Mollie's eyes fluttered open, and she quickly closed them to block out the harsh hotel room light. She slowly set up in bed and held her head. Then her hand found her eye.
"Owww…" she squealed.
She got up and walked to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. She examined the round bruise that had formed around her eye. It was a dark shade of purple.
"Gotta go heavy on the makeup today," she said to herself.
She started a steaming hot shower and got inside. As she started washing her hair, thoughts of the night before popped into her head. She remembered the entire attack, blow by blow. How did he find her? How in the world did he know where she was?
She got out of the shower and proceeded to get ready for her day. She had a mid-afternoon flight back to Stamford for a meeting with Stephanie. As she was getting ready, she heard a knock at her door.
Sighing, Mollie stepped out of the bathroom and looked through the peep hole. It was Brooklyn.
Sighing, Mollie stepped out of the bathroom and looked through the peep hole. It was Brooklyn.
"Dang it." She whispered. "Uh, Just a second." Mollie took her washcloth and acted like she was getting something off of her eye as she threw open her door. "Hey Brooklyn."
"Mornin'. What's wrong with your eye?" Brooklyn smiled as she stepped into Mollie's room once the redhead had stepped aside.
"Oh, I have a sty coming on." Mollie lied.
Brooklyn nodded and sat on Mollie's bed. "So are you up for some breakfast before you go? How'd last night with John go?"
"I didn't make it," Mollie informed her. "I had a huge migraine so I called it an early night."
"Oh…" Brooklyn replied. "What time do you fly out today?"
"Two. I've got a meeting with Stephanie."
"Ohh…bad?" she asked.
Mollie replied, "Oh no…just a review. Everything will be fine."
"Ok…" Brooklyn said. "You know, I know an old wives trick for those sties. Let me see your washcloth."
"No, B its fine, I got it." Mollie said as she turned away.
"Come on, it won't take long." Brooklyn reached again for the cloth and this time managed to swipe it from Mollie's grasp. Brooklyn gasped. "Oh my God, what the hell happened?"
"I…uh…" Mollie stammered. She was busted and couldn't get out of it.
"Who did this to you?" Brooklyn asked. "Did he? Ben?"
Mollie could not longer hold back her emotions. She let them flow from her eyes as tears like rain. She sat down on her bed, and Brooklyn quickly sat down beside her.
"What happened?" Brooklyn asked.
"I dismissed Zack because I had parked by the door. I was fine. I walked down the steps put my stuff in the car and when I turned to walk to the driver's door, Ben was right behind me. We exchanged words and he made a snide comment about my job and demanded that I come home with him. The next thing I know he's got his hands on me, slapping me around and he didn't stop until he heard someone coming out of the door again." Mollie cried.
"Did security see him? Did you report it? Mollie, you've got to press charges." Brooklyn rattled off.
"No. I can't report it. He won't stop, even if I press charges." Mollie continued. "He'll kill me, I'm sure of it."
"Not if I have anything to do with it." Brooklyn stated sternly.
"No, Brooklyn, please, just, stay out of it. Please. I'm begging you." Mollie pleaded with tear filled eyes.
"Honey, I can't do that. I'm way too involved. I swear if that man ever comes near you again, he won't get off that easy." Brooklyn threatened.
"Just, please, please, don't tell anyone. I don't think he'll be around. I just don't know how he got through the gates. Or how he found me." Mollie sniffled. Then she gasped.
"What?" Brooklyn asked concerned. "What is it?"
"My business card. He pushed me around after the hearing and my purse dumped out. One of my cards must have gotten loose. And he had to have used his press badge." Mollie placed her head in her hands. She was dizzy and light headed.
"Press badge?" Brooklyn asked.
"Aside from his dead end furniture job, Ben is a photographer for our local tribune. It's a small job but it gives him credentials." Mollie started to cry again. She should have remembered that.
As she continued to cry, Brooklyn wrapped a protective arm around her friend and held her as she cried.
"I'm sorry. You have more important things to do." Mollie sighed.
"Nonsense." Brooklyn smiled warmly. "Now, come on, get dressed. I'll teach you a couple tricks in the make up department. I've had a few black eyes from this job that needed covering up."
Mollie nodded. She gathered her things and finished getting ready. She turned to her friend and sighed. "Thank you."
"My pleasure." Brooklyn nodded. "Now, just be sure you use the concealer around your eye, then your foundation and then powder. It won't hide it all, it's pretty deep, but it will help."
Then went into the bathroom and Brooklyn proceeded to give Mollie her makeup tricks of the trade. It helped but the bruise was still pretty visible.
"Can we take a rain check on breakfast this morning?" Mollie asked. "I just don't think I'm up to it today."
"It's totally understandable, but please call me as soon as you land in Stamford," Brooklyn pleaded.
Mollie replied, "I will. But it will be ok. He doesn't know where I live."
"If he knows you work for the WWE, it couldn't be that hard to find out where the headquarters are located."
