March 4, 2014

Half an hour before the lunch rush was set to begin, the little diner around the corner from the Thomas & Mack Center was pleasantly deserted. In a booth at the back, Nessa Wall sat alone, a glass of water and a half-full cup of coffee resting on the table in front of her. She checked her watch, noting the time— she'd arrived early on purpose, simply because she'd felt as though the world was spiraling out of her control since the night before. She had it on good authority that the waffles here were to die for and she planned to order herself a double helping as soon as her lunch 'date' arrived.

Her wait was short-lived, only three minutes before their scheduled meeting was to take place. That meeting would be with Kyle Kilmeade, dressed casually as he was away from cameras and the wrestling public at large. Taking a quick survey of the interior when he entered, he told a waitress he was meeting someone and immediately made a beeline in her direction. Sliding into the chair across from her, he made himself comfortable. "Nessa, a pleasure to meet you….at least one on one without an arena around us." He slid his hand across the table for a handshake as he adjusted his seat a bit. "Not been the best couple days for either of us, has it?"

She took his offered hand, giving it a firm shake as she looked him in the eye. "I suppose that's putting it as nicely as possible." Releasing her grip, she picked up her cup of coffee, taking a dainty sip of it. "Come to think of it, we've never really had a legitimate conversation… despite you seeing me in a very compromising position once upon a time." That hint of a smirk was on her lips as she watched his reaction.

"If it makes you feel better, it was an enjoyable vision." Kyle added before he asked for a cappuccino from the waitress after she had approached the table. After she had left, he returned his attention to his 'date' for the afternoon. "The reason I asked you here….well frankly I'm almost convinced it could be a waste of time now given what happened. But I was going to see how you felt about joining my little group here in SVW. I don't know what all Mika has told you about it...or me...but knowing her, I'm pretty sure it was all fairly good stuff. And this stuff with Leona...I had nothing to do with that. That's all on her."

Nessa sighed, shaking her head as she pushed the remains of the coffee aside. Propping her elbow on the table, she rested her chin on her hand for a moment as though stalling to compose herself. By all appearances, she was calm and collected other than the frosty look in her eyes. "If I was less of a person, that woman wouldn't have left under her own power last night— between you and I, of course. I was counting on another win out there and it would have been a foregone conclusion if I'd had anyone else in my corner than that egotistical little bitch." Those cool blue eyes fixed on Kyle, studying him for a second. "I know you had nothing to do with it, darling. Wouldn't be much of a businessman if you sabotaged my opinion of Team Kyle on the eve of your sales pitch."

He couldn't argue that, she was right. "Absolutely not. I don't talk to Leona that much, but from all outward appearances, I think she's just jealous of the relationship you and Mika have. Only reason I can figure. Before you came to SVW, it was her and Mika doing everything they did. Now it's turned into a case of two's company and three's a crowd. I'm pretty sure professional or personal jealousy isn't something you haven't had to deal with before throughout your career. The only problem is…." He shook his head in resignation. "There's not a whole lot I can do about it. Mika is pretty much the only one that Leona has any close connection with, so even if I sat her down and talked with her, I doubt it'd make a difference." Kyle took his cup when the waitress returned, paying her for the cappuccino and thanking her. "I don't blame you for being irritated. watching it….so was I."

"I should probably tell you that Mika already did her best to persuade me that it would be in my best interests to join your group. The only trouble is that came just a few hours before her dear little partner in crime humiliated me." Nessa rolled her eyes, heavy disdain in her voice, "I love her to pieces, but sometimes she's just got the worst instincts about people that I've ever seen."

"I can't even argue that. I'm beginning to think it was a mistake inviting Leona. She's not a team player at all, at least she doesn't seem to be anymore." He gave the drink a sip, testing how hot it was before he continued. "All I can say is...if something doesn't change, she may find herself on the outside looking in. I'm not interested in people who are going to work against the best interests of this group. Last year, we controlled two of SVW's titles. This year, we control none. That's not success, and I'm looking to fix that. Between us…" A long sigh escaped here. "I have...reservations that this tag title match Nick booked at Fearless is going to go very well at all. If I could change it right now, I would. But I can't overrule him. So until we get this issue with Leona resolved, there's not a whole lot I can offer. I don't know what else you have been offered, but if it came from Amy….keep in mind that her last group staged a mutiny against her leadership, including the one who was chasing the SVW Championship. Her centerpiece. I've always found her leadership skills….questionable."

