Chapter 16

"Finally!" Stephanie breathed a huge sigh of relief when Rajani stepped inside her office, smiling. "I take it the drive wasn't pleasant?"

"You could say that." Rajani wasn't going into details, grunting when Alex hugged her before handing over a cup of coffee. "Thanks Alex, I really need this. Only can you spike it?"

Alex blinked. "With...what?"

"Anything with a high volume of alcohol."

Alex turned to look at Stephanie worriedly. "Are you alright, Raja?"

"Never better, just had to deal with the company of Taker and Kane for the past 8 hours, then ran into Cena as soon as I walked through the door. I need a drink."

Stephanie's eyes narrowed. "Glen was with Mark during your drive?" Why hadn't Taker mentioned that to her?

"Yeah, it was a gas, lemme tell ya. Remind me to never ride with them again. I need a nice blow to the head to give me amnesia, so I can forget about it."

"Wait, Kane AND Taker? What'd they do?" Alex asked curiously, unable to help himself.

He knew they were both broody bastards and that it could get annoying. However, how did brooding cause someone to want to drink or take a blow to the head? Stephanie knew the two could be bastards when they wanted to be and just shook her head.

"Let me guess, they were obnoxious and overbearing?"

"They were acting like lovers." Rajani said bluntly, blinking when Alex and Stephanie both spewed their coffee out at the same time. Thankfully not all over her. That would've just been icing on the messed up cake. "I finally shut them up by saying they needed to keep me out of their bromance fighting." Luckily, Stephanie was still cleaning herself up while Alex did the same, otherwise they would've spewed again. "And then Taker tried intimidating me by inviting me into the backseat with him so Kane could drive. Told him I wasn't interested. Men around here just don't back off, besides Alex of course." Rajani rubbed her throat a little, wincing slightly. "I'm surprised they didn't kill me for some of the shit I said to them, but hey it was better than hearing them bickering back and forth about who was going to fuck who up."

"Do you mean intimidating or seducing?"

"It's Mark, she meant seducing." Stephanie muttered, retrieving more Kleenex and daubing at her shirt. "So they were being typical Mark and Glen when not acting like their alter egos?"

Alex snorted at that and instantly regretted it, having already done a spit/snort of coffee only moments ago. "You really told them they had a bromance going on?" He then asked, rather easily able to picture their faces and could not keep the grin off of his face. "I would have KILLED to be a fly on the wall for that moment..."

"It was epic if I do say so myself and pretty much shut them both up." Rajani wasn't sure what to think about what Stephanie said, sighing tiredly. "It was a very long day and I'm ready to do my work and get some sleep at the hotel."

She still hadn't told Stephanie about the flowers, figuring the woman believe her story about staying with her friend. Rajani was thankful for that and immediately got to work. Alex and Stephanie continued asking her a few more questions about the drive with Taker and Kane.

"Promise me I never have to do that again."

Stephanie nodded directly. "I thought it was just going to be Mark. I'm sorry, Raja."

Rajani just nodded and began going through paperwork, knowing she would have to ice her throat again when she was alone.

Alex studied Rajani thoughtfully. "Why don't you put her on TV?"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Well, think about it, the woman has no fear and the shit she says...could you imagine her saying bromance and lovers fight about the Undertaker and Kane in front of a live audience?"

Rajani's head snapped up so hard, she actually cried out in pain, completely forgetting about her bruised throat. "Alex, I really like you, but I will cut your tongue out if you say that again." She promised darkly, nodding when Stephanie asked if she was alright. "Pulled muscle." Rajani lied, going back to her paperwork again. Stephanie knew better than to even THINK about putting her on television for one very important reason: Her brother. "I think Stephanie prefers me back here instead of out there dressed as a bimbo."

"Who said you had to dress like a bimbo?" Alex demanded, sounding offending. "Lillian doesn't, Stephanie doesn't...anymore." He added under his breath, smirking when Stephanie sent a playful glare his way.

