Chapter 7
Jeff sighed, raking a hand through his hair before deciding to go talk to someone who might be able to help. Jessa might be the lead script writer, but short of quitting, the line would go on with only a reprimand, it was too popular already. That and it was using the two biggest attractions on Smackdown, the McMahons wouldn't be letting their cash cow go.
After stripping out of her clothes, Jessa winced as she walked over to stare in the mirror, the tears falling at the sight of the huge bruise on her back that went from her shoulder blades to her waist, practically covering the entire thing because of how tiny she was. She wasn't lying when she said David nearly threw her through the wall. She then studied her arm and sighed, seeing the fingerprints clearly in the bruise, and shook her head as she raked a hand through her hair. Why had she gone through with this? Why didn't she just quit and force Mark to find someone else? "I'm fucking screwed." She muttered before walking over and slid in her Jacuzzi tub, hoping the jets helped with the current pain she was in.
Mark listened to every word Jeff said, having to disregard the cursing and the Bitchtista's if he wanted to get the story straight, which he did manage to do. The kid was irate and rambling, every other word out of his mouth seemed to be motherfucker. By the time Jeff had finished, Mark's blood was boiling. It was one thing to stay in character and get a little carried away IN THE RING, but quite another backstage and with a damn woman. "I'll handle it." He said gruffly.
After Jessa was finished with the Jacuzzi, she rubbed the special salve on her back, having to use a towel to smooth the rest on her upper back. She couldn't have bruises for this storyline and sighed, finishing up with her arm. She watched as they slowly began to disappear, the one on her back would be there a few days. She would have to use makeup and that made her angry. She wrapped herself in a towel and sighed when a knock sounded at her door. Honestly, couldn't people leave her the fuck alone?
No, people could not leave it alone. When she answered the door, there was Mark towering over her. He wore black jeans and a black muscle shirt, his freshly showered hair hanging wet down his back. He was also carrying something in his hand. "Here." He held it out. "I didn't know if you had anything for them bruises or not."
"I'm gonna kill Jeff." She muttered and snatched it from him, walking away from the door as he stepped inside, clutching her towel to her body. "I have a special cream I use for bruises. I bruise easily." She was making excuses for David's behavior and she knew it, but she didn't want anyone making a big deal out of this. She told David how it was and if he didn't listen, she'd take matters into her own hands. "I'm fine Mark, really."
"It's not fine, period." Mark said gravely, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. "I didn't know what you had so... I use that on just about everything, works great." He inclined his head towards the jar, his eyes narrowing when he seen her bruised back where the towel ended. "Can you get your back or do you need help?"
"I got most of it." She said quietly, wrapping her arms around herself, and sighed when he slowly turned her around, apparently wanting to inspect her back more. It was completely bruised, from her waist to her shoulder blades, black and purple. "He shoved me too hard." She whispered and closed her eyes when his fingertips brushed against it, hissing in pain, and had to grip the nightstand to keep from hitting him. That's how tender it was, salve or not.
"I can see that." Mark whispered, not trusting his tone at the moment. He sat her on the table, lifting her up to set her there and lowered the towel, standing behind her. He kept it loosely draped around her waist for modesty's sake, then opened the jar. A second later, he was gently massaging the cream into her back. "Was any of that scripted?" He asked softly.
"No. He wasn't supposed to touch me except hold my hand." She quietly answered wincing as the tears stung her eyes, gripping the counter with her hands tightly. "I told him if he does it again, I'm turning him in. I'm not in this to be abused. I'm in this to help get this show ratings. This isn't what I fucking signed up for...damn!" She hissed out when he hit another spot that hurt to the point to bring tears to her eyes.
Mark didn't say a word, just gentled his touch even more. He was remarkably delicate for a man his size, his hand's size, all things considered. His brow furrowed, knowing David had more then overstepped a boundary. The man was probably laughing his ass off right about now, especially if Jessa had threatened him, David figured he was untouchable. But...he wasn't.
"Thank you, Mark." Jessa quietly said when he finished, pulling the towel up and wrapped it around her again before turning to face him, the tears still in her eyes, but they hadn't fell. "Please keep this between us alright? I really don't want to cause trouble since I have to work with the asshole." She bit her bottom lip and lowered her gaze to the floor, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear.
Mark reached back to rub the back of his neck, staring down at her. "Might be a little late for that, Jessa. Jeffrey isn't going to let this lie." He said. "He's pretty pissed. Short of disabling his mouth, not much is going to keep that boy quiet." Jeff was more then pissed actually. Mark was too, but he was going to handle his anger in the ring, without words.
"I will deal with Jeff. Trust me, I can get him to shut his mouth." She smirked a little before gently stepping down from the counter, wincing at her back, and sighed before walking over to pull out a nightgown, knowing she wouldn't be able to wear a bra with how sore her back was. "Just don't kill him." She pleaded, already knowing what he was thinking, and slipped the nightgown on before the towel fell, turning around to face him. She'd already had panties on before he arrived.
