Post by lisbethchambers on Jun 7, 2024 19:02:00 GMT
(Off Camera)
Friday May 17, 2024, 6:03 PM PDT
Lisbeth walks towards Le Thai restaurant in downtown Las Vegas in much more comfortable casual attire compared to the dinner interview she had four days ago with her ex: Dorian Black. Anytime she can dress down, it is always a plus. A pair of jeans, shorts, or capris is just fine with her along with a matching t-shirt. This evening, she chose a pair of hip hugger jeans, a black Batgirl t-shirt, and tan wedge sandals.
‘My head is still spinning from that dinner with Dorian. That took some nerve to even ask me to be his manager. I can’t even believe he is going to wrestle again! He’s the CEO of a billion dollar biofuel and renewable energy company. I mean, I understand billionaires have been characterized as eccentric, but this? Then to ask that of me!? I have not wrestled in years! Let alone have contact with anyone in that field since those days!’
Lisbeth sighs as she stops short of the restaurant’s entrance.
‘I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss it a little bit. Those were certainly some fun times. Especially training with Scarlette. Who... God, I can’t remember the last time I heard from her. Probably sometime before Mom passed away. She definitely the more focused on achieving in the ring then Dorian, Reiko, and I. I hope wherever she is, she’s doing all right.’
Lisbeth looks up at the front entrance and smiles. She reaches for the handle of the front door and walks through.
‘Well, at least this evening should be a good time. Anytime I get to see Matt it is always a good time. If it hadn’t been for him and his family helping me through my grief along with my aunt, Uncle, and cousins in Michigan... Well... life would have been much darker than it is now. I’m glad he agreed to an interview before he leaves town to return home to Manhattan.’
Lisbeth rounds a corner and begins to scan the room. After a few seconds, she sees a man with a fit build in his late thirties with close cropped dirty blonde hair waving towards her. She smiles as she begins to walk towards him. Like Lisbeth, the man is dressed very casually. A pair of jeans, black sneakers, and a white t-shirt with the words ‘I’m The Doctor’ written on it. Lisbeth watches as he limps over towards her with the assistance of a cane. She increases her stride to meet him closer to the table.
‘I’m still in disbelief every time I see Matt. He hasn’t let the loss of his leg slow him down. The fact that he makes jokes about it speaks volumes of how strong of a will he has. If I’m remembering correctly, it’s been almost ten years since he lost his leg. Ten years since...'
“Lisbeth! So good to see you again!”
Lisbeth feels herself pulled into a great bear hug which she tries to reciprocate as best she can.
“It’s good to see you too, Matt.”
After a few moments, Matt breaks the hug, and indicates to Lisbeth to sit down.
“Have a seat, have a seat.”
“Thanks.”
Lisbeth takes her seat across from Matt before she starts perusing the menu.
“Have you ever eaten here before, Lisbeth?”
Lisbeth shakes her head as she continues to scan the menu.
“No. I mean, I know OF Le Thai and I’ve passed by a few times, but never quite got around to. I trust you have?”
Matt lets out a laugh as he takes a sip of water.
“Oh, definitely. I come here at least once a week when I’m in town. I tend to order the Crispy Spring Rolls to get started. The plum sauce that comes with them is...”
Matt makes a look of contentment and laughs.
“...the best.”
Lisbeth thinks for a moment and reads the description of the item in question.
“That does sound good. I think I’ll try that and the larb salad.”
Lisbeth sets the menu down and tries to catch herself from bursting out in laughter upon seeing Matt make a disgusted face.
“Why are you making THAT face for?”
Matt groans as he responds.
“A salad? Seriously? I mean, salads are good, but you’re truly missing out, Lisbeth. The Pad Kee Mow is where it’s at! Such a splendor of flavor with the vegges, noodles, and chicken. However, you do you, but just know, I am disappointed in you.”
Matt chuckled with a wink. Lisbeth giggled as well.
‘Definitely the big brother I never had, but it’s so good to see him again.’
“Yeah, yeah. So, what time is your flight tomorrow?”
“Early! Too damn early, but it shouldn’t take but a couple hours to get to Cincinnati.”
Lisbeth’s nose wrinkles up upon hearing Matt’s destination.
“Cincinnati? What’s in Cincinnati?”
The server had arrived as Lisbeth asks Matt her question. She waits patiently as he places both of their orders. Not long after the serve leaves, Matt takes a sip of Coke Zero before he responds.
“Scarlette lives in Cincinnati. Did you forget?”
Lisbeth’s eyes go wide upon hearing Scarlette’s name.
“Scarlette!? Scarlette is back in the country!?”
Matt nods his head.
“Yep. She came back a few days ago apparently.”
Lisbeth tries to absorb the information she is being given.
“I... I have not talked to her since my mom passed away. Has she really been travelling the world this whole time?”
