While Joe held her close in a protective embrace, his heart ached at the thought of the pain Jasmine had endured with Trevor; and he vowed silently to be her support through whatever trials lay ahead.

With the safety of distance between them and the nightmare they had just escaped, Jasmine finally allowed herself to crumble under the weight of her emotions. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she poured out the anguish and torment she had endured for years at Trevor's hands; the relentless abuse, the crushing sense of worthlessness, the suffocating grip of fear that had kept her prisoner in her own life.

As she spoke, her voice trembled with a mixture of pain and vulnerability, each word a painful reminder of the scars that engraved into her soul. But amidst the tears and the heartache, there was also a sense of fear, a release of the pent-up emotions she had kept locked away for far too long.

And yet, the mixture of emotions threatened to overwhelm her, there was one question that lingered unanswered. The reason why she had been forced to work in a strip club, sacrificing her dignity and self-respect in a desperate attempt to escape the clutches of her abuser.

But for now, that question remained unspoken—a painful reminder of the secrets she still held close to her heart, the wounds that ran deeper than anyone could ever imagine. And as Joe held her close, offering silent comfort in the midst of her storm, Jasmine knew that no matter what the future held, she would face it with him by her side.

Joe and Jasmine traveled for the next few minutes until they made it into Roman's Range Rover vehicle; the silence lingering around the area had Joe craving to ask her some questions, to get a better understanding of everything as he pulled over to a secluded area.

Joe then broke the silence, "Jasmine?"

"Huh?" She says, looking towards the side to seeing Joe staring back at her with a sense of concern written all over his face, "What's up, Joe?"

"About what happened back there..."

"I know, I know; I didn't expect any of this to happen, especially around a friend. It's just..." She sighs, "Trevor was overall a piece of shit and he..."

With the tears streaming down her cheeks, Jasmine finally allowed herself to break down, the weight of years of pain and suffering pouring forth in a torrent of emotion. In the safety of Joe's arms, she revealed the depths of Trevor's cruelty, the endless cycle of abuse and manipulation that had kept her trapped in a nightmare from which she had longed to escape. In his arms, she felt safe for the first time in so long.

But as she poured out her heart, one question remained unanswered—the reason behind her forced involvement in the strip club, the desperate circumstances that had driven her to such extremes. However, Joe listened intently the best he could; his heart aching at the pain etched in every word she spoke. But despite his burning curiosity, he knew that now was not the time to press for answers and he felt horrible for asking. Instead, he simply held her close into his embrace, offering her the comfort and support that she so desperately needed in that moment of vulnerability.

The two sat inside of the vehicle as the thunderstorm progressed. The sounds of thunder rumbling and the pouring rain crashed against Joe's windshields as she continued to listen to Jasmine.

"I'm sorry, Joe..."

"Hey, why are you sorry?"

"For dragging you into this mess. I know you found me out of nowhere, but I never wanted anyone to know about my abuse; because I'm afraid he'll be coming for me now that I've escaped the abusive relationship."

"That motherfucker isn't coming anywhere close to you from now on. As long as you're with me, Jasmine, you're in safe hands and that's a promise."

"Thank you, Joe."

"No problem." Joe replied, "I don't want to make things uncomfortable between us, but you're more than welcome to stay with me inside of a hotel room for the night unless you have a friend you can crash with."

"I can stay with you for the night. I just hope my presence doesn't become a burden on you..."

Joe interrupted, "Jasmine, you're never a burden to me."

"I'm not?"

He shook his head, "Nope. If anything, I enjoy being around you. You're beautiful, sweet, and an intelligent woman. After everything that you've been through, it's the least I could do."

"Do you really mean all of that?"

He nods, "Of course. I'd never lie to you, sweetheart." He flashed a bright smile as he then drove towards the nearest hotel in Los Angeles. The same hotel that he stayed at the last time after their first interaction.

As they checked into the hotel, Jasmine couldn't shake the lingering sense of fear and uncertainty that had settled in the pit of her stomach from earlier. The memory of the violent altercation between Joe and Trevor replayed in her mind like a relentless nightmare, casting a shadow over their otherwise peaceful surroundings. As much as she was grateful to have been rescued by Joe in her time of need, she was afraid of Trevor coming back to find her.

Joe, ever attentive to her needs, noticed her uneasiness and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his touch gave her a sense of reassurance.

"Hey," he murmured softly, his voice was a soothing tone to her frazzled nerves. "You're safe now. Trevor won't be able to hurt you anymore. I won't let him or else he'll be a dead man."

Jasmine nodded weakly, grateful for Joe's unwavering support, yet unable to shake the lingering sense of dread that clung to her. Despite the physical distance between them and Trevor, she couldn't shake the fear that he would somehow find a way to haunt her once again.

But as they settled into their hotel room, the warmth of Joe's presence beside her served as a beacon of hope in the darkness. With him by her side, she knew that she wasn't alone—that together, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead, no matter how daunting they may seem.
While Joe and Jasmine made their way into the hotel room, he placed his belongings to the side, kicking off his Air Jordan shoes and laid down on the bed.

As Joe and Jasmine found themselves nestled together in the quiet sanctuary of their hotel room, the tumultuous events of the day began to fade into the background, replaced by a sense of peace and tranquility that enveloped them like a warm embrace after everything that happened earlier.

After an hour passed, the two decided to watch a movie on Netflix for the remainder of the night as they both sat next to each other on the plush couch. That is, until Joe started doing some thinking throughout the movie.

With each passing moment, Joe found himself drawn deeper into the depths of his feelings for Jasmine. Her vulnerability, her strength, her unwavering resilience in the face of adversity; all served to ignite a flame within him that burned brighter with each passing heartbeat.

