Corporate Affairs

Chapter 12

Zelina Vega was literally on the edge of her seat, watching the women's Royal Rumble match on the big flat screen TV on the wall. She was alone in her office because Bayley was in the ring and the male cartel members had gone to the locker room to prepare for their own rumble match.

Four women remained in the ring. Crucially, as far as Vega was concerned, Bayley was one of them, and the potential new Deputy General Manager of Raw was another.

"We're down to four!" Michael Cole was saying on commentary. "Bayley and Alexa Bliss from Raw, Charlotte Flair and Carmella from Smackdown. One of these women is going to Wrestlemania! Who's it going to be?"

The remaining competitors were all on their feet, and had each retreated into a corner of the ring, catching their breath before the final battle. Of the four, only Carmella was popular with the fans. Charlotte had recently turned against them, enraged by their insistence on supporting Becky Lynch in their long term rivalry.

Willing to do anything necessary to get closer to the winning post, Flair began trying to talk first Bayley and then Alexa into teaming up on Carmella. Bayley looked at Alexa, who nodded her willingness to go along with what Flair had in mind. The three allies all turned their attention to the fabulous one, and began slowly advancing towards the corner she was standing in.

Carmella didn't show any sign of intimidation, despite the seemingly impossible odds that now faced her. She appeared to be of the mindset that if she was going to go down, she would do her best to take at least one of her opponents with her. Charlotte was the one she chose to go after, rushing her and flailing away with right hands.

Flair went down under Carmella's attack, but Bayley and Alexa were on her quickly, both grabbing hold of her and dragging her across the ring. The fans booed the cowardly teaming, not that that was going to have any effect on proceedings.

Alexa punched Carmella square in the face, sending her collapsing to the mat. Bayley quickly set about stomping on her, showing absolutely no mercy. Bliss joined in, standing the other side of Carmella.

Looking pleased with what she was seeing, Charlotte got back to her feet. "Pick her up!" she ordered the other two assailants.

Alexa and Bayley complied, hauling Carmella to a standing position. Bayley had hold of her from behind, pinning her arms behind her back, rendering her helpless to defend herself against Charlotte, who was lining up a finishing blow.

Sprinting forwards, Flair delivered a big boot that nearly took Carmella's head clean off her shoulders. There was a groan of disappointment from the fans as it dawned on them that this was the end for the one person they would have liked to see win the match.

Barely had Carmella's limp body hit the mat before Alexa was picking her up again. Bayley stood back and watched while Bliss hauled Carmella to the ropes and managed to manoeuvre her up and over, depositing her outside to the floor.

While that was happening, Charlotte had seen an opportunity presenting itself. While eliminating Carmella, Alexa had her back to the other two women in the ring. Flair took advantage by running over there, grabbing both of Bliss's legs and flipping her over the top rope. She landed next to Carmella on the floor. In a matter of seconds, four competitors had become two.

For a second, Bayley appeared to consider rushing Charlotte, but thought better of it. There was a possibility it could have led to her own elimination, and Bayley was too calculating to risk that.

Turning around, Charlotte locked eyes with the former hugger. One of them was going to Wrestlemania. The other was leaving with nothing. "Me and you, Bayley! Let's see what you've got!" Flair shouted, limbering up.