Chapter 8

• After the tragic first meeting with Gage, Isis felt like she would rather be home with her spunky calico cat, Cello, eating pistachio ice cream from the carton. Isis looked up at the clock on the wall, seeing it was almost time for her next segment.
• Knowing she would have to return to the Justice locker room soon, she felt her stomach turn. Picking herself from the floor, dusting off her outfit, ready to take on round two with her tormentor.
• The colorful girl from earlier that evening came over, sucking on a lollipop. She quickly realized it was the same girl Gage was harassing when she arrived.
• “Sweetheart, are you okay? He’s normally not like that. He’s being an asshole. Gage is my friend, but he has had a stick up his butt lately.”
• Isis looked at the girl, clearing the tears from her cheek. “I’m fine. Where is the lady’s dressing room, please? I need to change and fix my makeup.”
• One of Isis’s favorite wrestlers was standing before her. The perky girl dressed in candy-inspired rave wear.
• Candy motioned for her to follow. “Hi. I’m Candace. You can call me Candy. I’m sort of the new girl here too. Some guys here can be real creeps, especially the faction guys. They are like a pack of rabid wolves when the guys team up together. I have my problems with a jerk here too. Slade Logan. He’s a douchebag. Do you know who he is?”
• “Yes. Retribution faction, right?”
• “That’s him. Usually, Gage is one of the nicer ones. He’s just caught up in this new Justice persona. He was one of the few guys who helped me when I started. Unfortunately, he’s had an enormous ego since his divorce was final. I hear the bitch was a major control freak. Maybe he’s just acting out because of her. He’s not such a bad guy once you get to know him,” Candy said with a smile at Isis licking a lollipop.
• Isis couldn’t help but smile back. Candy was like a ray of sunshine.
• “Well, could have fooled me. He seems like a total dick.” Isis noted as she saw Cyrus heading her way. “Oh crap. Just what I need now. Nice to meet you, Candy. I have to go. Maybe we can chat again soon.”
• “Sure, sweet cheeks. See ya!”
• Candy skipped away as a group of men passed. Candy stuck her tongue out at the leader of the crew as he flipped her off, walking by. Isis knew that was the guy Candy had problems with. She liked the Retribution faction’s in-ring skill, but they seemed pretty cocky as a group. Wraith always warned her how egos were raging with men in this industry. Now she was seeing it first-hand.
• Cyrus reached her, looking down over her small frame. He hovered over her in anger as he tapped his foot on the floor.
• “Isis Evans. What the hell was that? I got you this job and you insult the one guy who is basically your boss. You know he is part of Davis’s chief talent coordinating team now, right? He could fire you for that stunt you pulled. Not to mention this outfit. Is this what Davis told you to wear? I’ll kick his ass,” Cyrus ranted. He was so mad he was shaking.
• “Just stop. Stop!” She broke down again and shoved his chest. “I know how I look. It’s a ballroom dance costume, you idiot. Not a fucking stripper outfit. I thought I looked pretty. Your buddy Gage made me feel like a damn whore. Not to mention calling me one. Mister Preston loved the look and even found a car to match it for my big entrance. Why didn’t you warn me that Gage was so mean?”
• She pushed him out of her way and headed to where she saw Candy enter the girls’ locker room.
• Wraith was standing just out of sight and heard Isis say Gage called her a whore. His protective side hit hard. Cyrus was always the overprotective one, but when someone messed with Wraith’s family, he only saw red.
• He went straight for the Justice locker room. It was time to show Gage that no one messed with his family.
• Reaching the door, the big man kicked it in. All the Justice crew stood up from the sudden intrusion. The dangerous monster within Wraith took over. He hit Gage straight in the face, knocking him over the leather couch of the luxury locker room. Before they could stop him, he jumped over the couch, punching Gage again and again. The other members tried desperately to pull Wraith off him, but he was too massive of a man to control.
• Once Wraith stood, Gage, looked up in horror.
• “What is going on, Wraith? What was that for?” Gage got up, rubbing his jaw.
• “That girl you just insulted and humiliated. I look out for her. I trusted your ass, and you fucking made her cry. You called my cousin a whore! What the hell were you thinking?” Wraith rubbed his hand and shook off the pain from hitting his friend in the face.
• Gage rubbed his sore jaw. “Who are you talking about, you crazy bastard?”
• “Isis, Gage! You have been such an ass to women you can’t even figure out which one you insulted? I just saw Isis in the hallway. She’s a fucking wreck. Her first day here and you treat her like that? What the hell is going on with you?”
• Wraith looked mad, and Gage knew better than to provoke him further. If he did, this would turn into an all-out brawl.
• “I was out of line. I’ll apologize, okay? But your little protege needs to learn some respect,” Gage said, annoyed but calmer.
• “Respect? Yeah. I remember that. That’s what you used to have for women before your divorce. Maybe when you get past this womanizing thing you’re into, you can give her a little of that respect you seem to know so much about. Not everyone is like Summer, Gage. It’s time you realize that.” Wraith walked out and slammed the door back shut, causing everyone in the room to jump.
• Gage looked around at the others, who were trying to avoid eye contact.
• “What the hell are you three standing around for? You should get down to the ring. Drake. Nick. You have a tag match tonight. Well. Go!”
• They quickly left the room, and Gage sat with his head in his hands. What was he becoming? He never disrespected a woman like that before. He had said things scripted on the show as a heel, but never after the cameras were off. He had never called a woman a whore. Not even his ex-wife, with all she had done to him. Those other girls on the show always knew it was for the promo work and kayfabe.
• What had he become?