Twelve O'Clock High
"So, Mister Matthew Moore Hardy, are you gonna explain to me, Mister Jeffrey Nero Baker-Hardy, why your life is over?"
Matt didn't want to talk to them at the arena, didn't feeling like eating, and the thoughts of going out just made him nauseous. Jeff finally grabbed his brother by the ear, threw him into his rental car and drove him to an out of the way field where he parked, turned off the car, and folded his arms.
"Because we are not goin' anywhere until you tell me what's goin' on? Tonight was supposed to be a celebration, not this!" Jeff responded "Usually if Imma parking in a quiet spot, it so I can make out with Tom, not hafta deal with family problems."
His harsh words weren't helping ease Matt's reluctance to talk.
"C'mon, Matty... we don't keep stuff from each other very often. Fuck, you even broke down to me about Vince..." Jeff's eyes took on a faraway look. "Somethin' happened with Vince, didn't it?"
Matt sniffled, wiping inadvertent tears from his eyes. The more he told himself not to break down, the closer he came to it.
"Matty..." Jeff whispered "Please?"
"Vince won't let me go." Matt said between several tight breaths. "He told me that Imma be his again."
"Doesn't he know that you're with Randy?" Jeff patted Matt's neck for reassurance.
"This is Vince McMahon we're talking about! He doesn't care who he has to trample on. If he wants something, he gets it!" Matt shouted
"And unfortunately, that something happens to be my big brother." Jeff sighed
"No matter what I do, I'm fucked." Matt leaned back in the chair and allowed the tears to fall freely.
"No, Matty, you're not!" Jeff took his brother by the shoulders and stared into his eyes. "You just can't do this by yourself. Imma help, and I'm sure Randy and Tom will do the same."
"I can't involve you in this." Matt answered "I'll handle this myself."
"Matt, you tried that once, remember bro?" Jeff was resolute. "Does Randy know that you had a thing with McMahon before you dated him?"
"Mm-hmm." Matt sniffed
"Brilliant. Then there will be no surprises when we tell him what Vince said." Jeff started the car up.
"Call him." Jeff ordered
"Who? Randy?" Matt asked
"Duh! Tell him to meet us at our hotel." Jeff said, batting Matt across the forehead.
Less than an hour later, Jeff pulled into the parking lot of their hotel.
"I wonder if Randy's here yet?"
"I know someone who is." Matt gulped. A familiar limo was parked in the VIP area.
"Vince ain't gonna do anything here. Fuck it all if Linda hears about this." Jeff seemed calm and ready for action.
Like it was any other night, Matt and Jeff returned to Jeff's suite. Tom was waiting, as was Randy.
"We were starting to wonder about ya."
"Matt, you have nothing to worry about. I am not gonna let Vince get away with this even if I have to kick his head clear across the continent!" Randy answered
"Randy, I'm sorry I had to drag you into this." Matt looked on the verge of crying again.
"Babe, we're together now. I'm here for you no matter what." Randy quickly gathered Matt into his arms. This was a side of the Legend Killer very few people saw. "Just say the word, and I'll take care of Vinnie for you." Momentarily forgetting that they weren't alone in the room, Randy passionately kissed Matt.
"Ahem!" Tom cleared his throat.
Matt and Randy broke the kiss, a hint of redness coming to their cheeks.
"Sorry, bro." Matt wiped his eyes dry.
"You don't have to apologize for anything Matt. Just remember that we're not all like Jeff. Some of us don't need to see everybody else make out... anybody want a drink while we plot deviousness?" Tom gestured to an open 24 of beer.
"Mmm... beer!" Jeff moaned
"That's one yes. You two?"
"Sure... I can't drink too much. I gotta drive tonight." Randy accepted the alcohol from Tom.
"I think Matt's got a double bed in his room." Jeff blurted out.
"Jeffro, are you tryin' to get Matty and Randy to partake in activities of a sexual nature? Tsk-tsk!" Tom laughed
"Yeah, Jeffers. Not that it's any of your business, but Randy and I are taking things really slow." Matt replied "The only time Randy and I have done it is when I think of him while I jerk off."
"Ditto."
