Chapter 40

xXx

"Are you fucking serious? I can't believe they would do something so selfish!" Karlee was seething down the phone, standing outside so that everyone in the house couldn't here her.

"They justified it by saying that Eva did it willingly and since they can't gather evidence that she asked her, Sofia wasn't in the wrong. So to keep a court case out of their hands, they've given in and given Sofia her job back." Karlee wanted to punch something. Her plan of keeping away from the business was going down the drain. She had stayed away from social media but had been on the phone with Alice and Kaitlyn almost every other day. Not exactly cheap when she was in the UK.

"They're using you leaving as a platform to bring her back, but Dean's going to get a championship out of it, I reckon." Karlee wanted to ask how he had been but knew if she did, she would only want to go back and she didn't plan on it until Kaitlyn had her babies and that flight was already booked. Six weeks and she would be back home.

"So he's going to be working with her?" She asked, a slight hint of jealousy. Alice confirmed her question and she sighed, leaning against the wall, feeling deflated.

"Karlee, he's been asking for you." Alice spoke softly, knowing his was not a topic of conversation Karlee wished to address.

"Listen babe, I'll be back in a few weeks, keep me updated though, yeah." Alice was defeated yet agreed and hung up the phone. She put her phone down and turned to face Roman. She sighed and sat down on his knee, latching her arms around his neck.

"Nothing new? He asked. She shook her head and leaned it on his chest. They were both worried about Dean. Ever since Karlee had left, Dean's best friend had been silence. He was cooped up in his room, only coming out for matches, even travelling alone. His eyes showed he hadn't slept and he was ignoring everyone and his matches showed he was angry with pent up frustration.

"We have to sort this..." Alice cooed, bringing her feet up and curling up with Roman. Roman hugged her close, so grateful to have her knowing his best friend had gone AWOL.

"No, I'm afraid they have to do this one on their own baby."

xXx

Gym had been a haven in the weeks that she had been away from home. Most of her day had been spent in the gym, running or doing something mind numbing. She even thought about taking up knitting. She found herself constantly thinking about Dean or wrestling. She had went out shopping a few days before and everything she picked up made a wrestling related thought run through her head. She ended up leaving with nothing because everything she liked, she liked because it would have looked great in the ring. She ended up just filling up her time with things that were going to tire her out.

"You're not seriously going out again, are you?" Her original plan to stay in the UK with a family member had been cancelled, so she was now staying with another cousin she had. Olivia was a wrestler, just like Karlee but on a smaller scale. She didn't want to be in the big leagues.

"It takes my mind off everything." Karlee replied as she tied up her shoes and tied her hair up.

"Honey, you are meant to be figuring your life out and sorting it. Not trying to ignore it." Karlee sighed and held her head in her hands, sitting down on the side of the pavement.

"How? Explain how I'm meant to fix things." Olivia sat next to her. Olivia reminded Karlee about Alice. Always trying to fix things and helping yet being shoulder to cry on and a source of comfort 24/7. At the moment, Karlee was just focusing on herself and getting her body back into prime condition. At least she knew that would make her happy.

xXx

Dean had promised himself that he would try his hardest now that Karlee was gone but it was proving harder than he originally thought. He didn't want to face Roman and the rest of the group because it only reminded him of what was missing. He was quite content with keeping to himself, at least until he got over the fact she was officially gone and not coming back.

He was currently on his way to a meeting with none other than Stephanie McMahon, supposedly to discuss a new storyline they were interested in him doing. Now that he didn't have Karlee to forward their heel storyline, he could be in the quite for a shitty run unless Steph gave him a decent chance on his own. He doubted it.

With his cap low, covering his face, he shifted through the halls of the arena, rather late for the meeting. He had been out the night before and woke up late, meaning he couldn't be bothered trying to be on time for the taping, let alone a meeting.

He knocked and entered, ignoring the woman sitting behind him, not even noticing her.

"Sorry I'm late." He mumbled and sat down, removing his cap and shoving it in his jeans pocket.

"I don't mind. How have you been?" Steph asked, sounding concerned. Dean smirked and leaned forward.

"How have I been in general or since Karlee left?" He snapped, hating the pity that resonated in her voice. Paul, who was seated beside Steph made his presence known, quite sharply.

"Sorry about all that. I know how much its affected the locker room so I can't begin to imagine how you feel."

"Steph, she came to you, didn't she? Did she mention retirement to you when you spoke about her leaving?" Steph glanced to Paul and slowly shook her head.

"We were under the assumption she was taking indefinite leave, but she would be coming back eventually. Her announcing her retirement was a complete and total surprise to us. Honestly. If I had knew she wanted to retire, she would have gone out with a bang and not just a speech."

"I'm sure she would have gone out with a bang." The voice came from behind him and Dean's hairs stood up on the back of his neck. When had she come into the room?

"What the fuck is she doing here!" Dean spat, standing up and flipping his chair behind him. Sofia stood up from her chair at the back of the room and walked forwards, fixing his chair and sitting in the one beside his.

"I'm back. Haven't you heard?" Dean grit his teeth together Paul stood up and prepared himself for everything to kick off. He was glad he had called Roman and made him stand outside because the anger radiating from Dean just now was nuclear.

"I suggest you sit down, shut up and let us explain this." Stephanie snapped, turning her frown to a smile for a second.

