The plane ride was unbearably long, made worse by Seth and Roman's relentless antics. Avery, thankfully, fell asleep a couple of hours in, her tiny body snuggled against my chest. But every time I tried to catch some sleep myself, Roman found new and creative ways to keep me awake—blowing in my ear, flicking bits of paper, or whispering exaggerated apologies for bumping into me.
"You're like a child," I muttered, batting his hand away when he tried to poke me again.
"You love it," Roman replied with a grin, leaning back into his seat.
Seth chuckled beside him, scrolling through his phone but occasionally joining in with little comments like, "You're too quiet; it's suspicious."
When the plane finally landed, I let out a sigh of relief. The van ride to the hotel was mercifully quiet—most of the roster had fallen asleep the moment we buckled in. I watched the city lights blur past, cradling Avery in my arms, her soft breaths lulling me into a calmer mood.
Once at the hotel, I learned I'd be sharing a room with Alicia Fox since there was an odd number of Divas on this trip. Alicia had missed the first flight, so she'd arrive later, leaving Avery and me to settle in alone.
A doorman helped me with my bags as I juggled Avery's carrier, nodding my thanks as we rode the elevator up to our floor. The room was spacious and tastefully decorated, with warm tones and plush bedding that looked like it could swallow me whole. It was only 5:56 p.m., but the two-hour flight combined with Roman's antics had drained every ounce of energy I had.
After setting our bags down, I tied my hair into a ponytail and gently lifted Avery out of her carrier. She stirred slightly but settled quickly as I laid her on the bed, surrounding her with pillows to keep her safe.
I collapsed onto the bed beside her, intending to close my eyes for just a moment.
When I jerked awake, the room was dim except for the glow of the bedside clock.
"8:45," I muttered, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Damn."
Avery was awake, staring at me with her big, curious eyes and a wide grin. She clapped her hands, giggling when I poked her cheek.
"Why didn't you wake Mommy, huh?" I teased, lifting her into my arms.
After cleaning her face and rinsing her mouth in the bathroom, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and warmed a bottle of milk for her. Even though I hated being late, there was no way I was going to the meeting unprepared.
The conference room was buzzing when I arrived, slightly out of breath.
"I'm sorry I'm late," I began, addressing the room. "I worked late last night, had no sleep on the plane, and—"
Stephanie McMahon interrupted with a kind smile. "Don't sweat it, sweetie. We understand."
I nodded, grateful for her understanding. Avery, wriggling in my arms, chose that moment to giggle and clap, drawing the room's attention.
"Everyone, this is Ciara Owens," Stephanie announced. "She'll be joining us as a ring costume designer alongside Sandra."
An elegant African-American woman sitting nearby gave me a small wave, which I returned. Avery, clearly unimpressed by introductions, climbed out of my arms and toddled over to John Cena.
"Looks like she's taken a liking to you," I said, watching as Avery poked at his face, her tiny fingers tracing his features.
"Smart kid," Cena replied with a chuckle, bouncing her gently on his knee.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Seth and Roman whispering to each other, barely suppressing their laughter. I shot them a glare, which only seemed to amuse them more.
"I want everyone to make Ciara feel at home," Stephanie continued before leaving the room.
As the meeting broke up, Naomi approached me, cooing over Avery.
"She's adorable," Naomi said, lifting Avery into her arms.
"Thank you," I replied, smiling as the other Divas gathered around to fawn over my daughter.
I jumped slightly when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning, I found Roman grinning down at me.
"Relax. It's just me," he said, clearly enjoying my reaction.
I rolled my eyes. "I can see that."
"You don't look like a costume designer," he remarked, tilting his head.
"Well, that's because you don't know me," I replied, arching a brow.
Roman studied me for a moment, his playful smirk fading. "You're a little rude, you know that?"
I shrugged. "And you're a little nosy."
Before he could respond, Dean Ambrose sauntered over, his mischievous grin lighting up his face.
"Hey, I'm Dean," he introduced, extending a hand.
"Ciara," I replied, trying to keep my excitement in check.
Dean gestured to his jeans. "I've got this rip, and I was wondering if you could stitch it up."
"Where's the rip?" I asked, eyeing his seemingly intact jeans.
Dean raised his leg and pointed to the seam.
"Right—"
I cut him off with a laugh. "How do you rip your jeans there?"
Dean turned slightly pink. "Long story."
"Bring them by Sandra's office tomorrow," I said, still laughing.
Dean nodded, his embarrassment fading as he smiled at Avery. "Is she your daughter?"
"No, I found her in the lost and found," I quipped, earning a laugh.
As the room emptied, Seth leaned back in his chair. "We're going out for lunch later. You in?"
"Sure," I replied.
"Great. But you're paying," Seth added with a grin.
"How about no?"
Dean handed Avery back to me, and I adjusted her on my hip.
"Give us your number so we can text you the details," Seth said.
"You have Alicia's number, right?" I countered.
They nodded.
"Then she can pass the message along," I said with a smirk, walking out before they could argue.