He had glimpsed them too. Mark was going to have to erase that image from his mind, or better yet, he'd just use it when he did a scene with her, there was some fuel for the flames. "Start rehearsing the scenes with David." He said. "Every scene, rehearse it, in front of a crew. Then when he jumps script, he can be held accountable."
She nodded back at him, deciding that was a smart thing to do. "I'll have the camera crew film it and keep it for evidence so that way if he does jump script again, I will have the proof." She replied and walked over, sitting down on the bed, wincing a bit. "Hopefully I'll be healed before next week for Raw." She sighed heavily and rubbed her temples, feeling a migraine coming on. "Just so you know the entire storyline has been written out from beginning to end and there is not a single speck in it about him manhandling Jenessa or kissing her. This isn't a porno after all."
Mark couldn't help but smile slightly, studying her thoughtfully. "No wonder the poor bastard kissed you." He said finally. "You're too beautiful to not be kissed." He shook his head. "Get some sleep Jessa, I'll see you at work." He gave her a half wave before walking out of the room, wondering where on earth THAT had come from.
Jessa blinked, wondering if she'd heard him right, and swallowed hard before immediately shrugging it off. He was just being nice to her before she was hurt. She smiled, feeling her cheeks flame in spite of what she thought, and slowly laid down on her stomach, knowing her back was OUT of the question for the night. Her eyes closed as she snuggled in the pillow hoping next week went better than this one. She just hoped and prayed David didn't jump script again, this hurt like a mother fucker.
"Hey Jessa, when you wake up, call me." Ashley said, leaving a voice message. "Jeff got totally wasted last night at the hotel bar and shot off at the mouth when he seen David. He shot off pretty...well, it was funny, until David knocked him out. Anyways, Jeff has a concussion and David has a split forehead, Jeff ALMOST whooped his ass. Anyways, just thought you should know."
"Oh god..." Jessa groaned, her eyes shot wide open, and immediately changed into a pair of jeans and an Undertaker t-shirt before rushing out the door. She dialed Ashley's number as she headed out of the hotel and into the parking garage. She was going to KILL Jeff if it was the last thing she did. The stupid fucker. She sighed when Ashley didn't answer and nearly screamed when a hand clamped down on her shoulder, causing her to spin around and groaned when she bumped her back against her rental car. "Damn it!"
"Sorry." David said gently, stepping away from her. "Jeff's in his room, if that's who you're looking for." He said, a bandage over his forehead. "Look, Jessa, I'm sorry about last night. I got carried away. It won't happen again." He winced, feeling his head. "Definitely not ever."
"It's alright David." She quietly replied, this was awkward to say the least and Jessa would be lying if she wasn't a bit nervous being alone with this man. "We're going to start rehearsing our segments prior to the show so that way nothing goes wrong and this doesn't happen again." She crossed her arms in front of her chest when he grunted, raising an eyebrow. "Do you have a problem with that?" Her tone was deceptively sweet.
"Not at all." David said quickly. "Just not used too it, but..." He shrugged. "It's cool, I suppose you're wanting added insurance that I won't fuck up again." He smiled when she paled slightly. "It's cool, like I said, I can understand it. How's your arm and back?" He asked, gesturing down to her arm.
"They're alright. Sore, but I'll be fine. Thank you for understanding David. I'm gonna go check on Jeff again and make sure he's alright. You take care of yourself and heal that head up." She then literally bolted into the hotel and up the stairs, trembling from head to toe, chewing on her thumbnail. What the Hell was THAT about? He was...nice to her. Jessa didn't like it and shivered, wincing at her back, that wasn't the smartest thing to do. "Fuckā¦"
Ashley was in Jeff's room, keeping him company as he chattered. She had stayed with him at the hospital, then came back to keep him awake for a few hours. Sleeping in a room with Jeff was annoying, he talked in his sleep, about the most dumbest things. "I'll drive today." She offered gently.
"I feel better!"
"Dude, you look like shit!"
"You look like shit and you're lucky I love you or else I'll kick your ass." She stated, crossing her arms in front of her chest, standing in the open doorway. "Are you okay?" She asked softly, walking further into the room and sat down on the bed, pressing her hand to Jeff's, shaking her head as the tears stung her eyes. "If you ever do something like that again, I will never speak to you again." She threatened, wiping her tears away, and hugged him tightly around the neck, biting back another wince when his arm wrapped around her.
"Do what?" Jeff asked innocently, frowning when he seen her wince. "Sorry Jess. Look, he had it coming. Besides, I nailed his ass good too."
"He had to get stitches."
"Yep." Jeff grinned, then sighed under the look he was given. "I am sorry, I won't defend you again, okay?"
"Thank you, you let me handle it. Mark had a great idea and thanks for telling him. He came to my room last night and basically doctored me up." She snorted, obviously being sarcastic, and slowly stood up as she raked a hand through her hair. Why was her life suddenly turning topsy turvy over a damned storyline for her company? Seriously! It couldn't get any worse!
