Tick. Tick. Tick.
The sound of the clock was louder than the words that were being spoken by those around her. An impromptu meeting had been called following Dean's abrupt departure from NXT. Aidan had of course been forced to attend seeing as she was virtually responsible for the errant rookie. To make matters worse, Vince McMahon had teleconferenced in. She avoided looking at the furious expression on the computer screen in front of her and instead focused on the ticking clock, praying that this mortifying meeting would soon be over.
"Aidan, I'm at a loss for words here. Do you have any idea why he just up and left...with no notice given...to anyone?" Vince said, his virtual face staring right at her.
Aidan exhaled softly and closed her eyes. The pain from Dean's walkout was still too fresh in her mind. She was having trouble pulling herself together. What answer could she really give? His presence in the WWE was at stake at this point-and deep down she felt she was at fault for all of this. She couldn't stand to see him lose his place in the company. It was obvious that sacrifices would have to be made in order to save his skin.
"I believe it may be my fault, sir."
"How so?"
She glanced around at the creative team and various others in attendance. Ashamed and embarrassed, she turned her eyes to the floor.
"The relationship between Mr. Ambrose and I got a bit too personal."
Vince quickly grew impatient.
"You're going to have to be more specific. I'm asking you what caused one of our most esteemed new talents to abandon his job."
Aidan swallowed hard, trying to push down the sick feeling in her stomach.
"The relationship between Dean Ambrose and I became more than a work relationship. I believe Dean may have had...romantic feelings for me and I believe I may have...lead him on."
A distinct sigh of disgust came over the computer speakers, and Vince's expression matched the disparaging sound perfectly.
"I'm extremely disappointed. I'm even shocked. I've considered you as an utmost professional and this is a very unprofessional situation you've put us in."
He paused a moment to let his displeasure sink in.
"I hate to say it because you've been a stellar employee in this company up to this point, but disciplinary action will have to be taken. We will be in touch with you soon. You are dismissed."
"Sir, if I may..."
"Yes, yes, go on with it," Vince said impatiently.
"What will become of Dean?"
"That is still to be determined. In any case, I suggest you keep away from him for the foreseeable future."
"Yes sir."
Before any more bad news could come her way, she slid out of her chair and slunk out of the room.
The whole situation was sickening. How could she have let this happen? Deep down she knew Dean had fallen for her. She would be lying if she said she didn't have some sort of feelings for him as well. The sting of his departure was evidence of that. She should have cut him off when the flirtations began early on. If she'd listened to everyone else, she could have avoided the situation all together. Even so, she couldn't see him the way they do. Instead she was compelled by him, by some strange desire to learn more about this enigma of a man.
She hadn't made it very far from the conference room when reality caught up to her.
"Hey, Aidan!"
She spun around to see Daniel running to catch up to her. She tried hard but failed to manage a smile.
"Woah. Are you alright?" he asked, concern glinting in his eyes.
She struggled with an answer before shaking her head.
"What happened back there?"
"Well, the creative team is in a panic, Vince is furious and I will be disciplined soon with the punishment yet to be determined."
"Wow," he said with a pitying look. "How are they blaming you for this?"
"Because I took the blame."
Daniel seemed at a loss for words.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but why in the hell would you do that?"
Aidan shrugged, her eyes on the ground
"I don't want him to lose his job. I feel like this is all my fault."
"It was Dean's dumb idea to walk out on the show. You can't help that."
She sighed deeply. "I just don't understand. I can't understand why he did this."
A heavy silence settled over Daniel. She looked up to find him looking particularly guilty.
"Do you know why he did this?"
He took a deep breath before beginning.
"You have to promise me you want be angry."
She didn't like the sound of this.
"What happened?"
"That morning you left with Punk I had a talk with Dean. He didn't want to talk to me at first, but I wouldn't back down. It wasn't until I started talking about you that he opened up. I told him he'd done a good thing by staying with you that night, and I told him I understood he was simply trying to prevent any harm coming to you. He confessed that he was hurt that you'd left him that morning. Maybe he thought you were through with Punk after what had happened the night before, and it upset him that you'd walked away. It was then that he asked my advice on what to do about the whole situation-and I told him what I thought was the right thing to say."
Aidan stared at him until he continued on.
"I told him he should back off and let you and Punk mend your relationship. I told him that if he truly cared about you, he should leave you alone."
If she wasn't feeling sick already, this made her feel ten times worse.
"Look, I didn't know he was going to leave like that or I wouldn't have said anything. I was trying to help you."
"I'm sorry. Excuse me."
She swiftly walked away from Daniel and the blow he'd just dealt her. She hurried down the hallways and out the exit door-out of sight of anyone that might see her crying.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
The rest of the week went much the same. Aidan couldn't bring herself out of the depression she'd fallen into. It wasn't only Dean's departure that had gotten her down. She came home Wednesday to find that Punk wasn't going to be sticking around for long.
"I've got a plane to catch in the morning."
"Seriously? I thought you didn't have to go back until Saturday."
"Change of plans. They've got me scheduled to go to a charity event then I have to meet up with the RAW crew and do a Friday show."
Aidan sighed and folded her arms.
"What's your problem anyway?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said dismissively.
He scoffed. "Yeah. Right."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I don't know who you think you're fooling. Did you fail to mention something to me?"
"Mention what?"
"Perhaps the fact that your friend walked out on the show Tuesday night and that you are facing discipline because of it."
She glared at him.
"Why do you care?"
He laughed emptily.
"Why do I care? You're my fiance, remember? I thought you might see fit to tell me about something as serious as this. But I forget...secrets are your MO, aren't they?"
"Why are you being such a jerk?"
"I'm not being a jerk. I'm telling the truth. Does the truth hurt?"
In disbelief of his cruel behavior, she left the room. She didn't make it far before he caught up to her. He grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop and look at him.
"Come on, I was just kidding."
"Well, it's not funny to me." she said.
"What are they going to do?
"I don't know. They're still debating."
He seemed to consider her for a moment.
"Why did they discipline you when he chose to walk out?"
"Because he was my rookie, I suppose."
He seemed doubtful, but dropped the subject.
"Well, just so you know, the writers came to me asking my opinion on which Diva I'd like to work with in a new storyline they've been working on. They'd planned on using you but because of the pending disciplinary action, they've changed their minds."
She shrugged.
"I just thought you'd want to know," he added.
"Great. Thanks for the heads up."
"I had to think about it, but I told them I think AJ will be best for the part. I've gotten to know her and she's pretty cool."
Her jaw literally dropped.
"AJ?"
"Yeah. Is there something wrong with that?"
Aidan had to surpress the anger bubbling within her. It couldn't be coincidence that AJ was not only gathering dirt on her, but apparently "getting to know" her fiance in her absence.
"I don't even know her."
Punk smiled in a strange way.
"I think you'd like her."