She needed to blow off steam.
They weren't supposed to lose those titles like that. They had been promised a longer reign. They had been told that they would be the ones to help elevate those titles. And then they go and take it off them less than two months after they get them and give them to a team that had only won four matches in the entire year that they had been on the main roster?!
Sasha sighed, wandering the hallways of the arena. It wasn't Peyton and Billie's fault. She was happy for them, in all honesty. It wasn't their fault that they were just booked to be the comic relief. It wasn't their fault that the main person in charge of booking was getting older and less capable of doing his damn job most of the time….always changing his mind, never sticking with one story long enough for it to go anywhere….
Vince had supported Bayley and Sasha in bringing those tag titles to fruition, even though it had taken a year of begging to do so. Hunter and Stephanie were better. They at least tried. But there was no reasoning with Vince and when he made his mind up about a story….well, storyline or any creative direction at all be damned….
Sasha groaned in frustration. Same story, different day. She was tired of it. Tired of putting it all on the line, giving up her free time, giving up everything, just to have what could have been a great story pulled out from under her. It was the story of her entire career since arriving on the main roster in 2015. Some days she wished she could just go back to NXT….some days she felt sorry for the talent that got called up to the main roster knowing what would mostly likely be in store for them….talents like Nikki Cross and the iiconics who were so good in NXT and then never used properly on the main roster….
And now it seemed as if Vince wanted to put Sasha in another feud with Alexa Bliss….the dumbest blonde on the planet. Sasha inwardly smiled at the nickname only Bayley knew about, rolling her eyes at the thought of starting another feud with her….
Sasha sighed, stopping as she realized she was in the same hallway as where Vince's office was for the night. She stopped herself, knowing better. Her anger would get the best of her right now. She needed to wait this out, cool down a bit, before she talked to Vince. There was a ladder to follow. Vince was the top. She couldn't just skip the other steps and go right to the top….could she?
She stood a good distance away from the door, her stare enough to burn a hole right through his door if she had heat vision. She was tired of all the bullshit. And, if she didn't speak out, then who would? She was tired of sitting back and letting them decide her future in this company….she deserved to have a voice. Becky didn't just sit back and let things happen and look where her voice led her? Right into the main event of WrestleMania….
Sasha sighed, taking a few steps towards the door. She paused, hesitating. Should she? She turned back around, poised to just leave and go back to the locker room. She really should just go vent to Bayley and be done with it...
But then she heard a door opening, and she swirled around, chewing her bottom lip as she realized that it was Vince coming out of his office. If not now, when?
Vince nodded as Sasha made eye contact with him, the young woman clearing her throat.
"Mr. McMahon, I'm sorry to bother you, but could I have a moment of your time? If you don't mind?"
The older man cleared his throat, eyeing Sasha. "Do we have an appointment?"
"Um, no. I just was walking by and there's just something I'd like to speak to you about... "
Sasha fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, wondering if this was the right choice. But it didn't matter because she couldn't back down now…
He checked his watch. "I have a few moments. Come on in, Mercedes."
Sasha rolled his eyes as he turned back around and headed into his office. She had worked for the man for seven years now and he still could not understand that she hated when people called her Mercedes….
Sasha took a seat in the chair that he offered her, a feeling of unease washing over her as he shut the door, but she pushed it away. Nerves, she supposed.
"What can I help you with, Mercedes?" he asked, pulling up a chair next to him. Sasha licked her suddenly dry lips, focusing on the task at hand.
"I don't like what happened last night. Bayley and I had the rugged pulled out from under us. It was undeserved and uncalled for. We've spent the last seven weeks working overtime trying to make those titles mean something. We weren't told until yesterday that we were losing the titles and to lose them to a team that does not have a solid foundation yet and will struggle to bring value to those titles is just cruel, especially given that we are the reason those titles exist."
Vince frowned, sighing as he considered what the young woman in front of him was saying. "There's a reason though that that needed to happen. We have other plans for both you and Bayley," he explained, Sasha shaking her heads.
"Bayley and I have spent the last two years essentially sitting out. I don't believe that either of us are being used to our fullest potential. Those titles, our tag team, that was some of our best work to date. And we were only getting better. I refuse to lose those titles just to sit in catering for another two years waiting for a push that may or may not come given how often you like to change storylines with no warning or reason," said Sasha, trying to keep her anger in touch, but knowing her frustration and annoyance with the situation was coming off thick.
