Chapter 20

Trish sat in Stefanie's office at WWE Headquarters in Connecticut. She really wasn't in the mood to talk business as Randy had been consuming her thoughts. She hadn't heard from him since New Years Eve. Granted, that was only two days ago, but still. She knew her friendship with Randy had come to an end.

When Trish and Stefanie had decided to meet, Trish didn't realize she had informally just agreed to travel to Connecticut. It slipped her mind that Stefanie doesn't travel much anymore since she has a family to take care of. Lucky for Trish, she had the night off of RAW.

"Trish! Hi! You look amazing!"

Trish turned in the chair as Stefanie walked through the door. She stood immediately and the two of them hugged.

Stef, YOU look amazing! How has everything been? Are the kids good?"

Stef walked over to her desk and sat down. "Yes, everything is great. Kids are good, Hunter's good. Just extremely busy, but I'm sure you know how that goes!"

Trish nodded as she sat back down in her seat. "I definitely do!"

"So, you wanted to talk about a Wrestlemania idea?"

Trish nodded. She felt a little nervous presenting the idea to Stefanie. She was confident it was a good idea, but she was anxious to see how Stef would respond.

"Before you get started, I wanted to let you know that I can see what you're doing with the divas and all your effort is not going unnoticed."

Trish smiled; it was nice to have someone recognize the work they were doing. "I can't take all the credit, Stef. Nattie and Beth have been assisting as well. We've been trying to work with different divas that we think could use some assistance. We're trying to get the divas division back to what it used to be."

Stef nodded, "It needs help. That is obvious. I think if you continue the training, it will get back to where it needs to be. So what is this big Wrestlemania idea?"

Trish laughed, "Well, you may think we're crazy for even coming up with this idea…but, we want to do a Diva's Tag Team TLC match…me, Beth and Nattie that is." She paused momentarily, letting Stefanie soak in the idea, "Amy has expressed interest in coming back to be my tag partner. We're thinking along the lines of Pin-Up Strong vs Pin-Up Legends…"

Stefanie remained expressionless for a few minutes and Trish couldn't get a read on where her brain was. "Would Amy be interested in coming back before Wrestlemania?"

Trish nodded excitedly, "Yes, she said would make an appearance at the Elimination Chamber and a few RAW's leading up to Mania."

Stefanie sat back in the chair with an impressed look on her face. "I'm not going lie, this is a great match idea. However, I have a few concerns. One being, do you think the four of you can handle a TLC match? And my second major concern deals with fighting upper management. Currently, they think they can book a better match than waste the time on a divas match at Mania."

"Nattie, Beth, and I are planning on getting trained by Phil, John, and Ran…well, just Phil and John. But I think we can be creative enough to come up with some good material on our own. The guys can assist us with some ideas, but we mainly will learn how to handle and deliver chair shots, work on our ladder skills, and work on our tactics with tables. As for upper management, I'm not sure how to address that? We've been working with the divas every chance we get. And I have noticed an increase in our match lengths…I've even noticed more plot involvement too."

Stefanie smiled and nodded, "Ok, you've convinced me…as long as Phil and John are going to train you, then I'm on board. And don't worry about upper management. I'll work on them. It shouldn't be too hard…I have a few big players on my side if you know what I mean." She threw a wink Trish's way. "However, while we're on the topic of plot involvement, I wanted to run an idea by you. But first I have a personal question to ask you."

Trish looked alarmed, her heart sunk as well. She knew exactly where this was going…to the internet leaks on her divorce.

"What is going on with you and Randy?"

Trish sat there speechless; she didn't know how to respond and she questioned exactly what Stefanie knew. Had someone from the party told her the juicy gossip? She began stammering, "Um, well, we uh…we've been travelling with each other a lot, since we've both been going between RAW and Smackdown…but I'm not sure I understand the question?"

Stefanie laughed, "Trish relax! I'm not putting you on the spot or accusing you of anything! I've just been noticing a lot of pictures of the two of you showing up on the net. And I'm sure you're aware your divorce has been uncovered as well."

Trish cringed, "Yes, I am very aware that my divorce has leaked. I really wasn't trying to hide it, more or less just keep it on the down low. But, I'm confused…what pictures of me and Randy?"

Stefanie turned her monitor towards Trish and went to one of the infamous wrestling rumor websites. Within seconds, Stefanie showed Trish at least fifteen different pictures of her and Randy. Some were from the day they were signing autographs outside of the arena; others were random shots of them at the airport, while many were of the two of them leaving events together.

Trish ran her hands through her hair, "What are they saying? That I'm a home wrecker?"

Stefanie shook her head, "Most of them actually are not. A lot of the younger age groups are all about it. Some of the older women are calling you a home wrecker; however, most of the consensus is that Randy is back to his old ways."

"Just great!" Trish threw her hands up in the air in frustration. Trish the fucking home wrecker!

"Actually Trish, it is great. What would you say to a storyline that has you involved with Randy? I think it could really boost the ratings!"

Trish sat there with a look of fear on her face. You've got to me kidding me! What fucking timing!She responded, looking for any excuse she could think of, "I'm not sure Stef. Look at how Kayfabe ruined Amy's reputation."

"But Trish, this isn't Kayfabe! You and Randy are just friends! We could easily squash all these stupid rumors then. We could just say you've been spending time together as part of the new storyline."

Trish didn't even consider it, she just kept making excuses…"I'm still hesitant. Randy's been having some trouble with Sam lately and her jealousy issues. I would hate to make them any worse. And besides, a romantic relationship doesn't fit Randy's character. He may be a face right now, but he's like the loner rebel type. A girl would make him look weak."

