Chapter 12

They made their way to catering, and she refused to eat. Nova had been struggling with an eating disorder for years and Claire was the only person who could make her aware of it for the betterment of her health. Claire always had a way of making Nova feel safe and protected. Sadly, it was becoming where Claire had become a crutch.

"I'm not hungry."

"Your dad told me you had an eating disorder. Here eat this. I am not judging you. People have their reasons. I know you were an addict too. If you work with me, you will need to stay clean and keep healthy. Get on a good diet plan. I want you to be at the top of your game. If not, it's a no go. I can't watch you risk your health."

"I have been clean for two years. I still struggle with food. I won't lie to you. I was really messed up for a long time. It is one reason I needed this change. Touring was hard on me mentally and physically. But it wasn't always that I didn't want to eat. I just didn't get the chance and was stressed out. Claire makes sure I eat." She said in a cold nonresponsive voice.

"You know? You don't have to be so rude all the time. I'm genuinely concerned."

"Don't waste your time. I know you don't like me. Why pretend to give a shit?" She rolled her eyes.

"Nova, you are such a brat. Spoiled little rich girl thinks everyone needs to bow down to her. I never said I don't like you. I actually think you are very talented, but you need to put your attitude in check." Becket sat back in his chair with an annoyed look but still concerned.

"Attitude? I have an attitude. You never even gave me a chance to know me. You set me up last night. Raven could have really hurt me. Had I not been expecting her to shoot on me anyway, it could have been bad. I saw the look in her eyes when I arrived. You want me gone and will do anything to make sure I am." Nova got angry which always turned into the worst side of her.

"See, that's it right there? Yes. We set you up for a shoot. You came in like you fucking owned the place with your crew like you expected the red carpet to be rolled out for you. You don't get it. You could have come to Powerbomb and did this on your own. You could have talked to me personally about being with Colossus. Instead, you got Daddy to get Holt to allow this without even consulting me first. He told me the whole thing about how you pouted until you got your way."

"Whatever. It's good business for me to be here. For all of us."

"I don't deny you being here is good for business. But I just saw how rusty you are in that ring. You needed to put in the work, just like everyone else, but you jumped the gun. This all could have been done the right way. You need time to be properly trained, then you could have made your grand appearance. But the rock goddess needed instant gratification. You're a spoiled fucking brat. I sure as hell will not bow down to you like everyone else in the entertainment industry does. I hear the stories of how you blow up on everyone, bust up hotel rooms, have this prima-donna attitude that everyone is supposed to bow to the goth queen. I will not do that for you or anyone else. You will have to work if you want me to give you a chance in that ring."

"Are you finished hearing yourself talk? You don't understand why I did what I did. No one does. You're right. I should have done things differently, but I was in a bad position and had to make a move. You, like everyone else, think I'm this diva with a chip on my shoulder. Until you have been in my shoes, don't pretend to know anything about who I am, or where I'm coming from."

"Fine! Then tell me."

She looked to him with a sadness behind her eyes. "Look at me, Becket. I look like death. Dark circles under my eyes, underweight, I can barely hold my head up most days for the shit I went through. Stuff that someone like you could never fathom. So don't give me your self-righteous bullshit. I put 110% into everything I do. I will work harder than anyone. You'll see."

"How am I supposed to know that for sure?" Becket asked calmly.

"If you spoke to Kev, I'm sure you know how good I was at wrestling and how I used to sneak in the ring. I would beg Dad for even five seconds of being in there to train. No one took me seriously back then. Even you. I trained myself until Kevin saw how much I wanted it and started helping me. Being Eric Quinn's daughter isn't easy. Everyone thinks I'm just as much of a cocky bastard as he is. I'm not, but no one ever takes the time to find out who the real Nova is. You didn't back in the day. I shouldn't expect you to care now."

That hurt. Becket knew he gave her all the time he could back then. She was young. It wasn't appropriate. But now? Now she was a grown woman. One he couldn't deny was someone he would have taken the time to get to know. Unfortunately, she pushed her way in before he ever had a chance.

Becket stood to leave. "I'm done talking. You will never get it. I give you a week and you will move on to your next little pet project. Till then, you better be ready for the hardest training of your life. Be back at the ring in thirty minutes. Eat that or I'll shove it down your damn throat. I will not be taking you to the hospital because you won't eat. Your health comes first or I'm calling this all off. Regardless of how much of an ass you think I am, I don't want to see you sick." Becket shoved the food over to her and grabbed his sandwich, heading out of the room.

