65

Mia quickly changed into a basic spaghetti strap black dress that tied up the back with matching heels. Leaving on her wig and stage makeup since underneath was probably a hot mess.

She first stopped by her friends who were ready to head out. She hugged the girls, thanking them for coming, and headed to the VIP table. The three men stood up to greet her. Cyrus pulled out a chair next to him, across from Davis like the charming gentleman he was. She wasn’t used to being around a man like Cyrus. Most guys she knew had no idea what chivalry was.

“I am so glad you all came. I hope you enjoyed the performance. Thank you, Mr. Preston, for agreeing to come on stage. I had so much fun.”

Davis agreed. “It was fun. You were sexy up there, but it was classy too. I like that. Cyrus said you don’t do the full striptease.”

“Oh, no, sir. This was only for the theme night. My friend up there is the real deal though. I sing mostly.” Mia’s eyes were wide with excitement at being near her IWX heroes. The thrill was radiating off her like a beacon.

Gage waved over to the server, “What ya drinking sweetheart.”

Looking at the server, Mia smiled politely. “Hmm… just orange juice, Milly. Thank you. Oh! And a basket of cheese sticks for the table, please? I’m starving,” she said to the girl.

“So, Miss Wilson. Cyrus and Gage told me you’re talented. From what I see, you sure are. Your mic skills are outstanding. I also saw some videos regarding our line of business. You’re good in the ring. You would need to work with any wrestling contact, but your skills as a manager are outstanding. I would say as good as any other manager on our roster. Past and present,” Davis stated, straightening his pristine business suit.

She looked over at Cyrus, who turned his head, afraid it would upset her he was showing the bosses the videos. She glared at him, smiling a half-smirk. He was a sly one. She never expected him to show her work to anyone.

Cyrus looked to the stage trying to not make eye contact, hoping she would be okay with this. Gage watched Cyrus’ eyes, noticing a slight tear threatening to break loose. Cyrus had a huge heart and wore it on his sleeve. It worried him this would mess things up for them.

He sighed as he realized how much his best friend cared for this woman. Cyrus had shut himself off for so long, but with Mia, he was opening up again. Everyone had noticed Cyrus’s change over the past few weeks. He was becoming the kind-hearted soul again that he always had been.

“So, Cyrus has talked to you both about me? Interesting. Thank you for the compliment, sir. That means a lot coming from you.” She nudged Cyrus playfully, seeing he looked a little tense.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized she wasn’t mad. He slowly got a big grin on his face, still trying not to look at her.

“So, tell me, Miss Wilson. Why would a talent such as yours waste it in a dive bar? Why haven’t we heard from you?” Davis sat back, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Sir. I never thought I would ever be in this position. The indie trainers said I wasn’t good enough to even try out for IXW, even as a manager. I gave up trying and did it for fun, working for small companies. I am sure that’s the videos you saw. The training center in Indiana rejected me a long time ago. Their former trainer said I was too shy in real life and they thought I wouldn’t be anything because of it. I’m far from shy. I know it’s because I didn’t look like the other girls.”

Gage chuckled. “You mean you didn’t have fake boobs and Botox? You’re hot as hell. Who cares what they think? Times are changing. We don’t want the cookie-cutter chicks at IWX anymore.”

“That’s good to hear. I guess some people get stuck in the past. When I started working as a makeup artist with the backstage staff, they only let me do that. I never even asked to get paid. I just did it to learn and to be around the ring. They let me use the ring to practice, but that was all. It’s under new ownership now, but I was afraid to try out again,” she confessed.

“Well, they have lost their edge. We have been noticing that for a while now. I don’t think they would know real talent if it slapped them in the face. Have they ever seen you do this?” Davis asked, waving to the stage.

“No, sir. For that to matter, it would have to be the promoter that works there. Sorry for saying this, but I would not give that arrogant man the satisfaction of saying he may have discovered me. He’s very rude.”

Gage took a drink and started laughing, almost spitting it out. “Just rude? He’s a dick. That’s why we don’t do business with them anymore. You don’t have to be all proper around us. We know all about him.”

Mia smiled, seeing the men were agreeing. “I tried for over a year to get them to notice me. After I opened my salon and met people at the training center here, I sort of got tied up in work and didn’t have time to train. Performing here is all the chance I get to be on stage.”

“I can tell you this. You belong on a big stage. We want you. Cyrus and Wraith want you on their team and came to me a week ago with the idea. When you and Cyrus talked about your talents, he saw something in you. If you’re up for it, I would love to sit down with you tomorrow and talk.” Davis smiled at her.

She fell back in her seat, shocked. “Are you serious? Doing what? Backstage. Makeup. Something like that?”

“No sweetie, you’re not hearing him. We want you in that ring. Manager for a revamped version of Doom.” Gage reached over and rubbed her shoulder. “You’re the talent, not the crew.”

“Cyrus? You did this?” she asked.

He looked over smiling, shaking his head yes.

“I don’t know what to say. I… I’m honored you would even consider me. But I’m so… average.” Mia looked down at her hands in her lap, fiddling with her dress. She had never said it out loud before.

Cyrus looked over at her with a frown. Taking her hand in his, he turned to face her. “Mia, look at me. You were never average. You’re my flower.”

Gage piped in, “So, Mia. What do you say? Ready to make IWX history?”

Mia looked to Cyrus and then back at Gage, increasingly getting more excited. It took a moment for it to register, but when it did, she lit up like a light bulb.

“Yes, oh my gosh. Yes! I’ll be ready. Tomorrow. Just let me know when and where. I can’t believe this is happening to me.”

She jumped up, hugging Cyrus and then to the other two. Cyrus watched proudly, letting her excitement grow.

Gage was the last to hug her. “Well, baby girl. I guess you have a date to get to. This man over here tells me he has plans with you tonight. We need to get back to the hotel and get some rest. Don’t be too hard on him. It was Colt and my idea to do this. We talked with Wraith and he thought it was a great idea too. When Cy found out, he was all on board.”

Davis and Gage headed out as Mia turned to Cyrus.

“You, Cyrus, have a lot of explaining to do. I had the kitchen cook us up something to take back to your hotel. We have a long conversation coming.” She crossed her arms, smiling with a look that said he might be in for a little trouble.

“I figured I would catch hell for this.” He put his arm over her shoulder. “Be gentle. I’m a fragile little flower.”

Mia rolled her eyes, “I call bullshit on that one. More like a weed.”

“That’s the same thing my brother says about Holly.” Cyrus laughed.