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"So why are you single, again?"

Randy grinned behind his wine glass before setting it down on the mahogany table placed between him and his date. "Well, I'm divorced."

"You were married? I wouldn't have pegged you as domestic. Then again, you did take me to this wonderful restaurant."

Randy looked around the dimly lit room, admiring the string of lights warped around the exposed structures. His eyes fell back to the grinning brunette in front of him. "Well, I haven't had the best days lately, and I noticed you haven't either. I figured I should treat the both of us especially since we met not under the most memorable circumstances."

Stacy shook her head and pointed above her chest. "No, I remember how we met. You don't."

"That, I am guilty." He licked his lips. "My loss."

She leaned closer. "But you're lucky cos you got a second chance."

"Yes, and I'll forever be thankful, Candy." Randy nodded. "Thank you for coming at such short notice."

"Well…you practically kidnapped me."

"And you went willingly, didn't you?" Randy's used his signature smirk to stretch Stacy's already big grin. It'd been years since he had to consciously try to flirt, but Stacy's personality wasn't making it very hard.

"Well, who can resist a well-dressed man saying he'll pay for dinner?"

Randy moved closer, his muscles slightly constricting in his white shirt. "I'm just glad you didn't."

"Me too." Stacy winked as she brought her wine glass to her lips to take a gulp. "So…I have a question."

He nodded and took a drink himself. "Shoot."

"When we first met, you told me about your best friends, John and Alyssa. Are you and John still okay? It didn't seem like it the other day."

Randy opened his mouth to say something but found no words followed. It wasn't that she asked him a personal question– it was likely she knew a lot already after their drunken first meeting– but the fact that she brought up the one topic he'd been trying to slickly bring up was a bit shocking. By mentioning John, she laid out the perfect ground for him to drill out information. She was making his job too easy, and she didn't even know it. He was aware though, judging from her track record, that she may have a secret mission of her own.

"Let me put it this way, there's things between us that didn't settle in right," Randy said.

Stacy stared at him silently.

"Why? You know him?" he asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I do." And suddenly, her whole demeanor changed. Instead of her flirtatious aura, she replaced it with a more firm and determined one. "John and I had- have something going on. We uh-"

Randy waited for her to continue, but she'd gotten so in tune with thoughts of John that all she did was smile. It was suddenly uncomfortable being under her gaze that he had to speak up. "You guys what?"

Stacy blushed. "Uh, we- we met a few weeks ago. We crossed paths at the bar, didn't talk at first, but both became regulars. We went to the same one three days in a row, and I noticed he took home a new girl every night. I was one of them, but I was different. I was the only brunette he wanted, and I was the only girl he took home more than once."

Randy couldn't believe how easily she opened up, but he couldn't deny his satisfaction. This was exactly what he came here for, for answers.

"After he met me, he never looked at anyone else. I was the exception. And that's what I've been trying to let Alyssa know."

Hearing this provided Randy with some insight, not only on Stacy but on himself as well. Was this how crazy he'd been with Alyssa? He was realizing quickly that him and Stacy had that much in common. There was no sense in what their minds were thinking, and yet it was their hearts making delusional decisions.

"So…yeah. That's how I know John. I'm his exception, and I'm just waiting for Alyssa to realize that."

"But what about John? Where is he in all of this?"

Stacy smiled and shrugged. "Well- I'm guessing he's having a hard time admitting it to her. He probably doesn't wanna hurt the poor girl. You know? From what I've seen, they obviously shouldn't be together. Their communication is pathetic. It's shit. That's why I'm telling her so he doesn't have to."

The woman before him was not only in denial but detrimental. As her craziness continued to unravel, he had to force himself to remember why he went after her in the first place: to prevent anyone else from adding to the wrong he'd put on John and Alyssa. Forcing to regain the smirk and look of seduction on his face, he clasped his hands. He had to focus. "Well, Candy, I'd hate for a beautiful woman like you to be waiting on a man like John. Or any man, for that matter."

"Oh, it's fine." She smiled, her sweet eyes doing the same.

"Well, I'm here. You don't have to wait on me for anything."

"Ah, that's nice of you, Randy, really, but I don't kiss on the first date."

"And that's perfectly fine, Candy." Randy leaned back on the chair, a smile still on his face. His tongue resisted the nagging urge to say that she was full of bullshit considering she'd slept with John the first night he finally noticed her. This Stacy or Candy girl did not make much sense, but she was his new challenge and for Alyssa, he was up for it.

