Owen Cruze vs. Adam Allocco

[Owen]

+++ ‘Level Up’ Wrestling School – New York 30th September 2022 +++

 

Once Chloe had agreed, Owen had taken her to show her around and hopefully introduce her to Finch, but unfortunately, he’d not been around. Time had passed very quickly after that day, what with Apocalypse and having to compete at that event, and so with Chloe’s start date being the 1st of October, they still hadn’t met. Knowing that Finch was an acquired taste, as was Chloe for that matter, he didn’t want to leave it till that first day, and so he had arranged to meet Finch at the school before everyone arrived for class. Owen had brought them all breakfast, croissants, and coffee in the hope that at this late hour, something didn’t throw a spanner in the works.

 

Chloe: So, why you brought me here at this ungodly hour? Is Finch really that difficult to get along with?

 

Owen: No, honestly, he’s not. It’s just that sometimes his mouth gets away from him and he doesn’t say the right things. It can wind people up.

 

Chloe: And you think he can wind me up? Many men have tried Owen, none of them have been intelligent enough to do so.

 

Owen: No, I don’t… but it’s not just Finch, is it?

 

Chloe: What do you mean?

 

Owen: Well, it’s not like you can’t be a pain in the ass either is it?

 

Chloe thinks on it for a few moments, gives the impression of shock, and then allows a grin to form on her face.

 

Chloe: Yeah, I guess you’re right.

 

Owen knew that he was probably worrying about nothing, but with the revamp he was about to undertake starting to gain momentum, he had to make sure that everything was in place to give them the best chance of success. Having two managers at loggerheads wasn’t going to help that process.

 

Owen: I don’t want you to think that I haven’t got faith in the both of you because I have. Finch has been running this place now for a while and is doing a heck of a job, and I know that underneath that brash exterior lies someone with far greater intelligence than either Finch or myself. I’m just putting a lot into this, and I don’t want it to be a failure… do you get me?

 

Chloe: Yeah, I get you, but I’m sure it will be fine. After all, it was always my life’s ambition to make you money, I’m living the dream here Cruzey.

 

Owen: You’re a dick

 

Chloe: You’re only embarrassed because my dick is bigger than yours.

 

Owen hears the front door close, and gets to his feet, opening the office door and expecting to see Finch, instead it’s Jason King making his way over to the locker rooms, seemingly surprised to see Owen.

 

Jason: Owen, bit early for you, isn’t it?

 

Owen: Not kidding, glad you’re here actually, I’d like you to meet someone.

 

Jason nods, walking over to the office where Chloe has already gotten to her feet.

 

Owen: Jason, this is Chloe, she’s our new Assistant Manager working directly with Finch. Chloe, this is Jason one of the trainers here.

 

They both shakes hands, Chloe with a strange look on her face.

 

Owen: Yes Chloe, Jason is very handsome.

 

Chloe: You are not kidding

 

Owen: He is also very married to one of the scariest women I’ve ever met.

 

Jason laughs

 

Jason: She’s a pussy cat Owen… but good to meet you, Chloe. Look forward to seeing what you bring. Sorry to be rude but prep to do… see you around.

 

Jason walks away in the direction he was headed before, Chloe opening her mouth.

 

Chloe: He is beautiful

 

Owen: I’m not kidding Chloe… Willow doesn’t suffer fools gladly, and she’s another of our trainers here.

 

Chloe: Understood… I’ll admire from afar. So, who else do I need to meet?

 

Owen: You’ll meet the folks from the shelter, most of them work around the place to pay for their lodgings until they are ready to get back into the big wide world. Reed was our first, and he’s been the most successful with regards to claiming his life back. We think that he could have the potential to be a wrestler… hits like a hammer. Then, the last person you really need to meet will be Adam who is my partner in this place. He’s a wrestler as well in a company called Elite Answers Wrestling… he’s a good guy but he’s just making his way in the business so doesn’t have as much time on his hands as I do. Plus he recently got married so he’s really into that honeymoon period at the moment.

 

Chloe: He knows about me though, right?

 

Owen: Of course… you, the revamp, we have spoken through all of it. Once we are in a position to move with the rebrand, you’ll probably see him around a lot more. I’m hoping that he takes a place on the team as well because he has a lot of life experience he could share with the students and how he dealt with it. Far better than I ever did that’s for sure. But yeah, top, top guy… you’ll like him.

