As you can see this is not a real chapter, that's why it's pretty much as short as the prologue. The real Chapter1 will be the next one. I hope you'll like this anyway.
General Information about Sasha Belov: Sasha is 28 years old. He competed in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, winning 4 gold medals for Romania. At the time he was 17 years old. It was his first and last Olympic cycle. He stopped competing after that because of a grave knee injury. In 2004 he coached the Romanian National Team, bringing home the gold medal team. He kept coaching until the end of 2005.
Sheila Baboyan is not Kelly's mother, she was her agent. Coach McIntire was the Rock's coach from 2006 to 2008, until he's called to train the Male Olympic Team in Colorado Springs.
Characters featured in this chapter in order of appearance: Coach Marty Walsh(played by Erik Palladino), Sheila Baboyan(played by Kathy Najimy), Steve Tanner(played by Anthony Starke) and Sasha Belov(played by Neil Jackson).
Characters mentioned in this chapter: Coach McIntire(played by Dondre Whitfield), Kelly Parker, Payson Keeler, Morgan Webster(played by Tiya Sircar), Emily Kmetko and Alex Cruz(played by Jason Manuel Olazabal).
Interlude
NEGOTIATIONS AND BLACKMAIL
8 June 2011 - Wednesday Night
"Sins like skeletons are so very hard to hide"
(Reclusion by Anberlin)
Marty Walsh was working late, like he had been doing all week. This close to Nationals there was so much work to do that sometimes he wondered how he was able to coach five elite gymnasts, least of all have time for anything else. No matter how good his staff was, there were things that he, as the Head Coach of the Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Training Center, had to deal with himself.
And thinking that until recently, The Rock – as they familiarly called it – didn't even exist.
He had accepted the position of Coach after McIntire – the Rock's previous Coach – had left to train the Male Olympic Team in 2008. At the time the Rock had been opened for less than two years and the only real visibility it had gained was more due to McIntire's presence in the gym that because of the athletes who trained there.
He knew from the beginning, of course, that he was taking a big risk, but something instinctively told him that he was making the right choice. And since then, he didn't regret it once.
The idea to build a new gym from scratch – so close to Denver Elite moreover – came from five different families of five junior elite gymnasts – each one coming from a different gym – who had just recently attracted the attention of the Gymnastic World because of their amazing performance in the Junior National Championship of 2005. They had been only eleven at the time.
These five girls had become friends during a gymnastic camp in the summer of the next year and had been unwilling to part with each other once summer was over. And since their parents were aware of what a remarkable opportunity it was and, at the same time, reluctant to deny their daughters anything they asked, they granted their wishes.
In less than three years since its opening, it attracted gymnasts from all over the Country even if the gym jewels remained the five 'Rock Rebels' themselves.
In the following years those same girls became the five best gymnasts in the Country, with Kelly Parker – the leader of their little group – crowned as the new National Champion at her first senior Nationals.
But the Rock was more than a gym, it was a family, a family he was proud to be part of.
And then everything changed: Kelly disappeared in mysterious circumstances one night, at the beginning of June 2010, and now, one year later, nobody had still any idea what really happened to her.
Not too long after Kelly's disappearance, Payson Keeler – silver medalist at Nationals of that same year – moved with her parents to England and, of the original group, only three were left but they weren't as close as they used to be either.
Something was forever broken that summer and the group of 'The Rock Rebels' was no more.
Despite all this though The Rock still remained the strongest gymnastic club in America and if he had anything to say about it, things were going to stay exactly the same for many years to come. No matter what had happened, there had never been a moment since he had come train at The Rock when he had ever regretted his decision.
His thoughts were interrupted by someone who was knocking at his office's door. Who was at this hour? Everyone should have already gone home by now. He was surprised to find himself facing Sheila Baboyan, agent of the still missing Kelly Parker and stepmother of Morgan Webster, a seventeen-year-old girl who joined the Rock Team about two months after Kelly's disappearance. Sheila had become Kelly's agent in 2005 and married Morgan's father in 2010, less than one year ago.
"Sheila, what can I do for you?" He asked her cheerfully.
"You know Marty…" Sheila said while going to sit in the chair right in front of his desk. "The Olympics are only one year away. Now is the time for Morgan to train to the best of her abilities so that, one year from now, she will bring home the gold. But to do so, she needs you, her coach, to give her the best attention possible.
"You see, I think Morgan has a brilliant future ahead of her and she needs you to be present for her every step of the way, and that's something you can't do right now, not with all the time you spend training the other four girls.
"While they weren't really a threat to Kelly before – because she was always the best – Morgan is not yet at the level Kelly was. For this very reason she needs you, her coach, to focus all your attention and time on her if she wants to become the number one."
"Sheila, you know as well as I do that I cannot pay attention only to Morgan. I train five elite gymnasts, not just one, and that's not going to change anytime soon. All of them need me to achieve their goals." Marty answered, not sure why they were having this conversation.
"And that's why I found a solution that will solved all of our problems." Sheila said with a strange smile.
