Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.

Chapter Nine

September 6th, 2013

Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Triple H really liked having us all lined up on the top of the stage to listen to his sermons.

It was SmackDown and Triple H was back in the ring, flanked by Brad and Vickie. The Shield were acting as security again, forming a three-man, scary-looking barrier between us and the higher-ups. Stephanie was absent, for some reason. Probably doing high-powered corporate business-ing in a fancy pantsuit.

Good. I had a feeling that Stephanie wasn't my biggest fan, and for my super-secret plan to work, I needed to talk to Triple H without her influence.

I zoned out a little while he spoke, looking down at my feet. He was trying to justify his firing of Cody Rhodes, an explanation about as sincere and convincing as Dolph claiming to be a natural blonde.

I tuned back in around the time Triple H said he needed to do what's best for business, and turned to face the roster.

"That being said, that is why we're here tonight. I'm here for all of you."

Except Daniel Bryan.

"I want to create an open forum because I feel like there might be some misunderstanding of how business is being done, and I don't want anybody to have fear for their jobs. So I want to have an open forum here. I want to open the microphone up to the WWE Superstars, and I want you to understand. I want you to be able to ask any question of me."

Wait…

"I want you to be able to make any statement with no fear whatsoever, at all, of any repercussions. Now, the floor is yours. Who's gonna go first?"

It's like someone read my ultra-secret plan schemes and decided to gift-wrap an opportunity for me. This was too good to be true.

And that made me wary. The last thing I wanted to do was cheerfully throw myself head-first into one of Management's traps.

I needed someone to ask something first. Just to check how Triple H was responding to demands.

To most people's surprise, Damien Sandow wandered up to that lone microphone centre-stage. You would have thought he of all people would support Cody Rhodes getting fired–

Yep. To no one's surprise, he was inches away from getting down on his knees and thanking Triple H for what he did.

Triple H accepted those thanks, and then told us all that he didn't want us to suck up to him like Sandow did. He seemed to genuinely want to address concerns.

Well, I'd believe that when I see him genuinely address concerns without setting The Shield on the person making trouble.

Kofi Kingston was next to reluctantly step up to the microphone. When he aired the concern that everyone was worried about their jobs after what happened to Cody, and how he didn't see how that was best for business, I found myself craning my neck forwards to await Triple H's response.

"That's a fair point. And I can understand how, from your point of view, you wouldn't understand that–"

I could have murdered Heath Slater for interrupting Triple H's promising reply to tell Kofi that no one cared about the answer to his question, and went on to compliment Triple H.

Triple H was clearly exasperated by Heath Slater's interruptions. "Somebody else have a point? Please, let's be honest, OK? Open up! Somebody, please."

RVD complained about the vibe he was getting from the higher-ups. Triple H reassured him that he still had faith in RVD, and that's why he brought him back.

Ryback complained about being seen as a bully. Triple H pointed out that it wasn't his fault that Dolph was injured when Ryback fought him, and that Ryback just did his job like he was supposed to, and offered to give him a rematch with Dolph tonight.

My confidence swelled a little when Triple H commended him on doing his job like he was supposed to, and how bad it was that he was unjustly treated.

This was good. This was probably the best opportunity I could be given. Vickie was right there, so I could argue against her points in public rather than have her talk to Triple H privately. Management already liked me because they saw me as the angry ex-girlfriend who hated Daniel Bryan, and I was happy to keep playing that role.

No time like the present.

Leaving Layla's side, I walked up to the microphone.

Most of the roster tensed as I made my way, with some staring at me in surprise. A few rolled their eyes. So, basically typical reactions.

I cleared my throat and tried to look at Triple H as I talked. In front of him, The Shield were watching me warily.

"So…this has been sort of at the back of my mind for a while," I said. Now, let's start with compliments. "And I…I've been wanting to talk about this, but there's never really been a good time. But with this new system, it's easier to talk to a specific authority. So, I…uh…"

When I practised this alone in front of a mirror, I had to fake the nervousness to add a little vulnerability. Now that I was actually saying this? My anxiety wasn't that artificial.

"I feel that last year, when I was General Manager of Raw, I was unfairly pushed out of that job. And I wanted to know if there was any way to…fix a bit of that injustice?"

Vickie was giving me the deadliest of looks. Brad was going pale.

Triple H remained neutral, pausing before nodding his head slightly. "That's definitely a concern we need to address further. Guys?"

He was addressing The Shield. They shifted and looked back at their boss.

Nope, I was dead. I shouldn't have said anything. They were going to take away my Divas title and throw me out after The Shield ground me into mincemeat.

"Could you let Miss Lee come forward into the ring so we could discuss this?"

I blinked.

The Shield blinked.

Then they parted like the Red Sea, and I hesitantly approached the ring.

I passed Ambrose and Rollins, who were still looking wary. I don't know, maybe they were worried I'd smuggled a bomb in my Chuck Taylors and wanted to get closer to blow up everyone.

Still, they let me pass and before I knew it, I was up the stairs and in the ring.