John flexed his muscles to assure himself he still had control. It was barely noon and above the building were no signs of sunlight in all directions. After back-to-back meetings and appearances, there was finally a break in his schedule. He summoned himself to the catering where he chewed on lettuce-wrapped beef patties. The juices of the tenderized meat cascaded down his oversized hand, but he didn't care. His mind was too busy thinking of this morning and how his girlfriend fought through her sleepy haze just for him. Last night consisted of multiple rounds of need which earned her some well deserved rest. But instead, she awoke before the crack of dawn and with him, acted on another encore. He couldn't complain, Alyssa was one hell of a lover; but having to leave her for a day full of work was excruciating. He missed her and could still feel the damp white sheets, her soft brown hair, and their rhythmic hips. An unnoticed smile swept through his face, but he was soon interrupted– as if snapping out of a spell– when a heavy hand patted his shoulder.

He looked up as he dropped the food on the tray.

"I gotta talk to you about something," Randy said. He had taken a seat across from him.

Without a word, John grabbed a napkin and began wiping his hands then the sides of his mouth.

"I'm trying to talk to Stacy."

Debating the proper response, John threw the dirtied napkin down and leaned back. "What you do with your time does not concern mine."

Randy didn't relent. He continued. "I just wanna get on her good graces so I could get in her mind. You know how crazy it is."

John shook his head. This man had history of ruining things for him. This meal was his one break and instead of enjoying it, he was forced to waste it on Randy. John stood up from his chair, the wooden structure groaning as it skidded backwards. "You're just as crazy. I think all that oil you put on your body is starting to seep into your brain."

Randy watched the other man move away from the table in between them.

"Thanks for the heads up, but if you excuse me, I got better shit to do." John walked away before briefly glancing at his phone for a time-check. He noted the fifteen minutes left of free time and knew it was the perfect window to do the one thing needed done today.

John was shoulder to shoulder with Stacy within minutes.

Surprise were coating her features. "John! How'd you find me?"

"It's not hard to find someone who gets around."

She ignored his smirk and remark to smile. "What'd you want me for?"

"Stay away from Alyssa and me."

"But someone's gotta tell her about us." Stacy titled her head at an angle and observed the firmness in John's face.

"There's nothing to tell her. There is no us."

"There's nothing to tell her? Tell me then, why'd you choose me?"

"I didn't."

"Oh, I think you did. I was the only brunette you slept with all those weeks. I was the only one you stayed with. You took me on dates. You took me traveling with you. You stopped sleeping around after we met. How is that not choosing me?"

"I admit, we had our fun, Candy, but that's it. It's over."

"But why me? Of all the girls I saw you take home, night after night at the bar, you treated me different."

"What part of it's over do you not understand? Why are we still talking about this?"

"Because I want answers, John. Why was I different?"

"Because you reminded me of Alyssa."

Stacy's eyes widened before they began to cloud. Her once firm stance began to diminish at the mention of the other woman's name.

"I slept with all those women to try and forget about her. But I couldn't. It still her I thought of night after night. When I saw you, you reminded me of her. I saw your brown hair and tenacity and how you gave your all when you wanted something. Then I learned that I couldn't substitute Al. I want her. I don't want you. I don't want anybody else."

Stacy's muteness was so unlike her, it slightly softened John. He shifted one foot uncomfortably. This conversation had gone deeper than he planned, but he was beginning to see his part in this woman's craze. "Look, I'm sorry if I got your emotions all tangled up, but you need to leave us alone."

Stacy still didn't say anything. Her lips were beginning to tremble and the twitches became unstoppable once John walked away. She became alone as quickly as his company had come, and suddenly, nothing made any sense.

Alyssa had been well-marinated into work all day. Her extended days off had not weakened her stamina but instead, has umpped her speed. She managed to not only get through her to-do list for this day but had also started on tomorrow's. Raw was about kick off another live show and although she had the choice to enjoy it, she opted to do more labor. The more she got done now, the more time she'd have with John tomorrow. That'd been her sacred mantra all day, and she wasn't going to stop now. Backstage, she stood near a wall and stuffed herself into more work. With a wooden clipboard in hand, her eyes jumped from print to print to orchestrate some more for the company. It was her duty to ensure the schedules matched accordingly with each superstar and their individual agendas. She was also in charge of managing the backstage crew. It was a lot of tedious work but her years of experience had taught her a lot.

"Excuse me, miss?"

Alyssa lifted her head and saw an unfamiliar man standing before her. His deep set eyes were hypnotizing, practically fighting for attention with his well-defined jaw line. From peripherals, Alyssa noted he wore a white button down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

"Alyssa, right?" His smile spread charmingly.

