"That blonde bimbo is next."

"Which one?  Christian or Torrie?"
"Hmm…that is a good question, you decide."

"Well, this is a hard decision, do we let one of them stew for a while, or do we strike at them."

"Oh for the love of God Chris, we'll go after Torrie, there, decision made."

"I still can't believe someone hasn't returned your ring," Hunter said gruffly as he brushed his teeth.

Stephanie looked down, pretending to sniffle, "Please, I don't want to talk about it Hunter."

He patted her lower back, "It's ok Steph, if someone doesn't return it, I'll buy you a new one that will be ten times better than the one you have."

"But that's the thing Hunter, I want my old ring, it means so much to me."

Stephanie had honed her lying skills long ago, and she was such an expert at it, she could probably fool a lie detector test.  Maybe it had everything to do with have no remorse whatsoever.  She had no scruples, and there was very little that she wouldn't do to get her way.  This, this lying to Hunter, it was bush league, the idiot couldn't even tell.  So much for knowing someone so well you can see all their tells.  Not that she had any, but if she did, he wouldn't notice those either.

Hunter rinsed his mouth, then leaned over to kiss her temple, "We will find your ring if we have to root through everyone's things or get search warrants to go to their houses."

"It's been a week Hunter, an entire week, it's not coming back," she said, the tears welling in her eyes.  The crying was easy.  She had learned to fabricate tears years ago.  It was the key to getting her Daddy to do whatever she wanted.

"Yes it is," he said resolutely, "Whoever the bastard is that stole your ring I'm going to get them, and when I do, they're going to jail."

"For what? Theft? I mean, isn't that not a big enough crime."

"You forget who your parents are," he said, "They'll make sure the perpetrator will get what's coming to them."

She looked up at him, her eyes hopeful and shining with a strange light, "If you say so, I trust you Hunter."

"I know you do, and I'm glad you trust me," he said, leaning in to kiss her, "I love you."

She looked down, trying to act demure, as if his words were too beautiful for her to bear hearing them.  But she was really just rolling her eyes.  She hated hearing him say those words.  Once upon a time, she had welcomed them, then he had to go and screw that up.  Screwed up everything he did, and that's why she couldn't possibly say those words back, not when they were laced with hatred and disgust.  She at least believed in some semblance of love and didn't think that it was right to hurt the person you love, as much Hunter had hurt her.

"I just wish I knew who took it," she said, "It was so beautiful, and you gave it to me, and I was so happy."

"I'm happy too," he said, kissing the tip of her nose, "But don't think about it, we're getting married still, in such a short time, focus on that, and how wonderful the wedding is going to be."

She smiled a little, "It will be beautiful huh?"

"It'll be the best wedding this world has ever seen," he smiled, "And everything will run without a hitch."

She smiled at this, "Yes, it'll be beautiful."

Hunter turned to walk into the bedroom and she sneered after him.  Bastard thought that he could control her, manipulate her, break her heart, and then marry her.  Oh, she'd marry him alright, then take all his money and leave him for broke, out in the street on his ass.  She clutched the brush in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.  She wanted to throw her brush at his head.  Then when he was stunned, she'd punch him in the face.  Chris had taught her how to fight, thought it might come in handy, and while she knew she couldn't beat Hunter, she could at least hurt him.

Hunter turned around and the sneer dropped from her face, replaced by a sweet smile.  He gave her a smile of her own, and spoke, "You coming to bed?"

"In a second," she told him.  She went back to brushing her hair, the brush gliding smoothly through her brown locks.  Chris liked her hair straight and shiny, Hunter didn't, he was always telling her to cut her hair.  She refused every time, but not for his lack of trying.  She grow her hair so long so she could strangle him.  How was that for revenge?

She finished up in the bathroom and entered the bedroom again, switching off the light in the bathroom and bathing the entire room with an inky blackness.  She walked slowly to the bed and climbed in.  Hunter was next to her in three seconds flat, kissing her, touching her.  She just laid there, knowing it would go no farther.  Hunter wanted to abstain from sex until the wedding, some stupid purity, we'll miss each other crap.  As if that changed the fact they had had sex before.  It was all silly to her, but she didn't care.  If she didn't have to fuck this Neanderthal, it was just as well, she hated him anyways, no reason she should give up her body to him.