Matt and Randy looked at each other and smiled. "You think of me while you play with yourself... that's so sweet!" Matt cooed
"Uhh, guys, could we get back to the matter at hand?" Tom's face was getting hot. "Hearing about your sex lives, or lack of them, is doing nothing to help Matt right now."
"It's helping me." Jeff mumbled "Imma gettin' horny."
"Jeff, you're always horny." Matt retorted "Tom, I don't know how you manage to keep him happy."
"That's it... no more sex talk!" Tom stated "Any suggestions for dealing with Vince?"
"I said I'd kick him in the head." Randy repeated his earlier offer.
"We know. I was kinda hoping we could come up with something that wouldn't land any of us in jail." Tom answered
"Obviously Vince doesn't care about blackmail." Matt added
"Yeah... we could send the pictures to Linda, but ten bucks says she already knows." Jeff said
"That's where it gets tricky." Tom chewed on the neck of his bottle. "There isn't a lot we can do, threat-wise, to get our esteemed Chairman to leave Matt alone."
"Steal his ATM card?" Jeff suggested "Fill his car with Skittles?"
"Make a video of him gettin' busy with Bunny?"
"Hey! Bunny isn't like that!" Jeff protested "Unlike Lizard..."
"Watch it, Jeffers. Them's fighting words!" Tom pointed his bottle at Jeff.
"This is getting us nowhere." Randy interjected "Wait, I got it!" Randy's eyes lit up.
"Spill."
"The answer was right in front of us all along. What's the one thing Vince is more concerned about than anything...?
"Money..."
"Money..."
"Yeah, yeah..."
"Other than money?" Randy asked
The other three thought. "More money?" Jeff tentatively guessed.
"His image." Randy answered "How would it look if a powerful, married, CEO was caught in an illicit affair with one of his MALE employees? Stock prices would plummet."
"True, but how do we pull that off?" Tom asked
"Just come with me to Raw and you'll find out." Randy replied
"I meant how do we make it seem less like a shoot?" Tom repeated "You can call him out on TV all you want, but in order for this to work, it's gotta seem believable."
"Don't worry, Tom. I've got it under control."
"I hope so." Tom slunk down in his chair. "'Coz we've got way too much on the line for it not to."
Matt arrived at Raw well ahead of anyone else, and alone which was the part of Randy's plan that he really hated. Well, that and the fact that he was supposed to proposition Vince, now that was just plain disgusting. But he trusted Randy; hopefully the Killer would live up to his reputation.
He knew that Vince would take the largest office available for his personal space. Mr. McMahon was so predictable that way.
"Mr. McMahon?" He opened the door. The chairman was at his desk, working on the final touches for the show.
"Matt... come in, close the door." Vince's attitude changed. He seemed genuinely happy to see him.
"Hi, Mr. McMahon." Matt answered
"Did you think about what I said earlier?" The pleasantries lasted ten seconds before the Mr. McMahon that Matt was used to seeing returned.
"Yeah. I don't get how someone who's been married for as long as you have can want to throw it all away over someone like me." Matt said
"Matt, I think you're misreading the situation.. I'm quite happy with my marriage, but that doesn't mean I have to spend all my time at home." Vince answered
"But why me?" Matt swallowed "I mean, there are tons of divas who'd put out for you."
"Have your forgotten?" Vince smiled. It was a rather evil smile, but a smile all the same. "You were the one who came to me asking for a push. If you hadn't broken your hand at Backlash, you'd be Heavyweight Champion right now instead of a broken-down has been."
"But..." Matt was thankful that Randy had suggested the pocket tape recorder.
"Our agreement was that I'd give you a push and I did. A Wrestlemania victory is not something I give out to just anyone, especially a mid-carder like you. In exchange, you would provide certain services to me." Vince replied
"You never said I'd have to have sex with you." Matt shouted "I thought it was strictly business."
"Well, you should've thought again." Vince barked "I own you, Matt Hardy, and there is nothing you can do about it! Unless you want to have your first match back against the Undertaker, I would suggest you get over here and live up to your end of our arrangement."
Vince pushed his chair back. In a heartbeat, Matt knew what Vince was asking.
"This is sexual harassment..."
