CHAPTER 2 – A thunderbolt of almost 7 ft.
Coming back to present, Fresia entered the hair and make-up department. A huge mirror took up a whole wall. In front of it, a sink and a few armchairs. At the opposite sides of the room, two trolleys with the equipment fit for a fashion show. She sat down on one of the chairs, looking at herself in the mirror. She wasn't tall, maybe 5,4, surely not much compared to the giants she saw in the arena.
Fresia really wasn't a beauty at all, physically. She was rather rounded in all the strategic places, especially her butt, and her face nothing special. The hair was her best feature. Long, light chestnut and naturally wavy, it reached the middle of her back. Being a hairdresser, she knew how to keep it luminous and healthy. At the moment it was tied in a pony tail, so it wouldn't be in her way during work. She wore a pair of black cotton trousers and a pink polo shirt that highlighted her complexion.
Seeing that she wasn't a beauty, Fresia took care of herself a lot, with dresses and make up. And she never went out without her favorite Chanel perfume. If you can't be Monica Bellucci, at least try to look decent, was her motto. All of a sudden, a powerful noise distracted her from self contemplation and made her go out in the corridor. It seemed like the floor would have opened up to swallow the arena. Fresia opened the door to find a terrifying and at the same time enchanting sight before her. A huge man, almost 7 ft tall, wearing a long black leather coat, sat astride a bike, as huge as him.
They made quite a pair, almost monstrous. But the man reminded her of someone…. He turned to face her and she was struck. Jesus Christ, in front of her was the living legend of the WWF, the Phenom, The Undertaker! Fresia remembered the first time she saw him, a November evening in 1991, come down the ramp leading to the ring, accompany by Paul Bearer who held a golden urn. Fresia was fascinated by him, and she had wondered if that giant was coming directly from Hell. It was love at first sight, both for the wrestler and for the man. She had followed his career and all the transformations of his character, always cheering, even if the whole Ministry stuff didn't appeal to her very much.
And now here he was, in front of her, in the flesh. He was dressed in a pair of black tight jeans, magnificently plastered to his powerful build, black boots…. and nothing more, the BSK PRIDE tattoo showing under the black coat. His long red hair was tied in a heavy braid hanging on his back. A black bandanna was fixed on his head and he wore a pair of (of course) black sunglasses.
He looked like a demon, a very sexy demon.
Fresia stood there, watching him, like a dummy, while he was busy with the bike. Then, as if he was sensing to be observed, he turned around slowly and saw her. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe…. Mamma mia, Mark Calaway in person was in front of her and she was acting like a fool. It was even worse when he removed his sunglasses, looking at her directly in the eyes, amused and annoyed at the same time. He had the greenest eyes she has ever seen and they were so intense, as if he could look inside her soul.
Oh Lord, what can I say now? What can I do? Come on, girl, you're making an awful impression. Say something! She thought breathlessness.
In the end, it was him who broke the silence.
"Did they send you to tell me something, or are you one of those crazy fans sneaking in arenas to have an autograph?" he said with a bored tone.
"Nnno sir, I work here, I heard the bike and…." She stammered.
"And what are you doing for the federation?"
"I'm the new hairdresser, sir. My name is Fresia, Fresia Valeria Neri, sir" she answered and since she was really nervous, reacted like she always did in this kind of situations, with a torrent of words.
"This is my first day, you know? Isn't it incredible that my first day I met my preferred wrestler? You know, Mr. Calaway, I've followed you since the beginning, I'm a huge fan and I can't believe that from now on we'll work together…. I mean in the same show… I mean in the same place…"
He frowned at the girl's babbling, crossing his arms over his large chest in an evident sign of impatience. Mark didn't notice her at first, than a delightful aroma, a subtle but persistent scent had reached and surrounded him, forcing him to look around searching the source of it…. And he saw her. Mark observed the young woman in front of him, from head to toe and decided that he wasn't interested. Too short, too large for his liking – he mused – she reminded him of a squirrel, with those fat cheeks. She had that look in her eyes, the one he always saw on the faces of female fans. They all wanted to seduce him, become the love of his life, and marry him. For his money and because of his fame. That look meant troubles. Besides, considering her name, she was from Italy, surely a scheming busybody.
He shifted on the bike and the long braid fell on one of his shoulders, capturing Fresia's attention.
"You know, I'm very good with long hair, I mean I know how to treat it 'cause I have long hair too and I know how it could be… I would be flatter to work with yours, as often as you will… Well, It's my job…"
"Take a breath, girl, or you will not reach the end of your first day. Welcome in WWF, but as far as my hair is concerned, I will take care of it. I don't like to be touched, and I don't like chatty people. Now go back to your job, You will be very busy tonight".
With that he dismissed her, turning back his attention to the bike. Then, satisfied of himself and of his Harley, he started the engine and left, with his coat fluttering around him. Fresia couldn't answer him. The shock of being in front of her favorite athlete, together with the surprise for his brusque manners, made her speechless. Why she always liked the rough ones, she scoffed.
While she stood there, eating up her gut, a blond tall girl, about her same age, approached Fresia:
"Well, I see you made acquaintance with our resident Deadman. It's a shame that a man so sexy could be so irritating too… I'm Jessie Carter, the costume mistress. You must be the new hairdresser, Fresia, right? Like the flower…"
"It's me, Fresia Valeria Neri, pleased to meet you" said Fresia smiling. She liked Jessie immediately, she had a sincere smile and she agreed with her about Mark".
"It's a pity, you're right, that such a man behaved like a Neanderthal, but I'm not impressed"
"What do you mean?" asked a curious Jessie.
"I mean that I've just been struck by that 7 ft. monster and I intend to know him better".
The costume mistress looked at Fresia in the eyes and said: "be careful not to be burn by that devil, he wouldn't think twice before sweep you away like a detritus. He's not an easy man. But I can understand your feelings. It happened to me too, the moment I met Glen Jacobs… God those curls, Lord those eyes, Jesus those muscular shoulders…".
"Ah, you mean Kane… Eh, yes, surely a noteworthy man. Is he and easy man?"
"Certainly he is more civilized than Mark, but so private! To make him put together a phrase is a great effort. But I never back down, so every time I have him in my department, I can't do without flirting".
The girls laughed at the image of Kane, bending his head before Jessie's flirting.
"He is a teddy bear. His brother, to the other side…. He is just a bear, with deadly claws and fangs. As far as I know, he never used them on a woman, but who knows? You could be the first. Be careful". And she didn't joke.
I know – Fresia thought – but I will compel him to look at me, to know me.
She waved Jessie and went back to the hair stylist room, ready for the big night.