Chapter 21

Halloween had passed and the weather was darker and colder. November was now here and Mina was watching the wind making the trees dance by the window of the performance centre's medical aera. She was waiting for the doctor to give her the papers clearing her for work. The news was not that bad, but she will have to live with aftereffects her whole life. She heard a knock on the door and Hunter came in. She knew he wanted to know about her decision to keep wrestling or not. She handled him the results of her exams and he read it.

- "Boss, you gave me a second chance in life with this job. I truly want to stay here in WWE." She started.

- "Great news Mina! Don't worry for that back! I will book you on easy matches and…"

- "No, Hunter" she cut him, tears filling her eyes. "I want to stay a seamstress. I can appear in storylines if you really need me. But I don't want to be in matches anymore. Liv was right, I shouldn't have been here."

- "Alright then, I have to respect your choice. But your friends are waiting for you, and they believe in you, so do I." Hunter said in a sigh before leaving.

Mina took the papers the doctor gave her and headed to the door; she heard familiar voices talking about her:

- "For sure she will be cleared" Dominik's voice said. "Don't worry guys."

- "Yeah, the lass is built different" JD added. "I can't wait for a mixed tag team match with her."

- "Hey! Me first! The Eradicator and the Witch, how does it sound?" Rhea asked.

- "And what if she is not cleared?" Damian's voice said

- "Come on, lad! Have faith in her! She was able to beat her ex, she was able to force Liv to give up and she was able to beat the hell out of JD in trainings, she can do anything!"

All of them jumped in surprise when the door opened, and Mina went out, tears already running on her cheeks, her hand clenched on the papers. She looked at all of her friends and sobbed.

- "Mina, please, what did they say?" Damian asked anxiously.

He gulped when Mina looked at him with dull eyes and handled him the papers.

- "I'm staying here. But no more matches for me. I'm sorry to disappoint you guys, but I'm not made of the same wood as you" she said before heading to her workshop.

- "Cleared for working, training and wrestling under restrictions due to permanent aftereffects after cracked vertebras, caused by a violent shock and high pressure put on the back during a match." Damian read before closing his eyes. "Fuck! She will never forgive me for this."

- "Give it to me" Rhea said, taking the papers from him. "The patient will have to avoid any vertical shock on the damaged vertebras during six months to prevent any further spinal cord injury. Long standing activities and running might cause permanent back pain. Disturbing and not painful sensations will be felt in the back for the patient's whole life. Medical advice to reinforce back muscles." She read out loud. "Shit!"

Mina was sewing a new kilt for Drew, trying her best to keep her mind out of the doctor's papers. She would have to learn to live with a damaged back and planed on asking Seth Rollins and Randy advice on how to deal with it. While sewing the leather, she thought about Damian, not knowing if what she was feeling for him was love or hate. She has had amazing moments with him and had to admit he was good in bed, the best she had in her entire life, and she felt truly loved and protected in his arms, but the fact that he was partially responsible for her being seriously injured and having permanent aftereffects made her felt betrayed. He had been so sweet and gallant with her, so soft and caring, why did he get so serious in this match? He also never explained why he had kissed Liv in front of her twice or why he had sex with her. He just said he didn't want to and that she forced him. How couldn't he refuse? Finn did it, he had refused to do anything, so why couldn't Damian? Maybe after all he was not the good one for her. She laughed at herself for still believing in a forever someone at her age.

Once at her apartment, she proceeded to have a shower and to craft something to change her mind before going to sleep. The hot water allowed her to let go of the tension she was feeling both in her muscles and in her mind. She washed herself quickly and got out of the shower and dressed up in her Halloween themed fluffy pyjamas. She was about to open her fridge when someone knocked on the door. She groaned, closed the fridge and opened the door to find Finn and JD smiling at her, both wearing elegant suits.

- "What are you doing here guys?" she asked.

- "There is a reception at the performance centre, and you are coming with us, lass" Finn said, entering in the apartment like a storm without asking her.

- "Come on sweetie, put on a nice dress and be our special plus one" JD added, already heading to her bedroom to find a nice dress.

Mina didn't have the time to react, the boys were already looking in her wardrobe to find the perfect dress for tonight. When in the world did she authorized someone to investigate her closets? She decided to go to that party or whatever it was, a little bit of fun couldn't kill her. A bit overwhelmed by this sudden hustle, Mina looked at her pyjamas and started laughing nervously. Seeing two handsome Irish men looking at her dresses, wearing fancy suits while she was wearing fluffy black pyjamas decorated with smiling pumpkins was an awkward situation. Finn looked at her and started laughing too.

- "Nice pyjamas" he said with his usual boyish smile.

- "I like yours too" she teased him. "Let me eat a little something before I get ready. And JD, don't put your big head where you shouldn't" she said while going to her kitchen.

