SmackDown!

Houston, TX (still)

Taking the rose from his hand, she leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that she wasn't making a mistake by being here. This guy was exactly the change she needed.

"Thank you Rob. It's beautiful."She said as she smelled the rose.

"Cool. Glad you like it. I just wanted to give you a small token of our friendship."

Rob and Autumn sat down and ordered drinks, another Long Island for her and a Heineken for him.

"I'm glad you decided to come. I have been trying to catch up with you all day." Audi said, as she stirred her drink.

"Really? What's up?" Rob asked, as he picked up his beer and knocked back half of it.

"Well, ever since that night that you came to my rescue, I haven't been able to get you out of my head. I want to see if we could have something. You know, take our friendship to the next level?" Autumn smiled.

Rob finished off his beer, and looked at Audi. "Aren't you and Orton, like engaged?" Rob was a very reasonable and totally laid back guy. He did think Autumn was cool, but he wouldn't be the one to come between her and Orton. If it was one thing he hated, it was drama.

"Well, Randy and I are having problems. Things aren't exactly working out."

"Sorry to hear that. I think you are a great girl. Honestly, I would like to take things to the next level, but you are with Orton and I just can't step on his toes, so to speak."

Autumn just glared at Rob. She was speechless. Was he rejecting her? No way in hell was he going to play hard to get and win.

"Look Rob, it's not like I'm looking to get married. I just want to kick it with you and have a little fun. Why the hell did you come here, if you aren't interested in me?"

Rob downed his second beer while thinking about weather or not he should say what he was feeling. "Oh hell." He mumbled. "Actually, on my way here, I was thinking of 'us' and I was ready to tell you that I fell for you that night in the parking garage. When I heard that you and Orton were engaged, I was totally crushed."

Autumn smiled and reached for Rob's hand. "I don't want Randy. I want and need you."

Audi gave Rob a puzzled look, as she realized what he said. "What do you mean, you WERE ready to tell me that you had fallen for me? What changed your mind between the arena and here?"

"Dawn called me on my cell phone and told me that if I got involved with you, she would make sure I lost my job. You know she's real tight with Heyman and he's not my number one fan. He's just waiting for a reason to fire me."

Autumn looked completely shocked. How could Dawn, her best friend, do that to her? Anger took over her as she decided to take control of the situation. So she wants to play dirty.

"Screw Dawn!!! I give you my word, she won't cause any trouble for you. Trust me your job is safe. Dawn isn't the only one with connections in this company. Let's go to my room and continue this conversation. I'll tell you a little secret, over a glass of champagne, about Dawn Marie and Paul Heyman. What do you say?"

Rob gave her a huge smile. "Cool. After you babe." He said as he pulled her chair out. They walked to her hotel room.