Hunter's eyes traveled around the room he was in.  Bischoff had a limo pick him up at the hotel and drive him here.  Here happened to be a club.  The roped off area that they were in had few settees in black leather grouped around a glass table.  A group of women were gathered around a small bar off to one side.   

  Hunter's gaze was drawn back to the blonde woman in front of him swinging her hips back and forth in time to the bass heavy music.  She was attempting to get his attention and an invitation.  He surveyed her for a minute or so and then turned his head to look at Eric Bischoff.

  Bischoff grinned at Hunter.  "So what do you think?  She worth any of your time or attention?" he asked as he nodded his head in the direction of the woman.

  A half smile appeared on Hunter's face.  "Nah.  Not my type."

  Bischoff gestured to another woman to come forward as the blonde walked back to the bar.  Inwardly Hunter sighed.  This had been going on for the past twenty minutes.  Bischoff had lured him here under the pretense of talking about what Hunter could expect as the World Champion.  Hunter guessed this little perk was one of them. 

  He watched as another woman appeared in front of him.  Not bad; tall, dark hair, nice mouth and a very nice set of breasts that threatened to spill over the top of her outfit.  She was sheathed in a little red dress that matched the red of her lips. 

  She promptly sat herself on Hunter's lap.  She leaned in so that her mouth was right next to his ear.  "What can I do for you this evening?" she whispered huskily as her hand caressed the side of his neck.

   Hunter looked over at Bischoff again, this time with one eyebrow raised.  "I think I like her," he mouthed.  Hunter inclined his mouth towards her ear.  "I'm sure I can think of a few things," he replied in a low voice. 

  The woman's hand drifted around to the back of his neck.  "Would this help?"  Her mouth hovered near his ear and her tongue darted out to gently caress his earlobe.

  Hunter closed his eyes briefly to enjoy the attention, but it was dampened as an image of Evie came to mind.  He felt a brief pang of guilt followed by anger.  He wasn't attached to Evie.  As far as he was concerned, their relationship wasn't serious.  He had been enjoying the way things were between them.  No strings attached.  Why ruin a good thing?  Opening his eyes, he saw Bischoff watching him. 

  Hunter pulled his head back to look at the woman sitting on his lap.  "I appreciate the attention, but I need to speak with my associate."

  The woman said nothing as she slid off his lap.  "Just signal when you're ready."  She turned and slowly walked back the way she had come.

  Hunter watched her, then turned to Bischoff.  "So is this one of the things I can expect as a World Champion?"

  Bischoff laughed.  "You bet.  I mean, I'm sure you have no problem with women, but I can't imagine you've been getting too much action with your assistant hanging around all the time."

  Hunter smirked.  "She doesn't hang around all the time."

  "Still, it's always nice to have variety," Bischoff continued.  "Speaking of Evie, how much longer are you planning to keep her around?"

  Hunter shrugged.  "Not sure.  Why?"

  Bischoff leaned closer.  "How long has she been with you?"

  "About a year."
  "You think you could get along without her now?"

  "What are you getting at Bischoff?" Hunter growled.

  "Just that she's a liability Triple H."  He smiled knowingly.  "I've seen how you react when Jericho gets a hold of her.  Once word gets out that you can be affected by anything that might happen to her... well, let's just say you may have more problems than you can handle."  

  Hunter's eyes narrowed.  "So basically you're saying that you want me to get rid of her, is that right?"

  Bischoff held up his hands.  "Hey, that's up to you.  All I'm saying is that now that you're the champion, people will be lining up to strip you of that title and they'll use anything they can get their hands on.  Or anyone."

  Hunter sat back as he contemplated what Bischoff said.  The thought had crossed his mind a couple of times lately.  He knew from experience with Stephanie that things like that could happen and probably would.  "I'll give it some thought," he finally responded.

  "I know you will," Bischoff answered as he gestured towards the women he had lined up earlier, including the one Hunter had liked.  "In the meantime, let's make some use of the entertainment."  He grinned like a Cheshire cat at Hunter.

************************** 

   Hunter quietly let himself into the hotel room he shared with Evie.  The door softly clicked shut and he went into the bathroom where he stripped down and showered.  Evie slept like the dead, so he wasn't too concerned about her waking up.  Once he finished his shower, he wrapped a towel around himself and left the bathroom.  He carefully pulled on a pair of shorts and then picked his way across the room to the bed.   

