Story and character summarization is outlined in Chapter 1.
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I hear voices. Everything is fuzzy. My head really hurts. Oh wait, it's the Twin Oaks, I remember now. Hey! Biker-guy dude spanked my butt ... he's gonna get it when I finally get my body to cooperate.
"Jesus! What did you do to her Mark?" Well, that's a new voice. Okay, I'm laying down somewhere.
"I didn't Paul; you did." Hmm, I guess biker-dude's name is Mark. Who's Paul? He must be the new voice.
"No, I couldn't have done all that." Yeah, I think he is the new voice.
"Yup, ya' did." Okay, that's the Masked Avenger.
"Shut up Glen. Oh man! Is she gonna be alright?" Why do all these voices sound way above my head? Am I lying on the floor, downstairs … Is there a downstairs?
"Terry says she will be fine. The cuts have been cleaned and dressed. She did not need stitches. She will have one hell of a bruise across her face and I think several others are starting to show up on her arms and some scratches. I'm sure she will be up bitching at us in no time." The biker-dude man told the voice. Bitching? You have no idea Mister! Now, if I could just start moving …
"What? My God, she's so tiny, she couldn't possibly …" the voice started.
"Um, don't let her hear you say that, she just ripped Glen a new one," the biker-dude man snickered as he told the voice. Snicker.
"It wasn't like that ..." the masked avenger grumbled. Ha! Yeah right!
"Everyone within eyeshot saw you turn white as a ghost under your mask once she was done with you. Hell, even I winced at that one. The funny thing is I think she really meant it," the biker-dude pondered. "She's got spirit," he marveled. Was that a compliment?
"I see no humor in this. You are one to talk; she beat your backside black and blue for flinging her over your shoulder," the masked avenger countered smugly.
"I told you she was being difficult," the biker-dude man snarled. "Damn but she's feisty. That lil' thing's gotta a mean punch." Grrr! I am not little! I'm 5 feet tall. Well, almost. There are people waaay smaller than me, there buddy! "There's a reason she is a redhead. You are going to have your hands full boy," he advised.
"What are you talking about," the voice asked. Yeah, what is he talking about … ??
"Ugh! Ow!" My hands come up to my eyes. Ow! That light hurts. Why is it so bright in here? As I try to sit up, a hand rests under my shoulder supporting me as I get up.
"Easy now, don't want you to get sick. Don't move to fast." That's the new voice, Paul, I think. "Here's a towel. Put this over your eyes. Sorry, we can't turn the lights down. Do you need anything?"
"Paul, you're hovering," the biker dude said. I can hear him smirking.
"I am not," Paul snapped.
"Yes you are," the masked avenger countered. Again, with another smirking tone. Dorks!
"No, I'm not," Paul growled.
The towel over my eyes helped some. "Where am I?" He's rubbing my back very gently, almost like he's afraid I'll break. That's nice. I could get used to this. How the hell big is his hand? It feels as big as my entire back.
"You are in the triage area." He offered.
I remove the towel from my eyes and lookup. Holy crap! I am staring at the largest man I have ever seen. Twin Oaks seem small compared to him. "Let me guess, you are the wall that fell on me?"
"Huh? What? Wall? Oh, um, … I am so sorry. I ... I lost my footing and there was no where to go, and ... I …" He looks mortified. I would almost think he looked scared if he wasn't so big. Poor lil' guy, he's all flustered.
His hand is on my thigh and I place mine over his. "Hey, it was an accident. Are you ok?" He blushes ... how cute is that?
"Oh me? I'm fi..."
Just then, a brunette tornado comes storming in the room, "Ma'am, you need to sign this," and shoves a bunch of papers in my face.
"Now, wait a minute Steph …," the biker-dude man speaks up stepping away from a counter he was lounging against.
"Mark, she has to fill these out. They are indemnification papers, and she can't leave until she signs them." The tornado huffed.
"What? Look it was my fault." Paul starts.
"I'm sorry Paul, but this has to be done." Again, she rattles the papers in my face and shoves a pen under my nose. I take everything and quickly glance at them, as much as I can.
"Ma'am if you could just sign these I can get them processed and you can be on your way," the brunette huffed.
"I'm not signing anything." I informed the huffy brunette. She huffs at me one more time and I'm gonna pop her boob with a stickpin. Uh-huh, those are real I am sooo sure!
"What? You have to! Look, just sign these and ..." she whines.
"I said, I am not signing anything, not with the way my head feels, and I am really in no condition to be reviewing legal documents requiring my signature." I advised her. I really need a shower and a vat of aspirin. Did I lose my glasses?? That would explain why everyone is fuzzy and warped.
"But..." She started again.
"If this is how you people run your company, I really don't think I want your damn job." I griped. She is getting on my last nerve. I am nowhere near in the mood for this. I'm sticky, smelly and I hurt.
She visibly pales ... I'm getting good at this. "Crap! You're her aren't you? The one that's here for the interview?"
"I gotta say, for the amount of money you are offering for this job, you can keep it. I don't want it." I fumed.
"Well, now ma'am let's talk about this." I don't believe this! Now, she is trying to placate me?
