Chapter 18

The first person Zelia told about her demolished rental was Valisa.

Zelia had nowhere else to turn and was glad Valisa had dropped whatever she was doing with Joe to come to her rescue. The rental was towed to the junkyard since it was completely unsalvageable, the damage horrific. Even the interior had been ripped to shreds, the carpeting as well. It was the worst mauling of a car they both ever seen, even the tow truck driver was in shock. Luckily, the insurance on the rental would cover all the damages, so Zelia only had to pay a small fee for the tow truck, splitting it half and half with the insurance. It was around 5 AM in the morning when Zelia's head hit the pillow in her hotel room, instantly passing out.

Enough was enough. Valisa knew Jon didn't demolish the rental car, but because of the spray-paint, Zelia refused to count him out as a suspect. She had enough of watching her friends going at each other's throats. Yes, she considered Jon a friend because he was like a brother to Joe and anyone Joe was close with, Valisa wanted to be too. Zelia would kill her for this, but it would be well worth it to see both of them get their heads out of their rears and admit how they truly felt for each other. Joe told her Jon was down in the hotel workout area, so that's where Valisa headed. If it was the last thing she did, Valisa would get Jon to open his eyes about how ridiculous all these accusations against Zelia were or she'd go to prison for murder.

It'd been a few days since Jon last saw Zelia, besides whenever she went to the ring with Team Hell No and practically drooled over Glen Jacobs. It was her character, she was Glen's on-screen girlfriend. There was no hesitation in her body language or anything whenever she kissed him, each time making Jon's blood skyrocket. It looked as though she'd done it all of her life, which drove the accusations home further. That was supposed to be him she kissed and fawned over, not Glen Jacobs. Joe and Colby ordered Jon to go workout whenever he felt his anger rise because they didn't want him being blamed for the destruction of Zelia's rental. They knew Jon had a wicked temper, but he swore to them he didn't do it and even had an alibi to back him up.

The arena didn't have cameras aimed at that particular part of the parking lot and there were no witnesses, so therefore no proof. It was Jon's word that everyone had to take and at this point, Valisa wasn't sure if she could believe him. Zelia didn't know what to believe either, even though Jon had looked square in her eyes and told her he didn't do it. Valisa hadn't missed what the car had been spray-painted, the vulgar word Jon had called her the night he caught her outside with Colby. All the signs pointed to Jon and Valisa decided she would get the truth out of him one way or another. This situation had gone too far and it was hurting friendships all around, especially Zelia's.

"We need to talk." Valisa stated, walking over to where Jon currently was, on his back working out his leg muscles. "So you can lay your ass down there and answer my questions."

Jon rolled his eyes, trying to ignore Valisa's presence, but it was impossible. "What do you want, lady?" He demanded irritably, not stopping his workout just because she couldn't leave him alone. "Shouldn't you be jumping on Joe's dick or something?"

Valisa felt her jaw drop and immediately kicked him in his side, ignoring his warning growl. "You asshole! I came in here to try to help you with Zelia! And you're going to treat me like a common whore? Fuck you!" She kicked him again, her temper rocketing and turned on her heel, stalking out of the workout room.

Jon hissed out, not believing what a vicious kick her small petite frame had and knew he screwed up. Things were already rocky between him and Joe, he really didn't want to add to that by talking dirty to his woman. "Damn it." He grunted, quickly stopping his workout and got to his feet, wincing as his side burned where she kicked him. "Valisa, wait!"

"Why?" She demanded, not stopping while wrapping her arms around herself. "Clearly you don't care about Zelia or anyone for that matter, so just go back to your workout and deal with your own shit."

