Quinn takes a deep breath and sighs happily into the phone like Alice getting canned is the best news ever. “Andy says he knows now that it was probably Alice who took the money out of your apron pocket, and he wants you to know he’s sorry.”
Karma has a way of coming around and making everything right in the world. Alice is a cruel person, and I’m elated that her wicked ways caught up with her. Too bad it didn’t happen before I got fired for something she did. But, hindsight is twenty-twenty. If I hadn’t lost my job, I would never have taken Xavier up on his offer, and we wouldn’t be where we are now, working on our relationship.
“Tell him I accept his apology, but things happen for a reason. I’m happy where I’m at,” I tell her honestly.
“I’m glad things are going well for you.”
“Me too.” A thought crosses my mind. “How are things with you and Brock?”
“Well…” she giggles. “That’s actually the other thing I wanted to tell you. Brock and I are getting married.”
My mouth drops. “Oh, my! Really?”
“Yes!” she squeals. “I can’t believe it. I know it’s crazy, but I love him and I know he’s the one.”
“Wow! Have you told Aunt Dee yet?”
“Ma met him a few days ago, and she adores him. He was so sweet to Ma, Anna. I feel really lucky to have found him.”
“That’s great, Quinn.”
A short man with a buzz cut wearing a Tuesday Tension shirt approaches me and whispers, “Anna, the writers need to see you.”
I cover the receiver on the phone. “Okay.”
I move my hand. “Quinn, I have to go. We’ll talk soon.”
“Love you, Anna. Have fun with Mr. Sexy.”
I giggle and shake my head as I tell her goodbye.
I turn toward the man. “Lead the way.”
I follow behind him, unsure of what the writers could possibly want from me. It doesn’t seem like standing ringside to support Xavier requires too much guidance, but I’m sure this is just protocol. I know Xavier meets with them before every show, so I’m sure it’s nothing.
He leads me to a room and opens the door. “They’re waiting for you.”
“Thanks,” I say as I step inside.
The room has two large folding tables pushed against each other with four laptops set atop them. Three men and one woman type furiously, and I go completely unnoticed by them. I scan the rest of the room, unsure of who I’m here to see. My gaze flicks into the corner, and I take a step back.
Rex sits with a smirk on his face and pats the empty chair next to him. “Saved you a seat, Princess.”
The female writer looks up from her computer. “Hi, Anna, have a seat. We’ll be with you in just a moment.”
I do as requested, but I choose the seat on the other side of the empty one next to Rex. My entire body stiffens, every inch of me on edge. I don’t like having him so close, especially without Xavier knowing where I am.
The female writer finally spins around in her chair and faces me. She’s pretty, in that librarian kind of way, her dark hair pulled back in a low-set bun and her glasses resting low on the bridge of her nose.
The kind smile on her face relaxes me a bit. “Anna, I’m Vicky, the head writer of Tension. I wanted to meet with you to go over a couple of ideas I have for your character.”
I furrow my brow. “My character?”
“Yes, dear. Now that you’re a full-fledged member of our crew we’ve written a storyline for you. Your stage name is Anna Sweets, and you are Phenomenal X’s love girlfriend.”
I smile. I like that title. It’s fitting considering we’re official now. “Sounds good. Is that all?”
Vicky shakes her head. “You haven’t heard the best part yet. Rex approached me with an idea that will solidify the rivalry between him and Xavier. Something that will really get the fans involved.”
I readjust in my seat. Any idea of Rex’s cannot be good—especially when it involves Xavier. “So what’s the story?”
“You’re going to love this, Princess.” Rex winks at me, and my skin crawls.
“You are going to have an affair with Rex. It will drive Xavier into a jealous rage. Fans will love the intensity it brings,” Vicky says.
I shake my head. “No. No way will I agree to that.”
Vicky removes her glasses and carefully folds them before leveling her gaze on me. “You signed a contract, Anna, and this isn’t up for negotiation.”
