Riley winced as she watched the repeat of last weeks events. Dave powerbombing Jon, Colby being attacked by Randy and Joe being pedigreed by Hunter. Battered and bruised, the guys still exclaimed about how great it all worked out.
"Riley, the meeting is in ten minutes"
She nodded to the assistant who had peeped their head round the door. She was never found in her own office, she was always in The Shield locker room with her guys as they watched the playback of their previous tv time and went through discussions on how they could progress forward.
"So tonight Evolution will come out all suited and booted. Hunter and Randy will talk a bit of smack, show some clips of you guys getting beat up last week and then finally...FinallY!" RIley exclaimed holding her piece of paper tightly with a smile "Dave can do his promo and wa-la no more working with Dave."
"As long as he doesn't fuck it up" Joe stated with a smirk.
Riley shot him a glare and began pacing back and forth turning her piece of paper over looking at the next layout.
"And then you guys cut in on Dave's promo. Rude. "
"And we come down through the crowd looking devilishly handsome as always" Colby picked up Riley and spun her around, she managed to maintain reading her piece of paper without them being flung everywhere.
"Then Jon will talk some smack to them and then start on Hunter about being humbled. Jon I have an idea here if you wanna go with it?"
Riley looked at Jon who was sat with his elbows on his knees as he looked through his promo with disdain. She knew he hated following script and felt like he was really backed into a corner when it came to not channeling his indie ways of cutting a promo.
"Jon, ..."
He held up a hand to shush her before proceeding to walk out the room, it wasn't rude or disrespectful. She knew he was going to go find Mox and rework the promo in his old set ways.
"Riley, after this heat with Evolution, whats coming for us next? I mean we're at the top the highest peak" Colby stated and Joe cast her a worrying glance.
"Well you guys will get pushed together or individually, there's some major titles which all three of you are ready for" Riley shrugged "I'm sure it will be an amicable split."
"Thanks everyone for joining me today" Stephanie stated with a smile.
Riley looked at the piece of paper that was handed to her, one big major change and one update. Both could have not came at a worse time.
"First of all let's start with the European tour. Carrano you know where you stand with that?"
Riley watched Mark nod and winced herself, she was on a completely opposite tour to Jon. The only time they would clash would be on the televised shows. One in Paris, one in London, one in Spain and one in Germany. The rest of the time they would be on complete opposite ends of the tour.
"Riley we have been so thoroughly impressed by your work with Jon, Joe and Colby. You've really helped maintain their bond as well as making their promos as dramatic as the next. Due to this we really don't want to pair you with anyone specifically this time. We would like you to help with the NXT guys as well as Colby, and some of the other guys"
"Thanks Steph, the opportunities you've presented me with have been great but I don't think-"
"Ah ah ah, I'm just about to come onto that topic now Riley" Stephanie said giving her a kind smile. "The Shield and Evolution's time are coming to an end. What has been decided amongst us is that it is time to split The Shield."
"We have decided to give Colby a major push" Mark stated "He will turn heel and attack Jon and Joe before joining sides with Stephanie and Hunter. We are thinking Money in the bank, we are thinking championships, quite a lot."
"And what about Jon and Joe? Surely they have proven they are just as worthy too?" Riley rambled.
"Maybe you've been getting too personal and too involved Riley" Mark stated and Riley shot him a glare.
"Well maybe Mark you need to get a bit more involved considering your talent doesn't have half an idea what they are doing nowadays. It's always Riley, Mark hasn't told us this or Riley, Mark hasn't told us that. You're too busy floating around the Diva locker room to think about anything else" Riley spat, she could feel her fists clenching.
"Clearly you have spent way too much time around Good. You've developed quite the temper. Maybe you both need classes on anger management" He grinned back.
"This stops right now! I will not tolerate the unprofessionalism being displayed right now" Stephanie stated glaring between the two. "This meeting is called."
Riley watched the guys out in the ring cutting their promo on Evolution. She couldn't fault them at all, but Jon's delivery blew her away. He would always unexpectedly do what she would ask of him, even when she didn't say any words. Its almost like he just knew what she was going to ask of him and he managed to deliver time and time again.
She watched as Evolution slinked away backstage leaving The Shield and some of the mid carders outside glaring at each other. Riley spun around when she felt a tap on her shoulder and came face to face with Hunter.
"I just came over to say that I think Jon has been doing really well" Hunter stated with a smile "The big man thinks so too. Tell him that from me"
With a pat on the back and a nod Hunter disappeared and Riley couldn't hide the grin on her face. She couldn't wait to tell Jon was Hunter and Vince thought of him, he was going to be so happy.
The car ride to the hotel was spent with Jon going on about the crowd's reaction and how well he thought Hunter bit back at him. She smiled as she watched him, his baby blues gleaming as he smirked relentlessly. She sighed happily as she felt like her heart had reached it's peak of affection. Before she said anything soppy, she decided she would divert her attention to looking out the window.
"I'm boring you"
"Quite the opposite Jon, I love listening to you talk about things you love"
She watched him chuckle and squeeze her hand before patting her leg with his freehand, the other on the steering wheel.
"What bout you? Where you been all day?" He asked and she felt her heart drop. It wasn't her place to tell him about The Shield yet, knowing Steph would want to break it to him. She wanted to give him a little pre-warning but she knew he would fly off into the deep end. She couldn't and wouldn't ruin that smirk on his face.
"Just a bunch of meetings, all boring.." She said faking a yawn and stretching out.
"Carrano still botherin you?" Jon asked rubbing her thigh again "He's such a dick"
"He is" Riley agreed softly "Jon, I've got some bad news though"
"Hmm?"
"The European tour coming up, I'm travelling with some of the newer guys, Steph wants me to help them"
That was it, that was all the hints she could drop to him. She watched as his expression fell slightly, she knew he was counting in his head so he didn't blow up or say something stupid. After a few moments he started rubbing her thigh again and he sighed.
"Guess we knew we couldn't keep you forever" He sighed "Well I didn't want to admit this to begin with but we needed you Riles"
"Jon you don't have to do this" She said with a chuckle "Keep your pride in tact"
"Hush" He said with a smirk "I was stubborn, you were stubborn. But you were right, we are getting more attention from Hunter because of your help"
Riley scooted closer to him as they pulled up outside the hotel. He unfastened her seatbelt and pulled her onto his lap, not without her hitting her head off the roof of the car.
"Oww. Why's it always me" She yelped touching her head "It's never you Good"
"That's cause I'm too smooth babe" He smirked before kissing her forehead. "You mean a lot to us Riles"
"You should just give me a thank you card and get this over with" She grinned leaning forward to kiss his stubbly cheek.
"Fuck these fuckin words" Jon mumbled to himself and sighed. He put his hands on either side of Riley's face before bringing her closer. She looked at him in confusion, her blues meeting his own.
"You mean a lot to me Riley. More than I can say" He mumbled before kissing her softly. He pulled away and pressed his forehead against hers.
"I'm gonna miss you."