Chapter 3

Wow so as I working on this chapter I hear about the death of Jay Briscoe. Truly heartbreaking. RIP Jay.

Riley sat in the lounge for the airline they were using. Mandy had nodded off next to him. Their flight has been pushed back another hour. Looking at the window Riley had hope they might still get out of Colorado before dawn. He was mush more at ease now. They were at the airport safe, the rental car had been returned. Now he could relax and check twitter since unlike his wife he could never fall asleep in an airport. Even a quite one. Killing time he made the call to check twitter. As a wrestler well any public person that was always a risk. "Oh got an e-mail from the boss," Riley thinks see the notification he missed earlier.

Max and Riley,

Sorry to drop this on in the middle of the night hours after a show. Just as I'm looking ahead trying to find the right date for your match the best place is the KIA Forum show. I know it's a lot sooner than we had been discussing. I know it might take some work to line everything we want up. But That is a major show for us. A world title match will put it over the top. You both know me well enough at this point, if you have concerns or thoughts let me know.

Tony

Riley took a moment to read it again. Max had already replied. There was a fine line between Max Friedman the real person and Maxwell Jacob Friedman the wrestler. Even with the boys Max seemed to want to keep the character going. But thankfully he he had gotten right to the point in his reply. He didn't have any issue. Off the top of his head Riley couldn't think of any. Plus getting to be on the Forum show was a big deal. He adjusted in his chair and wrote back.

Tony,

I'd be thrilled to have that match in that venue. Max when you get time give me a text I have an idea for something we can do for some quick heat.

Riley

To Riley's shock a few seconds after the e-mail was sent his phone rang. Mandy stirred for a second but never woke up as he moved away. "Hello?" Riley says. "I figured it was safe to call," Tony says on the side of the line. "Yeah boss I'm just waiting at the airport. Our flight keeps getting pushed back," Riley whispers. "Sorry to hear that. You doing okay otherwise?" Tony asks. "I'm doing as well as I can. Having this match now to focus on helps," Riley says. "Well actually something more I need to talk about," Tony says. "What?" Riley asks. "Before we into this I need you swear you don't tell anyone. Not even Mandy or Kenny or the Bucks or Hangman," Tony says.

"Can I tell Uncle Dave?" Riley can't help himself from joking. Uncle Dave was a nick name given to Dave Metzler by the Elite mainly the Bucks. "Well you are the only I am talking about this with for now. So if it winds up in the Observer I'll know I didn't leak it," Tony says. "Good point. But come on Tony you know me," Riley insisted. "Well okay here is my plan as of tonight..."

Orlando a few days later

It couldn't be any more different than Colorado had been. The sun was already up and temp was into the mid-sixties. For Mandy it gave her a chance to get an outdoor workout even during winter. Going into the stretch she focused. Drawing in each breath and than let the stretch. Grabbing her water bottle and mat and headed for the house. Her phone notifications were lit up with several text message and a missed call. The call seemed to be some kind of scammer. "Sorry don't need an extended car warranty" she thought to herself. Going through the texts Mandy returned a few quickly. The last text annoyed her as she read it.

He's already made it clear he is willing to do whatever you three decide. If you want to ask him something text him!

She hit send. Less than a minute later the phone later her phone started to ring. Mandy tensed thinking they were calling now only to see it was Sonya. "Hey what's up?" Mandy says upon answering. "Nothing much. I need a favor," Sonya says. "You much be desperate if you are actually asking instead of just coming over and taking," Mandy says recalling an event from the past. "I did that one time I was desperate and you owed me," Sonya insisted. "I don't think you owed a new pair of shoes I hadn't worn yet," Mandy says. "It was an important date, I wanted to look nice. I've apologized over and over again. Now can I please ask you and Riley a favor... well more Riley," Sonya says. "He's not home now but I can ask him," Mandy says.

