Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in this little story, the characters you recognize here belong to themselves and sometimes to one another.
Rating: T for language? I think
A/N: Yes I swore and double swore that I was never going to write again but what can a girl do? I actually had a dream about this and yeah, why not make it into a story, right? It was probably better as a dream but bare with me and let me know what you think, if you want to ;)
Don't Speak
She could feel the intensity of his stare piercing through her; more than feeling it she could visualize it, vivid blue eyes looking from afar, glued to her back as she walked into the room.
It was all fine with her, if she came into that room in the first place it was because she knew he would be there, and she knew that as soon as she walked through the door his eyes would be on her, scrutinizing her every movement as she gracefully moved around.
It was all part of her plan, Stephanie McMahon never made a thing that wouldn't take her to an ultimate goal and that day she wanted retribution, she wanted to make him pay in kind for the way he made her feel earlier that day.
That he wasn't aware of the stormy mess he provoked in her made her plan sweeter, it meant that she would take him by surprise just as she was taken aback that morning…
It all started when she was going through her e-mails; it was a daily routine, she needed to keep on track with work and there was always tons of e-mails to go through, but before typing in her password she noticed the date at the bottom of her laptop screen, it was the first day of August, just a few days past his wedding anniversary.
Oh yeah she knew the date very well, she knew everything that concerned him and that included the day he got married; she even had a few photos of the event, she had them for the days she felt in the wrong and needed motivation to end it all… she never ended it, but she never threw the photos away either.
So he was married and she was married, it has been that way since day one. It was a subject that was never discussed between the two but it was there, always, a silent phantom that menaced to break the peace she found in him.
Out of his mouth she never heard anything about her, but she was curious, not at first but as the months turned into years she started to wonder how she was, she got curious about his kids and they way they all lived their 'happy' life. She had no right for wanting an inside look but it wasn't as she could help it, and because she couldn't help it she forgot all about her e-mails and got into facebook instead.
She didn't have a facebook, she didn't like any of those social network things, but she did, Chris' wife had one and most of her information she got it from her.
Now, it wasn't like she was spying, the little fool published everything and she just read what she posted, it was for the public to see and well, she just happened to go there every once in a while. She justified it saying to herself that she just wanted to see the few pictures the woman posted of Chris' kids…
But it was more than that, deep inside she knew that she did it because she needed to know where she stood with Chris. When she imagined his wife she wanted to imagine her as good for nothing slut that was with him for his money, to live the easy life he provided for her. It was easier when she wasn't the bad guy and as long as she wasn't the bad guy there was no reason for her to feel guilty about sleeping the woman's husband.
Much to her inner delight, most of the woman's status collaborated to that image she had of the blonde, because while Chris was working she was always traveling, drinking and staying at different hotels; she didn't know if she took the kids with her but she liked to think that she didn't, it was easier to imagine her as leaving the kids behind in her escapades.
But maybe she was just being biased; after all she didn't know the woman that well and being a housewife didn't mean you have to stay home with the children 24/7.
So giving in into a morbid curiosity she put everything aside and eager to see if the woman posted something about the anniversary she got into the page. First thing she noticed was a photo of the two, posing as the world's happiest couple. It was like a punch to the stomach but she went on, reading everything, and seeing all the pictures of their little vacations; when she was through she felt something she has being denying for the longest time.
She was jealous, she was jealous because the truth was that Chris and his wife didn't seem to be a messed up couple like she and Paul were, they seemed happy, they were probably happy and why wouldn't they when they were celebrating their tenth year anniversary.
Even after hours passed by since she saw that she still remembered how bad it made her feel; she didn't like one bit the way her heart skipped a beat or the way her chest tightened up around her heart. That wasn't her, he made her feel so unlike her and that was something she didn't do well.
She wasn't supposed to care so much because she and Chris were casual, just a thing they did behind closed doors and that had carried on for too long… not that she was willing to end it, she just wanted to get back at him and maybe see how he would react when he was the one feeling that ugly feeling that was jealousy.
