Chapter 6
September 19th, 2015…still
San Antonio, Texas
"You know I was concerned you'd have trouble blending in while trailing them to the ring; this is a smaller production than the main roster, but you always surprise me." Paul beamed proudly at Lex while they both waited for the guys to exit the locker room.
"You have no idea how much restraint I had to use not to stand up with my arms raised during Finn's entrance." She chuckled; smiling at the Irishman when he flushed from her comment. "It is a damn catchy theme and you can't help but get into it."
"Thank you, luv. Maybe I can convince you to escort me or the demon to the ring someday. I'm sure you'd look positively lovely all painted up." Finn lifted a brow, giving her a bright smile.
"A valet huh? Don't even think about it, Paul." She held her hand up in his face, slipping his grip on her wrist with ease.
"So when are you headed out to Florida?" Paul asked when the rest of them exited the locker room with their gear bags in tow.
"I'll take the ones that are crashing at my place to give the others more room on your bus, and we'll probably head out after a late breakfast tomorrow. We'll be getting in late or more like early in the morning." She shook her head when Sami bounced excitedly on his toes.
"Where are you guys headed to tonight?" Paul glanced among them, settling his gaze on Joe.
"I'm taking the dogs back to the house and turning in early. They are going to a concert." He jutted his chin out towards the others.
"That sounds like fun. I think I'll tag along." Paul grinned; laughing when Lex groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Joe, have Dave stop to pick up some dinner if you wish, or feel free to raid the fridge. It and the pantry are fully loaded. The house is yours for a few hours, just mind the deer if you go outside. Boys, go with Uncle Joe." She waved the dogs on to follow him when he patted his thigh. "I have a car waiting outside." She took Baron's offered hand and Finn's elbow, leading her two clients down the hall.
"No, you can't come along. I'd think the answer to that question would be obvious after you showed your asses earlier." Paul shook his head at the rest of the roster. "Well, Cass and the girls can come if they want but the rest of you are on your own. Let's head out. She isn't one for waiting." He led the others towards the exit; Cass, Carmella and Bayley choosing to join them.
Lex led the group to the backdoor of the Majestic Theatre and exchanged a brief hug with the doorman. Baron immediately picked up from their conversation that Mark was one of her crew when she told him she had another opportunity available for him, and they'd talk later.
"Do you think he'd be interested in coming on with us?" Paul asked while he followed her through the backstage area.
"He doesn't have a family to move and there is less traveling. Those are two things I look at when considering crew for your company. The younger single men that I brought on for the main roster are good for traveling all over the world. Mark is a little older and spent his days on the road. He's ready to settle down a bit. He would be ideal to bring on considering we'll be mostly performing in Florida." She shrugged; shushing him a moment later when they came up behind a group of men. "Hey, ugly!" She dug her fingers into one's side and laughed when he jerked from her touch.
"You're fucking evil." He shook his head, hugging her briefly while the rest of the band patted her on the back. "I'm glad you made it."
"Yeah but my posse grew in size. Sorry about that but they are all overgrown children and invited themselves along. Dan Reynolds, this is Paul Levesque, the COO of the WWE. Paul, this is Dan, the frontman of Imagine Dragons." She stepped back and allowed the two men to exchange handshakes.
"Ah, you're the man that stole Lex away. I guess I can't threaten Triple H huh?"
"Not if you want to live; no." Lex huffed at him while moving to keep an unobstructed view of Baron and Finn.
"It really is a pleasure to meet you." Paul nodded at him; choosing not to engage him in conversation about Lex. He had always sensed an underlying resentment in the rockstars he met after she had left their business for wrestling. "Sorry we tagged along but it isn't often we can enjoy a night out without fans interrupting it. This is about half of my people that performed tonight." He turned to introduce the others while Dan smirked in Lex's direction.
"I can guess that those two are her primary clients."
"Finn Balor and Baron Corbin." Paul nodded; stepping back to let handshakes ensue before he and Dan introduced the rest of the wrestlers and band members.
When the band was set to take the stage, Lex led her group to stand off on the right hidden by the stacks of amps. Baron took his place behind her; hands on her waist, and Finn stood at her left. Paul arched his brow and gave Baron a small smile when he caught the big man's eye.
Baron fought the grin pulling at his mouth; lowering his eyes to the top of Lex's head when she began to sing and move her hips to the music.
No lies and no deceiving, man is what he loves
I keep trying to conceive that death is from above
No time
Get mine and make no excuses, waste of precious breath
No time
The sun shines on everyone, everyone love yourself to death
So you gotta fire up, you gotta let go
You'll never be loved till you've made your own
You gotta face up, you gotta get yours
You never know the top till you get too low
A son of a stepfather
A son of a
I'm so sorry
A son of a stepfather
A son of a
I'm so sorry
Sami and Lex sang through the whole song; Baron moving a hand to her abdomen to feel her belt out the lyrics while her body swayed against his. He had to force down a groan or ten during their set; especially when she'd turn and hug him out of excitement.
When the band left the stage, Baron and Finn stood at her sides while she spoke with Dan about their tour. Baron couldn't help but smile at how enthusiastic they were until he saw Dan's eyes bug out of his head, looking beyond them. He glanced over his shoulder to see what the singer was staring at and felt his jaw drop.
"Alexandra."
Baron felt Lex tense up for a second before she slowly turned around and smiled at the man with golden tanned skin, wavy brown hair just below his shoulders, bright blue eyes and a goatee surrounding a soft smile.