"I need him to translate something," Sonya says. "Ah I think you are better to use an app. Riley speaks Japanese better than he reads it," Mandy says. "It's not Japanese," Sonya says. "Oh boy than you are much better off using an app. I've heard some stories about how bad Riley was taking Spanish in high school," Mandy says with a laugh. "It's not a langue. I need him to translate what my auto mechanic wants to bill me," Sonya says not able to hide how annoyed she is. "What did you do and how bad did you wreck your car?" Mandy says not able to suppress her laugh. "It wasn't my car... It was Courtney's," Sonya admitted. "You messed up your girlfriend's car... Wait not that classic her father gave her," Mandy says.

Meanwhile

"You ready?" Riley says to Adam Cole as he holds him in a front face lock. "Yeah," Cole says. Riley pulled him up for a vertical suplex. "You are babying me to much," Cole says once they land. Riley had taken most of the impact. "I'm not the one coming off a bad concussion brother Riley says. "I got to get used to taking bumps again. I would be doing it if I wasn't cleared," Cole says sitting up. Riley stood up. "Hey Adam I know what it's like. Just knock the rust off today," Riley says. "Yeah yeah yeah I know," Adam says. A local wrestling school had bee kind enough to let Adam train for his comeback now that he was cleared. "Look let's do it again. You will take a bit more of the impact this time," Riley says. "Good we can't have you getting hurt before you make MJF look good in LA,' Cole says. Riley can't help but smile. "Going to be an elite night. My match, Kenny and The Bucks in the ladder match, Hangman vs. Moxley, you appearing," Riley finally says.

"Riley man I can't tell you how ready I am for this. And then to have a match," Adam says. "Alright let's get back to work," Riley says. They run through the move a few more times. They run through other spots. Finally they do a ten minute basic match so Adam can used to calling and hearing spots again. "Small package for three," Riley tells Adam so he can "win."

"You got time for lunch?" Adam asks. "Nah I got to get home for Mandy and I's doctor appointment," Riley says. A second later it hits him he just let something slip. "What's going on? That you both need to go to the doctor?" Adam asks. "No reason just getting a check up," Riley claimed. "Alright keep your secret," Adam says grabbing a towel from his bag. "That was close," Riley thinks. He and Mandy had decided to have a child a while back. The tragedy with his parents had postponed those plans. "Wait lunch... How freaking late is it," Riley says grabbing his bag and running for the door. A second later he is back. "I should take a shower her it's quicker," Riley says. "And colder," Adam laughs.

Doctor's office

"Sorry I'm so sorry," Riley says as he comes into the waiting room. "Just made it," Mandy says checking her watch. "I'm a good friend," Riley claims. "Speaking of which I promised Sonya you would see if her mechanic is stiffing her," Mandy says before explaining the story. "Your best friend should go to jail. That car she messed up is a work of art," Riley says. "Bit extreme don't you think?" Mandy asks. "Amanda Rose Morgan, that car rolled offf the line in Detroit decades ago. Thanks to love and care it's stayed running. As other cars with real chassis with simple beautiful mechanical parts all faded away. That piece of are was still running and Sonya drives it once and it might be ruined. It's a crime," Riley says. "Riley what are going to do when someday we have kids and they wind up breaking something?" Mandy asks. "Depends on what they break," Riley says honestly. "Well now I almost don't want you to go over to Sonya's place if you are going to shame her," Mandy says.

"Nah I should do... If there is chance that thing can be salvaged I would never forgive myself for letting some fool scrap it," Riley says. "You are making it sound like she knocked over the Liberty Bell or something," Mandy says. Before Riley can reply the nurse comes to get them. Once they are in the doctor's actual office. "I was thinking about something," Mandy says while they wait. "Time you thought you were pregnant when were first dating," Riley says knowing her so well.

Days Later AEW TV Taping

"Something is going on!" Seemed to be the word of day. Riley smiled as he overheard Matt Menard and Angelo Parker speculating. "I asked Chris and Sammy if they got any ideas. Sammy says it can't be a debut since there are rooms marked off to keep talent away," Matt say. "Maybe Tony's got a new..." Angelo said as there voices faded as Riley walked the opposite direction. "Okay Riley what is with the smile?" Christopher Daniels asks seeing him. "I can't be happy?" Riley says. "I've been in this bossiness thirty years and I've known since you were a kid happy to jobber work on TNA Impact. You don't smile like that all that often," Daniels says. "Did you see the Kenny vs. Ospreay match? I got to see my best friend at my favorite venue reminds everyone he's still the best," Riley lied. CD didn't believe him for a minute.

