As ya'll know, I'm also writing an OC story, which has prominently taken over my time here. I will finish this, though, I promise! I may have mentioned that I am thinking about re-writing my completed story (Reigns/OC) because I can and because I think I can write it better than I left it. Hmmmm.

AJ definitively decided that, after the prior evening's show, she should really tip-toe around her boyfriend. Seth hadn't spoken to her since the closing segment had aired, and with good reason. While AJ knew it was possible that the backstage segment between Seth and Paige wasn't real, she also knew with certainty the closing bit between herself and Finn Balor was quite genuine. And while she was enamored with The Architect, there was something about Finn Balor that had kept her insides feeling warm and fuzzy. Perhaps because he was such a good, nice all-around person; and he was kind to her when she'd initially shown up at the NXT training center.

That didn't mean, though, that she wanted to be with him or anything, but Seth seemed to think differently. He already disliked Finn, already felt like he was being replaced by the demon in every aspect within the company. While AJ thought he was being pretty damned childish over it, she didn't want to say anything, either. After all, hadn't she had to endure attacks by both Zahra and Leighla in regards to her relationship with Seth? Meanwhile, Punk kept his opinions out of it, as a person should.

Today, she was meeting Paige for coffee, who had literally been begging her since the previous night to hear her out. AJ was feeling skeptical, her dear friend having acted kind of sketchy in the past. Paige was young, and AJ wondered that if she'd do anything she could to get to the top...including step on people's toes and use their boyfriend to launch upward. After all, Paige had faded into obscurity while Charlotte Flair ran the show.

AJ waited at the Starbucks near their hotel, waiting for Seth to text her. She silently willed him to, placing her phone in front of her on the wooden table as she sipped from her warm, white cup. It was a bit too hot yet, but still, the warm liquid replaced the empty feeling she had from the lack of contact from Seth.

Interrupting her thoughts, the petite British diva stepped into the shop. A few older guys in the back corner turned to look at her, eyeballed her, and turned back around. She wore tiny little skinny jeans and a plain black crop top, her feet shuffling towards AJ with black and white Vans.

"Sorry I'm late, poppet," she smiled as she sat her bag down, beginning to dig for her wallet. "Let me just grab my drink, and we'll give a quick chat."

A few short minutes later, she returned with a creamy cappuccino in her hand, complete with a mound of whipped cream. "Cheat day," she declared, sliding into the chair across from AJ. She licked the point of whipped cream, managing to get a dab on her nose. Both women laughed at the ridiculousness of it.

"So, the management is clearly trying to pit us all against each other," Paige went straight to the point. "Whoever is doing their editing-and I'm guessing it was Kevin Dunn, because he's a slimeball rat like that-did a really great, believable job."

AJ shot the younger woman a look that she hoped revealed that she didn't believe that story.

"Seriously, AJ," Paige plead. "I've been a good friend since the beginning. Don't you recall how I reacted so harshly after the photos leaked online of you and Rollins?"

"I do," AJ admitted. "But then I began to wonder if maybe it was a jealousy thing? Because you've never been supportive of my relationship with Seth, and you've always been pushing me in Finn's direction. I'm beginning to wonder if it's my own friend that's pinning me against someone I love. What are you doing on the side? Trading stories and break-up ideas with Zahra? Wouldn't surprise me."

Paige looked at AJ as though she'd just slapped her in the face. "Seriously, AJ? Don't you see now why I warned you? First off, Seth Rollins is a cheating bastard, and so is the man you married a few years ago. So ex-cuuuse me for being critical of your choice to hop into bed with him. Secondly, don't you see what the relationship is doing to you? Yeah, you're happy and all when you're together, but he's got a string of evil wenches wishing him bad fortune. They've all personally attacked you, and what do you do? Go on and believe that every damned woman that has contact with him is going to hurt you?! I thought our friendship was more solid than that!" Paige's face was blotchy and red, her burst of anger now showing clearly on her face. AJ had never seen the woman so worked up in a social situation as she normally saved her pent-up anger and frustration in the ring.