"Izzie." I said.
"What?" She deflated. I guess I confused her.
"My name is Izzie." I snapped.
"I happen to know that they are very interested in you for the position." She stumbled.
"Four times I have been interviewed, and then am flown here to see a show. This is not a hard decision, people. Either you want me or you don't!" I snapped. At this point, I just want out of this lunatic asylum.
"We just want to find the right fit. This is not the easiest job. You have to deal with deadlines, travel, egos and the list goes on. We have had a really hard time getting someone to stay in the position very long." She quibbled.
"Egos?" Twin Oaks chimes in. "We don't have egos." Will someone just shoot me and put me out of my misery?
"And the Twin Oaks chime in. Chea, two words for ya' there guys. Pot and Kettle." Paul snickered. Neither of us realized, but I was still holding his hand on my thigh.
"Now, look here you little..." Mark started to fume.
I HAVE HAD IT! I jump off the examination table, storm over to him, reach up, and poke him in the chest. "NO! You look here Mr. Biker-dude man!" I yelled. "My head hurts, I feel like I'm going to puke, I ache every where, I'm sticky and grimy from God knows what I landed in and all I want is to go back to my hotel take a long hot shower and go to bed! The only person I have met in this joint that has not given me a hard time is the man that fell on me, no offense Little Man." I glanced apologetically to Paul.
blink … grimace ... "Uh, none taken?" He answered. He is just too cute! I think he is blushing again.
"You did have your moments of niceness, but overall you have been overbearing, condescending and generally, a major asshole to me since the minute I met you. And, your Masked Avenger friend over there, all he did was pick on me about my height, which by the way, I did not appreciate." The whole time they were sputtering like a fish out of water. I spun back around and pounced on the buxom brunette. I think I'm too mad at this point, because I didn't get dizzy or feel sick with all of this moving around. "Then, you come in here waving your paperwork in my face, telling me to sign shit that I can't see straight to read let alone sign. Then, when you find out I'm here about the position, you whine about why people don't want to stay in the position, can you blame them? Now, if you will excuse me, I have to try and figure out what happened to my glasses and then find a way back to my hotel to get ready for my flight home tomorrow."
"I'll take you." I look up and a very large, older looking gentleman in a very nice suit is filling the doorway.
"And who in the hell might you be?" I snapped.
"Vince McMahon." He advised with a little grin.
"You run this three-ring circus?" I griped.
"Yes ma'am, I do", he grinned.
I stumbled and leaned back against the examination table. I think my outburst is catching up with me. Ugh! Grabbing a hold of the table, I sway a little bit. Paul leans in a hand to steady me. I look up and smile at him. He blushes again … too cute!I walk right up to Mr. McMahon. Look him dead in the eye. "75k a year, plus expenses and a car. I don't want to fly more than I have to." I advise him.
"Done." He countered.
"Pleasure doing business with you Mr. McMahon, when do you want me to start," and I hold out my hand to shake his. He grasps mine. Firm handshake, good he's not a wimp. Obviously if he puts up with these loonies.
"Let's get you back to your hotel Ms. Reilly, and we can have a breakfast meeting in the morning to go over your duties and get the ball rolling?" He said.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea." I beamed. I like him. He is going to get me away from the crazy brunette.
"Um', Darlin' are these your glasses?" Mark asked.
I spin around on Biker-dude man again. Shit, there goes the floor again. "What have I told you about calling me pet names?" My eyes narrow and glare up at him with my fists on my hips.
wince"I'm sorry ma'am; may I call you Ms. Izzie?" He blushed.
Four jaws jobbed in unison. "Yes you may, and you are?" I asked the biker-dude man … I knew he was Mark, but he still had yet to introduce himself to me.
"Mark, Mark Calloway, ma'am." He mumbled.
"And your friend the Masked Avenger?" I asked flicking my thumb over my should in Glen's general direction.
"I'm Glen Jacobs, ma'am." the Masked Avenger said. I turn to him and ask, "Are you going to take off your mask so I can see what you look like?" He takes off his mask. He's blushing too ... this is too cute!I shake his hand. "Pleased to meet you Mr. Jacobs, I'm Izzie Reilly."
"And you are?" I turn to the brunette tornado.
"Stephanie McMahon, Vince is my dad." She mumbled while she blushed.
"Ok, I can see your concerns. Tomorrow, we start fresh, yes? "
"I would like that." She gushed.
Then I turn to my bashful giant (when exactly did he become mine? Probably when he landed on me, snicker), walk over to him and just stare up at him. "I'm Paul, Paul Wight, Ma'am." and he extends his hand to me. Yeah, they are huge. I was not mistaken. "A Southern boy?" I asked him and he nods. "Well Little Man, I think you and I are going to be very good friends, does that work for you?" I smiled up at him. "I would like that Ms. Izzie." He smiled and blushed.
"Then it's settled. Ok, who had my glasses?" I asked looking around.
Mark hands them to me. Crap.Well what's left of them. It looks like a mangled wire jigsaw puzzle. "Um, Mr. McMahon, please tell me, there is a vision plan offered in the bennies package?" I asked with a cringe.