  He dropped the towel on the floor and as he crawled under the sheet, he noticed that Evie's familiar weight was missing from the other side of the bed. 

  Hunter turned the bedside light on to find that Evie wasn't in the room.  He glanced over to where she had left her suitcase.  It was still there, but it looked like she had gone through it.  Hunter looked for a note or something that might indicate where she had gone, but found nothing.  He wondered where she had gone.

  He sat down on the bed.  Where the hell was she?  It wasn't like her to just take off.  It was bad enough that he had come creeping in after 2 a.m., but to not find her here?  That was really strange.  As he ruminated on several possibilities, he heard the electronic clicking of the door lock.  It opened and Evie walked in.

  She looked up in surprise to find the light on and Hunter sitting on the bed.  She let the door close behind her and she nonchalantly tossed the keycard on top of the television.

  He looked over her attire.  She was wearing a pair of black flared pants with high heeled boots and a black top that covered one shoulder.  Her hair was swept up in a knot.    "Where were you?" Hunter asked.

  Evie laid the jacket that was draped over one arm across a chair.  "Out."

  "That's obvious.  Where were you?"

  "Does it matter?" she responded as she walked into the bathroom.

  Hunter got up off the bed and stood outside the closed bathroom door.  "Yeah it matters.  Now where the hell were you?"  She didn't answer him.  He waited for a few seconds and then knocked on the door.  "Evie, I asked you a question."

  The door opened and she came face to face with him.  "And I told you, I went out."  She tried to push past him, but he refused to move.

  "Who were you with?"

  "I was with a friend if you really have to know."

  "Male or female?"

  Evie folded her arms across her chest.  "Why do you care?  You don't tell me where you've been or who you've been with, so why should it be different when it comes to me?"

  "All my stuff is business Evie.  I told you that."  Hunter loomed over her.  "Now where were you and who were you with?"

  She smirked.  "Anyone ever tell you you'd make a good jealous boyfriend?"

  "Dammit Evie!  I'm not kidding!"

  The smirk disappeared.  "You haven't shown the slightest interest in me these past two weeks and now all of a sudden you care where I've been and who I've been with?"  She glared at him.  "Well, since you happen to care so much all of a sudden, I was out at a club with someone!"  She pushed past him and headed for her suitcase.

  "Who?" Hunter demanded.  When she didn't reply, he strode over to her, grabbed her by the arm and jerked her around to face him.  "Who was it Evie?"  He was losing his patience fast. 

  "A male friend," she spat out.

  Hunter's grip on her arm tightened.  "Who?" he asked again.  His voice had dropped to a dead calm.

  "I think you better let go of me Hunter, before one of us gets hurt."

 Slowly Hunter released his hold on Evie's arm.   "I asked you a simple question.  All I want is an answer."

  "Then why the caveman routine?"

  "Evie..." he growled.

  She sighed.  "Fine.  If you really must know, I was out with Bradshaw."

  "Bradshaw?  What the hell were you doing out with him?"

  "Because I needed to go out and he was willing to pay me a little attention."  She glared at Hunter. 

  Hunter's eyes narrowed.  "What do you mean by attention?"

  "Well I don't mean the kind of attention where I have to pour myself into a little red dress and throw myself on someone's lap."

  His breath caught.  She had seen him?  "What club did you go to?"

  "The Black Dragon.  So don't try to deny being there because I saw you."

   Shit.  Of all the places in this city to go to...  "I told you, Bischoff took me there to talk business.  He thought the woman would be an incentive."

  "Well she definitely looked like she was all business didn't she?" 

  Hunter rolled his eyes.  "Now who's acting jealous?"

  "At least I don't fuck around on other people!"

  He got in her face.  "Look, our relationship isn't serious.  I don't understand why the hell you're getting so upset."

  "Oh you go and pull that little caveman routine with me because I wouldn't tell you who I was out with?  You are such a hypocrite Hunter!"

  His hand shot out and grabbed her upper arm.  "I was worried.  Jericho- "

  Evie cut him off.  "Bullshit!  You were more worried that Bradshaw might be giving me something that you haven't."  She jerked her arm out of his hand.  "If our relationship isn't serious, then why are you acting like it is?  If it's just a free-for-all fuck-me-to-get your-rocks-off thing, then why are you mad?"