Brooklyn had a point, but Mollie had to push that out of her mind. "I know. I'll call you. Thank you," she said as she gave her a hug.
"You're welcome." Brooklyn replied as she left Mollie.
Mollie closed the door behind her and finished getting ready. Then the need for some coffee struck her. And this morning it was going to take more than just the normal in-room coffee.
I need Starbucks…Mollie thought as she grabbed her sunglasses and made her way downstairs.
Lucky for her, there was one in the lobby. Mollie made sure she was nearly packed before grabbing her wallet and room key. She prayed as she waited for the elevator that her make up was good enough to hide her bruise.
Taking the elevator to the lobby, Mollie quickly dashed for the line that grew at the Starbuck's counter. Once she had ordered her tall java chip frappacino and the barista filled her request, Mollie tipped the young girl and headed right for the elevators.
So far, she was lucky and had yet to see anyone from work. But she the elevator dinged and the doors opened, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Well if it isn't my favorite redhead this morning." John said as he stepped up next to her.
Mollie turned and smiled. "Hi John…"
He asked, "Are you feeling better?"
"I am," Mollie lied. "My head is still hurting a little bit though."
"Hence the coffee…" he commented.
"Yeah…" she said, trying to turn so he couldn't see the bruise.
"What time is your…whoa…" he said as he looked at her. He gently took his thumb and finger and pulled her chin up. "Some migraine…" She didn't answer until he asked, "What really happened?"
"Oh, I was walking through my hotel room sending B a text and walked straight into the door frame of my bathroom," she lied.
"Oh really…" he said.
"Yeah." She smiled slightly. "So," she looked him over as his hand dropped from her chin, "just finished at the gym huh?" She changed the subject.
John frowned slightly. "Yeah. Heading up to shower and get ready to head out. What about you?"
"I'm packing then going to the airport. I have to meet with Stephanie in Stamford." She nodded.
"I hope it's nothing bad." He commented as the elevator doors dinged on his floor. He stuck his foot in the doorway so it wouldn't close.
"No, just a review. Sorry again about last night. But we'll meet when I get back, I promise." Mollie was praying she'd get out of there before he asked again about her eye.
"See you later then." John said as he exited the elevator. But before the doors could close, he stuck his hand in between then. "Are you sure you're alright?" He just had to ask.
"I'm good. I'll see you later…" she replied with a smile as the elevator closed and continued up.
"Bye…" he said as the doors shut and she was gone. "Something's not right…" he said to himself. He grabbed his phone and typed out a text to Brooklyn.
Where are you?
About to head to the airport. Why?
Hang out for a sec. Coming by your room.
Ok.
John knew that if anyone knew what was going on, it would be Brooklyn. He quickly raced up to her room and knocked on the door. She opened the door and motioned for John to come in. She, at the moment, had a mouth full of toothpaste.
She spit out the toothpaste and smiled, "What can I do for you, John?"
"What happened to Mollie? Where did she get that black eye?" he asked.
Brooklyn's heart sank. She wanted to tell John what happened, but she had sworn secrecy to Mollie. "What? I haven't seen her this morning," she lied.
"I ran into her downstairs and she had a huge black eye. She said she ran into the door frame of the bathroom while sending you a text," he explained.
Brooklyn scrambled for a reply. "That sounds like her. You know how much of a klutz she is. Heck, she's literally run into you several times.
"Yeah." He chuckled a little at the thought. "But all laughs aside, are you sure?"
Brooklyn swallowed a little hard. She hated lying to John. If anyone always had her back it was him. But she had Mollie's. "Positive. She was texting me last night like she always does and I'm sure just wasn't paying attention. She's a goofball. She gets so focused on one task she forgets to breathe sometimes. I'm sure she's fine."
He thought for a moment. "Alright." John sighed. He was caring more for his friend than he thought. "Want a ride to the airport?"
"Sure." Brooklyn smiled. "Gimme like ten minutes and I'll meet you in the lobby?"
"Ten it is." John nodded and left the blonde letting out a huge sigh of relief.
Ten minutes later, John met his bubbly Diva friend in the lobby and they were off to the airport. By this time, Mollie was boarding her plane to Stamford. She sat down and breathed a sigh of relief. She wondered if John believed her story about her eye, but she also hated lying. John had been so nice to her, as had everyone else in the WWE. But John had garnered a special place in her heart.
By the time the plane had taken off, Mollie was prepping for her meeting with Stephanie. It was time for her new hire review and even though she had one as the receptionist, this new position granted her even more of a challenge and Mollie only prayed she was making the princess of the WWE Empire happy. If not, she'd surely have her head on a platter in front of Vince.
Once Mollie figured she was as ready as she could be, she gathered her things up and set them in her carryon bag before hunkering down to catch a few moments of rest before the plane would land.
