Evie took advantage of the day off on Wednesday to do a little shopping. She needed to get out of the hotel and away from Hunter and Ric. Ric was driving her crazy, still asking her questions about herself. And Hunter... well Hunter seemed moodier than ever since Monday night. The only thing she could think of that would be wrong with him was Shawn's interference in Hunter's match that night. But what did she care? It wasn't her problem.
The taxi pulled up alongside the curb and Evie got out after paying the driver. She took her time strolling down the store lined streets, savoring the crisp autumn air. It was refreshing after being in the hotel. She pulled her dark green muffler closer around her neck as she looked through the window of one store and then the other. After spending considerable time browsing through windows, she picked a shop to go into. It was a small boutique that had quite a nice selection of clothes, including lingerie.
Evie picked out some pieces and tried them on, keeping some and discarding others. She walked through the lingerie and came across a simple long, black nightgown. She located her size and pulled it off the rack, along with a matching robe. She didn't wear things like this very often, but decided to indulge in something she normally wouldn't buy. After picking out a couple of thongs as well, she took her merchandise to the counter where the sales lady rang her up.
As she left the store, her cell phone rang. She dug it out of her purse as she juggled the shopping bags she was carrying.
"This is Evie."
"Hey darlin'! Whatcha up to?"
Evie smiled. "Hey yourself. Wouldn't you like to know what I'm doing right now," she teased.
Bradshaw lowered his voice. "Maybe I should ask what you're wearin' right now instead."
She laughed. "Well I hate to disappoint you but I'm fully dressed and shopping. What's up?"
"Damn. Shoulda called earlier," he joked. "Boss man actually let you out of the hotel?"
"It's my day off. And I snuck out."
"Now that's not good," he said in a mock stern voice. "You should know better than that. What kind of employee are you?"
"Who cares as long as I don't have Ric pestering me or have to look at Hunter's sour face?" She adjusted her shopping bags as she kept walking.
Bradshaw became curious. "Whaddya mean Ric's been pestering you?"
Evie shuddered. "He's been asking me all sorts of questions about myself. He claims that he doesn't know me very well. It's sort of weird though."
"Why's that?"
She found a bench along the sidewalk and sat down. "I feel like he's trying to date me." She laughed softly. "Like I'd go out with him anyway. He's almost as old as my dad."
Bradshaw thought about what she had just told him. It was weird that Ric had seemed to have developed and interest in Evie. He wondered what was going on. "Do me a favour will you darlin'?"
"What's that?"
"Be real careful. It sounds like either Ric's an old letch trying to get in your pants, or he's planning something that has you involved," Bradshaw warned.
Evie sat back on the bench. "That was my thinking too. So far he's been polite to me, but it hasn't gone any farther than that. Yet."
"Yeah well, just watch yourself will you? I don't wanna have to kick both Hunter and Ric's asses, but I will if I need to."
Evie rolled her eyes. "My hero," she said in a gently mocking tone. "I wouldn't worry too much. I can handle myself."
"Yeah I know, but be careful anyway."
"So when am I going to see you?" Evie asked, changing the subject. She knew Bradshaw meant well, but since that night in Vegas, he seemed to get even more protective of her and it was starting to annoy her. She hated to be coddled.
"Hell if I know darlin'. Since they got me doin' this voting campaign I don't even know when I'll be in the same city."
"I hope it's soon. I miss seeing you," she said softly.
Bradshaw smile don the other end. He knew she still considered him a friend, but he hung onto the hope that it might change someday. I can be patient, he thought. "Aw you're so sweet. I miss you too," he gushed. "You gonna give me a kiss over the phone or am I gonna do it?" he teased.
Evie giggled. "You're such a goof," she responded.
"Yeah I know, but you love me anyway." He smiled. At least he got her to giggle. "I'll let you go darlin' so you can get back to shoppin'."
She sighed. "All right. I'll talk to you soon."