"I'm sure we can work something out." He smiled. "Let's get you to your hotel." He stated and ushered me out the door.
It was a short ride to the hotel. I thanked Mr. McMahon for the ride, we finalized our arrangements for breakfast and then I went up to my room, as I had already checked in earlier that day. I felt much better after a long hot shower. My clothes are ruined though, I think. We'll have to see what Mom can do with them. Who knows what I landed in when I fell. Ick, ok that's just a nasty thought. Ewww!I looked myself over and assessed the damage. Yup, I am going to look like a raccoon in the morning. There is a major bruise forming on the bridge of my nose into both eyes. Sensei and the guys are going to have fun with that one I'm sure when I get back to class. Some various bruises here and there and some scratches on my arms and back, wonder what that is, must have rubbed up against something on the floor when I fell ... again, Eww!
I am all snugly in my flannel jammies with the penguins wearing scarfs. You're gonna need it boys.Good God it is cold in Buffalo! I thought Rhode Island was cold in the winter, but Jeeze! All of a sudden, there is a knock at my door. What the? I pad over to the door. "Who is it?" I ask.
"Room service Ma'am." A voice answers.
"I did not order any room service." I crack the door and am ready to kick his ass back to next Tuesday after the day I have had.
"Mr. McMahon requested that this be sent up to you. He said you were not feeling too well and had had a long day. He thought this might help settle your stomach?" Toasted cheese and chicken noodle soup with peppermint tea. My tummy starts rumbling, I giggle at that. "Apparently, he was right," as I open the door and let the room service attendant in. I tipped him and locked up for the night. I curled up with my dinner and the TV. Oh God! Forgot to call Mom! After I finally, figuring out that damnably confusing calling card, I finally got through.
"Hello?" I hear on the other line.
"Momma?" I ask.
"Oh thank God! I was starting to worry. Where have you been? Why are you calling so late? Did you get the job? Is everything all right?" She slings a million questions at me at once. I just had to giggle. I love her!"I just got back a little bit ago and got ready for bed. I'm sorry to call so late, it was a busy night. Yes, I got the job. And, everything is ok, considering." I advised.
"Considering? Considering what?" She asked.
"Well now, there was an accident, but I'm fine." I warned.
"Accident? What kind of accident? Are you hurt? Do you need me?" She asked, panic rising in her voice with each question.
"Momma, I'm in Upstate New York." I let her know with a giggle.
"I don't care." She stated. Just like a mom. "I know you don't. One of the wrestlers fell on me during the show and I got banged up and was feeling really crappy until I took a shower. Mr. McMahon had some dinner sent up for me, so I'm feeling much better now other than this damn headache. Really, Momma, right now I look worse than I feel." I let her know.
"Ok, but I don't like this one bit." She countered.
"Yes, Momma." I chimed in. Again, just like a mom!
"You said you got the job?" She caught that did she? giggle"Yes, well it's a really long story that I will tell you about when I get home. Suffice it to say, I bitched and yelled at everyone I had been in contact with at that point. Let's face it, I was hurt, nauseous and cranky. I told Stephanie that I didn't even want the job if it was only for 30K a year and berated her to find out why I was interviewed four times before I even came here. She told me they were having problems finding the right person, blah, blah, blah. Then I let into her again. At this point, I had nothing to lose." Sip of tea. "Apparently, Mr. McMahon was standing in the doorway listening to the whole exchange, and I was telling them that I was leaving and going to find a way back to my hotel and I was going home tomorrow." He said he would take me and I asked him who he was, he told me he was 'Vince McMahon,' like I'm supposed to be impressed or something. Anyway, I walk over to him; look him dead in the eye. '75k plus expenses and a car, I don't want to fly more than I have to.' He said 'Done.' And I was like, cool. I shook his hand and asked him when he wanted me to start. We have a breakfast meeting to go over some stuff tomorrow morning." I explained. yawn
"Oh sweetie, I'm so proud of you! Ok, I want all the details when you get home. I want you to call me before you leave ok?" She gushed.
"Ok, Momma, night, night. I love you." I told her.
"Love you too baby." I hung up with Mom and got up to set my tray out in the hall.
Farther down the hallway, there was another large man (Is there something in the water in this place?) with long, blondish hair and some woman hanging off him. To be specific, his tongue was examining her tonsils and they reeked of sex. Then he smacked her ass and sent her on her way. Saw me staring, smirked, winked and went back into his room. I guess this is the nature of the beast that I have wandered into. I went back in my room and locked my door. I called down to set a wake up call for 7:00 a.m. and snuggled in for at least some sleep.
"She was great Linda. She is definitely the one we need." Vince explained.
"Are you sure? She seems so young." Linda asked.
"I know. It is hard to believe she is only 22." "She made Mark wince, Show stutter, Glen blush and even Stephanie backed down. We only have to worry about Paul/Shawn, Kevin/Scott and their crews, Steve might be difficult, but something tells me she will have no problem." He explained.
"What time do we meet her tomorrow?" Linda asked. "I told her 8:30 in the lobby." Vince advised.