She grabbed a banana and started to eat it when she heard a gasp and laughs coming from her bedroom. Frowning her eyebrows, she went to find out what had surprised the boys so much and saw JD parading with her creations, while Finn was approving or not with a head sign. She kept eating her banana discretely, amused by their game. They reminded her of two children playing with their parents' clothes, thing she used to do when she was a child. She choked on her banana when JD started belly dancing with a revealing garment, making her presence known. She burst out laughing, followed by the men. Finn handed her one of the dresses he had picked, a gorgeous strapless dress, the top part being a corset embroidered with purple thread, the bottom was made of several layers of tulle, large enough to wear a crinoline.

- "What about this one?" he asked.

- "It's not finished, it's the dress I am supposed to wear if I ever get married" she said calmly, putting the dress back in the wardrobe. Not giving any attention to the reactions.

- "In that case I will gladly be your husband" JD joked before handling her another dress.

She disappeared in the bathroom for some time and came back being ready. She didn't really care about the dress she would be wearing and trusted the men to choose for her. JD and Finn had chosen a black slit dress with see-through sleeves. Mina had added one of her signature corset belts to enhance her waist and curves and attended to wearing it with square heels boots. When she asked them their opinion about her attire, their red cheeks and round eyes gave her the answer.

- "Well, I guess that will do it. Do I have the time to do my hair and make-up?"

- "Take all your time baby girl" Finn answered.

When Finn parked the car behind the performance centre, the party had already begun. The three of them entered the building, both holding Mina's arms as they walked towards the crowd of ladies in fabulous dresses and gentlemen in fancy suits. Mina felt like a stranger in that place she knew by heart; luxury and receptions were not her universe. She immediately spotted Rhea and Dom, who went to greet them. Damian came a minute later, wearing an elegant black embroidered jacket suit. He had his hair braided the way Mina liked, with long black hair extensions, his beard was perfectly trimmed, as his usual self, he was handsome. She could have sworn everything was perfect for him if it wasn't for his sad eyes and the dark circles he had tried to erase with cream. They did not have the time to exchange words, Hunter was demanding attention in the microphone.

- "Ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, we are all gathered tonight because I wanted to thank you for all the hard work you are doing for this company, without you, WWE would not be the greatest of all, so dear all, thank you." Applauses and whistles thundered in the hall. "I also wanted to greet officially all the newcomers, please, come and join me."

Five young people joined Hunter and he introduced them briefly, but Damian was not paying attention, he was just looking at Mina, gorgeous in her black slit dress, letting see one of her legs, and black boots. The belt gave her a thinner waist, making her breasts and butt pop out. There was no low cut on that dress, Mina had just replaced the fabric over her breasts by see-through fabric, making the attire revealing without being outrageous. Her long mane was tamed with claw clips, adding more volume and colour to her hair. She was wearing a light make-up, brown lipstick, a thin layer of black eyeliner and clear eye shadow. "She doesn't need any of that to be the most beautiful girl in there." He was brought back by Hunter's voice.

"Now, before letting you enjoy the party, I would like to thank a very special someone, who had worked so hard for all our events but chose to stay in the shadows. Someone who could have quit when times were difficult but chose to stay with us, someone you all know, the person who created all your outfits and happens to celebrate her birthday today… please welcome the Witch, Mina."

She blushed heavily in surprise, glancing at Finn and JD, she understood this was all set up and everyone knew. She went to stand next to Hunter, still bright red under the birthday songs. She had stopped celebrating her birthday when her parents died, as nobody was there to celebrate with her; over time she had forgotten how it felt, and it just became a normal day.

- "Mina, first of all, thank you for proving me wrong the day I hired you; I was sure you would not be able to make it; I was wrong, and you proved it to me right away and you keep proving it every day." Hunter stopped and gestured his hand; a present wrapped in red paper was brought to him. "As an apology, would you accept this gift?"

Mina took the present and opened it, her eyes widened in surprise and tears began to fill her green eyes.

- "I officially announce the creation of Witch Gear Creations, our new official partner and supplier of wrestling gears and costumes. Mina, if you accept this present, this sewing company is yours."

- "Are you firing me, Boss?" she asked out of surprise.

- "No, I'm setting you free of our creative department concerning the clothes and except if you want to leave us and create your own industry, your company is part of WWE." He laughed before hugging her.

- "Hunter I-I don't know what to say except thank you, thank you so much!" She said, tears of joy rolling on her face.

In the box were the administrative papers of her new company, some contracts with WWE that she would later have to read and sign, a metal plate with the name of the company and the first advertising campaigns. She cried of joy under the applause of the crowd around her and the music started again, announcing that the party could keep going. People started to chat, drink and dance. Her friends went to her to congratulate her and some of them even had prepared gifts for her. Rhea was the first one to hug her and give her a gift from her and Dom, it was a nice amethyst pendant shaped as a drop. Randy came up with a wrestling belt with a needle and thread design, Becky and Seth came up with a good bottle of wine, JD gifted her a T-shirt with the whole Judgment Day plus her. It was not an official t-shirt, he had it made just for her. Later in the night Finn went to her and gave her his gift, it was an electronic photo frame, changing pictures regularly. He had already filled it with all the photos they had taken together on tours or training.

