Chapter 19

Steeling her nerves, Lexi took a deep breath and walked into catering. The last thing she wanted was to leave, but if it meant saving her guys from future serious injuries then it would be worth it.

Kaitlyn was the first to notice her and came rushing over. "Lexi!" she squealed and threw her arms around Lexi. "What are you doing here?"

Lexi returned her hug then forced a smile. "I'm here to set the record straight."

John Cena was the next to approach her and within minutes she found herself surrounded by her friends. "How did you get away," John asked.

"Are you okay?" Chris asked as he pushed past Kaitlyn. "Did they hurt you?"

"No they didn't hurt me," Lexi replied, indignant at the accusation.

"How did you get away?" John repeated.

Lexi shook her head. "I didn't get away." She air quoted the words.

"But we all thought you were kidnapped," Randy added.

"Lexi!" Hunter's voice cut over the murmur of her friends.

She turned to see him standing a few feet away, concern and frustration etched across his face. "I'm sorry, Hunter, but this ends right here, right now."

Chris looked from Lexi to Hunter. "What ends? What are you talking about?"

"Lexi don't do this," Hunter warned.

"Or what?" She challenged. "Oh right." She tapped a finger to her chin as if she were deep in thought. "Or I'm fired, right? Well, I'll save you the horrible task of firing me. I quit!"

"What?" Chris's eyes widened in shock as a collective gasp ripped through the group. "Now wait just a damn minute. Somebody needs to start talking and making sense."

"Let me," Lexi offered. "The kidnapping was nothing more than a storyline. Management intentionally kept it from all of you." She glanced at Hunter who remained silent. "They knew if you all thought it was real, it would make for better television."

"Wait!" Randy held up a hand. "They faked your kidnapping to us?"

Lexi nodded. "It was supposed to make for good television, but Dean, Seth and Roman are suffering because of management's decision They're not supposed to make friends with you all because keeping you all on edge would make for better television."

Chris and Randy exchanged looks of disbelief, then they both turned to look at Hunter. Needing to get it all out in the open Lexi continued. "And since the kidnapping storyline they can no longer receive the wellness program after their matches for fear you all are going to attack them. They're suffering and risking injury and nobody seems to give a damn."

"Hunter, is what she's saying true?" John asked.

"Of course it's true," Lexi answered. "Why else would I be standing here in front of you now and what do I have to gain by lying? I already quit."

"Now wait just a damn minute." Chris motioned to Lexi. "Nobody is quitting."

"Either way I'm gone," Lexi replied. "Hunter has orders from Vince to fire me if I spilled the beans about this. I'm choosing to quit so Hunter doesn't have to make that decision." Tears welled in her eyes and she took a deep breath in an attempt to maintain control. "I'm choosing to quit because I care about Roman, Dean and Seth and am willing to do what's right." She slid a sideways glance at Hunter. "Even if that means sacrificing myself in the process."

"You're not going to let her go, are you, Hunter?" Chris asked.

Hunter hung his head. "I don't have a choice."

"So what she said is true?" John asked. "You threatened to fire her if she said anything?"

"I didn't want to," Hunter offered. "But my hands are tied."

Lexi took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Chris. "I'm sorry about the other night, but I couldn't let the story go in that direction. I love you and I hope you can forgive me."

Chris pulled her close and kissed her on the cheek. "You know I do."

After a moment she pulled back and turned to give Randy a hug. "You don't have to apologize," he said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you," she whispered and then stepped out of his embrace. "One last thing." She looked around at her group of friends, her road family. "Don't make what I did here for nothing. Give Roman, Seth and Dean a chance. They're really good guys, who took great care of me while I recovered and they could use some friends."

She turned to Hunter. "I'm going back to the hotel to get my things then I'm heading back to Calgary. If for some reason you should need me I'll be at my dad's place."

Hunter gave a nod. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

"Yeah." She patted him on the arm. "Me too."

Twenty minutes later Lexi stood outside the hotel room door trying to get her emotions under control. She'd chosen not to tell Roman her plans until she was sure of what she was going to do. Now that the deed was done, she'd have to break the news to him. A giant lump formed in her throat at the thought of having to break the news to Roman.

Saying goodbye was going to be one of the hardest things she'd ever done in her life. She slid the keycard in the lock and pushed open the door. Relieved to see the main room empty, she crossed to the bedroom. Empty!

Had they gone to the area already? Maybe they'd found the hotel's gym and were trying to put together a decent workout. Either way, she'd take advantage of their absence and pack. Being ready to leave when she told him might make things just a bit easier.

She pulled her bags from the closet, grabbed her toiletries from the bathroom. Then she crossed over to the bed and picked up her nightgown off the floor. After sharing a bed with Roman for the last two weeks, sleeping alone was going to feel weird.

Anger and sadness swirled inside her as reality slowly set in. In the span of fourteen days she'd opened her heart and found love only to lose it again. She reached for Roman's shirt draped across the back of a chair, then buried her face in the fabric, inhaling his scent. Tears welled and she let out a sob. Why did doing the right thing have to be so painful and how in the hell was she going to tell Roman?