He kissed her one final time, and she returned it so as not to raise his suspicions.  Moments later he was laying on his side, his back to her.  She lay there, staring up, not moving until she heard the calm, rhythmic breathing coming from the other side of the bed.  She'd wait a few more minutes before getting up.  Hunter slept like a log, but she didn't want to risk him getting up since he had just fallen asleep.  So she lay there, listening, baiting her breath, hoping that he wouldn't wake up so she could make her escape.

A few minutes later she was out of her bed and stalking quietly towards the door.  It didn't squeak, she had been sure to listen earlier, and she stealthily slipped out into the yellow light of the hallway.  She scanned both directions, then made out for a dead run towards Chris's room.  She took the key card out of her pocket and went inside quickly.  It was pitch black, and she couldn't hear anything.  That was strange, Chris was supposed to be here.

She walked in a little ways, hoping to see him, or hear him, since it was so dark, but nothing.  Could he be out with those people?  It was possible, but he hadn't mentioned his going out with them.  He would've told her, somehow through a note or something, that was what he always did.  She groped her way over to the couch, intending to wait for him.  Sitting here in the dark, alone, was still better than sleeping with Hunter.  The couch was warm and comforting, she could probably fall asleep here, but that would be terrible, she might sleep until morning and then Hunter would get suspicious.

She sat there for a few minutes, in complete silence.

"Waiting for someone," a voice said right next to her ear.

Stephanie screamed and jumped up off the couch.  A single light next to the couch turned on and Chris was sitting there, a sly grin on his face.  Stephanie put her hand on her heart, trying to get the beat to return to normal.  She glared at Chris as he started laughing at her fear.

"How long were you there?" she demanded.

"The entire time," he said with a raised eyebrow, "Surprised you didn't sit on me."

"So you were here the whole time and didn't even tell me."

"I got a kick out of seeing you think I wasn't here, sitting all alone on the couch."

Stephanie walked towards him and straddled his lap, "You're such a bad boy, you should be punished."

"No, you should be punished," he said, "For not taking off your clothes and waiting for me here naked."

"Oh, but you were here all along," she whispered huskily, tracing a finger down his neck, "Watching me, looking at me, does that turn you on Chris?"

"Not really, I just said you naked would probably do the trick."

"Maybe I can take care of that," she said as she unbutton the top two buttons on her pajama tops, exposing her ample cleavage.

"So what's the story?" he asked, not giving in by staring down her shirt.

"Torrie, me, the ring, the plan, everything is all sorted out," she said, unbuttoning the next button slowly.

He still didn't look down, "Yeah, your ring--"

"HUNTER'S ring, I refuse to be associated with it," she told him, taking his hand and putting it directly on her breast.

He took his hand off of her and gestured to the air, "Yeah, yeah, whatever, the ring is in my bag.  It's all ready for drop-off."

"Good," she whispered, "Then tomorrow, you do your job, and I'll do mine."

"Sounds good," he said, staring into her eyes.

"Hunter's livid about it, it won't take much to set him off, and once my ring is found, Torrie will be carted off," she explained, taking his hand and putting it back on her breast.

He took it off once again, "That's good, so what's my pretense for going into her locker room?"

"Well, you get Christian and Kurt, and go hang out with them, it can't hurt you know, I mean, you are…friends."

"No, the only friend I have is you," he said, grinning, "And I intend to keep it that way."

"Is that why you're nixing my advances, or do you really not want my body tonight," she said, "Because I'm ready and willing."

"I don't need you to make me touch you, I'll touch you whenever and wherever I want," he growled, kissing her deeply.

She ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him tighter against her.  Her leverage from straddling her lap let her push him against the back of the couch as she deepened the kiss.  He ran his hands underneath her top and up her back, massaging the skin with his fingers.  Suddenly she felt herself being lifted up from the couch, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.  His hands were underneath her ass, holding her up as he walked outside on the balcony, still keeping the kiss.  He sat her on the ledge and she pulled away.

"What are you doing?" she asked breathlessly, "You thinking about pushing me over the edge?"

"Not this edge," he said, kissing her again, "Maybe another one though."

She pulled away, "I better get back to Hunter."

She hopped down off the ledge and onto the balcony.  She started buttoning up her top as she walked inside.  Chris watched her walk off, taking in the sway of her steps that seemed to mesmerize him every time he looked at her.  She was truly a spectacle to see.

