Cody could see Bryony standing with her back to him as he made his way down the hall. She was back in business attire, black capris and a tight lilac blouse. He smiled, she looked so cute and she'd kept her long pretty red-blonde hair down. As he approached, he could see her engaged in conversation with CM Punk, who was a Raw superstar and not scheduled to be here. He was in plainclothes, and suddenly it occurred to Cody that last night's fiasco with the former champions was probably what this meeting was about.
"I'm not worried, Bryony. You didn't do anything wrong," Punk said. Bryony nodded.
"Regardless, Phil, this situation cannot be taken lightly. I was accosted by a ring full of his superstars, and because of Brock and Cody defending me some of them are now sidelined with injuries. That affects the storyline. And the storyline affects everything. Cody and Brock broke kayfabe, and that is absolutely inexcusable. I am responsible for them both and-" she stopped when Punk saw Cody standing behind her.
"Speak of the damn devil. Welcome to the show, Cody. Mr. McMahon likes daisies last I heard," Punk said with a smirk.
"But our boss likes roses, Philly. Take note," Cody replied, handing them to Bryony. She smiled a little.
"Thank you, Mr. Runnels. That is very kind of you. Roses are my favorite, how did you know?"
Cody shrugged nonchalantly, his signature conceited smirk playing on his face. Punk glared at him.
"Probably because every girl he gives flowers to just loves long-stemmed roses," he spat back, making Bryony frown slightly.
"Don't be rude, Phil. I'll let you have one of them if you ask nicely," she said, pulling one rose out and handing it to Punk. He glared at Cody.
"Just wait until Brock sees those. You'll be wishing the Big Show had crushed you last night," Punk said, opening the conference room door and allowing them to file inside. Sure enough, Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman were seated on either side of Vince McMahon, accompanied by John Cena and Daniel Bryan. Also seated were two characters they didn't expect, Dusty Rhodes and Cody's brother, Dustin.
"Good evening, folks. Glad you could join us. Lovely flowers, Bryony," Vince commented as they each took their seats. Bryony sat at the opposite head of the table with Punk and Cody on either side of her.
"Thank you. They were a gift," she replied, straightening her blouse and pulling back her hair into a quick ponytail.
"From who?" Brock asked, his face as hard as stone. She glanced up at him with icy eyes.
"From Mr. Runnels. Cody Runnels," she clarified. Cody smiled a little but Brock's eyes on him made him swallow uncomfortably.
"Boy, I've been hearing some not too nice things about the state a' yer damn career lately," Dusty said, bringing the attention to them. Cody had figured this was coming.
What's going on, Codes?" Dustin asked.
"Everything you've heard is true, dad. But I've straightened it all out. With Bryony's help. She opened my eyes to it, and even gave me a chance to regain my title," Cody said, Vince made a gruff noise from his seat.
"Which, for the record, was unplanned. In fact, that whole evening was unplanned," John Cena spoke up, the frustration in his voice evident.
"Right up to accosting and attempted assault of the Raw administration?" Heyman cut in. John shook his head, sitting back in his seat angrily. Vince cleared his throat, directing the attention to himself.
"Listen, folks. What we're here to do today is understand where to go from now. What you led last night after the show was over the line, John, was beyond unacceptable even under the circumstances. The response from the universe, however, has been overwhelmingly positive."
And oh, wasn't that what it always came down to in the end? The ratings. Vince leaned forward, looking at Cody as though he were the only man in the room.
"No more drinking, son. I'm not going to make Bryony your keeper, but you," his gaze turned to her "You must keep an eye on this man. He needs to be in his prime if we're going to put him up against the best. And you need to get back to training, because you will be out of the office and in the arena with Cody Rhodes a lot more. How rusty are you?"
Punk choked on the water he was sipping. Bryony's eyes widened a little.
"I haven't wrestled in two years, sir," she replied. Brock shook his head.
"She's not getting in the ring with anyone," he said gruffly.
"You used to wrestle?" Cody asked. She looked at him, about to answer when Punk cut her off.