"What are you doing here, Christopher?" She whispered in a small voice that didn't sound like her at all to the men surrounding her.
"I knew if there was a show in town that you'd be here. Can we talk for a moment?" His eyes darted to the men around her; biting his bottom lip while he awaited her answer.
"Sure." She nodded at him, taking his fingers in her own. "Don't move from my sight." She told Baron, Finn and the others before he led her a few feet away for privacy. "You flew here just to talk to me? Have you seen this new technology that allows you to call me anywhere without hunting me down?" She pulled her cell from her pocket and waved it in his face.
"Be quiet, you little shit, and come here." He shook his head at her, dragging her a bit further away from eavesdroppers.
"What is Chris Cornell doing here?" Cass leaned into the huddled group; asking the question that was on most of their minds.
"He is her only employer from the rock community." Paul sighed; running a hand over his head with worry. "He's the only contract that she renews every year, and when he calls, she goes. The only other band she'll leave for is Seether but she isn't contracted with them. Fuck, I hope this isn't bad news; personal or professional."
"Why would it be personal?" Baron kept his eyes glued to Lex; studying her body language and facial expressions, unaware that no one answered his question.
"He looks like Jesus." Sami cocked his head; observing Chris speaking with his friend before darting his eyes back to his friends. "What? He does! Look at him; all bad-ass Jesus-like. In all seriousness though, I've always found it odd that she keeps re-signing him. I mean I know how things are but after that whole mess, I just didn't expect her to continue."
"They were very close before it happened and after something like that, it could end one of two ways. It brings them closer together or pushes them apart." Paul said with a trace of sadness in his tone. "I never had any doubt they would stay close. Their connection has always been strong."
"It is not our place to say, brother. That is her story to tell." Sami answered the curious look on Baron's face.
"Is Tribute scheduled for the 23rd?" Lex called out to Paul who nodded in reply. "I don't know if you planned on my working it but I'm no longer available."
"That's no problem; I was going to leave you in Florida with these idiots. Is that all?" Paul asked; glancing between the two of them, settling on Chris.
"It is for now. I do try to give you as much notice as possible." The singer smiled at the COO, walking Lex back over with a loose grip on her hand. "I know our girl here likes to keep to an orderly schedule and hates to appear unprofessional. I wouldn't dream of ruining her reputation with last minute cancellations."
"So do you have a show planned for the 23rd?" Sami asked while keeping an eye on his friend's withdrawn expression.
"We'll be having a show with Pearl Jam to celebrate Eddie's birthday. It should be one hell of a gig if any of you are off and want to come along." Chris nodded his head while focusing on Lex's fingers within his grasp.
"Eddie Vedder – wow! I'll have to beg Lex later."
"Do you have a place to stay?" Lex turned her crystal blue eyes up, staring into Chris' matching orbs, still tucked into his side.
"I came straight here from the airport and figured I'd hit a hotel until my flight tomorrow."
"Don't be ridiculous, I can't protect you there. You'll stay at my place tonight and we'll drop you off at the airport on our way out in the morning." Lex left him no room to argue; softly squeezing his hand before moving to Baron. "Do you mind doubling up with me and letting Chris take your bed tonight?" She spoke softly to him; cocking her head when he looked at her in disbelief.
"I, uh, don't think that would be a problem; no." His surprise turned to an easy smile when she hugged him; sliding her face across his chest when BRMC took the stage. "Are you okay, munchkin?" He eventually asked when she didn't move from his grasp during the first two songs. She seemed content to remain pressed into him, and he was only too happy to keep her there.
I've been waiting on the fault line
Living evil take me on
I'll be standing with my dying bed
If you care to come along
Racing with the rising tide to my father's door
Racing with the rising tide to my father's door
I've been lying in the bright light
See my shadow from below
Never wanted from another man
Never wanted from my own
Drowning in the rising tide at my father's door
Drowning in the rising tide at my father's door
"Hey." Baron carefully lifted her chin in his palm; soft brown eyes staring into shining blue. "Are you with me?"
"I'm with you." She nodded; staying within his arms while turning slightly to watch the band.
"When did this happen?" Chris leaned in and whispered to Paul; indicating Baron and Lex.
"They met yesterday and I'm just as surprised as you are, but he seems taken with her." Paul chuckled when Finn gave them a beaming grin and adamantly nodded his head.
"He is very taken with the lass."
"She seems drawn to him too, and that is something I haven't seen before. In all the years I've known her, Lex hasn't been with anyone." Chris tilted his head; gazing at them with a whimsical smile. "Will he be good for her or do I need to rally the troops? I know it would take more than my skinny ass to threaten him so I'd have to call in every damn band she's ever worked with."
"He's a good man; quiet and a bit withdrawn but a good man." Paul nodded at his assessment. "He's got a temper and can be broody as shit but that describes her too."
"I think they'll be great together. She's done wonders for him already." Finn's grin was infectious while he stared at the potential couple. "One day in her presence and he's already opened up and developed feelings for her. Yeah, I think they'll be perfect."
A/N: Ugh! I feel so old! A guest asked me what the Borg are in a comment to the last chapter and I felt my bones petrify. In answer to your question, the Borg are a group of bad guys from Star Trek: Next Generation. They are part organic/part mechanic but most importantly the entire race has a hive mind. They conquer worlds by either assimilating the people into their number or just destroying them. Whatever the assimilated knows, the hive mind now knows. Break it down into simpler terms - it is pack mentality. Anyhoo! Reviews would be nice and I really need to remember to mention song titles and bands. Some future tunes are worth YTing.
