Chapter 26

Being bailed out of jail by her boss was possibly the lowest point in Liliya's life and she could not bring herself to meet either Hunter or Stephanie's eyes. How could she after what she did to Summer Rae, a top WWE Diva? Liliya already knew what was coming and she deserved it, only hoping she could get through this without crying. She lost Seth and now her dream job, life couldn't get any worse unless she was sent back to jail.

"Summer's alive and out of critical condition." Stephanie decided to start this meeting off on a high note and folded her arms in front of her chest. "She will be out of action for a month due to a sprained wrist and dislocated shoulder, but will recover without surgery."

Tears burned Liliya's eyes, but she refused to let any of them fall. "T-Thank you for letting me know, ma'am." She swallowed hard, not sure what else to say at this point and continued keep her gaze on her tightly clasped hands in her lap.

Stephanie asked Hunter to let her handle this, having a feeling Liliya needed to talk one-on-one with someone and preferably a woman. Hunter was against it at first, but Stephanie got her way in the end. Liliya wouldn't hurt her and Stephanie frowned at how violently the woman currently trembled in front of her. She was scared to death and had a right to be considering she sent a fellow coworker to the hospital OUTSIDE of the ring. Summer's wounds weren't as severe as the EMT's originally thought, but her face was heavily bruised with lacerations. Her shoulder would be in a sling for 2 weeks while the dislocation healed along with her wrist, both on the same arm. The company had to fork over a generous amount of money for the club owner to drop charges against Liliya, thankful he did.

"Liliya, you and I have known each other for a while now." Stephanie stood from her chair and walked around to lean against the desk in front of her employee, ocean blues guarded. "And you are one of the most levelheaded people I know, one of the hardest workers this company has. I'm not telling you this to blow smoke up your ass, I'm simply stating the truth. So imagine my surprise when I received a phone call last night from the Chicago police informing me that one of my hard workers were arrested for assault and battery. Now we've heard from the club owner, Summer and Fandango, but not you. I want to know why you attacked her. What set you off and what's going on with you? You have to talk to someone about this."

No matter how much Liliya wanted to deny it, she knew Stephanie was right and couldn't lie to the boss. This woman was kind enough to not only bail her out of jail, but to sit down and discuss her issues. Liliya trusted Stephanie McMahon and had from the moment they met when she came down to NXT, scouting for new talent to bring to the main roster. When her and Lilianna were pulled into the office to speak with Stephanie, Liliya was blown away, especially when the woman offered both of them their dream job on the spot. Stephanie could've fired her and been done with it after what she did to Summer Rae, but she actually cared about her employees and wanted to help Liliya anyway she could.

"I'll tell you everything, Stephanie." Liliya finally looked up at her boss and felt the dam break as tears coursed down her face like two rapid streams. "I-I'm so sorry…"

Stephanie could see how broken up Liliya was about this, which is why she hadn't given the girl a pink slip yet. "I know you are." She squatted down in front of the woman and took both of her trembling hands, blue meeting bloodshot citrine. "Now start talking."

Liliya inhaled sharply with a stiff nod. "Before I signed my developmental contract, I severely injured my lower back. A bulging disc that got worse with every bump I took. I had to have surgery because physical therapy and cortisone shots weren't working. After the surgery, I was out for 4-6 months and the doctor said I healed right. Nothing went wrong, no complications. But they did give me…pain pills…" She had to stop for a second and closed her eyes, feeling Stephanie squeeze her hands. "I had to take them at first and I was supposed to stop once I got cleared to go back in the ring…and I didn't. I've been taking them ever since and decided a few months ago to try to…stop. I've been going several days without taking a pill, but then the urge gets to be too much and I do. I pop one and feel better, I'm reliant on them and I don't want to be. My mood swings and how I've lashed out lately are dangerous, I know that, but I tried handling it on my own. I tried to stop the addiction…and I can't do it alone. I need help, but I have no idea where to turn or what to do at this point."

