Back to work for them both. They hadn't told anyone about the conversations or the ring on her finger…..yet.
Paul had her sit in at the meeting with Dwayne, Joe, Paul Heyman, and Cody.
"I want to bring in a celebrity to get new eyes on us going into this WrestleMania, Dwayne, thoughts on that", Paul asked.
"The kids like Travis Scott a lot. It would get Kardashian fans to watch and young rap fans to watch, Kamaria could you get a campaign after this segment going?"
"Give me 30 seconds to a minute of footage, my team can make it work".
"Ms. Russell, I don't mean to be rude, but what is on your finger?", Heyman asked.
"Oh this? None of your business. Now you two, we have work to do because the feud of you, Seth, and Phil needs to be addressed now that I'm back", she grinned.
"Uh huh. Ok, I'm asking. What is that rock on your finger. Remember, I'm a board member" Dwayne grinned.
"Alright, it's an engagement ring. Now if yall will excuse me, I got a meeting with Trinity and Jade".
"Congrats. Seriously", Cody said to her walking out. Joe and Heyman followed her out the doors leaving the other group to discuss scripts.
"You couldn't just tell me?"
"You want the scoop Paul, not to actually know anything as a friend".
"I mean this may be true, but nobody is missing that rock. Get used to folks asking about it".
He walked off leaving Joe with her.
"I mean Paul has a point but it's your story to tell. Don't let the old head get to you. He don't mean anything by it. He's just the work gossip".
"I wasn't ready to address it until we talked to Stephanie about it first".
"I get it. Timing aint shit sometimes. You know I know", he said patting her shoulder for support.
Back to the chaos at hand.
Friday arrived and even though it was advised for the ex Mrs. Levesque to stay away from the arena, she got there early making here way to Paul's office to talk to her ex. She deserved to know why she wasn't told first on this engagement. Deep down, she was mad at herself being this mad about Paul moving on. She moved on, why can't he?
"We need to talk", she said busting into his office area.
"Yeah, I had a feeling you where going to drive over here. Sit".
It was that same uncomfortable silence. He couldn't win for shit between these women.
"Hey so Travis said he's game…..", Kamaria said trailing off to seeing the two there.
"Shit".
"Shit is right. So neither one of you were going to tell me. I had to find out from a dirt sheet?"
"No, I was going to talk to you tonight, that was the reason for meeting up for drinks after the show", Paul said.
"I should have been the first call".
"That's reserved for parents, respectfully", Kamaria said.
"Disrespectfully, no one asked you".
"Oh so now the real Billion Dollar Princess shows her ass. Do you think he owes you a call? You sure didn't think about him when you were hiding evidence".
"ENOUGH!"
They both jumped.
"She right Steph. I don't owe you a call about anything to do with my life. It's my life. She's also right about her being on the top ten list of people to call Kamaria. Both of you are right, but the way you are both talk to each other is foul as fuck. I got a show to call. We are engaged. There I told you. This is still the mother of my kids. Both of you watch your tone with me".
Stephanie stormed out, and Kamaria stood there. Thinking about her next move.
"Do you got something else to say?"
"Not at all, sir", she said walking out.
She left and he winced at her response. It was going to be a long weekend of house shows.
Stephanie got back home seeing Bobby reading and noticed her attitude.
"How did it go?"
"He yelled at me! He truly thinks I'm being over dramatic".
"Because you are".
"What?!"
"You are. Why does he need to call you and tell you anything about his relationship. You don't tell him about ours".
"Because I don't have to".
"I don't do double standards, and I hope you don't either".
She took the book out his hands.
"Alright, why do you care if he engaged. Congrats to him and Ree. We need to focus on us. You are angry. You are mad at the position you are in. You are mad you can't control everything. That's life Stephanie. Get over it".
He took his book and left. Vaughn came down the stairs noticing her mom on the couch alone rubbing her temples.
"Bobby left?"
"Yeah".
"Why?"
"We got into it".
"Over dad's engagement?"
"How did you know?"
"We told him to do it. Just like we told you to do it. Did you tell him yet?"
"No".
"Mom. Did you go yell at dad about it?"
"Kinda".
"Mom?! Man, Aurora is gonna be pissed. Good luck with that", she said going back up the stairs.
That hypocrisy stick was beating her ass lately, and she needed to fix shit quick and soon.
Paul was making his way out the arena after the show and saw Kamaria leaving the show on the phone. He made his way to catch up with her as she was getting off the phone.
"Ree, can we talk?"
"What ya need?"
"Earlier. Listen I didn't mean to come off like that".
"But ya did. That bullshit you said in Puerto Rico meant nothing and honestly not sure this ring means anything either".
"You don't mean that".
"Honestly, I don't know what I mean anymore, but I need sleep".
"We both do".
"Well good night, I'll see you at the airport".
"Wait, you aren't riding back with me?"
Her lyft driver pulled up and she got in without saying a word. He watched her drive off and she didn't look back.
