Post by Gem on Jul 24, 2014 17:01:36 GMT -5
"Are you listening?"
The sudden interruption of my imagination startled me into an upright sitting position. Leaning against my first on the mahogany table, the words seemed to drone on while greener pastures awaited my soul. Nodding slightly, still unable to talk to any stranger whose name wasn't Grant, I let the banker conclude what was going to happen with my paycheck. I hadn't the slightest clue what any of the things he mentioned meant, but if Father said they would take care of us, I had no reason to believe otherwise.
"Thank you for your business, little girl," the well-intentioned man remarked.
I held back, knowing that my perception wasn't that of the Queen of the Underground in the eyes of laymen, but still a helpless little girl searching for a home. While it was a weapon to be used against those who would seek to destroy me, the real world didn't look kindly upon it. Everything has a balance.
Turning around, I ran smack into a familiar face.
"Boy, I'm just running into you everywhere, aren't I?" he gleamed.
Finding my cheeks turning the slightest shade of red, I turned my head away until the warmness subsided. "Hi Grant."
"Wow, she can talk!" I heard the banker exclaim. Asshole.
"Hey, the lady's with me," Grant replied.
"Oh, well if she's with you," the banker responded, "then she's definitely a VIP customer." He then glanced to me. "You should've told us you knew him! We love him here!"
"I worked with her father years ago," Grant continued. My face started to flush. Why was he disposing all of this personal information to someone I didn't even know? What was he trying to do? Was he setting me up? Did these people know something? Did they want to hurt my father?
"Wait, her father?" I heard the banker inquire before I disappeared behind the giant glass door. Why did he care about who my father was? My feet hit the beige pavement, each crack slowly avoiding the tip of my boots while footsteps rung out behind me. Clearly he had an agenda, and I wasn't about to be a part of it.
Before I could completely get away, I came upon a busy road with traffic crossing both ways. Checking my options, I started to again sprint away before Grant's strong hands grasped my shoulders. "Hey! Hey!" he yelled. "Why did you run away? Why?"
"What were you trying to do in there?" I cried. "Telling them who my father was, telling them about me... Were you setting me up?"
"No! I was giving them a reason to stop mocking you! What on earth would I have to gain from trying to hurt you?"
Sliding his hands off my shoulders, I shoved him away. "Everyone has an agenda. My father taught me that."
"An agenda?" Grant exasperatedly answered. "I know you love your father, but do you know anything about his relationships and how he dealt with them?"
"Of course I do, Grant!" I yelled, insulted at the insinuation that I didn't know what happened with my own father. "I saw the pain in his eyes every time a woman told him he wasn't good enough. I watched the illusion of reality shatter in his eyes when someone pulled the rug out from under him and sent him back into the downward spiral in which he tried to escape through the power of love. Everyone he ever loved broke his heart. You want to tell me that I don't know how he dealt with them?"
"Gem, Gem... Yes, those things did happen, I'm not denying that. But he also became so paranoid that it would happen again that he wouldn't let anyone else close. Anyone but you and your Aunt. I was his friend, and I did all that I could to prove that I would never betray his trust," Grant kept explaining.
"And what happened?"
"He never let me in," Grant replied, defeated. "He only let me so close, and then the wall went up. I don't want to see the same thing happen to you."
"Why do you care what happens to me? Nobody notices me, why can't I be like him?"
Grant's face went from one extreme to the other. Now it was complete bewilderment. "Nobody notices you?"
"That's right. My Father and Aunt noticed, and for some reason you did, but you saw that banker. Nobody around here knows who I am, and they don't care, the end."
"You really did inherit your father's oblivion," Grant muttered.
I slapped his face. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Startled, I saw the pain in his eyes as he rubbed his cheek, and I realized I had crossed the line. "I'm sorry. My father is a touchy subject, and after seeing him suffer all those years, I feel like I'm the only woman who can protect him."
"Gem, your father had it really hard, but to think that nobody notices you is frivolous. You're the Queen of the Underground. Did you listen to the love those fans gave you?"
"What love?"
"Do I need to go rewind the show tape for you so you can see it? You've won them over. You don't notice because when you get out there, you're in the assassin zone, but watch the show again afterward sometime. Your reaction has grown every single week. They love you, they admire you, and you've captured their hearts; both with your innocent appearance and your deadly striking skills. You have love and respect; myself included."
I stopped cold. Did he just say he loved me? No. That would be impossible. He didn't even know me. "Why does it matter to you, Grant?"