 

Chloe: As much as Jason

 

Owen: Not like that Chloe… geez, you on heat or what?

 

They laugh, once again hearing the door and this time when Owen gets up, it is indeed Finch who has arrived. Weirdly, he wasn’t dressed in his usual tee shirt and tracksuit bottoms and had jeans and a shirt on… and had even left his usual baseball cap behind. On seeing Owen, Finch holds up his hand apologetically.

 

Finch: Am I late?

 

Owen glances at the large LCD clock on the wall

 

Owen: Nah, we were early.

 

He is just about to ask Finch about his attire when Finch looks over his shoulder and smiles.

 

Finch: Ah, you must be Chloe? I’m Finch.

 

Finch walks past Owen, almost shoving past, holding out his hand to Chloe, the pair of them shaking before Finch kisses the back of her hand.

 

Chloe: A Gentlemen huh?

 

Finch: I believe that women should be treated with the utmost respect.

 

Owen scowls, wondering who the hell this person was and what had he done with Finch. Chloe and Finch look at each other, for a duration that should have been uncomfortable, and yet they seem more than happy. Owen interjects, not quite sure what is going on.

 

Owen: Shall we?

 

He motions towards the office, Finch allowing Chloe to enter, before holding her seat for her till she sits. He then takes his own seat, Owen sitting down on the edge of the desk.

 

Owen: Well, seeing as the introductions are over…

 

Finch: So, Chloe, I hear you have a business degree.

 

The interruption stops Owen in his tracks, and Chloe’s response is so instantaneous, he doesn’t have time to recover the conversation.

 

Chloe: That’s right, only recently graduated with honors. I have an art degree as well, but it’s so difficult to find someone willing to take a chance on someone my age.

 

Finch: I can imagine.

 

Chloe: Owen was kind enough to give me this opportunity, even though it’s not something I want to be doing for the rest of my life. I want to be an artist, but hey, a girl gotta eat right?

 

Finch: Well, I for one am glad you are here.

 

Chloe: You know what, I’m glad to be here.

 

It had taken Owen a while, but finally he had caught on. He’d not seen it initially, but Finch had gone out of his way to make a good first impression, even putting on his best shirt for the occasion. Rather than be dismissive of Finch’s now obvious flirtations, Chloe seemed to be encouraging it. There is a momentary silence, as the two seem to have forgotten that Owen is even in the room. Owen takes this opportunity as a chance to speak.

 

Owen: So, in essence, what I want is the two of you to share responsibilities for the day to day running of this place. That includes the shelter and making sure that we are doing all that we can to make sure that the tenants are always moving towards a time when they will be able to stand on their own feet. Things like finding jobs through agencies, somewhere for them to live, that will be your domain. Working together to make it happen. Once we know what we can currently teach, then it will be your job to ensure we put in place a schedule that works, that optimizes the space we currently have, to make sure the building is never sat dormant. Once I’ve completed on the premises next door, things might change.

 

With his mind back on business rather than what he was thinking about Chloe’s pretty face, he asks a question that had been on his mind for a while.

 

Finch: So, are you going to let us in on the plan and why you are buying next door?

 

Owen grins, this was a matter that only Adan and he knew about, because they were the people who had put the money in to buy it. But now it was nearly completed, Owen didn’t see any issue letting them know.

 

Owen: I’m going to hopefully knock through to the other building and make it one massive premises. Upstairs will still be the shelter, but bigger, downstairs we will be able to have more equipment, more space and maybe an Octagon for the MMA classes. In essence, it will still be Level Up, if we continue to call it that, but on a much bigger scale.

 

Chloe: Don’t you think that’s a little ambitious?

 

Owen: For sure it is… but that’s why you are on board to give us the best chance of making it work. New York is a huge city. Kids from miles around will come to learn combat, as well as the honor and integrity that comes with it. Not only that, but it will also allow us to take more people in, which in turn means we’ll have more people doing an honest day’s work to keep the business running. It’s a step into the unknown, and there is nothing like it in the area, but I reckon with the two of you running the ship, and some of the best trainers around, people will be drawn to the place. You think this is ambitious Chloe… I’m thinking of opening schools all over America. This is just a baby step, a big toe in the water.

 

Chloe: Who are you right now? Where is that boy who just wanted to be a wrestler?

