Chapter 14
I took a lap around the Impact Zone and got to the locker room my first time in there in a few months. D'Angelo Dinero walks up to me with a big grin on his face. "Welcome back Reedo," he greets. "Good to see you Pope," I respond. "Alright where is he?" AJ yells coming into the room. He sees me and tries to grab the belt from me. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He yells at me. "What wrong with me? What the fuck is wrong with you?" I yell right back at him. "You stole my title and with it you ended our friendship," AJ says trying to take the title again. "Well I got news for you I don't exactly want to be friends with the guy you have become AJ," I say. "You have no room to talk." "I have plenty of room to talk for my faults AJ I have betrayed everything I stand for!" All the pent anger of the last few months is coming out right now as I shove him against a set of lockers. AJ comes back and shoves me right back sending me into the Max of Generation Me.
That's when it breaks down and we charge at each other. All my anger of the last few months coming out and AJ well I don't know but he seems as mad as me. The other guys try to break us up but I come up with a chunk of his hair and leaves some deep scratches on my face. A few of the guys pull AJ from the room. "I will get MY title back Jake one way or another!" He yells. I kick a chair and mutter to myself. Man my face hurts the SOB got me good. I head over to a mirror to get a look. Damn four deep scratches on my face. "You should really get those checked out," Traci says from behind me. I turn slowly. "Careful it sounds like you actually care still," I say. "I do care Jake trust me I wouldn't have been calling everyone you know trying to find you," Traci says.
"Yeah Steve told me about you little visit right after he told me about my boat that he sank like an idiot," I say. "You really need to see someone about those Jake," She says pointing to my face. "Yeah I should go before Hulk and Bischoff pull there head out of Hulk's ass and figure out I'm back here," I say picking up the belt. "Is what you said ring said true?" She asks. "Well when the hell do I say thing that aren't true," I say. "From what I've seen Hulk isn't' that bad," Traci says. I stop dead in my tracks. "Ok let's ask Beer Money or Daniels or the countless other guys that have given all for TNA that are barely even on TV anymore."
***
"This is a disaster!" Dixie says to Eric and Hulk. "We can fix it," Eric says. "Shut up Eric," Dixie says. Eric wants to say something but he bites his tongue. Hulk strokes his mustache before speaking. "Ok we can't do a hole lot to Reed the guy doesn't have a contract. But we can make him defend that title," Hulk says. Dixie slams down a file on her desk. It's not just about the title Hulk. I want Jake back on the active roster," Dixie says. "Did you not see what he did to Hulk last night?" Eric rants. "I am going to sit down with Jake and hopefully work this out," Dixie says.
***
Desmond Wolfe was in the center ring. "You know I keep hearing Jake Reed is back. Well all that means is Reed is going to lose the TNA world title to me at Lockdown. I outlasted seven other men at Against All Odds and now Reed I will take that title from you," Wolfe says. "Mike I wouldn't be surprised if Desmod Wolfe does win the title with everything going on it Jake's world does he even have the focus," Taz says. "And Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff unlike our so called champion I have respect for you two and would never place my hands on a member of management," Wolfe says. "We are on the road to Lockdown and for Desmond Wolfe all roads lead to the TNA world champion Jake Reed," Tenay says.
***
It's amazing how you feeling about a place can change so quick. Here I am in Dixie's office now before I would compare this to being called into the principal's office. Now I feel like I have the power. "How's your face?" Dixie asks. "It will heal," I tell her tapping my fingers on the belt. It's all part of a mind game to keep reminding her I have the championship. Now you may think why don't the just strip me of it well the truth is it's actually kind of hard to that the only ways are usually refusing to defend the title for over 30 days, injury or leaving to join another company. "Jake mistakes were made on my part and you were let go unfairly," Dixie says.
I don't say anything I want to see if she might try and explain why she did it. "Jake I am prepared to offer you a new contract and Jake this would make you the highest paid man in TNA on the active roster," Dixie says. "That's it? You fire me and all I get a we made a mistake now here's some money just resign. Well I don't know if you remember Dixie you were already paying me a hell of alot so what assurance that you won't just fire me again. Hell I don't even know why you fired me the first time," I say to her. "Eric Bischoff thought..." "So you just listen to anything Eric Bischoff says? Your the boss so I don't to hear why other people wanted me gone I want to know why you let me go?" I say. She says nothing. "Yeah I thought so," I say as I storm out.
I make it to my car in record time and climb in suddenly a hand reaches out from the backseat and takes my shoulder. "We need to talk Reed!" He says. "And I thought you only wanted to text these days Kurt," I say to Kurt Angle the man that has been texting me since Hogan joined TNA.