Chapter 10

Paul placed the weights down on the floor and sat up on the bench, wiping his forehead with a disgruntled sigh. He could feel the cool sweat that trickled down his brow and his body was throbbing in protest at his physical exertion. He had pushed himself hard and probably way harder than he should have considering he was still recovering from his match. But he couldn't help it. Working out was the only thing keeping him sane right at this very moment.

Three days had passed since the pay per view and he still hadn't heard a single word from Stephanie. No phone call, nothing and he just couldn't get her out of his mind. His stomach constantly churned with his worry and he'd lost count of the number of times he'd wanted to call her. He was desperate to hear her voice and know she was okay but he just couldn't take the chance. He couldn't risk that bastard answering her phone. It would only place Stephanie even further in danger. Because he wasn't dumb and he knew what Jonathan thought about his relationship with his wife. There had been no mistaking the jealous look in his eyes when he had walked in the dressing room and saw her alone with him. His unspoken accusations of an affair were written all across his face. That was why he couldn't risk calling her. He didn't want to do anything to invoke Jonathan's anger. He couldn't risk him lashing out at Stephanie and God knows he could never forgive himself if something terrible happened to her.

Deliberately pushing any thoughts of her danger from his mind, Paul picked up his towel and wiped his damp forehead. Sighing he leant forward and dropped his head to his hands. He felt so fucking useless just being in this house, waiting for a call that never came and he knew he needed to do something. He knew he needed to find out if Stephanie was okay. It was driving him crazy not knowing if she was safe or not. God knows what that bastard could have done to her by now.

A vision of her fragile body lying battered and bloody briefly flashed through his mind and Paul squeezed his eyes tightly trying to dispel it from his memory. But it continued to haunt him and finally unable to take it any longer, he got up quickly and rushed through to the living room. Grabbing the phone, his hand shook slightly as he dialled the familiar number. He could feel his heart anxiously pounding in his chest as it rang out at the other end.

"Come on, answer your damn phone." he muttered impatiently.

"Hello?"

His shoulders dropped with his relief at the sound of her voice.

"Linda, it's Paul. Paul Levesque."

"Paul. It's nice to hear from you. How are you feeling after your match on Sunday?"

"Fine."

His answer was short and to the point as he impatiently smoothed his hand over his hair. He wasn't in the mood for small talk despite Linda's politeness and his stomach was churning, twisting in knots.

"Linda, have you heard from Steph lately?"

"Actually, I just talked to her five minutes ago."

Paul closed his eyes as a wave of unspeakable relief washed through his body.

"Why? Is there a problem?"

Linda's question caught him off guard and Paul raked his long fingers through his hair as he walked towards the large bay window, racking his brains trying to think of a convenient excuse for his call.

"No. No, there's no problem. I, uh, I lost my cell so I don't have her number."

"I could give it to you if you like."

"Great. I'll just get a pen and write it down."

Paul waited a few seconds while he pretended to look for something to write with, absently glancing at his cell phone which was sitting on the cushion on the sofa.

"Got it." he eventually replied. He bit down on his lip as he listened to Linda reel off her number but his nose wrinkled with his frown as he watched an unfamiliar car pull up into the driveway.

"I can give you her home number too." Linda offered.

Paul shook his head as he turned away from the window. "Nah, it's okay. I'll try her on her cell later on. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Just then he heard a key rattle in the lock and he scowled knowing exactly who his unwelcome visitor was. "Listen Linda, I gotta go. There's someone at the door."

"Okay, Paul. It was nice talking to you."

He couldn't reply as he hung up, his teeth clenched in anger. His jaw flickered with the tension as the door opened and Joanie walked in, her mouth dropping in shock to see him standing there.

"Paul. I didn't expect to see you here."

"No? Well I fuckin' live here in case you'd forgotten." He snarled as he walked towards her, her strong scent catching in the back of his throat. "Which begs the question why you're here. Because you don't live in this house. Not any more"

Joanie placed her hands on her hips as she snorted in anger. "I know that, asshole. I just came here to pack my stuff."

Paul proudly gestured towards the stack of boxes in the corner of the room. "Oh you don't have to worry about that. I did it for you."

Joanie shook her head in disbelief as she saw her belongings and suddenly her anger was replaced with a deep sadness. "You obviously are desperate to get rid of me."

"It's over Joan. There's no point in prolonging things between us." said Paul.

Deep down, he knew he was being harsh but he wasn't in the mood for dealing with her dramatics. The sooner Joanie left, the better as far as he was concerned. He had other things on his mind, more important things.

"I thought we could talk." Joanie said, reaching out to touch his arm.

Paul quickly pulled away, his irritation growing with her presence.
"There's nothing left to say."

"No? Well I think there is because I still love you Paul."

The tears glistened in her eyes as her bottom lip quivered and Paul tried to ignore the pang of guilt in his chest as he gave her the only reply he could.

"But I don't love you. Not anymore." he told her softly.

And those words were the absolute truth. He had had a lot of time to think over the past few days and had come to a few realisations about his life. One of them was that what he had felt towards Joanie wasn't love. Not over the last few months and the only reason he had stayed with her was through loyalty. Loyalty for the past four years they had spent together but their history wasn't enough. Joanie deserved better than that and he knew that he did too.

Suddenly she began to sob and Paul swallowed hard, his hands remaining firmly by his sides. He wanted to comfort her. He did. After all, he was the reason she was standing there so upset. But he couldn't allow himself to get close. Joanie would expect more than he was willing to give.

