[ A Diamond is forever…Or do you prefer diamonds are a girls best friend? Well which ever saying you maybe more partial to one thing is clear. Women love their jewelry! I don’t care if you’re a simple type of woman or the highest priced woman. That little or big ring means everything to the woman who sports it. This is exactly the issue that Rick and I are dealing with at this very moment. I know it’s not the end of the world and it shouldn’t be a huge deal but to me it is. I’ve always been the more flashy type of girl. For some sentimental value is priceless. My philosophy is to try at least to put a decent price tag on your sentimental value of love. As I made my way to the photo shoot for winning the sexiest Diva of 2005 award. Really the voting for that award was a bit pointless. Especially since there isn’t a Diva that can match my beauty or grace after all I’m not the Goddess of wrestling for no reason. I swear sometimes Rick has no idea how lucky he was that I chose to be with him. I could have chosen any man in AWA but yet I chose him. I do have my own reasons for why I chose Rick, but for now I’ll keep them to myself. Trying to relax a bit I propped my feet up on the seat and lean my head against the side of the door. I knew what would make me feel better! I raised my hand and gazed at the 6 carrot emerald cut diamond in its gorgeous platinum setting I had gotten. Yes I know it’s not the exact diamond Rick had given to me. And yes he was angry when he did find out but there were two plus sides. I did keep the original band that looked like his grandmother “family heir loom’ ring plus I charged the rest of the amount on his American Express sky card so he got bonus miles. How could he say I was a snob after I got him airlines miles to boot? I thought back on the whole situation and try to figure out if there was anything I would take back.]

”The Flash Back”

[ After being out all day running errands and shopping with my agent Stevie Mancini, I finally made it home. I walked through the door and saw Rick sitting on the couch watching ESPN. Now I knew there was no way I would make it past him with everything in my hands. Besides, I did have a few things for him. Sweetly I spoke..]

Brandi James: "Hey baby...."

[ I said as I some what put the bags behind my back.]

Brandi James: "So...umm whatcha doing?"

[ Like I didn’t know, but still tried to play the cute card and ask.]

Rick Young: "Just watching a little bit of television."

[ Rick said, as he was watching ESPN to see what was going on in the sports world. He smirked at me as if to say. Like you have no clue what I’m watching. ]

Brandi James: "Sound eventful..."

[ I said as I walked by him with a spring in my step and kissed his cheek.]

Brandi James: "Did you eat?"

Rick Young: "Not yet...not really hungry."

[ Rick said, as he kissed me back on the cheek with yet another smirk on his face. ]

Rick Young: "Why you being so nice? Did you do something wrong?"

[ I stood there grinning wildly and sorta batted my eyes at him. Of course I did something wrong. Hell I did something very wrong. but hey if we are going to place blame it should be with him. Had I gotten the proper ring to begin with I wouldn't have had to swipe his credit card and correct his mistake. At least in his favor he is cute...ok very cute. After a slight pause I answered him.]

Brandi James: "Me? Did I do something wrong? Noooooo...I'm just very...very happy right now."

Rick Young: "Okay...then what is making you very...very happy right now?"

[He said, still smirking at me before he kissed me on the lips. ]

Brandi James: "I don't know if I want to tell you... "

[ I said as I placed the bags on the couch.]

Brandi James: "But I wasn't selfish. I got you something."

[Hoping this would be a good distraction I reached into one of the bags and pulled out a nice blue striped dressed shirt. Then I slowly handed it to him. Rick looked at the shirt for a moment before he placed it down on the couch next to him. He then looked back at me...]

Rick Young: "Nice, but what did you get yourself?"

[Rick said, with a lot of curiosity in his voice and with in eyes. Ah the dreaded question. Had to give the man a bit of credit he really is starting to know me very well.]

Brandi James: "Oh just something...more like an up grade. But I got you something else as well...”

[ Looking through another bag, I took out a velvet red box for Rick with a watch I had bought for him.]

Brandi James: "I got you that as well."

[Rick looked at the watch for a moment and then put the watch with the shirt next to him on the couch. He looked at me again and his confusion was starting to turn a little bit into displeasure as he was starting to get a little on the annoyed side. ]

Rick Young: "What did you get upgraded?"

Brandi James: "Promise not to get mad?"

[Cautiously I sat next to him on the couch.]

Rick Young: "I can't promise that...just tell me what you got upgraded."

[Sitting up straight and crossing my legs, I reached into a smaller bag and pulled out a black velvet box. I placed it on my leg and began my explanation.]

Brandi James: "Alright..Well Stevie and I went to the jewelers building today near the mall. Because I wanted to get my engagement ring appraised that you bought me."

Rick Young: "Does it really matter how much the ring is worth?"

[ Rick said, with a little hint of anger in his voice. Was he kidding? Yes it was important! He had to be kidding.me.ofcourse it matters. I giggled a bit then lowered my eyes.]

