“I don’t know Steph. I don’t think I want either of them. Rocky is my idol. I love him, he’s great. But if I got involved with him, don’t you think the illusion would be ruined? He’s been on a pedestal too long. And Shane – he’s like my brother! It would feel almost incestuous!”
 
 “I guess you’re right. But come on, I can’t let you get away without having a wild affair with at least one of my gorgeous workmates!”
 
 “Don’t worry about that,” I told her. “I already have someone in mind.”
 
 “Who?”
 
 “Never you mind.”
 
 “Tell me! Who have you met already? Mark? No, not your type. And he’s married. Andrew? It better not be! Rocky? No. I know, it’s Paul, isn’t it?” I shook my head at every suggestion, knowing she wouldn’t guess.
 
 “You won’t get it. I met him while you weren’t around,” I told her.
 
 “I don’t believe you. It’s Paul, I bet!” she teased.
 
 “It’s not Paul,” I laughed.
 
 “You could be forgiven for liking him, he is hot. But he’s as good as taken in my books. Choose someone else!” she told me, ignoring my denial.
 
 “Gladly, seeing as it wasn’t him in the first place!” I said, exasperated. “He is nice, and ok, he is good looking, but I have someone else in mind.”
 
 “Fine, don’t tell me. But I’ll be watching you tonight!”
 
 “No you won’t, you’ll be watching Andrew,” I laughed.
 

 “Hello Ladies!” said a deep voice as Stephanie and I entered the party.
 
 “Sean! This is Camille,” Stephanie introduced me, after hugging the man I recognised as Val Venis.
 
“Come on Stephanie, I know that. Give me some credit as a ladies’ man!” Sean said, shaking my hand as Stephanie laughed. “Hello darling. I just like to say I love those new ads of yours. Divine, really.”
 
 “Sean’s gay,” Stephanie explained as we walked on. “It’s so ironic that he plays the character he does in the Federation.”
 
“I’m so glad Shane isn’t here,” Stephanie whispered to me as Andrew approached us. Shane had made an excuse about having to tie up some loose ends with the federation, now that his father was absent, and had urged us to go on ahead. I was secretly relieved, thankful that I might manage to have some time with Adam. As Stephanie pulled Andrew to her, kissing him openly, without having to worry about either her father or brother, I scanned the room for Adam. I didn’t see him, nor could I see the guy he hung around with, who looked similar. I did see Rocky, however, and made my way over to where he was sitting, surrounded by adoring females, who I assumed were the Godfather’s ‘ladies’ – and I use the word ‘ladies’ lightly – as I had seen them backstage with the Godfather earlier.
 
 “Camille,” he greeted me as I approached. “I’m glad to see you. Sit down.” He patted a spot next to him on the couch. The ‘ladies’ quickly made themselves scarce, as I sat down.
 
 “You were really good tonight,” I told him, crossing my legs towards him.
 
 “Thanks. But I’m getting kind of tired of using the same old material over and over. I think maybe I need a new gimmick.”
 “Really? I love your gimmick now. ‘Sing-a-long with the Rock’, am I right? It’s classic.”
 
 He nodded. “It’s not bad, but I get the feeling soon the fans will want something new. I guess I could keep most of the old stuff, but I was thinking…”
 
 “Yes?” I prompted.
 
 “Rocky! Can I freshen your drink, man?” Paul interjected, with a shaker full of some kind of interesting beverage. “And Camille. Are you having fun?” He topped up Duane’s glass, and filled one for me.
 
 “Yes, I love your house, did you build it yourself? And what is this?”
 
 “Yeah, I designed it. Great, isn’t it? I’m not quite sure what that is…a bit of this, a bit of that. I call it ‘The Pedigree’,” he slurred, slightly tipsy. I took a sip, and the liquid burned all the way down, warming me. I was used to drinking hard, but this was hard.
 
 “You’re so original,” Rocky laughed at Paul. “Now get out of here, I was about to make a business proposal to our super-friend here.” Paul nodded, smiling smuttily and wandered off in search of the ‘ladies’.
 
 “Now, as I was saying,” he continued. “I’d really love you to come and work with me in the Federation. I talked about it briefly with Vince when I heard you were coming, and he thinks it’s a great idea. I want you to become my manager/ valet.”
 
 “How did you know I was coming? No one was supposed to know,” I told him, surprised that he would be interested in me. I still hadn’t got used to the whole fame thing.
 
 “A little bird. Anyway, what do you say?”
 
 “I’d love to, it sounds like fun. But just for a little while, while I’m staying with the McMahons. I do have a life and a career to return to after this little flight of fancy is over,” I told him, sipping from my drink, becoming used to the taste.
 
 “The life of a supermodel isn’t a ‘flight of fancy?” he laughed. I giggled, realising how I sounded. It was true; I had a really fun career, if trying sometimes.
 
