Forward

The Cornetts have a long history with Drake Askari, and it has now grown into a battle to see who is more durable. Only time will prove who wins in the end.

A Growing Family.. and List of Enemies

The scene opens on the Friday after Drake Askari's Vegas trip. Drake is sitting in his office thumbing through the paperwork that was signed the previous night when he hears a knock on the door. He quietly places the paperwork in his file cabinet and straightens out his jacket.

DRAKE: Come in...

The door to his office opens, revealing Lindsay Cornett, better known as Diamondedge, as his visitor. Walking in dressed in a yellow halter top, black denim skirt, and matching yellow heels, she shuts the door behind her before facing him again.

LINDSAY: You needed to see me, Mister Askari?

Drake almost starts to drool at the sight of the stacked Lindsay dressed the way she is. He smiles and nods.

DRAKE: Lindsay...so glad you could make it. Please, make yourself at home. (as she sits and crosses her legs) Look, I'm going to be honest with you...I know you've been having a terrible time with the recent issues at home...and I hate to do this to you...but there's not much I can do about it at this point...

Drake sighs as he taps his desk hesitantly.

DRAKE: You see, there's a provision in your contract...that says that if certain...duties...aren't performed, you might be without a contract.

She gets a bit confused. This is the first time she's heard of something like this being in her contract.

LINDSAY: Duties? What sort of duties? Does it go into any detail?

DRAKE: It's pretty open ended, except that refusal might result in termination of your contract. I was originally going to dismiss them...

Drake eyes her entire outfit and body with lust.

DRAKE: But now that you're here looking like that...I might just have to insist it stays.

She nearly smiles when she notices how.. observant of her outfit he's being, but manages to suppress it.

LINDSAY: That's too bad. How open ended is it? Does it go into any detail at all?

DRAKE: Basically, the way the provision's written, if you at any point refuse to do what I ask you to do, I reserve the right to terminate your contract. And as sexy as you are looking today, I'm having a hard time resisting the temptation to ask you to...perform some of those duties now.

LINDSAY: Ah.. so if I tell you no regarding anything at all that you request, I'm out of a job. I see..

She does her best to stay looking innocent as she uncrosses and recrosses her legs to 'get more comfortable.' Sitting up straighter in the seat, she makes sure her chest is prominent in her posturing.

LINDSAY: Did you have anything in mind when you called me in here? Other than calling my attention to the clause, of course.

DRAKE: Initially no, but now my mind is rolling with ideas...

He gets up and walks around his desk, leaning down to Lindsay and kissing her square on the lips with sensual energy as he lets his hands roam free over her entire body. She feels her entire body respond to the kiss almost immediately, making her intensify it, almost making her come up out of the chair. She reaches up and grabs the lapels of his suit jacket, pulling him down nearly into her lap. Drake's hand goes up her skirt as he starts to slide his tongue into her mouth.

Rubbing noises can be heard under the skirt, and Drake's free hand is grabbing Lindsay's breasts alternatively, pinching the rising spots on her shirt. A pleading whimper escapes her as her hands slide up from his lapels and into his hair. Having been with someone before, she wasn't completely unsure of her actions, but at this moment, she wasn't sure of what he wanted since he was an older man. Uncrossing her legs, she gives him the room he needs to do whatever he wants. A couple of Drake's fingers penetrate her as he kisses her deeper than before. She was more compliant than he expected. He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes.

DRAKE: You're a little slut of a girl, aren't you? Not even putting up a fight with me here...

She grinned wickedly at his supposed insult.

LINDSAY: No, I simply know what I want. Besides.. you did say that if I said no, I'd be fired. (Pouts cutely) Did you want me to lose my job, Mister Askari?

DRAKE: God, you're a sexy little fireball...I knew this was the right choice...

Drake offers little hesitation as Lindsay unzips his pants, still panting heavily at his fingers roaming inside of her. She almost goes crosseyed at the sight of him hardening in front of her as Drake pulls out of her and stands back up, rubbing his moistened hand onto himself.

DRAKE: Gobble up, slut.

More than happy to oblige, she leans in, taking him into her mouth. Gently at first, she wraps her lips around him, slowly massaging the underside of his manhood with her tongue. Once she's gotten a good pace going, she speeds up just a bit to tease him - which may not have been such a good idea at second glance.

