Groaning, Tania pulled the pillow up over her head in a last attempt to shut out the sun that was creeping in through the side of the curtains. She could feel the warmth and heaviness of a blanket draped over her body. Frowning, she turned to around only to find the bed empty. It seemed that sometime while she was asleep, Shane had left.

Rolling onto her back, Tania spread her arms out and sighed, she still felt tired. What she really needed was a weekend off in order to get the full rest that she needed. One weekend to simply sleep away. Head dropping to the side, she noticed her cell phone holding down a small piece of paper on the mattress beside her.

Reaching out for it, Tania sat up and propped herself against the headboard behind her. Straightening the paper, she smiled when she realized who it was from. In it, Shane stated that he had been called for an early morning meeting but that he had programmed his cell phone number onto hers so she could call him when she was ready to go.

Glancing at her phone Tania couldn’t help but laugh. He was becoming not only a total sweetheart but a bit of a romantic as well. Tossing the covers off of herself, she stood up and gave a big stretch. Hading for her suitcase, she made quick work of changing into jeans and a tank top.

All the while, her mind kept drifting back to the day before that had been, what she would consider, more than eventful. Suddenly Tania had been thrown into a world that scared her. Threatened by a superstar, befriended by another and getting into a sudden and physical relationship with the son of the owner. The man who essentially signed her pay checks.

Eyes rolling, Tania’s head turned to the door when she heard someone knocking. Like Shane couldn’t have grabbed one of the spare keys from the dresser. Rushing towards it, Tania opened the door grinning from ear to ear “Shane-”

“Shane?” Tania’s face dropped at Randy’s presence on the other side of the door. “Were you expecting him?” Randy seemed inquisitive all of a sudden.

Tania shrugged. “Yes and no.”

Randy didn’t seem to accept it. “You were.” He was able to read the disappointment on her face. “Why is he coming?”

“I’m flying out with him, remember? The job?” Randy gave a quick half nod and Tania gave a slight sigh of relief. She was more than glad that he decided to change the subject. For some reason, she didn’t really feel like explaining what was going on with Shane, more because she didn’t even really know herself.

“We need to talk.” Randy still seemed serious. “Can I come in?”

Tania held the door open for him to enter. She could sense that something was wrong. He wasn’t even really looking at her since he’d arrived. More past her… “Shouldn’t you be on a plane by now?”

“Like I said, we need to talk.” Pulling a chair out from under the small table, Randy gestured for Tania to take a seat on the bed across from him.

Almost reluctant, Tania slowly made her way over. Resting her arms on her knees, she did her best to try and judge what was going on. “What’s wrong?”

Randy sighed, still unable to bring himself to look at Tania. “You need to tell Shane you can’t take the job.”

“What?!”

Holding a hand up, Randy hoped that she would realize he wasn’t finished yet. When she didn’t say another word, he continued on. “Forget about talking to him, and forget about talking to me. Go back to your job, Tania.”

“What’s gotten into you?” She couldn’t understand the sudden change in him. Had she said something wrong, or found out about Shane? It was also possible that the Randy she had met originally was all an act to pick her up or something. “I don’t understand…”

Randy frowned and dug around in his pocket, a moment later revealing a piece of paper to Tania. Slowly, he handed it over and waited for her to inspect it herself. “Dave found it taped to the door. I’ve pulled you into a situation that you shouldn’t be in Tania, and I’m sorry.”

Looking at the note, Tania recognized that handwriting immediately. “The sweet slut will be mine. Monday is the day I will have her forget about everyone else, especially you. A woman is nothing more than a man’s possession, and I will possess her come hell or high waters.” Letting out a huff of disbelief, Tania let her head drop down. “Bastard.”

It was in hearing her last word that Randy’s head shot up, eyes watching her intently. “You know who wrote it?”

Tania nodded. “Same person who sent the roses to my room last night. The card addressed me as their ‘sweet slut’. Not the first time I’ve been called a slut either.” She wasn’t about to elaborate on the entire situation for Randy either.

“So you know who wrote this?”

“What a mess I’ve gotten myself into.” Tania reached up to rub her eyes. “Shit.”

Randy was becoming rather aggravated with her ignoring him. Reaching out, he grasped her hand and gave it a small tug. It didn’t take long for her eyes to return up to his once again. “Who wrote it?”

“Copeland.”

Anger boiled in Randy, and when he went to stand up he felt Tania tugging him right back down. “It won’t help the matter if you go after him.” She rationalized.

“Yeah, it will.” It would make him feel a hell of a lot better when he put Adam into a hospital bed somewhere. As far as Randy was concerned, it was the least the fucker deserved. “What would you rather me do?”

“Nothing.” He couldn’t really do anything if they were going to be honest about it. “When I meet back up with Shane, I’ll talk to him about it.”

