Alanna ended up agreeing to taking the job and her application went through. It had been a nerve-racking time.
She'd still had to go through an orientation process to know her responsibilities and how she was supposed to do them. It had hit the dirt sheets and around the locker room that she would be starting. Getting a new general manager was big news, in fact. Stephanie warned her that being a newbie, she'd have to demand respect if she was going to manage the roster.
It was something she knew was easier said than done. Hunter and Stephanie, even Vince, were counting on her to do a good job. She wanted to do a good job. It was an amazing opportunity she was very lucky to receive. It was living her childhood dream by working for WWE. Who actually got to keep that dream alive? To even have the dream come true. It was a fairy tale and for the first time in her life, she was living a fairy tale. She realized that when corporate had arranged her flight to LA for Monday right now. While she wouldn't officially start until next Monday, this was her first time learning the ropes. Plus, she wanted to see her office and meet the roster.
She'd wanted to get the chance to meet the roster personally. If she was going to be managing employees, she needed to know them on a personal level. Meeting them intimately also gave her the chance to let them know who she was. Surely that was a good way to show them she was someone to respect. She'd asked the roster to come by one by one and meet her. Nothing major happened. Handshakes and introductions. Small talk, but they had a show to prepare for, and she didn't want to keep them too long. As she was nearing the end of it, she was exhausted.
It felt like her brain had processed too much. Her face also hurt from all the smiling she did, but she felt fulfilled. While she waited for the last two members of the roster to come see her, she surveyed her surroundings. The office was nice, just like the ones she used to see on TV. And that she, Stephanie, and Rachel used to play in. She couldn't believe she was in an office, and it was hers.
While she hadn't officially started, this was already the best job she'd ever had. A smile of satisfaction formed on her lips. Amazing things were happening to her. If this was any indication, she was going to love this job. She was so busy gazing around that she didn't notice that a new person walked in and cleared his throat. She jumped, turning around as she saw Randy Orton in the doorway. One of the roster members she'd most wanted to meet. Not because he was a good guy. Anyone who'd ever watched the show knew that, but she found him interesting.
"Head in the clouds?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Just thinking. It's nice to meet you. Please sit down," she sat in her seat, holding out her hand to him, and he sat down on the other side. He took her hand, kissing it, which she hadn't expected.
She cleared her throat, pulling it back. It felt inappropriate, and she didn't need that happening on her first unofficial day. His icy blue eyes watched her as a smirk played on his lips. Something about his gaze excited and unnerved her. She needed to gain control of this quickly. He was her employee.
"When I heard we were going to have a new general manager, I didn't know you'd be this beautiful."
"That's sweet of you, but inappropriate. I'm the general manager, and I have a job to do."
"You're taking the job seriously?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"I heard you were a personal friend of the McMahon family. Particularly Stephanie's."
"What about it?"
"Nothing, it's just I'm starting to understand how you got this job over everyone else's. The locker room talks. Including the men's locker room. Word gets around and it's rumored you pretty much got handed the job. The more I listened, I learned you were a childhood friend of Stephanie's and then it started to make more sense. Not many people from the corporate level are willing to go against Stephanie."
"That isn't the only reason I got the job. I have business administration and management experience. If you'd like to see my degree, you can."
"Ha no, I don't need to see your degree. I believe you about it. But no degree can prepare you for this job. Now I've heard rumors that you grew up coming to WWE shows. But that's nothing compared to having to run the place. Let's face it, Alanna. You don't have any experience doing this job. You haven't even started yet. The only reason you got this job was because of Vince McMahon's spoiled daughter. They're way more qualified candidates for this job and you were chosen."
"Alright then. If you know all that, then so does everyone else. So I have a lot to prove."
"You do. I say that to say this. If you need help, then I'd be more, than happy to help."
"Help? How would you help? Why would you help? Why would I need your help?"
"Well, Alanna, you do need my help. More than you realize. You're going to have a tough time here, and I can help. I want to help because I know you have an uphill battle ahead of you. That makes me want to see you succeed."
"Why would you care?"
