Chapter 15

Although John's match was a success, there was something missing. He knew it, Tomoko knew it, his competitor for the night Booker T knew it, and especially Vince McMahon knew it.

It was well known that Vince was a perfectionist. And even though he expected perfection of himself, he also expected it of those people around him. The WWE was his company after all. He was solely responsible for making it into what it has become today, and he would be damned if one of his subordinates didn't give 110 every time they stepped in the ring. Most every wrestler knew that if you wanted to complain about the long hours, the lack of rest between shows and the crappy hotels, you didn't go to Vince. In his mind, if you didn't like it, there were a thousand other men and women waiting to take your place. Fair of not, that's just the way it was with Vince McMahon.

Tomoko, was a different story. Vince knew of her circumstances and allowed her a certain amount of leeway before he expected her to be on par with the other performers. But tonight was different. This was a pay per view event. Tomoko had received more than enough time to prepare mentally and physically for what she was asked to do (at least in his mind). So when Vince observed her lackluster performance from the back, he was already steaming when John and Tomoko walked up the ramp and entered the backstage area.

"What the hell were you doing out there Tomoko? Sleep walking?"

Vince screamed at the top of his lungs causing anyone within a 10 foot area to stop what they were doing and turn their heads. Tomoko knew she had a shitty performance. Instead of executing a heel kick from the top rope while Booker T was outside the ring, she gave him a baseball slide through the ropes. Something he wasn't prepared to improvise for. Additionally, she missed several cues and looked lost just about the whole time she was out there. John knew she had a lot on her mind and covered for her as best he could, but it was still obvious. Tomoko wasn't ready to perform tonight and Vince wanted her to know it.

As Tomoko lowered her head to hide the fact she was on the brink of tears, Vince got right in her face and continued screaming like an over zealous high school football coach.

"Answer me Tomoko. You think you can go out there and perform like that while everyone else picks up your slack? If the ratings on this show suffer even by one pint young lady, I'm blaming you."

Vince stared at her with cold grey eyes. He hadn't had a blow up like this in a while, and what's even worse, Tomoko was in no condition to withstand his nonstop public berating. John wouldn't stand for it. He saw how upset the whole thing was making Tomoko and knew he had to say something.

"Yo, Mr. McMahon. It was my fault. I didn't leave us enough time to rehearse. Blame me."

Underneath teary eyes, Tomoko looked up at John. No one had put their career on the line or stood up for her like he had done just now. She could see that John was more than just a friend. He was a man in every sense of the word.

Off in the distance, Shane observed much of the exchange, or should I say, one sided exchange, between Tomoko and his father. He wasn't about to interrupt. He had been on the other side of Vince's tirades a number of times while growing up. There was no way he would do anything to stop it now, especially for someone like Tomoko. Instead, he stood back and smirked. He actually got a kick out of watching his father make everyone squirm. Someday, he would have that same power he thought to himself.

After John spoke to Vince, everyone could see that Vince softened a bit. Although he was still not happy with both John and Tomoko, Vince knew he was letting his temper get the best of him and that this conversation was better suited behind closed doors.

"Damn it. I want the both of you here tomorrow early, in my office before Raw. I see anything like that out of either one of you again and you're both fired. I don't give a rat's ass whose fault it is. Understand?"

"Yes, sir, Mr. McMahon." Both Tomoko and John said almost in unison.

As soon as Vince was gone, John lifted Tomoko's chin and gave her a warm smile.

"Don't worry. His bark is worse that his bite. No one is getting fired."

She smiled back. It had been a long day. As she looked up at John, Tomoko wanted nothing more than to just go back to her hotel room and sleep; but with the arms of one John Cena wrapped around her. Holding her and protecting her from the whole world.

Before the crowd had dispersed, Shane came up to both John and Tomoko. Again, playing the nice guy in order to show the other wrestlers he was just one of the boys, not the billion dollar prince of a fortune 500 company he actually was.

"Hey, don't let my father scare you. You think it's tough working for him, try being his son." Shane smiled, white teeth stretched across the soft features of his face.

Shane really thought he held all the cards. John would change that soon enough. The more he watched Tomoko suffer, the more he wanted to just say 'screw it' to his wrestling career and beat the hell out of Shane. In his mind, it would be worth it.

Then Shane said something that almost made Tomoko wet herself.

"Tomoko, why don't you meet me tomorrow before meeting my dad. I know how to work him better than anyone else in this company. I'll give you a few pointers on how to handle him."

Tomoko's eyes went wide. She couldn't possibly be alone with the man who attacked her, but at the same time knew it was either comply, or get fired. John was seconds away from accusing Shane of rape in front of everyone, just to ensure that the meeting never happened, but he knew better. He knew no one would believe him first of all, and second, he knew that it would make things worse for Tomoko than they already were.

"Tomoko, I'll come with you." John said instead, while grabbing her hand without Shane noticing. But Shane shook his head dismissing the whole idea.

"No John, just me and Tomoko. I'm quite sure you can stand up to my father on your own." Shane looks over at Tomoko and continues. "On the other hand, Tomoko here is still a little green. It's obvious my father upset her, I just want to make sure she's well taken care of."

Before leaving, Shane kisses Tomoko on the cheek.

"Don't worry Tomoko, everything will be fine. We all know the last few weeks have been hard on you. My dad's a reasonable man. He'll only fire you if you shed a bad light on the company or lie to him. You're a good girl, I know neither of those things apply to you." Shane told Tomoko. The charming smile now a kiss of death to Tomoko.

As John and Tomoko watched Shane leave, Tomoko knew exactly what his last statement. It was a warning. Say anything about Shane's less than faithful behavior to his wife while in Japan, or his most recent conduct, and Tomoko would be fired.

"What an asshole." John said aloud without being able to help it.

Tomoko turned to him, she could see the anger in his eyes and wandered if he knew something. How could he not? Tomoko wasn't exactly good at controlling her fear when Shane was near. What if she told John the truth? Not about her career as a prostitute, she would never divulge that to anyone, but about the fact that Shane raped her. NO! She adamantly told herself. John would never know that either. If he or anyone else were to find out than everything would be exposed. Her whole life there on a microscope to be dissected by her peers, her fans, her family and worse off by John.

"John, that's your boss you're talking about. He's just trying to help. I'll meet with him alone. It will be fine. He's been nothing but a gentleman since I started here at the WWE." Tomoko said. Almost choking on her own words.

John held both Tomoko's hands and looked her in the eye.

"Stop protecting that bastard." He said pleading to her.

"The only one I'm protecting is myself. Now please, I should get back to the hotel. I'm really sorry I got you in trouble tonight John. It won't happen again."

John looked at her and placed his hand on her cheek. Tomoko responded by resting the weight of her head in his hand. For the first time he really felt just how soft and delicate her skin, and more importantly, how she was, both on the inside and outside. His head moved in close to hers. He wanted to feel her lips against his and so much more. Then came a pat on the back.

"Hey, I don't care what Vinny Mac has to say, you guys did a great job out there."

John pulled away from Tomoko to acknowledge his friend Chris who was walking by them.

"Thanks, man." He responded, although disappointed that the moment was now lost.