Quickly catching up with her, Jon's hand wrapped around her upper arm gently and stopped her from taking another step, both of them standing just outside of the workout room. "Don't leave." His voice had taken on a pleading tone, something Jon never did. "I'm sorry." Apologies were far and few between with him as well. "I'm just a bitter grumpy bastard. I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm just trying to help." Valisa whispered, feeling Jon turn her around as tear-filled blue eyes met guilty greyish blue. "Zelia is hurting and I can see you are too. I consider you a friend, Jon. You're a good guy and I know you had nothing to do with what happened to her rental car. But someone is obviously out to get her and you two being at each other's throats right now is the last thing that should be happening."

Jon lowered his eyes and let his hand slip from her arm, knowing Valisa was right in everything she said. "She doesn't believe me." He muttered in a low raspy voice, the guilt slowly eating him alive. "I know I called her a whore the night I attacked Colby, but I swear I didn't destroy that car. I don't blame her for not taking my word for it. I've been horrible to her since I got here."

"Then maybe it's time you two finally sit down and actually talk." Valisa suggested simply, folding her arms in front of her chest. "Look, this isn't the type of conversation to have in a workout room at a hotel. Why don't you go shower and meet me in the hotel bar in an hour? There's a few things you need to know about Zelia that she refuses to tell you. Maybe you'll get a better understanding on everything once you've heard what I have to say."

Jon couldn't imagine what Valisa had to tell him that he didn't already know about Zelia. "Okay, I'll see you in an hour." He agreed, his curiosity peaked and watched as Valisa walked out of the workout room while he headed directly to the showers to clean up.

So Valisa was becoming a wrench in his plans eh? She was trying to get Jon and Zelia together, that much was obvious and it didn't set well with him at all. Rubbing his hands together, he already had a plan on how to deal with Valisa, a sick smirk curving his lips. Walking toward the backstairs, he headed up to talk to the one person he knew would help him execute the plan currently forming in his brain. It would give them what they both wanted ultimately.

An hour later, Jon stepped out of the shower and changed into a yellow polo shirt with blue jeans ripped at the knees, brushing his hair back in the slick look he'd become accustomed to. It would dry and his hair would end up falling around his head in dishwater blonde curls. Stepping outside for a smoke break, Jon leaned against the building and let the nicotine work through his system. Whatever Valisa had to tell him about Zelia, Jon had a feeling he wouldn't like it and maintaining his temper was the key. He couldn't snap on Valisa. She was just trying to help and she considered him a friend, which meant a lot to him. He considered her a friend too and, honestly, Jon felt he owed her since Valisa had helped get Zelia to talk to him. If it wasn't for that setup at Yankee Candle a few months back, Zelia would still be avoiding him and they never would've had their talk. He never would've found out what HWA did to her. So he would listen to whatever Valisa had to say about Zelia and then do what he felt was the best thing. It just depended on what came out of Valisa's mouth.

Valisa looked up when Jon walked up to her, having gotten a booth since the hotel bar was also a small restaurant. She had a cup of coffee in front of her along with an English muffin and eggs. Cracking a small smile up at him, Valisa had already ordered a pot of coffee for both of them, knowing Jon liked his black while she enjoyed some creamer. She took a sip and a bite out of her English muffin, trying to get something on her stomach even though she wasn't hungry. This would not be an easy conversation to have and Valisa could only hope Zelia forgave her for this one day.

"I ordered you the ultimate breakfast they have." She informed him softly, gesturing to the tray headed their way and accepted her hash browns she ordered at the last minute. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, ma'am." The waiter replied, setting 3 full plates of food in front of Jon with all the fixings and walked away, leaving them alone.

Jon smirked, shaking his head. "Does Joe know you're here with another guy?" He half-joked, the smell of food making his stomach rumble.

Valisa smirked back at him, rolling her eyes. "You're not just another guy. You're a friend. And yes he knows. Now eat and then we'll talk." Maybe hearing what she had to say on a full stomach would make everything easier to digest and accept.

