SORRY that it took so long for an update. I'm done with university now, so I should have more time to write! That is… if I get reviews ;)

Like I've said before the last few chapters, lots has changed with these two since I started writing this story, but I'm going to pretend they are still the way they were when this story began...

Disclaimer: I don't own the WWE or the people in it.

Chapter 10

Maryse quickly shut the door and leaned against the frame as she tried to settle the butterflies in her stomach. As her giggles began to subside from the ridiculous conversation she just faked with Phil, the platinum blonde realized that the Diva's locker room had come to a girl was quiet and every pair of eyes was fixed on her. She froze for a split second before she attempted to regain her composure.

"Hey sexies," She began, trying to sound as confident and in-control as she normally was. She had not wanted to cause a scene and she certainly had no intention of trying to explain to the girls what just happened. "So what's new tonight? What's going on girls?"

Melina was the first to respond, practically leaping out of her chair by the make-up stand.

"Oh my gracious, 'Ryse! You sure are chipper this afternoon," The fiery Latina exclaimed. "Is it because of anything specific? Or anyone? Anything interesting you would like to share with the group?"

"Nope," Maryse replied. "Nothing special today. I'm just feeling…" She took a moment to try and best explain her feelings in English. "I'm feeling happy." Thinking about it, there really wasn't an easier way to describe it without giving too much away. She was euphoric. Even without the help of the drugs she usually depended on, it was the happiest the French-Canadian had felt in years. The best she had felt since she began dating Mike…

As if on cue, a loud knock interrupted the giddy chatter that had overtaken the Diva's dressing room. Maryse just felt like she knew who was going to be on the other side of the door, so she chose to do what seemed like it would make the smallest scene. The platinum blonde adjusted her dress, re-flipped her hair, then slowly made her way to the door. As she hesitantly opened it, her eyes met an obviously-unhappy Mike's. Without a word, Miz grabbed her forearm, whipped her through the doorframe and slammed the door behind them in one fluid motion.

"What are you doing, Mike?" Maryse asked quietly, avoiding eye contact and keeping her voice down. "Where are you—"

"Shut that damn mouth and follow me," Mike spat. "We need to talk. Oh, and don't bother calling for help or struggling. It will only make it worse."

Dragging her down the hallway, Mike stopped in front of an empty locker room and flung the younger beauty down onto the hard floor inside. Her head bounced hard against the surface and she immediately scurried toward the nearest corner. Maryse had been in this position with Mike before and she knew that, with him, the best offense was a good defense. If she could just get in a corner and curl up, maybe she could shield herself from too much pain until his anger subsided.

"Is it true?" He questioned angrily. The Miz paced the floor, fuming. "Don't play games with me, Maryse and just answer the damn question. Is it true?"

She didn't want him to think she was being a smart-ass, but the platinum blonde honestly had no idea what he was asking. With Mike, he could be asking about any number of random things. She took a shaky breath before trying to calmly respond.

"Is what true, Mike?"

Her question was met with a backhand to the face. "I don't like your tone," Mike said coldly. "You know damn well what I want to know. Are you fucking that loser?"

Damn, Maryse thought. How the hell had he found out about Phil?

"No Mike, not at all!" She exclaimed. Technically, she wasn't lying. She and Phil had never had sex. Hell, they had just expressed their feelings earlier that day. By this point, though, Maryse knew she had to say whatever she thought Mike wanted to hear just to get out of this unscathed. "I swear, there is nothing there."

"That's not what I heard," Mike continued. "I heard he brought you to the arena today. You never ride with others. The only person you have ever ridden with was me because you don't have friends, Maryse. Nobody around here likes you. Nobody here wants to associate with a drug-addicted whore."

As Mike began his furious rant, the diva tried her hardest to block it out, just as she had times before. Normally, his tirade about her bad habits tore her apart. She usually felt just as alone and unwanted as he made her out to be. But now that she had Phil, Maryse didn't feel alone or unwanted. She now knew she had the opportunity to turn things around. She just had to get out of this situation alive.