"Uh…yeah…that's…that's me," she said, fidgeting with the corners of the clipboard as she set it down on the table beside them. For some reason, her cheeks turned a higher temperature. How did this stranger know her name?

He stood there quietly, his hands casually placed inside the pockets of his khaki slacks. It was as if he was studying her just as intently as she was studying him. Breaking into a deeper grin, he nodded his head. "Nice to finally meet you, Alyssa. My name is Neal Toretto."

Despite her unexplained nerves, she looked him straight on. "Finally meet me?"

"Yes. I'm an executive producer for this upcoming show within your company's network. I heard from the grapevine that you're really good at your job."

Alyssa didn't say anything. Couldn't say anything. She blinked.

Neal looked around in observance to his surroundings. The way his torso twisted gave view to the muscles straining beneath his shirt. He faced her once again. "I see that this company is in lovely hands."

"Capable," Alyssa said, faking her composure. "I prefer capable."

"Very well." Neal nodded his head. He was still smiling. "I'm here because-"

"Al!"

The just-acquainted duo turned their attentions to the presence of a third person. It was John, and Alyssa was gleaming at the sight of him.

"John, this is executive producer, Neal Toretto. Mr. Toretto, this is John Cena. "

John's eyes flicked from his girlfriend to the producer. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Toretto."

"Nice to meet you, too," he smiled. His attention went right back to Alyssa. "You can call me Neal."

She nodded hesitantly at him before turning her eyes back to John.

"So what brings you around here?" John asked.

Not taking his eyes off Alyssa, he answered. "I want her."

"In a professional way," she said, quick to fight off any awkward blows of silence.

"Of course." A half smile tugged on Neal's lips before he turned his upper body to John. "I heard the way she works. She's capable of a wide range– from scheduling the entire onstage and offstage crew, to coordinating commutes, to scripting– this woman can do it all. I have a new opportunity I think she should take, one I would be willing to pay her double for what she earns here."

John quickly glanced at his girlfriend, sensing her disbelief and bafflement at the high praise. "Alyssa is one of the best. She's definitely held her own and then some for this company."

"And I would love to have her in mine," Neal said. He directed his eyes back to the blushing brunette. "Would you like to check out the working script and set tonight?"

"Mr. Toretto-"

"Neal. Please call me Neal."

"Neal, I appreciate the high praise, but I've got work to do here."

"I understand, but when you don't, please do give me a call." He slickly pulled out a card from his pockets and offered it to her.

She waited a beat, then took the personalized cardstock from his grip. It wasn't long after that he dismissed himself from her and John to walk away. Neither of them dared to talk until they safely knew he was out of earshot.

"Well, that was random," Alyssa said. Her mind had yet to register the encounter that had just happened.

"It was. Is he legit?" John lessened the space between them.

She looked at the card and saw the USA Network logo embedded on the top left corner. "I…think so? But anyway-"

John watched her toss the card to the side.

"-enough work talk, I've missed-"

"Cena! You're on in a couple minutes." A backstage crew member was fidgeting with his earpiece when he stopped in front of the couple.

"-you," Alyssa said, a frown tugging her lips.

John frowned too. "I miss you, too, baby. I'll try to see you after my match, okay?"

John fit his lips to hers, and he was gone the next second.

This live Monday night Raw was Randy's day off. He had no matches, no segments, nothing. All he had to do was rest. The light from the television bounced to his face as he diligently studied the on-going feud between two of his coworkers. It was one thing to be inside that ring, but it was a different experience being behind a screen. In this room, there was no one with him. There were no fans cheering and booing and screaming. These were the extreme ends of the spectrum he was getting used to dealing with. On parts of the night, he'd be surrounded by thousands and thousands of people. Then the next, he'd be all alone.

This was what his life had come to. There was no one to share it with, which to him, also meant there was no one else to hurt. Shifting his toned legs with the tangled sheets, he closed his eyes and saw blackness. Noises continued to spill from the TV but his mind gradually began to mute them.

Seconds passed. Minutes passed.

Randy swore he fell asleep and began dreaming of knocking. He opened his eyes slightly but the knocking didn't stop. He sluggishly brought his weight to carpet and made his way to the door. Without hesitation, he flung it open and was met by Stacy in tears.

"Randy-"

"What's wrong?"

"John- he-he told me he didn't want me."

Randy removed his hand from the door and stepped closer to her.

"He doesn't want me, Randy. Make me forget him."

Randy cupped her face and without hesitation, brought her inside.