**AUTHOR'S NOTE: I am in the process of moving out of state, so the next 2 weeks are going to be extremely hectic. I will try to update my stories as much as I can, but don't expect daily updates. I hope I don't lose readers over this because I love and appreciate all of you for your reviews. They are very encouraging. Once I'm settled into our new place, I will start writing more frequently again. Thanks!**
Chapter 21
"Taker, if you don't want to deal with Kane, let Stephanie do it."
Rajani was very observant, sometimes too much, and she could tell that Taker was troubled regarding his friend. Hell, she would've been too. They were best friends and, because of her, their friendship was about to take a rocky swerve.
"Stephanie said she would deal with him if you didn't. Even she said it was going to be...difficult for you to handle Kane. She's the authority so let her handle him."
But what if she couldn't? That question instantly entered Rajani's mind and she suddenly wondered if Stephanie was strong enough to deal with Kane. If Kane wasn't stopped now, things were only going to get worse and that couldn't happen.
Taker snorted at that, that one noise letting her know just what his opinion of Stephanie handling Kane was. "Darlin', no offense to Stephanie, but if she could handle him, don't you think she would have done so by now?" He pointed out, steering the truck with one hand, his other arm propped on the edge of the seat. "What with all the shit he's pulled backstage and everythin' else, if she could have stopped him, she would've done it by now. I'll handle him, one way or the other."
Rajani didn't say anything else on the matter, knowing it was closed for discussion. Taker had made up his mind and there was no changing it. He had a valid point and basically said what she was thinking even as she tried half-assed convincing him not to handle Kane. If anyone could stop Kane's destruction, it was Taker. Rajani looked down at her cell phone when it vibrated and smiled at the first text message from John. He wanted to meet with her tonight after the show was over. She texted him back and asked what time, wondering what she was supposed to tell Taker since he was somewhat her bodyguard now.
John texted her back. We can meet up after the show, I'll drive. All done in shorthand because his fingers were not touch screen friendly and really hoped she could decipher it.
Taker arched an eyebrow when her cell went off almost immediately after she had sent off her message followed by her fingers practically flying and shook his head. That was something he had never caught onto that well. He texted, just not...that enthusiastically.
"You're smilin' again." It was almost accusatory, wondering what had brought on the change from last night's sadness and worry to this.
"Yeah I am." She sent a text back to John saying she would come to his dressing room and to wait for her there after the show, putting her phone away. "Umm I'm actually not going to need a ride back to the hotel tonight. I'm going out with a friend, clear my head and get my mind off of things. I won't be too late." Rajani hoped, wondering what John had planned on such short notice besides talking. "We're going to the hotel first to check in, right? Cause I can get my keycard because I don't know what time I'll be back."
"We can get you a keycard." He said, glancing across the seat at her and smirked slightly. "A friend, huh? Like the friend you told Steph you stayed with the other night?" Then was picked up at a hotel, she had just 'met' them there, liar. When her eyes narrowed just a fraction, Taker began laughing. "Simmer down Jani, I don't care what you get up to or if you might've lied to Steph." Though now he knew why she had done it. "Just don't lie to me is all." He added as an afterthought. "And I won't lie to you." Unless he absolutely had to.
"I'm not lying to you about anything. And yes, a friend, though it might become more." It depended on how this conversation with Cena went, everything banked on it. "And I told Stephanie the truth about not staying with a friend, that I switched hotel rooms because of the flower secret admirer thing. Do you want to know who I'm meeting tonight? Because I will tell you." Rajani batted her eyelashes at him, sarcasm dripping in her sickly sweet tone. "I'm taking your advice on this situation and taking a chance, I'm gonna leave it at that for now."
Taker cocked an eyebrow, really trying not to dissect that and root around for the answer that he knew was rattling around his head. "Smartass." He grunted, reaching forward and turning on the radio, playing classic rock. "If there are any more run-ins with dipshit though, I want to know about it." By dipshit he meant his former best friend, realizing what her doing that sarcastic bit and eyelash fluttering reminded him of a teenage girl lipping off to her Dad and that just made him growl. They arrived at the hotel a few hours later, checked in and Rajani got her keycard before they headed to the arena. Rajani wasn't surprised that Taker insisted walking her to Stephanie's office. It was comforting to know that she would no longer be alone to deal with Kane and this secret admirer on her own. There was no way said secret admirer would be stupid enough to blanket Taker's hotel suite in flowers, Rajani was almost positive of that.
"Thanks see you tonight. You receive text messages right?"
