Disclaimer: I don't own or know anybody in this story.
Author's Note: I'm really sorry that I haven't updated in forever! I was gone for a while on a trip. And then my computer was stupid and I lost everything I wrote. And I had this chapter written already. But then I forgot what I wrote in it so I don't know if this version is anything like the other one. And I had writer's block for a while. But again, I'm really sorry and thank you for being so patient with me. And also thank you for the reviews. Keep doing it!
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Chapter 6: Gossiping Wrestlers - June 17, 2003
"Welcome to my show," Stephanie bragged to Ella as the two entered the arena. "It's gonna be better than yesterday's show."
"We'll see," Ella laughed.
"Can't you just humor me?" Stephanie sighed.
After pretending to contemplate the brunette's question, Ella replied, "No."
"I hope you know how lucky you are. You're a lot to put up with," Stephanie teased.
"You know you love me," Ella retorted with a giggle.
"I think Rob does too," Stephanie smiled. "Or at least likes you a lot."
Ella began walking with head line of vision directed at the floor.
"So what happened after we left?" Stephanie prodded, leading her friend down the halls.
"Well… we ended up staying at the same hotel. I invited him up to my room. We had a few drinks, and before we knew it, we were having sex on the floor 'cause we fell off the couch."
"LIAR!" Stephanie accused her fellow brunette.
Ella laughed.
"You would never do that! Especially after what you told me yesterday," Stephanie said in a more serious tone.
"You're right. We did stay at the same hotel though. And he walked me to my room. And that's where it ended."
"You didn't kiss him?" Stephanie said in a reprimanding tone.
"It wasn't even a real date."
"So?" Stephanie opened the door that had a sign reading "General Manager - Stephanie McMahon."
"So what?"
"It doesn't matter if it wasn't a real date," Stephanie argued.
"Well it doesn't make a difference now."
"You gonna go out with him again?"
"If he asks…" Ella trailed off.
Stephanie began jumping around, squealing in excitement.
"I think you're more excited than I am. And he hasn't even asked me out yet."
"But he will," Stephanie told her friend confidently. "I saw you two last night. Admit it. You like him!"
"You sound like a 12-year-old."
"Answer the question."
"Fine," Ella sighed. "I like him. Happy?"
"Very. You're gonna marry Rob! If you get engaged soon enough, we could have a double wedding in October. And it's only June, so that gives you about four months-" Stephanie rambled.
"Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself?" Ella interrupted.
"What do you mean?"
"You're talking about us getting married when we haven't even had a first date…"
"But I know you will!" Stephanie exclaimed.
Ella sighed, giving up on convincing Stephanie to slow her plans down.
"And we'll get married in a church in Greenwich. And we can wear matching wedding dresses!" Stephanie continued to rant.
"Steph."
"Yeah?"
"We can plan later."
"So you admit that you and Rob will get married.
Rolling her eyes, Ella nodded for Stephanie's sake.
"HA! I knew it!"
"Ok. Are you done gloating now?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Good. Show me where I can get food," Ella requested.
"Yes, Ma'am," Stephanie saluted, exiting the office with Ella.
Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Charlie Haas, and Shelton Benjamin piled food onto their plates, creating what looked like a cluster of mountains. Scanning the room for a few seconds they found a table with enough empty seats to accommodate all four wrestlers. They walked over.
"Mind if we take a seat?" Shelton asked.
Looking up from her salad, Torrie replied, "Of course not!"
The guys all sat down and began eating.
"Are you guys going to eat all that?" she questioned.
"Yeah…" Brock answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Torrie shrugged. "So… what are you guys scheduled for tonight?"
"Well, I'm finally getting back in the ring!" Kurt exclaimed victoriously before taking another bite of his sandwich.
"With us," Charlie added. "We talk to him, call his a loser and stuff like that."
"Then I kick his ass in a match," Kurt finished for Charlie.
"But then I get into the ring with you afterwards," Shelton reminded Kurt.
