Lilian swallowed, trying to erase the dry feeling that had settled in her
throat at the sight of Stephanie McMahon. "Hello, Ms. McMahon," Lilian finally
said after a long moment.
"Please, Lilian, if you are going to be working for me then it is Stephanie,"
the brunette said with what she hoped was a calming smile, studying the woman in
front of her. The poor thing looked terrified, standing there, almost
shuddering.
Lilian tried to control her breathing, finally managing to say, "Okay,
Stephanie."
"Why don't you have a seat?" Stephanie asked, gesturing to a chair that was in
front of her desk as she crossed behind it to sit in her own seat. "You look
good, Lilian," Stephanie added, nodding approvingly at her new hair cut and
color.
"Thank you," Lilian said with a small smile as she settled down, sitting
tensely in the chair.
Stephanie nodded, drawing in her breath as she looked hard at the former ring
announcer. Lilian shifted uncomfortably at Stephanie's gaze, meeting her eyes
for a long moment. "So you want to come back?"
The sudden dialogue surprised Lilian. She was taken aback for a moment before
replying, "Yes. Yes, I do."
"Why?"
She paused for another moment, trying to choose her words carefully before
looking at Stephanie. "I've missed the business," she finally said. "I miss the
crowds, the excitement, the buzz, my friends, everything. I would have never
left. I would have never left five years ago if John hadn't dragged me out the
arena that night."
"Are you still in contact with him?" Stephanie asked, somewhat sharply.
Lilian jumped again, surprised at the abruptness from the owner. "No," she
replied quickly, "I left John a few days ago after a bad argument. It kept
getting worse and worse and I needed to get away. As soon as I can afford it I
will be hiring a divorce attorney."
"So he's out of the picture?" Stephanie said, looking hard at Lilian.
"Yes, he is. Anyone who hi-" Lilian cut herself off, mentally degrading herself
for almost letting it slip about her abusive husband. There was no way she was
going to blurt out the information about John. It made her look and feel weak
and she hated being that way.
"Anyone who constantly yells at me has no place in my life," Lilian finally said
instead, not missing the suspicious look on Stephanie's face.
However, to Lilian's relief she decided not to pursue the almost slip up.
"That's good," she answered instead, noticing the way Lilian's body relaxed
slightly at the comment.
"Yeah," Lilian replied, unsure of what to say.
Stephanie cleared her throat, finally asking, "Well, Lilian, what exactly do
you want from me?"
"I want to be an employee of yours. I want to be with everyone again, like it
was before John took over my life. I want things to be like what they were in
2003."
"Lilian, the company has changed. With Howard retiring and your leaving within
a month of each other, we were forced to hire another ring announcer, whom we
really like. He and Tony are the sole announcers. The brand split is finished.
We stopped that in late 2003 and they split the duties. A third announcer would
just be silly and pointless."
"So you're saying there is no work for me here?" Lilian asked in a small voice,
feeling almost fragile.
"Oh, Lilian, of course I'm not saying that," Stephanie said gently. "I'm just
saying the ring announcing position isn't open now."
"Okay," Lilian said, drawing out the word. She was confused as to what work
there would be for her if the ring announcing position were closed. That was the
only position she ever worked, save a few miscellaneous angles she had worked.
"Right now, we are looking to change the creative character of one of the guys.
We want him to be a face rather than a heel and have a valet to keep him
straight. He would also pursue the World Title after a few months of feuding
with the Champ," Stephanie said.
"Stephanie, I hate to be lost here, but who is the World Champion? John
wouldn't let me watch the shows," Lilian added hastily when she saw Stephanie
frown.
"Kurt Angle is the champion. He's a really nice guy and would be willing to
work with you and your wrestler," Stephanie told Lilian. "That is, if you wanted
to work with him," she added.
Lilian nodded, deep in thought before asking, "Why me? Why not someone like
Trish or Lita or Jackie Gayda?"
"Trish and Lita are currently the WWE Women's Tag Team champions. Something we
started last year," Stephanie told Lilian when the little brunette looked
surprised. "Jackie Gayda is no longer with the company, nor are Terri or Linda
Miles. All the other women are part of the women's tag team division or already
in storylines. Except for Sable. Daddy made me promise before he died and left
me the business that I would keep Sable around and not fire her. So, her
so-called role is assistant to GM Bischoff. I'm sure she really assists him."
The youngest McMahon's voice was bitter.
"Oh," Lilian replied, the word simply falling off her lips. She couldn't help
but shake at the mention of Vince McMahon. She knew he had died, she caught the
headline in the paper one day when she was off fetching the paper for John. She
wasn't sure of the cause of death and Lilian wasn't about to ask her new boss.