"Because you have the potential to be great and we can help each other. Your past is like a noose around your neck. It can either hinder you or help you. It would be great in helping you play the bad guy. Something I'm good at doing. And you could benefit me too. It would be nice to be friends with the boss. Which is what you're trying to be. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. We could be a great team, and I think we'd look good together, don't you?"
"You're looking out for your interests, not mine."
"My interests come first. You aren't wrong. But if I'm coming to you with a proposition, then I want to know I have something to offer up. Meaning I do consider how this is going to help you."
"If I'm working with you, then I'm the bad guy, right?"
"They might consider you a heel, but honestly? What's good or bad? Can we ever really know the definition?"
"I guess it depends."
"I like you. Sounds like you have some wits about you. I guess I should get out of here. I have a match to prepare for. I would suggest watching it while you consider my offer. I'll see you around. Nice to meet you," he smirked, standing to give her a final smirk as he walked out the door.
After counting for a few moments, she let out a sigh of relief, leaning back in her chair. That was way more intense than she'd expected. Of everyone she'd met so far, it had been nothing like that. If Stephanie had warned her about Randy before, she'd never remembered it. He was extremely handsome. Even more so up close. She hadn't expected his proposition, either.
She might not be the smartest person, but she knew when someone planned to use her. He'd admitted wanting to use her for his own benefit. She wasn't certain she believed agreeing to anything would help her career. This wasn't even her first official day and there was a lot she had to prove. Better she even considered anything like that, she needed to know more about the job.
What had she gotten herself into? Most everyone had been nice enough, but was this a big mistake? Perhaps Stephanie's generosity had finally yielded terrible results. She wanted to do a good job and hated the thought of disappointing them. It was true they trusted her, and she didn't want to betray that. To quit before she'd even given it a chance would be wrong of her.
"Excuse me?" a voice asked with a knock on her door.
Feeling a little dazed, she opened her eyes to see someone else enter the room. The last person on the roster she needed to meet. Roman Reigns and she forgot how much he'd unnerved her. On one hand, yes, he was also very handsome. Her female brain naturally picked that up. However, it was the person he reminded her of that unnerved her. A few people, if she really thought about it.
He gave her a gentle smile. One gentler than a man who looked like that had a right to give. She reminded herself who he looked like didn't mean he was exactly the same. In fact, he was clearly a lot different. Her face was feeling hot, and she was feeling faint. After Randy, she didn't think she could handle this. But it was also a part of the job. He was on her roster, and she had to meet him.
"Hi, come have a seat," she smiled, and he did so, leaning over to shake her hand.
She took it briefly, deciding if he kissed her hand, she'd pass out, then and there. He didn't, which was the appropriate thing to do. Meaning her mind didn't need to wander to inappropriate places. She had a job to do, and she needed to get her mind out of the places it was going.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Roman Reings."
"Alanna Moris general manager. Nice to meet you, too."
"So, you've been meeting the entire Raw roster today?"
"I've wanted to meet everyone. If we're going to be working together, I assumed it best to go ahead and build a proper working relationship."
"Working together. Not managing?"
"What do you mean?" she frowned.
"Your he general manger so I figured you'd be thinking more about managing the brand then working with the roster. Most general managers don't think that way," he pointed out.
"Do you think that because I got handed the job by Stephanie?"
"Did you?"
"That's what I've been told people are already saying."
"People are always saying things. Even before they've met you. Doesn't mean they're true."
"They aren't true. Well, not completely. I guess I don't want them to be true. I have some qualifications at least. I want to show I can do a good job here. I owe it to Stephanie."
"Stephanie. So, you're her friend?"
"You haven't heard that?"
"I don't listen to gossip. I've heard way more from you just now. If it comes from you, I'm going to assume it's true."
"Yeah," she smiled. "I guess I'm dumping my insecurities on you."
"No, just treating me like an equal. I think you'll do a good job here. Let your work speak for itself."
"Thanks."
"I have a match to prepare for, but it looks like we'll be seeing each other again."
"Yeah, good luck on your match."
"Thanks."
She suppressed a smile until he left the room. He likely didn't even realize how much his words had helped her.