Booking Glory-Chapter 41: Altercation

"Hey punk, you, yes, it’s you I am talking to," the gruff voice of Marshall Jones interrupted Rob as he was busy talking to some backstage personnel and reviewing tonight’s show.

Rob turned around in confusion and looked at the aged veteran. Marshall Jones stood over 6ft. 5in. Despite being in his early 40s, he still looked spry and ready to go. His hair had greyed a bit, but it only added to his rugged charm.

Normally, a man like Marshall Jones would be very popular with people. His smile was pleasing to look at and his handsome face would bring a favorable impression as well.

However, Marshall Jones had a very serious problem. A mouth that runs off without much thought behind it. He picked up fights like they were on sale and initiated most of them by running his mouth.

And Rob was going to experience this problematic man firsthand.

"Marshall," Rob frowned not knowing why the veteran was talking to him. Especially in that tone. Rob knew this tone well. This was the tone of a person who was looking to pick a fight.

"That’s Mr. Jones to you punk," Marshall Jones corrected getting in Rob’s face. This caused the personnel surrounding Rob to back off a bit as they didn’t know why Marshall was currently acting like this towards Rob.

"Ok, Mr. Jones," Rob stressed the name looking at Marshall Jones in the eye. "How can I help you?" Rob asked.

Rob didn’t back off. In an environment like a wrestling promotion, backing off from a fight would mark him as an easy target for the next person. And he could ill afford that.

Rob had already seen men and women picking on those who were too timid to stand their ground in the last six months multiple times. So, he knew that backing off here would see more headaches trying to browbeat him later.

Furthermore, Rob was in a position of power. Whether it was his role as a booker or a commentator, Rob had a pretty high position in LWC. If word got out that he was intimidated by a wrestler, every wrestler out there would try to intimidate him into favoring him.

"I don’t know," Marshal Jones replied sarcastically. "Why don’t you first put some respect in the way you address me, punk?"

"Respect goes both ways, where I come from. If you keep calling me punk, I will start calling you geezer," Rob said with a small smile causing Marshall Jones to frown heavily.

"I don’t like your tone one bit," Marshall Jones snarled.

"Tough luck, you could always leave me alone," Rob said shrugging his shoulders.

"Be careful punk, just because Andy likes you doesn’t mean everyone likes you," Marshall Jones warned.

"Like I said, geezer, just mind your own business," Rob smiled in reply.

It was clear that Marshall Jones had a bone to pick with Rob. Rob could easily see that he was raring to go. However, Marshall Jones still had the wherewithal to not attack him openly. He wanted Rob to initiate the altercation.

If Rob was a young man, who was actually his age, it would be easy to provoke him. However, Rob wasn’t an ordinary young man. He was a soul that had lived an entire life before this. So, he knew how these things played out in a work environment.

Rob also had the confidence that if Marshall Jones started it, he could end it. The old Rob had been in some nasty fights. Growing up as an orphan brought its own baggage. It would be very unrealistic to not be in fights if one was an orphan.

People usually tended to pick on kids from orphanages or single-parent families. And in the neighborhood Rob grew up in, there were plenty of assholes like that. Rob had to learn to take of himself as he grew up.

That was how the old Rob had gotten into wrestling as a young kid. It even led to him start learning wrestling. While he wasn’t a menace in a fight, Rob was sure he could hold his own until people separated him and Marshall Jones.

Already a crowd was forming around them. Rob could feel their gazes on him and Marshall. So, could Marshall. He looked around at the assembled crowd and snorted.

"Consider yourself lucky, punk," Marshall said looking at Rob. "I will let you go this time. But, don’t ever run your mouth at me."

Marshall Jones walked away leaving that as a parting statement. Rob stood there confused as to what Marshall Jones was talking about. He had never even cared about the veteran, much less discussed him with someone else.

He didn’t know what Marshall Jones was talking about. The surrounding crowd whispered a bit and started to disperse seeing that no action was happening. But, it was clear to them that the rookie booker had somehow offended the veteran wrestler.

Rob waited until the crowd cleared and then took off to find Dallas. If there was someone that could help him with this, it was the veteran. In the past two weeks, Dallas and Rob had become good friends.

While he wasn’t at the level where he shared a cigar with Dallas, Rob knew that the veteran had a good impression of him. The feeling was mutual as Rob really enjoyed working with Dallas as well.

