Courtesy of http://www.pantheonwrestling.com

I should have enjoyed last week's Disclosure as I picked up my first ever professional wrestling career victory and laid a beat down on Dante. Yet that didn't seem important at the moment.. My mind was preoccupied on something else. As last week my life was changed forever as I learned that I had a daughter. I had brought a life in to the world and had not even known it for two years. My emotions were a mixed bag as Ashley had made me a nervous wreck yet again. Was this some sick game she was playing with me? Was she the cat toying with me the mouse? Was she trying to make me go off the deep end? I don't know what it was ,but I know I was getting tired of it. I mean it if wasn't rollercoaster of emotions she put me through, it was the inopportune times she would drop bombs on me. Yet this news really shook me to my very foundation. I knew I had to be in my daughter's life after all she was my flesh and blood. Though the question arose could I actually coexist much less be friends with her mother. The same woman that had put me through hell the last two years? The same woman that caused me briefly contemplate ending my life? How could I ever have a civil relationship with the woman? And to make matters worse my heart still somehow wanted her. I mean am I fucked up or what. Yet I must sacrifice my mental well being to be there for my daughter. I must make up for my two year absence. It has to start today.

-=First Impressions=-

The thoughts of my daughter raced through my head as I sat there with a strangle hold grip on a stuffed teddy bear that I had bought the night before at a local toy store. I sat on the edge of the bed as I just stared at the bear's black buttons they use for its eyes. I didn't know what I was going to say to my daughter. I couldn't think of what I could possibly say. That is why I left last week before meeting her. I wanted to make it perfect. So another week to think of something would help. I guess that is why Ashley invited me over for the Fourth of July. Yet here I was with butterflies in my stomach and still unprepared as ever. I didn't know how she would react to me. Yet I knew a stuffed bear wasn't a bad start. I mean what little girl wouldn't love that? Then again was I over thinking the meeting with a two year old? I mean I had met with prime ministers and high ranking official and never been this nervous before in my life. I took a deep breath as I stood up and walk to the dresser. I put on my Rolex watch as I made my way down the stairs as Riley Winters sat on the couch waiting for me.

"So you ready Gio?" Ready? I didn't know if I would ever be ready ,but I knew it was time that I actually spoke to my daughter. So I nodded yes as I was still gripping the teddy bear around its neck with my left hand. My grip was so tight that it felt like the stuffing in the bear was fixing to burst out. Riley stood up as he walked toward the door. I just stood there as if my feet where stuck in concrete. I finally took a deep breath and followed him to his Hummer. I got in as Riley climb in on the driver side. We pulled out of my driveway as we made our way toward "Ashley's house". I still considered it my house since it was my money that bought the fucking place. Anyway we continued to drive as Riley broke the silence.

"You know what you are going to say?" I didn't really know what I was going to say as I had played out the possible scenarios in my head as I couldn't decide if I should just tell her I am her daddy or should I try to be her friend first. I really didn't know as Ashley had pretty much fucked up the situation. I figured I would just play it by ear as even with a week to prepare I was still without a clue how to handle the situation.

"Not really, I figure I would just wing it. I mean what can I say to a two year? Hi I was gone for two years, but I'm your father?" I think that would be too much for a two year old to understand. Hopefully Ashley had talked to her a bit after all this whole thing was her fucking fault. She was the one that withheld the information of my own daughter from me.

"I guess that is true, but I imagine it must have been hard on her the last two years without a father in her life." Heh even though I had a father all my life, I knew all to well what my daughter was going through. I mean my father was really never there. He was so wrapped up with the business that he would be gone months at a time without seeing my mother or me. Though the time he was at home, he stayed shut up in his office. So maybe it is not exactly the same ,but I do have a taste what it was like.

"Yeah I can imagine." Even though I had all the servants to play with, it wasn't the same without my father. Yet I shouldn't be thinking about that. After all at least I knew about him and had seen him. My daughter hasn't been able to have the knowledge of either as I felt my nerves starting to get the better of me as I pull out a pack of Marlboro as I looked to Riley.

"Do you mind?" Riley looked surprised as he had never seen me smoke. I mean sure he had seen me do other recreational drugs like cocaine, but never cigarettes. It was a rather bad habit that I picked up during the trial two years ago. I mean it was the only legal drug that could somewhat settle my nerves. Since then I have been able to back off a bit but when my nerves get this rattle I still have to get a cigarette.