 

Owen: He’s still in there Chloe, I just want to do so much more in the world and be remembered for much more than simply throwing myself off the top rope. It’s not even about making money, because thanks to Dad and O-Cru I’ll never want on that score.

 

Finch: Alright show-off

 

Chloe laughs, a laugh that seems false, and is more than a little unnerving for Owen to hear, Chloe acting no better than a smitten schoolgirl.

 

Owen: So, do you think the two of you can work together.

 

Finch: I think so

 

Chloe: I don’t see why not.

 

Owen: Good…

 

Owen gets to his feet, just as Jason is coming out the locker room, kitted out and ready for the day.

 

Owen: Jason… first class is in fifteen minutes, right?

 

Jason: Yeah

 

Owen: Can you run Chloe through what we do… get her up to speed?

 

Jason: Sure… you wanna come over to the ring Chloe?

 

Chloe mouths ‘Thank you’ to Owen who shakes his head, before closing the door and now sitting down in a chair.

 

Owen: So, what do you think?

 

Finch: About Chloe?

 

Owen: No, about the state of the world, of course about Chloe.

 

Finch: She’s hot

 

Owen sighs, shaking his head yet again.

 

Owen: No, do you think you can work together?

 

Finch: Of course… does she have a boyfriend?

 

Owen: No… but remember you’ve got to work together Finch. I don’t want any problems.

 

Finch: Doesn’t worry, I’ll put on my best Finch charm.

 

Owen: That’s what worries me bro… seriously though, you reckon we can do this?

 

Finch: Build the best wrestling school on the planet… yeah, easy. No point doing things half measured right?

 

Owen: Too right… just keep your hands off the staff, OK?

 

Finch: Hey, she falls in love with me, what’s a man to do?

 

He laughs, which makes Owen chuckle as well. He wanted them to get along, and it seemed they would, but with their initial reaction to each other could it be more than that. Owen puts it to the back of his mind, he had more important things to deal with, namely the premises next door, and then the next step, the new branding. Thankfully, he knew exactly the right person to undertake that. Someone he hadn’t spoken with for a long time.

 

+++ ‘Level Up’ Wrestling School – New York 30th September 2022 +++

 

It made Owen smile that when he very first thought about this school, it was to wind Tommy up more than anything else. Over time though, that had become a secondary thought, and now he just wanted everything to be a success. Because of that, he wanted to ensure that the whole company was professional from the bottom up, and then including looking professional. To that end, he had immediately known who to get involved, someone he had worked with before. Someone who had once upon a time been family. Sat across him, the other side of the desk was none other than his former Auntie-in-Law Pixie Denning, Shaun’s ex-wife.

 

Pixie: Must admit Owen, I was surprised to get your call. How have you been?

 

Owen: Much better thanks Pixie… better than I was anyway. Glad to have those months behind me that’s for sure.

 

Pixie: You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself; you’ve been through a lot for one so young.

 

Owen: I’m not the only one to go through stuff… many got through it better than I did.

 

Pixie: Anyway, it would be nice if I was here just to catch up, but judging by your text message, that isn’t the case.

 

Owen: That obvious huh?

 

Pixie: Afraid so.

 

Owen pauses, for a moment feeling a little guilty that he hadn’t been in touch for anything other than wanting something.

 

Owen: Basically put, I’m about to totally revamp this place, and I need someone to deal with the branding, right from the top to the bottom. I’m going to need a web presence; I’m going to need training uniforms designed… and no doubt a whole raft of other things that I’ve not even thought of. That’s where hopefully you come in. You did all of this with O-Cru, I know Mom relied on you a lot to make that happen.

 

Pixie: She did… but I can’t move back to New York, I just can’t. The kids are settled now, I couldn’t put them through that. It’s a pleasant coincidence that I’m in the City now for a meeting, I’m flying back this afternoon.

 

Owen: That’s the thing, I don’t need you in New York, you can work from home as much as you like. I’m more than willing to work around you, to get a person that I can trust with this.

 

Pixie: That’s kind of you to say.

 

Owen: I’d give it Finch and Chloe to deal with, but they are going to have enough on their plate. In my head I know a brief outline of what it all needs to look like, and I know you can put that on the screen. You’ll have total control, and you have my total trust. So, what do you say?

 

Pixie: And I seriously wouldn’t have to leave Newquay?

 

Owen: On the odd occasion, that’s all. I promise.

 

Pixie thinks on it for a few moments, then starts to nod her head.