As they lounged together on the plush hotel couch, their bodies entwined in a silent dance of intimacy. Joe couldn't help but marvel at the depth of emotion that coursed through him in Jasmine's presence. The way her laughter danced like music in the air, the way her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, and the way her touch sent shivers down his spine. They all served to ensnare his heart in a web of longing and desire that he could no longer deny towards her.

And as they lost themselves in each other's friendly embrace, the barriers that had once separated them melted away, leaving behind only the raw, unbridled passion that burned between them like a flame refusing to be extinguished. In that very moment, Joe knew with a certainty that defied logic or reason, that he was falling for Jasmine. Not just because of her stunning looks, but because of her heart and soul, and there was no turning back.

After they shared a small movie night together, they both decided to crash for the night. As they settled into their hotel room, Jasmine's heart began to sink once she realized there was only one bed. Her instincts screamed at her to maintain her distance, to protect herself from the vulnerability of sharing such intimate space with Joe, despite the growing feelings she harbored for him.

Joe glanced over at her, "Hey, I noticed that there's only one bed inside of this hotel room. If you'd like, Jasmine, you're more than welcome to join me. But I'll keep things simple and friendly between us and I won't be on any flirty-type shit or anything. The last thing I'd want is for you to feel uncomfortable."

When Joe suggested that they share the bed, offering her the comfort of his embrace, Jasmine then hesitated. The thought of lying beside him, so close yet still so far, sent a surge of conflicting emotions coursing through her veins. But deep down, she knew that she couldn't allow herself to give in to her desires, not yet, at least; not when the wounds from her past were still so fresh. Especially from Trevor's abusive treatment from the past towards her.

With a heavy heart, she then mustered up the courage to refuse Joe's offer, her voice barely above a whisper as she explained her decision, "Joe...I think I'll sleep on the couch tonight instead," she murmured, "It's... it's just too soon to do anything right now, especially after everything that happened with Trevor."

Joe's expression softened with understanding, his heart aching at the pain that was etched in her eyes. Without hesitation, he nodded in silent acceptance, respecting her boundaries and giving her the space she needed to heal.

"Of course," he replied softly, his voice filling with compassion, "I understand. Whatever makes you feel comfortable, Jasmine. Just know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

She looked at him with a silent nod before retreating towards the couch and from there, she wrapped herself up in a grey-colored fleece blanket in attempt to sleep for the night. Jasmine couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the warmth of Joe's embrace after everything she's been through; but in that moment, she knew that she had made the right decision, for herself, for Joe, and for the fragile bond that had begun to blossom between them.

However, Joe struggled to fall asleep. Unfortunately, his thoughts drifted back to his ex-girlfriend, Serena. He couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness and longing tugging at his broken heart. The memory of their painful breakup still weighed heavily on his mind, casting a shadow over his preparations for WrestleMania and clouding his focus inside the ring.

But amidst the heartbreak of his own emotions, Joe found himself drawn back to Jasmine, the enigmatic woman who had unexpectedly entered his life and turned his world upside down. As he remembered that she as asleep on the nearby couch, a variety of questions swirled inside of his mind, each one a puzzle piece in the complex tapestry of their shared destiny.

Was it fate that had brought them together, two lost souls searching for redemption in the midst of chaos? Or was it merely a coincidence...a chance encounter in a strip club that had sparked something deeper and more profound than either of them could have ever imagined?

As he pondered the mysteries of their connection, Joe couldn't deny the magnetic pull he felt towards Jasmine. The way her presence seemed to soothe his restless and tired soul, the way her laughter brought light to even the darkest corners of his heart. And in that moment, he knew with a certainty that it didn't matter how they had met or what circumstances had brought them together. All that mattered was the undeniable bond that had formed between them, a bond forged in the crucible of adversity and strengthened by the shared journey of healing and redemption that lay ahead.

From there, a newfound sense of hope had blossomed within him, lighting the way forward on the path to WrestleMania and beyond. He was beginning to feel somewhat hopeful that things were going to be okay for the both of them.

As the morning approached, the sunlight filtered through the curtains, creating a warm glow inside of the hotel room as Joe then awoke from his slumber. He took a moment to wake up and stepped out of the bed to seeing a sleeping Jasmine on the couch.

Despite the tragedy of the previous day, Jasmine's face was peaceful for the first time in awhile, her features softened by the gentle light of dawn. In that moment, Joe couldn't help but feel a swell of affection for her and admiration for her strength, gratitude for her trust, and a deepening fondness for every endearing quirk and trait that made her who she was. The woman that he suddenly felt attracted towards at the nearby Los Angeles strip club.

But even as he watched her, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, Joe remained nonchalant in his resolve to keep his feelings hidden. He couldn't afford to let his emotions cloud his judgment, not when Jasmine was still recovering from the trauma of her past, not when their newfound bond was still so fragile and uncertain.

With a gentle shake of his head, Joe pushed aside the rush of affection that threatened to overwhelm him, focusing instead on the practical tasks of the day ahead. As Jasmine continued to sleep soundly, oblivious to his silent admiration, Joe silently vowed to be there for her, no matter what challenges lay ahead. Even if that meant by being only a friend to her.

And as he quietly went about his morning routine, a small part of him couldn't help but hope that perhaps, someday, he would find the courage to admit to himself, and to Jasmine, just how deeply she had captured his heart. But for now, he would content himself with the simple joy of being by her side, grateful for the chance to share in her journey of healing and redemption. A new chapter in her life, free from Trevor's abuse.