Paige began to close up her bag, ready to leave the place in a fit of fury. "I can't believe this shit. I knew they were trying to pin us against each other, and I don't like it, but I'll accept it. Whatever it is that's going on in your pretty little head, though, you really ought to sort out. Me? Be interested in damned Rollins? Get serious!" Paige whipped her black and blue hair as she turned to walk out, not bothering to apologize to the onlookers nor the staff for causing such a scene.

AJ said nothing, letting her anger cool before she got up from her chair.

Just lovely. Managed to ruin things between me and my boyfriend and my best friend in the same week! Gold star for me, AJ thought bitterly. She knew she was probably acting crazy, but at the same time, the amount of outside forces trying to tear her away from happiness was beginning to overwhelm her. She knew she loved Seth, and Seth loved her back...but would things be this complicated if she had ended up with Finn? It was something that she was beginning to wonder.

Zahra grabbed at her phone quickly, glad that he'd finally fucking called. She'd been waiting weeks to hear from him. To hear anything at all, actually.

"Matthew," she said icily, full of hate. She had paid off Lord West quite awhile ago, and had been anxiously awaiting the outcome of the meeting that he'd pitched to the writers. Unfortunately, Matthew never called, and he hadn't bothered to answer any of hers. In fact, she hadn't even gotten to make good on her promise to fuck his damned brains out.

"Hey, Zee," his voice seemed dragged down, as though he was tired. Or really, really high...which was probably more likely. "Sorry I haven't been around much."

"Yeah, no shit," she replied. "I was over here, expecting you to change the WWE's minds on me. I was ready to pull out my trusty 'ol boots to step in the ring with Sethie's new little side whore. Instead, I'm waiting to snatch up any modeling gigs my agent cant hook me up with. Like, c'mon, Matty. The money is fine in modeling, but it isn't flowing to the point where I can live the lifestyle I want to."

Matt coughed into the phone, and it sounded like he'd re-positioned his phone against his ear. Zahra cringed at the sound of scraping in her own ear, imagining his phone gliding over the diamond stud he wore in his lobe.

"Yeah, about that...I tried. Vince, as you know, was all for the controversy. But Stephanie McMahon wasn't having it, and now, the whole storyline is going in a different direction."

"But I'm not involved in it," Zahra pointed out. "So, I don't really see how you carried out your job."

"Well, that's the thing. With the storyline they created, it's almost a given that AJ will fall for Finn Balor. That leaves Seth all by his lonesome. And, Zahra, where do you think he's going to run to first once his relationship with AJ crumbles?"

Zahra gave a sharp laugh. "Okay, but how do you know that she's going to head straight for the other guy?"

"Because I know," Matthew replied.

"Fuck off, Matty. How?"

"Because I talked to him, and he wants her, bad. He was all for the storyline including AJ Lee, because if she's forced to work with him, he thinks he can really charm the pants off from her. Literally."

Hmm...very interesting.

"So he's not as nice of a guy as she thinks?" she asked. "Because if that's the case, she's going to freak the fuck out when she finds out that he's only interested in boning her."

"That's all logistics. Not our problem. Basically, they are trying to set up AJ and this guy. She'll probably end up managing him, he'll wind up taking the belt, and hopefully he takes Seth's girl."

"And how do you know this is all happening, again?" she squinted, as though she didn't quite believe what Matthew was saying. Sure, he couldn't see her, but she still did it as though she was detecting straight up bullshit.

Matthew coughed. "Because they hired me to write for this story."

Zahra's jaw dropped. "I can't believe you didn't tell me!" she said finally, both pissed and amazed at her friend.

"I didn't want to disappoint you, knowing that things didn't completely go the way that we wanted it to...but I've also been very, very busy pitching different scenarios and ideas for this. The way things are heading as of last night, though...well, I think I've done some seriously great editing to make it look like Seth is just as much a playboy as he's ever been."

