The first camp believes that New York is the greatest state and it's namesake city is the greatest of its kind, while the other believes it is the most overrated and harsh city in the country. It isn't debatable that the five boroughs are unique in their own special ways and the state as a whole has produced a motley crew of talented individuals. Alicia Keys, 50 Cent, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Mel Brooks, an Al Pacino. In the wrestling microcosm, New York commands a special and significant place in the heart of the industry's lore. Chris Jericho, Tommy Dreamer, Enzo Amore, Colin Cassidy, Ashley Massaro, Mick Foley, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Zack Ryder, and even some of the more egregiously disliked within the business, like Vince Russo, all hail from the Empire State. For Union Battleground, what does New York mean? In the past, sure, it's been a location of note, home to the world's most famous arena. But in the present? It means oh so much more.
It's an overcast day with the clouds staining a bleak, dull sky. An almost green hue can be seen in the cloudy air, as if portending that soon the sky would split and the clouds would stain the unforgiving concrete of a New York City sidewalk with precipitation. It's sharply cold, most individuals on the bustling (despite the weather) street corners considering themselves to have failed to wear enough layers. Inside a conference room overlooking these very streets, two men stand sporting expensive suits. Both are wearing entirely black, be that shoes, socks, belts, shirts, blazers, or pants, but they would differ in the color of their tie. The slightly older gentleman, adorned by a dark red tie and a silver tie clip, towers over your average man, standing at six feet and three inches. It had been nearly seven years since he had retired from wrestling at the discretion of his doctors, but he somehow managed to maintain his physique, at least to a certain degree. His hair is brushed back, longer than it had been in quite some time. His kids preferred this to his once shaven skull. BRIAN CHURCH's eyes are glued to the iPhone X in his right hand, his right thumb navigating adeptly around the screen. His teeth would be clenched and his lips almost pursed as if he were being inconvenienced by a wait. Standing before the massive windows that comprise the entirety of the Eastern wall of the room, KAI STEVENS would swallow and wet his lips, his gaze taking in the gloomy skies. His tie would be steel blue, though his tie clip would be silver as well. The Inevitable turns on his heels and flicks his eyes over to his mentor and trainer, the Dismembered Soul, whose head would lift at the same moment, as if he could feel Stevens' eyes attach to the top of his skull.
"Patience is a virtue, Kai," he begins, a soft chuckle escaping from his lips. "They said we're just waiting on one more person they've got signing a contract."
Kai's eyebrows would furrow together and push down, a puzzled demeanor overtaking his body. He lets a soft but sharp bit of air escape from his lips before he raises an eyebrow and chuckles lightly. His head begins wagging back and forth in a disgruntled manner, his teeth clenching together for a brief moment before he could speak his thoughts into existence.
"I don't care if we were waiting for the Pope... I wasn't told I'd be sharing this shit with anyone else. Although, I guess, with the amount of zeroes they're throwing my way I can afford to let it slide this time, huh?"
Kai's ears perk up as the hair on the back of his neck begins to rise like the dark of the night outside. He turns over his shoulder to peer over at the door that had just opened behind him. He could see Church's surprised but unamused facial expression in his peripheral, but upon inspecting the catalyst for his mentor's demeanor, his own would speak to a much different characterization. A warm but imperious smirk pulls over the Envoy of the End's bearded face, and he begins to step towards the entrant to the room.
"We gotta' stop meeting like this."
The individual that had been acknowledged by Kai was another addition to Union Battleground's growing roster; a competitor, former multiple-time champion in their own right and a New York native. Donning all black everything that consisted of a double-breasted wool overcoat, leggings, boots, and jewelry to compliment the entire look - it was ALIYAH JAXON. The ever-so present nonchalant demeanor would be on full display upon entry in to the room until the familiar voice of Kai Stevens causes her eyes to widen behind the aviator frames that shield her eyes from view. A smirk finds its way upon her face as she whips her long, amber-colored hair over her shoulder before proceeding to remove her shades off her face and placing them atop her head.
"You know somethin'? I got told at almost the very last minute that this signing was gonna' involve another "big name talent". Yeah, that's what they said - and sure enough, here you are...and him." Ariana says with a glare in her eyes, in reference to Brian Church who remained a mute on the other end of the room. "So uh, you don't know how to speak to a lady when she walks in a room--or WHAT?" She'd ask; her glare somewhat intensifying in the direction of the Dismembered Soul himself. Without giving him much of a chance to open his mouth, Aliyah quickly diverts her attention back to Kai, as if to insist he do something about Church's rude behavior.
