A new girl in town
Chapter 70
Kayla/John
"Wow. I've never seen anyone work multiple computers at once before." John said. "That's impressive."
Kayla shrugged but didn't pause in what she was doing.
"There's only one of me, you see. And this me is expected to do practically everything. So yeah, I took drastic measures to make sure it could happen," she said.
"Why did you promise so much at once if you didn't think you could do it all?" John asked.
"I didn't. Vince gave his orders and that was that. I was the dumbass who signed the world's worst contract so I'm stuck," Kayla said.
"Did I hear you tell Vince you were working on getting to know the wrestlers for individual shows?" John asked.
"Yeah. One of my projects is launching a network. Think of it like WWE'S version of Netflix. It'll have everything: a library of past content, original programs - the works. Naturally, Vince expects me to come up with the original show ideas even though I've never done anything like that in my life. So that's where you guys come in. You know what will sell and all that so your perspective it's is a crucial piece," Kayla said.
"I might have an idea for one that would probably work." John said sounding almost embarrassed.
"Oh my god, seriously? Tell me! I have like nothing," Kayla said excitedly.
"Well." He said. "People seem to be curious about the wrestlers outside the ring. So I thought maybe rides with the wrestlers as they go from town to town. I mean the superstars the title holders. You know."
"That... is fucking brilliant! Damn. I'd watch it," Kayla said grinning.
"Glad to help." John said smiling. It was the first time she'd seen him smile since they had met.
"See, that's the kind of thing I need. Something like that would have never occurred to me," Kayla said.
"If it were all up to me, I'd make you people record stupid YouTube videos 24-7. One of the NHL teams did one ages ago for Christmas. All of the players sang "Let It Go" from Frozen. Okay, so the singing was terrible but it was hilarious and people keep watching and watching it so they did something right," she added.
"Well I doubt you'd get any of the older wrestlers to do something like that but maybe the younger ones. Or maybe you could film the Christmas party. Everyone gets pretty wasted that could be funny." John said. "Last year Big Show was doing impressions and got dared to do them in the ring. He accepted the dare and did Hulk Hogan in the ring."
Kayla laughed.
"That would be hilarious." She added. "I'd like to be here for the next one; it sounds like a must-see experience."
"Maybe you could get one of them to prank another too. That would be funny." John said. "Like an interview show where something always goes wrong."
Kayla grinned.
"Having you guys actually working on the content is definitely an integral part of this - at least it is for me. I understand that your time is already pretty taken up by your jobs but we'd be more than willing to work with that. Do you have any thoughts about who could host that kinda thing?" She said.
"Maybe someone different each show. That person gets to decide what goes wrong or at least has a say in it." John said. "Some of the shows would have to be legit so people don't expect to be pranked."
"Yeah. I think that makes the most sense. Can you text me all of that or something? Just the ideas so I can start putting them into a spreadsheet," Kayla said.
"Sure." John said. "But I'd better let you get back to work."
John pulled out his phone and began to text.
"Thanks a lot. You've seriously just saved my ass," Kayla said as she resumed working.
I didn't even notice that I'd stopped. She thought absently.
Suddenly there was a knock on Kayla's door. John was up in a heartbeat and moving toward the door.
"Woah big guy." Cena said when John jerked the door open.
"What are you doing here?" John asked.
"Just checking in with Kayla and bringing you two some food. Kayla forgets to eat half the time." Cena said.
"Yeah, I totally do. Thanks, dude. What have I missed?" Kayla said.
John backs away from the door and lets Cena enter. He hands Kayla a plate of assorted food and then much to John's surprise Cena hand's him one.
"John I didn't know what you liked so I got you a bit of a lot of things. I'll go back for more if you want." Cena said.
"Aw, you're a sweetheart. I think I'll keep you around," Kayla said teasingly.
"You'd better." Cena said laughing.
Kayla grinned.