They said their goodbyes and Evie put her phone back in her purse. She remained on the bench thinking about Bradshaw. His call had definitely lifted her spirits a bit. He always made her laugh about something.
He's been such a good friend. It's too bad things aren't different between us. She knew how Bradshaw felt about her. He had told her when he had spent the night in her room. Well, she had asked and he answered after some prodding from her. I should tell him not to waste his time on me. There's probably some woman out there right now, looking for him and he's missing out on her because of me.
He was aware of how she felt for Hunter. It was unfair because it didn't make things easy for Bradshaw. But as he had told her, he was a grown man and if he got hurt, then he got hurt. He could accept the way things were and if that meant they would be nothing more than friends, then so be it. She sighed as she stood up and collected her shopping bags. Fate really was unkind sometimes.
***********************
Hunter set the weights down in the rack and reached for his towel. He had taken advantage of some downtime to work out for a while. He had become so focused on his routine that he had pushed Evie out of his thoughts for awhile. Ever since Monday night, he had been contemplating if he should talk to her or not. At least to apologize to her for the way he had behaved; for what he had called her. And that little voice had incessantly nagged him about it. He knew what he had to do, but he just wasn't sure how to go about it.
Oh for the love of...! Just apologize! At least do that if you're not going to tell her how you feel about her!
Would you shut up already? I know I need to. I'm not sure how to though.
He finished toweling himself off and took off his belt and headed to the locker room. He removed his gym bag and coat. After stuffing the belt and the towel into the bag, he left the gym and headed back to the hotel.
He thought about how to apologize all the way back to his room. He could bring her flowers. Swiftly he dismissed that idea. He used to do that to Stephanie when he had to apologize for something or the other. Evie was more practical than that. She probably would just prefer him to tell her straight out. The thing was how to say it. He mulled over several different approaches as he walked into his room and tossed his gym bag on the floor.
Hunter showered and changed into some clean clothes. Then there was the question of when. He could do it tonight, but was unsure if Evie had any plans or if Ric would want to go out. The idea of spending the night at a club with Ric and a gaggle of women didn't exactly appeal to him at the moment.
Why not right now? You're not busy and Ric is nowhere around. She's probably on her computer or something. Go.
I don't wanna bother her if she's working, he balked.
Just go do it!
Hunter didn't protest. He picked up his keycard and walked out. As he approached her door, he became slightly nervous. How the hell was he going to pull this off? Shaking his head, he knocked on the door. After a few seconds and no response, he knocked again. Still no response.
She must have gone out. I sure as hell hope it wasn't with Ric.
Disappointed and strangely relieved at the same time, he turned around to go back to his room when she got off the elevator. She was carrying shopping bags and what looked like a bag from a restaurant.
Evie noticed him as she approached her door. "Hey Hunter. What's up?"
He cleared his throat. "Whatcha been up to?"
"Just doing a little shopping and treated myself to some lunch," she said as she held up the shopping bags.
Relief flooded through him. At least she had been on her own and not with Ric. He held out a hand. "Let me help you with those."
A puzzled look appeared on Evie's face. What on earth had gotten into him? He never offered to help her with bags. Ric usually did that. "Sure," she responded and handed him two of the three bags she was carrying.
Evie quickly slid the card through the lock and opened the door. Hunter followed her in. She set the bag down on the floor and her carry out bag on the little table. "Just put those here," she gestured to Hunter.
He deposited the bags he was carrying next to the one she had set down and stood back.
Evie watched him as she removed her coat and muffler. "Was there something you wanted to see me about?" she asked.
"Why do you ask that?"
She smiled wryly. "Well you were standing outside my door. Or were you admiring the pretty, shiny numbers?" she joked.
He smiled politely in response to her jest. "I, uh... I wanted to talk to you about something," he said hesitantly.
Evie laid her coat across the chair and then proceeded to unpack one of the shopping bags. This was an interesting development. As she pulled the garments out, she looked at him. "About what?" Her voice was casual, almost as if they were talking about the weather.