"Mercedes, I'm sorry that you so unhappy with the direction that I am choosing for you, but you have to trust that I know what's best for your characters. I am the reason your character even exists, and it would do you well to remember that," explained Vince, refusing to back down from the disgruntled employee.
"Actually, Hunter is the reason my character exists. And it's because he gave us the time of day in NXT to develop that character. My character has been dying a slow and painful death ever since moving to the main roster!" argued Sasha, also refusing to back down from this fight she got herself into.
"And what would you suggest then, Mercedes? Since you seem to think you know more than me about creating such intriguing characters?"
"I would suggest," she responded, rolling her eyes. Her anger was getting the best of her. She could see it. But he was baiting her. And he had to know that, too. Fuck it. She was going for it. No more Mrs. Nice Bitch, as Ronda put it. "I would suggest that you put those titles back on Bayley and give us the title reign we were promised and the story that we were not finished telling, yet again."
Vince scooted his chair closer, encroaching further on her personal space. "Then why don't you do what some of the other women in the locker have done in order to ensure that they get the title reigns they think they deserve?" he questioned, Sasha rolling her eyes. He knew what he was referring to; women like Lacy Evans who had no problem kissing ass, sometimes literally from some of the rumors she had heard whirling around the locker room, in order to get title shots. Women like Alexa Bliss who didn't deserve half the shit she had gotten in this company but somehow, always seemed to squeeze her way into a title opportunity….
Charlotte was the exception to that rule. She only got the treatment she got from this company because of her last name, but Sasha tried to let that go for the sake of their friendship, which she truly did value respect Charlotte and Charlotte was a hell of a competitor….
"Screw you, Vince! I could have you arrested for that comment! There's this little thing called sexual harassment in case you haven't-
Vince rolled his eyes, anger rising within him, reaching for the young woman in front of him.
"No! Get the hell away from me!" cried Sasha, jumping out of her seat, heading for the door, but she was blocked by Vince.
"Well, you can kiss whatever story I did have planned for you goodbye then. I hope you enjoy catering as much as Billie and Peyton do…" he said, referring to the comments she had made to them on social media that had not sat well with him.
Sasha shook her head, refusing to cry or show any weakness at all in the given moment. As soon as she got out of here, she was damn sure going to HR and reporting this.
Vince grabbed Sasha, the young woman's brain immediately going into fight or flight mode. She had to get out of this room right now….
"I don't take too kindly to women who think they're better than me. In fact, I usually take it as my duty to remind them their place in this company when they try," he replied, smirking. "Hunter and Steph may go crazy over the fact that women like you are main eventing WrestleMania, and fans may be behind you ladies, but if I had my way all the time, women like you, Mercedes, would still be competing in your underwear…." smirked Vince, grabbing for the jeans she was thankfully wearing.
Sasha tried not to let the fear overtake her, trying to remain calm. She could feel her anxiety coursing through her, trying to shake it off as Vince pulled her closer to him, unbuttoning his own pants now….
"Get away from me!" cried Sasha, shoving his hands away. She cried out when he grabbed her again, this time shoving her into a wall, removing his pants fully….
"No! No! Get off of me! I'll have you-
Sasha shoved him away once more as he grabbed her by the hair, trying to force her head down.
"Fuck you!" she cried, punching him as hard as she could, causing him to stumble backwards….
"You fucking bitch! It's time you learn the hard way what happens when women like you think they're "The Boss," he replied, mocking her character. Sasha ran for the door, her knuckle's being slammed against the hardwood door as he tried to stop her...
Oh god, he was really going to rape her….
"Oh, Mercedes, you really are a spitfire of a woman aren't you?" he asked, shoving her down on the ground, her head connecting with the leg of the chair she had been sitting in moments ago.
Sasha refused to back down, flailing her arms and legs as he attempted unsuccessfully to try and remove her clothing, her leg managing to finally connect with his manlihood which was still exposed to her….
He stumbled backwards, yelling in pain, as she somehow managed to bolt back up, reaching for the door, her sweaty hands somehow managing to get it open….
And then she ran.
"You'll be sorry, Mercedes!" he yelled after her. "You'll never wrestle again after tonight, if I have anything to say about it!" he yelled, but Sasha was already down the hall.