The Miz continued his hate-filled speech as he paced around the room, occasionally stopping to violently grab at her wrists or neck to make sure she was listening. This was a different Mike than even she was used to, though. Maybe it was because she was clean and sober for this argument, but his anger didn't seem to be simmering and his violent tone didn't sound like it was subsiding. He was in a trance-like state, consumed by his jealousy and rage.

She had to get out, and she had to get out now. Searching the small, cold room for something that could help, Maryse remembered that she had put her phone in her bra while she was still in the Divas' locker room. Waiting for the Miz to turn his back to her, the French-Canadian woman quickly whipped the cell phone out and typed a one word text to the contact she had last texted—Phil.

Help

Shoving the phone back into her bra, Maryse went back to her curled-up position on the cold floor. Her shift in position seemed to spark Mike's attention, as he darted to her side, grabbing a fistful of her hair and pulling her head back.

"Listen, bitch," Mike began. "What I'm really trying to say is that you owe me. For all of the shit I bought you, you owe me. And I want my payment…. right now…"

The Miz held the diva firmly in position with his right hand as he let the left begin exploring her body. She was still wearing her tiny dress, so there wasn't much fabric to protect her. As his hand roughly rubbed up to her chest, the phone she was keeping between her breasts began to vibrate. Mike's whole body froze as his eyes locked with her terrified gaze. He released her hair and quickly moved that hand to her neck, gripping tightly. Slowly, Mike grabbed the phone out of her dress and broke eye contact only to read the name of the incoming caller. He immediately dropped the phone and shoved her against the wall behind her, tightening the grip around her neck.

Using a tone that could only be described as terrifying, the Miz quietly interrogated his victim. "He's looking for you, isn't he?"

Without waiting for a response, Miz slapped her hard across the face, this time making forceful contact with Maryse's nose. The blood began to drip almost immediately as the older superstar ran to the doorway.

"This isn't over between us, Maryse," He muttered on his way out. "I still own you and I'm not through with you yet." With that, Mike darted out of the room, leaving a bleeding Maryse alone in the corner.

With trembling hands, the blonde beauty tried to reach for the phone Mike had tossed on the floor. Fortunately for her, she wouldn't need to use it as a familiar voice came flooding down the hallway, calling her name. It was the same voice that had brought her comfort so many times before…

The tears had begun to fall by this point and she couldn't seem to form a response. She shifted a bit in the corner, trying to find the strength to call back. Almost as if he heard her silent struggle, Maryse's knight in shining armour burst through the doorway. His eyes frantically searched the room as his voice called out for her again. Punk was about to turn and leave, thinking the room empty, when his eyes fell on the trembling figure in the far corner.

"Oh God, Maryse," He cried, rushing to her side. He surveyed the younger woman, becoming even more concerned when he saw the trail of blood down her face. "What the fuck happened?"

She still couldn't get her voice to formulate any words, so instead, she buried herself in his chest and began sobbing uncontrollably. Phil had absolutely no idea what to do at that moment. He had never felt so helpless in his entire life and he couldn't stand it. He would've given anything in this world just to take away the woman's physical and emotional pain. Using one hand to hold her and one to rub soft circles on her shaking back, the bearded man was determined to make sure he never had to see her like this again.

"I should've been with you," Phil muttered, the guilt present in his voice. "I am so sorry, Maryse. I never should have left you alone." That morning in the hotel, had told her he would protect her from Mike. Apparently, after the events in his car that afternoon, he had completely forgotten about the Miz and the danger he put the blonde beauty in.

Using Maryse's phone that was still laying on the floor, Punk called one of the WWE trainers and told him that he had an emergency in the empty locker room. There would be plenty of time for Phil to try to apologize to the woman he loved, but for now he had to get her the help she needed. For now, he had to keep his promise and keep her safe.

Review, please! Those are what keep me writing. I know this chapter was a little dark, but I hope you enjoyed it. I'll update soon As always, thanks for reading!