Vickie was already quick to approach Triple H and start spewing her version of what happened. "Triple H, sir, it was AJ herself who resigned from her position…"

"After heavy pressure from Vickie, but you probably know that," I pointed out. "It was on national TV every week. She used fake voicemails and edited camera footage to make it look like I was having a relationship with one of our talent–"

"John Cena," Vickie declared, just so happening to name-drop the man who caused this whole problem with Daniel Bryan. "The man that she started openly dating just a few weeks after she resigned."

"After he initiated the relationship and I called it off a few weeks later because I felt Vickie had given him an unfair opportunity to go after the Money in the Bank contract – just a few months after he cashed his own in and lost – to try and spite me."

"No, she pushed him off a ladder because he hurt her feelings. Clearly she's the unprofessional one."

"Enough!" Triple H shouted. He looked at both of us. "I'm aware of the events of last year. I do actually watch the product I help to create. And, AJ, you have a fair point."

Internally, I pumped my fist in the air.

He looked at Vickie. "You never did show any evidence to back up your accusations."

"There were photos of them on a date! I had witnesses!"

"Circumstantial pictures and unreliable witnesses," Triple H corrected her.

Vickie realised she wasn't going to get anywhere with justifying her ways to get me fired, so she changed tactics. "I didn't think she was emotionally stable enough to act professionally."

"Mr. McMahon disagreed," I stated.

Triple H was still studying both of us, then smirked. "She was stable enough to dump Daniel Bryan and take the opportunity to be General Manager."

Yes! Focus on the dislike for Daniel Bryan. We have something in common.

The COO turned to me, and his expression hardened a little. "Of course, I can't just give you back your old position."

Out of the corner of my eye, Brad looked like he was about to faint in relief.

"It would be a conflict of interests with you being Divas Champion, so it would mean stripping you of your title, which…" Triple H smirked again as my hands automatically went to the belt around my waist as he talked about tearing away my Championship. "I can see you wouldn't like to do. Tell you what I can do, though."

I took a deep breath.

"How would you like to be Assistant General Manager of both Raw and SmackDown?"

"Oh my God," Layla yelled, pulling me into a hug as soon as I walked into my dressing room. "Don't ever do something like that again without telling us. We thought they were going to kill you."

"I didn't know if my plan would work," I shrugged. Or, at least, attempted to shrug while Layla's arms were clamped around me. "But hey, Assistant GM's not so bad."

Big E was a little more reluctant to greet me. "AJ…are you sure you wanna work for them?"

"I can't do anything about more Divas matches or improving talent while I'm still just a wrestler. I have to work on the inside."

"But everything they did to Bryan and–"

"The Divas division is more important. Sure, it sucks that the higher-ups are stopping Daniel being Champion. But that's one person. This is the entire female roster," I retorted. "I want people to stop treating us like jokes."

Layla finally released me from the hug, and instead hooked her arm around mine. She did the same with Big E. "Hey, if you can get them to keep the Shield from jumping out and ambushing us at some point, I'm great with it."

"Speaking of Divas matches," I said. "Is there actually any match on tonight with female competitors?"

Layla made a face. "The Bellas versus The Funkadactyls."

"Oh, God," I sighed, taking a seat at my vanity table. "Of course that's the match on tonight. It's not like there was a disputed finish to the #1 Contender match or anything that they still need to iron out by Night of Champions."

"Who's your favourite for that, by the way?" Layla asked.

I shrugged. "Natalya would be the best for a good match, I guess, but…"

"But?" Layla repeated after a pause.

"I don't know," I looked down at my feet. "I guess I wanted you in a match for the Contender slot. You deserve it more than them."

I looked up when Layla didn't reply immediately. She had an odd expression on her face, as if she were touched but not quite expecting to be.

"Thanks," she finally said, smiling. Then she cleared her throat. "So…the Funkadactyls-Bellas match. Want to crash it?"

I thought this over. As tempting as that sounded, maybe I shouldn't interfere with matches so soon after Triple H gave me a position of power. "Nah. Let them have their little match, it'll give them something to whine about on their reality show."

Big E was still a little grumpy. "I'm getting water, you want some?"

"Sure," I replied, smiling at him in an attempt at reassurance.

"You, Layla?"

"I'm good."

I pulled my phone out of the pockets of my denim shorts, planning to type up a plan for how to get matches. Maybe if I…

"Can I help you?"

Big E had opened the door to leave, only to find all three members of the Shield in my doorway.

Reigns – surprisingly – was the one to reply. "We're here to pick up AJ. Triple H wants her at a meeting."

I jumped up from my seat. "Cool."

This should be good to observe. Check out how things are done, how to bring up suggestions, work out what the overall priorities are. I would be the best damn Assistant GM and drag the Divas division out of the mud if it's the last thing I do.

Then I looked down at myself. "Am I good in shorts, or is there a dress code thing?"

"You're fine," Ambrose stated, sounding bored. "Come on."

Shrugging, I nodded goodbye to Layla and Big E before joining the Shield in the hallway.

I should dig out my pantsuits again. And maybe invest in some heels. I doubt they did foot-high ones to put me on the same eye-level as Triple H or Reigns, but I'm sure that I could at least match Brad's height.

Time to be all professional and stuff.