Drake, on the other hand, is enjoying this first-class attention and strokes Lindsay's hair and face as she keeps going. The increase in speed causes him to lose control, grabbing Lindsay's face and shoving it down her throat as far as he can get it until he releases his load into her mouth. A muffled cry comes from her as she swallows without much choice to do anything else. Taking her mouth from around him, she makes sure there's no evidence of him on her before sitting up. She honestly doesn't want to seem like the slut he's called her so many times in the past few minutes, but she can't help but smile.

LINDSAY: Any other.. ideas.. cross your mind?

DRAKE: Yeah...time for you to get your satisfaction.

He stands her up and turns her around, bending her over at the waist. He admires the view of her backside before slowly entering himself into her from behind. Putting her hands on the back of the chair for support, she bites her lip as her eyes ease shut. Her friends had been right.. older men were so much better at this. She'd definitely have to consider searching for a new boyfriend after this. Purring, she glanced over her shoulder slightly.

LINDSAY: I'll definitely have to thank whomever drew up those contracts..

DRAKE: Well, that was all me, baby...I take it you like what I'm doing?

LINDSAY: (Grins) What woman wouldn't?

She went to make another statement as she turned back to face the wall, but something caught her eye. Something small.. plastic.. and shiny. Frowning, she realized what it was.

LINDSAY: Can I ask something?

DRAKE: What is it?

LINDSAY: What the hell is a video camera doing in here? Turned on, at that! Are you taping this?!

Drake makes a sour face; he didn't do a good enough job hiding that thing. Quickly thinking, he pulls her to where she's almost standing to where he's cupping her breasts as he's grinding her.

DRAKE: I figured this would be something you'd want to replay over and over again...is that a problem?

She nearly gives in again to his insistent pawing, but keeps her wits about her somehow.

LINDSAY: Not when my father could end up seeing it! Do you think I want him seeing me screwing his best friend?!

Suddenly, a darker side of Drake emerges as he grabs Lindsay's hair and pulls her head back to his, his member still inside her.

DRAKE: (getting angry) Listen, this is part of that "Must Comply" issue. You seemed all fine with getting it on with me until there was a possibility of getting busted...now you're going to bend over, and you're going to let me finish what---

LINDSAY: I won't do a damn thing! Let go of me!

Risking the loss of a few strands of hair, she pulls away from his grasp, shoving him backwards as well as she could in her position. Stumbling forward a bit, she yanks her skirt down and starts for the door, fixing her clothing as she goes. Drake, however, is insistant, grabbing her arm and flinging her back into the desk. He approaches her as she's crying and does his now infamous malevolent grin.

DRAKE: Look, Daddy's never going to find out...and you and I are going to finish this.

VOICE: THE HELL YOU ARE!

Drake is frozen in fear as he turns to the door, praying to...well, at this point we can only assume Satan, that the voice doesn't belong to who he thinks it does. Unfortunately for him, it's exactly who he thinks it is: Nikki Starr-Cornett, with a look on her face that could melt iron off of a magnet.

NIKKI: You will get your hands off of my daughter NOW, Askari!

She rushes forward and wraps a hand around his throat, her nails digging into his skin. Her expression at the moment is akin to a cat who's about to claw someone to ribbons. Unfortunately for Drake, he seems to be that person.

NIKKI: What the hell do you think you're doing? How DARE you take advantage of a girl.. ESPECIALLY one related to James and I! You must be outSIDE your mind! You can damn well BET that James is gonna have your ass for this.. because unfortunately for you, he already knows of your special little clause for the females.

DRAKE: (grasping for air) First...she...wanted it...as much...as I did....second...you have...no idea...what you're talking about.

SECOND VOICE: The first part I might be able to believe...

Drake goes wide-eyed as JMC, of all people, reveals himself behind Nikki.

JMC: Should I inform Drakie-poo here what I've found out so far, dear?

NIKKI: (Not releasing her grip on Drake's throat) Go right ahead, baby. Let's hope he hears everything before he passes out due to lack of air.