Women's Locker Room

"Maybe they got a TV deal nailed down for Ring of Honor?" Britt Baker says. "Nah if it was that word would already be out. I think someone is turning heel or turning face," Ruby Soho says. "They would save that for some of the bigger shows coming up. Maybe some new talent exchange. Some of my friends in Stardom having been asking," Jamie Hayter says. "Hey Mandy any ideas?" Ruby Soho asks. "Not a one," Mandy says lying. She knew something was going on with Riley and Max today. But for some reason Riley was being coy just telling her to have a great outfit ready for LA.

Later that Night AEW Dynamite

MJF was making his way to the ring. "Guys MJF is dealing with it from all sides Bryan Danielson wants a shot at the world title, Riley Morgan has made his intentions clear that he wants the championship," Excalibur explains. "And I'm sure this rat will do all he can to avoid both. He's made it clear his goal is to defend that title as little as he can," Tony Schivone rants. "Tony he's got the right as champion," Taz claims. "Taz when you were world champion did you doge challengers?" Tony argues. "Well you don't like it hope he loses." "Trust me I do," Tony finishes. By this time MJF has gotten in the ring. The fans are booing him heavily.

"I've already addressed Bryan Danielson. I don't have to worry he's not winning all those matches. But after Dynamite last week I couldn't sleep so even as I laid in my bed in my luxurious suit I couldn't get my mind to shut down. One person plagued my thoughts and it was Riley Morgan," MJF says before taking a pause. "What he said about Riley's parents last week was disgusting," Excalibur chimes in. "And finally as I thought it sent me down a rabbit hole. I looked into Riley's whole life and career. In Riley's wrestling career he wasn't supposed to be the big star. At one time my buddy Jim Cornette tried to black ball him. Later he broke his neck and now both his parents are gone," MJF says really seriously. The crowd has gone silent listening. "And Riley I'm sorry. I am so sorry that you are so pathetic the only way you could make it in wrestling was to be make everyone feel sorry for you!" MJF finally finishes and the crowd boos. "Can he get any lower?" Tony asks.

"None of you have to like it but it's true. The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega hung out with him to make him feel better, New Japan booked him as a favor to them same with Tony Khan. Even his wife must have a humiliation fetish," MJF says. "Totally uncalled for," Excalibur crowd starts to cheer as Riley makes his way onto the stage not even waiting for music. Security comes running out to block Riley's way. "See Riley I talked to Tony Khan about the unsafe workplace I am facing. But I am business man," MJF claims as he pulls a contract out of his jacket. "Now if you remain calm Riley I'll let you come in here and take a look at this offer," MJF says. Riley looks like he's about to deck the guard standing right in front of him but at than takes a deep breath. "I'm calm," Riley says.

The guards part and let Riley get int he ring. MJF locks on Riley and Riley doesn't look away for a second knowing full well MJF would take a shot and nail him with that ring. "You want a title shot Riley? Well all you have to do is sign this contract," MJF claims handing it to Riley along with a pen. "There is no need to read it," Max claims. "Oh yeah I'm going to sing a contract with a guy calling himself the devil without reading it," Riley deadpans. Riley flips through.

"Ah this is cute. Right here is a stipulation that if I lose I have to work for him. Also it would be my one and only title shot so long as he holds the world title" Riley says. "He's such a little rat," Tony claims on commentary. "What can I say I thought get one over on you. But here is the thing Riley you don't have any other choice..." "Will you shut up!" Riley says cutting Max off. That even caught MJF off guard. "You want to be The Devil Max? Well what does the Devil do when a man looks him in the eye and doesn't blink? Next week in LA I am going be the AEW world champion," Riely declares before sinning the contract and shoving it into MJF's chest and knocking him to the ground. MJF looks up at Riley shock and fear cross his face.