Booking Glory-Chapter 73: Diana’s Ascent - Part 3

The moment Rob saw Dacey’s pose, he knew that picture was going on the merchandise. There was an inherent quality to that pose that Rob felt would sell well.

He immediately took off his headphones and waved for a helper to come near. He instructed the helper to convey his idea to Mr. Gibson in the back and then turned towards the monitor in front of him anticipating the upcoming events.

*****

Dacey walked into the ring, rather it would be more accurate to say that Dacey strutted her way into the ring as she brandished her title in front of the booing fans in a provocative manner.

Occasionally, she would shoot a dirty look at one fan or the other and garner an increase in the number of boos she got. As she slowly made her way to the ring with the belt on her shoulders, Dacey made sure that she kept the audience’s attention on her.

Once Dacey entered the ring, she didn’t immediately start cutting the promo. She stood in the center and waited out the crowd. The crowd, at last, gave her a reprieve and the boos quieted down.

"Last week, I stood there," Dacey pointed at the entrance stage and smiled, "and told you all what I am going to do."

Booooo

"I told you I was going to walk out of <Last Stand> as champion."

Booooo

"I told you <Last Stand> would be the last night Diana will have that championship around her waist."

Booooo

"I told each and every one of you that I am going to take what belonged to me all along."

Booooo

"And, I did it," Dacey raised the championship high into the air and riled up the crowd once more.

The reaction that statement garnered was unprecedented. The crowd went absolutely ballistic as they started booing her at the top of their voice. Dacey took it all in with a cocky smirk on her face and acted as if she couldn’t hear their boos at all.

"Now," Dacey spoke silencing the crowd once more. "Now, we are entering a new era. An era where everything is right with the LWC women’s division. An era where the women in the back can look up and gaze at their leader. For they know for sure, that they could never defeat me."

The crowd once more went off as they really disagreed with such statements. They really didn’t think that Dacey had a leg to stand on here. Her shameless display after winning the title by cheating really made them angry.

"At last," Dacey spoke over the crowd’s jeers, "Finally, at last, this title has returned to the place where it belongs. On. My. Waist. I know some of you morons out there are now crying and bitching about me winning this title. But, I assure you, this title has never been so prestigious as it is now. I mean, the LWC Women’s Championship is finally getting relevant in this company."

"Until now, this title has been worn by subpar wrestlers and trashy champions, diminishing its prestige big time. But, now that it is on my waist, this title is now on a whole another level."

"I mean, you all know deep down in your heart that me winning this championship was almost a given. Considering my level and Diana’s." Dacey chuckled as if she had heard a joke, "I mean, did you think anything else was going to happen? I dominated her throughout the match. I destroyed her just like how I destroyed that imbecile who had the gall to heckle at me on <Last Stand>."

This time the crowd was a little subdued as they didn’t know whether to laugh or boo that statement.

"You know what, I think you should all mark this day down in your calendar. So that, when you all are old, wrinkly, and disgusting, you will be able to tell your grandchildren when exactly the most historic reign of LWC Women’s Championship began."

"Go on, go note it down. Don’t be shy. I know you all have a memory of a goldfish. It is better you make note of this historic moment so that you wouldn’t be embarrassed when your children and grandchildren ask about it."

"Go on, you can...." Dacey trailed off as she noticed Mr. Gibson walking down the ramp with a microphone in his hand.

The crowd also began to notice Mr. Gibson’s presence. They soon began to discuss amongst themselves why he was out here today. Because his presence normally preceded an announcement or something like that. So, they were really curious about the reason for his presence.

Dacey frowned a bit, but then schooled her face into a polite smile as she watched Mr. Gibson climb into the ring. Dacey eyed him as he entered the ring and looked at her. There seemed to be some tension between them.

The crowd also realized that the last time Dacey and Mr. Gibson were in the same ring, Dacey had gone off on Mr. Gibson vehemently. The shared history between the duo ran through everyone’s mind as they eagerly anticipated what was going to happen next.

"Look," Dacey spoke first shaking her head. "Look, Andy. I... I..."

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Mr. Gibson asked curtly.

Dacey looked at him confused for a second before she acted as if something dawned on her. She chuckled a bit and shook her head before started speaking again.