He arrived at the room and saw her stuff was gone. This was some bullshit and he was determined to solve this shit tonight.
She sat in the bar with her phone, scrolling on Tik Tok. Just a girl with a soda and her thoughts. She could drink until she was in a sloppy drunk, but why? Doesn't solve a thing. Still have the issues, still wondering how she was in the wrong. She saw shoes and of course, because why would he let her be mad.
"Stalking much?", she said not looking away from her phone.
"We are too old and been though too much for us to be where we are", Paul said sitting down.
"I thought we were, but you let me know when my team member is coming back, because that was my boss in my relationship. That shit is messy".
"I mean, you didn't need to say anything to her. She was pissed".
Kamaria sat her phone down and chuckled.
"You realize this is OUR relationship, right? You like you and I are in this. I'm not letting anybody come for you, including your ex-wife. Could I have been less snarky? Sure, but did she need to bust into your office like that?"
"I get it, I'm just trying to balance this. All of this".
"Ok Ghandi, figure this out. Did you know about her and Bobby getting engaged?"
He kinda sat there shocked at the news. She showed the announcement in the business section.
"Bobby called me earlier. This was after they called their parents, and Vince decided to flip his shit".
"Ree, I'm sorry about earlier seriously. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I'm just nervous".
"Go talk to her".
"No, she needs her family".
"You are apart of that. That's the main reason I checked into my own room. My room is in a separate building because I was pissed at you", she grinned.
"You are so petty sometimes", he grinned back.
He kissed her and left. He left her at the table. She grinned at the non-apology she gave. She refused to apologize for anything she said today. He made his way to his car. He wasn't going to drive to her place. A call was good enough.
"You saw the announcement", Steph answered.
"I did now".
"But you have the complete nerve to bust in my office and attempt to cuss me out. After I just proposed to my girlfriend. Stephanie, we are moving on, why are you being bitchy about this"?
"You told me everything first. The plans of going for this company. Any time we got scared we leaned on each other. The board meetings, everything".
"Because we WERE married. We aren't. We are great friends, still family, and parents. We aren't together. I'll say this, Bobby is a great guy, you need to build that. I'm always here, but we are divorced. We aren't obligated to call each other unless it's about the girls. Also, your dad is an asshole for the comment he made and putting you in the position you are in right now".
"That means a lot. Is Ree mad at me"?
"Yeah, but yall can talk it out. Next time text me or call me. That tantrum was un called for".
"I get it. Aurora already chewed me a new asshole earlier. Vaughn told on me after Bobby left".
"Damn, yeah you better start that apology tour. I gotta go, remember I still care, but we are walking our own paths now".
"Thanks", she said hanging up.
She was outside in the sunshine lying on the hood of her car. House shows were always more fun and less formal. It was nice taking in the sun and channeling her LA roots. Just on the hood hanging out and dreaming of what could happen.
"Got room for a friend?", Stephanie asked.
"Only if you are a friend".
She got on the hood of the car, and this was new for her. Her upbringing was different but still upper class. Who was she fooling, she was rich. Rich people don't hang out on hoods of cars out in the open.
"Just hang out with her. Get to know her. You'll see why she's my best friend".
"Listen, I'm sorry for being bitchy toward you yesterday. I'm still getting used to being the ex-wife".
"It's ok. Listen I was the sidepiece. The fact you are respecting me speaks volumes. You don't have to be, but here we are. It doesn't help you have the case".
"Between you and I, I can make it go away".
"That's great!"
"Well, not exactly. I've have to testify against my dad".
"They never wanted you. They want him".
Stephanie sat in shock. Looking away from the crimes just to be used again.
"Listen, I'm not here to tell you what to do, but I'd do whatever it took to never be away from those three beautiful humans you and Paul created. Forget the business, Bobby or me. You are a mom first. Damn what Vince says or does. You gotta channel that inner Queen you are".
"I know. It's just hard", she said with a tear sliding down her face.
"Honey, nothing worth saving is, including your freedom".
"How do you hold this shit together".
"Private therapy three times a week, or I would have lost my shit by now", she said handing her an orange Faygo can.
"Oh no, I gotta watch my diet".
"Heffa, drink the soda".
"Paul doesn't care about you drinking that?"
"He doesn't control what I eat. Does Bobby?"
"No, and it's been a relief. Gawd, a damn relief, I'm not going bonkers or anything but geez", she grinned drinking her soda.
"I stay in shape. I eat healthily but I'll be damned I can't enjoy common food. Let me live!" she said cheers to Stephanie's can.
He was outside talking to Paul and Joe and looking over seeing Stephanie walk up.
"You aren't worried?", Heyman asked.
"No. They need to talk".
"Ya girl is on a hood of a car tho", Joe joked.
"Yeah. Her LA habits tend to come out when she needs to think or when she daydreams".
"Ahh. I get it".
"So, you two are good?", Heyman asked.
"I'm gonna take my girl's approach and say that is none of your business. Gentleman", he shook their hands and walked off.
Now, even with his ex-boss in trouble, everything felt right.