Stevens, usually one of the more loquacious people you'd have the chance to countenance, would seem at a loss for words almost. Flabbergasted, perhaps? The Terror of Long Island would flick his eyes to Church, who shakes his head and ambles off to the far side of the room so as to allow the two to speak without disdainful glances sent his way by the beautiful brunette. Kai would let a soft bit of air shoot out of his mouth as if beginning to chuckle uneasily but stopping himself before he could truly complete his action. He swallows and wets his lips before addressing his fellow New Yorker.
"Don't mind Brian, he's just, uh... He's just busy dealing with something about the offset language in my contract and he's uh... He's not pleased, I'll just put it that way. But, uh, hey! Why didn't you tell me you'd even gotten an offer from these guys? If I'd known you were gonna' be here I probably wouldn't have been such a negotiator about my paycheck."
With an eyebrow raised high, Jaxon slightly shrugs her shoulders.
"Uh, what? What do you mean "why didn't I tell you?"" Am I supposed to be obligated to you or somethin'? Baby, please. I've gotten offers left an' right, ya'know? Calls, texts, e-mails - the whole nine! I weighed my options - and trust me, there was a lot of options, hon' - and when I made my decision to come here? They wanted me in ASAP. And well, here I am, I guess. But what's your case, huh? How long has this place had an eye on you? Or has it been the other way around? I'd like to think that you consider yourself a big-time star, so I can't say it surprises me that you're negotiating the amount of zeros you got on your paycheck. Is the contract not lucrative enough for you? I mean, you gotta' know your worth. I know mine - and uh, let's just say that I'm not too pleased, either. Some may say that I'm asking for a bit too much, but I'll just tell 'em to open their damn eyes and see what they got standin' in front of 'em. Know what I mean?"
Kai would chuckle, smirking with amusement as Jaxon continues. He'd always been amused by her confidence and the way by which she carries herself, but she would be particularly amusing to the former PWF World Heavyweight Champion at this moment. Placing his right hand behind his neck and head and scratching at his hair for a moment, he'd reply with a once-over from his eyes and then a more verbal response.
"I do, in fact, know what you mean. I only negotiated because they were offering me fuck you money and not, uh," he'd begin, his eyes gesturing up and down his former and future coworker, his right eyebrow cocking slightly skyward as he does so. "Not fuck you type'a' money, y'know? And I know my worth better than anyone, believe me... It's just that by the time those tools with the calculators and whatever realize my worth, I'll be worth more. My case, though, Jax, is that after PWF closed, I went back to the gym and started focusing on anything I noticed needed work during my undefeated streak. Ain't gettin' better, you're gettin' worse, right? But, uh, when these guys reached out I was in the middle of a being offered bigger contracts by two other promotions. These guys, though? I thought this would be a new place and a new beginning for me to end. I'm surprised they brought you in, to be honest, though." His eyebrows would shoot upward as he realizes that what he'd said might sound insulting to an easily set-off woman like Jaxon, and he would hasten to qualify his statement. "Thought you'd be off stomping some girl's head through the canvas of somewhere a bit bigger."
"Coulda', shoulda', woulda'...buuuuuut, I didn't - as you can clearly see. You know me, though. I'm aaaalll 'bout the dinero and uh, let's just say the grass was lookin' mighty green over on this side. The Empress goes where she pleases, and I got my eyes set on placing my throne in whatever "ultra-competitive" Women's division they supposedly have in this shindig. It may be "competitive"... now, but as soon as that ink dries up on that dotted line? I'm gonna run through each an' every one of these broads--just. Like. That!" Jaxon says, with the snap of a finger and a glistening white smile formulating over her face. "I haven't had a taste of gold in a hot minute, so I'm itchin' to get a strap over this waist. Speaking of, it's kinda' weird seeing you without one over your shoulder. I'm guessin' you'll be changin' that pretty soon, huh? You're gonna' keep that undefeated streak of yours intact, or are you gonna' let some random, no-named punk make a name for themselves at off of you? Am I speakin' to the same Kai from last year?"
Curiosity sets in the hazel-colored eyes of the former Women's champion as she steps in a bit closer towards Stevens. Stevens smirks confidently as his eyes drift up and down Jaxon, as if he were trying to determine whether or not he believed the demeanor she'd possess at the moment would be more bravado or more legitimate. The smirk softly glides into a grin and he nods his head, his eyes flicking to the floor before reconnecting with Aliyah's.
