Chapter 1 - Summer plans
Behind closed doors anything could happen. That was exactly where Vince and Linda Mcmahon had been for the past 2 hours, behind the closed door of their in home office. Normally this was a place where a lot of business had been accomplished but tonight was different...everything about tonight was different. As soon as the large wooden door was slammed...and yes I do mean slammed shut the yelling had begun. They were only fighting about one thing, but both sides were very stubborn about getting what they wanted. Normally Linda would give a little to make some progress in the fight, but not tonight. Vince saw this after only 20 minutes and knew deep down he would not win this battle but he didn't want to just give in.
"Vince this is happening whether you like it or not. You are the one that caused this mess and now you are going to have to suffer the consequences right along with her."
Vince just sat there and took the verbal lashing that his wife was giving him and unfortunately for him it wasn't over yet.
"If you didn't give into all her demands and go behind my back and get her everything she wanted then maybe she wouldn't act like the spoiled brat she is turning into. You have no one to blame but yourself here."
Realizing Linda was being a little harsh right now she took a seat next to her husband and held his hand.
"Vince I love you and I love our daughter and that is why we have to do this. We have to be together on this for her sake. Do you really want her to grow up to be some bitchy diva thinking the world owes her everything?"
Vince shook his head no.
"Then you know this is what has to be done and it is only for the summer."
Vince just nodded his head as Linda stood up and walked out of the office. How did things come to this? How come he didn't see it like Linda saw it? Maybe because she was daddy's little girl and he didn't want to see what was right in front of him. He had given Stephanie everything without her having to do anything because he thought she would love him more...he was walking a thin line and didn't realize when he fell off it. He thought back to the things Stephanie had wanted over the years. First it started at $20 then $50 and then $100 but slowly the cash turned into plasma TV's, laptops and cars. Vince now realized Linda was right and he had to stand by her in this. He loved his daughter to much not to do this.
"STEPHANIE COME DOWN HERE A MINUTE PLEASE," Linda said yelling up to her daughter.
Stephanie sighed having no real interest in getting off her bed and walking all the way downstairs to see what her mother wanted. After a second summons she finally decided to walk down the two flights of stairs to the office where her parents had been waiting for her.
Most kids would get nervous having a one on one meeting their both their parents, it usually meant they were in trouble, but that was not what made Stephanie nervous. No, no what made Stephanie nervous was that her mother was standing talk looking confident while her father slumped down on the couch looking totally defeated.
Stephanie had seen this scene many times before and not one of those times did it work out in her favor. She knew her mother was up to something, something she had persuaded her father to go along with against his will. Stephanie knew that is Vince didn't like it she sure as hell wouldn't either.
"What's going on," she asked cautiously?
"Well, Stephanie your father and I have been talking...
"Wait a minute I should sit down for this because what you really mean is you have been dictating to dad to force him to agree to something he doesn't like," she said sitting down on the opposite couch. "And if he doesn't like it god knows I won't."
Linda looked at Vince as if to say, see the smack alick she has turned into.
"I am sure your not going to like this very much but you have to trust us. Now before you go kicking and screaming, which I am sure you will do anyway, you have to understand that we do love you and we both believe this is what is best for you and it is already a done deal."
"What is?"
"Your father and I have seen the woman your turning into Stephanie and frankly it worries us. All you do is want and take without working or giving anything in return. That is why we have decided you are going to stay with your godfather this summer out in Ohio and work with him at the developmental branch of our company."
Stephanie popped out of her chair faster then a bat out of hell.
"WHAT? NO WAY!"
"This is not up for negotiation Stephanie. Your leaving Sunday so I suggest you start packing."
"Sunday? Mom that is not fair I had plan this summer with my friends. This is going to be our last summer together before we all go off to different colleges and never see each other again."
"Of stop being a drama queen. Going off into the city every night and getting into god only knows how much trouble does not count as "plans." You think I have never been in your shoes before? And you think I don't know what your trying to do? First off you will see each other again every summer because trust me your group of friends isn't going to flea far from the money hole. Second I know your just trying to play us off and say you will be getting a job next summer, but when next summer rolls around you will come up with another excuse like this is really our last summer together before college and when you come home from college it will be oh this is the only time I can see my friends coming back from school. Stephanie I hate to break this to you but I know you better then anyone and I know how you try and play everyone but it is not going to work on me."
"Daaaddddyyyy," she whined. "I don't want to go. I don't want to go all summer without seeing my daddy," she said cuddling up to his side.
And just like that the water works turned on shedding a few tears just for him.
"I know sweetheart and I want you to stay here as well, but your mother and I feel this is best. Plus we will come visit...I come out there a lot to check up on talent and now I will make a few extra trips to see my baby girl."
"I just want to stay with you here. Why are you sending me away? Am I really that bad a child?"
"No sweetie your not...your my baby girl and I love you so much."
That's it Steph just keep working him and soon he will break. God she was so good sometimes it scared her.
"Maybe you can come home for a couple days...
"No," Linda said cutting him off. "Stephanie you are going for the summer and not coming back until school starts. The summer will fly by you will see."
And just like that the water works turned off and her anger and rage kicked in.
"I hate you...both of you. What the hell am I supposed to do in freaking Ohio with a bunch of crazy guys? I don't want to spend a whole summer around gross lunatic men who enjoy hitting themselves over the head with chairs and jumping off roof tops onto a pile of mattresses."
"Your going to learn something from these people Stephanie. I hope you see how hard they work and how they are willing to do anything to achieve something they really want in life. They might not be the most orthodox people but they have amazing work ethic...something you desperately need my dear. You being here in the lap of luxury is not going to change you we have to get you out of your comfort zone so you can experience different things and hopefully come back a better person for it."
Stephanie let out a frustrated scream before she stomped up the stairs and slammed the door to her room shut.
"BE PACKED AND READY TO GO BY NOON ON SUNDAY," Linda yelled.
All Linda heard in response was the blaring music coming from her daughters room.
"Well, that went well."
"Shut up Vince," Linda said storming out of the office slamming the door as she went.
"Your more like your daughter then you think," Vince said to himself.
