The girls walked into the dimly lit room filled with soft instrumental music and lavender scented candles. The theme for the day was ambiance and relaxation, a time where the two friends could spoil themselves. On a rare day off between events, they had elected to spend a few hours getting pampered at the spa. Swedish massages, facials, body wraps, manicures, and pedicures were all on the agenda. Clad in comfortable terrycloth robes, the two women shed their cover and climbed atop the massage tables letting the cool thin sheets envelop their bodies. Maryse Ouelette looked over at the person next to her. She had become fast friends with the Latina beauty ever since the French Canadian glamour model had made her way to the WWE. They had connected immediately and had spent much time traveling and working together.

"What's wrong with you?" Maryse asked as she listened to Melina sigh for the umpteenth time.

"Nothing's wrong," Melina pouted.

"You're a liar. You're over there sulking and it's starting to cramp my style," she complained, her accent bothered as she sent a text message from her Blackberry. "What is wrong with you? It's supposed to be our girls' day out."

"I'm bummed about the other night," she finally admitted.

"What?"

"John and that stupid girl."

Maryse rolled her eyes.

"I saw them together on the dance floor. She was all over him."

"I know. Listen, I didn't tell you but about a month ago, I went over to his house…"

"Mel…"

"I know, I know. Dave and I were fighting and I was upset and John is my friend. I miss him sometimes and I just felt like talking."

"And?"

"I get there and she's there."

"Who? That Melanie chick?"

"Mallori and yes. It was in the morning and she slept over, I just know she did."

"And you care why?"

Melina did care and it was hard to pinpoint why. John held a special place in her heart and she would always love him. They had been together for a long time but there came a point when she had wanted more. That goofy, lovable, dorky guy with the beautiful face and to-die-for body just wasn't enough anymore. One day she had woken up and looked over at him and realized that spark was gone. She loved him but she was no longer in love with him. And that very day at an arena in Chicago in the catering section, David Batista had talked to her for the first time.

Sure there had been brief meaningless conversations in the few years both had been employed by the WWE but that had been the day, the first day they had really connected. He was so handsome and funny and sweet. He was charming and instantly she was smitten. Soon they were running into each other everywhere…at the gym, in the Green Room, catering. Laughs and small talk turned into subtle flirtation and soon the same panting frantic devotion, the love, admiration and once unbridled desire she had felt for John Hennigan was now directed towards Dave Batista.

At first she felt guilty. Guilty for all the lies and the sneaking around. But the pleasure derived from her misdeeds was too immense to give it up. The man known as The Animal had pursued her with animalistic like passion. She knew it wouldn't be long before she wouldn't be able to ward off his advances. Her loyalty to John and the love and friendship that had once bonded them so tightly kept her from crossing that line, the point of no return. Finally he had invited her outright to come back to his hotel room and spend the night. "I can't," she had replied with quivering lips. Dave had only smirked at her. "Why not?" he had responded. Tears threatened her brown eyes. "You know why."

He knew why and didn't care. He wanted her and he would have her. Have her he did in the backseat of a stretch limousine after an event in New York City. His kisses, his touches so aggressive and full of a passion she had never known before. He had ripped off her clothes, leaving the buttons and zipper to her strewn about the backseat and floor. "We can't tell anyone what we're doing," she had gasped in his ear. And that had been her true intention until she had showed up at Maryse's hotel room with disheveled hair and makeup with her clothes practically torn off of her.

Maryse was the only one she trusted to keep her secret. They were partners in crime and fiercely protective of one another, so protective in fact that an angry Maryse had threatened to confront Dave herself for forcing himself on her friend. But Melina had been quick to inform Maryse that the sex had been consensual. "I like him," she had stated. She liked him so much , the thought of being apart was no longer an option. Sacrificing John's heart and the dignity of Dave's wife, their affair had begun.

Having John completely out of her life was too much to bear. He was her friend, her protector. When Dave was mean to her or again refusing to initiate serving divorce papers, an angry sometimes tearful Melina would flee to the sanctuary that was safest for her. Not willing to give up her relationship with Dave but unable to let go of John, it had made for a tumultuous game of back and forth. She had moved on and eventually she knew John would too but the thought of him paying attention to, making love to, or even hanging out with another woman drove her mad. She wasn't quite sure what the deal was with Mallori Reed but Melina was determined to find out.

"Maryse, I don't know anything about her but already I can tell that she is not right for John. She's up to something, I just know it. She wants him."

"Love, I don't know why you're so obsessed with this girl or John for that matter but if it's that important to you, find out exactly what's going on straight from the horse's mouth."

"John will never tell me. Besides, he claims they're just friends, just working the angle together."

"Then maybe you're going after the wrong horse," Maryse said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"She'll never talk to me," Melina shook her head. "I was really rude to her at John's house. The other night at the club I was just being nice because Dave was there and I didn't want to hear his mouth if he thought I cared about John and her. He's always accusing me of still being into John but anyway. She knows I was being fake with her."

"She's pathetic, Mel. So needy, always wanting everyone's approval. You saw how she ruined the match on Smackdown. All you have to do is reach out to her. Be nice, let her think we actually want to get to know her. She knows you're with Dave so she'll feel less threatened. You'll have that dumb broad eating out of your hand telling you everything you want to know in no time, hell she'll probably be asking for romantic advice about John."

"I don't know what he sees in her."

"She thinks she's hot shit now just because she improved and is getting a push on Smackdown. Face it, if it wasn't for John her ass would be back in Florida where she belongs. I hate girls like that, Melina. Somebody needs to teach her a lesson and let her know that she has to earn her place in the Women's division."

Melina chuckled.

"Maryse, I love you but you're so damned dramatic sometimes. This isn't high school. What are you gonna do, beat her up?"

Maryse shot her friend an evil smile.

"No, I've got something even better in mind."

"What are you talking about?"

"You want the dirt on her and John and you want her to back off. I want to teach her some respect. I have an idea that is a win-win situation for both of us. I'm just gonna need your help but we have to work fast."

"What do you have in mind?"

"That ball they're having in Stamford in a couple weeks to celebrate Titan Sports' 30th anniversary. Everyone will be there. So we pretend to be nice to her and you can find out the scoop. At the ball in front of everyone I'll give her a little reminder that she is a very small fish swimming in our pond now."

"If John finds out he'll kill me."

"He won't. Relax, it's just harmless fun. You know wrestlers are always ribbing each other. I'll call Nikki and Brie for backup. Now all you have to do is work your magic and get her to hang out with us."

Melina grinned. She knew she loved Maryse for a reason. Besides, what could it hurt? She'd get all the inside info giving her the perfect opportunity to thwart any budding romance between Mallori and John and Maryse could have her fun as well. It wasn't like they were going to actually hurt her.

"I like your plan, Friend," Melina warmed up with a smile. "After all, what's the worst that could happen?"