"I'll put it this way, Aliyah," he lobs softly. "I haven't lost a match in a calendar year. If you ever thought I would even be capable of letting some -- uh, how'd you put it? -- random, no-name punk get the better of me after the year I've had, then you don't know me NEARLY as well as you think." Kai's tone would lower slightly, as if he were subconsciously illustrating the seriousness in his statement. He'd fight to the death for this. "I'm willing to bet one of those shiny titles'll be around my waist sooner than later... And if you do know me as well as you seem to think you do? Then you'll know," he continues, inching closer to Jaxon with his hand slightly lifted for gesticulation. "Then you'll know just how safe a bet that is." With a smirk formulating upon her face, Jaxon stares at Kai intently.
"Do I, Kai--do I?" She'd ask, in rhetorical fashion as she runs her index finger lightly down his chiseled frame - her eyes still locked on his. "I couldn't help but here you say ONE of those titles--but, uh...why not THE title, huh? I mean, really. What sense does it make to try an' negotiate for some extra cheese, only to be one of the guys who's somewhere on the card rather than being the guy who's at the very top of the card?" She'd ask, with an eyebrow heavily raised. Aliyah quickly diverts her attention away from Kai and over to Church - who, she could tell had been listening in on the conversation despite not looking as though he was. "'Cos ya'know, if I was like, I dunno'...your manager or agent or somethin' along those lines..." She'd say this with a higher, heavier and clearer tone in her voice as she eyes Brian Church from across the room in through her peripheral. "...I'd make sure that my client's name an' face is all over this place. I mean, not to discredit Mr. Church's abilities and what he's done for you so far, buuuuuut..." Her voice would trail off a bit; thus, allowing for either Stevens or Church to offer up a response.
"I think, Ms. Jaxon," he initiates, clearly having taken the opportunity to jump in. He rises to his feet and steps over towards the duo with malice in his eyes and an impatience unlike any other. "It's about time you stop running your mouth and concerning yourself with the business, that of me and my protegé, and start focusing a little bit more intently on yourself. Kai WILL be the face of this company, like he has been for every single organization he's ever GRACED with his presence and involvement. He WILL be the Union Battleground Champion, and y'wanna' know something, Ms. Jaxon?" The Dismembered Soul would step closer to Jaxon with frustration evident. "He's gonna' do it with me in his corner... So unless you plan to do the same thing, I might try to take whatever game you're trying to play and push it on down the road... Try someone with a less accomplished future, perhaps... Or maybe someone more your speed, li--"
"Alright, now, calm down."
Brian Church's apparent angry temperament didn't phase Jaxon in the slightest; she found it quite amusing, actually. It was the reaction she was expecting - and yes, it's the exact reaction that she got. Aliyah would raise an eyebrow, curious as to what else Mr. Church had to say before he was interrupted by Kai. However, she would let it be. A pleased smirk was still heavily intact on her beautiful visage, in which Jaxon lets out a light laugh as she looks Church up and down in a somewhat of a begrudging manner.
"Yeah, Brian. Calm down. You don't wanna' let your hot temper ruin your client's chances in getting the lucrative contract you two so desperately seem to want, now do you?" Quickly, Jaxon turns her attention toward Kai with a slight look of concern on her face before switching to a wide smile. "I mean, I dunno' what's up with you, Brian...but uh, there's no games being played over here, honey. Why would you even think such a thing, huh? I mean, yeah...I could easily--EASILY try an' be in the corner of some these lesser known, not-so accomplished "stars", but I doubt they'd be able to handle me. Hell--very, very few can handle me - out of the ring or in the ring. And you BOTH know that for a fact." She'd say, nodding her head confidently as she looks at Brian, and then at Chruch before speaking once more - noticing that he seemed to be getting more and more agitated the longer Jaxon spoke. "I mean, let's be honest. You might have been in charge of that one company down in California a few years back, but I think we all know who truly ran it--now don't we?"
Church would stop in his tracks, a blank expression overtaking his face. After a moment of uneasy silence, Church would turn with an arrogant smirk to Aliyah, prepared to respond. However, Kai Stevens would shoot a glance his direction with his brows furrowed and pushed down, but Church would ignore this in favor of responding anyway.