"Sometimes, as a woman...in a male dominated business, I have to use...my advantages." Stephanie said smoothly, giggling outright when he just scoffed. "Just get to work and stop. Rajani is too valuable to be sent out to the ring, she'd become famous out there and then I'd be up to my ears in paperwork."

That's what Rajani loved about Stephanie, the woman knew when not to push an issue. Taker had said the same thing about Stephanie putting her on television, but Rajani ignored it. It took nearly three hours to catch up on the paperwork before they finally began tonight's work load. Alex was even helping because there was so much to do and not enough time, especially with Rajani being over an hour late. By the time Rajani left the arena, the show was long over with and she opted to stay behind since she came in late while Stephanie and Alex left. Not only that, but Rajani was actually somewhat scared to go back to her hotel room, not wanting another attack of flowers and message. Taker was waiting for her minus Kane, leaning against the truck, looking much more awake then he had earlier.

"I thought you might need a ride, darlin'." Taker drawled when she slowed down at the sight of him. "Since you left your rental back at your hotel." Because it had been her hotel, not a place Rajani had just met them at, not that Taker cared, but he wasn't feeding her lie either since it was just the two of them. "Unless you want to call a cab or maybe hoof it?" John Cena was still in the building he had also noted, spotting the other man's rental and had been mildly curious just what was keeping that idiot so late.

"Why so you can play some more games with me?" Rajani couldn't help looking around, waiting for Kane to jump out at her or something, absentmindedly grabbing her throat as she fingered the collar. "Or was that seducing me? Because according to Stephanie, that's what you were doing when you invited me in the backseat earlier." Rajani still looked around, her free hand wrapped around the can of mace she promised to grab before Taker and Kane picked her up. "I'm not in the mood for games tonight. I've had enough games being played with me lately, Taker, and I really need a break."

"Games? Woman, I was teasin' you earlier and maybe givin' a piss poor attempt at seduction." Taker snorted, noting the way she kept playing with the neck of her shirt, frowning slightly. "You were doing that earlier, something wrong with your neck?" She looked like she was losing her mind. "Rajani, I apologize if I really upset you and what the hell are you lookin' for?"

"Nothing, no my neck is fine." Rajani lied, not caring if it sounded smooth or not, she just didn't care right now.

She was exhausted both mentally and physically. Someone was screwing with her and Kane didn't help by attacking her the previous night either. And then she had to endure that grueling eight hour drive with the man who attacked her and this man who she somehow...befriended...if that was even the word to use.

"No I'm sorry, I've been on edge and you didn't deserve that, Taker." She really was losing her mind and slowly slipped the can into her purse, walking toward him. "You actually stayed behind until you knew if I needed a ride or not?"

"Yes." Taker flashed a slight half-smirk. "Like I said, you didn't have a rental and I didn't know if you had called for one or somethin'. In case you haven't noticed lately, the locker rooms haven't been the safest lately." Rajani looked like a scared rabbit or something and he wondered where the woman with the brass balls from earlier had gone off to. "So, if you need that ride..."

Opening the door to the truck, this time Taker was driving and there would be no Kane. Rajani physically relaxed when she noticed it was just the two of them, no Kane, really not wanting to be near that man after everything that happened. She smiled and hopped up into the truck, being mindful that she wore a skirt as Taker shut the door. Just to make sure this wasn't a trap, Rajani looked behind her in the back, sighing with relief and buckled up as Taker slid into the driver's side.

"Thank you, I didn't even think about the fact I wouldn't have my own rental when I decided to stay late tonight."

"I can tell."

Taker chuckled, hardly believing Stephanie had actually left Rajani by herself at the arena, especially with everything that was going on. That did not seem like the mother-hen he knew and occasionally adored. As they pulled out of the parking garage, he glimpsed in the rearview mirror. Spotting Cena coming out, another half-smirk, a little on the wicked side this time, graced his lips.

John could only stare down at his rental car, more specifically, the slashed back tires. "Great...just great."

They made small talk throughout the ride back to the hotel, Taker stopping at a local mart that was open twenty-four seven to grab some alcohol. Rajani wasn't a big drinker, but she did ask him to grab her a bottle of wine. She just really needed a drink after walking into two hotel rooms full of flowers and then dealing with her attacker for eight hours today...it all was getting to her.

