"Tell me everything and start from the beginning." Kaden said. He was pacing in her hotel room and it was making her awfully nervous. She started with the night in Washington when Charles had decided to surprise her unannounced and as she spoke quietly, Kaden's attention focused in on her.

He was surprisingly calm considering Charles' psychotic (as Adam would call it) 'heel-turn.' When she revealed his plan to release an intimate tape of her and Adam to the media if she did not go back to Charles, Kaden paled. Then he grew furious, his fists clenched by his sides and his eyes wild.

"He's lost his fucking mind."

Mari nodded. "I know. I have no idea what to do."

"Did he show you the tape?"

"No – but the book, Kay. I found the note and then the blasted Iliad book in my room. I know he's been following me… I can't risk it." Mari swallowed. "If there is a tape… it will ruin all of you and it will ruin Adam's career."

"Have you told Adam?" He asked.

"Not yet."

Kaden sighed. "Maybe you shouldn't say anything yet." At Mari's reaction, Kaden stood up in order to calm her down. "Listen to me, if you tell Adam he's going to go straight to his lawyers and the media will hear of it either way. Give me a few days to look into this. I'm going to track down Charles and see what he has… don't talk to anyone; do not make any contact with Charles. Just continue everything as usual…"

Mari stood. "Kaden, I don't think this is a good idea. There are only two weeks until the Royal Rumble… Charles wants an answer by then…"

"Give me a few days, Marianne." Kaden brought Mari in for a hug. "I'm going to go. Don't worry little sister, we'll take care of this."

"Thanks Kaden. Please keep me updated." She said with urgency.

"I will. Keep your phone on you at all times. If there is any sign of Charles you contact me asap, alright?"

"Yeah. Are you sure I shouldn't talk to Adam?" she asked worried.

"It's just for a few days. Once I know more of Charles' plan we can all get together and talk it out, OK?"

Mari nodded. "Yeah, okay."

When she sniffed Kaden came in for a supportive bear hug. "We'll work this out. I'll call you within the next couple of days with news."

When Adam picked up Mari from the airport she was needless to say, very nervous. She hated the feeling of not being able to confide in him especially when that is was all she wanted to do. He came out of the car and when he reached Mari the two embraced in a tight hug.

"Ah you smell so good!" He said breathing deep. "I've missed you these last two days."

"Me too, I hate working at head office."

"How was it?" he asked, picking up her suitcase.

"It was fine." She lied. "Hey, want to rent a movie tonight or something?"

"I have practice with Nick. We're going to try some new things for the Rumble."

"Oh. Alright."

Adam nuzzled her neck. "I'm sorry baby. It shouldn't be too long, and then I'll come home and you can tell me all about your trip to head office."

"That sounds good. Can't wait for a shower. Stamford always makes me feel dirty."

"Mmm…" Adam grinned devilishly. "I love it when you're dirty. Let's go home."

"Home? Where's that tonight?"

"The Hilton." Adam said carefully.

"I miss having a real home sometimes." She spoke, not really to Adam.

Adam raised an eyebrow. "I thought you liked traveling with the E."

"I do. I just wish sometimes it wasn't so exhausting." She smiled weakly. "You understand, right?"

"Yeah, of course." Adam jumped in the driver's seat and fastened his seat-belt. "You OK, Mari?"

"Yeah, just tired." She lied. She hated lying but she had no choice.

"You should take a nap or something. Tomorrow will be a long day and then it's a weekend full of shows."

Mari sighed. "Yeah."

The rest of the car ride to the hotel was silent and Adam was unsure of what the hell just happened. When he picked up Mari at the airport he was the happiest he has been in the last two days and seeing her had completely invigorated him. Now she was acting different, kind of cold towards him and he was not sure why.

"Want to come to the gym and watch me and Nick go at it?" He asked.

"I think I just need some time to myself tonight, maybe read a book."

"Okay. You hungry?" he asked.

"No."

"O…kay." He said, steering the wheel into a left turn. Adam was confused – why was she acting the way she used to before they got to know one another? Maybe he was seeing too much into this and she really was just tired.

When they arrived at the hotel, Mari walked ahead of him – keeping a safe distance away. Maybe Adam was imagining this. It did feel like she was emotionally keeping a distance however.

She sat on the bed and placed her laptop beside her – waiting for it to load patiently. He stared at her for a few minutes but she never looked up. Sighing, he stood.

"Well, I'm going to go meet Nick."

"Cool. Have fun." Her eyes remained glued to the screen.

"Yeah… you too." He picked up his gym bag and walked out. He was annoyed with her and it was a new feeling. He'd been annoyed before but never genuinely and so out of the blue. He hoped she wasn't keeping secrets from him. That's the one thing he would not stand for and with that in mind he met Nick for a vigorous work out.