"You can try to get on my nerves all you'd like, Ms. Jaxon. A decade ago I would have taken great pleasure in making your life a living Hell, but you? You, with all of your bravado and your stereotypical New Yorker personality? You're nothing to me. I have NO IDEA why Kai even gives you the time of day," he explains, malice brewing in his eyes. "If he wants to waste time that would obviously be better spent training or focusing on important things like making the Union Battleground Champion cry and beg for mercy, then he can deal with the consequences. As of this moment, Ms. Jaxon? Any bullshit you get him caught up in, as far as I'm concerned it's on the shoulders of both of you... Consider my assistance in that to be an honor you have not earned."
Church would launch contemptuous eyes towards Kai, who would shake his head and exhale agitatedly through his nostrils. Rubbing his temples for a moment, he would slide the pads of his index and thumb fingers to either side of the bridge of his nose, rubbing there to compose himself. Church would storm past Kai and Jaxon, heading back towards the door as if preparing to leave. As he does so, his phone would go off and he'd pull it from his pocket, finding a text message notifying him of the readiness for the contract signing. He'd turn to Kai and tap the face of his watch with his right index finger's knuckle before turning back around and pulling the door open. Kai turns back to Aliyah with an uneasy grin.
"I guess, uh," he starts uncertainly. "I guess that's our cue, huh?" Kai would let an uneasy and soft chuckle escape his lips.
"Yeah, it looks like it, hot shot." Jaxon states, as her beautiful hazel-colored eyes widen with a bit of glimmer. Jaxon quickly proceeds to glance over her shoulder; staring a few dozen daggers in the direction Brian Church because of the sentiments he shared just moments ago. The expression over her face soon changes; her eyes narrowing with heavy scorn before she offers up a response after clearing a throat a bit. "An' trust me, Mr. Church..." Jaxon redirects her attention back toward Stevens; the bottom of her lip being bitten lightly as she runs a finger over his chest yet again. Jaxon proceeds to speak in a seductive tone of voice. "...YOU may no idea why Kai gives me the time of day, but I do...and he's a smart man because of it, too - a very smart man. He knows exactly how much I'm worth--or, at least he should."
As Jaxon confidently and somewhat lightly makes this remark, her eyes flick to Kai for a moment, giving him the 'once over' before settling on his own eyes. Stevens grins and lets a soft chuckle float out of his lips before responding.
"Shall we?"
Kai gestures with his outside hand, palm opened and extended outwards as if saying "after you." Aliyah smiles, nods, and steps past him, strutting to the door and out into the hall with Kai in tow, both athletes prepared to sign their contracts -- finally.
- f i n -
It's an overcast day with the clouds staining a bleak, dull sky. An almost green hue can be seen in the cloudy air, as if portending that soon the sky would split and the clouds would stain the unforgiving concrete of a New York City sidewalk with precipitation. It's sharply cold, most individuals on the bustling (despite the weather) street corners considering themselves to have failed to wear enough layers. Inside a conference room overlooking these very streets, two men stand sporting expensive suits. Both are wearing entirely black, be that shoes, socks, belts, shirts, blazers, or pants, but they would differ in the color of their tie. The slightly older gentleman, adorned by a dark red tie and a silver tie clip, towers over your average man, standing at six feet and three inches. It had been nearly seven years since he had retired from wrestling at the discretion of his doctors, but he somehow managed to maintain his physique, at least to a certain degree. His hair is brushed back, longer than it had been in quite some time. His kids preferred this to his once shaven skull. BRIAN CHURCH's eyes are glued to the iPhone X in his right hand, his right thumb navigating adeptly around the screen. His teeth would be clenched and his lips almost pursed as if he were being inconvenienced by a wait. Standing before the massive windows that comprise the entirety of the Eastern wall of the room, KAI STEVENS would swallow and wet his lips, his gaze taking in the gloomy skies. His tie would be steel blue, though his tie clip would be silver as well. The Inevitable turns on his heels and flicks his eyes over to his mentor and trainer, the Dismembered Soul, whose head would lift at the same moment, as if he could feel Stevens' eyes attach to the top of his skull.
"Patience is a virtue, Kai," he begins, a soft chuckle escaping from his lips. "They said we're just waiting on one more person they've got signing a contract."
Kai's eyebrows would furrow together and push down, a puzzled demeanor overtaking his body. He lets a soft but sharp bit of air escape from his lips before he raises an eyebrow and chuckles lightly. His head begins wagging back and forth in a disgruntled manner, his teeth clenching together for a brief moment before he could speak his thoughts into existence.
