The morning before the next house show, Holly was still trying to push back the emotions of her first time having sex. Sex with a man who she tried to convince herself was the devil incarnate. Holly had been so sick of men pushing themselves on her. She thought giving herself to someone she chose would be easy and break the stigma of losing her virginity. It wasn’t. It only left her feeling worse and more confused.
She liked Colt and hated even a minute she was feeling anything for him. They had been pushed together for weeks now, and every moment with him she wanted more. Holly was twenty-four years old and had been a virgin until she let herself lose control. Even though everyone thought she slept around before, it was all lies. She had been saving herself for someone special.
The rumors of her sleeping around were her own doing. After being bullied for so many years, and called a whore, she started making up stories of being promiscuous. It also fueled some fighting with everyone who crossed her. What started as trying to defend her smaller shy cousin, Isis, turned into Holly, becoming a target for bullying as well. It was easier for her to control what people said than listen to the lies that others made up about her.
Since Isis told her of her own sexual experiences recently, Holly was feeling like saving herself for marriage was a silly notion. Now she regretted giving herself so freely and hated what she had done to Colt. She felt empty and numb. At least when she felt numb, she felt nothing.
The only thing Holly didn’t regret from the situation was that her first time was with Colt. Secretly she had a crush on him. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Holly knew that eventually, she would have to deal with it. But not today.
***
Holly went to Davis’s office hearing voices. The door was slightly ajar, so she took a second to listen in before entering.
“Uncle Davis, has Holly broken them yet? Divide and conquer. Once Colt leaves Retribution, we can bring him to our side and make him into what we want. We need to leave Slade out of the equation for a while before he comes back from his injury. Delay his return or else Colt will just go back to listening to him. With Retribution, they both have too much control. We need to keep them apart.”
“Sam, just let me think. I know what we need to do.” Davis groaned.
“Even if Slade comes back and isn’t with Retribution, they’re still friends. This legacy contract with Slade was a bad idea. We need him as far away as possible so we can keep control of Colt and Retribution. I like Slade, and so do you, but we need Colt to team with The Alliance. Then it’s all smooth sailing from there. Changing to the no script rule has really changed the game around here. It’s like playing chess and they’re our pawns.”
Davis was trying to hush him. “Sam, keep your voice down. Holly will be here any minute. She doesn’t know the real reason we had her do this. But it’s working. I saw Colt this morning, and he just seemed like a beaten dog. Not even one smart-ass comment. He agreed to whatever I told him about tonight at the show.”
Holly knocked on the door and walked into Davis’s office. She flopped down on the chair, trying to keep calm. She was being played too, and she was not pleased.
“Holly! Come on in. How’re things going?”
“You tell me?”
Davis sat back, looking pleased. “Well, they have definitely settled down behind the scenes. I figure it’s from the ass-kicking the boys have been getting from you. That being said, I need you to back off on that a bit. Save that for when they are really out of hand.”
“You think I beat the shit out of the guys because of you? Hell no. I did that because they were being assholes.” She looked calmly at him, giving no actual change to her expressions.
“You’ve been doing great on the show too. That match with Breaker was over the top. He’s tough. He wasn’t too happy about having to fight a girl. Serves him right,” Sam gloated.
“Uh-huh.” She sat unfazed with her arms crossed.
The door flew open and Colt was standing there looking like he was ready to have a nervous breakdown.
“Davis. Get this bitch out of Retribution. I am sick of playing this game.”
Holly rolled her eyes. “Oh, here we go. The great Colt has spoken. The self-proclaimed baddest man in the game.”
“I am and don’t you forget it.” He got up in her face, pointing down at her while she sat brooding in the chair.
She mocked him in a whiny voice mimicking him. “I am. Locked and loaded, Colt 45. The Bullet. Blah blah blah.”
“SEE! That right there. She has no respect for anyone. Damn it, Holly, do you ever just hear yourself? You are a cold-hearted bitch!” Colt yelled.
Holly got up from her seat. “Call me that one more time, and I’ll knock your teeth down your throat!”
“Come on. Do it! All you know to do is fight with people. Maybe that’s why you don’t have a man. No one can put up with that smart ass mouth and your constant abuse,” Colt ranted, red-faced.
She had really hurt him, and he wanted her to feel as bad as he did.
Davis went over to separate them. “Okay, you two. I don’t need a fight right now. You two want to fight. Fine. Tonight. Title match.”
“HELL NO! I am not getting in that damn ring with her! And I’m not putting up my title to this bitch.” Colt swelled up on Davis.
“Scared, Colt? Afraid you can’t take me? You want to be the big man, then prove you’re the big man. Fight me!” Holly shoved him.
Colt tried to keep calm. He just wanted to knock her lights out, but it would be wrong of him.
Davis smirked, seeing the effect Holly had on Colt. It was like nothing he had ever seen.
“It’s done. I’m banning Retribution from ringside. Now, I suggest you both go get some rest because this will be an all-out brawl from what I suspect.”
Holly tried to keep calm, and in frustration, she just turned on her heels and walked out.