Chapter 17

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As she strutted down the halls, ignoring the glances from everyone around her, she knew her little frenzied attack would send the right message. Old School Karlee was back. The claws were being drawn and out went boring, settling down Karlee and back came kick ass with heels. She was taking no shit from anyone. Karlee felt her arms being grabbed roughly and her lower back being shoved into some sort of cupboard. Her heart went into overdrive as she started to panic but the three faces in front of her calmed her down swiftly. She went to lash out at the first person but he caught her wrist and held on to it.

"What the fuck was that out there?" Dean growled, his face contorted in anger. Frustration bubbled up in Karlee's chest as she stood in front of the three members of the Shield, feeling unfairly outnumbered. Roman set her hand down by her side softly, giving her a warning look

"Oh I'm sorry, Did I make you look bad?" She snapped back, leaning back against the shelving in the small crowded area. Dean smirked.

"Your smart little tantrum just cost Steph a fucking contract. She either had to pay Megan off or give her a contract. Brownie points if you can guess which one." Shit. It was all Karlee could think. She really was stacking the odds against herself.

"Are you for fucking real. We know you well enough to know this is only the beginning of what you are planning. We're just looking out for you." Seth explained, harshness and determination clear in his voice.

"You may have started this war with Sofia but remember, she has Megan and I'm pretty sure Layla wouldn't mind taking a piece of your ass too." Roman added, the bitterness stood prominent when he mentioned Layla. Karlee tried to hold back her sigh. A good brawl was what she wanted, not a beat down.

"Seth, Roman, I appreciate it, but I can look after myself. This is something I have to do, since no-one else has the balls to sort this mess out." She directly glared at Dean, both their intense gazes meeting.

"Oh, I sorry. Was I meant to throw a hissy fit in high heels and throw a bin over some women's head. Well sorry Karlee, I don't see the appeal." Karlee screwed her nose up absent mindedly and Dean scowled at his boots. That drove him absolutely crazy.

"Well, Now that she has a contract, I can 'throw a hissy fit' in the ring. Is that okay for you or would you prefer we sort it out like you deal with things. Oh wait, we couldn't do that because Dean Ambrose isn't Jon Moxley any more. Dean Ambrose lost his fucking balls as soon as he stepped foot in this company!"

"I had balls to tackle you didn't I? If that doesn't show guts I don't know what fucking does!" Karlee slapped him. Hard. A single tear raced down her cheek as Roman shoved Dean to the side, giving him a dirty look.

"There was no need for that man." He mumbled, placing a hand on her shoulder and asking her silently if she was okay. After a sniff and wipe of her eyes she nodded. Time to fight fire with fire.

"I didn't mean it like that... You know I didn't." Karlee believed him and she hated how fast she was being able to forgive him, even after that unnecessary comment.

"Well... I guess that means you get to see her in her little itty bitty little costumes again then, huh?" Dean growled and closed his eyes. He flicked his head back ever so slightly and Seth and Roman left leaving a shoot of excitement to race up into Karlee's chest. Dean's face looked ever so pained as he took a few steps back and leant against the door.

"This isn't fair Karls. You need to play by the rules..." She looked directly into his eyes.

"Dean, Trust isn't something I give away easily. You of all people should know that. You seriously fucked that up, maybe not intentionally but you still did it. So if you really care, stop worrying about Megan getting a contract and me getting my ass whooped and actually love me. You said you tackled me before... What's stopping you from doing it again?" Her voice was thick with lust and the heated stare only made her stomach flutter. Karlee stepped forwards and placed a foot either side of his feet. She bent inwards, her lips seconds away from his ears. Dean shivered as she took a breath.

"And baby, I never said there were any rules."

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She was shockingly surprised with herself. She didn't mean to try and seduce Dean in a cleaning cupboard but she never really meant to slap him either. Oh well. All she wanted him to do was take charge again. She needed him to be in control of where their relationship was going. After the accident, he always made out as though she were made of glass and would break easily. She didn't want that. She wanted the fiery passionate Mox back.

"Can you stop daydreaming and drop-kick me already?" Paige clicked her fingers in front of her teacher and Karlee was pulled back into reality. She had been dragged into a training session with the Diva's down at NXT and they had stolen two of the rings already. Nattie occupied the other one with a few of the NXT girls whilst Karlee was training with AJ, Paige, Bailey and Alice. Karlee snapped back into it and helped Paige work on selling her drop-kicks.

"Your Diva Champ material girls. Just keep going and you'll get there." Karlee sat atop the ring turn-buckle as she chugged back her water, most of the girls doing the same.

"Half of us were just talking 'bout that the other day. We don't want to go up to the main roster for our dirty laundry to get aired. I know I don't, I have a past that belongs just there – The past." The other girls nodded in agreement Paige being the one to pipe up.

"All you need to do is drive her out. Give her so much she can't handle and eventually she'll quit."

"I could and would never do that, no matter how much I hate them. Just keep your head high and don't make the mistake I did." They had a good laugh as Karlee told them the story of Sofia being in charge and making them wrestle in corsets.

"Holy shit, Why was she ever left in charge?" Bailey asked, her face screwing up at the thought of being paraded around like a barbie.

"She may be shit at handling life but she is a good business woman and is extremely smart. She knows what people want and what they don't. All it is about it manipulating people."

"What about you and Dean. How's that going, If you don't mind me asking." Alice coughed kicking AJ in the hip ever so secretly. Karlee laughed it off, finding comfort in the face she had a new friend that was looking out for her.

"We'll get there. Eventually. Things like this just take time." AJ smiled.

"Did you see the article that was published about us in some magazine? It was basically asking who would win if me and Punk were to go against you and Dean." Karlee chuckled.

"Me and you could go for it but the boys would just fight about the most random things. When we were once on ECW the two of them argued about who was going to come out first. Then when they became tag champs, they had to put sticky labels on the backs of them because Paul refused to get them plated. That was hilarious." Karlee felt herself get slightly emotional at the thought of their old memories. She would literally do anything to go back to her old oblivious little bubble.

"You okay honey? You look a little stressed." Karlee came back into the real world just as Paige and the rest of the girls were packing up and heading away. She looked down at Alice's arm on her shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine. You rooming with Roman tonight?" Alice smiled.

"Nope, but I have a spare bed. Fancy a bitch a soppy film and some ice-cream?"

"Mmmm. Sounds heavenly."

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