Chapter 4 – It's False, It's False

She is coming closer to me. I mentally block out his image. It's so easy to. Hunter has an anger problem and should seek help. Steph is my good friend and nothing more; it's true, it's true. We shared one night, not even a full hour of hot passionate love in my room. I guess it's all over now. But you know he can't stop me from dreaming about Steph. He can't stop me from fantasying about her being in my arms and not his. As I said before, Hunter has an anger management problem and she isn't safe around him. I want more than anything to hold her in my arms and take her—rescue her from him. It's my God given and my mission to do so.

"I think it's time for you to go back to your room," Mick says.

"Not until I get my medals back," I reply tightly.

"So did you really bang her?" he asks with a knowing smirk.

I turn on him in disgust and shake my head in disbelief. The damn nerve of people these days in the World Wrestling Federation. He has no integrity to be the WWF commissioner, and that is true.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I am an honorable person and athlete. A Gold medallist for crying out loud. Why don't I get any respect around here?"

"Save it, Kurt. We know you're not the goody two shoes all American apple pie Olympic hero you want everyone to believe."

"I am an honorable man." I insist, bobbing my head up and down.

"And that my friend is false. It's false, it's false."

Mick busts out laughing and the wrestlers are staring at us like we're crazy. I look again and Stephanie and Hunter are closer than before. They seem to be walking in slow motion. I glance at her figure and notice my medals dangling in her hand. Her eyes are black ice. Impenetrable and cold. What did he do to her? He didn't hurt her…I hope.

I still remember the first time I met her and lost myself in her eyes. We had been in our own world for a moment as her father introduced us to each other. She gave me a tour of the Titan Towers and I immediately knew that I had to befriend her…even if she did have a husband. A husband, who nearly ripped out my throat tonight. I don't want what we have together to end. She knows this is what she wants. Don't deny what you and I shared tonight, Steph. Which is why it hurts when she has a gloomy face or she is feeling sad. I want to be there to make her happy. I'm the only man who can make it right for her.

Hunter doesn't have a clue as to how to treat her right. He makes her cry and I make her smile. Everyone thinks she's a rich little bitch, who does anything to get what she wants. It's simply not true. If anyone would take the time to sit down and get to know her, like I have, they would be in shock. Stephanie is a wonderful, warm, thoughtful and beautiful woman. How dare they pass judgment on her because of Hunter. Everyone can talk their trash all they want. I swear the wrestlers lack so much intelligence that it's comical sometimes. She doesn't want to hurt him, but can't she see that being with him hurts me? I guess if she wants to go back to Hunter, then I can't really stop her. I'm tired of fighting for her attention and her heart, especially after tonight.

I look in their direction and they're a yard away from Mick and I. What am I saying? I do want her and I'll do what it takes till she's mine. Even if she resists, I know and she knows that I will always be here for her. In any way, shape, or form, I will be there for her. Remember when he forgot your birthday, Steph? I found her moping around by her self near her father's office in the Titan Towers refusing to speak to anybody.

"Stephanie?" I asked cautiously.

"Leave me alone."

She cupped her face with her hands. Her tears escaped although she tried to wipe them away before I saw them. Then she looked at me and she seemed perfectly fine. But I knew her better than that. I walked over to her and put my hands on her shoulders and massaged gently. She didn't turn around.

"Steph, please look at me."

She turned around slowly. With my fingers, I smoothed out her tears.

"What do you want?"

"To take you out of here."

"To where?"

"Anywhere that will put a lovely smile on your beautiful face."

She stepped away and turned around as if searching for somebody.

"Where's Hunter?"

"I don't know." I honestly didn't. He should have been here to comfort and console her. I guess I would make her feel better. I didn't mind at all. I lived to please her.

"I have to find him."

"Okay then, we'll look for him."