JMC: I'm well aware of how you intended to use the footage you got against me by saying it was Brandon doing her, not you. I know that you intended to make Misty and Brandon believe that I was the one who drugged and fucked your new wife. And I also know you seem to be missing a phone as of the last forty-eight hours, but you have my backup. Should I even get into your antics with C2W or EWA?

Drake glares at JMC as Lindsay now gets a bigger picture of what was going on. Meanwhile, JMC is still pacing back and forth.

JMC: You seem to be convinced that you are untouchable at this point...that because you can manipulate your contracts around, you're immune from Karma. Let me tell you something, little man...I ever catch you around any of my family again....

Nikki laughed as she could practically finish his thought.

NIKKI: He'll be ending back up in the hospital, but it'll be legit this time.. and you'll end up in another type of hospital.. but I'm not too sure it'll be a mental one. (She glanced back at James a moment.) Should I let him go now, or prolong his torture? Do you think he's caught the hint?

JMC: Not just yet.

JMC gets into Drake's face and sneers, spitting in his eye. As Drake wipes the spit, JMC's eyes go jet black in front of him, and Drake knows what this means.

JMC: WE are not finished with you in the slightest...we've heard your plans...bring whoever you got on...but in the end...you'll be victimized by the Chaos in the Shadows.

JMC walks away, but turns back to Drake.

JMC: Say hi to your mom for me. (to Nikki) When our daughter is ready, I need to talk to her.

JMC leaves the room, which brings it back to Nikki, Lindsay, and Drake.

DRAKE: Mark my words, Nicole...you and that bipolar freak of a husband of yours are going to regret crossing me like this...

NIKKI: We've already regretted meeting you.. what's one more thing? It'll just add to the many.. (She glances down at his length then back up at his face, smirking.) ..disappointments about you.

She looks at Lindsay, who's been silent through the whole thing.

NIKKI: Get yourself together and go meet with your father. I'm fairly certain he won't be happy with you.. and that's the least of your worries at the moment.

Lindsay does as she's told and starts walking to the car. As she gets outside, she spots her father, in an extreme rarity, having a cigarette.

JMC: I had to bum this off of a passerby, I've been that stressed out...

He turns to Lindsay with a frown on his face.

LINDSAY: Daddy, I'm sorry... I had to. He said so.. he said it was in my contract. If I didn't, I'd be fired. What was I to do? How in the world did you find out about this, anyway?

JMC: You want the long story or the condensed version? After your mom got me out of the Bowen Center, I called Charity to warn her about Drake, but I was too late for that. She told me he'd been expecting a meeting with you.

James sighs as he looks down.

JMC: The crazy thing is, with everything I have seen in the last two weeks, I think he was actually telling the truth. It almost looks like you went in there with the intent to seduce him. And Nikki's told me that as of late you've been acting very weird...almost like how I used to be when it came to romance and sex. So I want the truth, Linz...was Drake your first time? Or was there someone else?

Lindsay's eyes start tearing up, making JMC realize what she's been hiding.

JMC: Whose ass do I have to beat for raping my little girl?

LINDSAY: I don't know him, Dad. He said his name was Ronin.. Ronin Erricks. I'd met him once before then, when I ran into Sage and Twain at the Brewhouse. He tried picking me up, but they stopped him. I guess he doesn't like the word no.

Without even offering an explanation, JMC puts out the cigarette and storms back into the office. He passes Nikki, who looks confused, as he goes into Drake's office. Drake, who has just now recovered from the strain on his neck, turns and gets grabbed. After being pulled back from his desk, JMC executes a Cornett Effect on him, leaving him in the middle of the office broken. He steps back outside and, in front of Nikki and Lindsay, calls a number on his phone.

JMC: I want a match. I don't care when, I don't care how, but I want Drake Askari in a Three Stages of FinalHazard Match. Soonest you can book that is April 11th? Do it. I'll explain why later, but Drake just became my personal "Where's Waldo?".

NIKKI: I'm guessing Drake's hand is further into the cookie jar than we thought? What's up?

LINDSAY: I just told Dad I was raped.. I think it was Drake's fault. He seemed to get really mad when I told him the guy's name.

JMC: That guy doesn't exist.

