29. Up & Up

But it was Sandro's reaction that meant the most to her. His eyes were shining with pride, and as April reached the group, she couldn't hold back the emotion any longer. Filled with gratitude, she ran straight into Sandro's arms, hugging him tightly surprising everyone in there including Sandro.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for believing in me, for the pep talk, for the training, for everything."

Caught off guard by the intensity of the hug, Sandro quickly recovered, a warm smile spreading across his face. Ignoring the teasing looks from Nick and the others, and the more subtle but unmistakable jealous glares from Nicole and Brianna, he gently patted April on the back.

"You did it, April," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. "It was all you out there. Your heart, your effort, your skill was what led you to earn this moment."

April pulled back slightly, just enough to look him in the eyes, and saw nothing but encouragement and belief in his expression causing her heart to flutter. It was the same look he had given her when they trained together, the same look that had given her the strength to push through her doubts.

"Thank you, Sandro," she said again, her voice stronger now, filled with determination. "I won't let you down."

Sandro nodded, giving her a reassuring smile before stepping back, and allowing the others to join in. April high-fived the guys, who each had their own words of praise for her, and then turned to Nicole and Brianna.

Despite the competitive tension that had always existed between them, April could see the effort they were making to be happy for her. She hugged them both, and while Nicole's embrace was brief and stiff, Brianna held on a little longer, whispering, "You earned it, April. You really did."

April smiled at them both, appreciating the gesture despite the underlying tension. She knew that the competition in the women's division was fierce, but tonight, they were all celebrating her victory.

As the night continued, the celebration gradually spread throughout the FCW roster. The success of the FCW Divas Championship unveiling and the battle royal had injected a new sense of excitement into the entire company. The women's division, once considered an afterthought, was now the talk of the town, and April's victory had solidified her as a top contender.

Meanwhile, online forums dedicated to wrestling, particularly those focused on FCW and the Florida wrestling scene, were buzzing with discussion.

Fans and critics alike were praising the quality of the show, the intensity of the matches, and the emotional climax of the battle royal. Many were already speculating about the upcoming finals of the Divas Championship tournament, and April's name was on everyone's lips.

"The future of FCW's women's division is bright," one fan wrote on the FCW forums. "With talents like April, this is just the beginning."

"The Divas Championship is going to put FCW on the map in a big way," another fan added. "I can't wait to see how it all unfolds!"

The positive reception of the show was not just confined to the fans. Over in Stamford, at the WWE Headquarters, Vince McMahon had been watching the FCW live televised show with great interest.

Joined by his son Shane McMahon, his daughter Stephanie McMahon, and his son-in-law Paul 'Triple H' Levesque, Vince had been closely monitoring the progress of FCW as a developmental brand for WWE.

The board of directors was also present, their expressions gradually shifting from skepticism to approval as the show went on.

By the time the final bell rang and April's hand raised in victory, the mood in the room had shifted entirely. Vince leaned back in his chair, a rare smile on his face as he turned to Shane.

"Looks like Dusty and Steve are onto something down there," Vince said, his voice filled with the gravelly authority that made him a legend in the business. "This women's division could be a real game-changer for FCW and maybe for WWE as well in the future, but definitely not now."

Shane nodded, his eyes fixed on the screen where April was still celebrating in the ring. "She's got the crowd in the palm of her hand," he agreed. "And if tonight's anything to go by, the fans are going to be invested in this division for a long time."

Stephanie, on the other hand, was already thinking ahead. "We need to make sure we're paying attention to what's happening down there, Dad," she said, her mind racing with possibilities. "The women's division is evolving, and we need to be ready to capitalize on that momentum when the time comes."

Triple H, who had been a vocal advocate for women's wrestling in WWE, was particularly pleased with what he saw. "April's got the 'It' factor," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "She's got the look, the skill, and the connection with the audience. If she keeps this up, she's going to be a star and one I think we will need on either RAW or Smackdown in the future."