So with her lips curving into a devious smirk the brunette swaggered her way into the center of the room, not to the man she wanted to, but to that other, the one that wasn't even looking at her.
"Paul" She said, looking down as her husband looked up to her to give her a contemptuous look. It didn't matter, she was used to it already and after all she didn't come into the room to please him. "I was looking for you" She sat across his lap, kissing his cheek a she continued her talk with a sweet tone, one that didn't suit her and that made him frown at her.
"What do you want?" He asked, a smile forming on his lips, it was more of an amused smile and she knew that he knew she was up to something.
"Nothing, I just came to say hi" She responded, running her fingers through his hair. She felt more than ever Chris' stare eating a hole through her.
"Alright… hi?" He cleared his throat and frowned again. "Okay I'm scared, you have that smirk on your face that means you are about to tear someone's guts out of their body; the glint in your eyes say you will do it with your own hands"
Stephanie looked at her manicured hands and smiled, moving her head a bit to the side so that he would see that she was smiling… she wanted him to have the impression that she was as happy as he was with his wife. "Why would I do that when I just got my nails done?"
He took her hand in his and gave it a look, it was a simple gesture that didn't provoke any kind of feeling in her, it wasn't like when Chris touched her…
Chris' touch sent all kind of sensations to run through her body, it made her tremble because he always set her skin on fire.
"Because it gives you a wicked sense of pleasure? I don't know… and as long as I'm not the one you want to screw up I don't really care. Did you bring Murphy's blanket? It took me forever to get her to sleep last night without it, even Aurora came in to help"
She smiled at the mention of her daughters, this time her smile was genuine. "I have it in my office"
An awkward silence followed, it was an awkward situation, after all there she was, sitting on the lap of a man that was her husband in name only while her current lover watched them.
"Alright, I'll get it from you" She said getting to her feet and quickly getting out of the room and towards her office.
What was wrong with her? She was no kid to be playing the 'get him jealous game', she knew Chris was married when she jumped into whatever kind of relationship they had so it was stupid to start acting like she was acting at the moment.
She needed to get him off her head.
Once in her office she got her purse and got the blanket out, it belonged to her youngest girl and she slept with it; since Paul was having them for the week it would be easier on everyone if she gave it to him…
"What the hell was that?"
At the sound of that voice Stephanie startled, almost dropping the blanket to the floor. "Damn it Chris, don't do that" She said, putting her daughter's most precious object on top of her desk.
He didn't mind her words and just as if he didn't even listened to her he closed the distant that kept them apart and made her back up against the wall.
"What was that back there? Were you giving a show for my benefit or all of a sudden you just felt like acting like a good wife to that assclown?"
Stephanie bit down a grin, she was oddly fascinated with the fact that Chris got jealous after watching her little act, it was kind of satisfying that she wasn't the only one stupid enough to care too much. Yes it was childish but so much rewarding.
Besides there was something very attractive of the way Chris was looking at her, his cobalt blue eyes fixed angrily into hers, his jaw clenched tight and his face a full mask of what she was aiming for, jealousy.
"What's wrong with you?" She asked putting her hands against his chest to make the pretense of wanting to push him back. "You know you can't come to me when Paul's around" She said just to drag her husband's name into it once and for all.
That seemed to irritate him even more because he connected his fist into the wall and cursed loudly. "Fuck Paul, I don't want to see you with him anymore"
At that she blinked, her hands sliding down to his waist. She wanted to pull him even closer, to feel more intimately the heat his body was emanating in huge waves; but she didn't, she just rested her hands there. "He's my husband Chris, I can't…"
"I don't care" He hissed, crushing her body to the wall. "If I see him putting his hands on you once again I'll break his fucking face" With that said he pushed into her even more, making his torso press pleasantly against hers while his leg accommodated itself right between hers, he was touching her in all the right places. "You are mine and only mine"
That has been the goal she wanted to accomplish, to make him madly jealous to a point where he couldn't see straight, and thankfully she did it without having to do too much with Paul. If she wanted she could let him take her right there in her desk, she knew how to push his buttons and she could make the experience stay with him even after he got home to her, it wouldn't be the first time and it would reassure him why she was a keeper while the other one just the one he had an obligation with…. but even if she let it get that far something didn't feel quite well.