- "I know how much you cherish the time we all spend together" he explained.

- "Thank you so much, bear, I love it." She answered before wrapping her arms around him and kissing his cheek.

Damian was waiting for the right moment to go to talk to Mina. Even after all this time and drinking a glass of rum, he was unable to take the first move. He had prepared a gift for her, actually, he was the one who told the others about her birthday months ago, it was her thirty-third birthday, and knowing she hadn't celebrated it since she turned twenty-five, he wanted it to be special. He had thought about asking her to marry him, but it was too soon.

- "Why don't you go to her and tell her how much you love her and that you want her back?" Dom asked

- "She will never forgive me" Damian answered. "I ruined everything again."

- "If you don't try you will never know" Rhea said. "Come on Priest, either you give your best to repair your mistake and get another chance with her, either you let her go and move on" she scolded softly.

"Move on? How is that so easy?" Breathing in deeply to find his courage, he went to Mina, who was finishing a glass of champagne. She looked at him with her big green eyes and he internally melted, she was still driving him crazy. He took the small purple box out of his pocket and gave it to her.

- "Happy birthday, Love. I don't know if you will forgive me one day, but at least be sure that this is all I feel about you." He said before taking her in his arms, allowing himself to smell her and to feel her warmth.

- "Thank you, Damian, it's beautiful" she answered, hugging him back after discovering the silver charms bracelet he had given her.

The bracelet was made of a silver chain, holding several silver charms. One of them was a clover, making her smile, another one was a heart, with a strange glass stone in it, then came a needle and spool charm. It was not her kind of jewellery, but she had to admit that all the charms were wisely chosen. When she rose her head to look at Damian, he was already gone. Why did he always had to run away from her? Why calling her Love if it was to avoid her right after? This man was confusing her.

The party went on and Mina got to have fun with most people, who were now drunk enough to start dancing. She began to follow Randy who was already dancing a nonsense of rock'n'roll, herself already half-drunk to forget about Damian. Why wouldn't he talk to her? Why did he have to disappear every time? Finn joined the dance and, his joy and smile being contagious, she let herself go to dance and moving her hips in a more provocative way when the music changed. He had discovered a new side of her, the sexy Mina, able to stand outrageously close to him for a dance. The two of them danced and drank for an hour, before Finn decided to let her sit down. He always had a tough stomach and alcohol was not getting him easily, but knew it was not Mina's case. He also needed to have a proper conversation with Damian. For sure he had seen him and Mina dancing quite provocatively and being very close tonight. He had to admit that he wanted really badly let his hands wander on her body, to kiss her neck, her jawline, her lips. No need to deny his feelings for her, he was attracted and willing to try his luck with Mina. Everything of her was appealing and calling for him, and if Damian didn't want to take his responsibility to make her happy, he will. Trying to calm down his erection after her hips rubbing against his crotch and her breath in his ears, he finally spotted his Puerto Rican friend, drinking alone in a corner of the hall.

- "Hey lad, can we talk?" Finn asked

- "Yes, we can." He said with a faint voice, not moving his head to look at Finn. "Even if I don't want to."

- "Listen, you're my friend, and it's hard to ask but, are you planning on being together again with Mina?" Finn said in one breath.

Damian looked up at him, huge dark circles surrounding his red, puffy eyes. He couldn't sleep well since they broke up, every night being shortened by nightmares. He was missing Mina so much it was near impossible for him to fall asleep again after without her warmth and sweet presence next to him. Finn already hated the question he was about to ask him.

- "I don't know. She will never forgive me. I screwed up… a lot. I don't even know if I will ever be able to make her happy again." He said without thinking, clearly already taken by the alcohol he was drinking to forget. "Because I am the worst fucking imbecile on this planet!"

- "Are you sure of that, lad?" Finn tried.

- "Yeah, I can't look at her in the eyes. I'm so fucking stupid." He said before emptying his glass of rum.

- "You know, if you weren't my friend, I would have asked her out a long time ago, but I was convinced that you were meant to each other." Finn began, observing Damian's reaction. He didn't want to hurt him, but they still needed to have this conversation. "If you don't want to make her happy, I'll try".

Damian walked away to the bar and asked for a new glass of rum he emptied right away before going back to Finn.

- "If you hurt her, I'll kill you, Finn. I just want her to be fucking happy. The fucking happier woman in this fucking world. If you hurt her, I'll make sure no one can find your fucking corpse." He said before heading through the crowd, walking hesitantly and going to Mina to tell her goodbye and hug her for the last time.

She smiled warmly at him, noticing he was completely intoxicated but not knowing that it was their last hug.