"Damn straight it is. Now get over here and start sucking like the good little southern boy you are!" Vince started unbuckling his belt.
"...and I won't do it!" Matt rose, determination covering his overly-tanned face.
"What did you say?" After all his years of running this fortune 500 company, Matt thought that someone saying no might've happened before.
"I said no, Vince. I may be southern, but down there no still means no." Matt replied
"Don't cross me, boy." Vince shouted "You know what happens to people who get in my way."
"It ain't gonna happen this time." Matt shouted "I am not gonna become another victim of your corruption. I may be gay, but I am not a whore!"
"Yes you are. And you always will be my little whore. Nothing can change that." Vince smiled smugly. "If you won't come to me, then I guess I'll just have to be a little more persuasive."
Matt was completely taken by surprise at Vince's agility. One second he was seated behind his desk, then next he had Matt's face in his and was pressing their lips together forcefully.
"Mr. McMahon... Vince... no!" Matt struggled against the iron grip of the chairman.
When he realized that what he consider being gentle wasn't going to work, Vince resorted to slapping Matt hard across the face.
"Speak when spoken to. Now, on your knees before I fire your sorry behind."
"Please, Vince, don't do this to me." Matt pleaded, tears rolling down his face. Where the hell was Randy?
"You brought it on yourself." Vince dropped his dress pants and briefs. "Now open wide."
Matt closed his eyes and prayed that this would end soon.
Where was Randy? Running behind, and at the worst possible time.
"Any luck?" Randy phoned Jeff.
"Nadda." Jeff replied "I hope we're not too late."
Stuck in a traffic jam, Randy was starting to panic. With every passing minute, his feelings of helplessness doubled.
"Hang in there, Matt. We're comin' as fast as we can."
Matt was losing his resolve. He could only take so much physical abuse before he broke. Vince was a master at abuse. He knew just how much to inflict and where to bend even the most strong-willed man to him. He was almost at the point where opening his mouth to Vince would be worth it.
"I always get what I want. Whether by coercion or sheer brute force, everyone bends to the will of Vincent Kennedy McMahon."
A bang on McMahon's office door interrupted them.
"Go away! I'm busy!" Vince shouted
"Mr. McMahon, we have a bit of a problem here." Jim Ross was standing outside the door.
"Deal with it yourself. You're in charge of talent relations." Vince turned back to Matt. "Are you gonna cooperate now or do I..."
The door suddenly exploded. JR had rammed it.
"What the hell is going on?" He demanded. Although no explanation should be needed. Seeing the Chairman with his pants and underwear around his ankles standing over Matt, crying and bleeding, the situation should become clear.
"I said deal with it yourself." Vince repeated
"I don't know what the hell you're tryin' to prove, but just step away."
"Matt is mine. Nothing will change that. Unless you want to be fired again, get the hell out of my office."
"There are a few people who would disagree." JR replied, stepping aside to allow Vince's wife to confront her husband.
"I never woulda believed it if I hadn't seen it myself." Linda crossed her arms and stared at her husband. "I guess this time you were really caught with your pants down."
"Linda, I can explain. Matt's been after me for years..."
"Is this true?" Linda looked down at Matt.
"No, ma'am." Matt dried his eyes. "I would never..."
"Jim, would you take Matt for a cup of coffee? Vince and I need to have a serious discussion."
Vince swallowed.
"How do you take your coffee?" Jim Ross asked
"Whatever."
Jim poured two cups and handed one to the distraught wrestler.
"How did you..."
"Jeff called me. Matt, why didn't you come see me sooner? If I'd known this was going on, I might not have been able to stop it, but I coulda done something."
Matt sniffled.
"Vince may run the company, but that doesn't give him the right to use his position of power like that." Jim empathised "However, I don't think we can handle this internally. We might need to involve the authorities."
Matt gulped. "D-D-do we hafta?"
"This might not be an isolated incident. If we deal with this as a company, two things: one, it's your word against Vince... a wrestler versus the boss and secondly, what's to stop him from doing this again and again and again? For your sake, as well as everyone else in this organization, we have to excise this cancer at the root."
Matt closed his eyes, a little ashamed to have JR see him this way.
"Do have someplace you can go until this gets worked out? Family?"
