Stephanie could feel the excitement radiating out from her father, and she
was feeling it too. Neither of them had expected it in the least, but the
audience was actually excited to see them--or rather, her. They'd been
booing Vince for these past couple months on a regular basis, so it stood
to reason all of this cheering was for her sake alone.
It was strange, but Stephanie felt like she was coming home. The thousands of people in the audience, and the millions watching at home might despise her, call her names, hate her, but they loved to hate her, and that made all the difference to her. She didn't mind that she was hated with a passion by the fans, no, she fed off of it. They were her people, after all, her family's livelihood, and Stephanie had always had a great appreciation for the fans, even if they weren't hers--they were in a matter of speaking though, family, and she felt she needed to give them a good show of it whenever possible. After all, she had invited them into the deepest recesses of her own private life, and into her own marriage and close friendships, so she felt a certain connection with everyone.
No, she didn't mind the hatred, but much to her surprise, she was rather enjoying the nice reaction the audience was giving her. It was almost as if they knew that from now on, nothing was ever going to be the same. She had known that, intellectually, at least since she'd thought up this scheme, but now her body was confirming it. Every nerve ending seemed to be on fire, her legs felt like they were ready to jump sky high...it was a pure adrenaline rush, and Stephanie loved it. She was here to reclaim her life and it seemed like everything was just falling into place somehow...she couldn't explain that intuition but that was exactly how she was feeling. Stephanie smiled up at her father as he held the ropes open for and she carefully stepped inside of the ring, holding the microphone to her mouth. She gave the audience a coquettish smile, took a nearly unnoticeable deep breath and looked out at the still yelling crowd.
"I know what must be running through everyone's minds. And I can't blame you for being confused, either. I know you're all wondering what the blue hell is she doing here? I mean hey, Triple H took me out, got me out of the Federation for good, right?"
The crowd suddenly seemed uncertain where she was going with her opening statement, but Stephanie heard quite clearly some kid in the third row saying how she shouldn't use The Rock's catch phrase flippantly, and whatever nervousness Stephanie had been feeling suddenly drained out of her and she wanted to laugh. The kid had actually been upset over the 'blue hell' remark, like she'd been caught using Jesus' name in vain or something. This was so delicious.
"Well, at least, Triple H THOUGHT it was for good!" she screamed louder. "I'm back, and I think that you deserve to know how it's possible. It was, after all, supposed to be an airtight contract keeping me out of all WWF dealings FOREVER, now wasn't it, Dad?" she prompted.
Her father picked up his cue. "Yes, it certainly was, Stephanie. But luckily, our lawyers found a loophole. It's true you cannot participate as a valet or anything like how you previously participated in the workings of the WWF, escorting friends or--Vince paused in disgust--ex-husbands--to matches, but you can still have a role to play. In this case, a very important, powerful role."
The audience was starting to shake, feeling like the whole face of the WWF had changed. And as a collective whole, they were happy about it. Stagnation had started to settle in, but now with Stephanie back, there was a vibe in the audience that said she was going to take them on one heck of a ride. And they were right.
"Yes, but whoever would take me as an assistant?" Stephanie grinned, asking innocently, deliberately provoking the audience.
"Someone with impeccable taste, someone who is in desperate need of an intelligent, bright woman with experience in this company who can help him run a multi-billion dollar corporation....in other words, Me!"
The audience popped at this.
Vince continued, a huge, sinister grin on his face, thinking of that jackass Flair who had to be watching at home. Take this, he thought, punching Flair in his imagination: "So late this morning, my beautiful daughter and I agreed to start out a partnership of sorts. Stephanie is now my executive assistant, with all of the rights and privileges that position entitles her to. Which of course includes, helping to decide which matches take place--"
Now there was the beginnings of grumblings, but still the audience seemed to be excited over the proposition of Stephanie setting up matches again. They all knew she wasn't exactly the fairest person around, but she definitely knew how to dream up some interesting matches.
"--along with assisting me in dealings with all of the WWF Superstars on Smackdown. She will have the authority to deal with anyone in this company as she so chooses, so long as she has my approval, and let me assure you all, I cannot fathom at this point, anything that I would disapprove of. As a matter of fact--" Vince was suddenly cut off by Kurt Angle's theme music. The audience immediately started booing. Vince was irate but Stephanie quickly whispered "Trust me, dad...all part of the plan." Vince looked at Stephanie suspiciously.
Stephanie quickly walked over to the other end of the ring and when Kurt stepped through the ropes she wrapped her arms around him and threw her legs around his waist. He hadn't been prepared for that, but quickly adjusted his stance. Hunter, you had sooo better be watching right now, Stephanie thought to herself.