"But then I get into the ring and me and Kurt have a little chit-chat," Brock said, taking a drink of his water. "Then I have the 'unfinished business' title match with Paul," he said, referring to Paul Wight, who's onscreen persona was Big Show.
"And then we come and kick Brock's ass for kicking ours," Shelton concluded.
"Exciting," Torrie commented.
"What about you Miss Wilson?" Charlie asked flirtatiously.
Before responding, Torrie flashed her engagement ring at Charlie. "I'm accompanying Monty out to the ring and I get to get in a little cat fight with Nidia."
"So you and Mr. Ass are together now?" Kurt asked suggestively.
"Professionally," Torrie specified.
"Sure…" Kurt replied with a disbelieving tone.
Torrie smacked him on the arm playfully. "Kurt!"
"I'm just joking," he assured her.
"I know," Torrie smiled.
Just then Mark Callaway joined the group. "Hey guys."
The others greeted the veteran.
"Did any of you guys hear anything about someone coming to evaluate the show?" Torrie inquired.
"No, where'd you hear that?" Shelton asked as three of the four others shook their heads negative.
"I heard the crew whispering about it since I got here," she answered.
"There's a marketing consultant here. She's supposed to watch the show and find a way to make it more… well… marketable. And from what Glen tells me, she and Rob have a little thing going on," Mark filled in his colleagues.
"Are you serious? Rob likes her? How long has he known her?" Torrie gossiped.
"Glen said they met two days ago, but they went out with JP and Steph last night," Mark informed her.
"I'm gonna have to talk to Stephanie," Torrie planned.
"Well here's your chance, Darling. They just walked in," Mark nodded towards the doorway through which Stephanie and Ella had just entered.
"Is that her?" Torrie asked.
Mark verified her assumption.
"I'll see you guys later," she said standing up and heading towards Stephanie. "Hey Steph."
"Hi Torrie," Stephanie returned with a smile. "This is Ella Taylor. Ella this is Torrie Wilson."
"It's nice to meet you," Ella said, extending her hand.
"You too!" Torrie exclaimed, accepting Ella's handshake.
After a few minutes, the three girls grabbed a smaller table.
"So…" Torrie started, "from what I hear, you and Rob are-"
"Gonna get married!" Stephanie finished for Torrie.
"You're getting married and you only met him Sunday?" Torrie questioned.
"No. We're not getting married. Stephanie's just delusional. And how'd you know I met Rob Sunday?" Ella inquired with a hint of suspicion.
"Please. Nothing stays quiet in this business," Torrie answered, grinning.
"That's kinda funny," Ella mused.
"What do you mean?" Stephanie asked.
"Well, there's obviously a lot of gossip circulating if nothing can stay a secret, and most of this company has male employees, which proves that men gossip just as much as women," Ella explained.
Stephanie began laughing as she pictured guys like Mark, Glen, Kevin, Paul, and JP standing in the locker room giggling and gossiping. "Yeah, that is funny."
"So then you and Rob are together?" Torrie questioned.
"No," Ella replied as Stephanie began nodding her head furiously. "No!" Ella repeated, nudging Stephanie in the side.
"Ow!" Stephanie cried out.
"I think you two would be cute together," Torrie encouraged Ella.
"Well… thanks… I guess," Ella replied. "So how many other divas are on SmackDown!?"
"About three of us. Most of them are on Raw," Torrie answered.
"Save the work for later. I think you should meet some of the guys," Stephanie said, drawing Ella out of her thoughts.
Agreeing, Ella stood up as Stephanie led her to different tables, introducing her as the woman Rob was going to marry.
"Why do you want me and Rob to get together so bad?" Ella asked her friend once they returned to the office.
Sighing, Stephanie sat at her desk. "It's just that you deserve to be happy. Rob deserves to be happy. And I think you two should be happy together."
"What makes you think that we'd be that happy together?"
"I saw the way he was looking at you last night. He really likes you. And you said earlier that you liked him too."
"It's not that easy Steph."
"I'm sure it's not. But if you don't ever try to move on, you won't. And I think that you have spent too much time hurting over some jackass who treats women like shit."
