Another Sunday, another visit to Hank and Mandy's house. Three weeks had gone by since the last visit. Erin figured it was pretty obvious why this invite had been made. Almost certainly, her dad had everything finalised to sign over the WWE stocks that he had promised her. The giveaway was the fact that he had called a board meeting for the following morning. It was an exciting time, but also a nervous one. She really was about to take charge of a multi-billion dollar company. That brought a lot of pressure with it.
First things first though, Erin thought as she parked up out front of her dad's house. There was a meal to get through with Mandy. Erin had resolved herself to try and get over her dislike of the woman and see if they could get along after all. It seemed Mandy wasn't going anywhere, and a state of perpetual hostility was not going to help anyone, including Erin. She didn't need the stress of it. Neither did Jay. Erin well knew that he didn't like to see her being confrontational.
"You seem nervous," Jay observed as they both got out of the car.
"I am a bit," she admitted, shivering as the cold December air cut into her. "Taking over is pretty daunting. Shit, it's cold. Let's get inside, quick."
"I hear you," Jay said, swiftly walking with her towards the front door. He no longer had his arm in a sling as of a few days ago, when he had received positive news on his recovery from the elbow surgery. The injury was healing as well as could have been hoped, putting him on track to return to wrestling by the end of January.
Erin rang the doorbell, hoping it would be opened fast. She readied herself for the possibility of Mandy being the one to answer.
Jay stepped up behind her and put his hands into the pockets of her leather jacket, pulling her close to him and kissing the side of her neck. It made her tingle with excitement.
"You don't fool me, you know?" he whispered into her ear. "You love this time of year because you can wear gloves all the time and no one thinks anything of it. Those are very sexy ones too."
Just having him mention her wearing gloves turned her on big time, and right before the door opened. She was incredibly frustrated, which she could tell had been his intention. He probably wanted sex when they got home. Waiting that long was the only problem Erin had with the idea.
Indeed it was Mandy who had opened the door. She smiled pleasantly, but Erin could tell she was wary of her. That made her feel bad about herself, so she made sure to smile back and be nice.
"Hey, Erin. Jay. How are you? Come in."
"Hello, Mandy," Erin said as she led Jay into the house. "We're doing well, thank you. How are you?"
"I'm good," Mandy said, immediately upbeat thanks to Erin's positive attitude. "Been looking forward to hosting again."
Erin wondered how true that was, but she said nothing as Jay exchanged his own greeting with Mandy. Erin focused her attention on taking her shiny black leather gloves off, wishing she could keep them on, ideally in a bedroom with Jay. They were fine, expensive Italian leather, no expenses spared. To her, they looked and felt incredible.
"Nice gloves, Erin. I'd like to get some like that myself," Mandy as she walked by, heading for the kitchen. "Hank! Erin and Jay are here!"
"Mandy likes your gloves too," Jay whispered, teasing her.
"Shut up!" Erin hissed back, giggling. Thankfully the thought of Mandy wearing gloves didn't turn her on the way it had with Zelina and Raquel. Being turned on by Mandy might have melted her brain. She stuffed the gloves into one of her coat pockets and tried to stop thinking about them. Hank coming down the stairs provided a welcome distraction.
"Erin! How are you?" Hank asked, approaching her and giving her a hug.
"I'm good, dad. I've missed you," she said, squeezing him tightly for a few seconds. She really meant it too. Of late, Hank hadn't been at WWE's TV shows, or in the office very often. He was clearly preparing for the next steps in his business life - building and opening a luxury gym and a spa facility with Mandy. His backstage absence at WWE's shows had started rumours about his departure from the company, with Erin rumoured to take over. The official announcement confirming those rumours would soon arrive.
"I've missed you too. Every day," Hank said. He sounded a bit sad, which was very unlike him.
"You sure you're okay?" Erin asked him, studying him carefully.
"I'm okay. It's just that life is changing a lot. You're going to be running WWE, and you're going to do a great job. I'm proud of you. Mandy tells me it's important to tell people how you feel about them, so there you are."
Erin noticed that Mandy had escorted Jay through to the dining room or the kitchen. It was a nice touch, giving her a private moment with her dad.
"Thanks, dad," she said. "I love you very much, you know? We don't say that to each other a lot. A lot of my time has been spent thinking about his this takeover is going to effect me. I've not stopped to ask how you are?"
"There are mixed feelings," he admitted. "Being forced to walk away from my own company makes me angry. But there's also regret because it's due to my behaviour. Denying that would be foolish. You're going to hear more at the board meeting tomorrow, I'm afraid."
"Oh, dad," Erin groaned, getting a sinking feeling in her stomach. "What more can there be?"