That was the reason why when his face moved forward and brushed her lips in what could become a kiss, she moved her head to the side. "So you want me all by yourself but I have to share you"
The change in him was immediate; he pulled away from her and threw his head back, he didn't say anything, she would have taken anything but the silence.
Silence spoke volumes, it told her everything.
"Just what I thought… just… forget it Chris, forget it" She said, her tone calm even when she felt like yelling and cursing and why not, she wanted to punch the wall too; but instead of doing that she just walked away.
She needed time out because she was feeling claustrophobic in that room and because whether she wanted to admit it or not she wasn't ready to face Chris' while she was feeling vulnerable and confused, it wasn't as if their affair rotated around feelings and she wasn't about to share hers with him; they were all about passion and she wasn't supposed to get jealous of his wife and their stupid vacation together.
She needed to gather herself up.
Walking the same way she came in, she tried to organize the turmoil of emotions that was her mind. Everything came out wrong and after walking out on him she didn't know what would become of them.
"You got the blanket?"
Stephanie looked up and saw Paul, he was walking towards her and that's when she remembered the blanket. "No, I forgot it…" She sighed and turned around, hoping that Chris wouldn't be in her office once she got back.
And he wasn't, when she turned around she saw him walking towards her. She now had Chris in front and Paul walking behind, she has been in that situation way too many times, but on previous occasions Chris always kept going his way.
It wasn't so this time. "We weren't done talking" He said, his eyes focused in her and only in her.
"Not now Irvine, I have a blanket to get" Paul said catching up with Stephanie and standing right by her side.
"I'm talking with the owner of the zoo, not with the monkey"
Paul chuckled. "Very clever… did you get that out of a children's book?"
Stephanie shook her head, there has been always a little bit animosity between those two and with Chris in the state he was she didn't want it to get out of hand. "Not now Chris"
"You heard the lady so if you excuse us" Paul said, putting his arm around her shoulder and sending Chris a smile that edged in insolence.
That was when Chris' eyes moved away from her and went to Paul's arm on her shoulder. "I want to talk now"
Wrong, wrong, wrong… she was trapped there and she blamed it all on her acting by stupid impulses, if she hadn't tried to make Chris jealous she wouldn't be in the position she was now; if she would have stayed away from Chris' private life everything would have been different because she wouldn't have started to wonder about her relationship with him.
Everything has been just fine, she tried not to think about him having a wife and the time she got with him she lived it like there was no tomorrow. That was before facebook, she knew there was a reason to distrust social networks.
Now it was too late, she was there with Chris and Paul and her husband was looking to both of them questioningly. Sure, they were not together anymore but having him know about her thing with Chris was awkward, after all they were still married and even if they didn't work out he was the father of her girls.
"Are fucking my wife?" he asked, pulling Steph a bit closer to him.
That was when everything started to get very, very wrong.
Before she knew what was really happening Chris punched Paul right in the face, it took the other man a second to react but when he did he retaliated. Everything happened so fast and she only had time to get out of their way.
"Stop it!" She yelled as the two got into a brawl, neither of them paying her any attention. "Chris, stop it!" And just when she thought things couldn't get any worse… the only thing that could make things worse was if Chris' wife walked on them.
Running her hand across her face, Stephanie watched the two men… she needed to stop the madness, so in a moment where they got apart by one of them pushing the other, she dared to get between them, her back to Paul as she faced Chris.
His face was flushed, his hair in disarray and his was breathing was heavy. "Get out of here Chris, get out!"