Nikki and Lindsay look shocked at this.

JMC: Ronin Erricks is an alternate alias for one Draconis Levethix Askari, usually undertaken when he does investigative works.

He points into the office, but rather than speak any more, he slams his gloved fist down on the concrete in anger. The impact actually causes the sidewalk to crack.

NIKKI: So it wasn't Drake's fault.. it was Drake, period. (Looks at Lindsay) How long ago was it? Have you cycled since then?

Lindsay can say nothing, her throat blocked by a large lump of emotion. All she can manage is to shake her head no, something that makes her crack completely.

NIKKI: Dear gods..

JMC: Drake Askari... (in a demonic voice) is a DEAD MAN!

JMC gets ready to rush the building again, but Lindsay manages to touch his shoulder. He wants to go back in and storm the castle, but so long as he's being held, he can't. All he can do is fall to the ground in tears. The one person he thought he could trust...

JMC: I....I can't even...why us? Why did that microcock do this to us?

Nikki isn't sure who to tend to first at this point. Her husband or her daughter. Both need her for different reasons, pulling her in two differen directions. Sitting by James on the sidewalk, she reaches up to Lindsay, inviting her to sit with them.

NIKKI: He saw power and money along with a way to take it. His business has been tanking for the last few years, so he needs a rescue plan for his reputation. What better way to get it than take over a company attached to two incredibly powerful and wealthy families?

JMC: If that was the case, why not just overtake Cornett Enterprises? It'd have been a more logical route than what he's done...I just... (puts his arm around Lindsay) my little girl, of all the people...he's trying to break us all.

NIKKI: He won't. When have we ever let someone break us? We simply need to sway things back in our favor. Once Charity gets her head on straight and we make a few phone calls, I'm sure things will start going back to normal. (Grins) Well.. as normal as they ever were, anyhow. (She looks to Lindsay) If you need any advice at all about or during your pregnancy, let me know, okay? I'll be more than happy to help.

JMC: That's right. And as far as after the baby's born, you don't even have to worry about it. Anything you could ever need, we can get. (hugs her) The important thing now is to make sure that you and the baby are taken care of. (smiles wide) Wait...I'm gonna be a grandpa!

James starts doing the Charleston in the middle of the sidewalk with everyone staring.

NIKKI: (Laughing) Sit down before you hurt yourself. The last thing we need is a trip to the ER because you popped your hip out of joint, Grandpa. (Shaking her head, she looks back to Linds.) Have you told Des and Eugene yet? Furthermore, does Drake know?

LINDSAY: No, I haven't told either of them yet, and the LAST person I want to know right now is that overgrown psycho in there...from the sounds of it he's already got a few things he's planning on anyway.

JMC: Well this settles it...if Drake was my enemy before, he's going to wish he had the Fifty-Five-Year-Before Pill...

NIKKI: The boy plans in advance.. always has, always will. One of the downsides to working with him. When you think you have shit figured out, he's a week or more ahead of you. (Gives a slight laugh at James) We can always skip the pill and go straight for a Lorena moment. It'd solve any other 'small' problems he might have in the future.

JMC: No, the Fifty-Five-Years-Before Pill is a small piece of metal...inside a larger piece of metal...with a trigger...and I'd aim it at his second belly button!

NIKKI: (Shrugs, nodding) That solves things, too.. permanent-like. Then all of our problems would stop. Charity wouldn't need to worry about the pre- nup, Linds wouldn't have to worry about him trying to claim full parental rights, you'd have your job back, no more clauses in the women's contracts.. (Pauses, thinking) Yeah, I say we go with your idea. Much better than what I had.

James looks at Nikki with a look of 'think again'.

JMC: We're talking about a man that is rumored to have been linked to a rape back when we were in C2W. I'm pretty sure Drake's got some sort of insurance or security measure to make sure someone--

Something Nikki said now triggers JMC's memory.

JMC: Wait a minute...Lindsay, think back...did your drink taste a little funny that night?

LINDSAY: (Nods) Yeah, now that you mention it. I thought they just changed the ingredients they used.. why? What're you thinking?

NIKKI: Charity, the poor girl, is now married to Drake, no thanks to a tainted drink he gave her. If I'm reading your father's mind right, he's thinking the same happened to you.

