The Arrangement
I own nothing except my oc.
Chapter 9
Melanie's POV
Randy helped me out the bath and I got dressed into a pair of shorts and an RKO shirt. He scooped me back up and carried me through to the bedroom. I had to laugh when he put me down.
"What"? He frowned, genuinely confused.
I gestured at the several trays containing food and drink. He smiled and blushed.
"I wasn't sure what you liked".
"Thank you", I said, and I meant it. "I appreciate it".
"You're welcome", Randy replied softly. He sat down next to me on the bed and switched the TV on. "What do you want to watch"?
"This is fine", I said as he flipped through and found a Bones marathon on. "I love this show".
"Me too", he smiled and for the first time, I was able to return it.
Normal POV
Three episodes and five empty trays later, Melanie and Randy sank back, full and in much better moods.
"Those pancakes were amazing", Melanie breathed.
"I know. I love this hotel for food. Every time we're in Florida, I'm hoping this place is the one they booked", Randy rubbed his stomach and took a sip of his iced tea.
Melanie chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. "Where are we going after this"?
"Well, I've got some stuff to finish up today, and tomorrow we're flying out to Missouri for a couple of days, then back on the road Sunday night", Randy explained. "I'll get your stuff back from Stephanie today".
"Right", she was wondering who had her purse, credit cards and passport. Melanie still hadn't gotten her bag back. It had been taken after she arrived.
"I'll see if I can get your bag as well", Randy offered.
"I'd appreciate that", she said gratefully. "It's not much, but I did have a pair of docs in there. Much more practical than those things". Melanie gestured towards the heels in the corner.
"Yeah, I can imagine", Randy smirked. "Ask anyone in the WWE. It's fashion over function".
His phone beeped and he picked it up, frowning once he opened the message.
"Shit. I gotta go, timetable changed".
She watched as he got up and threw a few things into a bag, jamming his feet into a pair of shoes and grabbing his jacket. He turned to face me and smiled apologetically.
"I should only be a couple of hours. Doc dropped off the crutch while you were in the bath, do you need anything before I go"?
"Could you pass me my art supplies please"? Melanie asked. He handed over the case and dropped a soft kiss on her forehead, caressing her hair.
"I'll see you later".
He slipped out the door, and Melanie looked after him, mind racing.
Melanie POV
"Bye", I said gently. Why did he kiss me? I shook my head trying not to think much of it. I pulled out the drawing pad and charcoals. I needed to clear my mind and this was undoubtedly the best therapy available.
Normal Pov
The knock on the door barely registered. Melanie shifted slightly and hissed in pain. Yeah, there was no way she was getting up.
"Come in"!
Roman poked his head round the side of the door.
"Hey".
Melanie swallowed. She remembered seeing Roman briefly for a few minutes last night, but she had been so upset, and more than a little angry. This situation was completely unpredictable.
"Hey", she said hesitantly.
"Can I come in"?
Melanie shrugged and gestured to her ankle. "Can't stop you".
"Shit, what happened"?
"Heels. The shoes, not the wrestlers", she smiled. "It's better than it was".
Roman sat next to her and looked her in the eyes. "I'm sorry about Monday. But we didn't have a choice. You don't have to believe me, frankly I don't blame you. But Dustin asked me to give you this".
He handed me a small envelope and I opened it. It was from Dustin alright. If his handwriting didn't give it away, the small gold bracelet he gave me for my eighth birthday certainly did. I wrapped my fingers around it while I read the short note.
We're alright; it looked worse than it was. We got some help to make it look convincing for the A.
Don't be mad at Roman sweetheart, he only did what I asked. You can trust him. As it turns out he didn't have a choice, hear him out.
Love
D and C
She folded up the note and tucked it into the case. She wrapped the gold chain around her fingers and took a breath. "Tell me".
"They threatened Dean", Roman started. "They told us if we didn't go through with it, they would punish him and I couldn't let that happen. Neither could Seth".
"Punish him how"?
Roman took a deep breath. "How would you describe him from what you've seen so far"?
Melanie didn't understand the question. "Um, he's kinda crazy I guess, he's a good actor".
"He's not acting", Roman responded. "What you see is essentially two or three different people. He's got"- Roman choked slightly before continuing.
"He's got multiple personality disorder. He's had it for years. He is undergoing treatment and taking medication, but it's pretty severe. Depending on where he is at, you have Jon, his real name. Jon is a scared kid who grew up on the streets. Druggie parents, abuse, you name it he's been through it. Wrestling was his escape, but it fractured him. Dean is a staging point between his most vulnerable and his most fierce. When he is at his worst, he goes by Moxley. That was his name in the Indies".
"I don't understand, how they using that against him"? Melanie prodded. "Much less threaten him"?
"Because Dean just barely meets the mental health pass for the company. He is incredibly unstable, and the only reason he is able to be here at all, is because Hunter and Stephanie say so. They can kick him out in a heartbeat".
"But his employment contract"-
"The contracts can be broken on medical grounds", Roman explained. "If they want rid of him, they can do it. They said if we didn't go through with it, Dean wouldn't only be out of the WWE, he would be locked up for the rest of his life".
"They can't do that", Melanie breathed. This whole company was like a dystopian nightmare.
"Of course they can, and more besides. Never underestimate just how much power these people have. That's why I couldn't refuse. Dean is like my brother, I won't lose him. If I did, I lose Seth too".
"Seth"?
