Previously: Michael Baxter who is a part of the one of the wealthiest families in America, and the world, and who have started the World Championship of Glee Show Choirs, has decided to form his own group, and he is a fan of the New Directions, growing up and watching them. The New Directions are no more, so finding them and getting them back together will be a mission unto itself, because none of them are longer friends.
Michael managed to snare his first signature Finn Hudson (yes he is alive), and Finn saw past the rouse. He knew that Michael was trying to reform the New Directions but Michael didn't want to make it known, as if that was to get out, then no other New Direction member would want anything to do with the group.
So the continuation:
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PART 3 - A PUCK IN THE ROAD
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Still in Lima, Ohio, Michael's next stop after seeing Finn was to meet Noah Puckerman. He had done his research on Noah, and knew where to find him.
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PORTER PUB, LIMA, OHIO
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It was in the middle of the afternoon, and Puck was sitting at the bar drinking his third beer of the day. He was watching the television, which had a new advertisement about the new World Championship Show Choir competition.
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Calling all Show Choirs
Calling all ex members of Show Choirs
If you want to be a part of the
World Championship Show Choir Competition
Find a team suited to you
And join
Want to be World Champion?
Now you can.
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"Hey Hank," yelled Puck to the barman "Can you please change channels, I don't need to see that shit!"
"Calm down Puckerman," said Hank from behind the bar "I'm onto it."
The channel was changed.
"Not a fan of show choirs, I take it?" asked Michael sitting himself down beside Puck
Puck turned to the stranger, that he had never met before. This guy didn't look the drinking type, he had on a business suit, which was very clean and tidy.
"No not any more!" replied Puck giving the stranger a quick look down before facing the front of the bar again, and then taking a swig from his bottle.
"What will it be?" asked Hank walking over
"Um," thought Michael "How about a lemonade with ice?"
"Gee don't drink the hard stuff will you!" replied Puck still looking ahead.
Michael looked around, the bar was empty.
"Sorry Mr Puckerman," said Michael "I don't drink during the day, and during a business meeting."
Hank gave Michael his glass, "That'll be $2.50."
Michael pulled out a $100 note and slid it across the bar. Hank grabbed it, and looked at it. Then he looked back at Michael.
"Really dude?"
"Use it to buy 3 more beers for Mr Puckerman here... and then keep the change!"
"Wow thanks dude."
"I can pay for my own drinks!" replied Puck going on the defensive "I don't need some stranger doing that for me."
"Gee Mr Puckerman." said Michael holding up his hands "I didn't think that Pool Cleaning business was making enough of a profit for you to fund your drinking habits, but obviously it is."
Puck spun around on his chair to face Michael, and thumped his drink down on the bar
"Look you so called piece of upper class shit, I didn't come here to be judged, I came here to drink in peace."
"Puckerman," shouted Hank "Calm yourself down, or I'll have no choice but to throw you out."
"Then tell this punk to back off," replied Puck grabbing his drink, and taking another swig, and turning around and facing the front again
Hank plonked the two bottles of beers that Puck was drinking down in front of Puck. He hadn't even registered about some of the comments that Michael had made, about him knowing about Puck's pool cleaning business.
Michael sat there drinking his lemonade. He had already pushed Puck once, and was waiting for the right time to try again.
"Tell me something rich dude," said Puck still staring ahead "How the hell do you know I make my money by Pool Cleaning? Are you following me?"
It had taken him a while. Michael sat there biding his time. He took a sip from his glass.
"I'm here for you Noah Puckerman."
Puck just sat there "Whatever you're selling I'm not interested."
"I'm not selling anything," replied Michael calmly
"Well then whatever it is I'm still not interested. Now go away."
Puck just sat there, he looked like he was building up anger.
"What if I told you I could offer you..." started Michael but he never finished
Puck spun around in his seat, "I SAID... I'm not interested."
Puck looked at Michael with wild fire in his eyes. He grabbed his two bottles of beer, stood up, and walked towards the exit.
Michael stood up and looked at the Puck as he was walking out "What if I said I could offer you a $1 Million, Noah Puckerman, would you be interested then?"
Puck just stopped dead in his tracks, nearly reaching the door, and obviously contemplating the offer. He let out a sigh.
"Still not interested," replied Puck and he left the bar.
Michael sat back down, and drunk the rest of his glass.
"I'll take the million dollars if you're offering..." smiled Hank
"Sorry mate. But I'll have another round please. You can have the change from that."
"Sure," smiled Hank
"What do I have to do to get $1 Million?" came Puck's voice standing beside Michael
Michael kept his cool, and didn't answer Puck straight away. He waited for Hank to serve him his drink, which he did, before giving Hank another $100 note.
"I thought you weren't interested Mr. Puckerman," said Michael taking a sip of his drink
"I'm just interested to know what I have to do to get the $1 Million?" asked Puck feeling foolish
Michael turned to Puck and looked him straight in his eyes...
"Just so you know Noah Puckerman, if you ever walk out on me again, that's it we're done. Got that?"
"I understand," replied Puck looking down at the ground
"Follow me," replied Michael grabbing his briefcase
Michael led Puck over to a set of tables, and chose the booth in the corner. He slipped in to one side, and Puck slipped down the opposite side. Michael placed his drink and briefcase down on the space beside him.
