Disclaimer: I don't own anyone.
Rated: M
Warning(s): Slash, Domestic Violence, etc.
Well, now Ricardo was truly out of luck. Because of his actions on SmackDown, the new SmackDown GM, Booker T, took away Alberto's title shot at SummerSlam. To be totally honest, it was a decision that made Ricardo afraid. Alberto was a loose cannon and there couldn't be any indication of what he would do. However, much to Ricardo's shock, he didn't lash out. He didn't cause a scene. No, he did none of this.
Instead, he left for his anger management class an hour before he was supposed to show up. When Ricardo asked him why, he told him that he wanted to drive around for a little bit to clear his head. Ricardo had accepted that as the truth. He really had no reason to believe otherwise. Besides, if Ricardo so much as implied that he didn't believe what Alberto had said, he would be in for extreme punishment. So he kept his mouth shut.
Ricardo took a shower and dressed. He picked out a pair of loose black slacks and a white and black pinstripe-style shirt. Even when Alberto wasn't around, Ricardo always strived to look his best. After all, his appearance was a reflection on how well Alberto treated him. If someone believed that he abused the help, then word of the misdemeanor would come back to his father and his funds would be cut off.
So Ricardo went down to breakfast. Unfortunately, Sheamus (and several other wrestlers who Alberto had harmed over the years) were in the hotel restaurant when he went down there. "Fella!" Sheamus exclaimed.
Ricardo flinched. He put on his best smile and turned to face the Celtic Warrior. "Sheamus!" His voice sounded undeniably fake. "What do you want? Do you know what Alberto will do to me if he sees me with you?"
Sheamus' amusement faltered for a moment. "No. I don't know. But you act like he'll hurt you!"
Ricardo shook his head. "No. What? Alberto has never hurt me before! What would make you think that he has hit me?" Ricardo started to babble.
"I never asked if he would hit you, fella." Sheamus pointed out.
Ricardo frowned. He tried to think back and remember what it was that Sheamus had asked him, but his mind drew a blank. Maybe it was all of the hormones that were swirling around that he wasn't used to. He just found that he couldn't think as fast as he could usually. He had even stumbled when he had announced Alberto the night before. He worried that Alberto had started to notice, but Alberto was otherwise occupied.
Thankfully, Sheamus didn't ask any more questions. He walked away to join the likes of John Cena and Randy Orton, who had been a known couple for several years now. They were all closed friends. Ricardo sighed. He wished that he could have friends like that. However, that was kind of difficult when he was around Alberto more often than not. Alberto didn't attract that many people too him, after all…
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. You know that I would be there if I could. But you know that I cannot leave Ricardo alone for any stretch of time. He cannot be trusted." Alberto told the woman on the other end of the line.
"If he is so untrustworthy, Alberto, then why don't you fire him?" She asked warily. "I'm beginning to think that he is closer to you than I am. I don't like him, Alberto. You shouldn't be so attached to the help."
"I'm not attached to him." Alberto denied.
His fiancé sighed. "I don't trust him. I want you to fire him, Alberto. Fire him… now."
It wasn't a statement, it was a demand. Alberto frowned. He didn't like it when anyone demanded him to do anything, especially not a woman who he barely knew that he was only supposed to marry for political reasons. His father had arranged for the ceremony and the two had only met a few weeks before their parents had told them about the proposal. It was sad, but that was the way that it had to be. If Alberto had his way… well, that was only a dream.
"Fine." Alberto sighed. "I'll make you an offer. If I lose my match at SummerSlam to Sheamus, which has just been reinstated via Sheamus' request, I'll fire Ricardo."
"Do you promise?" She asked. She didn't even mention how much faith she had in him that he would win.
Alberto swallowed hard and nodded, even if she couldn't see it. "Si. My word is as good as gold."
