She couldn’t remember she last felt this way. Mind, body and soul in perfect, symphonic harmony. She and Butch had returned home from Havoc, and her head still reeled from the shocking turn of events that evening. A week of anxiety had so quickly been turned from a series of predetermined conclusion into waves of shock and awe washing it all away. So sure on being sued by the Shevington family out for revenge, she and Butch had left owners of the HWA. Mrs. Shevington harbored her no ill will, rather entrusted the future of HWA to her and her Butch in her last act as Executive Director of Business Affairs. In their hands, the wolves might stop knocking at the door, politics will give way to pious competition, and wrestling could take center stage leaving mayhem in the shadows. The look on Butch’s face was less telling for her than the subtle movements he made as he held her hand in the ring that evening. The way he squeezed showing his excitement. The moment the shock wore off it was like watching him having won the World Title for the first time. The thought of being owner never crossed his mind to her knowledge, but the years he had put in, the sacrifices he had made, it was as if he had been gifted something long overdue. A new power surged through his body, a new confidence, a new aura of authority and she had to be completely honest with herself…it made her horny as hell for him. She was so turned on she could barely keep her hands off him from before leaving the arena, and all the way home.
There was however one brief moment of dismay. Just days after Havoc she had watched the Rousey vs. Holm fight with Butch, and the moment it was over, the second the bell had rung she turned the entire television off. The fight didn’t go as she had hoped and she was fairly upset. It wasn’t that she didn’t think Holly could beat Rhonda, it was that she wanted Rhonda to win so she could be the first to beat her, and she knew that her opportunity had passed. Dana would love to still have her, but to take out the reigning queen is what really drew her to the idea, and deep down she was kicking herself for not accepting the offer sooner. Butch knew instantly what was wrong with her. Without a word she got up and went down to the gym, peddling on the stationary bike like Lance Armstrong in a Tour de France doped up on Bane’s venom. Butch followed and stood in front of her. He didn’t say a word, rather, he gently grabbed her face and pulled her forehead to his lips kissing her. He always knew what to do, or what to say. In every way possible to her, he was the perfect man. The look on his face in that moment said “Fuk it,” and as her peddling slowed to a stop she realized that he couldn’t be more right. They were now the owners of the premier wrestling promotion in the world and she was lamenting a fight with a woman whom she would have destroyed anyway. She knew she could, what difference did it make if not many others did as well? None at all. Quickly her mind was at rest. Rousey didn’t matter anymore, nor did most of the past. There was no Michael James spewing insults. Even Senester’s threats at Havoc were nearly dismissible in her bliss.
This day she was in the main living room the windows all open taking in the ocean breeze. A glass of Pinot Grigio from a local winery was chilled to the side and she had a small dish of fruits and cheeses she was nibbling on. The only nuisance was the noise of the helicopter that had been flying around the last hour. No doubt the news trying to get photos of them and their home, the usual celebrity vs. paparazzi crap they’ve endured for some time. She looked behind her and can hear clinking from the kitchen. Butch was pouring oil into the fryer and getting pans ready. They were both in the mood for some low key comfort food for lunch and he was preparing to make his famous beer battered fish and chips. As much as he loved her, she still couldn’t get the secret ingredient out of him. There was a spice he used in the batter and to marinate the fish that he kept well-guarded in a very adorable and boyish kind of way. Inside the house she can here the phone ring and turns to see Butch answer and begins to talk as he continues working. He’s been giddy in a way since Havoc, smiling now as he is, laughing, it was so very refreshing. It reminded her of just a few years back when the two of them were set to retire. They hadn’t a care in the world. Minutes passed and Butch comes over, reaching out to hand her the phone.
(Wisdom): Hello?
(Diana): So when’s the party?
(Wisdom): Hey Diana. Party? What party are you talking about?
(Diana): You’re billionaire party, the one all you swanky American gals like to have and show off all that money and status.
Wisdom bursts out laughing, and she smiles shaking her head.
(Wisdom): Oh please girl, the last thing I need right now is some big ass shindig to plan.
(Diana): Well that makes one of us. You just wait 9 years or so when Evina hits her pre-teens. You’ll have so many gray hairs you’ll have Paul Mitchell himself on speed dial.
(Wisdom): What happened?
(Diana): Sibling rivalries I guess. It’s more Sarah than he brother. She’s getting quite the little mouth on her these days. I don’t know Wisdom, she’s about to turn 12 in a few months and this puberty thing is kicking in on them both. I’ve dreaded this for years.
(Wisdom): I’m sure you’ll manage just fine, you have all these years. It was just a matter of time before you had to have that heart to heart about growing up, how their bodies are changing, and of course…
(Diana): Don’t even say it…
(Wisdom): Sex!
(Diana): Ugh I know. Now with everything at the touch of your fingers it’s just harder for a parent to keep up. Kids these days have an app for everything, a website for this and that…what are we supposed to do as parents with some old fashioned sit down.
(Wisdom): Just create an environment of open dialogue. Be very plain and adult-like with them. You have to nurture an atmosphere where they feel that they can come to you and tell and talk with you about anything and not be judged.
(Diana): You know…sometimes I forget you have a Master’s degree in Psychology. Why didn’t you go for your doctorate?
(Wisdom): I was headstrong and wanted to do my own thing. I might go back to it one day, who knows. It’s nice to have something to fall back on.
(Diana): You certainly don’t need it now. You’re the head of a billion dollar company, this has to be exhilarating and frightening all at the same time.
(Wisdom): You’ve got that right. We want to do the right things and in the right way. I think it will be hard for both of us. Not only is Butch an active competitor but he’s the World Champion.