"I'm not finished with your lover boy Steph, get out of the way" Paul yelled as he tried to get to Chris.
Stephanie turned around and stopped Paul from advancing by placing her hands on his chest. He was also wild looking, his nose was bleeding and the vein in his temple was about to explode.
"Paul, please" She pleaded, not wanting either of them to keep fighting. If her dad knew what was going on they could all get in trouble, not to mention what could happen if her little affair with Chris became public.
"You want me to back down when he was the one who fucking attacked me? I can get you fucking fired for this Irvine"
"No one's getting fired" She said, still trying to keep her husband from getting Chris. "Paul, please"
"Do whatever you have to do" Chris said and when she looked back he was walking away.
She watched him get into a corridor and when she could see him no more she closed her eyes and took a deep breath…
"What the fuck was that?" Paul yelled, making Stephanie open her eyes.
"Look, I'm sorry, I swear I'll make it up to you just don't tell dad" With that said she hurried in the same direction Chris went, following him until she reached him in the empty locker room he got into.
"Are you out of your mind?" She yelled, closing the door and crossing her arms over her chest once she was inside. "I can't believe you did that Chris"
From his spot he sent her a cold glare while he felt with his fingertips his busted lip. "You know you could get fired if this reaches the office"
"Why, wasn't this what you wanted? I mean you were obviously playing me to get a reaction and here you got it, are you happy now?"
"I didn't play you and I never wanted you to go all macho man on Paul, you did that by your own"
Chris walked to her, getting as close as he could without touching her. "Then what were you trying to do back there Steph, you know how I feel towards you and yet you make a spectacle with your husband right in front of me, why would you do that if not to get a reaction out of me?" He said, his tone serious and reproachful, by that tone and the way his jaw was clenching she knew he was mad at her.
Not that she could blame him; she has been indeed playing him, not that she would ever admit it. In fact if she came to analyze things she should be the one getting mad.
"So let me get this straight, I have to stay away from my own husband because if not you will get psycho mad but you have the privilege of having as many women as you want to"
He snorted. "I don't have as many women as I want to, I…"
"No, no, I get it Chris, crystal clear; I got the message between the 'you are mine' and the way you made it pretty obvious to my husband that there's something going on between us"
"Oh don't try to turn this on me Stephanie, you were the one playing everybody and yes, to tell you the truth I'm glad he knows about us"
"Yeah so you can have me all by yourself, but don't get me wrong, I know that I'm all yours just when you are not with her" She spat out as he approached her.
So yes she was mad, she was in her right to be because she wanted him all to herself too, she didn't want to sneak around anymore to see him and she didn't want the secrecy of their relationship; she wanted to be the one he could go on vacations with and she wanted everything that his wife had, she wanted it all.
Funny how a picture made her come in peace with what she really wanted… it also made her realize that he would never leave her, he was going to continue his double life while she became his eternal lover.
He was always going to be the man she couldn't even introduce to her daughters as what he really was to her, what would they think of her in the future if they knew?
Chris' arm circled her waist and pulled her to him. She closed her eyes, to get him so close to her was something she was always looking forward to, but this was different and she felt overwhelmed. "Don't you get it Steph? Damn it look at me"
She did, she opened her eyes to find him staring directly into her eyes. His was a stare that saw right to the naked soul, if she wasn't careful he would see through her; it was suddenly too much and she had to close her eyes again. "I can't do this. You don't have problems with her, you have a nice family, not like me and Paul, we don't even live together anymore and he probably doesn't give a damn if I'm sleeping with you or with the whole locker room… I can't, I can't compete with what you have home Chris, I can't"
"Steph…"
"Don't speak…" Before he could go on Stephanie moved closer to him and pressed her lips softly to his, lingering just the slightest bit before pulling away.
Then, without looking at him she turned around and walked away, for the second time that day she walked out on him and this time she meant to stay away.