"What do you mean?" He asked her, not liking one bit the direction this conversation was taking.
"I just got off the phone with the Denver club. As you may know, their head coach is about to retire therefore they are very interested in your coaching services. And of course you won't be going alone. You'll be taking Morgan with you." Sheila continued with that same sinister smile still on her face.
"And why should I suddenly leave the Rock to go train in Denver?" Marty humored her.
"Because otherwise I shall be forced to reveal your dirty little secret. Think what a scandal that would be!"
"I really don't know what you're talking about." Marty denied, trying to keep his tone neutral.
"Of course you do. If something like that should come out by any chance, your career would surely be ruined and you'd also probably end up in jail. And you don't want that to happen, do you?"
Marty's face drained of color when he realized what exactly Sheila was talking about.
"You seem surprised." Sheila faked confusion, a twisted smile on her face. "What do you think I was talking about? Maybe your affair with Kaylie's mom? Marty, Marty...this is the least of your sins. Though it would surely destroy Kaylie's family, poor thing!"
"Whatever you're implying, you don't have any proof." He tried to defend himself even if he already knew that it was futile. Sheila had won.
"Oh, don't I?" And with that she pulled out some pictures out of her jacket. Marty took them from her, hand trembling. He gulped, trying to hold back the bile that had risen in his throat. There it was, the damning evidence of his transgression. In vivid colors too.
"Why use it just now? If you had these pictures for all this time..." Marty asked, unable to stop himself.
"Why?" She asked back rhetorically "Because I had no reason to use it until now." She shrugged her shoulders like it was perfectly obvious. "So, we have a deal?"
Marty glared at her but he knew that he had no other choice but to do what she wanted. He knew that mistake would haunt him for the rest of his life, he just didn't expect the punishment to be delivered by Sheila Baboyan of all people. He couldn't help but try one more time to make her see reason though. "Would you really take away their coach? Those girls, they were Kelly's best friends. It's not fair for them to pay for my sins."
"You know as well as I do that this has nothing to do with Kelly, or Morgan for that matter. I couldn't care less about your misdeeds, I'm not here to judge you or condemn you. Everything I care about is the money I'm going to make if Morgan becomes the number one. Of course with Kelly I never needed to do any of this, she always won. That's who Kelly Parker was, a true champion. But she's not here anymore, so I have to settle for Morgan." Sheila said coldly.
With that said, she stood up, walking out of the office without a backwards glance.
Marty kept looking at the pictures, still not believing what had just happened. So much for not regretting his decision.
9 June 2011 - Thursday, Late Morning
"'Cause everybody wants to hide their secrets away
Nobody wants to stand up to the pain."
(Secrets by Good Charlotte)
Steve Tanner parked just outside the little stone cottage in the woods. The trees that surrounded it and the little lake just a few feet away gave the place a surreal air. What is Belov doing in a place like this? Steve thought, mentally shaking his head. He came close to the front door, knocking, and then, when he received no answer, tried calling his name but with no results.
For a moment he asked himself what he was doing here. He was supposed to be at the Rock, watching her daughter training, not here, in the middle of nowhere, trying to speak to a man who had been unreachable for the last five years. But then he remembered that he was doing it for Lauren and, even if he had lied to everyone, her daughter included, on where he was right now, he wasn't going to just turn around and leave without even talking to him.
He hadn't taken this decision lightly of course. He knew that the sole fact of being here was a betrayal to every single person at The Rock but like everything else he did, it was for his daughter, to see her succeed.
He decided to go check the backyard just in case. Maybe he was outside and hadn't heard him coming.
And here he was, in fact, the blonde British man he was looking for. Fishing? The rumors about him weren't exaggerated then, he wasn't just weird, he was more on the crazy side. After all, which sane man would choose to live like that, isolated from everything and everyone, instead of doing the job he loved and that he was overpaid for? Sasha Belov, apparently.
"Mr. Belov?" he called, when said man didn't even turn to look in his direction, all his attention focused on the fishing road in his hands. Steve mentally sighed, this was going to be more difficult that he was expecting. "Mr. Belov, Steve Tanner." He tried again. "Look, I'm sorry for just showing up like this but I've tried to contact you and…"
"The reason why I'm not returning your calls Mr. Tanner" Belov interrupted him, still not looking in his direction. "It's because I have no interest in your offer." He answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
No interest? Okay, the man was certifiable. He was offering him a top gym and one of the best gymnasts in the Country to coach and he was refusing like it was no big deal?
Well, he wasn't simply going to accept that answer. "Look, it's been five years since you dropped out." He tried to appeal to the man's ego then. "You're just fading into oblivion. For a man of your talent, it's got to be hard to watch."
"Not if you don't watch." His accent was suddenly thicker, clear indication that he was starting to get irritated. Still, Steve couldn't see his face so he just tried to push harder. He wasn't going to give up that easily. He was a successful lawyer after all. He hadn't won so many cases just by giving up. He wasn't going to leave until the man he wanted hired would accept his offer.