"I'm going to have to disagree with that. Both of you have enormous amounts of sex appeal with the fans. The fan reaction would be off the charts. However, I'm getting the feeling that you really don't like the angle, so we'll leave it at that. But I will say, upper management is all over this storyline. They are like wolves hot on the scent of prey. So if you hear about it again, don't be surprised."

Trish nodded and looked down. She prayed the storyline would get squashed. Sam would most likely blame Trish anyway if it did get approved. But with Randy and Trish not on speaking terms, the situation would only get worse, not better.

"So, I'll talk to upper management and pitch your idea for Wrestlemania. I'll be in touch as soon as I hear. And if the idea is approved, we'll reach out to Amy to talk through the details of her return as well."

Trish smiled and stood to shake Stefanie's hand. "Thank you for your time!" They exchanged hugs and Trish walked out of the office feeling excited about their match, but also feeling loads of anxiety about her possible storyline with Randy.

Trish landed in Little Rock Arkansas around 10 AM Tuesday morning. She didn't bother sending Randy a text message…she decided if there was a time to be distant, it was now. She grabbed a car rental and went on her search to find a nearby gym.

After an hour yoga session, she headed to the arena. The anxiety she was feeling as she walked in was overwhelming. What were the odds that she could lay low and avoid running into Randy? Maybe he was trying to avoid her too? She headed straight to the only place she knew she wouldn't find him…the diva's locker room.

She hid in there for about an hour before she decided she was being ridiculous. She couldn't avoid him forever. Eventually, they were going to run into each other. Besides that, she had to get to the ring to work with AJ.

As she walked down the ramp, she saw AJ in the ring stretching. What she didn't see, was Randy sitting a ways up. He was sitting in the higher sections of the arena, hoping that she wouldn't notice him.

After about an hour of training, they finished up. "Thanks for the workout Trish, I really think I'm getting better at this."

Trish smiled as she wiped her face with a towel, "AJ, you are definitely getting better…I can see your improvement every day." AJ smiled and gave her a hug before exiting the ring. Trish picked up her bottle of water and took a long sip.

"You really should be proud of what you're doing with these women."

Trish sighed as she put the cap back on her bottle. She knew that voice anywhere. She looked up to find him walking down the steps, slowly making his way to the ring.

She didn't smile as him; she just looked at him with a somewhat concerned, yet heartbroken expression. He entered the ring and walked up to her.

"Randy, what are you doing?"

He flashed his signature smirk. "What? I'm talking to my friend. Is that a crime?"

"Uh, yeah, it obviously is! Do you have amnesia or something? Do you not recall your wife going crazy and giving you an ultimatum?" She held the tears back, not letting him know how upset she really was.

"Trish, come on. She was just fired up…I mean, you accused her of something pretty serious."

Trish's eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open, "I accused her? I was trying to talk to YOU…I didn't accuse her of anything! She turned it into an accusation! I can't believe I'm even listening to this! You sat there earlier that night and told me you didn't trust the guy and how Sam claimed she didn't know him. Yet, I see her outside with him and somehow I'm the bad guy? Why would I make something up like that?"

"I'm not saying you made anything up. I'm just saying…I mean asking…" He sighed, "Can't we just drop this and move on?"

Trish looked at him incredulously, "No! We can't! I can't! I'm not a home wrecker and I'm not trying to break the two of you up!" She shook her head and picked up her water bottle and towel. "I think we need to take some time apart. Obviously, your wife has issues with me. And I'm not going to be the reason you're fighting with her. Not to mention, pictures of us have been showing up all over the internet…just in case you didn't know that."

"Trish, who said anything about being a home wrecker? Please don't do this…I don't want to take a break from our friendship."

She sighed as she exited the ring, "Look on the internet…every one is calling me a home wrecker and you a male pig…just like you used to be. Oh, and not to mention…YOUR WIFE is essentially calling me a home wrecker…and if you don't believe what I saw on New Years, then you essentially are too."

"Come on Trish!" Randy yelled, leaning on the ropes as he watched her walk up the ramp.

"Oh, by the way Randy…what did Sam say when you asked her about David?"

Randy looked confused, "What? I never asked her about the conversation…she was so pissed off about you, it took me two days to calm her down."

"That's what I thought! God Randy, open your eyes!" She walked out of the arena, not even looking back, leaving a confused Randy standing in the middle of the ring.

Randy opened up his laptop back at the hotel. He started searching the internet for the pictures Trish had mentioned. Within seconds he had multiple sites open with various pictures of him and Trish together. As he scrolled down and read the comments posted, he became more and more angry. He finally realized why Trish was so upset.

There were endless comments posted making snide remarks of Trish…some stated she was a whore, others called her a home wrecker, and others were actually excited about the idea of Randy and Trish together. He then found tons of comments posted criticizing himself. Most of the comments stated he was back to his old ways. The fact that people were putting their noses in business they had no right to was pissing him off. He knew it was also just a matter of time before Sam found them as well.

He ran his hands down his face. This was turning into a gigantic mess. It was bad enough that Sam wanted him to have nothing to do with Trish and accused him of having an affair. But, Trish wasn't speaking to him now and websites were slandering her on untrue allegations. What does she mean, open your eyes?

He thought back to New Years and ran through the argument between Trish and Sam. Then he thought back to his fight with Sam after Trish had left. Finally, he understood what Trish meant and he realized that she was right. He never did get the chance to ask Sam about David. The more he thought about Sam's actions over the holidays, the more suspicious he became. Finally, he realized what he had to do. It was time to confront Sam about David and question HER loyalty for once.