“She has. She recently signed with a promotion here in the United States. PWS: Legacy. A few old friends there reached out to me in order to vouch for Scarlette. Upon learning that Scarlette had returned to the country, I decided to fly out to Cincinnati for the day to see her and catch up; much like you and I are doing now.”
Lisbeth looks thoughtful as she nods her head slowly.
“I see... Hey, Matt?”
Matt looks at Lisbeth curiously.
“Yeah?”
“When you see Scarlette, could you give her my number? I would really like to reconnect with her after all this time. I really miss the times we use to hangout when Scarlette and I were training together.”
Matt nods with a pleased smile.
“Of course, Lisbeth, I’ll let her know to give you a call.”
Lisbeth smiles thankfully.
“Thanks, Matt, I really do appreciate you.”
Matt shakes his head.
“It’s no problem. I’m just glad all of you are more or less doing well for yourselves. I don’t even care that most of you aren’t wrestling. You’re a successful businesswoman running a media empire, Scarlette has been nothing but a success wherever she wrestles, Reiko is a successful manga artist, and my brother is the CEO of his own company.”
Upon hearing Matt mention Dorian, Lisbeth grimaces slightly.
“Yeah, Dorian...”
Matt raises an eyebrow out of concern.
“What did he do? Did he try to do something during your dinner interview a few days ago?”
Lisbeth shakes her head vehemently.
“No, no, no, nothing pervy or anything. He just... He asked me to manage him.”
Matt almost spittakes his soda upon hearing Lisbeth’s response.
“He asked you to what now?”
Lisbeth throws her arms up in a dramatic fashion.
“He asked me to manage him! I mean, what was he even thinking?”
Matt soon begins to burst into laughter in response causing Lisbeth to look at him curiously.
“What? What’s so funny?”
A chuckling Matt raises a hand in front of him and waves it back and forth.
“I’m sorry. It’s not hilarious in the situation he is putting you in, but that brother of mine. Sometimes, I do wonder what is going through his head, but tell me, how do you feel about that?”
Lisbeth takes a moment to think over her feelings. A LOT of complex feelings swirl within her.
‘Excitement. Frustration. Anxiety. What do I tell, Matt?’
“Honestly, Matt? I really don’t know. He hurt me, Matt, bad. I know that was years ago and we are two different people now, but it is one of those situations where ‘I forgive him, but I haven’t forgotten.’ Do I want to put myself in a potential situation where history could repeat itself? I just worry about being charmed by Dorian again, because... he is so damn charming despite being an asshole that he might be able to win my heart back.”
Matt nods his head, listening intently to what Lisbeth is saying to him.
“To be completely honest with you, Lisbeth, I really don’t think he ever got over you. I know he is the one that broke up with you, which was stupid on his part. I know the reasoning behind why he did. To a degree, I agree with it, BUT he should have been completely open and honest with you for his reasons behind it.”
Lisbeth looks at Matt curiously.
“What is the REAL reason he broke up with me, Matt?”
Matt begins to look around nervously as he scratches the back of his head.
“Ooooo... that... really isn’t my place to say, Lisbeth. I’m sorry. You will need to talk to my brother because you deserve to hear that from him and not me.”
“I see...”
Lisbeth nods her slowly. Matt reaches across the table to rub her arm with a warm smile.
“Hey, you do whatever you need to do for yourself, Lisbeth. Whatever it is that you ultimately do, just know that I have your back. If Dorian gives you any shit, just let me know. I may have one leg, but it doesn’t mean I can’t kick his ass.”
Matt winks at Lisbeth causing her to laugh.
“I’ll hold you to that, but if Dorian is truly a changed man, then that won’t be necessary, but I’m relieved to know that I won’t necessarily have to face this alone. Thank you, Matt.”
Matt nods.
“Not a problem. Onto a completely different topic, how is the podcasting business?”
“It’s going really well. We’re expanding our number of shows starting June tenth. There are still a couple of slots that still need to be filled, but I have time to find a host for them. Hopefully next year, we’ll expand even further. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy converting my mom’s radio network to a strictly podcast model, but with streaming apps being what they are today, it made the most sense to make the change. Radio is still relevant, but I feel podcasts have a much larger reach these days. I’m sure my mother would have made that choice as well, but I hope that I am making her proud by doing so.”
“I am sure she is looking down on you proud as can be. Just stick to your plan. Don’t doubt yourself. I definitely enjoy your interviews and then that one horror audio drama that is released on Saturdays.”
“Late Night Fright? That is definitely one of our more popular programs. We will be moving its release to Fridays with the upcoming schedule shuffle, so make sure you remember that.”
“Oh, trust me, I will. I can’t get enough of that Lovecraftian stuff.”
“Well, we are considering rolling out a science fiction series and a true crime series as well. Those are still in development, but hopefully by the end of the year, we will have those series added to the schedule.”
After a few minutes, the server begins to bring out their appetizers. Deciding to table anything else apart from small talk until after they finished eating their dinner, Lisbeth and Matt just enjoy the comradery before beginning on her podcast interview with Matt...