JMC: And he can be more easily busted here. The type of drugs used for that are specific, and even Drake doesn't have the power to get prescriptions from doctors. I just might know the source behind this.... (looks at his watch) Oh shit! Baby, you're supposed to be doing your promo in about five minutes! You want us to wait for you, or you think you can wing it from here?

NIKKI: (Shakes her head, waving them off) Go ahead. (Stands up) I've got it handled. Most of the moments this family's had have been made by winging it, so I think I know the drill by now. (Grins) Just get our girl home so she can rest.

JMC: You got it. We won't say anything until you get home, but I think a family meeting is SERIOUSLY needed tonight...

JMC takes Lindsay's hand and smiles with her as he helps her into the car. He then grabs a bag and hands it to Nikki. The two lovers kiss for a few seconds and part ways, JMC to the car, and Nikki carrying what is now obviously a video camera bag.

Heading back into the building, she started searching for the locker rooms meant for the women. As she took note of the labels on the doors, she passed a blonde she decided to stop for a clue.

NIKKI: 'Scuse me.. could you point me in the direction of -- wait.. don't I know you?

The woman turns around, showing her face. Jenna smirks, being the bitch she usually is.

JENNA: Of course you do.. don't be an idiot. It's me, Nikki.. Jenna. Jenna Knix-Donimari?

NIKKI: Oh, damn! Of course! How the hell are you? It's been, what, three years at least?

JENNA: Yeah, about that. Look, did you stop me for a reason, or what? I got shit to do.

NIKKI: Yeah, I wanted to see if you knew where the women's locker rooms were.

JENNA: Down the hall, around the corner, third door on your right. (Pauses) Since you're here, can I get an interview?

NIKKI: (Lifts the bag) I don't see why not. I have a camera right here. If you have someone to hold it, you can have all the interview time you want.

JENNA: Awesome. (Looks down the hall) ANTONIO! Get over here and hold this camera for me! (Mutters) Make yourself useful for once.

Antonio does as he was commanded, holding the camera to film the interview once the women were settled inside the women's locker room. Jenna primps herself to go live while Nikki simply smooths her shirt and sits waiting on Jenna. Once she's ready, the camera is turned on.

JENNA: Hello, TEW fans! This is Jenna Knix-Donimari, and this is another exclusive interview - this time, with the wife to.. well.. I suppose you'd call him the former Executive Representative, James Cornett - Nikki Starr-Cornett. (She turns to Nikki) Now Nikki, I won't get into the 'what do you think of TEW' and 'what are your goals' crap. That's just boring. My first question is.. what do you have to say about Adam Peirce's implications?

NIKKI: Implications? What sort of implications?

JENNA: You mean you haven't seen them yet?

NIKKI: Jenna.. I've been dealing with a lot of crap lately. I had to get my husband out of the psych ward, I had to redo all of my credit cards and cell phones, I had to deal with Drake's psycho ass, and I'm busy protecting my family from Drake and whomever he plans to integrate into his little schemes. So no, I haven't seen anything yet.

JENNA: (Brings two videos out of her canvas bag) You reeeeally need to see these. The first isn't bad... but the second? Well.. I'll let you see for yourself.

She pops the video into the small tv/vcr combo sitting on a small table nearby and presses play. Nikki watches intently and her eyes narrow as her facial expression becomes grim. When the video ends, she barely moves.

JENNA: See what I was talking about?

NIKKI: Shut the hell up.

Shocked into silence, Jenna sits there as Nikki turns back to the camera, clearly angered by what she just heard.

NIKKI: You know something, Adam? I had absolutely no problems with you when I first heard we had a match against each other. In fact, I respected you for being a serviceman. It takes guts to go somewhere completely foriegn and kill people you don't even know. Thing is, what you've said about me and my family.. that ended the respect right fuckin there. You know nothing of me, my family, or what I've done in the past, yet you call me selfish? How the hell is that fair? How do you fling insults at me when you don't know me from the next chick who walks through these halls?