"He wants Dean, but Dean feels like he's too broken. He can't commit to Seth fully so Seth stays with him regardless. He's the only one Mox will listen to and he's the only one who grounds him. He loves Dean too much to leave him, even at the cost of a functional relationship. Their relationship is fucked up beyond belief, but it's what they want", Roman explained. "Seth would take a bullet to the head before giving him up. This wasn't my story to tell. Dean doesn't want anyone to know; but Seth told me to tell you. They're worried if Hunter and Steph find out, then they might start using Seth against Dean and I don't know how he would deal with that. Mox is dangerous, like really dangerous".
"You don't know how far he'd go if he was provoked"?
"Not a clue", Roman answered. "The only way the three of us can get through this is to just ride it out for the time being. Eventually, they back off and leave us alone. That's what they've always done with others in the past. This isn't the first time they've used Randy and Kane, probably won't be the last".
"How do they do this? What can they possibly have that gives them such a grip"?
"Money, power, resources most of us can only dream of. Hunter has access to everything on everyone. He's in charge of developmental. There is nothing he can't get if he wants it".
Melanie POV
As Roman explained the situation, I felt conflicted. Everything he was saying- this couldn't be true right? Part of me didn't want to believe the words coming out of his mouth. But Roman had one thing going for him; he had never lied to me.
The tale he had just woven was scary on a level I never knew existed. It sounded like the plot for a book or movie. This sort of stuff surely didn't happen in real life? But then I never expected to be in an arranged marriage either. More or less a hostage, and I knew then my view of life was incredibly limited. I felt as though the ground beneath me had turned into a frozen lake and it was cracked. If I took one wrong step, I'd fall. This is what they were doing to their employees, what could they do to me? What could they do to my family? I had been naive and now I felt exposed and vulnerable. When I started this, I had thought I could resist and fight back somehow. I thought I could make their lives difficult. I didn't see the axe hanging over us. For the first time since this had started, I thought about my dad.
"What do they have Roman? What are they using against my family"? My voice sounded very far away.
Roman wrapped his arms around me and I rested my head against his chest. "I don't know baby girl. But I think it's aimed at your dad specifically. Cody and Dustin didn't even register until Cody crossed Hunter by voicing an opinion. Your dad clashed with them on more than one occasion. It's about him, it's gotta be".
I tightened my grip. Now they had all three of us here. Dad was at home, alone and probably worried sick.
"I'm sorry I hit you", I whispered, tears brimming at my eyes.
"I'm sorry we scared you", Roman replied squeezing back. Just like that everything was alright again.
We broke apart and I laughed slightly at how emotional I was getting. Roman just smiled and ruffled my hair.
"Is Randy treating you alright"?
I nodded. "He is actually".
I thought back to the handful of times we had had contact since our wedding. He had cradled me gently when I couldn't walk, kissed me without any reason. Or maybe there was. Maybe he was playing with me. I couldn't help but think how much of this was simply for his own benefit, his own survival. I couldn't fool myself; he didn't want me and I didn't want him. I was a condition to this arrangement, that was all. Even though I knew this, I still found it oddly painful.
Oh fuck this, it's probably the first stages of Stockholm syndrome. Next thing you know, I'll be asking Stephanie round for a girl's night in. I need to get a grip.
And I definitely need more information.
"What do they have on you Roman"? I asked directly. As likely as it was that Roman was acting purely for his teammates, I couldn't help but think they would have insurance. That seemed to be the safest bet.
Roman only confirmed my worst fears. "They threatened me with Shea; what else? I cause problems and they end his employment and he needs to leave. Then we're separated. My family holds me here, so they're trying to use all that against us, pushing and pulling".
The resignation on Roman's face sickened me. I had enough of being scared. I just got angry.
"How can they get away with it? Why doesn't anyone report them"?
"To who"? Roman asked. Ok, fair point.
"Surely someone tried to fight back"?
"Oh people have tried", Roman admitted. "Tried, failed and suffered the consequences".
"Consequences"?
"You hear things, and it's the stuff storylines are made of. Eventually it becomes clear just how blurred the lines between fiction and reality are. The fans think it's all staged; they couldn't be more wrong. They would riot if they knew how many lives were ruined at the hands of Triple H and Stephanie".
"Whose lives"?
"Edge for one", Roman sighed and clasped his hands. "His injuries, they're passed off as accidents. But they are the final results of several hits that Triple H took out on him for twenty grand a time. Rumour goes that a hit was put out and his career was ended. No one has ever confirmed it or denied it, it can't be proven. But the way Christian acts to Hunter… it goes a lot deeper than anyone is willing to admit. Matt and Jeff Hardy, they've had
a lot of problems and there is no surprise who caused that. Teddy DiBiase"-
"Teddy"?! I couldn't help but be shocked. Cody told me Ted left of his own will. I kept my distance from wrestling but I always got on well with Ted; he was practically part of the family. He had left for the Indies, where things were more uncertain. He was lucky to have the exposure from the WWE, he had said. But it didn't seem like it had done him much good.
"If you want my advice for what it's worth, keep your head down, do what they say and look out for number one", Roman advised. "It has to end at some point".
"How do I? This isn't my world, who the fuck would work here willingly"? My voice sounded shrill and my hands trembled uncontrollably. Roman took my hands and held them tightly.
"Trust your friends. They can keep your brothers from you, but you're not alone. You can get through this", he counselled. My eyes widened slightly and I turned to the art case.
"You"-
"You didn't think your dad would leave you with no protection did you"? Roman asked sheepishly. I met his gaze with one of my own, embarrassment creeping across my face.
We both started laughing, because why the hell not?
Stay tuned for Chapter 10, in which Melanie learns the value of friendship with the hounds, Randy takes her home and the Authority pushes more.