"I don't care if we were waiting for the Pope... I wasn't told I'd be sharing this shit with anyone else. Although, I guess, with the amount of zeroes they're throwing my way I can afford to let it slide this time, huh?"
Kai's ears perk up as the hair on the back of his neck begins to rise like the dark of the night outside. He turns over his shoulder to peer over at the door that had just opened behind him. He could see Church's surprised but unamused facial expression in his peripheral, but upon inspecting the catalyst for his mentor's demeanor, his own would speak to a much different characterization. A warm but imperious smirk pulls over the Envoy of the End's bearded face, and he begins to step towards the entrant to the room.
"We gotta' stop meeting like this."
The individual that had been acknowledged by Kai was another addition to Union Battleground's growing roster; a competitor, former multiple-time champion in their own right and a New York native. Donning all black everything that consisted of a double-breasted wool overcoat, leggings, boots, and jewelry to compliment the entire look - it was ALIYAH JAXON. The ever-so present nonchalant demeanor would be on full display upon entry in to the room until the familiar voice of Kai Stevens causes her eyes to widen behind the aviator frames that shield her eyes from view. A smirk finds its way upon her face as she whips her long, amber-colored hair over her shoulder before proceeding to remove her shades off her face and placing them atop her head.
"You know somethin'? I got told at almost the very last minute that this signing was gonna' involve another "big name talent". Yeah, that's what they said - and sure enough, here you are...and him." Ariana says with a glare in her eyes, in reference to Brian Church who remained a mute on the other end of the room. "So uh, you don't know how to speak to a lady when she walks in a room--or WHAT?" She'd ask; her glare somewhat intensifying in the direction of the Dismembered Soul himself. Without giving him much of a chance to open his mouth, Aliyah quickly diverts her attention back to Kai, as if to insist he do something about Church's rude behavior.
Stevens, usually one of the more loquacious people you'd have the chance to countenance, would seem at a loss for words almost. Flabbergasted, perhaps? The Terror of Long Island would flick his eyes to Church, who shakes his head and ambles off to the far side of the room so as to allow the two to speak without disdainful glances sent his way by the beautiful brunette. Kai would let a soft bit of air shoot out of his mouth as if beginning to chuckle uneasily but stopping himself before he could truly complete his action. He swallows and wets his lips before addressing his fellow New Yorker.
"Don't mind Brian, he's just, uh... He's just busy dealing with something about the offset language in my contract and he's uh... He's not pleased, I'll just put it that way. But, uh, hey! Why didn't you tell me you'd even gotten an offer from these guys? If I'd known you were gonna' be here I probably wouldn't have been such a negotiator about my paycheck."
With an eyebrow raised high, Jaxon slightly shrugs her shoulders.
"Uh, what? What do you mean "why didn't I tell you?"" Am I supposed to be obligated to you or somethin'? Baby, please. I've gotten offers left an' right, ya'know? Calls, texts, e-mails - the whole nine! I weighed my options - and trust me, there was a lot of options, hon' - and when I made my decision to come here? They wanted me in ASAP. And well, here I am, I guess. But what's your case, huh? How long has this place had an eye on you? Or has it been the other way around? I'd like to think that you consider yourself a big-time star, so I can't say it surprises me that you're negotiating the amount of zeros you got on your paycheck. Is the contract not lucrative enough for you? I mean, you gotta' know your worth. I know mine - and uh, let's just say that I'm not too pleased, either. Some may say that I'm asking for a bit too much, but I'll just tell 'em to open their damn eyes and see what they got standin' in front of 'em. Know what I mean?"
Kai would chuckle, smirking with amusement as Jaxon continues. He'd always been amused by her confidence and the way by which she carries herself, but she would be particularly amusing to the former PWF World Heavyweight Champion at this moment. Placing his right hand behind his neck and head and scratching at his hair for a moment, he'd reply with a once-over from his eyes and then a more verbal response.