“Shane?” He shook his head with disbelief. “Shane won’t give a fuck about it Tania. That’s the way it is with him: if there’s no gain there’s no reason for him to get involved.”

With a tug, Tania freed her hand from his. “You’re wrong. If I take this to Shane, he’ll do something about it.”

“Go to the police then. If you want to go to Shane, you might as well just go at discuss this with the cops.” Why she would go to Shane was just beyond him. For all Randy knew, it could have been Shane who wrote the note in the first place. Doubtful, yet still possible. “Or Vince. I don’t trust Shane to deal with this Tan.”

“Well I do. Like it or not, this ends up being my decision and not yours.” It was her that was being spoken about in the note, not Randy. She was the one being referred to as ‘property’. “If you’re right, and Shane doesn’t deal with it then I’ll go straight to the cops with it.”

“Saturday.”

Tania cocked an eyebrow. “What about Saturday?”

“If there are no more notes or gifts before Saturday you can have it your way. However, if my Saturday it’s not resolved then you will go to both Vince and the police.” It wasn’t a request, it was an order. It was a serious matter and he wasn’t about to let Tania simply brush it off as being nothing. “I’m not about to watch you get hurt.”

“And I won’t. Adam thinks he can own me, but he can’t. Not now and not ever.” Tania wouldn’t let him think such a thing, and neither would Shane. Despite what Randy thought, she knew that Shane wouldn’t let Adam get away with it. “Why didn’t you come to me with this last night?”

Randy hesitated. “Figured I’d let you sleep I guess. You looked like you needed it last night, and if I brought all this bullshit to you last night then you wouldn’t have gotten any sleep.” She had been so exhausted the night before that a couple of times she had nearly dozed off in the car. “That and I couldn’t picture you still being up at quarter to two.”

“I was.” Eyes wandering over the paper once more, Tania frowned. “Hey Rand…look at this.” Holding the paper up so he could see what she was talking about, Tania ran a finger along the bottom edge. “The paper’s been torn.”

“Huh.” Randy bit the inside of his cheek. “Look, I’ve got to catch that plane. If I miss it, then they are out a main event for tonight.”

“Guess I’ll see you tonight then?” She hoped that by then whatever had gotten into Randy would be gone. Tania preferred the Randy she had met out in the ring with Dave more than the one she was seeing at the moment.

Randy nodded, trying his best to give some sort of smile. “Of course.” Sitting up, he started to make his way over to the door. He needed to get out of the room. It came as no surprise to see Tania up almost as quick as him and following close behind. She still didn’t know how to react to the entire situation, as a joke or a threat?

Pausing with the door open, Randy turned back to Tania. “Promise me you’ll watch out for yourself.”

“Girl scouts honour..” She smiled. “Don’t worry so much about me Dad.” She added with a slight laugh.

Randy didn’t find it quite as funny. Slipping out into the hall, he was quick to make his way towards the elevators. When he was sure that Tania’s hotel room door was closed, he fished another piece of paper out from his pocket. Using his thumb to straighten it out, his eyes wandered to the tear at the top.

He had been a little shocked when Tania had caught on to the fact that something seemed to have been removed from the note. When she had believe that is was Copeland that had ripped the paper, he had felt both guilty and relieved.

It had been him who tore off the bottom section of the note. Something he had decided when walking down the hall towards her hotel room. He wanted to see how she’d react to the first part of the note before letting her know about the worst part of it.

She will have my child, I’ll ensure of it. In doing so, I’ll certify that she will always be connected to me through this life and the next…

Despite what Tania had told him, he had every intention of confronting Copeland about it. The note was stating that he’d rape her, and it was something that would only happen over Randy’s dead body. He wasn’t going to do that to her, he owed Tania at least that much for even getting her involved. He should have known better, thought about it first.

---

Wrapping her arms tight around herself, Tania walked over to the window and let her forehead. Eyes wandering over the parking lot, she felt a sudden wave of relief flood over her when she saw the limo pull up. Door opening, she watched as Shane stepped out. Impeccable timing.

Grabbing her cell phone from the bed, Tania searched until she found Shane’s number in the number list. Sending the call, she looked back out the window.

“McMahon speaking.”

“Hey.” Her voice was suddenly quiet, almost shy. “It’s Tania.”

“Sleeping Beauty has awoken.” Shane’s voice chuckled. She watched him stop moving around and lean against a concrete wall that helped contain in a flower garden.

“Look up.” When Shane did, she gave a little wave which he gladly returned. “Are you busy?”

There was a moment’s hesitation as she watched Shane glance at his watch. “I’m sure I can manage, why?”

“It’s about Adam Copeland.”

Shane’s voice suddenly sounded more serious. “What about him?”

“I think he’s threatening me.”

She watched Shane look up at her once again. “I’ll be up there in a minute.”

>>