"No, Gio. I don't mind." With that I took one out of the pack and reach in my pocket for my lighter. I lit my cigarette as I cracked the window a bit. I looked over at Riley as he look like he had something else on his mind rather than my bullshit of problems.

"You got something on your mind, Riley?" He looked over at me as I took another drag of my cigarette.

"Yeah, I was thinking about Pete Ebdon. You know he has a nice little setup going on." What setup was he talking about? I mean the fact that he was co-founder of The Pantheon. Riley was going to have to be more specific.

"I don't follow." I took another drag of my cigarettes as Riley clear is throat and gathered his thoughts. I flicked some ash out the window as I waited on his response.

"No, I mean the production aspect he has setup. I mean he has three different people using Ebdon Entertainment. He has to be making some money off sponsors." Wait was Riley wanting to talk business when my head was clouded with the thought of meeting my daughter. Though he did have a point about Pete.

" I guess he does. So what are you getting at? You want to see if I can join Ebdon Entertainment?" My mind was not clearly focused on Riley or I would have gotten what he was talking about right off.

"No Gio, I was talking about starting up our own production studio for your promos. That way we can get so more money off your promos." I guess that was a good idea ,but I know that I would have to sink some serious money into just to get it off the ground and with me just now starting to get a paycheck every week it wouldn't be a great time.

"I don't know Riley, I just now starting to earn some money. It would take me investing a lot of it just so it could get off the ground." Riley looked disappointed a little bit as he rubbed the front part of his neck as if he was trying to decide between something. I mean that was what he would do at board meetings on all the decisions he made.

" I will tell you what, I will go in with you on starting it up. We can be 50/50 partners." Partners? Did he really expect me to go back into a business deal with him after what happened just two years ago. I mean sure he got me this wrestling gig ,but trusting him as partners would be another breed of animal as my trust still wasn't that great with anyone not even The Pantheon.

"I don't know Riley, I mean can we talk about this later. My mind isn't really focused on business right now." Riley just nodded his head as he knew that I was too focused on what was about to happen. So the rest of the trip was in silence as I just stared at the Teddy Bear and finished my cigarette. I flicked it out the window as I thought some more about the meeting with my daughter. We finally made it to "Ashley's house" as we saw cars parked in the driveway and down the street a bit as Riley found an opening on pulled in. Ashley must have been having a cookout for the fourth that she didn't bother to mention. My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest as I stepped out of the Hummer. Riley climbed out and met me around the front of the Hummer.

" Don't worry Gio. She is your daughter. She is going to love you." This was coming from a guy that wasn't exactly Ward Cleaver himself. He had two kids who basically hated his guts. They couldn't stand the fact that he was nothing more than an old pervert that cheated on their mother like it was a religion. They both had caught him with another woman. I guess Riley was lucky that he didn't have more kids by other woman. Anyway I just looked at Riley and nodded as we made our way to the door. I rang the doorbell as a few moments later the door opened as it was Ashley standing there. She had a cute little summer dress on as she greeted me with a hung. As my mind was mixed with emotions of nervousness and happiness. She released the embrace.

"I see you still haven't quit smoking" She must have smelled the smoke off of my suit as just gave a stupid smirk to her. Riley Winters squeezed by us as he made his way to the bar area to fix himself a drink. Ashley then allowed me in as I took a seat on the couch.

"Are you okay Gio?" I didn't know what it was about Ashley as she gave me sudden mood swings. I mean I couldn't believe the bitch would ask me if I was okay? Of course not I am meeting my two year old child for the first time that I just learned about last fucking week.

"What do you think?" My smirk of a smile had went away as I stared coldly at her as her usually smiling nature seemed to fade a bit at she didn't know how to react.

"Um so you want to meet her?" I guess I was ready as I would ever be as I just nodded. Ashley then walked over toward the sliding glass door leading to the outside as she went outside to the deck. I clinched on to the bear tighter as I heard her and my daughters steps on the hardwood floor get closer. Ashley appeared in front of me again.

