Chapter 13
Leila held her breath as Billy Gunn grabbed her by her hair and dragged her into the ring. She closed her eyes as she waited for Jeff to help her.
As scripted, Jeff was one on one with Billy Gunn with no one at ringside. Billy had gotten mad after the referee called a DQ on him, and Leila had announced it.
She felt Billy let go of her as Jeff hit him from behind with a chair. She fell to the mat and crawled out of the way as she watched Jeff hit Billy again and throw him across the mat, where Billy got up dazed and rolled out of the ring, holding onto his back as he pointed at Jeff.
Leila looked up as she watched Jeff walking towards her across the ring, his eyes burning into hers, and it seemed like the crowd was gone as he held out his hand and held her up.
She heard the crowd grow silent as Jeff pushed back a strand of the ring announcer’s dark hair, before placing his lips on hers. She wrapped her arms around him as they shared a long, passionate kiss as the audience went wild. Leila didn’t know what was louder, the roar of the audience or her pounding heart.
The crowd grew even louder as Jeff pulled away, and slowly let his hand slip out of hers, before winking at her and climbing out of the ring and walking up the ramp, only looking back once, as Mr. McMahon had said to do earlier.
Leila smiled in fake shock and surprise, as it was written in the script. She watched until Jeff disappeared behind the curtain and the WWF faded to commercial. The crowd’s cheers grew down, but she could still feel all eyes on her… and she couldn’t have been happier.
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“Hey man, great show tonight,” Adam greeted Jeff as he walked down the hallway of the hotel he was staying at.
“Thanks,” Jeff answered, slapping Adam’s hand, wanting to get away as quick as possible and find Leila.
“You’re a pretty lucky man with Leila,” Adam laughed, noticing Jeff’s anxiousness.
“We’re not together, it’s just a script, Copeland.”
“That’s not what’s being said backstage,” Adam laughed, “I heard there’s something going on, besides I saw you two at the club.”
“So what is this? Interrogate Jeff day?” Jeff asked, getting annoyed.
“Not at all,” Adam answered, sensing Jeff putting his defenses up, “I’m happy for you. There must be something in her that no one else is seeing. I’ll see you later.”
Jeff nodded as Adam walked off down the hallway and sighed. Yeah, there was something no one else was seeing. Leila was friendly around the other wrestlers, but it was all fake and professional, as far as Jeff knew, he was the only person in the federation she had actually had a friendship with.
He stepped in front of Leila’s door and knocked on it softly. He grinned as Leila opened the door wearing a black tank top and pair of flannel pants. Her face was clean and free of makeup and her hair was pulled back into a smooth, sleek ponytail. He had never seen her look more attractive.
“I was gonna ask if you wanted to go grab something to eat,” Jeff started, “but you already look ready for bed.”
“Come on in,” Leila laughed, opening the door wider and allowing him to enter.
“Tired?” Jeff questioned.
“Incredibly.”
“You feel alright Leila?” Jeff asked as he watched Leila rub the temples of her head and close her eyes.
“I just have a little headache,” Leila answered, opening her eyes, “do you want to watch a movie?”
“Sure,” Jeff nodded, eager to spend more time with her.
“Can you do me a favor first?” Leila asked.
“Sure, what?”
“My purse is on my bed, and I have a bottle of aspirin in there, can you get it while I use the bathroom?”
Jeff nodded as he watched Leila retreat to the bathroom, then walked down the short hallway into the bedroom.
He grinned as he saw it, it was something he expected from her. Her clothes were strewn all over, suitcases were opened and clothes hung half in and out and bottles and cases of makeup were gathered messily on the counter.
Seeing the black purse, he picked it up and started sorting through it, looking for the aspirin.
“Shit,” Jeff mumbled as the purse slipped out of his hand and all the contents fell onto the floor.
Kneeling down, he started putting the contents of lipstick and other things back into the purse when his hand landed on a newspaper clipping. Looking across the hallway at the closed bathroom door, he let his curiosity get the best of him as he unfolded the paper, to find an obituary.
Keith Dagoni, 23, died Wednesday, April 28, 1999 after a fatal car accident.
Jeff sighed as he realized it was just over 3 years ago, and wondered why Leila kept it in her purse as he continued to read.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he is survived by his parents Brian and Marie Dagoni. Keith Dagoni was a successful doctor in Manhattan, along with being a dedicated citizen and humanitarian. Along with his parents, he is survived by 2 siblings Michelle Thompson and Jason Dagoni and his fiancée Leila Silvano.
Jeff felt his eyes go wide and his heart jumped into his throat as he reread the last sentence.
”His fiancée Leila Silvano…”
Jeff didn’t notice the image in the doorway as he tried to get his thoughts together.
“What are you doing?!”
“Leila…” Jeff gasped standing up quickly and looking at her, still holding the obituary, “I…was…uh…”
“Where did you find that?” Leila shrieked noticing the newspaper clipping in Jeff’s hand as her eyes grew wide, “Were you snooping through my purse?”
“No, I was getting your Aspirin and this fell out,” Jeff explained, “I didn’t mean to read that!”
Leila crossed the room in 2 quick strides, grabbing the paper out of Jeff’s hand before snapping, “Give me that!”
“Leila, I am so sorry,” Jeff apologized as he watched her put the newspaper clipping in the drawer.
“So know you know,” Leila said, not turning around as she leaned on the dresser.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t…” Jeff whispered.
“Forget ever finding it,” Leila mumbled as Jeff could hear the tears in her voice.
“What happened?” Jeff asked, walking up behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders, “how?”
“I said drop it!” Leila hissed as she turned around and faced Jeff, tears glistening in her eyes.
“Lei…” Jeff started.
“Do you want to watch a movie or not?” Leila interrupted.
“No,” Jeff retorted, “I’m not in the mood anymore.”
“Then what?” Leila asked softly.
“Is that why you’re like this?” Jeff questioned.
“What?” Leila asked, walking to the other side of the room and folding some of the clothes on her bed into neat piles.
“Is that why you push people away?” Jeff continued, “You don’t want to get hurt again?”
“Shut up,” Leila hissed through clenched teeth, “you have no idea.”
“That’s it? Isn’t it?” Jeff whispered, stepping closer.
“Stop it!” Leila screamed, picking up the newly folded piles of clothes and throwing them across the room, “Stop it! Stop!!”
“Leila!” Jeff yelled, grabbing her wrists as Leila cried.
“Jeff, no…” Leila sobbed.
“Leila,” Jeff said determinedly, his eyes not letting go of her tear filled ones, “You promised you’d tell me. Now you have the perfect opportunity!”
“No Jeff,” Leila begged, “please.”
“What are you so scared of?” Jeff questioned, his heart breaking as he looked at the crying woman, “why can’t you tell me? I already know some.”
“Fine,” Leila cried, taking a deep breath, trying to control her tears, “fine Jeff, I’ll tell you everything.”
chapter 14
chapter 12
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