"You're expecting me to believe that the coach who reinvented this sport doesn't even watch it anymore?" He tried to flatter him then but still with no results. Damn, the man was stubborn.
"I don't know you Mr. Tanner so I don't expect you to believe anything." He finally turned in his direction, even if briefly. Steve decided to take this as a sign of improvement. "I assure you I have no interest in going back to coaching anytime soon. Truth is, I have no interest in gymnastics period. I haven't for many years." Now Steve just knew he was lying. A four times Olympic gold medalist didn't just, all of a sudden, stop loving the sport that made him a legend. It just wasn't possible.
He got close to him then and Belov finally, finally, turned to look at him, the fishing road held lazily in his left hand. "You assembled what is perhaps the greatest team in the history of this sport. I think you can do it again and I'm prepared to offer you whatever money it takes to make that happen." There, what man would forego such an offer?
But Belov didn't seem pleased. Far from it. "You think I left England to compete in Romania because I want money? Who do I look like, David Beckham?" He glared at him, obviously offended.
That was not the reaction Steve was going for. He tried for levity then. "Yes, actually. You kind of do." Steve smiled jokingly but Belov kept staring at him, not the least bit impressed.
"I'm sorry you wasted your time Mr. Tanner." Belov continued, not sorry at all. "I'm not interested in The Denver Club, even if you add your daughter Lauren to the mix. The only reason I'd consider going back to coaching, would be for The Rock. That club is the best I've seen in a decade.
Unfortunately they already have a coach, so I don't think we have anything left to talk about. Nothing you can offer me would make me change my mind." He turned around again then, going back to his favorite activity, ignoring him completely.
"Look, I can get rid of Marty and…" He tried one last time, a little desperate.
"No, Marty is an excellent coach and sending him away now would do more harm than good to those girls. They don't need me."
Steve raised both of his hands then, a clear sign of defeat. The man was impossible.
He turned around with the intent of going back to his car and drive back to the airport when his phone rang.
It was still pretty early so he had no idea who would call him. Lauren was at The Rock like everyone at this hour. He checked the caller ID: Alex Cruz.
He panicked for a moment. Why was Alex calling him? What if he had found where he was? Or something had happened to Lauren?
He breathed deeply then, trying to calm down and not jump to conclusions. "Yes Alex?" He answered with the calmest voice he could master.
"Steve, I'm sorry to bother you. I know you are with a client." Alex said from the other line. His tone was a strange mixed of worried and angry. He didn't seem angry with him though so he relaxed a little.
"Don't worry about it Alex. What is it? Lauren's okay, is she?" Steve asked then, worried for his daughter's wellbeing.
"Yes, don't worry. Your daughter is perfectly fine. It's not why I'm calling you." Steve relaxed completely at that. Whatever it was, her daughter was fine and that was all that mattered.
"You won't believe what I'm about to tell you. It seems that starting from today Marty is no longer The Rock's coach."
Steve couldn't believe what he just heard. "What? What's that supposed to mean, Marty's no longer The Rock's coach?" He repeated inarticulately. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Belov had suddenly become rigid and he wasn't moving, clearly listening to the conversation.
"Exactly what I said. He left, today. To go train in Denver. And not just him. Morgan Webster followed him. I bet all my money that Sheila's behind it all."
"It seems the most plausible explanation. It is something she could have done all right. How are the girls?"
"Like you can imagine. They're upset and confused. Not to say, very angry. And they're not the only ones. If I see Sheila or Marty around, I don't know if I'll be able to control myself. How could they do something like this? Sheila was the one who contacted Marty in the first place." Alex ranted, clearly furious about the entire situation.
Steve wasn't really paying attention to him though. She beat me to the punch, that bitch. He thought to himself. Of course, he didn't want Marty as her daughter's coach. He wanted the best in the business and that was the man right in front of him. Well, since I can't convince Belov to train my daughter in Denver, I think I will be able to convince him to train her at The Rock with the other girls. He decided then. It was better this way anyway. Lauren would be sad, away from her friends. Especially after what had happened to Kelly.
"What are we going to do now?" Alex interrupted his train of thoughts. "It's just 50 days until Nationals and we're suddenly left with no coach. It's a disaster."
"Listen Alex. Don't worry about it. I have already someone in mind who could replace Marty." He said then, looking at Belov. "You just try to keep your cool and everything will work out fine, you'll see. In the meantime, leave the girls' training to Darby. I know she's young, and a little too enthusiastic, but she worked alongside Marty for two years now. She's going to do just fine for a couple of days." Steve tried to calm Alex down.
"You're right. When are you going to come back in Boulder?"
"Tomorrow evening. And if everything go as planned, The Rock will get a new coach already starting from Saturday." Alex agreed and then hanged up.
Steve looked at Belov then, who had an unreadable expression on his face.
"That was Alex Cruz on the phone." Steve said unnecessarily. Belov knew already with whom he was talking to. "Seems you got your wish after all, Mr Belov. The Rock is now officially lacking a Head Coach. The position is yours if you still want it." Steve said smirking.