  She had hit the nail on the head.  If he didn't consider the relationship as serious, then why was he acting like a jealous man?  He knew why, but he wasn't going to tell her.  "I'm not mad.  I was concerned about you.  I come back and you're gone; no note or anything-" 

  "Maybe if you had checked your cell phone, you would have noticed that I did leave you a message.  But of course you wouldn't have checked.  You were too busy with other things!"

  He was fast losing patience with her.  "I told you that was business!  That's all!  Nothing happened!"  He could see she didn't believe him.

  Suddenly she changed directions.  This was getting nowhere.  All they were going to do was argue and she was tired of it already.  Her voice softened.  "You know what?  This is pointless.  When you figure out what you want from me, tell me.  Because I'd really like to know."  Evie stepped away from him.

 Hunter remained where he was.  He had been surprised by her total swerve.  That wasn't like her.  Normally, she would push and push at him until he admitted to what was really on his mind.  Apparently that wasn't going to happen tonight. 

  He looked up as he heard the sound of a zipper.  Evie had packed up her suitcase and was closing it.  "What are you doing?" he asked.

  "I'm going to check into another room."   She pulled the case off the chair, picked up her jacket, bag and laptop and headed for the door.  "This is going nowhere, I'm tired. 

  Hunter watched as she walked out the door.  He knew why he was upset, but he still wasn't willing to say it.  It was the one thing he would not allow himself to feel.  That weakness.  And it was a weakness.  One that could be used against him by almost anyone.  Bischoff's words came back to him.

 She's a liability.  All I'm saying is that now that you're the champion, people will be lining up to strip you of that title and they'll use anything they can get their hands on.  Or anyone.

  He couldn't let this get in the way.  He had worked too hard to get where he was to give it all up for one person.  He hadn't given it up for Steph, so why should it be different now?

  Because you love her.  That's why it's different now.

  He growled in frustration as he fell back on the bed.  Alone again.  At least it was quiet.  He turned off the light, stripped off his shorts and vehemently threw them across the room, more mad at himself than her.

*********************

  The following Monday, Eric Bischoff announced that a fatal 4-way match would take place.  It was going to be Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam, Jeff Hardy and the Big Show.  The winner would face Triple H for the title.  The winner turned out to be Rob Van Dam.

  Things between Evie and Hunter were somewhat strained.  He had approached her the next morning to talk to her about what had happened, but she brushed him off.  She told him it didn't make any difference as they would only end up arguing about it.  He let it go.  He had other things to concentrate on at the moment.

  Hunter stood in the middle of the ring the following Monday night, a microphone in one hand and the title slung over his shoulder.

  "You know, everywhere I go I hear the same damn thing from people.  'You're going to lose your title to RVD.  Well, guess what?  I'm not scared of  RVD and as much as all you fans love him, he's not championship material."

  "I'm supposed to be scared because RVD got lucky with one frog splash?  I don't think so.  I am the greatest world champion.  I have the talent.  I have the ability and I have the brains.  RVD doesn't stand a chance with me."

  "It really pisses me off when I hear that RVD chant.  That's the kind of disrespect that gets under my skin.  I am the champ.  I am 'The Game'-"

  RVD appeared at the top of the ramp and interrupted Hunter.  "Hey Hunter, I hear you're not concerned about me."  RVD walked down the ramp and climbed into the ring.  "Hunter man, you're stressed out.  What are you all angry for anyway?  Because of my cool moves?  Because that's what RVD is all about.  That's the way RVD is.  He's amazing."

  Hunter smirked at him.  "Oh yeah.  You're amazing," he replied with sarcasm.  "I'm angry and that's the reason why I'm the champion.  That anger is the reason why I sell out arenas and headline pay-per-views.  That anger-"

  "Whoa Hunter, I don't want any misunderstandings.  You're good and all that and you sure can spit some water.  I mean, you take it to another level dude!  Spitting water the way you do, takes a lot of talent."

  Hunter shook his head, still wearing that smirk.  "You are a funny guy Rob and I can see why people love you.  Because you're like the fans; an underachiever.  The fact is, Rob, you aren't championship material and you never will be."

  "I am the next World Champion Hunter.  You can bet on that."

  Suddenly Hunter moved to kick RVD, but his foot was caught by RVD and instead Hunter received a spinning kick from his opponent.  RVD left Hunter lying on the mat as he walked back up the ramp.  Slowly Hunter sat up and after a few seconds, left the ring and retreated backstage.