"That was you?" Zahra breathed, impressed. She'd watched the show the other night, but never in a million years suspected that Matt had any knowledge of video editing. Not to mention, the quality was so professional and well-done, it looked real. The exchange between Seth and the British woman he'd appeared with was brief, and if not for the camera clearly not focusing on their faces, she would've thought the conversation was authentic. However, she'd watched enough reality television in her life to know that if the camera wasn't on the people's mouths, it was likely they didn't say those words at all.

"It sure was. There are cracks in the glass, now. Because of this, the trust is already breaking between them. Like I said before, AJ's mental state is weak, to say the least. Seth looks like he's a straight player...and Finn Balor looks like a knight in shining armor. Or at least, he will, once we continue the story just right. I think I've got something great, here. Trust me, Zee. In the end, Seth is going to be the one hurting, just as you want."

When Matthew said those final words, Zahra Schreiber knew she should've felt bad. She was being immature, willing to bring down Seth at any cost necessary. She'd paid off Leighla for information, for fuck's sake! But in Zahra's defense, she had been blacklisted, and because of him, she would never be able to wrestle with another promotion. Her ties to him meant no company, whether it be Ring of Honor, WWE, TNA...whatever, would even come close to a deal with her.

And while she was struggling, he was busy in bed with some short little weirdo that wasn't even cute!

Reminding herself that Seth was the ultimate reason her life had fallen apart, she no longer felt shame for ruining his. If he refused to talk to her any longer, well, then she'd have to continue eating at him from the inside-using the career he so loved. And now that she had Matthew on the inner circle of things, she was sure that things would finally go her way.

"So, how are we going to isolate Seth?" she clicked her long, blood-red nails against the glass top of her table. "How do we take him out of the picture so that things can...blossom, so to speak, between this Finn guy and the little dweeb?"

Matthew chuckled into the phone. "That's why I called. I have a really, really good plan. But it's going to involve money."

Zahra rolled her eyes. "Of course it is. Whatever, let's hear it."

"Okay, bud. You gotta say something," Kevin Owens watched as Seth drove their rental car, the last thirty miles or so having been wordless. Normally, he'd want to spend the time in the car with the spitfire of a girlfriend, but today, Seth was so shaky and unfocused that he knew he couldn't handle the awkward conversation between them that would surely take place.

He had been battling with himself all yesterday evening and most of today. He didn't know what to say to AJ or how to bring up the fucked up booking. He had never had a relationship within the company, and didn't know how to handle this type of mess. He also knew that she clearly had some kind of feelings for Finn Balor, even though she wouldn't admit them aloud. It was apparent, and he really didn't like the way he felt.

Like maybe he wasn't good enough for someone like her.

"Look. Paige sent me a text, saying she had it out with AJ. AJ thinks there might actually be something going on between you two. The sooner you two figure out your drama, the sooner your friends are no longer caught in the line of fire."

Seth scoffed, still not answering. Paige had actually sent him the same text before they'd hit the road, but he ignored it. He wasn't about to get involved in chick fights, let alone one with the woman who, until a few weeks ago, hated his existence. So much, in fact, that she had no intention of allowing AJ to go for him, certain that she'd wind up broken in pieces again.

"The thing is, Seth...you and AJ are good together," Kevin was still talking. "She mellows you out, lets you be yourself. You aren't trying to impress everyone anymore, you're finally the Seth that was underneath the materialistic shit. Y'know, slowly bringing your head outta the clouds. But when you and AJ aren't on good terms, everyone else needs to suffer, too. You two really ought to figure out what the fuck is going on."

Finally, Seth's eye contact broke off the road to look at his passenger.

"She cares for someone else," he said plainly, not masking the annoyance. "It was clear as day."

"O-kay," Kevin drawled. "That literally means nothing, man. So what? She made a friend in NXT. I've made loads of friends there, too. But that doesn't mean I want to take Carmella to the Kevin Owens Show, if you know what I mean...even if she is hot. Maybe it's because it's the first relationship you've actually been in with no bullshit. You don't know how to act, so you create bullshit that isn't there."