"I'm just scared it's gonna happen again," Ella confessed.
"Rob wouldn't do that. I've told you that. Just tell him what happened and he'll understand."
"No. Please don't tell people. I don't want anyone else knowing," Ella instructed her friend.
"Why won't you tell Rob?"
"I just don't want everyone feeling sorry for me that my boyfriend beat me up. They'll act all weird around me," Ella responded. "And I can't get over it if I'm constantly reminded of it by people who pity me."
"They won't pity you. I think that if you and Rob start dating, you should tell him."
"No," Ella insisted. "And you're not going to tell anyone either."
"Fine," Stephanie sighed.
"Thank you."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. What am I here for?"
"To be my best friend," Ella laughed, pinching Stephanie's cheeks.
"How sweet," Stephanie muttered sarcastically.
"Hello?"
"Ella?" the voice on the other end asked.
"Yes… Rob?"
"Yeah."
"Hi. How'd you get my cell phone number?" Ella questioned with a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Stephanie gave it to me yesterday."
"Of course she did. So did you need something?"
"Umm… well, Stephanie told me that you would be flying to Connecticut tomorrow."
"Yeah. I'll be at the office until Sunday and then it's to on Monday New York for Raw," Ella explained.
"I was wondering if you'd be interested in joining me for lunch tomorrow," Rob proposed.
"How's that going to work?" Ella questioned.
"We have a house show in Hartford in on Saturday and I'm flying out there tonight. And Stephanie said you lived in Stamford."
"Yeah, right near the WWE's headquarters coincidentally."
"So I was thinking that we could meet in New Haven for lunch or something," Rob suggested hopefully.
"Are you asking me out on a date?" Ella asked in a teasing tone.
"And if I am?" Rob retorted, suddenly feeling like a teenager again.
"I'll meet you there."
"Great," Rob said with a sigh of relief. "So do you know where you want to go since you know the area better than I probably do?"
"What do you want to eat?"
"How about… Italian?"
"Ok. Umm… there's a place called 'Mario the Baker.' I haven't actually been there to eat, but everyone says it's really good. And it looks nice."
"Ok. Where is it?"
"It's on 864 High Ridge Road."
"Ok. I'll meet you there around 11:30?"
"That sounds great. I'll see you there."
"Ok. Bye."
"Bye," Ella said, closing her phone.
"Who was that?" Stephanie asked, re-entering the office.
"Rob."
"And?" Stephanie prodded.
"He asked me to go to lunch with him tomorrow. He heard that I would be in Stamford from you."
"I was just trying to help," Stephanie defended herself. "And considering that he did call, I say you owe me a bit of gratitude."
Smiling, Ella said, "Thank you for being the nosy, pushy person you are. Do you think that Rob and I could have some sort of relationship."
"No, I just want you to waste your time with Rob instead of looking for you perfect guy," Stephanie replied, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"Hey, you never know. Especially with you."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."
"Umm… personal stuff aside, it's business talk time. Or at least time to arrange business talk time," Ella said.
"Well, I'm going home tomorrow. So why don't you stop by around dinner and we can talk business there. My mom and Shane should be there, so we can all talk about where we want the company to go. Then we can have dinner."
"Alright. Same house?"
"Same house."
"What time should I be over?"
"Around 4:00?"
"Alright. I'll see you then."
"If you're going to lunch with Rob, when are you leaving?"
"My flight's tonight after the show ends."
"So you get to sleep on a plane?"
"Yeah."
"Fun," Stephanie mumbled.
"When's yours?"
"Tomorrow morning. Around 6."
"I'd rather sleep on the plane."
"Why's that?"
"'Cause you have to get out of a bed to get on a plane. I don't have the bed to miss."
After a few seconds, Stephanie nodded. "True. But that's not the point. You are going on a date with Rob! You'll be married in no time."
"Whatever you say…"
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Ending Author's Note: Ok. There it is. And I hoped you liked it. It took me a while to get through this chapter. And I think it's the one I like the least so far. So hopefully I'll make the rest a lot better. Please review! And thank you to all the people who already have!