Rob found Dallas chatting with Irvin near the coffee vending machine. Rob approached the duo and smiled at them. Dallas gave a smile in return and motioned for Rob to grab a cup of coffee. Rob obliged as he too was feeling the need for it.

"I see you are not blown out by the end of the show tonight," Dallas observed as Rob pressed the coffee button.

"Yeah, I managed to stay on my feet," Rob chuckled.

"Good, that means you are getting accustomed to the grind," Dallas said nodding.

"Did you get the reports on how many T-shirts sold?" Irvin asked eagerly.

"Yeah, it did a pretty good number. We sold around 2000 T-shirts of the new design. Apparently, people were buying in twos and threes. They are still afraid that Dacey would get the new one banned as well," Rob said smiling contently.

"Damn, that’s a top number if there was ever one. 2000 sold out in a single night. It is higher than Mark’s merchandise sales," Irvin commented impressed.

"The crowd is just worried Dacey might pull off another ban," Rob chuckled. "Mark, on the other hand, does decent numbers at a steady rate. That is true star power. Dacey’s sales are based on the hype we generated."

"Don’t underestimate her popularity kid," Dallas warned from the side. "She is extremely over. Not in the usual manner. But, everything she does creates an impact. So, her popularity will soon catch up to Mark."

Rob nodded in acceptance of that advice. He collected the coffee and took a sip.

"So, what brought you here to hang out with two old men? I mean, you have an entire locker room of beautiful women waiting for you to drop by. And here you are. Is everything alright with you?" Dallas asked cheekily causing Rob to splutter in surprise.

Rob was extremely unlucky that Dallas choose that moment to ask such a question. He had just sipped his coffee, the surprise caused him to splutter. His eyes watered as he coughed to clear his airways.

"You..." Rob pointed at Dallas offended causing Dallas to chuckle along with Irvin. "You are an asshole Dallas," Rob grouched placing his coffee to the side and cleaning himself.

"Hey, you can’t fault me. I was just telling the truth," Dallas shrugged innocently causing Irvin to guffaw.

"Do you have to put it that way?" Rob said picking up his coffee again.

Dallas shrugged.

"Anyway, I did have something to ask you about," Rob said looking at Dallas seriously. "Marshall Jones just came up to me and got in my face. Do you know what that is all about?"

Dallas and Irvin exchanged glances before Dallas spoke.

"Well, tonight is Marshall’s debut in LWC. It was expected that his merchandise will be selling a considerable bit. However, it did poorly. Especially, when compared to Dacey’s new shirt and Mark’s usual. Even Diana’s merchandise sold more than his."

"What did it have to do with me?"

"Well, someone has told Marshall that your commentary was part of the reason for the low sales. Maybe, he took it personally and came to confront you," Dallas shrugged.

"What?"

"You didn’t think calling him an old, washed-up geezer, who was trying hard not to let people forget him, wouldn’t have any impact, did you?" Irvin asked with a small smile.

"What? What does that have to do with this?"

"Maybe everything, maybe nothing. No one knows, kid. Do you think fans who walk out would want to buy merchandise of someone that is called a washed-up geezer?" Irvin asked looking at Rob curiously.

"That... that was just commentary," Rob said hesitantly.

"Indeed it was, but it is also something you say that is going to reach people’s ears. And people are picky even at normal times. So, your words might put them off from buying his merchandise," Irvin explained patiently.

"Oh!"

"Maybe, they didn’t have interest in Marshall in the first place," Dallas snorted. "You do realize that this is the most his merchandise sold in the last five years right? It just wasn’t what he was dreaming of."

Irvin nodded acquiescing to that point. Rob, however, was confused more than ever.

"Wait, wait, are you telling me that it might not even be my fault?"

"Who knows what people’s reasons are, kid? Don’t sweat these things. Dacey’s reputation among the fans is horrible. But isn’t her shirt selling more than Diana’s? These things can’t be predicted that easily," Dallas said patting Rob on his back.

"But, now this guy thinks I am the reason," Rob complained in annoyance.

"Suck it up, kid. There will be people getting in your face for all kinds of reasons. This business is like that. You won’t even know how you offended somehow until they themselves come out and spill it. Learn to roll with the punches," Dallas said laughing heartily.

"Easy for you to say," Rob grunted sipping his coffee.

"Anyway, everyone knows that Marshall is a problematic guy. His reputation in the industry is not that great," Irvin said nodding at Rob. "And you have to be prepared for stuff like this. If you keep badmouthing people on commentary, then someone might take exception to it."

