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.”