Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing but the plot and Gianna. No implications are being made on the characters of the wrestlers, just my dementia kicking in.

CHAPTER ONE

Gianna rubbed the heel of her hand against her forehead, trying to rub away her migraine. She smiled slightly when Maria fell into step besides her, knowing her friend was probably wondering what the Hell was going on now.

Maria frowned, not as dumb as she pretended to be on camera. "What's wrong, Gia? What happened to your face?" She reached up to push aside Gia's long auburn locks, gently touching the tiny bruise on her right temple.

"Nothing, I must've bumped it." Gia replied., flashing a bright smile while inwardly cringing. "Have you seen Paul tonight?"

"Yeah. He's in the cafeteria with his… friends." Maria rolled her eyes though she kept her voice down, not about to be next on the firing list. "Oh! I got to go!" She shrieked, beginning to fluff her hair and teetered off as fast as her dangerously high, high heels would allow her.

Gianna promptly did a turnabout, not particularly wanting to see him at the moment.

"There you are!" Paul's voice boomed from behind her, a smile on his face as if nothing had just happened between them. "Where've you been, baby?" He wrapped his arms around her shoulders tightly, bending down to nuzzle her hair, inhaling her intoxicating scent and growled in her ear. "You weren't trying to… RUN from me… were you, sunshine?"

Gianna inwardly both sighed and shuddered. She had been seeing Paul since she first came to the WWE, three years now. At first, it was nothing but bliss, they had connected instantly.

Now, however, it was a different story.

She shook her head, smiling up at him, her large, deep blue eyes silently pleading with him. "No… I was just talking with Maria but she had to go." Gia replied softly, knowing if she took another knock to the head, there was no way she'd be able to perform tonight like she was scheduled too, for once.

"Is THAT right?" Paul asked, stroking his chin in thought, hazel eyes flashing dangerously. Suddenly, he had her pressed against the wall, his breath hot on her ear. "Don't you DARE be talking to that bitch about our business! I OWN you, remember that!" He gripped her chin roughly, staring down into her eyes.

He was sleeping with the boss' daughter and planned on marrying her, but Gianna was his fuck buddy on the side. Though he refused to allow her to date or be with anyone but him. He refused to give her up even if he was taken.

Gianna could only nod, blushing when some passing superstars started snickering. She hung her head, knowing she was his little side line 'bitch'. Most of the time, like now, she wished she could just walk away from Paul. But several things always held her back. She was deathly afraid of him, for one. Another, he had stroke with the company and she loved her job, mostly.

Third, sometimes she could believe she still loved him. Though she might kick herself in the ass for it later.

"I have to go Paul, I have to get around for the show." She whispered.

"You'll go when I TELL you to go." Paul corrected conversationally, a hint of danger in his tone. His eyes flashed, followed by a growl when he seen Stephanie walking towards them. She was dumber then a box of rocks, she didn't even realize what was happening. He moved away from Gianna, but not before winking down at her, letting her know to meet him later on that night.

Gia nodded to Stephanie who just looked right through her and hauled ass out of there.

Stephanie was almost as thick in the head as Gianna herself was. She made her way down the hallway, only slowing down when she had turned the corner. She had to stop and duck behind the crates in order to wipe the tears from her eyes, asking herself for the thousandth time why she let him do this to her.

"Everything okay, Cherry?" A handkerchief was held out to her. "Here."

She took it, wiping her face and nodded. "I'm fine, just having one of those fabled female moments." She said softly, holding it back out. Gianna had met Carlito a long time ago, actually started holding short conversations with him maybe two months ago after they'd been paired for a mixed tag match. She somewhat considered him a friend, though that was iffy. Paul didn't like her having male friends. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, anytime Cherry, you know I'm here for you." Carlito replied, gently turning her around to face him. "Gia, what's wrong honey?" He asked softly, already knowing the answer and sighed when she started breaking down in front of him. Carlito knew the bullshit Paul was pulling and wanted so badly to tell Stephanie or Vince, but honestly, would they believe the likes of him?

Gia sniffled, finally pushing him away, absent-mindedly shoving her hair away from her face, her fingertips grazing the bruise on her temple. "Nothing is wrong, Carly. Don't worry about me."

She knew he was pushing the line just by being behind these crates with her. Suppose Paul or one of his arrogant friends seen them? "I have to go." She murmured, managing a smile before walking away, heading straight for the dressing room like she should have done.

"Damn it." Carlito whispered, rtaking a hand through his fro, sighing heavily. When was Gianna going to realize that what she was only going to destroy herself in the end? Paul didn't love her. He didn't even love Stephanie. What the man loved and was obsessed with was power.

**********

"Look!" Maria giggled when Gianna walked into the women's dressing room. "It's a holiday or something in this city and we're celebrating!" She held up a bikini.

"Bikini contest? You got to be kidding me!" Gia groaned, not believing this. "I'm not doing it…"

"Yeah, you are. You, me, Torrie, Melina, Mickie and Candy. Come on, Gia, we gotta beat Torrie and Melina, they're stuck up!"

Gianna sighed, snatching the garment bag with her name on it off the hook, disappearing behind the curtain to change. When she came out, she wore a blue string bikini that matched her eyes and a pair of open toed high heeled sandals that she despised. "Maria, I can't go out in this." She whispered, looking down at herself.

Maria took one look at her friend and locked the door, snatching up her make-up bag. "Oh sweetie…" She whispered, catching the look on Gia's face before smiling awkwardly. "We'll have this fixed right up!"

Neither seen Torrie walk out of the shower, a robe over her body. She halted to look at Gianna. "Damn, I didn't think he beat your ass. Must've deserved it." She then swung her bleach blonde hair over her shoulder, unlocked the door and walked out, blowing a kiss in their direction with a giggle.