"Autumn I have someone for you to meet." Ashley pointed toward me as my daughter used Ashley as a shield to hide from me as she poked her head out a bit to get a glimpse of me. This was just great, my daughter was scared of me. Great fucking job there Ashley I thought to myself. I had to make an effort though.

"Hey Autumn, look what I brought you." I held out the teddy bear as I saw Autumn's eyes light up a bit as she still clung to her mother's dress. She then slowly let of her mother's dress with one hand as she reached out and grabbed the bear as she quickly returned behind Ashley. As this wasn't exactly how I expected it to go.

"I promise I won't bite, Autumn." She just clung harder to her mother as Ashley tried to push her toward me. Autumn just fought harder to stay behind Ashley.

"Autumn, this is your daddy. He won't hurt you." Autumn didn't seem to be buying it as she has a tight grip on Ashley's dress. Ashley just giggle nervously. It seemed she didn't expect this to happen either. Then what the fuck did she think would happen? This isn't some fucking television sitcom were Autumn and I bond immediately. Yet I didn't expect Autumn to fucking hide from me. I won't lie it fucking cut me deep in my heart. 

"Autumn, don't you want to play with your daddy." She shook her head no as she just peeked over at me. Ashley bit her lip as she again giggle nervously.

"Well then why don't you go back to grandmother then." Ashley led Autumn toward the sliding door as Ashley's mother got her. She walked back to me.

"I'm sorry about that, Gio." What the fuck did you expect bitch? I mean you introduce your daughter to a stranger and tell her that he is your stranger, she was going to be scared. Yet I didn't want to tell her that it still hurt me a bit that my own daughter was scared of me.

"Don't worry I understand." I don't know why I was comforting her about the situation after all it was her fucking fault. I guess it was my heart sneaking out with a kind word to her Then I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Well look what the cat dragged in" I knew that voice before even turning around. I knew it was my ex-father-in-law. I turned around and gave him a fake smile as he walked over and gave his daughter a hug.

"So how you been, Gio?" He tried to make small talk with me as I didn't really want to do this. I mean the guy had been against me ever since I was arrested. Then again he never really liked me as he was against Ashley and my wedding. Yet I didn't want to cause a scene so I went with it.

"I've been good." He just grinned as he look out on the deck as he saw Autumn as his eyes lit up. He then looked back at me as I was trying anyway to get out of this small chat.

"You know Gio, it too bad that you and Ashley didn't have any kids." Wait WHAT THE FUCK!? Ashley hadn't told her own parents that I was the father of their granddaughter. I looked over to Ashley as I saw fright in her eyes. She was scared that I was going to tell them as she interjected herself in the conversation.

"Hey dad, I think mom wants you." She pointed him the deck as he walked away as I was just fuming as the bitch hadn't even told her fucking parents. She returned to me as I came undone.

"What the fuck do you mean not even telling them that is my kid? What the fuck is going on in that fucking tiny brain of yours? I mean what did you tell them? You got knocked up by some one night stand?" She lowered head in shame as in a bit of rage I had nailed it on the head. She then looked up at me.

"I think you need to get some fresh air right now." Yeah that is great kick me out cause I know what is going on. I knew she didn't want me to make a scene ,but right now I was so fucking furious that I didn't care. I stormed out of the door to get some fresh air before I did make a scene. Riley followed me as I pulled out a cigarette and lit it. I vented to Riley.

"Can you believe that bitch? She didn't even tell her parents that I was the father." I mean I know her dad didn't really care for me ,but I was better than some one night stand accident. Riley though was a bit quiet.

"You know I am out for your best interest and to tell you the truth I didn't see the resemblance between you and your daughter." What the fuck was he talking about? Of course it was my daughter. Then again I could be blinded by the fact that I was hoping against hope that it was my daughter. Riley continued to speak.

"I mean maybe there is a reason that she didn't tell her parents that you weren't the father." Was he actually saying that Ashley was using me for my money that I recently came into? I mean it made sense ,but I had to think it all over. I mean what was I suppose to do. Riley then answered that for me.

"I think you should have a paternity test. Just to make sure she is yours." I guess that was the smart thing to do. I would march in and tell her that I wanted a paternity test. Yet first while I had some time, I needed to discuss this week as I flicked my cigarette butt to the ground and walked toward the Hummer.    

-=DOWN TO BUSINESS=-