"You're such a tease," he said as he leaned against the sliding door.

She turned to face him, and gave him a slight smile, "How do you figure that?"

"You do all that and then don't let me fuck you," he said, shaking his head.

"I do not."

"No, you keep doing it," he said, "We haven't fucked since the night I thought you betrayed me."

"But we're just friends," she said, walking over to him, and kissing his cheek, "Just friends."

"Oh, so kissing me like you just did, that was just a friendly gesture?" Chris asked.

"Uh huh," she nodded slowly, "I like making my friends feel close to me." She pushed herself up against his body.

"Not going to work," he said, leaning down and whispering into her ear, "I'm too good for you."

"Never," she replied, "You're not too good for me.  We're equal."

He licked her lips, "So why don't we go into the bedroom and have some fun, you know, show them what equality means."

"Cheesy pick-up line," she said, "Besides, I made a pact not to have sex before the wedding, and I'm sticking to that."

He frowned, "Who made that decision?"

"I did," she said with a smile, "So I'm keeping my end of the bargain, and the man I'm marrying is going to as well."

He scowled, thinking about that.  She gave him a smile and another kiss.  She pulled away and looked into his eyes, confusion swimming in them.  He gave her a little grin and she just patted his cheek playfully.  He knew what that look was in her eyes, she was thinking of times to come.  He let her go then, knowing that tomorrow, that smile on her face would be wider, wider with victory.

"Until tomorrow," she whispered before she disappeared from his sight.

He watched her leave and stood there, "God, she's incredible."

The next day, Chris was taping up his wrists in his dressing room, thinking about how he'd get the ring over to Torrie's dressing room.  He took a glove out and then a cloth, wiping the ring so that any and all fingerprints would be gone, lest Vince and Hunter try to have it fingered, which he was sure they would, if they could even get a print, which was unlikely, but better he kept safe.  Holding the ring against his wrist, he taped over it, creating a little lump against his wrist.  He tore the tape and pressed down on the tape to make sure it was steady.

Getting up, he went in search of Christian and Kurt.  They probably weren't doing anything at the moment.  That would give him the great opportunity to persuade them to go into the women's locker room.  It was too early for any of them to be changing, so it would be safe.  He went in search of them, figuring they'd be at catering right now.  Good, everyone would be there and they'd be easier to get together.

Sure enough all the people he needed were sitting at one table.  He grabbed a plate and put some pasta on it.  He wasn't hungry, but he needed something to make him blend in.  He stepped away from the buffet and his "friends" waved him over to join him.  Sitting around the round table was Kurt, Christian, Torrie, and Dawn.  He sat down next to Torrie and glanced around the table.  He felt dirty even sitting here with them.

"Hey Chris, what's up?" Dawn said.

"Nothing, how are you by the way?  We haven't gotten to talk," he said, giving her a supportive smile.  It was all he could do to laugh in his face.

Dawn teared up a little, "I'm ok, I guess, I just can't stop picturing them together.  You know, we had been talking about marriage and to just have him…it hurts, I don't think I'll get over it."

"Oh sweetie, it'll be fine," Torrie said, patting her friend's shoulder.

"You guys look like you're almost done," Chris said, looking around the table.

"We are, but we can wait for you," Kurt said.

"I'm not that hungry anyways," he said, taking a few bites, "Where are you guys going?"

"Oh, Dawn got a new dress, and the guys want to see it," Torrie said, "Ogle her of course."

"I'm all for ogling," Chris said, smiling.  He wouldn't have to do too much work after all.  It was as if the powers that be wanted him and Stephanie to get revenge.

"You guys are terrible," Torrie said as they all got up.

Chris brought up the rear of the group, watching the other four as they laughed and talked.  Let them have their fun now, it would soon all go to hell.  He followed everyone into the women's locker room and found it empty save for them.  Now he'd just have to figure out how to get the ring in Torrie's bag.  But first, he'd have to find out which bag was hers.

"Nice," Christian said, holding up someone's lacy bra, "Now who's is this?"

"Don't touch people's clothes," Dawn said laughing throwing a shirt at Christian.

Christian threw the shirt back at her and this started a clothing fight.  Bras, panties, shirts, pants, and any other kind of clothing were flying around haphazardly between them.  Chris took this moment of lack of focus to find Torrie's bag.  It was pink and pretty and he laughed as he slipped the ring in.  All he needed to do now was implicate her.

