Chapter 12
Jeff was out of action for the next two weeks. I wanted to stay with him until he’s well enough, but I knew I had a job to do.I reluctantly left him the following morning feeling slightly better knowing that he’d be OK. But as for myself, I was still feeling depressed. I was called in to Mr. McMahon’s office later that day.
“Good morning, sir,” I said politely. He nodded and urged me to take a seat.
“Ann, I hear you’ve been doing a great job as of late, but, tell me, is something bothering you?” he asked kindly. I hesitated, but I might as well come clean.
“Well…I’ve been having a lot on my mind lately,” I admitted. “But it’s got nothing to do with my job, it’s just personal.” He nodded.
“Well, young lady, I think that it’s high time for you to take some time off,” Vince announced. “You look like you need it. When you’re ready, you can come back here. How’s that?” he asked. “It’ll give you time to rest and sort out whatever it is you have to.”
I smiled weakly. “Oh, that sounds wonderful, Mr. McMahon. I guess I’ve been so busy of everything else that I forgot to take care of myself,” I said gratefully. “But who’ll take over while I’m gone?”
“I’ll take care of it,” the WWF Chairman said reassuringly. “You go and enjoy yourself, OK?” I nodded as I got up.
“Thanks,” I said, shaking his hand. I walked out of the office and went straight to the hotel I was temporarily staying in. The WWF was in Los Angeles for the next two days, and then they’d be headed straight for Vancouver. I felt kind of left behind. Hopefully, I would be back in a week or two with the tour crew.
I collapsed on my hotel bed and just stared at the ceiling. Then I decided to call Elizabeth—I needed someone to talk to about this big confusion in my life. She answered the phone on the second ring.
“Liz, I’m so glad you’re home. I need to talk to you,” I said after we greeted each other.
“What’s on your mind?” she asked. “But first, how’s your new life on the road?”
I sighed. “It’s totally fantastic. We’re in LA right now and I’m taking some time off since I’ve been working myself to the bone,” I replied.
“So, what’s this problem?”
I hesitated, before answering, “It’s actually Jeff—I mean, both of us,” I stammered, feeling stupid. I could sense it was taking a bit of time for the facts to sink in.
“I don’t understand,” Liz said.
“We…we’re friends, right? See, something happened that changed it all…” my voice trailed off. There was silence on the other end of the line.
“Oh, no, don’t tell me…you guys did it?” she asked, flabbergasted.
“No, silly! We…kissed. I mean, he started it,” I answered hotly. I could feel my cheeks redden with warmth. No way was I going to ever let myself wander into that forbidden place. Not with Jeff.
I told her everything that happened that night at the beach. She was amazed.
“You’re so lucky!” she hooted. “I mean, what I’m saying is, he has feelings for you?”
“Well…I still don’t know if he does. We hardly talk anymore.” I decided not to tell her about his current condition.
“What about you? Do you have feelings for him?”
I sighed. “That’s what I’m so confused about. I mean, everything was fine and clear until that night. Now I’m still not certain of where our relationship stands,” I replied. “I don’t wanna lose his friendship, but how can I be mere friends with him anymore, now that I know what he really feels about me?”
“You told him to give you some time—I take it you haven’t found your answer?”
“No. Even if I loved him, it would put both of our professions on the line. At least for me,” I pointed out. “Liz, this job was the greatest thing that ever happened to me since I graduated from college. I can’t just blow it away by having a relationship with someone in the same industry.”
“Girl, does it say in the WWF rulebook that no one’s allowed to have intimate relationships with anyone?” Liz asked pointedly. I was silent. “Why do you care so much about rules and regulations? Or are you just afraid of actually loving him as a man who loves you, not as a friend?”
I was taken aback. She had cut right to the point. But I wasn’t about to say so. “Maybe I am,” I countered, changing my mind. “You know what happened with Ben. But even I don’t really know for sure.”
“I’m not trying to suggest anything here,” she explained, in a softer voice. “From your situation, I can see that no one can do anything about it but you alone. I’m just here for someone you can talk to. Listen, just think it through and don’t forget to listen to your heart.
“You’ve always been the logic of the two of us,” she said with a small laugh. “But you need to listen to what your heart’s telling you as well. Remember, Jeff did.”
I sighed. Liz is always that someone I could count on. “Thanks babe, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Chapter 13
Chapter 11