This was going to be harder than he thought. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and then took them out. This wasn't like him. Why was he feeling so nervous? I can't do this.
Yes you can. You just open your mouth and the words come out, said the voice.
He cringed inside and quickly switched his train of thought. "I wanted to talk to you about Ric."
Evie had noticed his behaviour. He seemed unsure of something. Almost as if he was on the verge of telling her something important and changed the subject at the last second.
"What about Ric?" she asked as she finished folding up her new clothes and placing them on the bed.
"I noticed he's been talking to you a lot over the past few weeks."
Her defenses went up automatically as she straightened up. "And that's a problem for you?"
Hunter shook his head. "It's not so much a problem. I'm wondering why he's become so interested in you lately."
"Does it bother you that Ric and I talk?"
He sighed in exasperation. He might as well just come out and say it. "It's just that he made a remark to me about you the other night."
Evie raised an eyebrow. This was intriguing. "Really? What did he say?"
"That you might come in handy one of these days," he answered quickly.
"In handy?" She quickly became suspicious. "And what did he mean by that?"
Hunter ran and through his still damp hair. "He seems to think that you'd be able to get into places we couldn't and talk to people that neither of us would normally. And that you could be useful in persuading certain people to do certain things..."
Evie cut him off, her temper flaring. "I don't believe this! What is with you people? First Nash and Shawn, then Stephanie and Bischoff and now Ric? Un-frickin'-beliveable!" She quickly became angry. "I am your employee, not his. Linda sent me to you to help you out, not him. I know you asked me to give him a hand every now and then if he needs it, but I am not going to play his little games!"
Hunter held up a hand as if to ward her off. "Look Evie, I don't know why he got this idea. I'm just telling you this so you're aware of what's going on. He and Bischoff were pushing me to get rid of you at the start."
That got her attention. "Oh were they?" When Hunter nodded, she continued. "And why haven't you gotten rid of me then?"
His mind worked furiously to come up with a valid answer. An answer that wouldn't require him to admit what he felt for her. He quickly pounced on an idea. "Because I trust you. You've been with me from rehab on and I know you wouldn't screw me over like..." he trailed off.
"Like Stephanie?" she finished for him.
"Yeah like Steph." He glanced at her. The expression on her face was dubious. "I mean from a business perspective Evie." Hunter looked down. "Not from a personal perspective," he finished softly.
"I see. So you can trust me business-wise, but as far as our personal relationship, you don't trust me at all." She chuckled derisively. "Well, whatever is left of our personal relationship anyway."
Hunter looked up at that comment. He was trying to be nice in warning her about Ric and all she could do was bring up what had happened between the two of them in Vegas. All his fault. As if he needed reminding. Immediately he became angry and the words were out of his mouth before he could think about them. "Speaking of screwing, I haven't seen Bradshaw around lately."
Evie's eyes blazed in anger. "Don't start that crap with me Hunter. Leave Bradshaw out of this. It's got nothing to do with him."
Hunter stepped closer to her. "Nothing to do with him? Hey, I'm not the one that fucked him! You are!"
She didn't back away. "Excuse me? I'm not the one who was in the shower with two women! And I never slept with Bradshaw!"
"No? Then why did he answer your door in his boxers? Am I supposed to think you two were having a friendly conversation?"
Evie crossed her arms over her chest. "As a matter of fact, we did have a conversation, but we never had sex. We played cards, talked for a while and watched a movie and that was all. It was late and he asked if he could stay as I had the extra bed." She could see he didn't quite believe her, but that didn't matter. He didn't give a damn about her anyway, so why was he even bringing this all up now?
He looked skeptical. "And I'm supposed to believe that?"
"You can believe what you want Hunter, but let me ask you this. Have I ever lied to you?"
Hunter fell silent. She had him there. She had always been honest with him since she had showed up at his door in Birmingham. "No, you've never lied to me," he admitted.
