Disclaimer: I do not own the characters affiliated with WWE, I do own Nicole Michael's however. This story is completely AU! This is my first fic so be gentle, reviews are welcomed!

Nicole spent the rest of the day putting away CDs and she even served a few people under the watchful eye of Matt. She sat on the couch waiting for Matt and Jeff to come out of the office to tell her whether she'd get the job.

She wrung her hands nervously, tapping her heels against the ground. She needed this job so badly, and if she didn't get it… well she didn't want to think about it just yet.

Oh god, what if I don't get this job? I won't be able to feed myself! I can only live so much longer with the money I earnt working in Europe. I'm going to starve. I'll have to go beg for forgiveness from grandma, she'll make me her slave. She'll arrange a marriage for me… are those even legal anymore? She'll choose Cena, and he'll cut my hair on our wedding night.

Panic started to sink in. She stood up abruptly and started to pace.

They've been in there twenty minutes. I'm screwed. Fucking screwed! I'll be forced to marry Cena, or worst that Adam guy. Dinner… I completely forgot about dinner tonight! SHIT!

She glanced at the clock to see it was only five.

Relax and breathe. It's only five o'clock, and you don't have to be there until seven. They'll come out here, soon, I hope. Oh god.

"Nicole?"

She spun around to see Matt and Jeff standing by the couches. She realised she was hugging herself tightly, and wore an expression that told the world Nicole Michaels was going to cry.

"Are you ok?" Jeff asked approaching her, searching her eyes.

"I'm fine," she said smiling weakly and looked to Matt.

"We've talked about your progress today," Matt said. "We're just a little concerned about the way people were responding to you."

Nicole felt her heart drop thinking about when Mrs Taylor, head of the Women's Society came into the store.

"Nicole," she said in her high shrill voice, "how lovely to see you. I didn't know you were working, and so soon this your return home as well."

"It's my first day, Mrs Taylor, I'm here on a trial basis," Nicole said. This wasn't going to be pretty.

"Aren't they charitable? I was surprised to see you at your father's charity event. You looked beautiful my dear, who were you wearing?"

"Chanel, ma'am," Nicole said. "My grandma picked it."

"Your grandma is an amazing woman, taking you back in after what you did," she said just loud enough for Matt to hear, who was standing a couple of feet away looking through a catalogue. Nicole felt her heart burn. Matt raised his head in interest. "You're a lucky girl Nicole. Have a nice day."

"I want you to be honest with me. Will this impact this business?"

Nicole felt a lump rise in her throat. She couldn't deny the fact that people would avoid this shop because she was working here. In the eyes of this town she had done the unforgivable, turned her back on her family.

"I have no doubt about that. I'm sorry, it was a silly idea me going for this job," Nicole said rubbing her arm, trying to hold back the tears. "I'm sorry to have wasted your time."

"Wait," Jeff said. "Come on Matt, she needs this job. Everyone in this town turned their backs on her when she needed them the most. It doesn't matter why she left, it matters that like us she needs all the help she can get while she tries to right her wrongs. We were like her once, don't forget that."

Matt knew Jeff was right. Nicole wasn't the only one keeping secrets.

"Okay," Matt said defeated.

"Thankyou," Nicole said sincerely. "I won't let you down."

Nicole pushed the doorbell, her hand shaking. To say she was nervous was an understatement. She'd been home for two months and this was the first time she'd been invited home since her grandmother told her she was not welcome.

Edwina, the housekeeper answered the door, letting Nicole in after a polite greeting.

Nicole stepped into the foyer of the house. The Marble House was a masterpiece, and her family had always prided their legacy on living there.

"Nicole!"

She turned around to see her sister, Maria sprinting over and pulled her into a huge hug, not wanting to let go.

"I'm so glad you came," Maria whispered into her ear. "Just warning you, the boys eat here now."

Nicole pulled away and looked at her sister with a blank face. "Well I'd better be on my best behaviour."

Maria walked her through to the living room where her father sat talking with the four men she'd met at the charity event. They all wore suites, typical of the Michael's "men", they looked stunning.

"Nicole," her dad said getting up and hugged her. "How are you? Maria said you got yourself a job, congratulations."

"Thanks, it's not much, enough to pay the bills," Nicole said.

"You remember Randy, John, Dave and Adam don't you?"

"How could I forget," Nicole said as politely as she could. "It's nice to see you again."

The men said hello as her grandmother entered the room.

"Nicole, nice of you to join us," she said coming over and pecking her on the cheek. "Come, dinner is served."

Maria quickly took Nicole by the arm and led her through to the dining room. "John's been asking about you all day," she said quietly.

"That's nice," Nicole said, completely uninterested.

"Oh come on, he's cute," Maria said. "Dad likes him a lot, so does grandma. She was saying that you two would look like a good couple."

"Doesn't mean we'd make a good couple," Nicole said.

"Nicole dear, come sit in between Adam and John," her grandmother said.

Nicole did as she was told, she wasn't about to let that witch make her cause a scene and ruin her chances of making up with her father.

"You look absolutely ravishing my dear," Adam whispered into her ear, causing her spine to tingle. "Is that a Prada dress? Or is it Vera Wang? New? Did daddy pay for that one too?"

"Fuck you," Nicole whispered into his ear faking a smile. She placed her napkin onto her lap while the servants served their dinner. "Maria made me this dress last year, as a matter of fact, while I was in Europe. It was a gift for when I returned home."

She felt a hand on her own, and looked to see John smiling at her sheepishly.

"I wanted to apologise for what happened yesterday," he seemed sincere. "You shouldn't have been spoken to like that. I know why you left, we all do, but Adam is just trying to push all your buttons. I'm sorry you think we're monsters, perhaps we are, but we have a job to do. Dave is supporting his family who live in the slums, Randy is a runaway who I met on the streets and your father took me in when I was struggling." John sighed looking away for a moment. Nicole looked at the hand that gently lay on hers. "I'm sorry you're being punished like this, but your dad's heart broke when you went away." She looked up to see his big blue eyes search hers. "He wants to forgive you, but your grandma is making this so hard for all of us. Give it time; get to know your family again."

Nicole nodded her head, choking back the tears. She could feel her father staring at the two with concern, and her grandmother plotting.