"Andy, I get it. I was a little emotional the last time we met inside this ring. And I probably said a few things that could have been kept behind closed doors. But, you can’t fault me for that," Dacey laughed.

"I mean, you were the one who made me come into the ring on the show and go off. If you had approached me backstage, we could have talked that out amongst ourselves."

"Still, as you know, I always had a bigger heart. I am willing to let bygones be bygones. All these miscommunications and this tension between us, let’s put it to bed, shall we? Let them all be water under the bridge."

"Look here, I am standing with the title I have always deserved. And I am in a happy mood. I gotta admit, there is a tiny part of your credit in this as well. I can be magnanimous enough to acknowledge that fact. I mean, after all, you were my trainer," Dacey chuckled and rolled her eyes dramatically.

Mr. Gibson didn’t react much. He didn’t laugh or do anything to indicate that he was happy for Dacey. He merely stared straight at Dacey without blinking. Whispers began to erupt throughout the crowd as they saw this strange interaction between the mentor and the protégé.

"Fine, fine, I will admit it," Dacey said sighing heavily. "You had more than a tiny part in my success. Come on, you grumpy old man, give me a hug. No need to get riled for that," Dacey spoke and moved in for a hug.

Only, Mr. Gibson didn’t reciprocate her actions.

Dacey paused halfway into the hug and looked at Mr. Gibson confusedly.

"Dacey," Mr. Gibson spoke looking at her, "I have never once doubted that you deserved this title."

The crowd muttered not able to believe what Mr. Gibson was saying. Dacey once more beamed at him and punched him in the shoulders affectionately. She turned around and lifted the title high above her head and posed around in a proud manner.

"Did you hear it, you all? Andy, I knew you would always support me. I am glad we put this all behind us," Dacey said happily.

"Dacey," Mr. Gibson interrupted her once more, "I have never once doubted that you deserved this title. However..."

Dacey turned to look at him in confusion once more. The title she was holding high in the air was slowly lowered.

"However... never in all my life I have seen someone win a match in such an absolutely disgusting fashion," Mr. Gibson stated causing the crowd to roar in approval.

"Make no mistake, I have no problem with you winning that title. It is the manner in which you won that disgusts me. I couldn’t believe it when my eyes saw what you did to secure that win. What you did on <Last Stand> was not right, Dacey, not right," Mr. Gibson shook his head in disappointment.

"What are you talking about?" Dacey asked as if she didn’t understand what Mr. Gibson was talking about at all.

"Don’t play coy Dacey. I have trained you for years. I know you far better than that. I know you know what I am referring to. And I know damn well that something like that wasn’t taught by me, as well. So, what I think you should do is apologize to Diana, the entire women’s locker room, and all these lovely fans out here."

"Apologize!!?" Dacey asked incredulously as if she didn’t believe the words coming out of Mr. Gibson’s mouth.

"You have tarnished the prestige of this title and you have brought shame to the entire women’s division. You cheated Diana out of her title and you disappointed the fans who have been supporting you for a long time. So, I think you need to apologize to everyone, right here and right now."

"You want me to apologize? Here? On live TV? Andy, you are out of your goddamn mind," Dacey said hysterically. "What should I apologize for exactly? Come on, I pinned her in the middle of the ring right before these fans for 1, 2, 3. Why should I apologize to her?"

"Don’t you understand? Are you pretending that you don’t?"

"I don’t have a single clue what you are talking about Andy!"

"So, you are telling me that you don’t remember that you used the bottom rope and cheated?"

"What are you talking about? How did I cheat? For god’s sake Andy, I know we have had some differences and I spat out some hard truth about you in public. But, you don’t need to come out here and accuse me of cheating like this. You are coming off as petty, here," Dacey said shaking her head.

"Dacey, you used the bottom rope as extra leverage to cheat and pin Diana. Everyone here saw that. There is a fucking video that shows what you did clearly. You can’t deny such a thing," Mr. Gibson growled angrily.

"Look Andy, all I know is that I rolled up Diana, pinned her inside the ring, and the referee counted 1, 2, 3. If my foot was touching the bottom rope, the referee wouldn’t have counted till 3," Dacey replied nonchalantly.