"Because I don't want to see the same thing that happened to your father happen to you. I don't want to see you sabotage your friendships because you're afraid of getting hurt. I don't want to see you become an Alexa Black; a psycho on the loose looking to destroy everything because you think the world is out to get you. This week, you have a chance to take an even bigger step. Overcoming your nemesis Cory Steel and the loose cannon that has set her sights on you, you're being groomed for major things, Gem. Don't you see that?"
Finally taking the moment to breathe, I sighed. The traffic had cleared away, but I no longer felt like running. Grant returned his hands to my shoulders. "Break out of your bubble and realize that the world around you is adoring you. You're allowed to be who you are, and you don't have to fear getting hurt. We all have had to deal with that at some point or another. But the crowd, the audience, the fans... They have fallen in love with you and want you to succeed. Don't cut yourself off from something that could be amazing simply because you don't want to suffer like your father did."
"I don't want my father to hurt anymore either."
Grant's face softened. "Maybe by seeing his daughter succeed and open up, it'll inspire him to do the same. Stranger things have happened."
It was at that moment that I realized more than a win-loss record was at stake for these matches. Sure, I'd never wanted to disappoint my father by losing to opponents I knew I could defeat, but I didn't realize that I had an audience that gave a damn if I won or lost, or that wanted to see me aspire to greater things. I didn't even think greater things were possible this early in my career. Queen of the Underground was an achievement, though to be fair I had no idea what it meant,n but they wouldn't bestow it upon someone they didn't trust to represent their company.
"I am the Queen," I admitted out loud.
"You are, but don't let that go to your head. You've got a bear who is out for revenge, and someone who makes Sarah Conner look stable right on your heels. The key to succeeding in the business is never getting complacent."
I tilted my head, surprised at these notions. "You sure seem to know a lot about it, don't you?"
He shrugged. "What can I say? I observe, and I've been watching a long time. I know how these things work."
Finally, I started walking back toward the direction of home with him. However, now I was more intrigued with the origins of this knowledge he held and where it came from. Something told me that his relationship with my father and his intent of seeing me do well was beyond mere coincidence. That, unfortunately, would have to wait until my next objective was completed.
Just because I wasn't going to be an ice Queen didn't mean I had to forget my training entirely.
The sudden interruption of my imagination startled me into an upright sitting position. Leaning against my first on the mahogany table, the words seemed to drone on while greener pastures awaited my soul. Nodding slightly, still unable to talk to any stranger whose name wasn't Grant, I let the banker conclude what was going to happen with my paycheck. I hadn't the slightest clue what any of the things he mentioned meant, but if Father said they would take care of us, I had no reason to believe otherwise.
"Thank you for your business, little girl," the well-intentioned man remarked.
I held back, knowing that my perception wasn't that of the Queen of the Underground in the eyes of laymen, but still a helpless little girl searching for a home. While it was a weapon to be used against those who would seek to destroy me, the real world didn't look kindly upon it. Everything has a balance.
Turning around, I ran smack into a familiar face.
"Boy, I'm just running into you everywhere, aren't I?" he gleamed.
Finding my cheeks turning the slightest shade of red, I turned my head away until the warmness subsided. "Hi Grant."
"Wow, she can talk!" I heard the banker exclaim. Asshole.
"Hey, the lady's with me," Grant replied.
"Oh, well if she's with you," the banker responded, "then she's definitely a VIP customer." He then glanced to me. "You should've told us you knew him! We love him here!"
"I worked with her father years ago," Grant continued. My face started to flush. Why was he disposing all of this personal information to someone I didn't even know? What was he trying to do? Was he setting me up? Did these people know something? Did they want to hurt my father?
"Wait, her father?" I heard the banker inquire before I disappeared behind the giant glass door. Why did he care about who my father was? My feet hit the beige pavement, each crack slowly avoiding the tip of my boots while footsteps rung out behind me. Clearly he had an agenda, and I wasn't about to be a part of it.
Before I could completely get away, I came upon a busy road with traffic crossing both ways. Checking my options, I started to again sprint away before Grant's strong hands grasped my shoulders. "Hey! Hey!" he yelled. "Why did you run away? Why?"
"What were you trying to do in there?" I cried. "Telling them who my father was, telling them about me... Were you setting me up?"
"No! I was giving them a reason to stop mocking you! What on earth would I have to gain from trying to hurt you?"