Brandi James: "Forget it. You won't want to hear the rest then...Besides I only wanted to get it appraised because I wanted to insure it."

Rick Young: "Okay...there's nothing wrong with that, but what's up with the upgrade then?"

[Taking a deep breath and frantically searching for the right word I began to explain to Rick something I knew that would make him really angry, but here I went.]

Brandi James: "Alright..so I went to my jeweler to get my engagement ring appraised, and well he appraised my first engagement ring. The one that Walsh had given me and well…Walsh’s was 3 carrots with baggots on the side a half carrot on each side to total...4 carrots...and well this one is only two total...”

[ I could tell my face began to drop immediately just at the thought, but I couldn't help it. Rick looked at me for a moment and I could tell he wasn't all that happy about what I was getting at. Rick took in a deep breath and then released it...]

Rick Young: "So you upgraded the ring?

[With out realizing it I began sounding like a spoiled brat. I couldn’t help it at all. All I wanted was for him to see how important to me this was. No matter how hard I would try though I just knew that he wasn’t going to see this my way.]

Brandi James: "I had to baby. I couldn't take a step back.. So what Marques and I thought. He’s my jeweler and always gives me a great deal on things! He had me look at some stones. And trust me, I got a great one! We just felt that what you gave me really didn't express how you felt about me, but I explained to him that you really didn't know a lot about diamonds and stuff. Then he understood."

[Gee I hope that sounded ok? Hell I haven't even gotten to the worse part yet. Rick took his right hand and started to rub his chin roughly as he turned the television off with the remote with his left hand. Rick stood up and started to pace back and forth in the room. ]

Rick Young: "I had that ring made after the one my grandmother wore."

[ Rick said, as he continued to pace back and forth. ]

Brandi James: "Which was fine for her...and that's just the wedding band. I didn't change that. You are going to wear your grandfather's and you had the one like your grandmother's made for me. I'm talking about the engagement ring...”

[Knowing that Rick really didn’t understand what I was trying to explain to him. I started feeling a bit uncomfortable. I slide into the corner of the couch in hopes to try to feel a bit more safe]

Brandi James: "Don't worry, I'll take it back..."

Rick Young: "NO you wanted it...keep it..."

[ Rick yelled, at me as he continued to pace back and forth in the room. ]

Rick Young: "I just can't believe that everything has to be how much something is worth! It’s supposed to be about the heart and thought that's put behind it."

Brandi James: "I know that ...but the ring Walsh got me was worth 275 grand...When you buy a diamond if you can afford it. You go for broke. Or you get as nice of a gem as you can. Now Walsh could have afforded more, but he figured we could upgrade late. Rick when you give a girl a diamond if you can afford it you go for broke if you know what I mean...it's like saying this is how much I love you...”

[ Ok...my guess is he won't be buying that explanation. Besides he really didn’t understand what I meant. The ring he bought Tiffany was no more than a diamond “chip” at best. As elitist as this sounds I know I’m worth way more than that. ]

Rick Young: "You can't be serious!"

[ Rick said, as his face was starting to become a shade of red as he continued to pace back and forth. ]

Rick Young: "Love isn't suppose to be about how much you spend on the damn ring. I can't believe you that wanted damn expensive fucking ring, but the ring that I have given you was a family heirloom."

Brandi James; "And it still is...just with a 6 carrot diamond on it..."

[Fuck, I said it...]

Brandi James: "But baby. It’s color-less which is really great...grade D..and v.v.s 1 clarity...it's the rolls Royce of diamonds..Ooooooppppss....."

[ I quickly covered my mouth and closed my eyes tightly waiting for the explosion. I couldn’t see it, but I could tell that Rick had stopped pacing and was staring right at me. He took in another deep breath and slowly let it as he started to walk towards me. ]

Rick Young: "The rolls Royce of diamonds?...that's nice."

[ I couldn't believe how calm he was being, but then he smacked me across the face. ]

Brandi James: "Owwww...what the fuck was that for?"

[That was a bit much...and hurt like hell...I rubbed the side of my face and opened the box and placed my new diamond on my engagement finger.]

Brandi James: "Baby...look how beautiful that is...it's worth so much more than the 423 grand. I ...."

[Freeze...Yeah; I said way too much...he wasn't suppose to know that till his credit card bill came in. Rick stared at me and then glazed down at the ring. I could tell that he wasn't getting in a better mood about the ring. ]

Rick Young: "You know I am starting to think that you are a very vain person."

[Rick said, as he continued to stare at the ring. ]

Brandi James: "No...I'm not...why is it so wrong for me to want something nice? Something my man gave to me...to show the world how he feels about me. I'm sorry if that's vain to you. And doesn't really make the good news seem so great...”

[ I stood up and walked over to him, lovingly wrapping my arms around his waist, even though I could feel him pulling away. Rick looked at me very cold. He pushed me away and shook his head.]