"Obvious you are aware of the World Championship of Show Choirs advertisements that have been on television," started Michael "Well my name is Michael Baxter, I'm part of the family who are funding that..."
Puck sat there drinking from the first of his two bottles that had been brought for him. He was listening.
"So," continued Michael "I grew up watching Glee Show Choirs, in particular I was and still am a huge fan of the New Directions."
Puck sat back "So if you're a fan, then you should definitely know that there are no more New Directions."
"I am aware of that thank you," smiled Michael opening his briefcase "Which is why I decided that I want to build a team of my own. The best of the best."
Puck scoffed out loud "And you think that I am one of the best Dude? Now who's drunk? I haven't sung for 10 years. Why do you want me?"
"Because you're talented Mr Puckerman, when you're sober of course. You know how to play the guitar, and you have a great voice."
Puck shook his head "So even though I haven't sung for 10 years, you still want me on your team? Are you nuts?"
"I don't consider myself nuts," smiled Michael "And I have been researching a lot of show choirs over the last month, and I know who I want. I want you Mr Puckerman."
Half of that sentence had been a lie, Michael knew that but he had to throw Puck off the scent, even a drunk Puck. Finn Hudson, had so easily picked up on. The half lie seemed to work.
"So what does the $1 Million involve?" asked Puck
Michael took out a contract from his briefcase, and slid it over and placed it under Puck's nose.
"You will receive $100,000 the moment you sign this contract, and a further $900,000 when you attend a meeting in Dallas, Texas, next month. There you will meet the team I've assembled, and start working towards Sectionals."
"Wow," said Puck only looking at the figures "Why Dallas?"
"That's where I live of course."
"Oh of course," said Puck grabbing a pen.
He was about to sign the contract when Michael suddenly pulled it away.
"Hey," shouted Puck "What gives?"
"Mr Puckerman," said Michael calmly "I don't want a drunk you around my team..."
"Screw you then," replied Puck, without out giving Michael a chance to finish his sentence, which was the second time today, "Why the hell did you offer me the contract then? Only to take it away?"
Puck stood up angry.
"Sit down Mr Puckerman," said Michael calmly "I wasn't finished."
Puck stood there for a few more seconds before sitting back down. Michael drank some more of his lemonade.
"You being a drunk doesn't help things like these sort of situations," Michael began again "But I want to help you out."
"How?" asked Puck suspiciously
"I need to warn you so you have the choice of not signing on. Because the moment that you sign the contract, is the moment you belong to me. There aren't many conditions that goes along with signing these, but you, especially you have one... The moment you sign this you will be going to rehab, paid by me in full, and you will stop drinking. Should you drink a drop in the year that you are in my group, you will be fired so fast, you won't know what hit you, and I mean that Mr. Puckerman.
"At any time you touch a drop you are gone from the team. You will also repay the $1 Million dollars to me, and then some, I don't care how, but you will. But if you don't touch a drop, you will escape all punishment."
Puck sat there taking it all in. He was thinking. On one hand he was being given a chance to get out of the mess he had found himself in over the last ten years; but on the other hand he wouldn't have to take orders from anyone. He would just be a drinking idiot by himself. Just forgetting the pain of the last ten years which started all this drinking. Would he want to go through all that again, sober?
While waiting for Puck to make his mind up, Michael got a text on his phone. He watched Puck grab his bottle and down the whole contents in one hit. Michael then looked at his phone, and read the text.
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'We've found Sam Evans and William Schuester'
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"Fuck it," said Puck grabbing the contract "I'm too poor for my life, and I need to get out of this godforsaken town."
After watching Puck sign the contract, Michael smiled and texted a couple of numbers.
"The $100,000 is now in your bank account Mr Puckerman, but I'm sorry you can't spend it for a month?"
"Why not?" asked Puck looking up
Just then a big bald burly man walked up, followed by a blonde lady dressed in a red suit. Michael took the two bottles away from a stunned Puck.
"Like I said Mr. Puckerman, you signed, which you now belong to me. Please meet Miss Jacquie Swann, she will be accompany you to rehab, where you'll be spending the next month. The day you get out is when you will be flown, to Dallas, to attend my meeting."
"So what's he for?" asked Puck pointing to the big bald burly man
"In case you decide to cause trouble," smiled Michael "Which I hope you won't, and in case you have the urge to escape the facility, which you probably may try, he will definitely stop you."
Puck looked back at the beer bottle beside Michael, and he felt for a second that he made the wrong choice.
"Are you ready Mr Puckerman?" asked Jacquie holding out her hand
Puck looked at Jacquie and smiled "Lead the way."
Puck stood up and linked arms with Jacquie, and they walked away followed by the body guard. Michael smiled as he watched all three of them leave.
Michael then drank the remainder of his lemonade, he then placed Puck's contract back in the briefcase, and shut it. He took out his phone and texted:
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'Good work on the discoveries
Keep pushing the Detectives
They can't stop until we know the whereabouts of the others
Send through Evans and Shuster's whereabouts
I'm heading to M.I.T next."
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Michael pushed sent, and got up. He grabbed his briefcase and then headed for the door. He gave Hank, the bartender, a wave, and then left.
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So now Michael Baxter has Finn Hudson, and Noah Puckerman on board, he's heading to Cambridge, Massachusetts next. That's where Brittany is. Will she sign up or will her intellectual brain figure out what Michael is up to, just like Finn did.
Stay tuned.