The two watched in a terrified amazement as Roman laid waste to the Irishmen he just had trouble beating the Sunday before. If Jey hadn’t known any better, he’d believe that Roman didn’t need him by his side at all. But Jey knew better, thanks to Daisy. She’d spilled to him that after the scene with him and Roman in the hallway, Roman had met up with Chyrsanthemum; the only logical reason why Roman put himself in this match.

Whatever heel Chrysanthemum had kicked up Roman’s ass must have been bugging him the entire weekend, because there was blood in his cousin’s eyes. Malice, hate, rage; emotions that had made themselves at home in the heart of the Chief.

“Wow... that was intense.”

Daisy was the first to speak once the bell rang and the match was over. She glanced over at Jey, but his eyes stayed glued to the TV, face devoid of any emotion. Uce would never admit this to anyone (mostly out of fear of being castrated) but everytime he saw his cousin’s arm get raised in the ring, holding up that Universal Championship, it made his blood boil. His fists would clench if no one was looking, and his stomach became heavy with disdain. Call him bitter, but it made Jey sick watching his cousin tote that title around. He didn’t deserve it. For the immoral actions and decisions he’s made to claim that championship, he didn’t deserve it.

“Hey Jey...are you okay?”

Daisy, still in the highest of moods as always, giggled at her little rhyme as she poked Jey on the shoulder. Almost immediately she retracted her finger when she felt the tenseness in his muscles, realizing he was indeed anything but okay.

“Talk to me please?”

Finally Jey huffed out a sigh of pure annoyance and took Daisy’s hand in his, assuring her that he wasn’t mad with her.

“It ain’t fair D. And I ain’t one to hate on the next man because he’s doing better, but this I just can’t take. The man walked in on a championship match, signed a contract and was just able to take the title just like that.”

Daisy nodded, squeezing his warm hand and resting it between her folded legs.

“And then he sees me trying to come up, trying to make a name for my family, and he threatens to kick me out like he runs shit. And then he chokes out my brother in front of me just to prove it. He ain’t never loved no one for real. Just himself and all the money in his pocket.”

After his spiel Jey went silent again, eyes focused back on the TV right as the post-replays ended. Daisy watched his angry features silently, and wondered what it would take for Jey to challenge his cousin again. She wondered if it could be her.

On the opposite side of the states, the tired champion waltzed back into the gorilla with his chest high and puffed to the ceiling, only to find that Chrysanthemum had disappeared. Not just from her position behind the monitor, but she’d vanished from the arena completely. He couldn’t find her anywhere backstage, she wasn’t doing any interviews, and soon Roman had to come to terms with the fact that she’d up and left sometime during his match.

Anger and annoyance set in as the Tribal Chief realized he’d just got played. Alone in his locker room, he couldn’t help feeling just the slightest bit stupid; everyone in their right mind had told him not to take this match tonight and his stubborn ego had allowed his boss to make a mockery of him, make him look like he needed this match. All these thoughts in his head nearly pushed him to snap, and he considered going to Twitter to address her publicly, but after taking too long to think about it he decided not to.

After all, Roman knew that all this anger really stemmed from disappointment. He hadn’t taken this match to actually prove to her that Drew was nowhere near matched for him, he knew that already. Roman had taken this match simply because she’d asked him too. Those full pink lips and butter voice could’ve asked him anything and he would’ve nodded in agreement. He was completely sprung for his boss, and it scared him a little knowing she might just know that too.

That next morning however, he did find her. Sitting at the far end of the breakfast suite at their hotel, he might say dreamingly looking out the large windows as carved into a bowl of oatmeal and berries. He simply couldn’t resist.

“Good morning boss lady.”

Chrysanthemum grinned but didn’t avert her gaze from the window, she knew he’d find her, she’d counted on it actually. She was too proud to do it herself, and jetting on him after his match would’ve given him the perfect reason.

“Champ...good morning. You’re welcome to join me if you’re here alone.”

The small butterflies in his stomach did not go unnoticed to the Chief as she pushed out the opposite chair with her foot, her brown eyes finally meeting his as they glazed in the sunlight.

“Will you ever refer to me as Tribal Chief? It’s kinda my new moniker now if you haven’t noticed.”

Roman returned to her circled table with a breakfast way bigger than hers, Chrysanthemum noted this and giggled to herself. A big man had to eat, but damn. She could only imagine what he could do with all that energy in the morning.

“Yes, I’ve noticed. Let’s start by calling me my real name first though Roman.”