Complying, Jon proceeded to inhale his food since he was starving from his workout. Once they were both done eating and their plates were taken away, Valisa poured another cup of coffee from the pot and asked if Jon wanted one. He declined, asking if he could go out and have a quick cigarette. He always smoked after eating a full meal like he just had and smiled when Valisa shooed him away. He promised to return in a few minutes and Valisa was thankful because it gave her a little more time to recite in her mind what she wanted to tell Jon.

He returned 5 minutes later and Valisa knew she was officially out of time. "I wanted to talk to you about Zelia's friendships in the WWE, including Jacobs. We'll start with that. When Zelia came here almost 7 years ago, she didn't have anyone, Jon. She was completely alone and isolated herself from everyone. She came to work, busted her ass and then would go straight back to the hotel. This went on for the first year of her being here, she never hung out at the arenas or with anyone. Glen was my friend before Zelia and I'm the one who asked his help to try to break her out of her shell. I could tell she was hurting about something, but she was very reserved and didn't come clean right away. In fact, she's one of the most stubborn women I've ever met in my life." Valisa paused, taking a sip of her coffee.

"How did you break her out?" Jon asked quietly, playing with a sugar packet to occupy his hands.

"Made her come out with us, cornered her until she gave in. Her and Glen hit it off right away and a lot of people thought what you do now – that she was fucking him. Rumors began flying because of how natural their friendship was and Glen quickly squashed them by treating her like a little sister, which he still does. So here's what I don't get. Why are you so adamant to believe she's fucking him? Did someone put that assumption in your head?" Valisa had to know because it still baffled her that Jon would accuse Zelia of something as heinous as screwing a married man.

Jon took a deep breath and remained quiet for a minute, trying to find the right words to say. "I overheard them one night." He admitted, keeping his eyes glued on his coffee mug, his eyes turning bluer by the second. "They were up in the nosebleed seats of the arena and that's where I sometimes go to get my mind on track about shit. I don't go often, but that night I decided I could use some solitude. And there they were. They were talking about Zelia jumping on the Big Red Machine and he said she would in time, that they couldn't hide it forever. Zelia said she had to tell me sooner or later before things got out of control. What the fuck would you think if you heard that bullshit?"

"I think you jump to conclusions way too fast and you don't understand the type of friendship Glen and Zelia have." Valisa replied truthfully, setting her coffee down on the table. "Did it ever occur to you that they were just joking around with each other? Because they do that. Zelia and Glen talk about everything under the sun, including sex and I can't tell you how many times I've heard that whole 'jumping on the Big Red Machine' line. It was JOKING around, Jon. That's why you've been accusing her of screwing married men? Because you eavesdropped on a private conversation and didn't even have the balls to confront her about it?"

Jon felt his jaw tighten, closing his eyes and took a deep breath to calm down since his temper had started rising. "What makes you think she's joking? What if they really are fucking?"

"They are my closest friends in this business." Valisa replied simply, keeping her voice low and soft because getting angry at what Jon said wouldn't solve anything. "Believe me, I would know if they were fucking and they're not. Same with her and Mark. Granted, there used to be some kind of sexual chemistry between them, but that was squashed when Mark married an ex-WWE Diva and made her a housewife. Now Zelia and Mark are just friends. She always thought he was too old for her anyway."

"Next subject." Jon ordered gruffly, really not wanting the image of Zelia and Mark Calaway together in his brain. "What else did you have to tell me?"

This was where things got complicated and Valisa was sure she was committing friendship suicide by doing this. She had no choice though. "Jon, look at me." She ordered, taking both of his hands in hers across the table and waited until his pure blue eyes met hers. He was definitely agitated and angry about this conversation, but had kept his temper in check thankfully. "I've known Zelia for a long time and what I'm about to tell you is the complete truth. So you need to accept it and make things right with her. I'm telling you this because I know she'll never have the guts to do it and it will also squash your accusations."

Jon couldn't imagine what Valisa could say about Zelia to make all of that happen, but once again his curiosity got the better of him. "Shoot."

"Zelia's in love with you and she has been since she worked with you in HWA."