 “Ok, you’ve got me,” I told him.
 
“Good. So you’ll do it. Let’s have a toast,” he suggested. I nodded, then realised my glass was empty – I was drinking hard and fast, to combat nerves. In fact, I could already feel the alcohol taking effect, my head feeling light.
 
 “To us,” Rocky raised his glass.
 
 “To us,” I repeated, reaching for his glass and taking a gulp. He laughed, and swallowed the rest quickly.
 
“I’ll just go and get us some more drinks,” he said, standing up. “I’ll be right back.”
 
 “Ok,” I said casually, as I watched him leave. Inside I was ecstatic – I was going to be working with a host of gorgeous wrestlers, which included my hero, and also my new interest. Thinking of Adam, I scanned the room for him. The room was a blur of people; a sea of faces, some I knew, most I didn’t. Then I spotted him. He had his back to me, and I approached him from behind.
 
 “Adam,” I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. A stranger turned around; it wasn’t Adam.
 
 “I’m Jay,” he said tentatively. “Don’t worry, people mix us up quite often – especially from the back. It’s the hair. Camille, right?”
 
 “Oh…yes,” I was genuinely surprised at how many people knew who I was. I hadn’t been high profile for long.
 
 “Yeah, Paul was saying you’d be by tonight. I’m lucky you approached me first, otherwise I would’ve had to find some way to approach you. Even if you were looking for someone else,” he said shyly.
 
 “It’s nice to meet you,” I smiled warmly.
 
 “Likewise,” he said, becoming less timid. “So you’re looking for Adam, huh?”
 
 “Um, kind of, yes. Do you know where he is?”
 
 “Yeah, we room together. He’s back at the hotel,” Jay burst out laughing as if he had just told a joke that only he got.
 
 “Why? What’s so funny?”
 
 “The reason he stayed at home was…well, we always play practical jokes on each other…and…” he spluttered, between bursts of laughter.
 
 “What did you do?”
 
 “Let’s just say his hair is a shade of unusually bright blue,” Jay finally blurted out.
 
 “Is it permanent?”

 “Nah, course not. It’ll wash out first shower he has. I didn’t tell him that though! I sprayed it in while he was resting – we went back to the room after the show – and now he’s probably in a foul mood,” Jay laughed.
 
 “Jay! Phone for you,” Paul passed the phone to Jay, who shouted over the music.
 
“Hello? Oh hey, is it true blues’ have more fun?” Jay laughed, winking at me. Paul, who seemed to be in on the joke, was nearly crying with laughter.
 
“…Uh huh, well this makes up for the time you drew a smiley face on my forehead while I was asleep…. Don’t stress, this will wash out too! Yeah, it will. Anyway, come over – there’s someone here who wants to see you. In fact, here, talk to her,” he handed the phone to me.
 
 “Hello?” I said, my heartbeat speeding up.

 “Camille? Hey!”
 
 “Adam,” I looked at the expectant faces of Jay and Paul, who were listening in. I had to speak loudly over the music, so I couldn’t reveal anything. “You were really good in the show.”
 
“Why did you tell me to go away?” he asked.
 
“I didn’t mean it that way,” I said jovially to disguise the emotion in my voice for the benefit of anyone who might overhear. I diDn’t want this to get back to Shane.
 
 “Camille? You’re not alone, are you?” he realised from my tone of voice.
 
 “No.”
 
 “I need to see you,” he said. “Alone. Can you come over here? We’re staying at the Pan-Pacific. I’ll come and pick you up.”
 
 “I can’t, Adam,” I said, thinking of Shane, who would be arriving any minute.
 
 “We don’t have to go to my hotel room – we can go to a café or something,” he suggested.
 
 “It’s not that,” I said. “I’ve made plans with Shane.”
 
 “Oh,” he said, the disappointment in his voice cutting into my heart. “Be careful. I hope you realise what you’re dealing with. He can be nice when he wants to be, but…”
 
 “I can handle him, I’ll be fine,” I said reassuringly.
 
 “Please don’t go. At least don’t go alone, take Stephanie or something,” he pleaded.
 
 “It’ll be fine,” I told him.
 
 “I’ve heard things about Shane. He’s devious and underhanded. Please, listen to me Camille. Be careful.”
 
 “Adam. We’re just friends going out for a drink. Don’t worry.”
 
 “I will,” he said quietly.
 
 “Bye.”
 
 “Bye Camille,” he muttered, hanging up.
 
 “Camille,” I looked up from my drink to see Shane standing over me. For the past half-hour since talking to Adam I had been drinking steadily. Jay and Rocky sat on either side of me, entertaining me and introducing me to the wrestlers.
 
 “Shane,” I slurred, putting out my hand. He took it and helped me up. I swayed, and fell against him.
 