(Diana): Yes, but I know my brother, just as you do. One minute he’ll be in the gym working out and hitting iron plates like they did something to him, and the next he’s doing some Make-a-Wish thing at a children’s hospital.
(Wisdom): I have no doubts about his ability to switch off between roles, but like you said…I know him. He’ll worry himself to death questioning every decision he makes, wondering if he blurred or crossed the lines between them.
(Diana): That’s where you come in my dear, you can be the balance he needs.
Wisdom grabs the television remote and turns it on. The large wall screen comes on as she sits back on the couch, curling her legs back underneath her.
(Wisdom): Me? I’ll probably have my own issues. Butch is the kind of guy who mellows my madness out. Besides………………..
Wisdom pauses as something on the television draws her attention.
(Diana): Besides what?.........................you there? Wisdom?
(Wisdom): Huh? Oh…sorry Di, I’m gonna have to call you back?
(Diana): What? Everything ok?
(Wisdom): Yeah…yeah…we’ll call you right back.
(Diana): Alright.
Wisdom hangs up and stands up looking at the tv and turns the volume up.
(News Reporter): ….in the most unusual set of circumstances for this area.
(News Anchor): David are they giving us any more details?
(News Reporter): Not at present, what we can say again that this is private beach area where the body was found. Police have initiated a media blackout on the ground, but you can see a heavy presence from our sky view on site and in the surrounding area of the compound.
For just a moment she tunes it out as she yells for Butch who comes in with a brief sprint. His eyes divert straight to the tv where he sees the report going on.
(News Reporter): ….and with the respect to the neighboring community…while our cameras are focused solely on the beach itself, we can confirm this is just outside the estate of Butch and Wisdom Parker.
Butch and Wisdom look at one another, and the noise of the helicopters outside the last hour suddenly seems to be that much louder. They rush out to the back of the house and the deck where a large police presence is just below their home on the beach. They begin to hurry down the stairs leading to the beach area where just hours before the two had shared in their morning jog. The police chief rushes over to them with his hands up.
(Chief): Mr. and Mrs. Parker, I’m sorry, I’m going to have to ask you to keep back.
(Butch): Keep back? This is our property, what the hell is going on?
(Chief): Mr. Parker, we’ve got a situation here, and until we can…
(Butch): A situation and no one contacts us? These helicopters have been flying around for an hour and my wife has to turn the news on to see this shit.
Wisdom has walked right past them, heading over to the scene where police have gathered. Seeing her take the lead, Butch brushes past the officer and follows quickly catching up to her. They arrive where the police are and the site is more than shocking.
(Wisdom): What the fuk is this?
Wisdom turns in what seems like a rage towards the police.
(Wisdom): I said what the fuk is this…answer me goddamnit!
The look on Butch’s face is that of disbelief, but he soon adopts a defensive position, pulling Wisdom towards him and scanning the entire beach around him. Laying on the sand before them is a dead, full grown, male lion. Carved in his flesh, down the length of his side is the word “rampant.”
(Chief): Chief…you better see this.
The police chief looks closer, both Butch and Wisdom kneel down beside it, to discover its side starting to move. Seconds later a large black cobra wriggles out of the lion’s mouth. Wisdom screams out of shock jumping back. Butch grabs hold of her and they all step back as the snake slithers towards the sea and disappears in the water. Wisdom can feel Butch’s arm tense, looking down his right knuckle is white from a firmly clenched fist. He looks at her briefly and they are thinking the same thing, with the same person crossing their mind. Wisdom’s cell phone rings in her pocket and she pulls it out.
(Wisdom): Yes, what is it?.................Oh Jesus………put her one.
On the other end is a loud, inconsolable two and a half year old girl.
(Wisdom): Evina, honey, its mommy…don’t cry sweetheart.
Butch moves in with a look of concern on his face, Wisdom puts her hand up to tell him hold on…
(Evina): Mommy…mommy, is that daddy’s lion on, on the tv?
Wisdom drops her head, pulling her fingers through her hair in frustration that Evina saw this scene on the news.
(Evina): Mommy, I want to come home, I want to come home now. I want my daddy…
Evina begins crying hysterically again and the person on the other end of the line takes the phone from her.
(???????): I’m so sorry Mrs. Parker, they were watching the usual children’s program when the breaking news came on, we tried changing the channel but it’s on all of them.
(Wisdom): You could have cut it off. How could you let her see this? We’ll deal with you later, bring her home. Bring her home now!
Wisdom shuts her phone off, Butch is beside her.
(Butch): Let me guess.
(Wisdom): Yep…she saw it. Babe, what in the world are we going to tell her?
(Butch): I don’t know…something, we’ll think of something.
(Wisdom): $30k a year for this damn Early Childhood Center program and they can’t keep an eye on what comes on the fuking TV.
Back inside their home the news reports is still going…
(Reporter): There’s been a mandatory evacuation called for this beach, and we’ve been granted limited access. We’ve zoomed in as much as possible and there is no doubt about there is a dead lion laying on the beach. Authorities are clearing out residents, including Butch and Wisdom Parker who we saw just moments ago. The CDC has been called and officials are on their way from what we understand. We don’t know what if any threat this lion may have biologically, but there is talk of a possible quarantine for those having come in close contact.
There’s little they can do now but stare at the disturbing scene, Butch without a word turns back to the house. Wisdom says nothing letting him go, but the police chief tries to approach him.
(Chief): Mr. Parker, we’re going to need to get your statement.
Butch doesn’t even acknowledge him as he now power walks back to the stairway leading up to the house. The chief turns to Wisdom who has just come over.
(Wisdom): I wouldn’t if I were you.
(Chief): Wouldn’t what?
(Wisdom): I just wouldn’t.
Wisdom cuts him a nasty glare as she follows after Butch, and the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
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