"So why would I start now? There's no point to it." She laid a hand on Hunter's arm. "I like Bradshaw. He's a good friend, but that's all he is. A friend." Evie dropped her hand and looked down. "I don't feel the same way about him as I do you," she said softly.
His anger abruptly melted away and his demeanor softened. She still loved him despite how he had treated her over the past few months. Suddenly he felt ashamed of himself. This woman still had the guts to tell him that she still had feelings for him even though he had accused her of sleeping with someone else. If this had been Stephanie, she would have screamed that she hated him and thrown things at him and lapse into a horrible sulk for weeks on end. But she wasn't Stephanie. She was Evie. And a better woman than Stephanie might ever be. She didn't deserve to be treated the way he had treated her. She deserved and apology. But he found himself grappling with the same old excuses again.
The voice piped up with the same question it had asked him the other night. Is it because you're afraid that she won't, or are you afraid you'd have to admit you were wrong?
Both, he responded. It was that whole weakness issue again. He struggled with himself for a minute more and then- Oh the hell with it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
"Actually, I didn't come here to talk to you about Ric," he finally said. I wanted to talk to you about something else."
Evie looked up at him. "What?" she asked quietly.
Hunter nervously cleared his throat and looked directly at her. "I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for acting the way I did in Vegas. I got so pissed at the thought of anyone else touching you, but I didn't stop to consider how you would feel if someone else was doing the same thing to me."
He took a breath and continued. "Ever since you told me that you were in love with me, I've been trying to deal with it. I mean, it really knocked me for a loop Evie. And with one thing after another on the work end of things, I got frustrated with myself and took it out on you."
His voice dropped a few octaves. "You were never a rebound relationship or a little action on the side. And I'm sorry if I made you feel like you were."
Evie was stunned. She never expected him to apologize in a million years. This had come as a complete shock. Slowly she turned and walked towards the bed. She didn't know how to respond and was trying to give her self a couple minutes to think. Maybe something was changing? Maybe he realized that she wasn't going to treat him like his ex-wife had. That she wasn't going to use him that way. That she actually loved him, not for the power or prestige or the money, as if any of that mattered to her, but for himself. Who he truly was underneath the complete bastard exterior he displayed to everyone else.
Hunter remained where he was and just watched as she stood next to the bed with her back to him. Funny, but he felt relieved that he had finally apologized. It hadn't been as difficult as he thought it would be. Now it was just a question of whether or not she would accept it.
Finally, she sorted her thoughts into some type of order and turned around to face him. "I don't know what to say. I wasn't expecting you to apologize at all." A tiny smile flitted across her lips. "But I'm glad you did. I don't know how much longer I could have kept going the way I have been. The tension between us was unbearable sometimes."
Hunter shifted from one foot to the other. "Well I've had a lot of time to think about things. You didn't deserve what I said and did to you. It was completely uncalled for."
Evie moved closer to him. "Well, thank you for the apology. I appreciate it." She glanced up at him. "I know it may not drastically change the way things are between us, but just relieving the tension is good enough."
He let go of his anxiety at her acceptance. Hunter offered a tentative smile. "Thank you."
Evie drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I'm not going to push you into saying something you're not ready to say or don't want to. But I need to know one thing."
He eyes her suspiciously. "What's that?"
"Can we at least be friends again?" she asked with a hint of expectation.
A smile appeared. "Yeah. I suppose we can."
"Good," she responded and sauntered over to her suitcase. "Now I need you to leave because I need to get changed." She reached down into her suitcase, pulled out her swimsuit and grinned at him. "You want to join me?"
Hunter shook his head, still smiling. "Thanks, but no. I have some things I need to do." He started towards the door, but paused before opening it. "One more thing Evie."
"What's that?" she asked.
"Keep an eye on Ric."
A chuckle slipped out. "Oh don't worry. After what you told me, I will definitely keep an eye on him."
***************************
The following Monday in Cincinnati, Hunter's patience was just about at an end. He was tired of Booker T, Jericho, Kane and HBK as well as Rob Van Dam telling him directly or indirectly, that they were going to be the ones walking out with the title at Survivor Series.