Rob nodded in understanding. Luckily, he didn’t back down from Marshall. If he had done that, he would have had numerous problems in the future with other wrestlers.

"Damn, I guess I will be in hot water a lot," Rob mumbled taking a sip of his coffee.

"Get used to it," Dallas grunted. "My advice is to be open with talents as much as possible. Especially those you are working closely with like Diana and Dacey. Misunderstandings can occur even with the small stuff."

"I will," Rob nodded. "Anyway, how was our work? Did Mr. Gibson have any other feedback?"

"Nope, Andy is as happy as he can be. He is down back there counting money and indulging in his dreams," Dallas chuckled and gestured towards the back area where the officials of LWC had gathered.

"Next week is going to be very important. Diana’s return would have an impact on the story you are telling with Dacey. Have you prepared for it?" Irvin asked.

"No worries there, I have explained this to them very clearly. Their face-off was supposed to happen this week. But, we didn’t have enough time. So, I had to put it off for next week."

"It’s a damn shame that those women don’t get enough time. Their stuff is selling very well," Dallas grunted.

"It is what it is," Irvin said waving Dallas’s comments off. "Just keep doing what you are doing. I am sure that the women’s division will have more time soon."

"Even if they give me more time, I will be worried about the roster depth. I can’t have Evelyn and Selena jump off the entrance stage every week, can I?"

"That is true. You need to build more wrestlers. Those women can take a few bumps every now and then. But, asking them to do it week in, and week out will be bad in the long run. Trust me, I know it first hand," Dallas said causing Rob to nod.

"The next few weeks will mostly be Dacey-Diana face-off. I will intersperse Evelyn-Selena’s story a bit."

"What about Alanna? She got a good response from the crowd with her new style," Irvin asked.

"I am building Alanna up slowly. She will have her title shot, but not too soon. I want the crowd to be entirely behind her before I do that. Without sufficient preparation and backstory, that particular style might not suit the main event."

"Hmmm, I am not sure about that style either. It is fast and flashy, but the toll it takes is also really bad. So, proper rest is needed," Dallas commented thinking hard.

"I know, I will only use her sparingly in the next few weeks. Then, I will put her in a story with either Marie or Leia. They are scheduled to return in a few weeks."

"With these many stories you are telling, will there be enough time?"

"I am planning to rotate the stories. Not give a single story too much airtime continuously. This way, I can advance all these stories simultaneously and the crowd won’t feel their connection cut off from the story as well."

"Hmmm, we will see how it goes." Irvin nodded.

"Anyways, I gotta go and meet the women’s locker room. I have already spent too much time talking to you both," Rob said making his excuse.

"Go on, go on. What do these old men matter when you have a bevy of young women waiting for you?" Dallas teased once more.

"Get your mind off the gutter, Dallas," Rob smiled and walked away from the duo.

*****

"Hey Rob, I heard you got into a face-off with Ol’ Marshall," Alanna greeted him as he entered the women’s locker room.

"How do you know these things? It is not even fifteen minutes since it happened?" Rob asked looking at her suspiciously.

"Well, I have my sources," Alanna smiled innocently.

"Urgh, let’s leave that alone. How are Evelyn and Selena? No serious injuries, right?"

"Why don’t you ask them yourself?" Alanna replied cheekily.

"Why am I even bothering talking to you?" Rob shook his head in exasperation and made his way to the inner region of the locker room.

"Ladies, guess who decided to show up," Alanna announced grandly bouncing her way into the partitioned section.

""Hey Rob""

Several greetings came Rob’s way. Rob smiled at them and nodded in reply.

"Alanna said you got into an altercation with Marshall Jones. Are you fine?" Dacey asked concernedly.

"Nothing big, it was just words," Rob said shooting a look at Alanna, who was conveniently looking elsewhere. "Evelyn, Selena, there is nothing serious right? I tried to come backstage, but I was needed at the commentary."

"We know," Alanna piped up. "They were telling that you were like a mother hen out there."

Rob could only shoot an annoyed look at Alanna in reply to that. While he was worried, he wasn’t acting like a mother hen at all. Definitely not!

"We are fine. Evelyn was the one that had it hard. Even she has only a few bruises. We will recover by next week," Selena said coming to Rob’s rescue.

"That’s good," Rob nodded satisfied, and turned to look at Diana. "You ready for next week’s return?"

*****

A/N: Hey folks!

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