CHAPTER 7 – The second date
In fact the evening began under the best auspices. He took her in a biker's pub, a place that he obviously visited every time he was in town, full of tattooed big men. They all looked like hooligans, but in truth they were nice and funny men who didn't waste time to judge you, but didn't want to be judge in return. Fresia instantly liked the place and felt at ease with its customers. The owner of the pub welcomed Mark with confidence, evidently knowing him very well, and escorted them at their table, set apart in a corner of the room, so they could have some time alone.
They ordered beefsteak and salad, beer for Mark and natural water for Fresia. They talked about everything, with Fresia doing the talking, considering that Mark wasn't cooperating much. She told him about her scholastic studies and her job experiences before coming in WWF.
"My father almost had a heart attack when I told him I wanted to work abroad – she narrated in between morsels – but I wanted to improve the languages I had studied and develop practice as hair stylist. I've been in Germany for three months, working as a waitress in a pub like this one and I had a really good time. I made a lot of friends; I still keep in touch with some of them, by phone or e-mail".
"I like Europe – said Mark – Sadly when we are on tour we hardly had time to explore the country, but that little bit I've seen was enough to captivate me".
"Yes, all Europe is beautiful, even if dissimilar. I've been in Germany, France, Spain, Holland, Belgium and Denmark and would be ready to go back in each of those Countries… except Denmark, maybe" Fresia said, lowering her eyes.
He looked at her interrogatively, lifting an eyebrow, as to encourage her to continue.
"I had a bad experience in Copenhagen. I was the interpreter for an Italian fashion firm; they wanted to initiate a partnership in Denmark. To cut a long story short, one night I've been chased by three… Vikings who surely didn't have pacific intentions. I got away with it because adrenaline put wings at my feet but after that incident I took self-defence classes, you never know…"
Mark was angry, with those three assholes and with himself. He would have killed them, having the chance. He hated men who hurt women, fragile creatures incapable of deal with a superior strength. But why did he feel like he wanted to protect this girl with his life? Strange… That wasn't him.
The waitress brought them the dessert list and Fresia asked for a slice of chocolate cake. She loved chocolate! Mark glared at her, devouring the cake, with disapproval. She knew she wasn't skinny, especially her butt, but who was him to criticize her? Now I'll sort you out! She thought.
"It's a pity you don't want to taste this mousse, Mark. It could bring back a dead man…" she said looking him straight in his eyes, to clarify who she thought the dead were.
Mark stayed silent for a few moments, and then he shocked her doing something unexpected, he threw back his head and burst out laughing. He was laughing! Fresia couldn't believe it. They were seeing each other – better, she was hunting him – for months now and this was the first time she saw him laugh.
I'm really good – she thought – I made the Undertaker laugh, perhaps in a hundreds of years I will make him love me…
The waitress serving coffee woke Fresia up from reverie. While sipping it, Mark told her about his family. He was the third of four brothers, born and raised in Texas, even if his grandparents came from Ireland. At high school he played basketball, his coach told him he was good at it, but then he hurt his left knee and had to forget basket. At the age of 23, he started to wrestle and soon enough this sport became his great love.
"And you're very talented – Fresia joked – What about family? Did you ever think to have one? Have you ever been in love?" She asked, eager to know more about that cryptic and fascinating man.
"No to both of your questions. WWF is my family, a woman would only get in my way" he said getting serious. He wanted to be absolutely honest with her, so she would have never said not to have been warned….
"Things changes, you know? Now you have a certain opinion and tomorrow something happens in your life to turn it upside-down" she replied with a hint of provocation. Yes, he had advised her, but she didn't intend to give up just because he was stubborn. After all she had taken giant steps with him, since their first encounter; there was no reason to stop her efforts…
Mark was pissed. There was no way to put in that scatter-brained little head that he wasn't husband material. He had never known such a tenacious person in all his life. They left the pub, saluting the many regulars still there and got in the car, heading toward the hotel. Mark was silent again and Fresia couldn't believe how this man would always withdraw like a hedgehog every time he heard the word "relationship". What an irritating man! When they reached his room, Fresia turned to face her companion.
"Thanks a lot for the lovely evening, Mark. It was nice and even… educating, I would say".
He glowered at her, lifting an eyebrow in pure Rock's style, then nodded and made an attempt to go away.
"Excuse me – Fresia called – where is my goodnight kiss?"
He stopped, as if he was pondering her question, then he choose to say no.
"I respected the bet, Squirrel. Now we are even. Goodnight". With that said, he went to his room, located three floors above.
Well, that seemed a definitive leave, she mused, entering her room sadly. She had the impression she should have worked for a long time still, to get another date with her dream man. Looking herself in the mirror, while she changed for the night, she wondered if all her struggle would have given the fruits she craved.
Jessie, who stayed at the same floor of Fresia and had waited till she came back, heard Mark leaving, the "ding" of the elevator confirming his departure. She tiptoed out of her room and knocked at Fresia's door. She opened without checking who it was; she knew her friend couldn't have gone to sleep that night without knowing all the details about the date. Fresia made her sit down and in front of the usual mug of tea, told her everything.
"I don't know whose head is the hardest – considered Jessie – Mark, who insists on proclaiming he doesn't want you; or you, who keeps it up trying to change his mind"
"I wondered myself, I don't know his mind, but I know mine and I'm telling you that I'm not going to give up easily, unless he doesn't clearly tell me in the face that he doesn't like me and he haven't done it yet" Fresia replied resolutely.
"You know, you're right – Jessie agreed – If he didn't want you he would have told you in the face, he sure doesn't know what diplomacy is".
"And seeing that he didn't do it, it means he has at least sympathy for me…" concluded Fresia.
