Sensational breaking news today out of New York. Contract renewal negotiations between WWE and one of their biggest stars, Clementine Everett, have broken down. According to people familiar with the talks, Clementine sited inequality of pay between WWE's male and female rosters as well as well-publicised misogynistic behaviour from multiple people high up within the company as reasons for her decision. Clementine is expected to continue performing for WWE until her current deal expires at the end of January...

Erin stopped reading and looked up from her phone. She had seen enough. Her blood was boiling. How had her dad and the idiot Brian Kelton who ran the talent relations department managed to get WWE into a situation where the best female wrestler in the world was going to walk away from the company rather than sign a new contract?

Erin seethed more and more as she continued to think about it. Clementine absolutely loved performing, and although her character was such that she hardly ever showed it on screen, she adored her fans. Something had to be really wrong for her to want to leave. Kelton had to have said or done something stupid, she deduced. Erin had always disliked the man. Frankly, she considered him an asshole, and totally unfit for the position he held. He was only there because he and Hank went back a long way together.

"What are you going to do, Erin?" Jay asked. He was sitting on the edge of his poolside chair, looking at her.

Raquel was looking at each of them in turn, probably wondering what Jay expected her to do. After all, she didn't know that Erin would soon own WWE.

"I'm going to make a call," Erin said angrily, getting up and heading back into the house for some privacy. The number she called was her dad's. Walking into Zelina and Raquel's living room, she made no attempt to reign herself in when Hank answered his phone.

"Hey, Erin."

"Could you and that clown Kelton at least try not to burn WWE to the fucking ground before I take it over? Like, at least make a bit of an effort?" she raged at him. All of the stress of the past week came spewing out, and he got both barrels of it.

"Erin, calm down," Hank said, too surprised to be angry at her for swearing at him, which she would usually never do. "What's this about?"

"What do you think it's about?" Erin snapped. "Kelton has gone and lost us Clementine. You know, the person I've built the entire women's division around since I took charge of creative?"

"She asked for way too much money, Erin. And she was arrogant and inflexible."

"Oh, bull," Erin said dismissively, pacing around the room. "You're just repeating what Kelton told you to cover his ass. You know as well as I do Clem isn't like that. I'm going to have to step in and try to fix this. Give me the go ahead to negotiate with Clem myself. If I'm going to run the company I might as well make a start now."

Hank considered that for a moment. "Fine. If you want to try and re-sign Clementine, see what you can do. If you get a deal done, I'll give you authorisation to sign it on behalf of the company."

"Good," she said, and ended the call without thanking him. She was too angry for that. Before she could think about trying to go back to enjoying her vacation, there was another call she had to make. Calling Clementine was one thing. Whether the call would be taken was another.

After a few rings, Clementine did pick up, although she didn't exactly sound excited about speaking to Erin. "Hello, Erin."

"Clem. Listen, I don't know what's happened to make things go sideways, but I'd like to get together with you Monday and work it out, just me and you."

"I don't think there's much point," Clementine said after a moment. "I've reached the end of the road with this company and the awful people who run it. The way women are treated is appalling, and if it takes me leaving to make things blow up and lead to change, I figure that's the best thing I can do for the rest of the women in that locker room, and those who will follow us."

Erin felt deeply saddened to hear the passion and anger in Clem's voice. Kelton had likely pushed her over the edge, but there was more to it than that. Hank's behaviour that was now public knowledge, treating staff members at the office like sex toys and paying them to keep their mouths shut, was appalling and offensive. Plus the women's roster in general were underpaid compared to the men, Erin was well aware. She had to get herself a chance to speak to Clem in person and convince her that things would improve in the near future. She would see to that personally.

"I hear you, Clem. And I'm not just saying that to try and placate you. Believe me, I really do hear you. Would you please sit down with me Monday and have a chat? You have legitimate concerns, several of them. I'd like to..."

Clementine cut her off, which was out of character. But then she was very frustrated. "Alright, I'll speak with you Monday. But just so you know? I've already told Alexa that I've decided to leave WWE. Now that I've made the decision, my mind won't change. Have a good weekend."

The call ended and Erin stood there for a moment looking at the phone, trying to compose herself. It wasn't Clementine she was angry with, not at all. It was the people who had alienated her. Rectifying that was her first job in charge of WWE, she realised, and that was before she even formally took charge. As for Clem's mind already made up about leaving, time would tell how true that was.