Hunter of course, was watching on the television, seething behind the stage. Stacy was also watching next to him, along with everyone else who had found out Stephanie was back, everyone craning for a look. Somehow though, everyone managed to keep a safe distance from Hunter. It was wise, Stacy thought, because the man looked like he was going to pop. Funny enough though, he had been watching with a modicum of amusement mixed in with the anger, at least until Kurt had run out. Then it had been all anger.
But back on stage, Stephanie and Kurt were in the middle of an extremely well-rehearsed play. Kurt picked up his mike and started speaking: "Stephanie, this is such a wonderful surprise! I knew you'd find a way back into the WWF--and a way back to me (--the audience roared, half in anger, half in laughter--) but I didn't think that it would be this quick! All I can say is, and I KNOW I speak for all the fans too--Welcome home, beautiful!" Kurt was really laying it on, Stephanie thought. But now it was time. Just like they'd practiced. She opened her mouth to speak, but somehow, nothing was coming out.
Come on Steph, you can do this, you can do this...Oh, God, who am I kidding? she thought. I can't do this. I can't do this at all. How can I? This is so wrong, this could blow up in my face--but I have to! She argued with herself. That's all there was to it, she had to do this. This was her plan, she had to see it through, so just SAY it! She told herself firmly.
"Well, I'm glad you like surprises, Kurt, because I have one more for you! Congratulations, you're going to be a daddy!" she yelled jubilantly, trying to laugh in order to cover up the tears that inexplicably were starting to fall. This was just deja vu all over again, standing in a ring, saying she was pregnant. Only difference was that last time she was in the ring with the man that she wanted to father her children, and this time she wasn't. Well, that and the fact that this time she actually was pregnant. Kurt was yelling "Yes!" and picking her off her feet, twirling her around. Funny, last time it had happened just like this, but with Hunter doing the twirling. Last time she'd been filled with happiness, this time she just felt like she was going to throw up. Actually, she really did think she was going to throw up...
"Yes, that's right, Kurt, we're having a baby!" she yelled again, for good measure. Where the hell was Hunter? her brain cried out. What if she'd miscalculated? What if he didn't come out? She'd thought this through, all of it, and in every scenario she'd envisioned, the success of her plot settled on one thing: Hunter had to come into the ring now! He had to, otherwise this whole thing was dead before it even started. Tears were starting to fall freely down her face, and it might have looked like tears of happiness, but in reality, they were tears that betrayed her fear. If he didn't come out...Please come out, Hunter, she prayed silently, please, please, please, I love you so much, don't let it end like this....come out, damn you!
It was strange, but Stephanie felt like she was coming home. The thousands of people in the audience, and the millions watching at home might despise her, call her names, hate her, but they loved to hate her, and that made all the difference to her. She didn't mind that she was hated with a passion by the fans, no, she fed off of it. They were her people, after all, her family's livelihood, and Stephanie had always had a great appreciation for the fans, even if they weren't hers--they were in a matter of speaking though, family, and she felt she needed to give them a good show of it whenever possible. After all, she had invited them into the deepest recesses of her own private life, and into her own marriage and close friendships, so she felt a certain connection with everyone.
No, she didn't mind the hatred, but much to her surprise, she was rather enjoying the nice reaction the audience was giving her. It was almost as if they knew that from now on, nothing was ever going to be the same. She had known that, intellectually, at least since she'd thought up this scheme, but now her body was confirming it. Every nerve ending seemed to be on fire, her legs felt like they were ready to jump sky high...it was a pure adrenaline rush, and Stephanie loved it. She was here to reclaim her life and it seemed like everything was just falling into place somehow...she couldn't explain that intuition but that was exactly how she was feeling. Stephanie smiled up at her father as he held the ropes open for and she carefully stepped inside of the ring, holding the microphone to her mouth. She gave the audience a coquettish smile, took a nearly unnoticeable deep breath and looked out at the still yelling crowd.
"I know what must be running through everyone's minds. And I can't blame you for being confused, either. I know you're all wondering what the blue hell is she doing here? I mean hey, Triple H took me out, got me out of the Federation for good, right?"
The crowd suddenly seemed uncertain where she was going with her opening statement, but Stephanie heard quite clearly some kid in the third row saying how she shouldn't use The Rock's catch phrase flippantly, and whatever nervousness Stephanie had been feeling suddenly drained out of her and she wanted to laugh. The kid had actually been upset over the 'blue hell' remark, like she'd been caught using Jesus' name in vain or something. This was so delicious.
"Well, at least, Triple H THOUGHT it was for good!" she screamed louder. "I'm back, and I think that you deserve to know how it's possible. It was, after all, supposed to be an airtight contract keeping me out of all WWF dealings FOREVER, now wasn't it, Dad?" she prompted.