We began walking around the building in search of Triple H. After a half hour and no sign of him, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Holding her hand in mine, I walked out to the parking lot and found my blue '01 Toyota. I opened the door for her and she sat in the passenger side. I got into the driver's seat. Silently, I turned the ignition key and pulled out of the parking spot. Her sniffles slowly died down.

"Where are we going?"

"To a place I know you'll like."

A half hour later, we sat across from each other in a private booth at a fancy yet conservative Italian restaurant laughing over Caesar salad, garlic bread, Alfredo pasta, chicken Marsala, and two glasses of expensive aged red wine.

"Umm, I can't eat anymore," I pushed my plate of pasta away.

She giggled like a schoolgirl and burped unexpectedly.

"Whoops!" She covered her mouth with her hand and her eyes were gleaming with restored happiness.

"You're excused," I flash a grin her away.

"Thank you," she smiled giddily.

"No problem. It's my pleasure." It always is.

"I really mean it. Thank you for this Kurt…it was very sweet. I appreciate it very much. This was very special."

I search my heart for the words to tell her.

"You are special." Damn, I was thinking more along the lines of: will you drop Hunter and be with me?

"So are you."

"No fair. I said it first," I picked up a loaf of garlic bread and throw at her. She lifts her arms to protect her face.

"Stop!" she squealed.

The waiter gave me the check and then walked off throwing a funny glance at us over his shoulder. Steph watched him leave and then threw the garlic bread back at me.

We both laughed and then an uncomfortable silence followed. We just sat there and enjoy the silence. I observe her swishing her hair over her shoulder and she smiled when she sees me watching her. Finally, she stood up. I paid up front and we walked back to my car. Just before I open the door for her, she plants a juicy kiss on my cheek. My eyes fly wide open in shock from what she just did. I caress that spot to see if it's real or not.

"You liked it?"

"Yes…but would you kiss me…on my lips?" I dare her waiting to see her reaction.

She moved forward and wrapping her arms around my shoulders and neck, her lips brushed against mine and then pressed down firmly. My lips could have stayed locked to hers forever and sometimes I wish they had. I held her in my arms and squeezed her lightly. I was in shock because she hadn't even hesitated. She was starved for affection; it's true it's true. She pulled away from me and wrinkled her nose.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Garlic breath."

"You too!"

We both laughed in each other's arms and then I drove her back home. In the car, she smiled all the way, her tears forgotten and replaced with radiance.

"Where's your mind at?" Mick asks interrupting my reverie.

"Somewhere where yours shouldn't be," I snap.

For a month after Steph's date to the restaurant, I worked out constantly to tone my body and make it even more built and carved than it already was. I always worked out, but this time I did it with a sick addictive fever that made Edge and Christian wonder if I was becoming obsessive compulsive.

"Working out for your favorite gal, Step-on-me?" Edge grinned and watched me pump iron. He held a boom box in his hands and bopped to the rap music blaring out. LL Cool J rapping eighty miles an hour to his song "Shut 'Em Down."

"Stephanie." I remember gritting my teeth passionately as I lifted eighty pounds, forty on each side of the iron bar.

"Step-on-me. Dude, you're obsessive compulsive," Christian said standing guard to make sure I didn't falter with the weights.

"Obsessed with Step-on-me and compulsed to impress her with big muscles."

"'Compulsed' is not a word," I said to Edge as I got up and turned the music off. They walked away in a huff and discussed buying Kodak film to take pictures of my next work out for blackmail against me.

All this I did for Stephanie. Lifting those weights, I did it for her and I saw her watching me in my mind. I took insults for my knightly quest for her to show her that I was her true Olympic Hero. I hope she knows how much I do want her…and would still do anything just to have her in my arms and away from that deranged Hunter. I look up and see them standing together. Triple H sends daggers my way and I stare him down with no fear. Steph looks at me with regret in her eyes and something else…that I can't quite place. Mick looks from them to me and from me to them. My time is up and they are here with my medals. Time to preserve my three I's and face the music….