Shawn appeared out in the ring during the course of the show. "My main goal this Sunday is to keep Triple H from walking out of Survivor Series as the champion. God has allowed me to come back to the WWE for one last shot at greatness…"
Hunter appeared at the top of the ramp and interrupted Shawn. "In this ring and in this arena Shawn, I am God. And nothing you do, no prayer that you pray, will make you come out of that Elimination Chamber the champion. I broke you once before and I'll break you again."
With that, Hunter dropped the mic and raced down to the ring. Shawn was ready for him and they went back and forth for a few minutes before Hunter managed to give Shawn a Pedigree. As Shawn lay on the mat, Hunter went to the outside and pulled a sledgehammer out from under the ring. Before he could deliver a blow to Shawn however, the referees had come out and broke up the altercation.
Hunter stormed into his dressing room and looked around for Ric. "Where the hell is he?" he demanded of Evie.
She looked up at Hunter, ready with a remark, but held back when she saw the look on his face. "He mentioned something about talking to Batista, but he left a while ago. I haven't seen him since."
"Shit," he responded as he sat down. "I've got a match with Booker T later and I need to talk to Ric now."
"Sorry Hunter, I don't know where he is." She quickly shut her computer down and stowed it in its carry bag. As she did this, the monitor showed a replay of Chris Nowinski beating Al Snow. As soon as the clip was done, Eric Bischoff appeared on the entrance stage. Evie sat down on the opposite and of the sofa from Hunter and watched.
Bischoff went over the construction of the chamber. It was basically a steel dome made of ten tons of steel with six small chambers around it. Each of the participants would be locked into one of these smaller chambers. Two men would be selected at random to start the match and after that, one of the chambers would open every five minutes until all six men were involved in the match. The match would continue until five men were eliminated either by submission or pin fall.
Bischoff went on to brag that he was the most innovative and dynamic force in the sports entertainment division.
Hunter let out a snort of disbelief at that remark. "Yeah, if he's innovative and dynamic then Stone Cold is Mr. Congeniality"
Evie glanced at him and saw him smirking. "I don't know Hunter. That chamber looks kind of nasty."
He waved a hand at her. "I'm not worried. After some of the matches I've been in, especially with Cactus Jack, I don't think it'll be worth worrying about." He stood up and picked up his bag. "Besides, it's not like Shawn is gonna win anyway." He disappeared into the bathroom to change.
Evie said nothing as she stood up to go get his water. No point in it. Hunter seemed to know what he was in for. She shrugged and left the room.
On her way back, she ran into Ric. "Hey, Hunter's been looking for you. He was about to pop a blood vessel."
Ric smiled. "Sorry. I was taking care of some business." He walked alongside her. "Say, you wouldn't be interested in going out later would you?"
The question caught her off guard. "With you and Hunter or just with you?" she asked cautiously.
"Just me. I thought it would be nice to go somewhere that we don't' have to worry about Hunter interrupting." Ric chuckled. "He always seems to have a habit of popping up."
Evie adjusted the water bottles she was carrying. She wasn't quite sure whether she should feel flattered or disgusted. On one hand, it was nice to know that someone found her attractive, but on the other, the man was old enough to be her dad. That and the fact that he had thought she "may come in handy one of these days" caused her to make up her mind. She would not be a pawn for him to use.
An apologetic smile graced her mouth. "I'm sorry Ric. I'm flattered, but I don't think it's a good idea. I have a policy about not dating people I work with," she said as she mentally crossed her fingers.
Ric looked slightly disappointed for a couple seconds before he plastered a grin on his face. "That's okay. I can understand that."
They had arrived at the dressing room, and Ric paused outside the door. "Let me ask you one thing though. What if we didn't work together?"
Evie had been hoping he wouldn't ask that. "I don't know Ric. I find the attention flattering, but..." she trailed off.