"What happened last night with Summer Rae? What made you attack her?" Stephanie had heard every word Liliya said about her back injury and wondered if the WWE had a record of it. "And were you on the pain pills last night?"

"I haven't taken one in 4 days." Liliya admitted quietly, her right leg starting to bounce from how nervous she was. "And I feel sick and scared and jittery, I feel like the walls are closing in. And I know it's the addiction. What happened last night with Summer was a jealous rage due to trying to fight my addiction off. I saw her with Seth and…snapped. I don't remember attacking her, I only remember the aftermath with Seth pulling me off of her and calling me…a psycho bitch…" That hurt her more than words could say, but it wasn't Seth's fault considering she'd kept her problem hidden from him. "He didn't know, if you were wondering. I think he knows something is going on with me, but I didn't tell him. I couldn't."

Stephanie remained quiet for a few minutes, letting everything Liliya told her sink in and decided to give the woman a chance at redemption. "Everyone deserves a second chance, Liliya. And everyone needs help sometimes, even me. When I got pregnant and had my first child, I was terrified with Aurora because I didn't have the slightest clue how to be a mother. My own Mom helped me through it along with Hunter and my Dad, but it was mostly my Mom. My Dad wasn't around a lot during my childhood because he was building this empire you work for now and I don't resent him for it. I had a great childhood because I had my Mom at least and now I can work side-by-side with my Dad to make up for lost time. I asked for her help so many times, I lost count after the first month. So you see, everyone needs help sometimes in life. It's hard, cruel and at times completely unfair. You have an illness that needs to be fixed, so I'm going to help you."

Her head snapped up as soon as Stephanie said those words. "You are?" Stephanie McMahon actually wanted to help her through this? "I-I don't understand…"

"I'm giving you a choice, Liliya." Stephanie rose to her feet and released the woman's hands, walking over to sit behind her desk. "You can either take a leave of absence, go to rehab and get yourself cleaned up or we can terminate you. This is your second chance and you said you need help with it, so the only way I see that happening is going to a rehabilitation center. We will pay for it, you just need to get yourself fixed."

Liliya was truly touched by Stephanie's offer and felt fresh tears cascade down her face, clutching her chest where her heart thrummed with life. "You're right and I definitely don't want to lose my job with the WWE." She wiped her tears away, seeing Stephanie's face alight with a smile. "I will do whatever it takes to get better."

"I know, that's why I've already made all the arrangements for you."

"What?!" Liliya gasped, covering her mouth with her hand and watched Stephanie pick the phone up on her desk, dialing a number. "You…"

"Bring the car around, thank you." Stephanie ordered and hung up, turning her attention back to a shocked Liliya. "All of your luggage is packed up and ready to go. We've checked you out of the hotel and the car will take you to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. It's top notch, you will have everything you need and they'll take great care of you."

It was pure coincidence all of this went down in the same state she would be spending a lot of time in over the next several months. "I-I don't know how to thank you, Stephanie…" She shakily got to her feet and could already feel the cold sweats starting. "I do have one request though, if it's not too much to ask."

"Name it."

"Please don't tell anyone where I am. Just tell them I had a family emergency that I had to take personal time off for. C-Can you do that for me?" Liliya mentally cursed for stammering and felt relief flood her when Stephanie nodded.

"Of course, nobody will know unless you want them to. But Liliya, don't shut the people who love and care about you out. You're going to need support through this." Stephanie stated, being truthful and gestured the door as the driver stepped through it. "Off you go."

Liliya looked at the elderly gentleman and then back at Stephanie, nodding. "Thank you again for everything." She couldn't say it enough.

"Just get yourself better."

Without another word, Liliya walked through the door with the driver in tow, heading out of the building toward the waiting limousine that would take her to the rehabilitation center. As the door closed once she was inside, all Liliya could think about was Seth and hoped he forgave her for disappearing. Lilianna too, it was the worst timing considering what happened to her, but Liliya had to put herself first for a change. If she didn't get better, her career would flounder and Liliya had worked too hard and too long to flush it all away.