 “What have you guys been giving her?” he scowled at Duane and Jason, putting his arm around me and leading me out of the party.
 
 “But Shane, I didn’t say thank you to Paul,” I told him unsteadily. I weakly fought against him, trying to turn back. But it was futile, as his pushed me into the passenger seat of his Jaguar.
 
 “Camille, you’ve had too much to drink. I’m taking you home,” he said sternly.

 “But it’sh only…” I slurred, holding up my watch, my arm swaying.
 
 “It’s about ten to one,” he said, glancing at his Rolex.
 
 “Early!” I said. But I didn’t argue anymore, as my eyes suddenly became very heavy. I sunk down in the leather seat and closed my eyes.
 
 “Shane? Where are we?” I asked blearily. I awoke to find him carrying me into an unfamiliar building. I was dizzy, and my eyes where blurry.
 
 “It’s a friend’s apartment. He’s away, and I have a spare key. I couldn’t take you home in this condition,” he said.
 
 “I’m fine, put me down!” I demanded. He did as I asked, but I swayed and he steadied me with an arm around my waist.
 
 “Come on,” he said as we walked in, “sit down.” He guided me into the bedroom and sat me down on the bed. Then he walked into the kitchen, returning with a bottle of wine and two glasses. I lay back, my head still spinning. I started to laugh.
 
 “What?” he asked. “It’s just…this. You, me. A bed. It’s so… But really Shane, I don’t think we should… ” I started laughing harder, trying to sit up.
 
 “Camille,” he said, sitting next to me on the bed. His tone sobered me.
 
 “Mmm?” I said sitting up on my elbows. He leaned Down and kissed me gently on the lips.
 
 “Shane, don’t be stupid,” I said, pushing him away.
 
“No Camille, it’s you who’s being stupid,” he said angrily, holding me down and kissing me violently, assaulting me with his lips, his tongue. I struggled, got up. He pushed me down. I dropped to the floor, tried to crawl away. He picked me up easily and threw me on the bed, my head making contact with the headboard. It stunned me momentarily as he looked down at me, looking at me angrily. I felt the back of my head, and it was sticky, bleeding. He picked up the bottle of wine, the action causing the glasses to fall on the tiles, melodically breaking.
 
 “Fuck Camille, I’ve wanted you for god knows how long. And you want me too, damn it!” He threw the bottle at the wall on the other side of the room, and it shattered with a flood of red streaming down the previously white wall and making a puddle on the light blue rug beneath it.
 
 “No… no!” I screamed weakly as he advanced towards me. But he only hit me again, harder, across the face. As his arm followed through it hit a lamp, knocking it off the table and breaking it. The room was black. I could taste the blood in my mouth, and it trickled from one side of my mouth.
 
 “Shut up. I know you want it,” he told me venomously. He ripped open my dress savagely, and then took off his own shirt and pants, somehow managing to hold me down at the same time. He pulled down my panties and entered me roughly.
 
 “Shane, don’t,” I sobbed. “Don’t.” He ignored my pleas as he viciously raped me, violated me, assaulted, abused, forced me to endure it. When he was finished he gathered his clothing and calmly dressed.
 
 “You can stay here tonight. I’ll send someone around for you in the morning. Hopefully by then you’ll have come to your senses. We are the perfect couple, you’ll see. And don’t even think of telling anyone about this. No one will believe you anyway. And you’ll get it worse next time,” he laughed sadistically, walking away.
 
I waited until I heard the front door slam shut behind him, then curled up in a ball, sobbing. I couldn’t believe that had just happened to me. And by him. I had trusted him. Like an older brother. Trusted.
 
My thoughts swirled around my brain, until nothing made sense. Nothing made sense; there was nothing I could do. I felt so helpless. I felt so empty. I felt so betrayed. But most of all I felt dirty. Dirty dirty dirty. I staggered to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
 
As I sat with the hot water beating down on my bruised body, I knew nothing would get rid of him from me. No matter how hard I scrubbed, all the soap in the world wouldn’t remove his trace.
 
I hated him. I would get him back. But on my own. I wouldn’t tell anyone. I wasn’t a victim! I had never been a victim, I wasn’t starting now! He might be able to violate me physically, but not mentally. I didn’t want the stares, the sympathetic bullshit, everyone saying ‘Poor thing’, but thinking, ‘she asked for it, she deserved it’. No one would know. I could go back to Paris, and I wouldn’t have to see him, see anyone. Least of all Adam, who had warned me. Adam. Adam. Adam. He was the one person who might be able to make me feel alright. And the last person I would ever tell.
 
But I couldn’t run away. That would be letting him win. No, I’d stay and fight. Take my place in the Federation, by the side of the Rock. Act as if nothing has happened. But I wouldn’t put myself in a position for this to happen again. Never again.