Stephanie bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing at the recoiled look from Taker.
"Hey, I haven't seen you texting so I just wanted to make sure. Some people don't care for it, so..."
Clearing his throat, Taker gave each woman a 'look', not amused at all with the look on Stephanie's face. "Just do it, go ahead and laugh."
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Stephanie did turn around and do it, shoulders hunched as she giggled, snickered and snorted. Taker pulled his cell phone from the inside of his vest, holding it up and used his thumb to navigate to the messaging application.
"Yes, I receive text messages darlin', I can also text, if I must."
"K and a question mark don't really count though..."
"Stephanie..."
"Okay just checking."
Rajani smiled innocently at him before going over to take her seat on the couch, wearing a pair of black dress pants with a dark red tank dress shirt, a black belt around her waist for style. She decided to sweep her hair up and piled it on top of her head, a few tendrils framing her face, natural makeup on her face that consisted of black eyeliner and clear gloss. Rajani kept the black choker around her neck because it went with her outfit and hid the bruises that still marred her tanned skin.
"Okay we're done making fun of you, time to get to work."
Alex walked in at that moment, freezing at the sight of Taker. "Oh, hi, sorry did I interrupt something?"
"Yeah, Stephanie's impersonation of Miss Piggy." Taker said, his green eyes lighting up wickedly when she whirled around, sputtering at him. "Darlin', you were snortin' like a damn hog."
"I do NOT snort!" Stephanie argued.
"Lie to yourself all you like, darlin', doesn't change the fact that you were practically oinkin'."
Alex had walked into a madhouse.
Stephanie glowered at Taker, who simply walked out of the room laughing his ass off before looking to Rajani. "Did I really snort?"
"I uh...Alex?"
"What the hell are you looking at me for? I just walked in!"
"You uh...did a little bit, but it didn't sound piggish..." Rajani stammered, watching as Stephanie's eyes narrowed on her. "I mean you were laughing hard, probably didn't even realize it. I do it sometimes."
"Smooth." Alex grunted, which turned into groaning when he got socked in the arm by Rajani. "DAMN!"
"Let's just get to work."
John was pretty psyched about tonight, his good mood buoyed by the distinct lack of Kane in his script. However, he knew even if he had been scheduled for some interaction with Kane, his mood would have remained stellar. He knew tonight was it and would cement which direction his relationship with Rajani went, this was his one chance. If he blew it tonight, there would be no second chance. Then John had a thought, seriously hoping that no one messed with his car tonight because he did not need her seeing that.
The night went smoothly with absolutely no issues, which had Stephanie and Alex on high alert. Rajani wasn't worried and had her mind on one thing, or one person, and that was John Cena. She was working super hard and faster than normal, shrugging when Stephanie and Alex just stared at her in wonder. When it was time to leave, Rajani couldn't have been happier and grabbed her purse before heading out of Stephanie's office, an extra bounce in her step. She hadn't seen a glimpse of Kane, wondering if Taker took care of him and figured that had to be a reason why there were no attacks. There was a reason indeed. After seeing Rajani and Taker earlier, Kane had decided to sit back and see where things went over the next day or so. This suited his purposes rather well actually. There was chemistry between her and Cena, or at least he had thought there was, and he was seldom wrong about those things, but today had thrown him off. Kane growled slightly, wondering why the hell Taker had to get himself inadvertently caught up in his plans. Some friend!
JOHN CENA
Rajani stared at the door for a good two minutes, chewing her bottom lip and mulling over the pros and cons of actually going through with this. That one kiss in the elevator outweighed all the cons, but Rajani couldn't bring her hand up to knock on the door. What was Dwayne going to do? He'd been having a HUGE war with John on Twitter leading up to their match at WrestleMania and John still didn't know she was his opponent's baby sister.
"Just do it, don't be a coward." She whispered, squaring her shoulders and knocked on the door, hearing a 'come in' a few seconds later.
Rajani slowly pushed open the door and stepped inside, smiling tentatively. John was all smiles as he walked over to her, having started entertaining doubts that she would even come. Niggles had started whispering things like 'she's probably come to her senses' and 'why would she want him because he's been nothing but a prick to her' in his head. He bent down, hands going to her shoulders and dropped a kiss on her lips. Though, he didn't ravage her completely like he wanted to, knowing that that would only put the idea of 'he wants sex and nothing more' in her head and effectively kill off that chance. While John DID want to eventually get in her pants, that wasn't all he was interested in.