"I'm sorry, Seth. I'm so sorry."

This was it.

There was no turning back.

After witnessing the woman he loved and wanted to be with kiss his potential twin brother, Dean couldn't hold back his feelings anymore. Spying was creepy, but he had to make sure she was safe and Jon hadn't hurt her. Plus, she wouldn't find out about it unless Dean told her, which he planned on taking to the grave. The last thing he wanted was for her to think of him as a stalker. Squaring his shoulders, Dean followed the mouthwatering scents flooding down the hallway and followed them, his heart pounding faster with each passing second. It felt like his heart would explode out of his chest and land on the floor in front of him with how fast it moved. He had to do this. He had to make Jecina see the truth and finally come clean about his feelings before she went any further with Jon Moxley.

"I can do this…" He murmured to himself and stepped inside of catering, spotting only a few coworkers in there waiting for the food to come out. They would have to wait.

Jecina had just finished slicing the ham and turkey up for the sandwiches she decided making when the door to the kitchen swung open. "I was wondering when you'd show up, Ambrose." She commented with a smile, setting the sliced meat on the tray and took her gloves off, finally turning to face him.

Instantaneously, Jecina noticed a huge difference in Dean Ambrose. His normal kind pale blue eyes were full of determination and intensity, the likes of which she'd only seen whenever he wrestled. His jaw was tight, his hair haphazard over his forehead and his stare completely devoured her whole. It was the way she'd longed for him to look at her and made a heat spread throughout every inch of her body.

"Dean…"

She took a step toward him, reaching a hand out and froze when he closed the distance between them, his eyes never leaving hers. Opening her mouth to speak again, Dean didn't give her a chance and cupped her face in his strong hands, his mouth instantly capturing hers. Jecina couldn't believe this was happening, shock coursing through her veins and had to grip his forearms, her body trembling. She gasped, but didn't push him away and returned the soft yet passionate kiss, feeling the heat of his body soaking into her skin. For so long, she thought Dean only wanted to be friends, but this kiss definitely made her world spin off its axes. And that thought is what snapped Jecina out of her trance and made her break the kiss, stumbling away from Dean. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly swollen and her chest heaved up and down since the kiss took her breath away. Dean frowned, not expecting that type of reaction from her and saw the confusion swirling in her forest green eyes, regret filling his own.

"Cina…"

Not giving Dean a chance to explain his actions, Jecina fled from the kitchen and catering, ignoring all the perplexed stares following her every move. She didn't care. Nothing else mattered right now, she needed fresh air and needed it NOW. People tried stopping her while she ran down the hallway of the arena, but Jecina ignored them all, her primary focus being on the exit doors that lead outside. As soon as she crashed through them, Jecina took the biggest gulp of air and closed her eyes, letting it fill her lungs as tears stung her eyes. What the HELL was that about?! Why did Dean kiss her? He didn't want her for more than a friend and yet he kissed her like…like MOXLEY HAD!

"Oh god…" Jecina had to breathe and scrubbed a hand down her face, gripping the bars of the railing that lead up to the front doors of the arena entrance. "I just – I need to breathe. I need to…I need a smoke!" She pulled out her pack of cigarettes and shakily lit one up, releasing the burning tears in her eyes as soon as she took the first drag.

Her date with Jon was incredible and fun, not to mention she thoroughly enjoyed his kiss. They planned on going out again and she was all for it, but…that kiss from Dean Ambrose changed everything. She felt something from that kiss, a passion she thought was transferred to Jon Moxley. It hadn't. How could she feel this way about two different men? Two twin brothers, at that?! Jecina had to figure out what to do and fast because it was clearly obvious now that Dean didn't just see her as a friend. He wanted more from her, he wanted her if that kiss was any indication. She wasn't conclusively with Jon Moxley, not yet anyway, but it was getting to that point after the wonderful date they had. Now she had a big problem on her hands, stuck between two men that were potential twin brothers and Jecina had no idea what to do about it.

How could she choose between Dean Ambrose and Jon Moxley?