"I do, in fact, know what you mean. I only negotiated because they were offering me fuck you money and not, uh," he'd begin, his eyes gesturing up and down his former and future coworker, his right eyebrow cocking slightly skyward as he does so. "Not fuck you type'a' money, y'know? And I know my worth better than anyone, believe me... It's just that by the time those tools with the calculators and whatever realize my worth, I'll be worth more. My case, though, Jax, is that after PWF closed, I went back to the gym and started focusing on anything I noticed needed work during my undefeated streak. Ain't gettin' better, you're gettin' worse, right? But, uh, when these guys reached out I was in the middle of a being offered bigger contracts by two other promotions. These guys, though? I thought this would be a new place and a new beginning for me to end. I'm surprised they brought you in, to be honest, though." His eyebrows would shoot upward as he realizes that what he'd said might sound insulting to an easily set-off woman like Jaxon, and he would hasten to qualify his statement. "Thought you'd be off stomping some girl's head through the canvas of somewhere a bit bigger."
"Coulda', shoulda', woulda'...buuuuuut, I didn't - as you can clearly see. You know me, though. I'm aaaalll 'bout the dinero and uh, let's just say the grass was lookin' mighty green over on this side. The Empress goes where she pleases, and I got my eyes set on placing my throne in whatever "ultra-competitive" Women's division they supposedly have in this shindig. It may be "competitive"... now, but as soon as that ink dries up on that dotted line? I'm gonna run through each an' every one of these broads--just. Like. That!" Jaxon says, with the snap of a finger and a glistening white smile formulating over her face. "I haven't had a taste of gold in a hot minute, so I'm itchin' to get a strap over this waist. Speaking of, it's kinda' weird seeing you without one over your shoulder. I'm guessin' you'll be changin' that pretty soon, huh? You're gonna' keep that undefeated streak of yours intact, or are you gonna' let some random, no-named punk make a name for themselves at off of you? Am I speakin' to the same Kai from last year?"
Curiosity sets in the hazel-colored eyes of the former Women's champion as she steps in a bit closer towards Stevens. Stevens smirks confidently as his eyes drift up and down Jaxon, as if he were trying to determine whether or not he believed the demeanor she'd possess at the moment would be more bravado or more legitimate. The smirk softly glides into a grin and he nods his head, his eyes flicking to the floor before reconnecting with Aliyah's.
"I'll put it this way, Aliyah," he lobs softly. "I haven't lost a match in a calendar year. If you ever thought I would even be capable of letting some -- uh, how'd you put it? -- random, no-name punk get the better of me after the year I've had, then you don't know me NEARLY as well as you think." Kai's tone would lower slightly, as if he were subconsciously illustrating the seriousness in his statement. He'd fight to the death for this. "I'm willing to bet one of those shiny titles'll be around my waist sooner than later... And if you do know me as well as you seem to think you do? Then you'll know," he continues, inching closer to Jaxon with his hand slightly lifted for gesticulation. "Then you'll know just how safe a bet that is." With a smirk formulating upon her face, Jaxon stares at Kai intently.
"Do I, Kai--do I?" She'd ask, in rhetorical fashion as she runs her index finger lightly down his chiseled frame - her eyes still locked on his. "I couldn't help but here you say ONE of those titles--but, uh...why not THE title, huh? I mean, really. What sense does it make to try an' negotiate for some extra cheese, only to be one of the guys who's somewhere on the card rather than being the guy who's at the very top of the card?" She'd ask, with an eyebrow heavily raised. Aliyah quickly diverts her attention away from Kai and over to Church - who, she could tell had been listening in on the conversation despite not looking as though he was. "'Cos ya'know, if I was like, I dunno'...your manager or agent or somethin' along those lines..." She'd say this with a higher, heavier and clearer tone in her voice as she eyes Brian Church from across the room in through her peripheral. "...I'd make sure that my client's name an' face is all over this place. I mean, not to discredit Mr. Church's abilities and what he's done for you so far, buuuuuut..." Her voice would trail off a bit; thus, allowing for either Stevens or Church to offer up a response.
"I think, Ms. Jaxon," he initiates, clearly having taken the opportunity to jump in. He rises to his feet and steps over towards the duo with malice in his eyes and an impatience unlike any other. "It's about time you stop running your mouth and concerning yourself with the business, that of me and my protegé, and start focusing a little bit more intently on yourself. Kai WILL be the face of this company, like he has been for every single organization he's ever GRACED with his presence and involvement. He WILL be the Union Battleground Champion, and y'wanna' know something, Ms. Jaxon?" The Dismembered Soul would step closer to Jaxon with frustration evident. "He's gonna' do it with me in his corner... So unless you plan to do the same thing, I might try to take whatever game you're trying to play and push it on down the road... Try someone with a less accomplished future, perhaps... Or maybe someone more your speed, li--"
"Alright, now, calm down."