"In the Indies. She whooped my ass once or twice. It was… pretty hot," he winked at Bryony, who wasn't entirely sure how to take the statement or the gesture.
"You'd better rethink your choice of words, tiny punching bag," Brock growled. Punk straightened up in his chair a little.
"I used to wrestle, that's how I got into this business in the first place. Vince enjoyed my business savvy only slightly more than my wrestling," she replied with a small smile, toying with a rose from the bundle. Vince nodded, a gruff laugh escaping him.
"That is true. I just need to know you're still in shape enough to take a hit or two if need be. Not that I am saying she will," Vince added to Brock and Heyman, "You'll be appearing tonight. Get to hair and make-up as soon as possible."
Bryony nodded, taking up her flowers.
"And as for you two," Vince turned to John and Daniel, "John, you're off until you're medically cleared to compete. And if I hear you're behind any other half-hearted uprising, you will be fined and suspended. Daniel, you've got a match tonight. Get ready," Vince rose up from his chair, prompting the same from everyone else. They all filed out, and before Cody could say he'd accompany Bryony to hair and make-up, he was grabbed up by his brother and dad.
"Ya never call, damnit," Dusty said, throwing his arms around his much smaller son. Cody smiled a little; though his family was a little off he loved them all the same. And it was nice to hear his dad's voice. He really didn't ever call, and it was a good time to spend a few minutes with people he rarely ever saw.
"I'll take you to hair and make-up, Bryony Annabelle, let's go," Punk said, throwing an arm over her. She looked at him, still a little confused as to her old friend's sudden change of attitude.
"I've got to get to the gym so… maybe I can call you later," Brock added hesitantly to Bryony. She shrugged a little.
"You're welcome to make the attempt, sir," she replied, though not sounding as abrasive as she usually did when she spoke to Brock. Seeing Cody with his family, his father doting on him and rubbing his hair out of place; it hurt a little. Punk pulled her off in the direction of Cosmo, and Cody called out that he'd meet up with her later.
"So, what is going on with you and that kid?" Punk asked as soon as they rounded the corner and they were far out of earshot.
"Cody?" she replied quite innocently, playing with another rose in the bundle. Punk adjusted his arm around her, pulling the petal from a rose and tossing it to the floor.
"Yes, Cody. I thought you 'didn't date wrestlers'," he answered, throwing air quotes with his hands. She bristled a little at the statement.
"There's nothing going on between Cody Runnels and myself, Phil. And if there was or ever is, it's not any of your business," she replied. He looked down at her, stopping them in their walking.
"He's a little too old for you, don't you think? And he's still considered a wrestler, no matter how badly he does it. What happened to the old you? Always at the gym, learning everything they could teach you and perfecting every move they threw at you? Why did you stop calling? Stop training with me?" Punk said, taking her glasses from her nose when she didn't respond.
"Why do you wear these anyway? You've never needed glasses," he said, looking over them. She grabbed them back from him.
"I feel as though they give me a more professional appearance," she answered, putting them in her pocket and looking at him. She felt naked without her glasses, even if they were only for reading. It was who she was now.
"You're beautiful exactly like this. Just like I remember you the first time I saw you back in Chicago," he said, looking her deeply in the eyes. Her nose twitched a little. He was too close to her, and she wasn't fond of being cornered after last night. Where had he been last night anyway? Not at her side, like Cody had been. He had no right to speak. In the short time she'd known Cody he'd been a better friend to her than he had all these years.
"You're a charmer, Phil. But you've got your title already. Plan on keeping it and you won't need to be layering on all this icing," she said, putting herself away from him.
"Just stay away from Cody Runnels, Bry. Trust me, he's not worth your time," Punk said. Bryony shook her head a little. His intentions were not right here, she could sense it.
"I've got to go," she said quietly, walking off towards hair and make-up.
"He's a loser, Bry!" he called to her. She'd spend the next hour with nothing to think about but his words, and the past she shared with the straight-edge superstar.