The board of directors, usually more reserved in their reactions, exchanged nods of agreement. The financial crisis had been a concern for everyone, but the success of tonight's FCW show was a bright spot that hinted at a promising future.

Not knowing that the show he had a hand in creating left such a strong impression on WWE management, Sandro was in high spirits. The celebration at his apartment continued well into the night. He and his closest friends—Nick, Kofi, Drew, Sheamus, Stu, April, Nicole, and Brianna—gathered to revel in April's victory in the battle royale, an achievement that had everyone buzzing.

Laughter filled the room as they reminisced about the night's events. They joked about Sandro's surprise when April had charged into his arms, the teasing looks from the guys, and the subtle but noticeable reactions from Nicole and Brianna. Despite the underlying tension, the night was about celebrating April, and everyone made an effort to keep the atmosphere light and joyful.

As the hours passed and the energy in the room began to wane, one by one, everyone started to leave. Drew and Sheamus were the first to go, joking about needing to hit the gym early in the morning.

Kofi and Stu left shortly after, with Nick following close behind, throwing a wink at Sandro as he exited, hinting at the obvious chemistry between Sandro and April. Nicole and Brianna lingered a bit longer, exchanging polite goodbyes with April before heading out, leaving just the two of them.

The room felt different with just the two of them, quieter, more intimate. April, who had been silently gathering her courage throughout the night, finally felt the weight of the moment. She had been waiting for this opportunity, a moment alone with Sandro to talk about what had been weighing on her heart since her confession a while ago.

As Sandro started tidying up, she hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Sandro, wait," she called out softly, her voice trembling slightly.

He turned to face her, surprised by the seriousness in her tone. "What's up, April?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

April bit her lip, gathering her thoughts. She knew she had to bring it up now, or she might never get the courage to do so again. "Remember when I told you how I felt about you...?" she began, her eyes not quite meeting his.

Sandro's expression softened as he recalled the conversation. He had hoped it wouldn't come up again so soon, especially since his thoughts had been consumed with other matters lately. He had genuinely wanted to give her an answer, but the timing had always felt wrong.

He sighed, taking a seat on the couch and gesturing for her to do the same. "I remember, April," he said gently. "I haven't forgotten."

April sat down beside him, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "I know things have been crazy with everything going on in FCW and...well, I don't want to push you, but I just need to know where you stand, Sandro. I need to know if there's a chance, or if I should...start moving on."

Her voice cracked slightly at the last part, and she quickly looked down to hide the tears that threatened to spill. Sandro could see how much this was affecting her, and it broke his heart.

He had always cared for April, more than he had ever let on, but with everything happening in his life like the chaos of FCW, the plans he and his father were setting in motion, and the revelation about polygamy, he wasn't sure if he could give her the commitment she deserved.

Taking a deep breath, Sandro reached out and gently placed a hand on hers. "April...I'm sorry," he began, his voice sincere. "I care about you, a lot. You're one of the most important people in my life, and I hate that I've made you wait for an answer. The truth is...I need more time. There are things happening right now that I'm still trying to process, and I don't want to make any decisions that I'm not fully ready for."

April looked up at him, her eyes searching his for any hint of what might be going on. "Is it something to do with me? Or with...someone else?"

Sandro quickly shook his head, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "No, no, it's nothing like that. It's not about you or anyone else. It's just...there's been some news, things I've learned recently that have thrown me for a loop. I promise it has nothing to do with how I feel about you. I just need time to sort everything out in my head."

Even though she was disappointed by his answer, April could see the sincerity in his eyes. He wasn't rejecting her; he was asking for patience. And as much as it hurt to wait, she knew she had to respect his need for time. After all, she had come this far, and Sandro was worth waiting for.

She gave him a sad smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Okay, Sandro. I'll wait. I'll wait as long as you need."

Sandro exhaled in relief, grateful for her understanding. "Thank you, April. I promise I'll give you an answer when I'm ready."