"So I had another run-in with our favorite degenerate just now. He was quick to inform me that I'm a waste of air. Also, the rest of me should've dyed along with my face. Oh, and I'm a liar; I was never a marine; this lovely face you see before you happened some other way, I guess. Maybe Batman did it," she said rolling her eyes.
"So Hunter is still being his usual asshole self I see." Cena said laughing. "When is he going to realize you have beaten him in every exchange you two have ever had."
Kayla grinned again.
"So it's not just me? I figured I was winning but you know, that's just my perspective," she said.
"Well it looked to me like you got the better of him. I haven't seen any of your other meetings but you won that one." John said laughing.
"He's such an idiot he actually thinks he's getting to you. He's not." Cena said with a wicked smile.
Kayla smiled just as wickedly back.
"Nah, not at all. He's gonna have to try a lot harder if he wants to do that, you know? It's starting to bore me if I'm being totally honest," she said shrugging.
"I'd be careful what you ask for Kayla he might just surprise you." John said. "He ain't managed to get where he is by being stupid."
Kayla rolled her eyes dismissively.
"Seriously? What more can he really do? Try to kill me? Just let him try. I'll have his ass on the floor before he knows what's hit him," she said flippantly.
"Well if he likes his job he can't physically touch you. But he'll try anything to ruin you or get you to leave. Kane is the only person who has ever managed to survive being on Hunter's bad side. But he's still trying." John said.
Kayla nodded.
"Any clue why he hates me so much? I'm probably gonna just ask him but yeah. I mean I know I pissed him off my first day, but he was being a total douche. I couldn't just let what he said about me go unchallenged," she said looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Sorry no idea. He doesn't like to be challenged and you did it openly and have continued to do it." John said. "I don't know why he hates Kane so much either. He's hated the big guy since he tore the door off the Cage during Taker and Shawn's match. It only got worse when Kane put a second lock on the cage door during his fight with Hunter so DX couldn't save Hunter. Man did Kane do a job on him too."
Kayla grinned.
"Yeah, I've seen all that. Dude's pretty damn impressive, huh?
"As for Hunter, I'm gonna make damn sure he learns that you can't just say whatever the hell you feel like about people... especially if they're around to hear it," she said looking stubborn and resolute.
"Then you'll stay on his shit list and that means he's going to go for you every chance he gets." John said.
"Could Hunter be your stalker?" Cena asked. "I mean if he can drive you away somehow he wins right?"
"I thought about that too but I really don't think so. When I put it out there he just dismissed it completely. Said something about no body bothering to stalk me and called me batshit. He does seem to have a thing for coming up with nicknames for me, huh? Too bad they're lacking in the creative department," Kayla said with a laugh.
"I guess that probably means he's out. But who could it be if it's not him. I mean he's being very clear by going for certain people that he's trying to get to you that way." Cena said.
Kayla shrugged.
"I wish I knew as much as you do. This is driving me crazy and the stupid phone calls are giving me nothing to work with. How much longer is this idiot gonna fuck with me before he gets tired of the game or does something to raise the stakes?" She said sighing heavily.
"I think from what I've been told that he has been upping the stakes. First it was phone calls and pictures. Now he's gotten into the room where you're staying on a few occasions. He's proven he can get to you. I just wonder what his next step will be and what he'll do if he does indeed prove he can still do it." John said. "I mean with three of us on you that'll be hard as hell but nothing is impossible."
Kayla nodded.
"I'm not sure I even want to know what else he's cable capable of doing," Kayla said looking uneasily around her, as if she expected her stalker to suddenly emerge from out of the shadows.
"Truthfully if he wanted you dead he could have already done that." John said. "So he wants something else. But what I have no idea."
Kayla visibly flinched.
"Fuck me.," she said as her eyes filled with tears.
"I think he wants me... sexually," she said in a terrified whisper.
"We won't let that happen Kayla." Cena said. "NO way NO how."
Kayla shook her head then hid her face in her hands. She couldn't stop shaking and wondered absently when that had started.
"What the fuck can you do about it? What can any of you do? We haven't managed to stop him yet," she said hopelessly.