"Do you remember me asking you about the roses and how my room was completely filled with them?" Rajani decided to put some more trust into Taker, genuinely scared to go back to her room alone and watched Taker nod. "It happened again...only this time they were lilacs...and there was a note this time. All it said was SOON in big black bold writing." Her eyes moved to stare out the window, frowning. "I'm starting to get a little...nervous about this whole secret admirer crap."

Taker shot her a look across the seat, one black eyebrow slowly rising. "Soon?" He echoed, having to admit, that did sound a bit...ominous. "Was it the same situation as the first time? Hotel staff didn't know anything?" When she shook her head, he scowled. "Well that's bullshit, obviously darlin', someone on the staff has to know something. Either someone is somehow gettin' keys to your room and plantin' all those flowers by themselves or they're hiring a maid or something to go in and do it."

"I know, but apparently all they got was a phone call from whoever is doing this. I don't understand it. Why not just come out and tell me? Why be cowardly about it? If this person really likes me or whatever, then just fucking tell me. I have enough going on without having to worry about being stalked by someone who has a fetish with flowers." Rajani snorted, folding her arms in front of her chest as she bounced her foot up and down. "The hotel manager couldn't give me any answers besides that it was orders from a phone call and they were paid a lot of money to do it. The flowers were delivered and the hotel staff delivered them to the rooms." Rajani finally looked over at him, seeing he didn't look happy. "What would you do if you were me?"

"I would start informing hotels when you make reservations that NOTHING is to be delivered to the room unless you specifically request it. I don't give a fuck how much money is being paid. What if there was somethin' slipped in with those flowers that's not so nice?" Taker shook his head, wondering what the hell was wrong with these people. Of course, he had talked a desk clerk or two into giving him a keycard to someone else's room a few times, but still that wasn't the point. "And if they still did it, I'd sue them for the damn hotel."

"I already did that with this hotel and even went as far as giving them a false name."

Rajani wasn't taking any chances right now and if she had to stay in the same hotels as the WWE, then Rajani was taking every precaution she could. Then Rajani went back to Kane's attack, wondering if she should tell Taker what happened. Would he overreact like John or simply keep it to himself? Rajani decided not to find out as Taker pulled into the hotel underground parking lot.

"Whoever is doing this, I hope they realize that all they're doing is freaking me out instead of romancing me."

"How about I go up with you?" Taker suggested, raising his hands in a placating way when she just shot him a look. "If there are any flowers up there, I want to see. That and it sounds like your...admirer...is getting ready to change up the routine." That soon bit seemed to suggest that. "And if by chance, there are flowers up there, I'll go down and have a chat with the manager for you." His voice darkened at that.

"Now who's being protective?" Rajani smirked and slipped out of the truck, having her bag and purse in hand, shutting the door with her elbow. "If you want to come up, I won't stop you."

Rajani wasn't about to deny the fact that this admirer crap had definitely scared her. Having someone with her to inspect the room was a smart thing to do, even if it was Taker. Together, they headed inside, Taker holding the door open for her and even taking her bag. He was definitely a gentleman, there was no doubt about that. She checked into her room and received the keycard, waiting for Taker to do the same for his room, before they both headed toward the elevator. He waited for her to open her door once they had reached her floor, seeing her hesitate and reached out to gently take the key from her, shifting the bags back further on his shoulder.

"Here." Taker murmured, sliding it through the slot and turned the handle when the light flashed green. "Holy shit..." He cursed softly as he stepped into the room, his eyes taking in all the carnations. Looking down at the floor, Taker realized he was walking on the things and groaned, beginning to kick them out of the way. "Carnations...means fascination. Did you know that, darlin'?" He asked conversationally, checking her bathroom and eyed the carnations in there as well. It was like someone had set up a flower shop in her room, a flower shop of one flower type. "Someone's apparently fascinated by you..." Taker trailed off, spotting the card perched against her pillow.