 

Pixie: OK, we can do this, but it’s going to cost you. I’m not cheap.

 

Owen: I know, but we don’t have to talk about that now. All I need is your verbal agreement so that I don’t have to look elsewhere. The rest we can discuss once I have sorted some other things out. So, we have a deal?

 

Pixie: In principle Owen… yeah, we have a deal.

 

She looks through the office window, and into the gym area, already building a picture in her mind, noticing one thing.

 

Pixie: One question?

 

Owen: Sure, fire away

 

Pixie: Are you precious about the name?

 

The name had come from a wrestling move Adam Lucas used, and Owen certainly wasn’t precious about it, neither did he think Adam would be.

 

Owen: Why?

 

Pixie: It’s sounds a little generic… not something I’d call a forward-thinking business.

 

Owen: Well, I you can come up with something better?

 

Pixie: Oh, I’m sure I can… leave it with me.

 

Owen looks over her shoulder at someone entering the gym that he didn’t recognize.

 

Owen: Just one second… can I help you?

 

Pixie turns around, Owen already out the door.

 

Pixie: It’s OK Owen, he’s with me.

 

Pixie gets to her feet, walking past Owen and linking arms with the man who is dressed in a very expensive looking suit.

 

Pixie: This is Bradley… my partner. Brad… this is Owen, Shaun’s nephew.

 

Owen: Oh right… I’m sorry mate, didn’t realize

 

Bradley: And neither should you have. Shaun’s a good guy speaks very highly of you.

 

He holds out his free hand, and the pair shake, Bradley unhooking his arm and reaching into his jacket, passing Owen a business card, Owen looking at it, then back at Bradley

 

Owen: Comer Real Estate huh?

 

Bradley: Don’t hold that against me… I’m nothing like those normally stuffy types.

 

Owen: I’ve been thinking of getting into that game myself. Only recently brought and renovated a property in Miami… this place as well.

 

Bradley: Seems like you have an eye for it. I thought about buying this property myself… not to make it a wrestling school though I admit.

 

Owen: In the process of buying the place next door as well, going to make it one property.

 

Bradley: I respect the courage… takes a lot to undertake a project like that. We should chat when I have more time, perhaps I could give you a few tips of the trade. I’m sorry, that sounds really patronizing, my apologies. Pixie here has done some fantastic interior design on some of my properties… maybe we could all work together on a project one day.

 

Owen: I’ve got my hands full now, but down the line, yeah maybe. The end game is to have places like this all over America.

 

Bradley: Sounds interesting… yeah, let’s talk about that when you have time.

 

Pixie: Well, much as I’d love to stand here and watch you boys talk shop, we have a flight to catch Brad.

 

Bradley: Of course. Good to meet you Owen and hope we talk soon.

 

They shake hands again, Pixie leaning forwards and kissing Owen on the cheek.

 

Pixie: I’ll be in touch and thank you for thinking of me.

 

Owen: Pleasure… see you soon.

 

Pixie and Bradley then make their way out the gym, Owen noticing Bradley taking in the place, nodding his head with hopefully appreciation, Owen not even noticing Finch walking up behind him.

 

Finch: Meeting go well?

 

Owen: Yeah, Pixie is going to do some work for us, I’ll give you her email and you can take it from here.

 

Finch: Cool, who was the guy?

 

Owen: Bradley Comer… seems like he’s a big deal Real Estate developer. Good guy to know.

 

Finch: Yeah? Miami give you the bug, did it?

 

Owen: You know what Finch; I think it did. But when it comes to the franchise, maybe he’ll be able to help. He’s bound to have contacts, and they may well come in handy.

 

Finch: Productive morning then?

 

Owen: For sure… ever had that feeling that everything is going right?

 

Finch: Occasionally… but it never lasts.

 

Owen: And that’s my biggest worry… like I’m just waiting for something to go wrong. Is that stupid.

 

Finch: No Owen, it’s being realistic. You got time to look over Andy’s evaluation on Reed?

 

Owen: Is it good news?

 

Finch: Think so… Andy has confirmed he’s ready to leave.

 

It was no surprise to Owen, Reed had always had a solid head on his shoulders, but this was the first person that they were going to put back into the real world. This was the acid test that what they were doing, was working. He therefore motions towards the office.

 

Owen: Then course I’ve got time.

 

They both enter the office, the door closing as the scene fades.