"Just Jeff and Tom." Matt answered
"Hmm." JR's thought was interrupted by his door being knocked upon. It was Linda McMahon.
"Well, that was a pointless conversation." She said "How are you doin' Matt?"
"Shitty." Matt responded
"I was just telling Matt that I don't think we can deal with this as a company." Jim said
"I hope you understand that I am in an awkward position here. As CEO of this company, I have to do what's best for the promotion, but as Vince's wife, I have my other loyalties..."
"What do you suggest we do?" Jim Ross asked
"I would like to set up a meeting with the entire Hardy family. Whatever we do, it is gonna affect all of them." Linda answered "As soon as possible, Jim."
"Right away, Linda." JR promised "Matt, I swear to you that you're gonna be alright."
"I don't think I can take much more shit like that." Matt broke down again. He'd always been so good at controlling his emotions, yet he was crying more now than he had during childhood.
"I understand. I'm gonna ask you a serious question. Don't answer right away. I want you to think it over. Okay?"
"Yes, sir."
"Would you like your release?"
"Matt Hardy doesn't quit!" Matt shouted
"It's not quitting. Even if Vince is nailed for this, the WWE is probably not a good place for you. I can give you an out and we'll waive the no-complete clause, so if you want to go somewhere else you can." Jim answered "I hate to lose you, but there aren't many good choices right now."
"I dunno what to say." Matt replied
"I told you to think it over." Jim restated "As for tomorrow's Smackdown taping, Vince will be there. If you're not comfortable, we can work out a forfeit."
"Sorry to interrupt, but there's a couple of guys looking for Matt."
"Who?" JR asked
"Orton and Jeff Hardy."
"We're done here." Jim answered "Talk it over, but let me know your decision as soon as you can."
"Thank-you."
In the corridor, Jeff and Randy paced, anger clearly evident in their looks.
"Are you okay, big bro?" Jeff hugged Matt
"Where the hell were you?" Matt demanded
"How the fuck were we supposed to know that traffic would be dead 'coz of an accident?" Jeff shouted
"Matt, it's not our fault." Randy also embraced Matt. "I am so fuckin' sorry." He whispered
"C'mon, I'm not needed for a while. Let's go get something to eat." Randy had no idea how he was going to be able to perform that night. Maybe food was the answer.
"Where's Tommy?" Matt asked. Conspicuous by his absence was the eldest Hardy brother.
"I dunno. He said he had something to take care of." Randy shrugged "Let's find a restaurant."
Tom paced the parking lot, seething. He'd hated Randy's plan to begin with. The last to arrive at the arena, he'd also been one of the first to hear what had happened, thanks to some good timing as in passing McMahon's office just as Vince's wife was giving him the business.
"Just what the hell were you thinking, Vince? Forcing Matt to have sex with you! ..."
Tom turned and ran out the same door he'd come in. His stomach churned, the blood was pounding in his veins, and his whole body shook. "You fucked with the wrong group of guys."
He sat down in his car and lit a cigarette, hoping the combination of tobacco and other toxins would steady his mind and his nerves.
"Matt, I swear that if Vince hurt you, I'm gonna make him pay." Tom gasped, taking a long puff of the cancer stick. It took three cigarettes before Tom was even calmed down enough to walk back into the arena just as Randy, Jeff, and Matt were walking back out.
"What took you so long?" Jeff asked "Imma gettin' worried."
Tom glared at Jeff, then Randy, and finally at Matt. "I didn't like that idea to begin with." He took several deep calming breaths.
"I know, Future." Randy replied "If it'll make you feel any better, you can say I told you so."
"I dont think I told you so is gonna make me feel any better."
"Do you wanna hit me?" Randy offered
"Yeah I do, but I'm not gonna." Tom answered "I'm gonna try to relax."
"We're goin' ta eat... you wanna tag along?"
"Thanks, but my stomach is doin' cartwheels right now." Tom answered "I think I'm goin to find a nice quiet room somewhere and take a rest."
"Just be careful. McMahon's on the prowl." Matt warned him.
"Vince tries anything and I will not be held responsible for what happens." Tom retorted
"Okay... love ya." Jeff kissed Tom on the cheek.
