Despite being three hours behind schedule, Chris and Mel arrived at the Sheraton just in time. Pulling into the parking lot they noticed the throng of fans that formed a mile long line around the building. Chris sighed. "Looks like it's going to be a long day."
"At least we're getting to interact with the fans. There's just nothing better."
Chris smiled and cocked his head to the side before he pulled into the parking lot. "You have the biggest heart of anyone I know. Baby...you make me so happy." She undid her seatbelt and leaned over the console and kissed him tenderly.
"I love you Chris."
As they got out of the car, they were met by Dean who had been pacing along the sidewalk.
"Nice of you guys to join us. What took you so long? Everyone else is already set up inside."
"Dean...breathe!" Mel said playfully as she loop her free arm around Chris's waist.
Chris shrugged. "Sorry man. We hadn't unpacked yet and Mel couldn't find her stuff. You know how it is."
"Sorry Dean. But you know we're not really late." Mel held up her arm showing her watch. "See we've got all of ...fifteen minutes to spare." She smiled brightly. Chris tightened his arm around her shoulders and readjusted their bags on his opposite side, as they followed him inside.
"So what's the set up? How many people are here?" Chris inquired as he opened his water bottle and took a sip.
Dean rearranged some papers in his folder and made a few notes before responding. "Same as usual. WWE has supplied boxes of your promo pics, no more than two per fan. Try to accommodate all photo ops. Security is tight today so we'll only be letting thirty fans in at a time. I know this set up is a little different but headquarters wants to try to make these sessions more fan friendly, more interactive." Dean shrugged.
"Well it makes sense. There will be seven of us signing, so if thirty fans come in at once and are able to mingle about, it gives them more of an opportunity to collect more autographs as opposed to standing in line all day for one autograph."
Dean just shook his head. Chris was always overanalyzing things. "That reminds me. Melony, I have a message for you straight from Mr McMahon. Try to keep it to a minimum with each fan. We've got about five-hundred people here today and it's been noted that you spend on average five-minutes or more with each fan. You can't do that today."
"Don't you think that's a bit harsh Dean." Chris retorted as he saw the pained look on his wife's face. He knew what spending time with the fans meant to her. As she had once been a fan herself, standing in the cold, waiting for one little glimpse of your favorite wrestler. And he knew that she wanted to give the fans all she could. The remark hit her like a fist to the gut, but she quickly recovered.
"It's ok Chris." She turned to Dean. "I understand. It's not right but I do understand. Maybe if everyone else was as friendly as I, they would be as popular as me." Mel gave a cocky smile and walked ahead of the two men. Chris chuckled at his wife's spunkiness and the elegant yet comical way she handled sudden blows. He admired her passion and her determination, she backed down from no one. "She's right man. The fans pay our salary. It's only right that we give back as much as we can. If she wants to go the extra mile then what's it to McMahon? If anything he should thank her."
"You don't have to convince me Chris. I agree one hundred percent. But I'm just the messenger."
"Yeah I know man. It's cool."
The two entered the conference room. Mel was in conversation with Molly and Jericho as Chris exchanged greetings with everyone else.
As it was set up, the west side of the room held two tables; one for Batista, one for Melony. The north wall of the room held threee tables; one each for Hunter, Trish and Jericho. The east wall held two more tables; one each for Benoit and Molly.
Melony glanced around the set up before turning to Dean. "Why aren't Chris and I at least sitting beside each other?"
"You know as well as I that we are trying not to spoghtlight your marriage due to future storyline plots."
Benoit shot him a glare. "What plots?"
"Sorry, not now." Dean glanced at his watch. "It's time to open the doors."
The first hour of the session went smoothly. However, shortly into the second hour things got a little stressful as security had already removed one man that lunged at Hunter and threatned to take him out for being such a wuss. Followed by a woman who literally threw herself onto Jericho and proceeded to smother him with kisses. Melony found herself quite amused with the whole ordeal, especially since it's usually the Diva's safety everyone is concerned with. Which was exactly why each diva found herself seated next to a 'bodyguard'. Ironically enough Trish came to Jerichos rescue by pulling the woman off of him and did it while laughing hysterically. Apparently having a table off to the side had it's advantages, as the other four hadn't garnered much action. With the exceptions of women giving Batista gifts. One girl took her underwear off on the spot, wrote her phone number on them and palced a kiss on his cheek. Dean shut and locked the doors calling for a ten minute break much to the relief of everyone.
"I swear, I'm out of here if I have to happily accept one more pair of women's ...underthings." Batista held up a pair of lacy red thongs and let them drop to the floor.
"It could be worse dude. At least guys aren't giving you gifts of their...under things." Jericho cringed at the thought.
"Aw poor Dave." Mel laughed. "When you are as loved as I am, you get the good stuff." She held up a new digital camera that a fan had given her.
"Damn Divas!" Dave grumbled before walking off.
"Aw Dave, don't be such a grouch." She yelled and was given the one finger salute.
Mel took a sip of water and walked across the room where Molly, Benoit, Jericho and Trish were comparing notes on their encounters so far.
"Look Mel, our girl Trish got a diamond necklace from an admirer." Molly sent a look her way that made her almost spit her water out. Both she and Molly new why Trish adored doing these signing's. Trish was always talking about how naive the fans were, how they would buy her anything she asked for. It made her and Molly ill the way she used people.
"Oh its beautiful Trish." Mel politely smiled.
"Thanks. I guess I'll add it to my collection." She tossed it carelessly into a box that was already full of various gifts other fans had lavished upon her. Both Chris's exchanged looks of disbelief.
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to make a phone call." Trish brushed past the group.
Jericho waited until she was out of sight before he remarked. "Bet you fifty bucks her and Hunter are gettin' it on in the restroom."
"That's a sucker bet. I'm pretty sure of it cause her cell phone is still on the table."
"Oh you guys are sick." Molly said as she covered her eyes trying to ward off any visual images that may try to creep into her mind.
"Oh come on Molly. Nothing like two blonde idiots going at it in the restroom." Mel elbowed Molly in the ribs and laughed.
"Hey what's being blonde have to do with anything?" Jericho asked with a puzzled look on his face. "Sometimes you make no sense Mrs. Benoit."
"I know goldilocks! You have to be non-blonde to understand me." Mel said as she pinched his cheeks.
"Non-blonde?" Both Chris's asked in unison.
"Alright doors are about to open. Two hours to go people." Dean yelled and once again thirty fans entered as the room filled with a whirl of flashing cameras, screams of joy and endless chit-chat. Autograph after autograph, picture after picture, Mels' neck was hurting, her hand cramping and she saw spots from the camera flashes. Slowly but surely she was ready for the day to end. Across the room she noticed Chris hard at work, talking, posing for pictures and all the while flashing his trademark smile. She caught his eye and he winked. She giggled like a teenager and returned her attention to the fans. A tall figure approached the table, yet she never looked up as she poised her black sharpie over the photo of herself. "Whom do I make this out to?"
"Actually I'd like for you to sign this one." He slid a picture across the table. Mel turned pale as she picked up and eight by ten of her and her ex.
"Where did you get..." She looked up into the gray-blue eyes of her ex-boyfriend.