Another improtant chapter. we kinda see a different side of Lesnar than previously. you'll probably think he's a dick. you would be correct ;)

Chapter 14

Pushing it

"Don't be tense. Be ready. When you see me expand, you contract." Brock informed. Melanie looked up at him. "If I contract, you expand." She nodded and began to attack Brock. He flips Melanie and she crashes to the ground, and then sits on top of her. Melanie smiled.

"If you wanted to be on top, all you had to do was ask." She said. A laugh came from behind them. Stephanie was standing at the doorway to the gym. "Uh, S-Steph?" Melanie slightly hit his leg, signaling him to get off her. "What are you doing down here?" Stephanie shrugged.

"Well, I was kinda hoping to go a couple rounds with the boyfriend first." She said. Melanie sighed.

"Don't you have that meeting with the mysterious board?" Stephanie nodded. This was her first meeting with the board of directors. "You know I had to do that crap when I was working behind the scenes. They take this business very seriously. What's the subject?" Melanie asked. Steph slumped.

"Our budget." She said glumly.

"Eww." Melanie said.

"Mm." Steph responded.

Brock walks up to them and nudges Mel in the ribs. "Mel?" He asked. She nodded.

"Steph, I had to learn how to work with this business the hard away, and it took… well, it took too long. We need you to get there faster. Our lives with this company may depend on it." She warned.

"Appealing to my conscious. Such a low blow." Stephanie said sarcastically.

"Mmm." Melanie said. Stephanie turns around and stomps out of the room. No matter how much time has passed, Steph will always be a spoiled brat.

"So," Melanie said, turning toward Brock, "where were we?"

"Training." He said plainly.

"Uh. Come on Brock. You were gone for a whole week. That is seven long, lonely nights." She argued. Brock shook his head.

"I need you to focus. Don't you know how brutal these athletes can be in the ring?" Melanie shrugged.

"Yeah, I know." She said. Brock sighed.

"No, actually. I don't think you do. You need to go into Raw prepared. You need to learn how to fight Melanie." He slowly walked over to her. "Training must come before everything, including us. Are you ready?"

"Do I have a choice?" Melanie asked. Brock swings his fist and Melanie ducks.

Meanwhile, Stephanie is in another room with Triple H.

"Ok, so if the board asks you what our annual budget is, you will say A) 150 million, B) 200 million, C) 500 million or D) none of the above?" Triple H quizzed.

"Well, see. I would say whatever they wanted it to be." She responded. Hunter rolled his eyes.

"D, was the correct answer."

"I was gonna guess that." Steph persuaded. Hunter closed the book on the table.

"Why are you guessing at all?" He asked.

"Umm, to pass?" she said innocently. Triple H stood up.

"Steph, this isn't like trig. It's not like you're never gonna use this again. If you blow this, you can risk thousands of jobs. Did you study at all?" He asked.

"Well, I started to last night. It's just a friend from work came over and she knew this bouncer at this club and… I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I was single… once. Why don't you study tonight –

"Can't, got a guy coming over my house." She said quickly.

"Uh-huh, ok listen Steph. I really really wanna be the cool ex husband, but you have no priorities." Steph shrugged.

"That's not true. It's just that Melanie is going out there and body slamming sweaty guys and I'm stuck here doing all the bookwork."

Triple H gathered his things and began exiting the room. "Well, Melanie's done this before. She's paid her dues. Trust me. Study for this meeting and one day you'll get a big, sweaty wrestler of your own."

"Ouch, I think it's twisted." Melanie said clutching her ankle.

"Stand up." Brock ordered.

"I just need a time out-" Melanie began.

"Raw superstars won't give you a time out, or any wrestler in the WWE for that matter. Now GET UP!" he yelled.

"I said that I can't. Jeez, Brock. What's the matter with you?" Mel asked.

"Wrestlers respect strength and power, nothing else. You have to channel all of your energy into your strength. Including pain." He lectured. Melanie struggled to get up. Brock reached out to help her.

"Let go of me. I can do it." She said. Melanie rested her head on his chest.

"I don't want anything to happen to you." Brock whispered.

Melanie quickly twisted Brock's arm and placed him in a side headlock, bringing him to the mat. Brock grinned.

"Good one." Brock said cunningly. He quickly reversed it and F-5'd Melanie onto the floor. She cried in pain as her head bounced off the mat. Melanie lay motionless on the floor.

"Mel? Are you ok?" Brock asked. She began to stir, then sat up. The room began to spin. "Here, lean back." Brock carefully placed Melanie's head onto his lap.

"Why did you do that? Brock that hurt…" She whimpered. "I'm no your enemy and you do not treat your girlfriend that way!" Brock shook his head in embarrassment.

"Mel I…" Brock started. She pushed him away from her.

"You do not treat your girlfriend this way." She repeated. "Murderers, demons, phone solicitors maybe, but not your girlfriend." She sobbed. Brock helped her up.

"What's gotten into you?" He asked.

"Brock, you're way out of line." She said quietly. Brock ran his fingers through his hair.

"Melanie, you are the most important thing in my life. If I don't push you hard, I will loose you." He said gravely. Melanie grabbed her gym bag and sat on a nearby bench.

"Keep pushing me that way, and you'll push me right out the door." Brock stared at her. She had no idea how serious this was. He grabbed his things and left the gym, slamming the door on the way out.