9
It was almost time for the second show segment of the night. The locker room was tense and Gage still hadn't stopped staring at her.
Breaking the tension, the production crew hustled into the room to set up the cameras as the producer looked over to Isis.
“Wait. Did you change clothes? The other outfit was cool. Everyone loved it, even the boss. You looked like a star. Why did you change?”
She looked over at Gage with hurt in her eyes, then turned away, trying her best not to cry again.
Gage spoke up. “She’s fine. She is going to be a fashionista, right? She’ll have a lot of costume changes. Just set up the cameras.”
Isis looked up with a nod to Gage, who helped her out of the awkward conversation, even though he caused it.
The camera rolled, and they set Isis to come back into the room again, having words with Gage. She walked in, swaying her hips, and headed straight to face him.
“Well, Isis, we meet again,” Gage said, going along with the script.
“We need to talk, Mister Stone. If we plan on making this work. I have some ground rules. As I am sure you do too.”
Isis pushed back into being the queen. With the confidence of her power-driven character, a stint of courage hit her, and she went completely off-script.
“You will learn to respect me. We don’t have to like each other, but we must have some sense of respect. We can be a powerful team; you and me. I‘m here to be of service to Justice as the only woman in the group. I want to be treated like a lady. I may dress sexy, but I am, first and foremost, a lady. I am not one of your little tramps that hang around here. I ask that those women do not come into the Justice dressing room. I will be the only woman permitted in this area. Since this is where we will conduct business, I think that’s not too much to ask. What do you say?”
He agreed with caution. “Fair. I have some demands of my own. You will always be by my side unless I instruct you otherwise. You will not question me. You will do as I say when I say it. Regarding when you will get a title shot. Until you prove to me I can trust you, you won’t get that shot. You’ll work for it like any other woman here. I’ll give you… three weeks to prove yourself. Then I will decide if it is worth my time to keep you around. Don’t screw it up or you’ll be out on your ass as fast as you came.”
“Agreed.”
They shook hands, and the cameras went off.
Gage gripped her hand and pulled her close, growling, “I meant that. Don’t cross me. Until I say otherwise... I. Own. You.”
His look said it all. He truly was the wrestling version of the devil himself.
A shiver of fear came over her, realizing the man was pure evil. She knew she had to submit to Gage’s demands if she wanted to live out her dream of being a wrestler. Even more so, to become the women’s champion.
Isis shuttered from the fear he instilled in her. No one ever made her feel this way. Somehow, deep down, it made her more curious than angry. That secret part of her she wanted to hate so much consumed her mind. The driving need for submission, her darkest desire. It excited her in ways she had only dreamed about. It felt so wrong, yet so right.
***
Jacob and the men strutted into the room with a cocky swagger, as usual. Jacob was doing his job, boosting the guys up for their upcoming match. He was their hype man to a degree and played the part well.
Drake was the first to walk over to greet her. “Hey, baby girl. Been a long time. How are you? We didn’t get to talk earlier.” Looking questioningly at Gage, who was glaring at her, he asked, “Something wrong?”
“Fine. Glad to see you again, Drake.” She smiled and rushed to hug him. She didn’t even know why. Maybe it was the feeling that she wasn’t alone.
Drake smiled, hugging her back. “Welcome to the pack, short stuff.”
“Hi, I’m Nick. I saw your magazine cover. Mannnnn... girl, you are smokin’ hot! Hotter in person,” Nick chirped excitedly.
Nick, the smaller, handsome tag team wrestler, kissed her hand. His gleaming white smile and adorable dimples made Isis blush as he gave her a playful wink. He ran his hand over his short blonde hair, looking her over. Isis couldn’t help but feel weird about his comment. She never felt comfortable with compliments from anyone.
Jacob nudged Nick to stop the man from gawking at her.
“Not the time, kid. Sorry, Isis,” Jacob said. “He’s a bit much.”
“No. It’s fine. Thank you, Nick. Jacob, I don’t mind. I think you all should know more about my modeling career. Since you saw that, I’m sure you looked me up online. I worked hard to get on that magazine cover. I’m proud of it. No one ever made me feel like a whore there.”
Looking back to Gage, Isis waited to see if he picked up on the snarky comment. Quickly, he glanced up with a disapproving glare as he rummaged through his gym bag.
“They treated me like a princess, and my family and friends were incredibly supportive. Cyrus hates that the photos are so seductive, but even he was happy for me. Some people assume because I dress sexy for photo shoots or on stage that’s who I am. Honestly, I’m very modest behind the scenes. I was a dancer and model before I became a wrestler.”
She heard a slight snicker from Gage.
“I see that look. I get it all the time. No, Mister Stone. I was not a stripper. I was a real dancer. Ballet and ballroom. I was a competitor in the ballroom circuit, and I fell in love with the costumes. So, I used that experience to develop my character while wrestling. That’s where the outfits I have come from. The sexy photo shoots were something I did because I was self-conscious about my body. Truth is, I still am. It was a way for me to gain more confidence in myself. Cyrus taught me not to be ashamed of who I am.” She looked away, embarrassed by the confession. “It made me feel special.”
Nick smiled and put his arm over her shoulder. “Sweety, never be ashamed of your body. Anyone who makes you feel that way needs to take a good look at themselves. Everyone out there is talking about how amazing you looked tonight. Old Cyrus is livid his little cousin is a grown woman now, but he’ll get over it.”
Not knowing what Gage had said earlier, Nick was speaking from the heart. He was a little immature, but his kind heart made up for it. Gage looked down at the floor, trying to not seem guilty. He realized he must have made her feel embarrassed.
“Thanks, Nick. That means a lot.”
“I hope I didn’t come off too forward. I just think you’re pretty. I tend to not have a filter with beautiful women.” Nick winked at her.
She just smiled back at him shyly and nodded.
“Enough of this sappy shit. Let’s go out tonight. I need a drink and some female companionship,” Gage snapped.
Gage’s cocky attitude came back quickly when he looked up, finding Nick flirting with her. Her comments about him calling her a whore hit deep. His way of dealing with his emotions lately was being combative, and it seemed to spill over tonight. A few drinks early in the evening had only magnified it.
Jacob perked up. “Hell yes! Isis, you in? We need to welcome our new member properly.”
Isis hesitated, and Gage stood, straightening his shoulders. He walked over in front of her, crossing his arms. He was blatantly taking advantage of her weaknesses.
He found hers, and he was going to use it to his advantage.
“Well? Answer the man.”
Looking at Gage’s seductive yet controlling expression, she felt her emotions doing flip-flops. Was she turned on? Scared, even? She couldn’t understand how she was so conflicted. How was she letting this guy dominate her this way?
“Umm. Yes. I... I guess so.”
The guys grabbed their bags, heading to the showers, while Jacob went to get the Limo ready. They were known for being party boys, and even with Isis in tow; they were going to enjoy their evening.
Gage stepped closer and cupped her chin in his hand. “Good girl. You learn fast who’s the boss. Stay close tonight.”
She pulled her head away.
“Ooop! Nope. None of that now. I let you get by with that comment about people treating you like a whore. That’s one strike. Next time I won’t be so nice.”
Isis just looked at him as terror washed over her. Was this the same guy she once felt something for? That feeling she thought was love once was surely fading fast.
She didn’t understand what she had gotten herself into but would soon find out.
