Chapter 3
Karlee surprised herself at her training session the next day. Her friends, her wrestling ones anyways, could appreciate how big an opportunity this was but what they couldn't understand was why it was even an option on whether she should go or not.
"You could be earning big bucks there K, Charlotte Flair takes in six figures easy!" Darren waved his hands about empathically as he tried to reason with her. Darren had been one of the original trainers who saw how hungry Karlee was to wrestle for a living and gave a kid with no money a chance to make it.
"I'd rather slog my ass where I am and keep my integrity, thank you!" She bounced off the ropes repeatedly, something she did when she was agitated. She had emailed the address on the note the scout gave her. It wasn't to anyone specific so she wasn't awaiting a reply as she knew it could take weeks. She was surprised when Darren's girlfriend Sarah, picked up her phone and threw it to her.
"Dear Miss Eckland, thanks for reaching out blah, blah. We would love to meet you in person, blah, blah. Tonight?!" Karlee threw her hand over her mouth. She hadn't expected a reply so soon, let alone a meeting. Darren looked at her eagerly, awaiting a scream of excitement."
"I'm working tonight and if I bail, I'm fucking done." Karlee was already on her last legs with her boss and she had managed to escape being fired a few times already, mainly because he was drunk and couldn't actually do very much. Her brain felt like it was on fire as she tried to make a list of pros and cons in her head.
"Fuck it."
xXx
Karlee didn't own smart, business clothes. She owned black jeans and black dresses. And the odd pair of grey. After spending a lifetime stressing about what to wear, she settled with black jeans, one of the only pairs she owned which weren't ripped and a black cami with a deep emerald colored blazer. She felt fire. Her red hair fell down her back, touching her backside and fell in soft curls. Her make-up was done heavy, like she liked it. It was her war paint.
She had text her boss instead of calling and he had read it with no reply. She didn't and couldn't be arsed calling him. A text was also sent to Matt who funnily enough, replied saying 'That's good honey'.
As Karlee sipped on her red wine, something she didn't usually go for but wanted to seem sophisticated, she watched the people having all sorts of dinners around her. There were people on first dates and even couples you could tell had been together a long time. There were business meetings being hashed out over expensive steak and margaritas. Karlee gulped and she wondered who they would send. She hoped it wasn't the guy that met her at her show. Although she would apologize one day if she ever got the chance. Karlee watched the server standing at the entrance. Every single person that came in, she readied herself to stand and shake their hand. What she wasn't ready for was when a soft hand was placed on her shoulder and a ladies voice said her name. Karlee stood and turned and was face to face with Stephanie McMahon. She didn't even try to put her bottom jaw back into place as they shook hands.
"I hope you don't mind but we use this place a lot for business meetings and the paparazzi have cottoned onto the idea. I don't want this getting out!" Karlee shot her a look of crazy. She didn't think to question ideas of the paps. She was a little independent wrestler with a little fan base. There was no story with her.
"Karlee, I'm so glad you agreed to meet with me. I understand it might take a little bit of persuasion to get you on board?" Karlee nodded, all of a sudden feeling shy. Her phone buzzed and she automatically looked. A text from Darren that read: 'Remember to be the bad bitch that you are!' Stephanie glanced too and smirked.
"Thank's for even considering me. Obviously the dream is to make it big but I want to do that on my talent alone. I don't want to become a gimmick or a product that the WWE use once and throw away." Stephanie nodded.
"That's exactly why I asked around about you. I am behind the women's division now and it's no longer just a barbies playhouse for my father or the big executives. I want to make a change in the wrestling industry and I need powerful women like you to help me." Karlee nodded and motioned for her to carry on.
"I've taken on four women over the past four years who I want to be at the forefront of changing women's wrestling. So far, Becky Lynch and Natalya are my tried and tested ladies. I need new blood to shake things up. I don't want to take you on and leave you in NXT for years. I want you to come in like a hurricane and leave everyone speechless." Karlee's heart thudded in her ears. It sounded like a dream. Karlee was immediately full of questions.
"You'll of course come to NXT but only so we can really see what your made of, get you everything you need for your character. We were thinking of making you head of a stable?" Karlee's face dropped and it was so obvious it made Stephanie's drop too.
"So I'll be a manager? Paraded out to the ring in short skirts and made out to be a tramp?" She didn't expect her tongue to be so fierce but this was what she really didn't want to happen.
"No, not at all. We've seen some of your videos and we know that you can handle working with the guys. We're quite happy for you to be as involved as you want. We want to show young girls that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it." Karlee leaned back, finishing the last of her wine.
"Go on then, tell me all the little details."
xXx
Karlee was abuzz with excitement when she left he restaurant and it wasn't just the wine. Stephanie had presented her a preliminary contract and Karlee signed it. Absolutely no hesitation. The figures were amazing for a beginning talent and she was allowed her own terms on resigning and Steph agreed they could review it annually. Karlee pulled her phone out of her bag. She had turned it off after her text from Darren and was surprised to see almost a hundred missed calls.
"Hello? You'll never guess what!" Karlee squeaked down the phone to Matt. Her stomach was flipping and she thought she may scream she was so happy.
"Karlee, I'm sitting in your pub just now and Greg has informed me your fired. You had better get over here and beg for your job back." Karlee stopped in her tracks. Matt was angry.
"Well it doesn't matter about that..." She never got to finish before Matt started ranting again.
"Look, I know your all excited over your little meeting and everything but we actually have to grow up for a second and you need to realize you don't have a fucking job. You have a half hour to get here or I'm locking you out tonight." He hung up. Karlee felt tears prick at her eyes and she went to dial Darren's number but all excitement had left her and now she felt stupid.
Karlee had cried her make up off by the time she got to the bar. She barged her way on and made her way to Matt who was surrounded by his friends.
"Oh. look who it is." Everyone turned to look at her, some even laughing at her. She felt angry but too sad to even defend herself.
"You do realize I've just signed a contract with them." She spoke barely above a whisper but loud enough for him to hear. He laughed. In her face.
"You honestly expect me to believe you've signed with the biggest wrestling company in the world." He goaded his friends into laughing with them, some actually taking the bait. Karlee shrunk into herself, wishing for the ground to swallow her up.
"Greg says you can get your job back if you dance." He swigged his beer. He was drunk and trying to make a fool of her. Karlee had done the odd dance when they had been busy and one of the girls hadn't shown. She only ever did it fully clothed as long as there wasn't anyone in the bar that knew her. Karlee's bottom lip started to tremble. Matt was just being an arse in front of his friends. She caught Greg's attention from the bar and he just winked. His friend were whispering among them. Karlee had had enough.
"You know what, fuck you, fuck this place and fuck you too Greg!" She stuck her middle finger up and turned on her heel. Greg called after her saying she wouldn't get in at night but the just shoved her other middle finger up at him.
Fuck this. Karlee was moving onto bigger and better things.
