Since Stephanie originally approached Hunter with her plan, they'd had very little contact. That was to be expected. There was really no reason for them to speak until the night before her wedding to Test. On top of being unnecessary, it was also dangerous. They couldn't risk anyone finding out that they were even civil with each other, let alone in cahoots.
So, Hunter had continued to bother her and her family and Stephanie had continued to pretend to loathe the very ground he walked on. If he had learned anything, it was to never believe a damn thing she said. She played her part very well and seamlessly transitioned from the sweet, angelic Daddy's girl to the evil, vengeful woman who planned to overthrow the entire company.
She didn't seem to be bothered or slip up when she was speaking and behaving as her nice girl image called for. The fact that even her own family couldn't tell that something very serious was up with her was a testament for how good she truly was. The people that have known her for her entire life could be easily fooled, so where did that leave those that she wasn't as well acquainted with? Clearly, she was more than capable of plotting right under someone's nose, while smiling in their face as if she adored them. It was a little scary in a way.
But, it was also useful. If he should so happen to give any thought to turning this into anything other than a business arrangement, he would remind himself of these simple traits of hers.
Wow, she's a really great actor, Hunter thought to himself as he watched a torrent of tears trail down Stephanie's face after he strongly implied that they had consummated their marriage while she was drugged. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. The last drink that she was shown having at her bachelorette party was actually nonalcoholic. She'd been completely conscious during their drive-thru marriage ceremony but pretended otherwise to fool the world into thinking that this wasn't exactly what she had wanted.
Afterwards, he had dropped her off down the street from her hotel. Because it was the eve of her wedding, Vince had booked his little girl in a more lavish, totally separate hotel from him and everyone else. It was at least a mile and a half away from anyone who would recognize them, but they hadn't wanted to take any chances. He had driven past her resort and rounded the corner. He'd pulled into a parking space at the first random motel he saw and let her out there. Even though he figured she would be relatively safe walking down the Las Vegas strip, he wanted to be a gentleman and make sure. The round-the-clock traffic on Las Vegas Blvd allowed him to see her just fine while she made the short journey.
"I hate you!" She yelled at him from the ring through her wailing and sobs.
He merely laughed at her fake-hysterics before walking off the stage and to the back. The woman deserved an Oscar for her performance. And he deserved some type of award for having the ingenious idea to pretend as if this wasn't all planned beforehand. The look of total and complete hatred Vince gave him while he held his secretly scheming daughter was just what he had been aiming for. There was no way the old man would let this fly. Soon enough, he knew that the Chairman would be willing to barter something – anything, for his daughter to be released from their marriage.
After clearing the scene in the ring, the wedding party made its way backstage. As soon as they were clear of the curtains, everyone started talking all at once, making Stephanie the unwilling center of a gigantic circle that ended up being formed.
Stephanie didn't hear most of the conversations; she was too consumed with her own thoughts. But, occasionally she got a reassuring hug, shoulder squeeze or sympathetic pat on the back. Some faces looked angry, some looked sad and some were a unique mixture of both.
The crowd parted and widened, leaving her face to face with her father. His face was beet red and his chest was heaving. "How could you let this happen, Stephanie?" His booming voice shouted at her.
Her mouth parted in shock and her watery eyes widened. "I was drugged."
He stepped closer to her. "I don't care if you were clubbed over the head and dragged off by that – that caveman! You should be smarter than to leave yourself vulnerable to either of those positions."
This wasn't the place to cause a scene, but her father had already done that anyway. So, she couldn't help her sarcastic reply. "I really don't see how I'd have to be in a 'vulnerable' state to be knocked out with a weapon. The use of the weapon means I was up and about."
"It was hypothetical! Don't get sassy with me!"
"I'm just trying to point out how ridiculous you sound. You can't possibly blame me for taking a drink at my private bachelorette party from a bartender you and Mom chose."
Vince raised his eyebrows, but lowered his voice. "So I'm to blame?"
She shook her head. "No. No one is, except Triple H. This is his fault."
He pointed a finger at her sternly. "You're damn right it is. This wedding cost me a small fortune! I might not get my money back, but he will pay for this."
Stephanie chuckled bitterly. "That's all this is to you, Dad? Dollars wasted? The fact that he ruined my wedding and claims to have made me his unconscious sex toy means nothing to you?"
He dismissed her implication by sucking his teeth and turning his head to the side briefly. "Of course it does. Don't be stupid," he hissed out.
She threw both arms in the air in frustration. "I've had it with your insults! I'm the victim here and instead of being there for me, you're just shouting at me and making it worse," she cried out frantically.
Vince sighed and reached an arm out to her. She flinched away from him, screwing up her face in disgust. "Steph..." he started.
No longer caring about maintaining composure in front of the group of onlookers, she let the tears flow freely. Her intake of breath was shaky. "I need some time to myself," she said.
Not particularly giving a damn whether or not her father agreed with that idea, she gathered up her wedding dress, clutching the material in her hands tightly. She gave her Dad one final disappointed glance before turning around and escaping down the hallway to the room she had gotten dressed in.
Bare with me. LOL. These first few chapter are pretty much to detail what was going on with Steph behind the scenes. The good stuff (i.e. interactions with Hunter in their marriage) are coming soon and things will start to get VERY strange. Stay tuned!