Nessa nodded, "I've done my research." She laughed softly, "and you honestly can't expect me to believe that you're clueless as to the meeting I had with Amy yesterday afternoon. It's not as though it was much of a secret." She leaned forward, "since I respect you, I'll be honest. She offered me a place in her new group— an opportunity, if you will, to learn from the woman who was the first to hold the FFW Championship. Despite what you think of her leadership style, you can't deny her talent between those ropes."

Kyle gave a bit of a reluctant acknowledgement there. "At one time, yes. I think her skills may have started slipping just a little, judging by how things went at Ground Zero last year against Stryfe. I'll be honest, I'll never be her biggest fan. She's made me miserable when she had any power, and if I was a lesser person, I'd have returned that favor by now. But...I'm not going to do that. I will admit she has had a great career, and she may be able to teach you a few things. But in the final analysis, only one of us can actually make anything happen in SVW. Only one of us sits with any kind of control. And that...is not Amy. At least not anymore." He leaned forward slightly. "And I respect you too, or neither of us would be here right now. So it's nice to know it's mutual."

"More than mutual, sweetie." Nessa said with a smile, "you had me firmly on your bandwagon when you publicly dumped that insufferable twit Kasey Summers." She let that thought hang for a moment before she shrugged, reaching for her coffee simply so that she could toy with the mug's handle. "Amy offered me a 'learning experience'— as much of a joke as that is when I'm already mere millimeters from her level. So the question begs to be asked, simply for clarification's sake. Given your position, what can you do for me? Better yet… not a matter of can, really. What will you do to have me in your camp?"

"Well let's start with the most obvious one. If this match at Fearless against the Queens doesn't have the right outcome which is looking more and more likely, I don't see any reason you and Mika can't have a shot afterwards. You two are clearly the more cohesive team. I don't think there is a person in either half of that team that you or Mika can't defeat. And besides...we've already seen how Leona fared against them. So..if they can't do it, why not look into giving the more proven two thirds of this little trio a chance?" His eyebrows rose as he spoke, tapping his finger on the table. "And well...just out of curiosity, who do you think suggested you be included in this Fatal 4 Way for a Pride title shot when Nick was putting it together? I promise….it wasn't Amy."

Nessa's eyes widened slightly, that grin back on her lips as she nodded slowly. "I had a suspicion that you had something to do with that when Mika didn't rush to tell me that she'd put in a good word. To be honest, I worry that she didn't want me chasing after the Pride title— the poor dear's still obsessing over that loss, after all. The last thing I want to do is drive a wedge between us by succeeding where she's failed." The words came out sounding sincere enough, but the hunger in Nessa's gaze betrayed the truth behind those lies.

"Well that obsession is why I booked her in a tag match with the Kanes, let her try to get that win back before she goes after the tag titles. But yes, that was all me. So all in all…" Kyle's eyes seemed to flash for a moment as he spoke. "It's not a case of what can I do for you. It's a case of...what have I already done."

Nessa was silent for a few seconds, looking down at the now cold last dregs of her coffee. "A small part of me almost wishes you hadn't," she admitted in a low voice before lifting her head to look at him. "The last thing I want to be is indebted to someone and I'm sure the last thing you want is for someone to join your group for repayment and not because that's where they truly want to be."

"You don't owe me anything. I didn't do it for repayment. I did it to show you that I had faith in you...and you deserve it." He answered.

She nodded before slipping to her feet. "I'm sure you know me well enough to gauge my sincerity when I say I need some time to think about it." Before he could say anything further, she left the table, making her way out of the restaurant with her head held high and a smile on her face. It felt really, really good to be in high demand for the first time in her career. The last thing she wanted to do was lose that feeling.