Hidden Plays

24: I don't have time for petty emotions

Once arriving back in France her training continued immediately. She signed up for the Junior US. Open tournament, that was to occur in about a month's time, but Mizuno had offered to place her into a French national tournament of newer pros. Pros that really had a name for them did not participate in these events, but these events were pros who were just starting out. Usually beginners pros from all over Europe participated in these kind of national tournaments.

Upon entering the tournament she won her first three matches within a week. Of course she got hate for it, the older professionals did not like how she stole the spotlight.

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Sighing she headed to the locker room. Her fourth win, and next was the quarter finals round.

She opened her locker to see her tennis dress all ripped up. She then opened her back to see someone placed dirty in it. She then saw her racquet strings of her backup racket completely broken. But she noticed something shining in the back. Turns out it was the reflection of light on the blade of a pair os scissors. The scissors were left handed scissors. The initials CGV.

Sighing she threw her tennis bag away and grabbed her broken tennis racquet and cut up tennis dress before heading out.

She kept the pair of scissors to herself. She checked all the names of the competition.

There was only one female that had a surname starting with 'V' and her first name was Carmen. Doing some more research she found out her name was Carmen Georgina Valentine (Pronounced Valen-teen)

Satomi told her coach about it and she was given a new bag from Mizuno. She bought a custom made new backup racket made to be exactly like her usual one.

She looked at her competition for the next match her teeth clenched at the name...

Carmen Valentine

When she told Amélie Mauresmo when they were training he told her to get her back.

As the day of the match came around Tomi wore a polo and skirt, both white. She had her broken racquet along with cut up dress with her. She also had the pair of scissors.

They met on the courts and had warm up time before there were too many spectators. Tomi approached Carmen with the pair of scissors lying in her hand. She noticed Carmen held her racquet with her left hand.

"Valentine?" Tomi asked coldly.

"Yes?" Carmen said trying to keep a smile, but her voice had malice.

"I believe this is yours." Tomi said handing the pair of scissors over. There were a good amount of spectators and news reporters who were catching the action.

Carmen's eyes widened.

"W-Why do you have a pair pf scissors?" She asked nervously.

"These are yours. They are left handed scissors I found in the my locker where everything was trashed. My backup racquet strings were broken, my dress was cut up, and there was dirt in my tennis bag. I believe the pair of scissors belong to you." Tomi said calmly yet sternly with an intimidating aura surrounding her.

"I have never seen those pairs of scissors in my life." Carmen said.

"They have your exact initials on them, CGV, Carmen Georgina Valentine. No men are allowed in the female locker rooms, and no outsider is allowed, only players. Not even managers or body guards." Tomi said. The executive came onto the court.

"What seems to be the problem?" The executive asked.

"This little girl's accusing me of something I didn't do!!" Carmen shouted.

"I simply was returning your belongings to you. You left your scissors in my locker after you sabotaged my tennis belongings." Tomi said.

The executive led them to the security room. They reviewed the camera outside of the locker room and saw Carmen carrying something before entering. They stopped it and zoomed in, tuning it.

There was part of the item looped around her fingers, while the other part was pointy. It was clearly the pair of scissors that Tomi had found.

They kept watching the video to see that Carmen left without the scissors and soon after Tomi entered.

"Please go back to the courts as we analyze this." The executive said in french. Tomi left as Carmen didn't know what was happening so she stayed.

Soon enough she came too.

As soon as he came back he announced the final result.

"Ms. Valentine, you disqualified." The executive said in broken english.

"What why?" Carmen shouted.

"Unsportsmanlike attitude to the point you sabotaged another player's personal items." Another executive said entering the room.

Carmen had to leave and news reporters were all around her. The executives announced that Tomi would advance to the Semi-final round.

Within a few days the news had become big.

The tournament was almost over. Tomi defeated her semi-finals opponent with ease the ending score being 6-2 and 6-0.

The finals were a little harder. The final score was 7-5 first set, 6-6 tie breaker which Tomi lost, which meant they had to advance to the third set. The third set Tomi won 6-3, because her opponent was tired and didn't have much stamina left.

When she was presented with the trophy she just bowed, her face was kept hidden while she received it.

There was news all over France about her. Usually it was about how a junior pro who just starting her career as a pro won her first tournament or how a mysterious girl found out about a cheater and won. The articles were endless.

When news reporters asked if she was going to compete as a pro and not junior pro in the upcoming US Open she just shook her head 'no'.

During a proper interview she said 'I am competing in the junior league. I will train hard and win. Then I'll let my life continue as I have it planned to be."

Useless petty emotions...