Chapter 18
The following Monday Lexi stood in Gorilla position with the guys and listened as creative and the show's producer went over the last minute details for the script they would act out later that night. Up to now she'd managed to keep her nerves in check. She'd done so by telling herself she needed to stay calm and relaxed for the baby. However, no amount of mental cajoling would work now, as her stomach churned with nerves. Tonight would be the night of The Shield's demise. Tonight would be the night when the WWE Universe turned on her. She placed a protective hand over her belly and fought back the need to cry. She could do this. She was strong, damn it. No, she might not be superwoman, but she could handle this situation and whatever fallout that came with it and would for Roman's sake. He had such a bright future with the company and she'd do anything to help make sure he succeeded.
"Okay," Cory, their producer clapped his hands together. "So here's how we envisioning this working." He pointed to Roman, Dean and Seth. "You three are going to be in the ring." He nodded to Lexi. "You're going to be waiting here in Gorilla with Amber. The Shield is going to lose the match tonight." He pointed to Dean. "You're taking the fall."
Dean nodded his response.
Cory glanced at Roman. "Then, frustrated by weeks of his big attitude and subsequent losses, you lose it on him."
"Got it," Roman murmured even as Cory continued.
"You and Dean start shoving each other around in the ring. It's at this point that Lexi is going to burst through the stage entrance and rush down to the ring." Cory paused and leveled a warning look at the guys. "Don't let your tempers get so out of control that you lose perspective, because Lexi is going to be in the ring and we don't need or want her getting hurt for real."
"We're not going to let anything happen to Lexi," Seth replied and earned a nod of approval from Cory.
He turned to Lexi. "You're job is to get between Roman and Dean and try to get them to stop. You remind them that they're a team, a unit that is united in one goal. You tell them that they shouldn't be fighting."
More than a little confused by the change in script Lexi nodded. "Okay," she replied drawing out the word until it sounded like a question. What happened to the cheater story?
"Dean," Cory continued on, apparently oblivious to Lexi's confusion. "It's at this point that you give Lexi a shove." He paused and held up a finger. "An easy shove, but you need to make it look hard."
Dean leveled a look at Cory that threatened violence. "Do you really think I'd do anything that might hurt her?"
Cory shook his head. "Of course not, but in the moment…"
"Just move on," Dean warned. "Before I beat you down for even thinking such a thing."
Roman and Seth both smirked, but Lexi knit her brow as she looked from man to man. What in the hell was going on here. None of this was how it had been explained to her when they'd decided on this storyline a few weeks ago.
"Lexi," Cory said and pulled her from her thoughts. "Now we need you to really sell the shove." He curled his hand into a fist for emphasis. "I mean really sell it. Put your arms out, act like you're going to lose your balance and fall backward into Roman. The shock of seeing you pregnant is going to have the crowd worked up already. So they'll probably gasp when Dean shoves you. Don't let it phase you."
Still scrambling to catch up with what was happening, she could only nod.
"Good," Cory murmured then continued. "Roman's gonna catch you, then turned you right into Seth's arm as he goes after Dean for shoving you. Roman will beat Dean down and leave him laying in the ring alone and you, Roman and Seth walk away. Thus The Shield's demise will be complete."
"Wait," Lexi held up a hand as she scanned the faces of the man. "I'm confused. What happened to the cheater storyline?"
Now it was Cory's turn to look confused. "What are you talking about? Management nixed the cheater angle it last week after your collapse. Didn't anybody tell you?"
Nixed? Lexi's gaze cut to Roman. Guilt danced across his face and her blood instantly boiled. "You went to them, didn't you?" She turned and took a step toward him even as Seth and Dean both took a step back. "When I was dizzy and half out of sorts in the infirmary. I remember you saying that you needed to take care of some business and you left me with Seth and Dean."
Anger simmered just beneath the surface. He'd known for nearly a week that the story had been changed and he didn't tell her. She poked a finger at Roman's chest. "You went to management and demanded they pull this angle, even after I told you not to. I told you to leave it alone, that I could handle it."
"You couldn't handle it," Roman growled and his eyes flashed with something akin to anger. "That fucking storyline made you ill. It caused you to faint and damn near injure yourself."
"I told you-" She started to say only to have him bowl over her, his voice booming through the expanse of space. "I did what I needed to do to protect you," he shouted. "To protect our baby. They overstepped their authority by trying to force that damn angle on you and by God I wasn't going to let that happen."
"You weren't going to let that happen," she challenged now. Her hormones raged as frustration exploded through her like a pipe bomb. "Just who in the hell do you think you are making decisions for me without even talking to me about them first?"
"I'm the father of your child," he snapped. "I'm the man who loves you more than anyone else in the God damn world and I was protecting you."
"I don't need your protection," she shouted back. "I can protect myself. What I need is a partner who isn't going to treat me like I'm fragile glass ready to shatter at any moment. What I need is a partner who respects me enough to not make decisions about me, without talking to me about them first."
"I do respect you," he replied, his voice shaking with anger as he reached for her.
She shook her head and took a step back back in retreat. So what if she was being obstinate? As far as she was concerned she had every right to wallow in the anger and betrayal she felt. She lifted her hands in defense. "Don't." She shook her head a little harder when he took another step toward her.
"I mean it, Roman. You can't just make this go away with a hug." Feeling shaky and out of sorts, she raked a hand through her hair. "I need a few minutes...alone."
She noted the flash of hurt in his eyes and felt the sharp stab of guilt before she backed up, then turned and walked away.
"Lexi," Roman called after her, but she didn't look back. She couldn't. Hurt by what she saw as a lack of respect and angry he'd gone behind her back she continued to walk away. Right now her emotions were a jumbled mess and she needed a few minutes of alone time to figure it all out. She needed to get her head screwed on straight so when they finally did talk she could be reasonable and coherent in her points. In the meantime he'd just have to find a way to deal.