Finally in Connecticut, Mollie waited for her luggage and found her driver that would take her back to WWE Global in Stamford. Through the drive, Mollie answered texts and emails from her various Superstars and Divas regarding their schedules and managed to set up a few things for meetings and interviews for the next Raw.
The black car pulled up to Global and Mollie exited. The driver promised to have her things sent to her office in order for her to meet with Stephanie. As Mollie rode the elevator to one of the top floors in building, she nervously smoothed out her skirt and dress jacket. And as the door dinged on Stephanie's floor, she glanced in the reflection of the silver walls in the elevator to make sure her eye was still covered up good enough.
If Stephanie caught on, she'd have to lie and that was not what she was looking to do. Then an idea struck her. Her glasses. She quickly pulled them from her briefcase and slid them up her face. The frames would hide what the make up was desperately tying to keep covered.
"Good afternoon Mollie." Stephanie's secretary said from behind her desk. The older woman reminded Mollie of her high school librarian.
"Good afternoon." Mollie smiled. "Is Stephanie ready for me?"
"Yes. I'll let her know you're here." The woman said and called into Stephanie's office. There was a brief pause as the woman waited for Stephanie's words. When she hung up she smiled at Mollie. "Go on in."
Mollie sighed and took her things with her, stepping into the expansive and highly expensive office.
Stephanie looked up from her computer and nodded. "Hi Mollie. Come on in."
Mollie tried to read Stephanie's body language and was coming up empty. She couldn't tell if she was about to get a pat on the back or a boot out the door.
Stephanie grabbed what appeared to be Mollie's file from her desk and looked up. "Sit down. How are you doing?"
"I'm good," Mollie answered. "How are you?" she asked, referring to Stephanie's ever-growing baby belly.
"Getting as big as a house," she laughed. "But, we're doing great. Now, I've got your review right here. I need you to look over it, ask any questions you might have, and then sign at the bottom stating that you've reviewed it.
Mollie reluctantly opened up the folder and began reading. She was relieved to have received glowing reviews from everyone – Superstars, Divas, backstage crew, and even Vince and Stephanie themselves. She did have a few things that she needed to work on, in which Mollie agreed wholeheartedly. She smiled and signed the review.
Stephanie laughed to herself at Mollie's reaction. "I'm not the big bad wolf Mollie. You're doing a fantastic job. You're a valued member of the WWE team."
"Thank you so much. This is by far the greatest job I've ever had, and I am so thankful for it," Mollie smiled.
"I'll let you get to your office and get to work," Stephanie said as she got up to shake Mollie's hand.
"Thanks Stephanie," she replied as she turned to head toward her office. She gave Stephanie's secretary a relieved smile and wink and got on the elevator to go downstairs. Once she made it to her office she locked the door, threw off her high heels, and proceeded on her work at her desk.
The time literally clicked away and before Mollie realized it she had returned more phone calls, emails and written a few reports before her wall clock dinged 5 pm. She knew she wasn't going home anytime soon so she called for take out and alerted the night guards that she'd be in her office and was expecting food.
She seemed to cook through more work as she waited for her food since the phones were on night service. However, just as she sat down with her Chinese and Mountain Dew her office phone rang.
She knew her cell was off and charging and figured it might be Stephanie telling her to leave it until tomorrow but when she picked up the receiver she was surprised to hear the voice on the other line.
"World Wrestling Entertainment, Mollie speaking." She answered.
"I'm glad you made it back safely." He said.
"Oh…hi John," she replied surprised. "I did."
Mollie thought of something to say. "Hi John." Was the best she could come up with.
"Now, first thing is first, how'd your meeting go?" John asked politely. He was now home and relaxing in his backyard. He was lonely but at peace.
"Fine, thank you. She thinks I'm doing a great job." Mollie laughed.
"You didn't need Stephanie to tell you that." John flirted a little. Man was he out of the game for too long. 'Wait a minute, am I flirting?' He thought. With a slight chuckle and a shake of his head he continued, "Everyone could vouch for you for that."
"Well, thank you. Obviously your flight was decent." Mollie tried to carry on the conversation but was running out of ideas and fast.
"I slept. It was quick." He replied. "So, what are you doing there so late?"
"It's only six thirty, John." Mollie laughed a little.
"But you should be at home, unpacking, doing laundry, or whatever your little heart desires." John said. 'My God I sound lame.'
"I should, you're right, but there is way too much work to be done. Just because I'm on the road, doesn't mean the buck stops here." Mollie straightened up in her chair.
"Well, I won't keep you from your work," he said. "I just wanted to call and check on you. How's the eye?"
"Oh it's fine. Maybe if I'd stop being such a klutz things like this wouldn't happen," she lied once again.
"I'll see you Friday for the house show. Don't work too hard," he smiled on his end of the phone.
"I won't. Have a great week," she replied.
"Bye…"
Mollie said, "Bye…" She hung up the phone and smiled. Even though it was killing her lying to John, she loved the feeling of having a friend who really seemed to care.