Jay walked into the room then, looking concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Okay? No, I'm pissed," she replied, making sure to vent to him, not to take it out on him. "Between them, my dad and Brian Kelton have made one hell of a mess. I'm going to sit down with Clem on Monday to try and fix it. Not sure if it'll work or not." She went to Jay and they hugged each other.

"If I can help in any way, you know I will. My advice is to try and switch off if you possibly can and enjoy this break. We came down here to be away from the day-to-day stress, remember?"

"I know. The problem is the damn stress followed me. But you're right. I'm going to turn my phone off and leave it off the rest of the day." She reached up and kissed him. "I'm so glad you're here. You always say the right things, are you're just rock for me, Jay. I love you."

"I love you too, honey. Come on, let's go relax and have a drink."

"There's nothing quite like your own bed is there?" Jay asked.

Erin had just gotten into bed beside him. It was Saturday night and they were back at Eagle's Nest, after what had thankfully turned out to be a very relaxing break down in Florida. They hadn't ended up doing much other than spending time with Raquel and Zelina at their house, but that had been perfect for Erin. A couple of days without having to do anything have been a wonderful change from her frantic and chaotic life of late.

"It was a nice time," Jay as they cuddled up to each other. They almost always did that for a few minutes before attempting to sleep. "Erin, I need to ask you something. You know I'm not good at this, so I want to outright say that I don't want to get into a fight."

"Fight?" she asked in surprise. "What would we fight about?"

"Well, the thing is, the more I've thought about it, I kind of don't like that you were obviously enjoying thinking about fetish stuff with Raquel and Z when we were down there. You obviously enjoyed watching Raquel put that diving gear on, mostly because she had rubber gloves, I assume. And you went to 'help Z with the dishes' too. Why do you need those guys for that kind of stuff? Why can't you enjoy your kinks with me? I've always been open to it."

Erin felt guilty and mortified in equal measure. The last thing she had wanted to do was offend him, but she could understand now why he was feeling hurt. He had every right to. For someone who often lacked self-confidence, her behaviour was the last thing he needed. "Shit, Jay, I'm sorry. I really am," she said quietly. "I got carried away, not that I'm saying that's an acceptable excuse because it isn't. You're right, I shouldn't be thinking about Z or Raquel like that. To be honest with you…"

"Go on," he encouraged as she paused.

"I feel embarrassed talking about that kind of stuff, even with you. I know you're going to say I shouldn't, but I do. It's weird to be turned on by the stuff I'm turned on by. With Raquel and Z, they were turning me on without knowing they were doing it, so I got the thrill without the embarrassment. Again, I know this isn't an acceptable excuse. What I did was wrong."

Jay put a loving hand on her cheek. His touch conveyed forgiveness before he said anything. "It was, but after your explanation I understand it, I guess. You know what I'm going to say next. You've got no reason at all to be embarrassed by the things that turn you on. Sure, they're kinky, but they're not immoral or illegal. You should be able to trust me to tell me anything. So please, next time it's appropriate, I'd like you to talk to me about everything that turns you on, and tell me why it turns you on."

"I'll do my best," she promised, and gave him a peck on the lips. "Thank you for forgiving me. Sometimes, I really don't deserve you, you know?"

Jay gave a self-depreciating laugh. "That's not true, but thank you for saying it."

"You know, I wish you would open up to me too, Jay," she ventured. The moment just felt right.

"What do you mean?" he asked, although she suspected he already knew.

"You've never told me about your childhood. I said I'd never ask questions about it and I won't, but I did hope you would eventually start to talk to me about it. Please don't take this as me trying to pressure you because that's not my intention. All I'm…"

"I have tried," Jay said, cutting in. "I've tried several times when I've felt like I wanted to, but I've not been able to make the words come out. It's just stuff that's… so awful to think about." He sounded like he was close to bursting into tears due to whatever horrific memories had been brought to the fore, so Erin wrapped her arms around him and held him.

"Sharing might help, honey. If you can. I'm always here for you."

"I know you are, honey. I love you."

Erin gently kissed his forehead, a tender, loving kiss. "I love you too. So much."

A/N: Will Erin be able to open up to Jay about her kinks? And will Jay be able to eventually talk about his childhood trauma?