"You saw her face on that segment. That was real. And if she actually thinks that there's something between Paige and myself? That's not good. No, not good at all."

Kevin sighed a huge sigh, one that children normally did when their parents weren't listening to their reasoning.

"What?" Seth snarled, his voice gravelly. "If she can't trust me working with fuckin' Paige, don't you think that ought to raise some red flags?"

"I hate to bring this up, but she's had to deal with both of your whackjob ex-girlfriends. And you know Zahra's not gonna fuck off that easily...I'm sure there's more going on. She's like a snake...plotting and evil."

Seth laughed once, knowing that Kevin was being truthful while speaking of Zahra. When the black-haired beauty did anything, she did it for herself. To get a leg up in her career, her standing, her personal life. And while he was so caught up in her exotic...everything, he was being ignorant and hadn't realized how awful of a human she actually was.

"Not to mention the fangirls," Kevin pointed out. "And boys. You never know. It's not just those two that are heartbroken over your relationship status, I'm sure."

"Okay, fine, I get your point," Seth gave in. "I don't like feeling like I'm being replaced," he admitted quietly.

"Being replaced? Nobody can replace you, be real. As great a guy Finn is, you're still Seth Rollins. So what if he takes the belt when you finally square off? So what if you wind up losing your spot with the Authority? The way I see it, is that's all a good thing."

"Without the Authority, I don't know if I'd have anything left. I cut ties with my brothers to gain the success I have. In a way, I don't know if that makes me any better than Zahra. It makes me wonder if AJ is too good for me."

Kevin now wore a shocked look. "Okay, first of all, you can make things right with Ambrose and Reigns. I don't buy the shit that they'll never forgive you, because I guarantee that, given the opportunity, they'd have done the same. If your hunch is right, and Finn Balor steps in to the Authority to take over your role and shafting you, you can always go back with your tail tucked between your legs. They at least deserve the apology."

"As for AJ being too good for you? Shut up," Kevin was still on with his monologue, and it was slowly making Seth feel more at peace with everything. "If she wanted to be with Balor, she would've been. There's a reason she's not. I'm not saying she reacted well to the whole thing with Paige. She's in the wrong there. She, of all people, should know how stupid and conniving the creative team is sometimes. On the other hand, you also need to realize that she's still fragile, and this is her first relationship after...y'know."

Seth nodded, realizing that AJ had her heart crushed upon finding out that someone she loved had ended up cheating on her with someone she had adored and respected. And while there wasn't the same history between himself and Paige that there had been between Punk and Lita, he supposed he couldn't blame her for being careful.

"Please, just knock your shit off," Kevin drawled, watching out the window. "When we stop, text her. Talk to her. Anything."

Finn Balor sat opposite of the writer, the mug of coffee emerging steam as it cooled in front of him. He had to admit, this was the first time he'd had a one-on-one conference with a member of the creative team. While he was sure that it would be frowned upon, it had to be good, right?

After all, he'd learned during the last meeting that he'd be pulled to eventually fight Seth Rollins, and the Authority would help the current NXT champion dethrone the WWE champ. He'd hold both titles for awhile, eventually losing to the likes of Samoa Joe. It was a dream come true. Not to mention, it was nice to bring Seth Rollins down a few notches. That slimeball really needed to be reminded that there wasn't much special about him.

The horrible writing, on the other hand, involved Paige and AJ Lee. Whoever thought of getting them involved with the feud really ought to have been fired. There was no room for love and childish games in the main event picture, yet it was something that the WWE was seemingly notorious for. And while he didn't really understand it, he hoped that eventually, the women's feud would fall to the wayside, the spotlight being only on Seth and himself.

"I called you here," the man had his fingers pointed together in a triangle shape, "To make you an offer. A quite generous one, at that."

Finn was listening intently now.

"I've got a friend who is...an investor, of sorts. And she is interested in investing in you."

Finn raised an eyebrow.

"She is willing to offer her entire share of WWE stocks to you. All you've got to do is injure Seth Rollins."