   He walked back into his dressing room and found it empty.  Evie's laptop sat open on the table and her planner and some papers were next to it, but she was nowhere in the room.  He shrugged the title off his shoulder and set it on the sofa.  He figured Evie had walked down to catering to get something to drink.  He walked over and turned the sound up on the monitor so he could hear the commentary for Ric Flair's match against Rico.

  He watched in disgust as Flair was caught by surprise by Rico's spinning martial arts kick and pinned for the three count.  Hunter noticed that Evie still hadn't returned, so he slung the title over his shoulder and went in search of her.  As he walked towards catering, he came across Terri interviewing Ric Flair.  Hunter interrupted them.

  "You were humiliated and embarrassed Flair.  You know, at one time you were the man I looked up to.  You held this title 16 times and tonight, you lost to a man that can't hold my jock.  Go ahead Flair, retire.  You're pathetic."  Hunter turned to leave, but Flair caught his arm.

  "Pathetic? Let me tell you what pathetic is.  Pathetic is walking around with that title without even earning it!"  Flair let go of Hunter and walked off.

  Hunter smirked at Flair's retreating back and then at Terri and left to continue looking for Evie.  He found her seated at one of the tables talking to one of the female go-fers.  Evie looked up as he approached.

  "Hey," he said quietly.

  "Hey yourself.  What can I do for you?" she responded.

  "Nothing.  I just wanted to make sure you were okay.  Jericho is wandering around."

  Evie smiled at him.  "I was just on my way back as soon as I get done talking with Marta here.  Besides, Jericho is fixated on getting that Intercontinental title, so he's pretty much left me alone."

  Hunter nodded at the young woman seated across from Evie, then turned his attention back to her.  "That's fine.  Whenever you're ready, come on back.  Just be careful." 

  "I will," Evie replied as he walked off.  She smiled inwardly at his attempt to be nice to her.  He had been doing that ever since they left Milwaukee.  It didn't make things less tense, but it was better than the silent treatment he would normally give her.  Once he was around the corner, she turned her attention back to the conversation she had been having with Marta.

*******************

  Evie watched Jericho's match with Hunter on the monitor in his dressing room.  She was helping him tape up his wrists as his match was next.  As soon as she was finished, Hunter left for his match.

  Jericho and RVD went at each other, using suplexes, drop kicks, back breakers and spinning kicks.  They threw each other around the ring, jumped off the ropes and the turnbuckle.  RVD drop kicked Jericho in the face, but Jericho got right back up to receive another kick from RVD then a side kick followed by Rolling Thunder.  Jericho fought back and locked RVD in the Walls of Jericho.  RVD countered with a roll up but Jericho kicked out on the two count.  RVD delivered another spinning kick and then climbed to the top rope.

  Hunter came running down the ramp and instead of aiming for Jericho, RVD jumped on Hunter.  RVD pummeled Hunter as Jericho climbed out of the ring.  Before Jericho could attack RVD, RVD kicked him in the ribs.  They got back into the ring where RVD kicked Jericho again, delivered a moonsault and pinned Jericho for another two count.  RVD threw Jericho into the ropes and Hunter, who had climbed up on the apron, was knocked into the ring.  RVD tossed Hunter out and turned back to Jericho only to be put in the Walls of Jericho again.  RVD ended up tapping out, giving Jericho the win. 

 As Jericho left, clutching the title to his chest, Hunter climbed back into ring and Pedigreed RVD.  RVD managed to get to his feet and the two men began fighting.  Referees ran out from the back to separate them, followed by Jeff Hardy, who turned out to be Hunter's opponent.

  Hunter turned his attention to Jeff and within minutes had Jeff in a sleeper hold.  Jeff passed out, giving Hunter the win.  As he stood up, RVD ran back out and knocked Hunter down. Quickly RVD climbed to the top rope and gave Hunter a 5 Star Frog Splash.  He then grabbed the title belt, hoisted it up on his shoulder and pointed his thumbs at himself as the crowd chanted his name.

A/N: Thanks again for the reviews!  They are very much appreciated.  I'm glad everyone keeps coming back for more.  One thing:  Don't know if there is such a club called The Black Dragon in Milwaukee.  I never spent much time there, being that Chicago had plenty of clubs to keep me occupied.  If there is, my apologies for any infringement.