Thank you to therealchamps, nic-002001 (Perhaps Mr. Lesnar has an ulterior motive for giving her flowers), charmedbyortonbarrett, xj0j0x and TwinPhoenixOfDark (Randy is merely trying to be nice ;) and Brock just likes giving flowers...NOT). You guys are awesome! Here's the next chapter!
Chapter 51: I Want It That Way
"Riley Williams, how are you doing?" Vince McMahon questioned, standing up from his chair, reaching over his desk and shaking her hand.
Riley took hold of his hand and shook it politely. When he released his grip, she dropped her hand to her side and sat in the vacant chair in his office. She knew the meeting was coming up, he had told her over the phone that he wanted to speak with her after her main return in the mixed tag team match with Trish Stratus. Once the hustle and bustle from that match was over, he was expecting to see her, just to find out where she sat in regards to her future in the WWE.
"I'm doing well sir and how have you been?" She smiled right back, scooting to the front of the chair, crossing her legs at her ankles and resting her hands on her knee, trying to remain professional in front of him, knowing that he held her career in the palm of his hands.
"Better Riley, I'm doing better. It's good to have you back." Vince smirked, watching her as she repositioned herself. He appreciated the black dress pants that she had put on as well as the lilac coloured, off the shoulder, silk-like shirt. She completed her business-like look with a pair of black stilettos, something that Vince liked on his Divas.
"I greatly appreciate the opportunity to be back Mr. McMahon." Riley continued to smile, recalling the last few times she had been sitting across a desk from the one and only Vince McMahon.
She had begged for her job on more than one occasion inside his make-shift offices, pleading for him to give her one more chance, claiming she'd be better at being on time. There was the one meeting she had with him that he produced a sheet to her, informing Riley that he knew all about her condition, her attention deficit disorder, and how he planned on making sure she kept the ADD in check. The last time she had been in the chair across from him, she remembered planning out her final few matches in the WWE, finally getting him to suggest that she was a good enough Diva to go out on an injury leave instead of actually losing the title, something Riley was very grateful for. At least she could keep her dignity in front of the WWE Universe, even if she couldn't keep it in front of the roster.
"Well Ms. Williams, you always were one of my favourites; very talented, a crowd pleaser and willing to go with whatever storyline that we best saw fit."
"Thank you Mr. McMahon."
Riley found her mind wandering ever so slightly, a little anxious to be sitting in front of him, the two of them set to determine her fate. She thought about Wade and how he was still part of the Smackdown main roster and how she had already told him that she wasn't going to be part of it with him. The more she thought about not traveling directly with him, the more bothered she became.
"So, Ms. Williams, we vaguely discussed how you would come back and be part of the Raw Divas roster, is that still what you would prefer?" He questioned, playing with ideas in his head for both Raw and Smackdown storyline possibilities.
"Yes." She answered quickly before she could voice her concerns about being away from Wade.
"Good, that's what I like to hear. I was hoping to get you right back in the running for the Divas Championship, how does that sound?"
"Sounds wonderful Mr. McMahon." Once again, her mind drifted to Wade and the Smackdown roster. Suddenly her anxiousness about being away from him skyrocketed. Not only would she have to be without Wade but she would be stuck with John Cena, someone who wasn't in her good books; Chris Jericho, a man who seemed hell bent on toying with her life; and Brock Lesnar, the newest addition to her collection of men vying for her attention.
"As you are aware, Beth Phoenix is our current Divas Champion, however, I think we were going to have you go up against Kelly Kelly for the number one contender's match and go from there. There is an upcoming pay per view we would like to have you participate in, however, it might not have anything to do with the Divas division."
Riley stared at him, a confused look present on her face. She wasn't aware of any non-Diva type storylines when she had spoken to him before. This was a whole new twist to what was developing for her career in the WWE.
"Sir may I inquire as to what you mean by that?" She asked, carefully picking her words to remain somewhat professional. Her heart screamed out 'what the fuck are you talking about' but she had successfully contained those words, producing more cautious words instead.
"Of course Ms. Williams." Vince paused in his statement, reaching down towards the floor, into his briefcase, producing a package of papers. He flattened the pages out and gently set them between him and Riley, nodding at her, motioning for her that it was okay to take it.
Riley grabbed hold of the package and pulled it towards her, starting at the top of the first page and reading her way through. Vince McMahon remained silent, waiting for her to get to the good part of the Raw storyline that he was most excited for. Riley flipped the page, Vince leaned closer to the desk, setting his elbows on the edge as Riley approached his favourite part.
"I'm going to get in between Cena and Lesnar?" She questioned, trying to contain her fear as she peeled her eyes away from the package, looking at Vince McMahon with what she could only hope was a subtle disbelieving stare.
"Ah yes. We figured that since you were a part of the Corre just before your departure, we would have you return as a heel and if we worked you closely with Mr. Lesnar, we could boost your popularity and hopefully the ratings as well." He smiled at her, completely oblivious to her concern.