Nova got up and chucked her sandwich at him. The sandwich bounced off the back of his head and food went everywhere. He reached back checking if he had food in his hair with a groan. Becket turned slowly. He stalked back fuming and shoved the table out of the way. He quickly went nose to nose looking down at her with a scowl.

"Hit me, Becket! Go ahead! HIT ME! You pompous ass! Hit me!"

"I would never hit you. But, I sure as fuck really want to throw you over my lap and spank your damn ass, like the spoiled child you are," he huffed.

Nova smacked him hard across the face, and rage instantly filled him. Becket grabbed her and sat in the chair pulling her over his lap and spanked her on the butt like a child. Not hard enough to hurt her, but enough to embarrass her.

Eric walked in and saw the whole thing, trying his best not to laugh. He knew Nova would not back down. Nor would Becket. Nova had met her match with this man.

Becket pushed her off his lap and stormed out. Nova was left on the floor having a tantrum.

"DADDY! Did you see that? Fire him!"

"Baby, calm down," he laughed.

"Are you kidding me? Are you going to let him get away with that?" She got up off the floor and crossed her arms over her chest, pouting out her lip.

"I am. Because honestly you had it coming. Nova, I should have done it myself. What is wrong with you lately? Becket's right. I heard the whole conversation. Busting up hotel rooms, throwing a childish fit all the time. Why won't you talk to me about what all this is really about?"

Eric went to hug her, and Nova shoved him away. She stomped away to grab a fresh sandwich and left the room. Eric chuckled softly seeing she still did exactly what Becket told her to do, regardless of how angry she was. Even though she was pouting like a child, he knew this would be good for her. He had let her behavior go on for far too long. She was a grown woman, but she was still his daughter and she needed to curb her attitude before it destroyed her.

***

After she ate and calmed down, Nova went back to the ring. Becket wasn't there as she expected. He was probably still furious with her. She got in the ring and sat in the middle just trying to gather herself.

"I'm going freaking crazy. Why did I come here? I will not let that asshole be right." She got up and started hitting the ropes.

After about three hours another female wrestler, Stacy Stylez, came down to the ring. Nova figured Becket was too mad at her to deal with her for the rest of the day. So, he probably sent someone to harass her.

"Hi Nova. I'm Stacy. I'm a big fan." Stacy stood smiling up at her with a contagious grin from the arena floor.

The pretty girl with fire red hair walked up the steps to the mat and stuck out her hand. Nova hesitated to shake it. Stacy was the first woman who had spoken to her politely since she got there.

"Hi. I know who you are. You used to be at WEC, right? Dad, you used to talk about you. You're really pretty. I like your hair."

"Thank you. You, too. I love the purple underneath. I'm thinking about going blue next."

"That would look nice. It would match your eyes." Nova smiled.

"I saw what Becket did. He's being a jerk. He is normally a great guy to everyone. I'm not sure why he is being so hard on you. I heard what Raven did to you too. A lot of us girls think it was messed up what they did to you last night. I think Raven feels bad about it though."

Stacy seemed nice. Few people were nice to her.

"It's okay. I know why they did it. Everyone thinks I'm just here because of who I am." She lowered her head.

"I don't. I used to hear at WEC how good you were. Your dad was sad that you left. But, you have to follow your dreams." Stacy got in the ring bouncing as she went. "You should go talk to the girls. Especially Tasha Trixx. She would love to work in the ring with you. She helps a lot of the new girls. Maybe Raven too. I bet she feels bad about last night. I'm sure she would get in the ring with you to practice if you asked. They will come around, I'm sure of it." The perky Stacy hugged her with a giggle. The happy girl was refreshing. "Anyway! I have to go. I just wanted to say hi. We should hang out sometime."

"Thanks, Stacy. I'd love that. I'll talk to the other girls. Maybe they will see I'm not such a snob like they think I am if I go talk to them and make the first move."

"That's the spirit! See ya later."

Stacy jumped down from the ring, and Nova smiled watching the girl skip up the ramp.

Once Stacy left, Nova went back to working the ring. She needed to prove to everyone including herself she belonged there.