A rosy blush creeped into his caramel cheeks, he had to pull his gaze away from hers for a moment as he admitted,

“I’m not really sure how to say it.”

If at any moment in time Chrysanthemum had felt herself falling for Roman, even a teensy little bit, this was the first occurrence. She felt her entire body soften, following the actions of her heart, and she couldn’t help but look at him and smile.

See it wasn’t money that got to Chrysanthemum, she had that already. It wasn’t fame, cars, houses; she had all that too. It was humility that really had the magic touch of her heart, and seeing a man dare say as cocky as Roman become shy because he couldn’t pronounce a name, her name, gave her that little buzzing feeling.

She hadn’t felt that in a while.

“Have you seen a Chrysanthemum before?”

Roman shook his head no. Chrysanthemum nearly took out her phone and showed him, but she thought against it. A better idea sprung into her head, and if Roman was the man she believed he could be, she’d show it to him one day.

“Well they’re the most prettiest flowers, they have hundreds of petals and if you’re the right type of person, you’ll notice them as soon as you see them.

In his head, Roman hoped he was the right type of person.

Midway though their breakfast a fan stopped by Roman to take a picture, and before he left he congratulated him on defeating Drew McIntyre last night. Once the fan left Roman shot a playful glare towards his boss, not averting his gaze until she was forced to look up from her phone and acknowledged him.

“Well?”

Chrysanthemum feigned confusion.

“Well what?”

“Did you not like what you saw last night?”

Chrysanthemum leaned over onto her folded arms, a half smile on her lips let him now she wasn’t angry, but her face let him know she was serious.

“I loved what I saw from you last night, but I won’t congratulate you for it because it wasn’t a test, it was punishment.”

Roman’s eyebrow arched, slightly taken aback by her confession. All the playfulness had dropped from his features too.

“What you did to Drew last night, I knew you could do. You knew you could do. I didn’t need to see you rip Drew apart to know you were better than him, that’s why you’re on my show. However, you did Smackdown a great disservice with how you handled him at Survivor Series. I can live with my entire roster losing, it means they were bested by the competition. But, when you have to cheat in order to beat them, that means the competition is better than you.”

Chrysanthemum leaned in even closer, wary of the people who might be listening. Her intentions were not to embarrass him, but to teach her champ a i lesson.

“I don’t care what you do on Smackdown; your cousin, Heyman, you do what you need to stay on top ‘til Wrestlemania, because you will be Smackdown’s champion going into Wrestlemania. But if you ever embarrass yourself or me in front of that B-list show again, it will be the last thing you do as champion. You follow?”

Roman was shocked. Floored even. Only his mother had ever been able to put him in his place like this before, and even that lessened after a certain age. What scared him a little, is Chrysanthemum never flinched, never stuttered, and her eyes never left his. She was 1000% percent serious, and there wasn’t a single comeback Roman could think of that could possibly one-up hers.

Mostly because she was absolutely right.

Then suddenly, her body visibly softened again. The firmness erased itself from her gorgeous features, her chest fell, and her half smile grew into a full one. She probably didn’t feel it, but all 265 pounds of the Samoan jumped when her palm rested calmly on his forearm. It felt like electricity was spreading from her touch and he prayed she felt it too. With her eyes now kind and gentle, she spoke again.

“I promise I’m on your team okay? I believe in you just like I do everyone on my roster. Of all the shit talk and strife I get from everyone else, I hope you’re the one that understands.”

That small ounce of vulnerability did wonders for Roman. It felt like he was peering into her soul, and he could tell it was not something she allowed often if at all. It made the Samoan feel...special. Special to her, and that was at least a start.

The same electricity Roman felt seconds ago raced through Chrysanthemum now as his larger hand covered hers. His full lips curving up into a smile made her swoon secretly, and she hoped her blushing wasn’t too obvious.

“I see you crystal clear baby girl.

Roman’s blood ran cold in a split second as the last part slipped out; but Chrysanthemum didn’t mind. It was unprofessional yes, but the way it made her feel trumped professionalism right now.

“If you would like, you can call me Chrysa. That’s strictly a family and close friend nickname, so don’t use it in public. Especially at work. Stick to boss lady.”

Roman smirked, secretly hoping “don’t use it in public” meant they’d be meeting in private. If humility is what charmed her, then her vulnerability no doubt attracted him. Even though it came in bits and pieces.

“Much obliged... boss lady.”

Chrysanthemum grinned picking up her cup of coffee as she looked at him.

“See that was a test.”