*Author's Note: Hey all, happy to see you are enjoying the story thus far & thanks a bunch for the great reviews/motivation! I will continue to update this story as time allows, I have some great ideas as to where I'd like to take this one. I also promise to finish up Deep Blue & Southern Sweetness as I hate leaving a story without an ending! Thanks for all the positive feedback, here is another chapter for ya! Enjoy :)
Chapter Three.
Kate gets to work on transforming me from a sleepy hermit to a "dazzling beauty", as she so puts it. "You have so much potential, Alaina. You should really stop scruffing around this place and start feeling good about yourself! Look how amazing you look!" Kate says enthusiastically as she steps aside and lets me glance at myself in the mirror.
My dark brown hair hangs over my shoulders in tussled curls, thick and flowing. I have a black, strapless dress on hugging my curves in all the right places, and smokey eye make-up on to match. I blink at myself in shock, almost not recognizing the girl staring back at me in the reflection. Kate has really outdone herself this time, and not to toot my own horn- but I'm feeling sexy!
"Wow, Kate. You really do know how to style a girl from head to toe." I state as my cheeks flush. She smirks at me, "It's what I do! Now here, two finishing touches," Kate hands me a pair of black and silver pumps and light pink gloss for my lips. I have never been the type of girl who cared much about her appearance, perhaps I should start. It has always been more about the comfort than the style, funny considering I design outfits for a living. "You have it in you, Alaina," Kate says softly, as if reading my thoughts. "I'm just bringing her out, you look great! Lets hit the town."
We take a cab to a bar called "Papaya" in downtown Atlanta. It is hard to keep up on all these new places with the constant traveling, some days I have to stop and think about what town I'm in. I step out of the cab cautiously, getting a feel for the new pumps Kate has provided me out of the wardrobe closet.
As we walk into the bar, I see many familiar faces laughing with drinks in hand. I am certainly most familiar with the "backstage" crew of the WWE than I am with any of the superstars. I have met a handful, but the majority have been Divas. It is clear there is a wide variety of male wrestlers in here, you can tell by the bulk. Ordinary men don't look quite like they do.
We head to the bar to get drinks as Kate grabs my shoulder, "Order me a Corona, I am going to hit the ladies room real quick. I'll be back," she shouts over the music as she makes her way through the crowd, saying hi to familiar faces as she struts along. I am certainly lucky to know Kate, she has a great "in" with the people in this business and has taken me under her wing.
I turn my attention back to the bartender and order two Coronas. Adrenaline suddenly spikes through me as I spot ice green eyes glaring at me from across the bar. I look over and see Mark Calaway, again out of no where, peering at me idly. We lock eyes for a moment and I quickly turn away breaking the gaze. I take a deep breath as I've apparently held it again for reasons unknown, what is with this guy that makes me feel like that?
I can feel how hot my cheeks are as the bartender returns with our beers, "Six fifty, please," he states with a wink as I hand him a ten, "Keep it," I mutter weakly and he nods a thank you.
"Hey!" comes a male voice from beside me and I inhale sharply at the surprise. "Whoa, sorry little lady. Didn't mean to scare you, just wanted to introduce myself," the unfamiliar man says with a grin, extending his hand. "Brock, Brock Lesnar." I shyly smile and place my hand in his, "Alaina," I say blandly as I pick up my beers and attempt to head to higher ground.
Brock grabs my upper arm stopping me dead in my tracks, "Where you going so soon? I just want to chat." I pull my arm from his grasp and gaze into his dark brown eyes. Now this man is sending a very different signal, a scum bag type of signal. "I'm looking for my girlfriend, Kate. No offense, Brock." I say loudly so he can hear me over the music. Get the hint...
I turn to walk away and he grabs my arm once more, this time I shoot him an eye roll. "Kate? Oh so you're the new designer aren't ya? Yeah I heard about you. Didn't know you were such a little hottie though," he says as he gets closer to my face, uncomfortably close. I rip my arm from his grasp once more, "Please, don't touch me."
He grins wickedly and begins to poke my sides, almost mocking me. Where the hell is Kate to come to my rescue? She must have gotten caught up talking to someone. I give him the dirtiest look I can muster up, and try once more to make my exit as he grabs my shoulders with both hands and pushes my back to the bar. I spill some of the beer down my arms from the force of him moving me so roughly.
My breath hitches in my throat and I want to scream, but nothing comes out. The people around me continue to dance and drink, completely unaware of this mans harassment on me. Fear floods my veins and I glance up at him, his smile wider than ever. "Nothing sexier than a little intimidation, wouldn't you say so, Alaina?" He says in my face. We are nearly nose to nose and his grip on my arms begins to sting.
Suddenly he is ripped away from me, and my eyes close instinctively. "Might just be me, but she doesn't seem too interested," I hear a deep familiar voice threaten. I slowly open my eyes and see Mark with his huge hands wrapped around the scruff of Brock's shirt. Even Brock looks small in his presence, and you can see the disappointment in the man's eyes.
"We were talking. No need to get all worked up," Brock spits back at Mark. He simply nods his head as he shoves Brock away from me, "Get the fuck out of here," he shoots. Brock glances over at me and winks, making kiss faces at me as he walks away.
When I finally begin to breath again, I am gasping for air. I drop the beers on the bar and snatch my purse as I quickly brush past Mark, heading to the front door. Fresh air, I just need air. I push through the crowd and can feel Mark on my heels as I walk out the door and almost immediately fall to my knees. Tears pool in my eyes from a combination of embarrassment and exhaustion.
Mark kneels beside me and places his hand on my back, "You alright, Alaina?" I burst into a sobbing cry at his words, this day has been one of the most stressful I've ever had to deal with. I place my head in my hands and nod, "I'm fine, just really stressed out. You go back in and have fun, thanks..." I mutter in between cries. He slowly stands up, but doesn't walk away from my curled body on the ground.
"I am not going to just leave you out here on the sidewalk," he states sternly. "Let me get you a cab," I look up and shake my head in protest, "No, I can't just leave Kate will be worried." I say as I shakily stand up. Mark gently grabs my arm and helps me up, I wince, my arms still tender from the earlier assault. Mark angrily shakes his head as he examines my red arm, bruises seemingly forming.
"I'll take care of Kate, lets get you back to the hotel." Mark whistles to a friend smoking outside, perhaps another wrestler, and mumbles something in his ear as he comes over. "Come," he says to me as he gently leads me away from the bar. "No, no I can't just leave." I say as I pull away. Mark grunts as he looks me over, "Alaina you are not going back in that bar. I got Bill over there to tell Kate you went back to your hotel. Now so help me, let me take you to your hotel or I will throw you over my shoulder and drag you there." He states sternly.
My mouth drops open at his audacity, "You wouldn't dare!" I yell back, and almost immediately Mark hoists me up and throws me over his shoulder, holding on to my thighs as he walks down the street. "Mark! Mark, put me down what the fuck!" I yell as people stare. I try desperately to wiggle my way out of his grasp but to no avail- he is far too strong.
"Mark! God damn it put me down!" I yell again, worried about my short dress exposing everything as he carries me further and further down the street. He finally sets me down by a group of motorcycles as I catch my breath. "What the hell?" I yell and shove him, he barley moves. With a small smile he nods to a bike, stretching his long leg around the seat he straddles it and hands me a helmet, "Get on," he demands.