She smirked to herself, wondering if her former boss was rolling in his grave at
the fact his daughter had rehired Lilian Garcia after she walked out on him.
Stephanie sighed and looked at Lilian, the tiredness appearing even more so in
her eyes. "Sorry. I'm not good in talking about Daddy and Sable."
"It's okay, Stephanie. We all have our demons," Lilian said gently, unsure of
what else to say.
Stephanie nodded, knowing that Lilian was also talking about herself rather
than filling in the uncomfortable silence. "Well, are you going to take the
deal?" Stephanie asked. "You look as exhausted as I feel, and I'd like to draw
up a contract sometime tonight if you are going to accept the offer."
Lilian pondered for a long moment. There was no way she would ever go back to
John and her family had pretty much pushed her away. Lilian knew that restarting
her singing career would probably be impossible after six years without a
single. This was her only chance at a new start.
"I'll do it," Lilian finally said, smiling weakly at Stephanie.
"Oh, excellent," Stephanie said, hardly able to contain her excitement. "I was
hoping you would agree!"
"Well, like I said, I've missed the WWE. I've missed living five years of my
life. I hope that this will be a new beginning," Lilian said with a shrug,
giddiness filling her at the sight of Stephanie's joy.
"Well, let's make a contract then."
For the next hour, the two females discussed business. They decided in the
length of her contract, the pay, and her role. Lilian told Stephanie that she
would take bumps from some guys and would wrestle some matches, intergender and
one-on-one so long as she had the proper training.
When Lilian had signed the contract, she stood up, yawning. Stephanie stood up
as well, stretching her arms high above her head. "I can't wait to reintroduce
you to the fans! This is going to be the biggest thing of the year! Do you have
somewhere to stay?" she asked Lilian.
"Yeah, I have a motel. I'll be at the airport tomorrow to catch a flight to Los
Angeles for the SmackDown! show as we discussed."
"Okay," Stephanie said. "I'll call your partner and tell him to come to the
arena early so we can discuss your new storyline."
"You know, Stephanie, we never discussed whom I would be managing," Lilian
pointed out, surprised that they had forgotten that important detail.
"No, we didn't," Stephanie agreed, frowning a little.
"Well, who is it?" Lilian asked, eager to find out whom she was working with
for awhile.
"Rob Van Dam."
throat at the sight of Stephanie McMahon. "Hello, Ms. McMahon," Lilian finally
said after a long moment.
"Please, Lilian, if you are going to be working for me then it is Stephanie,"
the brunette said with what she hoped was a calming smile, studying the woman in
front of her. The poor thing looked terrified, standing there, almost
shuddering.
Lilian tried to control her breathing, finally managing to say, "Okay,
Stephanie."
"Why don't you have a seat?" Stephanie asked, gesturing to a chair that was in
front of her desk as she crossed behind it to sit in her own seat. "You look
good, Lilian," Stephanie added, nodding approvingly at her new hair cut and
color.
"Thank you," Lilian said with a small smile as she settled down, sitting
tensely in the chair.
Stephanie nodded, drawing in her breath as she looked hard at the former ring
announcer. Lilian shifted uncomfortably at Stephanie's gaze, meeting her eyes
for a long moment. "So you want to come back?"
The sudden dialogue surprised Lilian. She was taken aback for a moment before
replying, "Yes. Yes, I do."
"Why?"
She paused for another moment, trying to choose her words carefully before
looking at Stephanie. "I've missed the business," she finally said. "I miss the
crowds, the excitement, the buzz, my friends, everything. I would have never
left. I would have never left five years ago if John hadn't dragged me out the
arena that night."
"Are you still in contact with him?" Stephanie asked, somewhat sharply.
Lilian jumped again, surprised at the abruptness from the owner. "No," she
replied quickly, "I left John a few days ago after a bad argument. It kept
getting worse and worse and I needed to get away. As soon as I can afford it I
will be hiring a divorce attorney."
"So he's out of the picture?" Stephanie said, looking hard at Lilian.
"Yes, he is. Anyone who hi-" Lilian cut herself off, mentally degrading herself
for almost letting it slip about her abusive husband. There was no way she was
going to blurt out the information about John. It made her look and feel weak
and she hated being that way.
"Anyone who constantly yells at me has no place in my life," Lilian finally said
instead, not missing the suspicious look on Stephanie's face.
However, to Lilian's relief she decided not to pursue the almost slip up.
"That's good," she answered instead, noticing the way Lilian's body relaxed
slightly at the comment.
"Yeah," Lilian replied, unsure of what to say.
