"Is it true?" Zane asked from across the table. Claire sighed. "Yes, it's true, but it's not as vulgar as Carl suggested." Zane's eyes closed and his head fell forward slightly. "I swear to God if you tell me it's lovemaking and not f-king I'll throw this glass at you." Claire knew that was an empty threat. "I know Jon has a reputation which is why I was so hesi…" Zane cut her off. "Oh you even call him Jon? Jesus Christ. How long has this been going on?" Claire counted in her head. "We've been seeing each other just over a month." Zane's face cracked a smile. "He's been banging you for a month?!" Claire had to swallow back her building anger. "We've not been sleeping together for a month. That's a relatively new development," she said, trying to keep her sarcastic tones neutral. Zane laughed. "So let me guess. He wined and dined and wooed you until your defences dropped?" Claire didn't appreciate his tone. "Jesus Claire, I would not have picked you for the type."
There was a moment before Claire responded. She could feel Zane was about to say something disrespectful about either her or Jon and she wasn't going to let it slide. "What type is that, Zee?" She looked him dead in eye, a form of a challenge she didn't trust her words to convey. She couldn't hide the fact her emotions were coming into play. "Oh you know, the Titty Master type. One that would bend over backwards, literally, to sleep with a superstar. I thought you had more class than that. At least go for a Barrett or Cesaro." Claire bit her lip to hold in the scream that was building in her throat. "Say what you like about him, but he's changed. I was cautious for the very same reasons but he proved to me that he's different, he's worth trusting." Zane's chuckle filled the room. "Oh my god. Claire, we're not talking Ryan Gosling here. We're talking Dean Ambrose. And I've seen it from the day he got here. The man's addicted to pussy. He'll take it wherever he can." Claire's hands were clammy and she felt her heartbeat kick up a notch. "No, we're talking about Jon Good, who I'm not sure you actually even know. Not like I do anyway." Zane raised his eyebrows and laughed loudly. "No, clearly not." Claire continued regardless. "You can ask anyone around him. He's decided he doesn't want to be that guy anymore. He's changing. I've seen it. Brandi, Cody, Joe; ask any of them. Hell, even Lucy will tell you. She's been his biggest critic." Zane's hand pulled over his face. "Right, right. I get it now. You're the good girl who is reeling in the bad boy and changing his ways. Of course. Next thing he'll be rolling up here in freshly pressed trousers with his hair combed to the side touting bible verses."
Claire closed her eyes. This isn't going well. But how could she expect it to? There was a reason she'd kept it quiet and now all of that was manifesting itself. But Zane's confrontational attitude only fuelled her own. "Tell me," she began. "What does it matter to you who I'm dating?" Zane looked up at her with a confused look on his face. "So if I was dating Bobby from Walmart back home, I'm meant to come straight to your office and report it to you?" Zane's eyes narrowed. "Careful. You've already lowered my assessment of your intelligence. Don't bring it down further." Claire rolled her eyes. "Tell me why this is a problem for you. Just ten minutes ago you stood up there and told everyone in this room that it was my performance which proved to you that house shows can be run by one person. You've consistently complimented my efforts and my content is time and again top of the stats. None of this has affected my work." She was doing her best to remain calm and composed. To bring the situation back to her performance, which was the main thing. She watched as Zane rubbed his temples. "You know this undermines the professionalism of the team, Claire," he said. "I have enough trouble trying to get you all to be treated on equal pegging around here as it is. Now I have to say that our best member of the team is nothing more than an easy fangirl?" What? That is totally unfair. Before she could protest, Zane continued. "What am I supposed to tell Hunter and Stephanie, huh? What do you think they'll make of your steamy rendezvous with one of their talents?" Claire inhaled deeply. "I'd like to think they'd take it better than you. Of all people they'd know what it's like trying to maintain a relationship outside this place." Zane scoffed. "Stephanie is the boss' daughter. She can do what, and who, she pleases." Claire found herself repeating Jon's words. "It's not just them. This place is incestuous." Zane nodded. "But none of them have crossed the staff/roster line. Congratulations, you're a trail blazer."
They'd reached an impasse. Zane didn't speak for a minute or so, and Claire didn't know what to say. She searched her brain. The only thing she'd not tried was emotion. "Zee, you know how much I love my job. This is the best thing I've ever done, I absolutely love it. Which is why I work hard and why I put in all the hours that Lucy and Carl don't. I wouldn't risk this all on some quick romp. I care about Jon. Underneath that shaggy hair and rough exterior he's proven to be an absolute gentleman Someone I'm proud to know like I do." Claire momentarily forgot she was talking to her boss. "I didn't want to fall for him, for anyone. My career was the most important thing. But fate doesn't give a shit, does it? What was I supposed to do?" She shrugged her shoulders in defeat. It was true. She couldn't control how she was feeling any more than Zane could. She watched as he sighed, shuffled in his seat and leaned across the table towards her. "Claire," he began, his tone was softer than previously. "You are very good at your job and you've been my go to since you got here. But I don't make the rules. Everyone is going to see this as misconduct, and while I'll be arguing your case, you've not helped yourself. I can't say I'm not disappointed. I wish you'd said something to me sooner; this wasn't the way to find out. Like you've kept a dirty little secret from us."
Claire shuddered. Those words struck her like a steak through the heart. It was what she'd been fearing all this time. She shook her head, trying to quell the pain in her voice. "That's not it at all. Do you think I'd risk this on something that didn't matter? You think I'd risk this unless I was really sure?" Zane's eyes fell to the table and let out an exasperated sigh. "I have no idea what to think anymore." He paused before continuing. "But I think it's best you go back to the hotel now. I don't want you to have to work tonight with all this talk going round. Go home and take some time. In fact, you can have the whole week. I'll need that time to figure something out." He's putting me on garden leave? I haven't done anything wrong! "But I want to work this weekend," she said, more desperation in her voice than she intended. Zane stood up slowly. "I know you do. But I can't let you. Not yet." Claire stared at him in disbelief. What am I going to do? "Come on," he said. "I'll walk you out."
Zane opened the door and Claire was on auto pilot. Somehow she managed to get herself to the door and Zane led the way. They rounded the corner and headed up the long hallway towards the parking lot. She didn't notice Lucy's head peering around a corner until she heard Zane's voice. "You have work to do, Lucy," he said sternly. Claire looked up and made eye contact with Lucy. He face was solemn and searching her own for some sort of answer as to what had happened in that room. Claire looked down at her feet. It was the only way she could keep her eyes from filing with tears. I need to find Jon, I need to talk to him. But she wasn't going to have the chance with Zane walking beside her. They made a pit stop for Claire to pick up her luggage then continued out into the parking lot. Claire had only just heard the door close behind her when she noticed someone walking towards them. She glanced up and locked eyes with Roman. He had a smile on his face initially, but as she tried to contain a quiver in her bottom lip, his grin subsided into a questioning concern. She sucked her lips in; out of all the things she wanted right now, she most wanted to stay composed. I will not cry in front of Zane. Roman slowed to a stop, and Claire let her eyes drop from his to the ground in front of her, as she and Zane continued towards a line of cabs.
Zane opened the door to the cab for her, as the driver loaded her suitcase into the trunk. "Don't think I'm enjoying this," he said. "I'm doing this for you. I think right now it's better for you to get out of here." Claire slowly brought her eyes up to his face. "Think really hard about what it is you want, Claire," he added, closing the door on her. I want Jon. As the cab pulled away from the venue, she couldn't hold it in any longer. Her lips quivered, her eyes welled until she couldn't see straight. She let out a sharp sob. I just want Jonny.