Brian Church's apparent angry temperament didn't phase Jaxon in the slightest; she found it quite amusing, actually. It was the reaction she was expecting - and yes, it's the exact reaction that she got. Aliyah would raise an eyebrow, curious as to what else Mr. Church had to say before he was interrupted by Kai. However, she would let it be. A pleased smirk was still heavily intact on her beautiful visage, in which Jaxon lets out a light laugh as she looks Church up and down in a somewhat of a begrudging manner.
"Yeah, Brian. Calm down. You don't wanna' let your hot temper ruin your client's chances in getting the lucrative contract you two so desperately seem to want, now do you?" Quickly, Jaxon turns her attention toward Kai with a slight look of concern on her face before switching to a wide smile. "I mean, I dunno' what's up with you, Brian...but uh, there's no games being played over here, honey. Why would you even think such a thing, huh? I mean, yeah...I could easily--EASILY try an' be in the corner of some these lesser known, not-so accomplished "stars", but I doubt they'd be able to handle me. Hell--very, very few can handle me - out of the ring or in the ring. And you BOTH know that for a fact." She'd say, nodding her head confidently as she looks at Brian, and then at Chruch before speaking once more - noticing that he seemed to be getting more and more agitated the longer Jaxon spoke. "I mean, let's be honest. You might have been in charge of that one company down in California a few years back, but I think we all know who truly ran it--now don't we?"
Church would stop in his tracks, a blank expression overtaking his face. After a moment of uneasy silence, Church would turn with an arrogant smirk to Aliyah, prepared to respond. However, Kai Stevens would shoot a glance his direction with his brows furrowed and pushed down, but Church would ignore this in favor of responding anyway.
"You can try to get on my nerves all you'd like, Ms. Jaxon. A decade ago I would have taken great pleasure in making your life a living Hell, but you? You, with all of your bravado and your stereotypical New Yorker personality? You're nothing to me. I have NO IDEA why Kai even gives you the time of day," he explains, malice brewing in his eyes. "If he wants to waste time that would obviously be better spent training or focusing on important things like making the Union Battleground Champion cry and beg for mercy, then he can deal with the consequences. As of this moment, Ms. Jaxon? Any bullshit you get him caught up in, as far as I'm concerned it's on the shoulders of both of you... Consider my assistance in that to be an honor you have not earned."
Church would launch contemptuous eyes towards Kai, who would shake his head and exhale agitatedly through his nostrils. Rubbing his temples for a moment, he would slide the pads of his index and thumb fingers to either side of the bridge of his nose, rubbing there to compose himself. Church would storm past Kai and Jaxon, heading back towards the door as if preparing to leave. As he does so, his phone would go off and he'd pull it from his pocket, finding a text message notifying him of the readiness for the contract signing. He'd turn to Kai and tap the face of his watch with his right index finger's knuckle before turning back around and pulling the door open. Kai turns back to Aliyah with an uneasy grin.
"I guess, uh," he starts uncertainly. "I guess that's our cue, huh?" Kai would let an uneasy and soft chuckle escape his lips.
"Yeah, it looks like it, hot shot." Jaxon states, as her beautiful hazel-colored eyes widen with a bit of glimmer. Jaxon quickly proceeds to glance over her shoulder; staring a few dozen daggers in the direction Brian Church because of the sentiments he shared just moments ago. The expression over her face soon changes; her eyes narrowing with heavy scorn before she offers up a response after clearing a throat a bit. "An' trust me, Mr. Church..." Jaxon redirects her attention back toward Stevens; the bottom of her lip being bitten lightly as she runs a finger over his chest yet again. Jaxon proceeds to speak in a seductive tone of voice. "...YOU may no idea why Kai gives me the time of day, but I do...and he's a smart man because of it, too - a very smart man. He knows exactly how much I'm worth--or, at least he should."
As Jaxon confidently and somewhat lightly makes this remark, her eyes flick to Kai for a moment, giving him the 'once over' before settling on his own eyes. Stevens grins and lets a soft chuckle float out of his lips before responding.
"Shall we?"
Kai gestures with his outside hand, palm opened and extended outwards as if saying "after you." Aliyah smiles, nods, and steps past him, strutting to the door and out into the hall with Kai in tow, both athletes prepared to sign their contracts -- finally.
- f i n -