I don’t like being backed into a corner.
“What if I refuse?”
“Then we fire you and escort you off the property. You won’t be allowed back into the vicinity at any of our shows.”
I attempt to clarify as my stomach clenches. “So, if I don’t agree to go along with this, I can no longer be backstage to support Xavier, in any manner?”
“Correct.”
I sigh and shove my hair back from my face. This will send Xavier over the edge, but what choice do I have? If I don’t go along with this, there’s no point of me being on the road with Xavier.
I hate it, but I don’t see any other way around it. Xavier will understand that it would all be an act, wouldn’t he. Wouldn’t it be worth it for me to be able to stay backstage with him?
I hope he sees it that way.
I stare at Vicky and do my best to pretend that Rex’s eyes aren’t boring into me. “I’ll do whatever you want, as long as Xavier gets to keep his job. He won’t allow all this to go down without a fight. I know him.”
Vicky smirks. “Mr. Cold doesn’t run things around here. If he tries to fight this, we’ll fire him. Everyone in this business is replaceable.”
“Including you?”
My snarky question leaves my mouth before I can stop it.
Vicky raises one perfectly manicured eyebrow. “Yes, even me. Now, if those are all the questions you have, we’re done here. Get ready. Your first kiss with Rex in the ring is tonight when he faces Xavier.”
“Fine, but it’ll be Rex’s funeral,” I say with my eyes leveled with hers.
Before I can say anything else, Vicky turns back around in her seat and begins typing again. Rex sits with a smirk on his face.
“We could practice that kiss first, if you’d like?”
He waggles his eyebrows at me, and my stomach turns.
“Dream on.”
I shove out of my chair and head for the door without a backwards glance.
Once I’m out in the hallway, I rub my forehead vigorously. How am I going to tell Xavier? He’ll lose his mind.
I head into the weight room—the one place I know I can count on finding Xavier. The man loves to push his body to the limits. Never in my life have I known a man as strong as him.
Xavier holds a bar in his hands, three large weights on each side, and his shoulders tweak up and down. I’ve learned during my time with him in here that this kind of training works his shoulders.
I sit on the bench in front of him, watching him work. After he finishes his reps, he sets the bar down and steps over it.
He plants his lips on mine. “Hey, beautiful, where were you?”
“With the writers,” I tell him honestly.
He twists his lips. “What did they want?”
I take a deep breath. “They gave me a character name.”
Xavier chuckles as he sits next to me and wipes his face with a towel. “What is it?”
I roll my eyes. “Anna Sweets.”
He laughs. “That’s fitting. Is that all they wanted?”
I shake my head and frown.
He slides his index finger under my chin and gazes into my eyes. “What did I say about frowning?”
My frown deepens. I can’t help it. I don’t want to tell him the truth, but I know I have to. It’s not like I can exactly keep this from him. “They wrote a storyline for me…and it involves a love triangle with Rex.”
“What?!” The roar in his voice is unmistakable, and I jump.
Instantly, he
’s on his feet and although I grab his wrist, attempting to calm him down, it’s no use. I see the rage building in his eyes. “Please, calm down. Is there anyway we can get out of this?”
“You told them no, right?”
My mouth instantly goes dry. “I couldn’t.”
Pain flickers across his face. “Couldn’t, or wouldn’t?”
“Xavier…how…? I didn’t…do you think I want Rex?” I ask, flabbergasted that he could ever think that about me.
“It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been used by a woman, just to get ahead around here.” The coldness in his voice is unmistakable.
“Whether you believe it or not, I mean it when I tell you that I love you. I love you so much that it kills me to even think about being away from you. That’s why I agreed. Vicky told me that if I didn’t I would be fired and banned from coming backstage with you.” My voice shakes as my emotions threaten to get the best of me.
Xavier runs his hand through his hair. “This is horse shit!”
Before I can say anything else he darts out of the room.