Sliding his hands off my shoulders, I shoved him away. "Everyone has an agenda. My father taught me that."
"An agenda?" Grant exasperatedly answered. "I know you love your father, but do you know anything about his relationships and how he dealt with them?"
"Of course I do, Grant!" I yelled, insulted at the insinuation that I didn't know what happened with my own father. "I saw the pain in his eyes every time a woman told him he wasn't good enough. I watched the illusion of reality shatter in his eyes when someone pulled the rug out from under him and sent him back into the downward spiral in which he tried to escape through the power of love. Everyone he ever loved broke his heart. You want to tell me that I don't know how he dealt with them?"
"Gem, Gem... Yes, those things did happen, I'm not denying that. But he also became so paranoid that it would happen again that he wouldn't let anyone else close. Anyone but you and your Aunt. I was his friend, and I did all that I could to prove that I would never betray his trust," Grant kept explaining.
"And what happened?"
"He never let me in," Grant replied, defeated. "He only let me so close, and then the wall went up. I don't want to see the same thing happen to you."
"Why do you care what happens to me? Nobody notices me, why can't I be like him?"
Grant's face went from one extreme to the other. Now it was complete bewilderment. "Nobody notices you?"
"That's right. My Father and Aunt noticed, and for some reason you did, but you saw that banker. Nobody around here knows who I am, and they don't care, the end."
"You really did inherit your father's oblivion," Grant muttered.
I slapped his face. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Startled, I saw the pain in his eyes as he rubbed his cheek, and I realized I had crossed the line. "I'm sorry. My father is a touchy subject, and after seeing him suffer all those years, I feel like I'm the only woman who can protect him."
"Gem, your father had it really hard, but to think that nobody notices you is frivolous. You're the Queen of the Underground. Did you listen to the love those fans gave you?"
"What love?"
"Do I need to go rewind the show tape for you so you can see it? You've won them over. You don't notice because when you get out there, you're in the assassin zone, but watch the show again afterward sometime. Your reaction has grown every single week. They love you, they admire you, and you've captured their hearts; both with your innocent appearance and your deadly striking skills. You have love and respect; myself included."
I stopped cold. Did he just say he loved me? No. That would be impossible. He didn't even know me. "Why does it matter to you, Grant?"
"Because I don't want to see the same thing that happened to your father happen to you. I don't want to see you sabotage your friendships because you're afraid of getting hurt. I don't want to see you become an Alexa Black; a psycho on the loose looking to destroy everything because you think the world is out to get you. This week, you have a chance to take an even bigger step. Overcoming your nemesis Cory Steel and the loose cannon that has set her sights on you, you're being groomed for major things, Gem. Don't you see that?"
Finally taking the moment to breathe, I sighed. The traffic had cleared away, but I no longer felt like running. Grant returned his hands to my shoulders. "Break out of your bubble and realize that the world around you is adoring you. You're allowed to be who you are, and you don't have to fear getting hurt. We all have had to deal with that at some point or another. But the crowd, the audience, the fans... They have fallen in love with you and want you to succeed. Don't cut yourself off from something that could be amazing simply because you don't want to suffer like your father did."
"I don't want my father to hurt anymore either."
Grant's face softened. "Maybe by seeing his daughter succeed and open up, it'll inspire him to do the same. Stranger things have happened."
It was at that moment that I realized more than a win-loss record was at stake for these matches. Sure, I'd never wanted to disappoint my father by losing to opponents I knew I could defeat, but I didn't realize that I had an audience that gave a damn if I won or lost, or that wanted to see me aspire to greater things. I didn't even think greater things were possible this early in my career. Queen of the Underground was an achievement, though to be fair I had no idea what it meant,n but they wouldn't bestow it upon someone they didn't trust to represent their company.
"I am the Queen," I admitted out loud.
"You are, but don't let that go to your head. You've got a bear who is out for revenge, and someone who makes Sarah Conner look stable right on your heels. The key to succeeding in the business is never getting complacent."
I tilted my head, surprised at these notions. "You sure seem to know a lot about it, don't you?"
He shrugged. "What can I say? I observe, and I've been watching a long time. I know how these things work."
Finally, I started walking back toward the direction of home with him. However, now I was more intrigued with the origins of this knowledge he held and where it came from. Something told me that his relationship with my father and his intent of seeing me do well was beyond mere coincidence. That, unfortunately, would have to wait until my next objective was completed.
Just because I wasn't going to be an ice Queen didn't mean I had to forget my training entirely.