Yes.. I care for my family. Every person connected to me is my family.. my husband, my children, my brother, and my sister. Even my good friends can be considered family. I will do anything and everything within my power to keep them safe and happy. How is that being selfish? Wouldn't you do anything in the world for Seth? If you answered yes to that question - and I know you did - then you're selfish as well.

When you were overseas in the war.. did you not kill others? Regardless of what they had or hadn't done, if you were ordered to kill them, you did so without question. They weren't connected to you at all.. yet I'm sure they had families that depended on them. They had lives to lead. They had a purpose. Yet you went over there at the behest of your country and you killed every single one of them. You will claim you did this to protect your country.. your fellow soldiers.. your family.. but how does that make what I do any different? By your own admission, you are selfish.

I'm quite aware my family's feeling pain.. but it isn't due to our past. It's due solely to the pompous, power hungry, peverted pedophile sitting in what should be James' office - Drake Levethix Askari. He has served the Cornetts well for years, and now he goes and does all this shit. Trust me.. he WILL be dealt with.. but in time. If we have nothing else, we have time.. and that's all we need. We Cornetts are a family that bonds together in tough times, and if this isn't tough, I don't know what the hell is. If you think for one minute that anything that happens in TEW is the Cornetts' faults.. then you'd better think again. You can blame us all you like, but the man who deserves the blame is sitting in a padded chair on the tenth floor of TEW Headquarters. (Pauses) Okay, I take that back. He was. Right now, he's probably waking up with a splitting headache due to my husband.

Fate deals the cards she likes. I have no say in it. If it's all on me, fine.. I'll take what she has to give, knowing I've earned it somehow. What she does to you and everyone else.. that's not my problem nor my responsibility. It's yours. You decide your own fate, not me. Blaming someone else for your backlash is just plain irresponsible and pathetic. If what Drake does blankets the company, then that's his deal, not mine. We Cornetts are doing what we can to stop it. Here's a novel idea - take up some of the slack and help instead of complaining about the situation.

Aside from this, what makes you think I can't win this tournament if I want to? I've won considerably more belts than you have. I've probably faced bigger and tougher opponents. True, I haven't gone to war or anything of the sort, but I've been in more companies than you have bedrooms. Trust me.. if I want to win, I will. Bad news for you.. I want to win this. I will win this. Not for myself or my family.. hell, not even for the company.. but just to prove I can and to piss Drake off. Now why would I want to piss him off if I'm the pawn you say I am? Easy. I'm not working for him in any sense. I signed a contract with Charity.. not Drake. I made damn sure my contract said what I wanted it to say, bar nothing. Even that stupid as hell "women must service Drake" clause isn't in it. I should know.. I had it double and triple checked.

This isn't personal to me. It probably never will be unless you drag my family into it. All you did was piss me off, and that's nothing major. I'll get over it eventually.. as soon as I see you laying in the middle of the ring while my hand is raised in victory as I stand over you. I highly doubt TEW is your home.. otherwise A - you would be staying here, bedding down on the floor night after night.. and B - you would not have held the AWC title as your first and only belt if you considered this your home. By any and all rights, the AWC would be your home, not TEW.

I'll be more than prepared for this, Adam. Bank on it. I will beat you to a bloody pulp if I have to.. but that's the fun part. I like a good fight. I can't stand those that won't fight back. If I get one like that, I feel like I haven't done my best. Come on, Adam. Make me earn my money for the night. Make me feel better than I have in years by getting my blood pumping. Make me want to kill you where you stand. You've already pissed me off, so your job is halfway done. Go all the way.. make me see that I haven't put my name on a contract for nothing. Do that, and you will earn my respect back.. and not a moment before.

With that, she turns and walks towards the door, which is when Jenna finds her voice again.

JENNA: Nikki.. where.. where are you going?

NIKKI: (Mutters) To find a soda and an Asprin. This boy's given me a headache.

The slamming of a door behind her punctuates her sentence as Jenna looks back at the camera.

JENNA: You heard it here first, folks. Nikki Starr-Cornett's going into this tournament with a thirst for blood and violence.. and it all seems to be Drake Askari's fault, with a little help from Adam Peirce. Which man gets the brunt of her anger, we'll see for sure.. right here next weekend on Critical Mayhem.

Fade scene to black

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A Growing Family.. and List of Enemies