Her father picked up his cue. "Yes, it certainly was, Stephanie. But luckily, our lawyers found a loophole. It's true you cannot participate as a valet or anything like how you previously participated in the workings of the WWF, escorting friends or--Vince paused in disgust--ex-husbands--to matches, but you can still have a role to play. In this case, a very important, powerful role."
The audience was starting to shake, feeling like the whole face of the WWF had changed. And as a collective whole, they were happy about it. Stagnation had started to settle in, but now with Stephanie back, there was a vibe in the audience that said she was going to take them on one heck of a ride. And they were right.
"Yes, but whoever would take me as an assistant?" Stephanie grinned, asking innocently, deliberately provoking the audience.
"Someone with impeccable taste, someone who is in desperate need of an intelligent, bright woman with experience in this company who can help him run a multi-billion dollar corporation....in other words, Me!"
The audience popped at this.
Vince continued, a huge, sinister grin on his face, thinking of that jackass Flair who had to be watching at home. Take this, he thought, punching Flair in his imagination: "So late this morning, my beautiful daughter and I agreed to start out a partnership of sorts. Stephanie is now my executive assistant, with all of the rights and privileges that position entitles her to. Which of course includes, helping to decide which matches take place--"
Now there was the beginnings of grumblings, but still the audience seemed to be excited over the proposition of Stephanie setting up matches again. They all knew she wasn't exactly the fairest person around, but she definitely knew how to dream up some interesting matches.
"--along with assisting me in dealings with all of the WWF Superstars on Smackdown. She will have the authority to deal with anyone in this company as she so chooses, so long as she has my approval, and let me assure you all, I cannot fathom at this point, anything that I would disapprove of. As a matter of fact--" Vince was suddenly cut off by Kurt Angle's theme music. The audience immediately started booing. Vince was irate but Stephanie quickly whispered "Trust me, dad...all part of the plan." Vince looked at Stephanie suspiciously.
Stephanie quickly walked over to the other end of the ring and when Kurt stepped through the ropes she wrapped her arms around him and threw her legs around his waist. He hadn't been prepared for that, but quickly adjusted his stance. Hunter, you had sooo better be watching right now, Stephanie thought to herself.
Hunter of course, was watching on the television, seething behind the stage. Stacy was also watching next to him, along with everyone else who had found out Stephanie was back, everyone craning for a look. Somehow though, everyone managed to keep a safe distance from Hunter. It was wise, Stacy thought, because the man looked like he was going to pop. Funny enough though, he had been watching with a modicum of amusement mixed in with the anger, at least until Kurt had run out. Then it had been all anger.
But back on stage, Stephanie and Kurt were in the middle of an extremely well-rehearsed play. Kurt picked up his mike and started speaking: "Stephanie, this is such a wonderful surprise! I knew you'd find a way back into the WWF--and a way back to me (--the audience roared, half in anger, half in laughter--) but I didn't think that it would be this quick! All I can say is, and I KNOW I speak for all the fans too--Welcome home, beautiful!" Kurt was really laying it on, Stephanie thought. But now it was time. Just like they'd practiced. She opened her mouth to speak, but somehow, nothing was coming out.
Come on Steph, you can do this, you can do this...Oh, God, who am I kidding? she thought. I can't do this. I can't do this at all. How can I? This is so wrong, this could blow up in my face--but I have to! She argued with herself. That's all there was to it, she had to do this. This was her plan, she had to see it through, so just SAY it! She told herself firmly.
"Well, I'm glad you like surprises, Kurt, because I have one more for you! Congratulations, you're going to be a daddy!" she yelled jubilantly, trying to laugh in order to cover up the tears that inexplicably were starting to fall. This was just deja vu all over again, standing in a ring, saying she was pregnant. Only difference was that last time she was in the ring with the man that she wanted to father her children, and this time she wasn't. Well, that and the fact that this time she actually was pregnant. Kurt was yelling "Yes!" and picking her off her feet, twirling her around. Funny, last time it had happened just like this, but with Hunter doing the twirling. Last time she'd been filled with happiness, this time she just felt like she was going to throw up. Actually, she really did think she was going to throw up...
"Yes, that's right, Kurt, we're having a baby!" she yelled again, for good measure. Where the hell was Hunter? her brain cried out. What if she'd miscalculated? What if he didn't come out? She'd thought this through, all of it, and in every scenario she'd envisioned, the success of her plot settled on one thing: Hunter had to come into the ring now! He had to, otherwise this whole thing was dead before it even started. Tears were starting to fall freely down her face, and it might have looked like tears of happiness, but in reality, they were tears that betrayed her fear. If he didn't come out...Please come out, Hunter, she prayed silently, please, please, please, I love you so much, don't let it end like this....come out, damn you!