By the time I get to the door, the hallway is empty. I head to the right and search every single room. After about ten minutes of searching I turn around and head in the opposite direction.
Five minutes later I find myself back at the catering room. I glance inside and start to turn away when out of the corner of my eyes I spot Xavier, only he isn’t alone.
Xavier stands beside the wall while Deena leans against it. My stomach clenches as I take in their seemingly intimate stance with one another.
Deena peers over Xavier’s shoulder and notices me standing there watching. To add salt in the wound she runs her hand down his bicep.
Xavier’s eyes widen as soon as he spots me.
Before I can stop myself, I storm over there and fling Deena’s hand off of him. “Keep your filthy slut fingers off of him!”
Deena raises her hands in surrender. “I’m not fighting you. I’m with the next champion now. You can have X for all I care.”
“Then remember that, and stay the hell away from him,” I say through gritted teeth. “Leave.”
Deena’s stare meets the challenge in my eyes. Finally, she huffs and then practically runs out of the room without a fight.
I’ve never been jealous like this before. I guess I don’t share well either.
I begin backing away from him, and he reaches for me, but I quickly swat his hand away.
“Anna! Wait!”
I don’t want to hear his explanation. I know what I saw.
I storm down the hall toward the exit, but he catches my wrist and spins me to face him before I can make it outside.
“Leave me alone, Xavier!” I order.
“No,” he says sternly.
“How could you?”
Xavier catches me in his arms, halting my escape.
“Leave me alone,” I demand again and shove against his chest.
His jaw muscle flexes beneath his skin as he attempts to hide the emotion in his face. “Don’t you see that I can’t?”
“Why?” I plead.
Can’t he see I just need to get away?
I can’t deal with him…this…the entire situation.
He grips my shoulders, and his gaze locks with mine. “You’re the one, Anna. The dream I’ve always been chasing. You make me feel whole. I’m addicted to your light. Please—” There’s a noticeable break in his voice. “Please, don’t take that away from me. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You give me hope that I can be a better man, because I see myself through your eyes. Give me a chance to be that man.”
I close my eyes and allow the tears to streak down my cheeks. “You promised, no other women…just you and me.”
Thick fingers slide under my chin and tilt my face up. His magnetic blue eyes hold mine. “I didn’t break that promise. There’s no one else. I swear to God, it wasn’t what it looked like. No other woman holds me like you do. You’re it for me.”
Every fiber in my being wants to believe that what he’s saying is the truth.
“You swear?”
“On my fucking life,” he whispers. “I went to talk to Deena because I was trying to con her into asking Rex to put an end to the storyline. I won’t allow him to touch you. It’s not in me. I won’t be able to hold back.”
“I love you,” I say so softly that I barely hear my own voice.
He cradles my face in his hands and rests his forehead against mine.
“Anna…” Xavier’s warm breath falls across my lips.
The moment our lips meet everything else fades away. There’s only me and him—no one else in this entire, crazy world. Even if he can’t bring himself to tell me he loves me back yet, I know he does. I can feel it in his kiss.
And I’ll wait patiently until he’s ready.
Standing behind the curtain while Rex’s entrance music plays throughout the arena turns my stomach. I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but I know it’s not going to be good.
Xavier pours half a bottle of water over the top of his head to help keep him cool during his match. Water soaks his trademark tank top and speckles his camouflage pants.
Rex approaches us to get to the stage with a smirk on his face.
I squeeze Xavier’s hand in mine and wrap my other hand around his wrist. It won’t keep him from attacking Rex if he really wants, but I hope my presence is a reminder for him to keep a cool head because his job depends on it.
Rex grabs the back fabric, ready to head out to start the show, and says, “See you out there, Princess.”
“Screw you!” I retort.
Xavier tenses and I tighten my grip as Rex laughs and winks at us before disappearing into the arena.
My heart pounds in my chest. This is going to be worse than I thought. I have to stop this.
“Please, Xavier. Don’t go out there,” I beg.
“Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll be fine,” Xavier says with a growl.
“You’re not going out there like this. Forget what he said—he’s not worth it!” I plead with him, attempting to calm him down.
He shakes his head and water drips from the tips of his hair onto his bare shoulders. “When are you going to finally hear me? You’re everything to me. I’d trade my very soul to protect you, because you’re worth it. I’ll never let anyone hurt you, ever, and no one is going to take you away from me. No. One.”
My heart squeezes in my chest. I can’t remember the last time anyone has ever cared about me this much. He’s trying to save me, I know, but all I worry about is saving him from himself—his own self-destruction. I run my fingers along his scruffy cheek. “Please, don’t do this. Don’t throw everything away for me.”
He flexes his jaw while pure intensity shines in his blue eyes. “I have to. This ends now, Anna.”
His trademark entrance song, X Gon’ Give It To Ya, blares throughout the arena and my breath catches. Xavier’s temper is uncontrollable. Pushing him into the ring with Rex now will not end well. This could ruin everything he’s worked for. I have to try and stop him. I refuse to be the cause of his undoing.
“Please. Don’t.”
I know it’s a lame attempt, but just begging him to not do anything stupid is the only thing I can think of. It’s not like I can overpower him and force him to stay with me.
He cradles my face in his large hands. “It’s too late. The show has to go on—you know that. I want you to stay back here. I won’t be able to focus on him if I know he can get to you.”
Xavier crashes his lips to mine quickly before pulling away and heading for the black curtain to give the fans the showdown they crave. The moment he steps into the spotlight the roof on the building nearly blows off with the force of the crowd’s screams. I turn toward the monitor and stare, mesmerized by the pure determination on his face. I swallow hard as nervous energy flows through my body.
It’s like a train wreck—I shouldn’t watch, but I can’t tear
my eyes away.
He marches down the ramp and jumps up onto the platform before slipping through the ropes and into the ring. The rumble of the crowd pumps even more energy into the air. So much so even I can taste it. Xavier and Rex stare at each other from opposite corners. A chill runs down my spine as I take in Xavier’s cold expression. It’s murderous, and I really don’t like what that might mean.
They circle each other for a moment before wrapping each other up in holds. They fall to the mat grappling, and Rex says something into Xavier’s ear, but only loud enough for Xavier to hear. Xavier’s eyes grow wild, and he slips out of Rex’s hold with ease and rolls him onto his back. Xavier straddles Rex and lands a hard right punch to the side of Rex’s face.
I cover my mouth. Shit just got very real. I’ve seen enough matches to know that they never really hit each other like that in the ring. Xavier is losing it—and on national television.
I have to stop him.
Before he destroys everything he’s worked so hard for.
On the mat, putting on a show for the crowd, is really fucking hard. All I want to do is pound the ever-loving shit out of Rex. He’s run his mouth for far too long but fucking with Anna is the last fucking straw. I want nothing more than to end him. Holding back for the sake of my job is testing my sanity.
Rex wraps his arms around my neck and jerks my head toward his face and growls in my ear, “I can’t wait to find out what Anna’s sweet little pussy tastes like.”
A cloak of red covers my vision, and that’s all I can see.
I grab his shoulders and flip him onto his back, and the only thing I want to do is inflict pain. I draw my fist back and slam it into the side of Rex’s face, and he grunts in pain.
I pull back my left and hit him just as hard and follow it up with another right hook.
Rex bucks his hips, and I fall off him. Crimson flows from Rex’s nose and I stare down at my hands covered in the same slick liquid. I’ve hurt him, but it’s not enough.
I roll off the ring and force a man sitting ringside off the metal chair he’s sitting on. I grab the cold steel and toss it into the ring.
Rex pulls himself up the ropes so he can stand as I slip back into the ring. I grab the chair and as Rex turns to face me I smack him across the face with it as hard as I can. An audible crack echoes around the arena.
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