I’m sure he felt compelled to check out the situations for himself.”
The crowd screaming and booing as Mr. Silverman pulls the microphone to his lips draws my attention back to the screen.
“I’m sure many of you are wondering why I’m here tonight,” he says.
I sure as hell am.
“I’m here to dispel some of the rumors I saw floating around social media after Tuesday’s show. I felt they needed to be addressed in order to end all the secondhand gossip. What you saw occur in this very ring earlier this week was in fact real. Phenomenal X did lose his head and beat Assassin mercilessly in front of a live television audience of millions of people. X was carted out of here in handcuffs, but Assassin refused to press charges.”
The crowd murmurs with confusion as he allows them to digest what he just said.
It doesn’t surprise me one bit that they are taking the truth of the situation and spinning it in a way that works with a storyline. It’s how things are done in Tension. They often use things that happen in our real lives to create stories for our characters in the ring, which is why it’s in each athlete’s best interests to keep their personal life on lockdown. Allowing a devious writer like Vicky to know any of your secrets is definitely a bad move.
Take my relationship with Anna, for instance. Vicky and Rex used it against me, and from what I’ve gathered, they are far from finished.
“Now, I know a lot of you are asking yourselves, What does that mean for Phenomenal X?” his voice cuts back through the diner. “I’ve suspended him for three months.”
The boos for my suspension are loud and clear.
“That means, until his suspension is lifted, X will not be eligible to compete in any fashion for the world heavyweight title. For the next three months, he’s not even allowed to be in the same city as Tension. I gave him strict orders to stay away while Assassin heals.” He looks around the arena and then faces the camera head-on. “To make up for the tragic accident that nearly ended Assassin’s career, when he’s ready, Assassin will be guaranteed a shot at the title.”
My nostrils flare, and I know that this wouldn’t even be up for discussion right now if I didn’t hand Rex this opportunity on a silver platter.
“When X returns, as long as he remains in good standing with the company and learns to control himself, he will be granted a title rematch shot with whoever currently holds the title—whether that be with Brian Razor Rollins or Assassin.”
The crowd erupts with cheers, and it’s clear to anyone watching that they’re still backing me. I was fully prepared for the fans to turn on me after what I had done. It would’ve served me right, but that isn’t what’s happening.
“Assassin is expected to be back in the ring soon. He’s suffered a broken nose and a few cracked ribs, but it could’ve been much, much worse had it not been for the quick reaction of Tension’s security team, other wrestlers, and, of course, the esteemed Atlanta Police force who were on hand.” He pauses for a moment. “Now, without further ado, I give you Thursday night Tension!”
Hard rock music plays, and I know that’s all the information I’m going to get.
With both Rex and me out of the picture, it puzzles me why Vicky wanted Anna to be there tonight. The only storyline with her character would involve either Rex or me, and seeing as how he’ll be out for a while, there was no need for Anna to show up.
They just wanted her there to fuck with me. I know it.
“Damn that Rex,” I mumble as the show begins to play.
I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to handle her on the road without me. She hasn’t even left yet, and I’m already driving myself crazy about it.
Anna sighs across from me, dragging my attention back to her.
“Something wrong, beautiful?”
The way she’s chewing on the corner of her lower lip is a telltale sign that she’s nervous. Whatever is on her mind, she’s scared to talk to me about it, which has my brain running wild with possibilities.
“Um . . .” She swallows hard, and her lips pull into a tight line. “There was one more thing Vicky told me when she called.”
“What was that?”
Anna twists her lips. “They want to start that love-triangle story between me and Rex