Rick Young:” You know what kind of man I am Brandi! I’m a simple kind of guy. I don’t care for expensive things at all. I don’t have to have rich foods. Hell I’m a hamburger helper kind of guy and you know that. I love my truck. I don’t have a fancy expensive kind of car and I don’t want one! I’m not the type of man to just throw money around for no reason. My gift to you, the ring I asked you to be my wife with my precious to me. I had it made to look like the exact ring my grandfather gave to my grand mother. I never even wanted that for Tiffany. I thought it would mean something to you. That you would appreciate it the love behind it but turns out I was wrong. You only cared about the size of the stone on top of it. Was it even the right cut? “

[ before I could even answer he continued on.]

Rick Young: “No…just don’t say a damn thing! Hell I have no clue which type of cut looks like what…That emerald cut looks the same to me as a square cut. You’re right I have no clue about what’s more expensive because I don’t care! I just thought of what I wanted to give to my future wife. A ring that came from my heart and what do you do? You don’t give a shit! I can’t deal with you not now..”

[ Taking one more look at me he stepped closer to me as if he wanted to hit me again. Actually he looked like he wanted to beat the shit out of me. Instead he grabbed the keys to his truck and left. Now would I have changed anything? Fuck No! I wondered as I admired my ring. I’m worth every last penny this ring half a million dollar ring is worth.]

The Photo shoot

[ Sadly things haven’t gotten too much better between Rick and myself since then and that was about a week ago. It must have been bothering me more than I was letting on though. Because the whole car ride here and as I sit in the makeup chair getting my face and hair done it was all I thought about. Yes Rick and I haven’t been fighting. But the tension is very much there. The harsh words and digs he has said to me since then aren’t much better. He makes me sound like I’m such a brat but fact is even though he claims to be a “hamburger helper” type of guy when it comes to simple things. I don’t hear him complaining about my Berber carpets in the living room and our bedroom. Or the exquisite Brazilian hard wood floors that are in our home. He hasn’t bitched about the Olympic size swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts. Nor does he complain about the hot tub in our suite of a bedroom. The balcony we have made love on many times or the Italian tiles flown from Venice that are in all of the 6 bathrooms. Most of all I doesn’t complain about the guest house that his brother Mike and that goody, goody Skylar Black are now living in. He tries to make himself sound so much better and righteous but yet not a word about all the luxuries that he is enjoying. He acts like he’s the only one with things to worry about. Did he forget that his worries are my worries now? From his psycho manic depressant worthless excuse brother right down to his demented demon child which he neglected to tell me about. Just for that I deserved this diamond ring. Does he not realize that when you fuck up it’s a man’s duty to buy a make up gift? Happily I looked at my ring and for the first time didn’t seem to feel guilt. ]

Mystery Woman:” Excuse me. Brandi?”

[ wait a moment…I know that voice! And it’s not one I truly wanted to hear. Looking at her through the mirror I saw Jenny Tull.]

Brandi James: “Not in the mood. Besides I’m only the guest referee in this damn match.”

Jenny Tull: “I know that but I’m also here because the other divas are doing some pictorials for the magazine as well. And well I couldn’t help but admire your ring.”

[ Now she had my attention. I spun around in my chair to talk to her. I mean since she actually had something worth talking about.]

Brandi James: “You noticed it?”

Jenny Tull: “Hell, I noticed it all the way on the other side of the room. Wow Rick really out did himself!”

[ God that made me feel just icky. I loved my ring by now I think that goes without saying. But I love Rick as well. I knew what I had to say.]

Brandi James: “It’s on loan...”

[ What a lie that was. But she is a reporter and was the last person I would ever tell this story to. Rick was mad enough at me as it was. I wasn’t about to tell her that the diamond Rick had given me wasn’t big enough so I upgraded it. And as cheap as Rick was I wasn’t about to let her destroy him in her column.]

Jenny Tull; “Awe Really? It sure is beautiful.”

[ Tears began to fil my eyes at the thought of giving this magnificent ring back.]

Brandi James: “Yes. It’s for the shoot today. It’s a Harry Winston original 6 carrot emerald cut diamond.”

Jenny Tull: “It’s completely insane looking! I mean wow! I would die to have a man give me something like that.”

Brandi James: “Yeah wouldn’t we all..”

[ I said in barely a whisper.]

Jenny Tull: “So what will you do with it after the shoot today.”

Brandi James: “Give it back I suppose. And then put on the ring Rick wants me to wear.”

Jenny Tull: “wants you to wear?”

Brandi James: “Jenny get the hell away from me. You’ve bothered me enough. Now leave me alone.”

Jenny Tull: “Alright, I just wanted to tell you the ring is beautiful.”

Brandi James: “And now that you have get the fuck out of here!”

[ Hanging her head a bit Jenny walked away leaving me with my mind racing. Hopefully this session will go by quickly and then I can get back to the hotel room and get my surprise ready for Rick.]