"It's because of her, isn't it!" Joanie sniffed as she interrupted their silence, violently wiping her tears away.

Paul groaned as he pushed back his hair in total frustration. "Not this again!"

"But it's the truth, Paul. Just fucking admit it, will you!" she screamed.

"You know I'm getting tired of this shit." he shot back. "The same crap comes out of your mouth time and time again and I'm sick of listening to your whiny voice going on and on about Stephanie."

He sighed heavily as he tucked a lock of hair behind his ear.

"Steph is not the issue here, Joan. You are. You've changed. You're not the woman I fell in love with. You've become bitter and twisted and I hardly recognise you any more."

Joanie snorted, tossing her head in indignation. "Oh I'm not the one who's changed, Paul. If there's anyone who's changed around here, it's you."

She took a step closer towards him pointing her long talon-like finger towards him.

"You're the one that's so fucking obsessed with having that damn title around your waist. All you care about is that belt."

"That's not true."

"Oh yes it is. You know it. Your head is just so far up your own ass you can't see it."

Paul sighed wearily rubbing his hand over his stubbled chin deciding he wasn't going to continue this argument. He'd had enough arguments with her to last a lifetime and they weren't going to accomplish anything by screaming and shouting at one another. They were just raking over old ground. God knows he'd heard the same thing a million times before.

"Look Joan, this is pointless. Why don't you just take your stuff and go?"

"Why? So you can go running off to that bitch!"

Paul shook his head sadly. "I'm not going to even waste my breath any more. Just leave."

Joanie glared defiantly at him. His brown eyes glared back and she eventually dropped her head, slowly backing away towards the boxes in the corner.

"Everyone knows you're screwing her!" she said, deliberately taunting him.

Paul crossed his arms in front of him. He shook his head in disdain as she picked up a box.

"The whole damn locker room knows what's going on."

He rolled his eyes as his patience finally ran out and he brushed past her, placing the other two boxes on top of one another and lifted them up. He followed her towards the door speeding up her departure. He wasn't helping her to be friendly. The sooner she was gone the better as far as he was concerned.

Outside, he dumped the boxes by her car. He held out his hand towards her, his palm upturned.

"Key, please."

Joanie scowled as she removed the brass object from her key ring. "You know, you'd better watch your back. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Jonathan knows you're sleeping with his precious wife."

Paul's hand closed over the key that she placed in his palm. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I saw him after the pay per view. He asked me if I thought there was something going on between the two of you."

An unexpected chill suddenly ran down his spine as her words hit him. "What the fuck did you say to him, Joan?"

"The truth of course. He deserved to know."

He began to feel sick as a crippling fear gripped at his chest. "You stupid bitch! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"

Paul didn't look back as he turned round and sprinted back to the house.

Joanie sneered as she called out to him. "Your little affair is over. Do you hear me?! It's over!"

The door slammed shut silencing her screams. Paul's heart raced in his chest as he grabbed his cell from the sofa and his trembling fingers dialled her number. He knew he was taking a huge risk calling her but he had to warn her. He had no other choice. She needed to get out of that house today.

His foot tapped impatiently as the phone rang out. "Come on, Steph. Please. Answer your phone."

"Hi, this is Stephanie……….."

"Steph?" he breathed in relief.

"……….you know what to do after the beep."

"Shit!"

Paul clutched his hair as he began to pace the room.

"Steph, it's me. You have to call me when you get this message. Joanie's told Jonathan we're sleeping together. You have to get out of there, Steph. Do you hear me? You need to leave."

He paused trying to keep his emotions in check as he pleaded with her.

"Please, just call me as soon as you get this."

He hung up and threw his phone down on the sofa. "Fuck!"

His cry echoed through the empty house. He stood there for a second as he tried to think what to do. His head was spinning with the implications of Joanie's confession and he knew he couldn't wait on Stephanie calling him back. He just couldn't shake the feeling that she was in danger and he had to do something, anything at all. But what the hell could he do short of barging her door down and getting her out of that house?

Paul suddenly snatched his phone and dialled another number. He chewed his finger nail anxiously as it rang. He tried to remain calm. The last thing he wanted to do was worry Linda.

"Hello?"

"Hey Linda, it's Paul again."

"Paul. Twice in one day. People will talk."

Paul forced himself to laugh in response although God knows it was the last thing he felt like doing. "I won't tell if you don't."

His voice sounded shaky as it echoed around the room. He cleared his throat and exhaled slowly trying to ignore the loud beating of the blood in his ears.

"Listen, I wondered if I could ask you a favour." he said a bit more controlled. "Could you give me Steph's address? I've jotted down a few ideas I wanted to send her."

"Sure. But don't you have her e-mail address?"

Paul grimaced at her unexpected response. "Yeah but you know me. Computers and I don't exactly get along. I was thinking I could just post it."

He heard Linda chuckle at the other end. "Sure. You got a pen?"

"Yep." Paul grabbed the pen and notepad sitting beside the phone. He cradled the phone against his ear as he listened and jotted down the address.

"Thanks again, Linda."

"Any time. Listen, I've got another call coming through that I need to take. Sorry."

"No problem." he told her. "I'll talk to you soon."

Paul hung up quickly and ran up the stairs to shower and change. His mind was made up and he was getting the first plane out to Connecticut. Stephanie was leaving that house with him today whether she liked it or not.