"Oh, of course." Riley replied quietly, trying to mask her fear. She didn't want to be anywhere near Brock Lesnar, especially after receiving the flowers from him. She had just gotten things back on track with Wade and anticipated that being in a storyline with Brock Lesnar could only be bad news for her relationship.
"Is there a problem Ms. Williams?"
"Not at all sir, I'm just trying to digest the story. It's a huge part to play Mr. McMahon, I'm just a little nervous at doing it right."
"Don't worry, I have complete faith in you and there isn't a single other Diva that I would trust to be Mr. Lesnar's ally any more than you."
Riley flipped the page of her package and mindlessly glanced at the words, not reading them at all, merely pretending. She waited for Vince McMahon to speak again, hoping she could figure out a way to get away from Brock Lesnar and his storyline. Her mind was racing, thinking of anything she possibly could; being allergic to the large man, having a sudden change of heart to be moved to Smackdown or even trying to suggest a larger, more entertaining storyline, perhaps with the man she despised a little bit less: Chris Jericho.
"Right Sir, thank you very much, I can't wait to get back in the ring." Riley forced a smile at him and rose to her feet, tucking the package between her arm and her side.
"Good to hear. I wish you all the best Ms. Williams." Vince replied, making his way to his feet as well, outstretching his hand once again.
Riley reached over the desk and took hold of it, shaking it once more before taking a step back. Riley flashed him another smile and turned her back to him, silently cursing the man and his ideas. Turning her head back to face him, she looked at him and he smiled back at her.
"Thank you for your time Mr. McMahon."
Wandering out of his office, Riley gripped the package tight under her arm as she made her way to catering. Wade had informed her that he would be waiting for her there before she headed off to her meeting. Now, debating how to present him with her new storyline, she slowed her pace, trying to give herself more time, letting the clicking of her heels numb her mind.
Taking the script out from under her arm, Riley rolled it in her hands and waved it around, trying to pull her mind away from Brock Lesnar. She stared ahead in the hallway, her eyes landing on the doorway to catering. She wrapped both of her hands around her rolled up papers, finally stepping into catering, her eyes scanning the group of people next to the tables of food.
She spotted John Cena leaning against the wall talking to Zack Ryder. The two of them were sharing a laugh, John smirking at the young wrestler. She turned her head and her eyes landed on The Miz, arguing with none other than R-Truth, the two of them not totally over the feud between the Awesome Truth. Finally, Riley's gaze found Wade who was looking back at her, a smile present on his face. She looked next to him and found Justin Gabriel, who was still talking as if Wade was still listening.
Picking up her pace, Riley crossed the room and closed the distance between herself and Wade, the rolled up storyline in her hands. Once she was close enough to Wade and Justin, the young south African stopped talking and smiled at Riley who meekly extended the papers towards Wade.
"What's that Riley?" Justin asked, peeking over at the papers as Wade unrolled them and started reading. She anticipated his reaction when he got to the second page for that was when she was taken by surprise.
"So you're sticking with Raw?" Wade asked, glancing away from the front page for a few seconds. When she nodded her head yes, his eyes fell back to the papers in his hands.
Justin reached over and grabbed the bottom corner of the front page. Wade nodded at him and he flipped it over, the two former Corre members reading the page that had Riley so afraid of what was going to happen that she didn't even have the courage to say it out loud.
"What?" Justin questioned, looking up from the second page, leaving Wade to be the only one reading.
Wade re-read the part where Riley was supposed to walk out and stop Brock Lesnar from beating up on John Cena. There was a hint at a romantic storyline developing between her and Brock, a romance she was not looking forward too.
"Bloody hell." Wade muttered, finally having read the second page enough for his liking. He tore his eyes away from the font on the page and forced himself to look at Riley.
"I don't like it anymore than you do but Vince has total control of what happens in that arena." Riley stated, trying to remain brave.
"I trust you." Wade breathed out, handing her back the papers.
She took them carefully and closed the gap between their bodies, her shoulder against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. Justin Gabriel smiled at the two of them, witnessing one of Wade's more tender moments. Riley reached out and took hold of Justin's hand, tugging him closer.
"You owe me dinner with you and Heath." She grinned, trying to lighten the mood.
Justin rolled his eyes at her. He somewhat hoped she had forgotten, not wanting his wallet to take a hit from her and her large appetite, at least that's what he gathered from people talking about how much she could eat. Wade let out a laugh at her too, letting go of her. She just giggled at the two of them, Justin shoving his free hand into his pocket, touching his wallet, preparing himself to treat her to dinner.
"Alright, alright. But why don't we forget Heath and just take Wade here instead." Justin suggested, a smirk toying with the corners of his mouth.
"I see your 'let's take Wade' but raise you a 'why don't we get Heath too' and then we can dine with the full house of former Corre members?" Riley laughed, her lame poker references somewhat entertaining.
"I fold, you win. I'll go get Heath and call you. We can decide where to go when I find him."
"Sounds like a damn good idea to me." Riley said, latching her hand onto Wade's wrist and pulling him away from Justin. The two of them quickly disappeared from the catering area leaving Justin all alone to find his ginger friend.
Ooooh, Brock Lesnar and Riley Williams, oh the drama! Review?