Stephanie cleared her throat, finally asking, "Well, Lilian, what exactly do
you want from me?"
"I want to be an employee of yours. I want to be with everyone again, like it
was before John took over my life. I want things to be like what they were in
2003."
"Lilian, the company has changed. With Howard retiring and your leaving within
a month of each other, we were forced to hire another ring announcer, whom we
really like. He and Tony are the sole announcers. The brand split is finished.
We stopped that in late 2003 and they split the duties. A third announcer would
just be silly and pointless."
"So you're saying there is no work for me here?" Lilian asked in a small voice,
feeling almost fragile.
"Oh, Lilian, of course I'm not saying that," Stephanie said gently. "I'm just
saying the ring announcing position isn't open now."
"Okay," Lilian said, drawing out the word. She was confused as to what work
there would be for her if the ring announcing position were closed. That was the
only position she ever worked, save a few miscellaneous angles she had worked.
"Right now, we are looking to change the creative character of one of the guys.
We want him to be a face rather than a heel and have a valet to keep him
straight. He would also pursue the World Title after a few months of feuding
with the Champ," Stephanie said.
"Stephanie, I hate to be lost here, but who is the World Champion? John
wouldn't let me watch the shows," Lilian added hastily when she saw Stephanie
frown.
"Kurt Angle is the champion. He's a really nice guy and would be willing to
work with you and your wrestler," Stephanie told Lilian. "That is, if you wanted
to work with him," she added.
Lilian nodded, deep in thought before asking, "Why me? Why not someone like
Trish or Lita or Jackie Gayda?"
"Trish and Lita are currently the WWE Women's Tag Team champions. Something we
started last year," Stephanie told Lilian when the little brunette looked
surprised. "Jackie Gayda is no longer with the company, nor are Terri or Linda
Miles. All the other women are part of the women's tag team division or already
in storylines. Except for Sable. Daddy made me promise before he died and left
me the business that I would keep Sable around and not fire her. So, her
so-called role is assistant to GM Bischoff. I'm sure she really assists him."
The youngest McMahon's voice was bitter.
"Oh," Lilian replied, the word simply falling off her lips. She couldn't help
but shake at the mention of Vince McMahon. She knew he had died, she caught the
headline in the paper one day when she was off fetching the paper for John. She
wasn't sure of the cause of death and Lilian wasn't about to ask her new boss.
She smirked to herself, wondering if her former boss was rolling in his grave at
the fact his daughter had rehired Lilian Garcia after she walked out on him.
Stephanie sighed and looked at Lilian, the tiredness appearing even more so in
her eyes. "Sorry. I'm not good in talking about Daddy and Sable."
"It's okay, Stephanie. We all have our demons," Lilian said gently, unsure of
what else to say.
Stephanie nodded, knowing that Lilian was also talking about herself rather
than filling in the uncomfortable silence. "Well, are you going to take the
deal?" Stephanie asked. "You look as exhausted as I feel, and I'd like to draw
up a contract sometime tonight if you are going to accept the offer."
Lilian pondered for a long moment. There was no way she would ever go back to
John and her family had pretty much pushed her away. Lilian knew that restarting
her singing career would probably be impossible after six years without a
single. This was her only chance at a new start.
"I'll do it," Lilian finally said, smiling weakly at Stephanie.
"Oh, excellent," Stephanie said, hardly able to contain her excitement. "I was
hoping you would agree!"
"Well, like I said, I've missed the WWE. I've missed living five years of my
life. I hope that this will be a new beginning," Lilian said with a shrug,
giddiness filling her at the sight of Stephanie's joy.
"Well, let's make a contract then."
For the next hour, the two females discussed business. They decided in the
length of her contract, the pay, and her role. Lilian told Stephanie that she
would take bumps from some guys and would wrestle some matches, intergender and
one-on-one so long as she had the proper training.
When Lilian had signed the contract, she stood up, yawning. Stephanie stood up
as well, stretching her arms high above her head. "I can't wait to reintroduce
you to the fans! This is going to be the biggest thing of the year! Do you have
somewhere to stay?" she asked Lilian.
"Yeah, I have a motel. I'll be at the airport tomorrow to catch a flight to Los
Angeles for the SmackDown! show as we discussed."
"Okay," Stephanie said. "I'll call your partner and tell him to come to the
arena early so we can discuss your new storyline."
"You know, Stephanie, we never discussed whom I would be managing," Lilian
pointed out, surprised that they had forgotten that important detail.
"No, we didn't," Stephanie agreed, frowning a little.
"Well, who is it?" Lilian asked, eager to find out whom she was working with
for awhile.
"Rob Van Dam."