He sighed. "It's the age thing isn't it?"
That and the whole come in handy thing, she thought. She simply shrugged her shoulders in response.
"You know age and experience can make a whole lot of difference", he said suggestively as he opened the door.
Evie chuckled, but on the inside she cringed.
They walked in to find Hunter in the process of taping up his left hand as he watched the monitor. Randy Orton was doing another one of his RNN updates regarding his injury. Hunter took a quick look at Ric as he finished his left hand.
"Whaddya think Ric?" he asked as he nodded at the screen.
Ric glanced at the screen and then back at Hunter. "I think we need to talk later," he answered.
Hunter agreed and then held out his right arm to Evie. "Could you tape me up please?"
Ric surreptitiously watched the two of them as Evie proceeded to wrap Hunter's forearm and hand. Something had changed between those two over the past couple of days. They seemed more relaxed with each other. They actually had joked with each other on the ride over to the arena tonight. He was surprised. From what he had seen before, it had appeared the neither Hunter or Evie liked one another. He wondered exactly what was going on between the two of them.
Ric shook the thought off as Hunter stood up and grabbed his title and water. "Ready champ?" Ric asked.
Hunter smirked as he opened the door. Evie closed it behind the two of them and settled herself on the sofa again. She still couldn't believe that Ric had actually asked her out. Well, sort of. After what Hunter had told her and Bradshaw had warned her of, it really wasn't a revelation. She turned her attention away from Ric and to the television screen as Hunter and Booker T appeared on camera.
***********************
Booker T wasted no time in confronting Hunter backstage before their match.
"Triple H, you're the guy I wanna take out the most. Not HBK, not Jericho, not RVD, not Kane. You." He held up all five fingers. "There are five guys, five guys, five guys, five guys, five guys in this match, but you are the one I'm gonna take out."
Hunter smirked at Booker T as he put up all five of his fingers. "I will beat everyone, one by one until I get down to you," he responded as he put down all his fingers but the middle one and thrust it right in Booker T's face. He laughed as he walked away.
Booker T used his anger in the ring. The two combatants brawled back and forth and it looked like Booker T was going to win, but Ric interfered allowing Hunter to give Booker T a low blow that gave him the chance to deliver a Pedigree and pin Booker T for the win.
Immediately Shawn ran in and attacked Hunter. Jericho then came out and started pounding on Shawn, making it two against one against Shawn until Kane and Rob Van Dam came out. Then chaos erupted in the ring. The men were pairing off against each other except for Shawn who waited in the corner for everyone to eliminate everyone else. Finally Kane and Jericho were left in the ring and Kane choke slammed Jericho into the canvas.
Shawn immediately got to his feet and laid Kane out on the mat with some Sweet Chin Music. Hunter had recovered and attacked Shawn again, who somehow managed to give Hunter a Pedigree. As he stood over Hunter's body, Jericho climbed back into the ring, rushed Shawn and laid him flat with a chair shot. Jericho stood over Shawn, a look of pure loathing on his face.
***************************
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Sorry it's late again. My Hunter muse gave me another idea for a one-shot fic and I got into that one. It'll be posted as soon as I'm done with it. But don't hold your breath. It may be awhile.
omarisangel04: Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it and hope you come back to read more. Yeah Hunter is a jerk, but underneath it all he's human like everyone else. He's just better at hiding it.
Xtreme-Jewell: Thank you. Yeah it was about time he did. But just because he has, don't look for him to admit anything else other than he was sorry for what he did. At least not for a bit. To which "better man" were you referring? (big grin)
Disco_Inferno1: Thanks! Not a problem. Half the time I can't remember them either(one of the drawbacks of being over the age of 30 *big grin*) and have to go check archives somewhere, but they do provide a good perspective for this particular story line. I found that it's much easier to write him having conversations with his conscience rather than trying to explain his feelings in a paragraph.
MsLessa: Thanks! And he'll keep trying even though she's said no in this chapter. Keep an eye on him.