"The referee didn’t see it, Dacey. His view was obstructed by the bodies. So, he didn’t see your feet on the bottom rope and counted the three," Mr. Gibson said trying hard not to lose his temper.

"You got to be kidding me, Andy," Dacey said chuckling. "Look, Andy, say what you said is true. I am not agreeing that I cheated, but I am merely talking about this hypothesis. Say, what you said is true. That my foot was indeed on the bottom rope. The way I see it, it isn’t my fault that a three-count was done. If anything, it is the referee’s fault. If anyone should apologize it is the referee."

Dacey said nonchalantly shrugging her shoulders.

Mr. Gibson looked as if he couldn’t believe what Dacey was saying. The crowd expressed its outrage by booing her out loud. However, Dacey was merely checking out her nails ignoring everyone around her.

"Dacey, you can’t be serious!!! I understand your desire to possess that title. It is what you have been working for all your life. But, cheating isn’t the way. You cheat..."

"Ah, enough of this Andy!!!" Dacey got in Mr. Gibson’s face and looked him in the eyes. "You keep harping on that I cheated this, I cheated that. I get it. In your eyes, I am a cheater. So, if I am a cheater, why don’t you strip me of the title?"

Dacey asked aggressively.

The crowd apparently loved the idea and agreed with her statement. They roared out loudly and started chanting at the top of their voices, as Mr. Gibson stood embarrassedly without answering Dacey.

<Strip the title>

Clap! Clap! Clap!

<Strip the title>

Clap! Clap! Clap!

<Strip the title>

Clap! Clap! Clap!

<Strip the title>

Clap! Clap! Clap!

<Strip the title>

Clap! Clap! Clap!

"You heard them, Andy. Why don’t you go ahead and strip me off the title? Did the cat get your tongue, Andy? Answer me!!!" Dacey demanded once more getting in Mr. Gibson’s face.

"You know damn well that I can’t legally do that, Dacey!!!" Mr. Gibson answered angrily causing the crowd to loudly boo him.

"I can’t strip you of your title because the match is over and the referee has already given the verdict when he announced you as the winner. As much as I would love to, my hands are tied here," Mr. Gibson said angrily.

"Well, how about that?" Dacey smirked in Mr. Gibson’s face. "Now the cat is out of the bag."

"What?" Mr. Gibson asked in confusion.

"You know damn well that I won that title fair and square. Whatever arguments you want to make, you can’t dispute the fact that the referee announced me as the winner of the match. So, you can’t strip that title of me."

"So, you strut out here, trying to bully me with your moral bullshit and get me to apologize. All to soothe the hurt ego of your golden girl. That is what is happening here, isn’t it? Am I right, Andy? Tell me if I am wrong. You are doing all this to get your golden girl to stop throwing her tantrums, right?"

Mr. Gibson didn’t know how to answer that question.

"Let me guess, if I did, that then you would pat me on the back, then turn around and arrange a title shot for your precious golden girl next week or even tonight itself. Isn’t that your plan all along, Andy? Tell me! Am I wrong?"

Mr. Gibson stuttered not able to reply to Dacey’s barrage of questions.

"You know, Andy, I find you disgusting. Even looking at your face irritates me. I have lost my mood to stay out here. Before I leave, let me tell you something. You want an apology? Go and ask that referee to apologize. You want to do something to appease your golden girl? Fire that referee who made that mistake."

"If you come to me looking for sympathy or understanding, you will find nothing here. I have no sympathy for your pampered princess. Isn’t that what she is? You cater to her every whim as if she was your own blood. Or..."

Dacey paused and looked at Mr. Gibson curiously. She eyed him for a few moments before starting to chuckle. The chuckle then turned into a burst of full-blown laughter as Dacey clutched her stomach and shook her head.

"You know what, I think you have more integrity than that, Andy. But, sorry, that visual gave me stitches," Dacey chuckled shaking her head.

Mr. Gibson looked at Dacey uncomprehendingly.

"Well Andy, as I said, just seeing you is souring my mood. If you don’t mind, I am..."

That is as far Dacey got before she heard someone calling her name loudly.

"Dacey! Hey Dacey!"

Dacey and Mr. Gibson turned in unison to look at the large titantron at the entranceway. The titantron was showing a live feed of Diana grinning very brightly into the camera.

*****

A/N: Hey folks!

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