Kane/Sammy/Taker
Kane walked out of the ICU.
Taker looked up surprised and got to his feet. Sammy stood up too.
"What's happening?" Taker asked hoping it wasn't bad news.
"The doctor has thrown me out. He says until I get some food and a shower I'm not allowed back." Kane said shaking his head.
"Taker, why don't you take Kane back to the hotel to do that? I'll sit with J.J. while you two are gone." Sammy said.
"I don't want to." Kane said. "I need to be here. She needs to hear me."
"I'll talk to her I promise." Sammy said.
"You heard the Doctor. If you want to go back in you need to eat and have a shower. A couple of hours sleep wouldn't hurt you either." Taker said.
"I'm not going to sleep. I'll leave if I have to long enough to grab a bite and shower." Kane said.
"Fine." Taker said. "Let's get you out of here so you can come back quicker."
"NO fast food. Eat a proper dinner." Sammy said.
"I don't.." Kane started to say. But one look from Sammy made him stop.
J.J. gives me that look when she means business. Kane thought.
The two of them headed down the hall to the elevators, then out to Taker's SUV.
Before long they were heading to the hotel.
"So much for not sleeping. Poor guy must be exhausted." Taker muttered when Kane was out cold five minutes into the ride.
Taker pulled into the hotel parking lot and just sat there. There is no way in hell I'm going to get him upstairs. So I guess we'll be here for a bit. Taker thought with a smile.
Sammy immediately walked into the ICU and took a seat at J.J.'s side. It was still warm from Kane. She took J.J.'s hand and began talking. Nonsense mostly telling her she needed to get better and not just for Kane. That she was missing out on some cool shots. She told her about Kayla's stalker being after her still and that APA was watching after her. She said anything to keep talking. She even started telling her about the book she was writing bouncing ideas off her like she was awake and able to respond.
After almost three hours Kane snapped awake.
"Where are we? When did I fall asleep? How long have we been here?" Kane asked in rapid fire.
"We've been here around three hours. You fell asleep before we even got to the hotel. We're in the hotel parking lot." Taker replied.
"I need to get back to the hospital. J.J. she needs me." Kane said.
"NO you still have to shower and eat." Taker said opening the car door and climbing out.
"I've already wasted enough time." Kane said not getting out.
"Well I've got the keys and I need to eat and shower. You can either sit here alone or do the same." Taker said stretching stiff muscles.
"You are an asshole you know that." Kane said, sounding completely serious.
"Yes I know. Let's get going." Taker said trying not to smile.
They've been gone a while. Sammy thought. Maybe Taker got him to lie down after all. He looked exhausted.
Sammy continued trying to keep talking to J.J. Her voice was getting hoarse but she kept going. Trying to find anything to say even if it was telling stupid jokes.
Taker and Kane went back up to their rooms which Taker had made sure they wouldn't lose.
I can't believe he let me sleep knowing how important it was that I get back to J.J. Kane thought.
Getting out of the shower he had to admit he felt a little better. Maybe I did need the sleep. He decided.
Just then Kane heard knock on his door. "Must be Taker." He told himself opening the door. It was.
They headed down to the restaurant and waited to be shown to tables. It was pretty busy.
"Relax Kane you'll be back with her soon enough. You have to find a way to take care of yourself too. If you get sick or something who's going to sit with J.J.?" Taker asked.
"I didn't think of that." Kane said.
Finally they were seated and looking at the menus.
"Get something decent." Taker reminded him. "It could be a while before you eat anything but hospital cafeteria food."
"Why do you say that? Are you saying she's not going to get better." Kane asked raising his voice.
"No Kane." Taker said. "I'm saying that when she wakes up it's going to take some time for her to heal. You're going to be spending a lot of the time in the hospital with her."
"Oh." Kane said.
"I need to get back on the road." Taker said. "I can't miss any more events and I'll need to keep Vince off your ass."
"I don't know how I'm going to do it alone." Kane said quietly.