"About fifteen years ago, one of the women had her contract coming up. She was desperate to keep her job. I had her fly with on the jet back to New York, and, well, she gave me oral sex and I gave her a contract. She left the company a year or so later and made noises about suing, so I had her paid off. She signed a non-disclosure agreement. Since Bischoff's been raking through where company funds have been used, he'll np doubt have found it."
Erin stood there with her eyes closed, feeling appalled and disgusted. "Why? Why would you behave like that? What's wrong with you?"
"I've been lonely for a lot of my life, since your mom died. I thought we'd be together forever. Never got over it really."
"That does mean you get to sexually harass employees, damn it!"
"I know," was all Hank said, looking ashamed at having to have this conversation with his daughter, as well he should. "What has happened has happened. I didn't want you being hit with it in the boardroom tomorrow."
"Gee, thanks," Erin said in a withering tone. Part of her wanted to tell Jay they were leaving, but she just couldn't. Yes, she was disgusted by her dad's behaviour, but she could never nor would ever turn her back on him. They had always been so close. For most of Erin's life, he had been all she had in the world.
Trying her hardest not to think about Hank's behaviour, Erin walked off and looked into the kitchen. Seeing only Mandy in there, she moved on to the dining room, where Jay was seated at the table. Erin sat down opposite him.
"Mandy said the food is almost ready," he reported. "We're having a roasted beef joint, roasted potatoes and veg."
"Oh a British style dinner. I should have invited Lucy Thorne. Mandy will have made an amazing job of it too. That woman can cook."
"Everything okay with your dad?" Jay asked. Hank hadn't followed Erin into the room, likely having gone into the kitchen instead. Erin didn't want to get into talking about his latest revelation.
"Yes, everything's okay. Let's just say I'll be glad when it's my company to run. For now, I'd like to avoid talking about work if at all possible."
Erin soon realised she should have known better than to think that would happen. As soon as Mandy served the meal, which was predictably delicious, Hank started talking about the board meeting that was going to happen the following morning. To Erin's relief he made no mention of the fresh allegations that he expected to come out. Instead, he talked about how the process of his stepping down and having her and Lucy appointed would work. It all seemed to be under control, she thought.
"The stocks will also be transferred to you tomorrow, Erin. So you'll own sixty per-cent of WWE."
"Right. But I'll then have to work on selling five per-cent to Lucy."
"This is delicious beef, Mandy," Jay said, obviously not comfortable with all the business talk and trying to change the subject. "It's so tender. Literally never eaten meat this good before. And the gravy just makes it perfect."
"Thank you," Mandy said with a smile.
"Sorry, guys. We shouldn't talk shop at the dinner table," Erin said. "And yes, the food is incredible, Mandy. You missed your calling not being a chef for a living."
"I did consider it," Mandy replied after finishing a mouthful of potato. "Cooking and fitness are my passions. Modelling was also an option. I have done some modelling on the side, but fitness won out as what I most wanted to do. It's worked out well for me."
"All three of you are in business. I really couldn't do it. Wouldn't want to," Jay said.
"What would you want to do, outside of wrestling?" Hank asked. Erin was pleased that her dad engaged with her fiancée. It didn't happen that often.
"Nothing, really. Wrestling is what I like to do. When I'm not on the road, I like to relax and enjoy the down time."
"What about when you finish wrestling?" Mandy asked. Early to mid forties was when most wrestlers had to retire, or at least stop wrestling regularly. For Jay, that wasn't as far away as he might have liked.
He shrugged. "I'd like to stay in the business. Maybe as a trainer, or maybe on the creative team. Luckily, I'll easily be able to ask the boss for a job."
Everyone laughed, even Hank. Then Hank's phone started ringing.
"God damn it," he growled, putting his cutlery down and taking his phone out of his pocket. "Raquel Gonzalez," he announced. "I'll call her later."
"Take it," Erin urged him. "She wouldn't call you on a Sunday if it wasn't important."
Hank sighed but answered the call. "Raquel. We're eating dinner, so if you don't mind being brief?"
"Oh, really?" he said next. "I'd better pass you over to Erin." He held the phone out to her.
Erin was confused for a moment, but then she realised there wouldn't be much point in Hank dealing with any WWE business as he was about to leave the company. She took the phone, wondering what was about to be dropped on her. The initial concern was that Raquel had injured herself. As the current WWE Women's Champion, that would be very bad news.
"Raquel, hi. Everything okay?" Erin asked.
"Hey, Erin. Why did Hank pass me to you?" Raquel asked in confusion.
"Because as of tomorrow, I'm going to be Chairwoman. Sorry I couldn't tell you sooner. So, what's up?"
"Oh. Well, congratulations. You'll do a great job, I'm sure. The reason I called is, well, I shot someone today."
A/N: Erin's big day is almost at hand, and she's already got something else to deal with. What has happened with Raquel?