"Hello."
"Hi." She murmured, the door closing behind her and allowed John to guide her further into his dressing room.
Rajani would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous about this. Remembering everything that happened between her and John over the past six months, Rajani was still on guard about this. She sat down on the couch with him, looking down at their laced hands, sighing gently when he lifted her chin back up to meet his eyes.
"So...you said that we weren't finished in the elevator and I'm assuming you're meaning talking because I'm going to be blunt with you, John, like I have been from the beginning. I'm not sleeping with you until we establish exactly what this is between us."
John's grin turned into a smile, having been expecting that. "I didn't expect anything less of you, Rajani." He said softly, moving his hand back down to take hers, squeezing gently. "I know I've been a total cock knocker to you, and you've had some less than patient moments with me, most of them I deserved." John wasn't going to take all the credit for being the main screw-up in what had been their normal relationship until today. She did have a few credits to her name, though he would admit to being the main guilty party. "And I know you're worried about this, about where it's going and what could happen. I'm not going to hurt you, Raja, I just want one chance."
Rajani eyed him for a few minutes, staying silent and stared into his blue eyes, searching for any indication that he was lying to her. She was normally a good judge of character and her instincts were telling her to tread cautiously. How could she though when this man dropped the L word on her? Had he even meant it?
"Not until you answer one question for me." When John nodded, Rajani had to pull her gaze from his and stared down at her nails, breathing in and out slowly. "The night you found me in my car after Kane's attack, you said something to me that I haven't been able to forget or get out of my mind. And I know this is going to sound really stupid, but maybe you don't remember what you said to me because you said it after I pissed you off. But I have to know before we jump into this." Rajani slowly looked up at him, seeing the confusion already building in his eyes and sighed. "You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"
The confusion she seen building in his eyes was due to the fact that he knew what night she was talking about. John had a good idea she was referring to the fact that he has basically told he loved her and hated her in the same sentence. What had totally thrown him off was the Kane bit and, as soon as the fog cleared, John fully grasped what she had just said.
"Kane did this to you?" John demanded, trying his hardest to modulate his tone, though the anger was creeping into his eyes. When she looked mildly exasperated, he inwardly growled. "Yes, I remember what I said to you. Kane ATTACKED you?"
Her dark eyes widened with realization of what she said and Rajani instantly covered her mouth with her hand. "Shit." It sounded muffled, but John clearly heard her and Rajani stopped him from standing up, straddling him on the couch. She was quicker than John gave her credit for. "You're not going after him. He's being taken care of. Shit, I didn't mean to just...drop it like that..." What the HELL was she thinking? Oh yeah, she was too busy worrying about if he remembered what he said to her the night of her attack. "Yes, he's the one that did this." Rajani pulled the choker off, showing him the bruises again. "And you're not going after him, do you hear me? You're on probation right now, if you don't want me distracting you with another kiss, then you will sit here with me and not blow your only shot." If John left, Rajani was finished with him for good as she slowly crawled off his lap. "Your choice. Either stay here with me or go beat Kane's ass and break your probation."
"I'm not going to go after him." John grumbled, thinking she was using two very unfair tactics with him.
One: the fact of blowing his shot with her being thrown in his face. John wondered why the hell she had to keep cutting his balls off with what kinda sounded like thinly veiled threats. Two: she was straddling him, which was a major distraction.
"I'm not going to break my probation, now get back over here you're supposed to distract me." John reached over and pulled her back onto his lap, hands settling on her hips. "Who's handling it?"
"See...This is the part you're not going to like, but I hope you just go with it because it's what I want."
Rajani let that sink in a little, wrapping her arms around his neck, not meaning to cut him down. However, she knew how much John loathed Kane and didn't want him getting hurt because of her. Not to mention breaking probation would take him out of the company for several months after WrestleMania.
"Undertaker is handling it...and I'm traveling with him for awhile." Rajani pressed her finger to his lips before John could open his mouth. "Someone has been filling my hotel rooms with flowers, different kinds, and leaving messages about how they're going to see me soon. The last one was last night and it was carnations, which means fascination and the card said JUST DAYS AWAY in black lettering. The one before that said SOON. Taker thinks it's Kane that's doing it, so he's going to handle it, but he wants me close-by in case Kane tries something. And I'm not going against him. I trust him and know he'll protect me. Not saying you can't, but he knows Kane better than anyone and if it is Kane, he'll be able to stop him before Kane can get to me. We think I'm on Kane's radar because he's using me to get to you..."