"In fact, do one better and run to catering and get us two a coffee. Dean, you need anything?" He shook his head. Stephanie had a vindictive smile on her face. Sofia tried to hide the disgust and embarrassment but she stood up, sorted her skirt and off she went, slamming the door on her way out.

"You know something, I never thought I would walk out on this company but you better have a damn good explanation or I'm gone."

"I know you have the right to be upset and we are too, but we had our best lawyers in on this situation and once it had been investigated, we didn't have the evidence to defend the firing of Sofia. Although Eva said Sofia asked her to drug Karlee, there's no evidence. Sofia threatened to sue and she would have won, taking everyone down with her. So we made her a proposition instead." Dean couldn't believe it.

"After everything she put me, Karlee and even you through, your welcoming her back. God forbid you take the chance on this precious fucking company. Its bullshit!" Dean stood up, going to walk out the door and genuinely not come back.

"I swear to god Dean, sit down and listen." Paul was usually only there as back up but when he spoke, you knew to listen.

"We want you to enter into a storyline with her, putting you on top as a main heel. We want to stretch it to Wrestlemania and then we can get rid of Sofia." Dean turned to listen and Steph smiled. Wrestlemania was only a few weeks away and not too long to have to put up with the bitch that had ruined Dean's life.

"We want to give you a chance at the title and so far the plan is to have you face the champion in a two out of three falls match. I want to work a stipulation that if you are pinned, Sofia is fired. She will think that if you win the whole match, she keeps her job but in actual fact, all you have to do is get pinned once in the whole match for her to be let go. Does that make sense?" Dean sat down.

"I'm guessing this storyline sees us get back together?" Stephanie shrugged her shoulders. She didn't want to disrespect Karlee b asking for it, they were hoping they would figure that out themselves. Dean knew what was professional and what was real.

"You decide. The least we can do is let you control what happens. Just don't fall out with her live on TV, at least not for a while." Paul added. They needed the crowd to be invested in this for it to truly work and hopefully reel Karlee back in. That was Stephanie's hidden agenda at least.

"I'll stick to her being a tag along for a while. She can help interfere in my match tonight and I'll decide where we go from there. And just because I'm going along with it, doesn't mean I'm happy about it."

"Understandable." Both of the Authority agreed. He stood up and slowly slid his chair backwards.

"I better get a title out of this." he murmured and left the room, without even shaking a hand. He wasn't standing for this.

Xxx

Dean was facing Rusev in a match tonight so having Lana ringside would be a good excuse for Lana to get involved. Lana could interfere, as she usually did and then Sofia could run out in her tacky, cheap high heels and beat the shit out of her. No skin off Dean's back and minimal effort on his behalf.

Dean sat in his locker room, head in his hands as he assessed the situation. He was going to be stuck with Sofia by his side for more than a month now and there was nothing he could do about it. He stood up and decided to go find her. If he was going to be associated with her, he was going to have fun with it.

He walked the halls for the first time, with a slight smirk on his face. Not that he was happy, just content with the fact he had two months to ruin the evil bitches life. And she wasn't even going to see it coming.

He knocked on the women's locker room door and was greeted by none other than half pint herself.

"Oh, so you aren't dead then?" Alice snapped, shutting the door behind her.

"Don't start, I have enough shit to deal with." Dean snapped back, moving out of the way of the door. She didn't budge, instead crossing her arms and waiting for him to explain.

"God, Roman does well to put up with you." She scowled but still didn't shift.

"I know your on the daily report to Karlee. So I'll give you something to correspond. Sofia has her job back and she's gonna be in a storyline with me. They're giving me a few weeks to build it up then I can get rid of the bitch." Alice stood, her jaw on the ground. She pulled out her phone absent mindedly and pushed speed dial.

"Yeah, babe, get your backside to catering. I have major news." Dean rolled his eyes as Alice took off at lightening speed. She was something else. He knocked again and when Nikki opened it, he saw Sofia sitting in the corner, laughing away to herself on her phone.

"Get her out here." Dean pointed to Sofia and Nikki turned with the most disgruntled look on her face. She clicked her fingers at the blonde and she swivelled her head up, looking at Nikki with a raised eyebrow.

"Your wanted. Move." Nikki muttered. People weren't the kindest to S since she ha come back and she had nobody to blame bar herself. She was poisonous and vindictive and she deserved all the unhappiness in the world. She waltzed over to Dean, a huge smile on her face when she saw him.

"You wanted to see me?" She asked.

"Not wanted. It's just to inform you of our plans tonight. I want you to come in and cause a shit storm with Lana during our match. And wear all black, no heels." She smiled and stepped closer.

"Why don't I just go all out and dye my hair red too?" He stood back. His temper couldn't withstand that. He got up close and waved his finger in her face.

"Don't you fucking dare ever say something like that again. You ever mention Karlee's name or anything related to her and you'll be left doing the shittiest storyline I can find for you." Her smile dropped and she gulped, taking heed of his warning and tottering back inside. Dean grinned as she shut the door.

He was taking this opportunity and squeezing the life out of it.

xXx

Sorry for the wait. I have the rest of the story planned out, its just these filler chapters that are so hard to fill out! Reviews are very much appreciated and welcome!

Lots of love! Amanda xoxo