"Which will be your next movement? It seems that he has no intention to see you again, you two alone I mean"
"I won't let him think about it. I'll start to chase him around again and I'll force him to see me. I won't be the one to ask him out, though. I'll make him believe to be the hunter so this time it will be him to invite me out. It has to be on his own will; otherwise he'll have the impression to have been forced and will fight tooth and nails to get rid of me".
"Smart girl – said Jessie – If he thinks to be the one to lead the game, he will lower his shields"
"And I will be there to reap the benefits of my work".
The girls giggled together, and then they said their hello and gave appointment to breakfast, the next morning.
Going back to her room, Jessie felt a strange sensation, as if someone was watching her. She turned to check if someone was there, but the corridor appeared deserted and silent. A shiver ran along her back and she hurried up to her room. She had almost closed the door, with a sight, when something huge blocked her. A hand covered her mouth and she was dragged inside her room, the door closing soundlessly behind Jessie and her attacker.
She was terrified and tried to free herself kicking and fighting like a caged animal, but he was too strong, his arms like steel and his body hard as a mountain. Her attempts immediately appeared useless. The light was turned on and Jessie finally saw the face of the man who was holding her so tight she could hardly breathe. It was Glen! A temporary sense of relief washed over her; after all she didn't fear Glen because she was sure he wasn't one of those men who hurt women…. Then she remembered his threat and did exactly what he suggested: she started to be frightened. She tried not to show it, she had a dignity to protect and he quite deserved what she did to him.
He slammed her to the wall, putting his right arm just over her head.
"Good, miss Carter. Here we are. What do you say if we continue the conversation we started in the backstage earlier?"
"Are you crazy to assault me like that?" she protested livid. Don't they say that attack is the better defense? "I was about to have a coronary" she said putting a hand between her breasts. She made an attempt to sneak on the side, but he was faster and put his left arm against the wall too, to the other side of her head, so she was trapped between the wall and that monster. She tried to calm down and crossed her arms over her chest, in annoyance.
"No dear, you will stay right here as long as necessary. I want to know why you humiliated me in front of the entire world this evening. And prey that your explanation would satisfy me, otherwise my fun will begin".
She gulped but didn't back down. Did he crave a confrontation? That's that!
"You said it Glen, every action has a reaction. I only reacted to the way you treated me. It isn't funny, when you are on the other side, is it?"
He looked perplexed. "The way I treated you? You started all this drama, first you teased me for months, then you drew back. You deserved a lesson, but I didn't kill you like I wanted, I just left you at a taxi station".
"Or course, what a good boy – she replied sarcastic – Only that evening public transports were on strike, so I had to go back to the hotel on foot!"
"On strike?" she appeared less sure of him, and Jessie took advantage.
"That's right. You left me in a dark street, Glen, alone. I walked for 4 miles, hiding every time a car drove by, because I was scared to ask for a lift. And all because I said no? Congratulations, Glen you really are a great man!"
She was trembling like a leaf with anger, the memory of the night still fixed in her mind. It hurt her a lot. He was speechless, Jessie didn't know what was going on in his head, but his stance was less rigid, he had moved away a little and if it had not been impossible, she could have sworn he looked lost. Then a doubtful shadow crossed his face.
"You are lying, aren't you?"
"Do you wanna see in what state are my shoes?"
Oh no – Glen thought – did I just leave a defenseless woman alone in the dark? God, what a moron…
A wave of remorse flooded him; he took Jessie in his arms and held her tight, as to comfort her.
"I'm sorry Jessie, I didn't know they went on strike, I swear or I would have never left you there. No woman ever has gotten hurt because of my behavior".
At first she stood rigid like a statue, would he have crushed her? Break her? Pulverized her? Then she heard his kind words and relaxed against his warm chest. Maybe he would not have killed her this evening, after all.
"Do you forgive me?"
"I will forgive you only if you promise not to kill me for the rip in your costume" she said, insecure. He burst out laughing, holding her. He liked the sensation of her curves against his body.
"To kill you is the last thing I'd do to you, Jessie. I would start with something like this, instead…."
He picked her up till she was at his height and the next moment his lips were on hers. He kissed her for a long time, deeply while Jessie placed her arms and legs around his neck and waist. He put his hand under her buttocks to support her and caressed the firm flesh. He leaned her against the wall, pressing his hard shaft between her thighs.
She moaned excited, caught in a passion she has never known before. She wanted… She didn't know it, but it was like she needed more…
He removed his lips, panting and proceeded to kiss every inch of her neck, her ear, her face… He kissed her again and again, caressing her breast, till she was almost losing her mind. Almost. When his hand went down, Jessie stiffened and put her hand on his, to stop him. Glen felt her pull away and looked at her, their noses touching.
"If you want me to stop tell me now, or I won't be able to do it later".
"I… I'd like to have you here with me all night long, but…"
"I know, It's too soon. You're right"
"Are you angry?"
"No baby, I'm not. But I won't let you go so easily. From now on you'll be busy… with me. If you already have appointments, cancel them. If someone will ask you out, tell him to go to hell…"
She listened to him, happy and incredulous. He wanted her, all for himself, he was saying just that! Well, she had no problem at all, why going out with any man, when you can have such a magnificent specimen of male?
"I will say I'm already taken…. "
"Good girl – he put her down and kissed her tenderly one last time – Now go to bed and rest. Tomorrow I will start to court you, ok?"
"Yes sir – she laughed – Goodnight Glen"
"Goodnight Jessie"
He kissed her on the forehead and walked out, closing the door. Jessie shouted her joy, doing the happy dance. She was Glen's woman, she couldn't believe it! Jessie couldn't wait to talk to the girls, but it was too late now. Tomorrow she would have had some great news for the Circle.
A new life was beginning.