With that, she leaned in and gave him a soft hug, lingering for just a moment longer before pulling away. "Goodnight, Sandro," she whispered, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her.

"Goodnight, April," he replied, watching as she gathered her things and headed for the door. As she left the apartment and got into the taxi waiting outside, Sandro stood at the window, watching until the car disappeared from sight.

He felt a pang of guilt in his chest, knowing how much his indecision was affecting her, but he also knew that rushing into something he wasn't ready to decide on wouldn't be fair to either of them especially April.

He let out a long sigh, closing the door and leaning against it. The apartment was eerily quiet now, the echoes of the night's laughter and celebration still lingering in the air.

But Sandro wasn't in the mood to clean up. Instead, he headed straight to the bathroom, stripping down and stepping into the shower. The cold water hit his skin, jolting him from his thoughts, but it didn't do much to ease the turmoil in his mind.

After a while, he finally turned off the water, dried off, and went to bed. But sleep didn't come easily. His thoughts kept drifting back to April, to the look in her eyes when she asked him for an answer, and to the complicated feelings he had been wrestling with ever since her confession.

It wasn't just his feelings for April that were weighing on him. There was also the pressure of his budding wrestling career, the plans he had discussed with his father, and the unexpected news about polygamy being legal that had recently come to light. His mind was a tangled mess of emotions and responsibilities, and he wasn't sure how to unravel it all.

The next morning, Sandro woke up later than usual. The celebration had taken a toll on him, and it was nearly 10 AM when his phone rang, pulling him from the depths of sleep. Groggily, he reached for it, squinting at the screen to see who was calling. When he saw his father's name, he quickly answered, rubbing his eyes as he sat up in bed.

"Morning, Dad," Sandro greeted, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"Morning, son!" Jack's voice was bright and cheerful, full of energy as usual. "Hope I didn't wake you."

Sandro chuckled, running a hand through his messy hair. "You did, but it's fine. What's up?"

"Got some good news, kiddo," Jack said, his excitement palpable even over the phone. "I just finished up the last of our investments, bought up all the assets we had our eyes on, and secured control of some key properties we wanted. We're in a prime position now."

Sandro's eyes widened in surprise, his sleepiness forgotten. "Already? That was fast!"

Jack laughed, clearly pleased with himself. "Well, when you've got the right connections and the right timing, things can move pretty quickly. The financial crisis was a mess for a lot of people, but for us...it's been an opportunity."

Sandro nodded, even though his father couldn't see him. The financial crisis had been a topic of conversation between them for months, ever since they realized the potential to capitalize on the economic downturn.

They had been strategic, carefully choosing which companies, properties, and assets to invest in, knowing that the market would eventually recover and their investments would pay off handsomely.

"That's great news, Dad," Sandro said, a smile spreading across his face. "So, what's next?"

"Well, we're sitting on a lot of potential right now," Jack explained. "The properties we've acquired are in prime locations, especially the malls, and the companies we've invested in have strong growth potential once the economy starts to stabilize. But there's more to it than just waiting for things to bounce back."

Sandro listened intently, knowing that his father was always thinking several steps ahead. Jack was a business master even though sometimes his actions didn't show it, and Sandro had learned a lot from him over the years, particularly when it came to making smart business decisions which helped him with processing the financial news he knew from his past life.

"I've been thinking about diversifying our portfolio a bit more," Jack continued. "Now that we've got control of these assets, we should consider expanding into some other industries like healthcare, or maybe entertainment. We want to make sure our investments are spread out so that if one sector takes a hit, we've still got strong holdings elsewhere."

Sandro nodded again, his mind racing with possibilities. He had always admired his father's foresight and his ability to see opportunities where others saw only risks. It was a skill that had served Jack well in his career and one that Sandro was eager to develop in himself.

_______________________

Name: Alessandro Zhang

Age: 18 (2008)

Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA

Brand: FCW

Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Style

Faction: None

Championship History: 0