"You guys," Chris yelled, "I better get going because I need to talk to my opponent tonight."

"Ok, bye Chris," they all yelled as they kept throwing things at each other.

Chris walked out smugly and looked both ways.  He saw Stephanie casually leaning against the wall, talking to Hunter.  He walked by her and gave her a slight nod.  She smiled up at Hunter, and he thought it was her she was smiling about, but it was just Chris.  Chris turned the corner and went into a dark hallway, away from anyone and everything possible.  He slipped out the exit into the dark of night.  Walking around to the other side of the arena, he found a dock of pay phones unattended to.

Walking up quietly to one, he dialed the number for Vince's cell phone.  He waited for it to pick up, tapping his fingers impatiently on the steel side of the console.

"Vince McMahon, this better be good."

Chris deepened his voice greatly, "Vince, I know where your daughter's ring is."

"Who is this?"

"A concerned citizen."

"Fine, fine, who took it?"

"Check Torrie Wilson," he said gruffly, "Look in her bags, I saw her sneak out of Stephanie's dressing room."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," he said, "Just check."

"Thank you, whoever you are."

Vince got up out of his seat, but not before calling the police.  He walked down to Stephanie and Hunter's dressing room and knocked loudly.  Hunter opened the door angrily until he saw who was on the other side.  Stephanie smiled at her handiwork and got up to look at her father over Hunter's shoulder.

"What is it Vince?" Hunter asked.

"We may have found Stephanie's ring."

"Really Daddy?" Stephanie said excitedly, clapping her hands together.

"Yes, as soon as the police arrive, we'll find out."

The police arrived shortly thereafter, and they all trekked down to the women's locker room.  One of the police officers rapped on the door and Dawn answered it, looking around curiously at the officers.  The rest of the women in the locker room came to the door to see what was going on.

"Where is Miss Wilson?" the officer said.

"That's me," she said, coming forward, "Is there something that I can do for you?"

"We've received a tip that said that you were seen leaving a locker room where a very valuable ring was stolen.  We were wondering what you thought of that?"

"I have no idea what that's about," Torrie said, "I wasn't around her room."

"Would you mind if we looked through your things?"

"Um, ok," Torrie said, taking a step back and pointing to her bag, "That's my bag right there, feel free."

Two of the officers walked over to the bag and one stood on watch as the other put some gloves on and rooted through the bag.   Stephanie watched, clinging to Hunter's arm, and giving him looks of hope occasionally.  She knew that it would be in there, but she was thinking about what kind of level of surprise and happiness she should give.  She didn't want to be too over the top.

"Is this the ring?" the officer asked, holding up the ring.

"Yes!" Stephanie said, "That's my ring!"

"What?" Torrie said, looking around at everyone who was looking at her accusingly, "I don't know how that got in there."

"Likely story," Hunter said, "How dare you!"

"Torrie," Vince said, "Your contract is hereby absolved, and these nice police officers will be taking you away now."

The officer went over to Torrie and started to handcuff her while telling her, her rights.  She looked around confused, still blurting out that she didn't know how it got there.  To everyone it sounded fake, but Stephanie knew she was telling the truth, but what everyone didn't know…well, it wouldn't hurt her and Chris and in the grand scheme of things, wasn't that all that mattered?

"We'll need to take the ring for evidence, but it'll be returned to you shortly."

"Thank you," Stephanie said, trying to sound as grateful as possible, "Please press all the charges you can, I'm just so glad my ring is back."

She hugged Hunter who hugged her back tightly.  She glanced over her shoulder at Chris who was standing a few short feet away.  She gave him a sinister look and he winked slowly at her.  Glancing around quickly, she licked her lips slowly, enticing him for some fun later.

Hunter pulled away from her and she quickly changed her look to be more sweet and innocent, "I'm glad we found my ring."

"I don't know why that bitch would take it," Hunter said angrily.

"Me either, but let's forget about that, let's focus on the future, and us, and what that ring symbolizes."

"I like that idea."

She was sure he did, but his happiness wouldn't last.

She planned on making it up to Hunter.

She planned on making him hurt forever.

But there were still a couple more people who she and Chris had to get to first.

Kurt Angle, watch your back, your number is up.