"You too, my Rainbow-Haired lover." Tom pecked Jeff back. "Don't worry about me."
Vince was fuming. Linda had finally given him the ultimatum to end all ultimatums. He wasn't concerned about divorcing her. He insisted on a prenup which gave her less than one percent of his billions. But when she threatened to take public his private affairs, that was the last straw. No one threatened Vince McMahon's business ventures and got away with it. Vince added her name to Matt Hardy's on the list of people he would deal with severely.
"Hey, you..." Vince yelled at the first person he saw. It was Tom, still looking for a nice quiet place to relax.
"What the hell do you want?" Tom retorted
"I just wanted to let you know that if I can't have Matt, then I am gonna take it out on his entire family... starting with you and Jeff."
"I know where you are going with this McMahon, but I don't wrestle any more." Tom answered
"We'll see about that. I have ten minutes of air time on tonight's show open and no opponent for Big Show. I think he could use a tune-up before his title match on Smackdown, don't you think?" Vince sneered
"Just try it and I will make good on my threat to tear this company apart." Tom answered. For all his blustering, Vince really wasn't that brave.
"I'm warning you... don't cross the boss." Vince turned and walked away.
"And I'm warning you... don't fuck with a Hardy!" Tom also walked away.
At Tom's words, Vince stopped, his eyes narrowing. "That's exactly what I intend to do."
Vince strode into the legal affairs office. "Did you find anything?"
"Yes, Mr. McMahon. There was one left."
"Finally... someone does something right." Vince clutched the piece of paper tightly.
"Welcome to Monday Night Raw... Michael Cole alongside Jerry "The King" Lawler and we bring you another night of WWE action. And it looks like we're starting off with our Chairman."
The locker room was buzzing. Vince was always secretive about WWE business, but when he ignored the run sheet, it must've been big.
"Maybe Vince has finally come to his senses and is quitting." Orton whispered
"I wish." Matt replied. After dinner with Jeff and Randy (which hadn't made him feel any better), Matt just wanted to curl up in bed, but Orton convinced him to watch the show.
"I come to you tonight with a matter of grave importance. I would normally not waste RAW airtime with a matter than concerns another brand, but tonight is an exception. I have been in meetings with our legal department, and it has come to my attention that there is an irregularity with one of the ECW superstars. To which, I would request the presence of our esteemed ECW General Manager in the ring at this time..."
"Irregularity, my ass!" Tom spat. The legal department had briefed Tom as soon as he'd made the request, and he'd spent every possible minute on the phone with Paul Heyman, going over matches, contracts, stipulations, everything. They'd found nothing.
"Want me to come with?" Jeff offered
"Nah, Vince isn't stupid enough to try anything." Tom replied
Seeing the ECW General Manager was a thrill for some, and they cheered accordingly.
"So Vince, what did you want to talk to me about?" Tom asked from the stage.
"In the ring, please." Vince said, exaggerating his politeness.
Tom strolled to the ring. On his way, his cell rang.
"A little late, Heyman." Tom said, checking the number then shutting it.
"Mr. Hardy, as I said, at my request, I had the legal department pull all the contracts with the ECW superstars, merely as a matter of routine. I like to stay in touch with all my brands, and I found something rather shocking. It appears that there is an open contract involving an ECW employee that was never fulfilled." Vince replied "Imagine my surprise that you would cheat our fans out of a match."
"What open contract, Vince?" Tom asked
"I have a copy of it right here." Vince handed the sheet to Tom for reading.
"There is no chance in hell that this contract will ever be enforceable." Tom responded
"There is and it will. Normally I would give you forty-eight hours to satisfy the terms of this, but there is no need."
Tom smirked. He felt like the Captain of the Titanic, watching everything he'd worked for sink beneath his feet.
"I have found an opponent and by the way, the terms of the match are quite clear... there will be no substitutions. It gives me great pleasure to announce that in our opening match, it will be your ECW General Manager Thomas Hardy versus his opponent making his way to the ring right now." Vince announced triumphantly.
Tom waited... how bad could it get, right?
"Well, it's the Big Show..."
TBC
For those of you keeping score, it is Vince 1, Hardy family 0.