Gianna exchanged looks with Maria, both women groaning. After Maria had 'fixed' the problem, Gia slid a robe over her swimsuit and followed Maria out of the room.

Maria halted in the middle of the hallway to turn around and screech. "WE DIDN'T DO YOUR HAIR!" She instantly began messing with the heavy auburn locks, tousling them about Gia's face. "Thank goodness you're make-up is already done though, huh?"

Okay, maybe Maria was a bit goofy.

"Ladies, what's going on here?" Paul asked from behind, causing both women to jump and smirked, leaning against the wall. He licked his lips, moving to stand behind Gianna. "You look absolutely beautiful, Gia." He murmured softly, running his hands up her arms, over her shoulders and finally to her throat. "So very beautiful…"

Gianna smiled, swallowing hard, trying not to look embarrassed as he toyed with the straps to her robe. "Paul, I got to be out there." She whispered, hearing Torrie's music start up.

Maria frowned, wishing she could somehow save her friend but knew that'd just be asking for trouble. "Hey Carlito, what're you-" She smiled when she seen his swimming trunks. "You're hosting this aren't you?"

Gia breathed a sigh of relief when Paul stopped fiddling with the straps.

"Now you didn't ACTUALLY think I'd leave myself out of this, did ya, Mami?" Carlito asked with a wink, smiling when Maria blushed then turned his brown eyes onto Gianna. Damned if she didn't look stunning in the robe and he was wondering what was beneath it. His blood boiled as he watched Paul wrap a possessive arm around her waist and did the only thing he could think of. He gently but firmly grabbed her by the upper arm and pulled her towards the stage entrance. "Got a show to put, Levesque." He called over his shoulder, whispering down in Gia's ear: "You alright?"

"Are you out of your mind?" Gia whispered back, shrugging him away from her. "He's going to kill you!" She was about to say something else but her music started and she was pushed through the curtains. Gianna made her way down to the ring, getting in, all brilliant smiles and waves for the cameras.

She hugged Mickie, laughing when Mickie whispered something and nodded, cheering when Maria was out next. The three waited for Candace then finally Melina and Carlito.

"You know, when he's not in character, he's cute." Maria whispered, nudging Gia.

"He is." Mickie chimed in, laughing when Gianna just covered her face. Both women exchanged looks, deciding to try to get their friend away from Paul in that silent moment.

"Alright, tonight Carlito is judging this bikini contest. Carlito is COOL for getting to take part in this." He said in the mic, his accent thickening as he looked over the Divas. "Alright girls, Carlito is going to give you fifteen seconds to strut your stuff and at the end, he'll decide who wins because the fans are too stupid." He grinned evilly, gesturing at Maria. "Make it good."

Gianna watched on with the other Divas as Maria did her thing, trying not to snort when Maria shook her ass in Carlito's direction. She waited her turn patiently, still smiling though she was seething on the inside, wondering what the Hell was the point of this besides getting the men in the audience off. Finally, she stepped out of line and untied her robe, letting it slide off of her before doing her thing, making sure she DIDN'T act like a slut.

Carlito admired Gia for not acting like a ho, smiling and nodding when she finished. She looked great but as he peered closer, he could clearly see the bruises on her body that someone had tried desperately to cover up with make-up. He signed inwardly, already knowing how she had gotten those.

Mickie rolled her eyes when Carlito started pacing the canvas, making comments about them all, trying to decide which Diva was the sexiest, which one had the best bikini. "Five bucks says he'll say he wins." She whispered to Maria, Candy and Gia.

"I wouldn't put it past him." Gia chuckled softly, arching an eyebrow when she seen Melina and Torrie whispering. "What are they up to now?"

"Ouch!" Maria shrieked when she went flying over the ropes.

Gia grabbed Mickie's arm and sling shot her into the pair, jumping in the melee along with Candice, not surprised that the bitches had sneak attacked them in the slightest.

"Whoa! Carlito gets hot action!" Carlito crowed, a grin on his face as he leaned back against the ropes. He whipped out an apple and grinned, taking a bite from it then tossed Candice a water gun from the waistband of his trunks.

"CANDY!" Gia shrieked when she got soaked, watching Mickie clothesline Melina out of the ring alongside Torrie.

Candice giggled, tossing Gia the water gun and walked up to her. "Dare you." She whispered, her eyes moving to the smirking Carlito who looked like he was enjoying this immensely.

Gia smirked. Her on-screen character was much like she used to be, mischievous and fun loving. A sparkle lit up her blue eyes as she aimed for Mickie, at the last minute getting Carlito while Mickie and Candice held him still.

"HEY! HEY! THIS ISN'T COOL!" Carlito shrieked, trying to pull loose from the Diva's, growling when water hit him directly in the face. "Damn it!" He cursed once Gianna was done, raking a hand through his damp hair and spit apple right in her face.

Gia shrieked, wiping it from her eyes, not surprised to find her friends vacating. She started to follow only to wind up being held back by her bikini bottoms and sighed, having gotten a brief rundown from Mickie what was scripted for this while they had waited on Melina to come out.

She slowly turned around, trying not to instinctively flinch.

Outside the ring, the girls were at the ramp way, hollering at Carlito, calling him a bunch of names hat made the crowd start chanting.

Carlito felt his heart lurch in his chest, not wanting to do and looked deep into her blue eyes. He whipped Gia around and went to set her up for the back cracker only to stop, shaking his head.

"I can't." He whispered, stepping out of the ring and brushing past the three women, stalking up the ramp, leaving a shocked Gianna in the ring.