Masked Heart

Chapter Twenty One

Rain hadn't thought it was possible for her to get any bigger than she was, but as the last couple of weeks passed, she felt like she ballooned. She had to stop working because she could not get comfortable at a computer or netbook however hard she tried. Walking became difficult because the baby's head was resting between her legs and the feet were pressed into her ribs. Whatever the doctors said about it being the perfect position she was just desperate to have her baby in her arms instead of taking up what felt like her entire body. It was the day before Bret was due to arrive when her phone rang. She answered without checking the ID thinking it would be Bret.

"Hey Rainbow." She stilled , hearing Joe's nickname for her.

"Joe, hi. How are you?"

"Needing some of your advice," he replied, without preamble.

"Oh, ok," she said, smothering a sigh as she lowered herself into a chair. Helen had looked up abruptly when she heard her say Joe's name, but had then left the room to give her some privacy.

"Your writer boy has screwed up my story," he said.

"Frank? How?" she asked, surprised. She'd seen La Muerte and Rey's story continuing to progress and had been more than happy with what Frank had put together.

"He has me losing my next four matches, Rain. Four! For a character who is supposed to be evil incarnate and full of dark magic I think this is unwise. Two of my losses are to be to Chris Jericho of all people and now I have been told that Chris will then be slotted into our title picture. Why? He is not a luchadore. I find it insulting and I think the audience will too. Is there nothing you can do?"

Rain listened to him. In her heart she agreed with what he was saying but it was tough because if JR had approved it, she couldn't be running roughshod over that when officially she wasn't in work. And she didn't know what the final outcome for that story would be. She shifted uncomfortably in the chair as the baby moved.

"Have you spoken to JR?"

"I am speaking to you," he replied and she bit back an angry remark at his attitude, instead taking a deep breath before she spoke in as calm a voice as she could.

"And I am on leave. This is JR's call not mine."

"But if you were to put a word in. Please Rain. I just feel that my story will grind to a halt and where will that leave me? My dad came out and he was so proud of me. You know how difficult it has been for him to accept me coming back into wrestling. He will see this as an insult."

Rain sighed. She did understand where he was coming from and heard herself agreeing to contact JR on his behalf. As she wrapped up the call Helen came back through and Rain readied herself for some sharp words, but they didn't come.

"Sorry," she said. "He's been a lot better at keeping his distance but he's struggling with me not heading up the writing team. And I hate to say it but if what he's described is accurate I do need to see what I can do to change it."

"It's ok, honey. I understand. But please don't be working yourself now; you're so close to your time now."

"I'm gonna ring JR. See if I can clear this up and then no more work stuff I promise."

Helen nodded and vacated the room again.

"Mrs Hart, what can I do for you?" Rain took a deep breath and then told JR about Joe's phone call.

"I know you think I have been soft with him in the past JR, but on this occasion I do think he has a point. I'm all for some crossover storylines but not for the title picture."

JR was silent and she was worried she'd offended him. When he spoke though his voice was calm.

"Well this is Vince's idea. And it wouldn't be to take the belt from Rey; just the opposite. Chris would be set to lose the match and then La Muerte could be back in the picture. I'm sorry Rain but at the moment we're not sure he's over enough, even as a heel to take the belt. We want to slot him into another programme for a time, see if we can build him up a bit more. What we saw at Mania hasn't been replicated since and that is a concern. We thought he had great chemistry with Rey, but I think that may have been more to do with Rey than Joe."