PART 13
A MOMENT LATER
Stephanie looked up at her father in shock. She couldn't believe what he had just barged in and said.
"W-what do you mean?" she asked, a look of both confusion and hurt filling her eyes.
"I meant exactly what I said," Vince replied slowly, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. "there is no way I will allow you to break up with Paul and call the wedding off." Paul smirked, laughing quietly from behind Mr. McMahon. It was times like these that reminded him why he was so anxious to be married into the McMahon family. Stephanie ignored her fiancé's laughter, keeping her eyes locked on her father as she felt the tears burning her eyes.
"But Dad, I…"
"Don't 'but Dad' me Stephanie. You know how much money I have invested in that wedding," he said sternly. Stephanie shook her head, blinking her tears away.
"I know that Dad, and I'm sorry, but I just can't marry someone that I don't love," she explained, hoping that by some miracle her father would be compassionate and understanding. She should have known that that would be too much to ask of Vincent Kennedy McMahon. The Chairman snorted, shifting his glance from Stephanie to Paul, and then back to his daughter again.
"Steph, nobody gets married for love anymore," he responded plainly. Stephanie looked at him like he was insane.
"Well than what the hell kind of marriage is that?" she inquired, eager to see what kind of response her father could brew up in that thick head of his.
"Just because there's no love in a marriage doesn't mean it can't work out. Sometimes you just have to do what's best for business. Look at your mother and I for example… I don't love her, but she's fine with that, because she knows and understands how important it is for the company," he explicated.
The brunette winced at the mention of her mother's name. She knew that regardless of what Vince believed, Linda was *not* fine with their marriage… in fact, it damn near tore her apart. While Vince had always assumed that she had married him for the money and prestige that came with being a McMahon, the truth was that for the past twenty years all she'd ever wanted from her husband was love and affection. Stephanie's pretty face formed into a scowl as she thought of the times her mother would cry to her about how she felt trapped in a loveless marriage… it made her hate her father.
"Please Dad… you know better than any of us that Mom hates the way you treat her," Stephanie retorted, rolling her eyes at him dramatically. Vince narrowed his cold eyes at his youngest child.
"Don't bring the way I treat your mother into a conversation about *your* wedding," Vince shot back, knowing full well that it was *him* who had first mentioned Linda. Stephanie sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly. She so didn't want to put up with her father or any of his bullshit, especially not now. She looked over to the door, seriously considering just up and leaving the two men.
"I didn't Dad… *you* did. And while we're on the subject, Mom may settle on putting up with your shit because she feels that it would be best for me and Shane, but there's no way I'll put up with that with Paul," Stephanie said firmly, surprised at the strength in her tone. Vince and Paul looked a little surprised as well, but that didn't mean they were going to back down.
"I don't think you should be talking to your father that way Stephanie," Paul finally spoke, earning a look from Stephanie.
"Paul, stay out of this," she warned. "This is between me and my dad, and I don't…"
"No, he's right Stephanie. You will not speak to me like that. I don't care how old you think you are young lady, you are still my daughter, and I will not tolerate you copping an attitude with me."
"I'm only your daughter biologically," Stephanie snapped, gasping immediately after. She couldn't believe how mad he had gotten her. She didn't even feel sorry for her comments in the least.
"That's it!" Vince screamed, taking Stephanie by the shoulder and pushing her back down onto the couch. Her eyes widened as he leaned down and got right in her face. "Listen to me you ungrateful little bitch," he snarled, and this time Stephanie couldn't hide the fear in her eyes. "I am sick of you and your attitude. You say you're only my daughter biologically, that's fine! As far as I'm concerned, I don't *have* a daughter… I have an obligation. And that obligation is to make sure that on October 23, you walk down the aisle with me and marry this man." He paused, gesturing at Levesque, who in turn smiled and winked at his fiancé, feeling much more comfortable with his marital situation knowing that Vince was on his side.
Stephanie pressed back into the couch, trying to keep as far away from her father as possible. He just looked so unstable, like he could snap on her at any second… and she didn't want to be near him when that happened. On top of that, her shoulder actually hurt from where he had grabbed her. How can he do this to me? He's supposed to be my father? The thoughts she was having brought tears to her eyes, and suddenly Stephanie found them spilling over and down her cheeks. She couldn't let Paul and her dad see her upset… it would no doubt be a personal victory for both of them. Instead, she blinked them back yet again, putting on a strong face as she pushed her father by his dress shirt, sending him back far enough for her to get up and book out of the room. As soon as she closed the door behind her the tears returned, and she had to bite her lip to prevent the loud sob that was threatening to escape. She placed her hand over her mouth and ran down the hall, the sob escaping through her fingers and echoing off the walls. She kept running and running, and didn't stop until she bumped into someone…
Chris Irvine, who had been waiting for her the whole time, wrapped his arms tightly around her.
THE NEXT DAYTrish sat quietly in the cafeteria area of the hotel, sipping on her tea. She had the day off, so she slept in and got up around 11. She had thrown on a pair of sweatpants and headed downstairs… she had some thinking to do anyway.
The first thing that had been on Trish's mind, obviously, had been Randy. As much as she hated to admit it, she missed him. Not the Randy she had caught having sex with Jackie Gayda, or the Randy that partied every night and didn't give a damn about her, but the old Randy… the *real* Randy. She missed the Randy that bought her cards and flowers and sweet talked her all the time for no reason… not the animal he turned into when he hung out with Levesque and Flair. It seemed, though, that he liked the Evolution lifestyle more than he loved Trish, and she knew that there was nothing she could do about that. What Randy Orton chose to do with his life was his decision, and the blonde woman understood that. But that didn't mean she had to like it.
The other thing that was on her mind, a lot more than usual as of late, was Adam Copeland. Trish didn't know how she could ever thank or repay him for all he'd done for her since the whole mess with Randy started. From the second she had discovered Randy cheating on her he was by her side, offering her both support and some much needed comfort. He really had been like a savior to her over the past few weeks… a mental one at least. She really needed to think of a way to repay him for all he'd done…
"Hey Trish."
Trish snapped out of the cloud of thought she was in, looking up to see who had just greeted her. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw Randy Orton himself standing at her table.
"Um… hi," she offered, not really knowing what to say. She had to admit that she was very surprised that he would even look at her, much less actually approach her.
"Can… can I sit down? Just for a minute?" he asked, sending her a hopeful glance. Trish looked away for a minute, debating on whether or not she should allow him to sit with her.
"I… I don't know Randy. I don't think…"
"Please, Trish… I'll only take a minute, I swear," he insisted, his blue eyes pleading with her. Trish sighed loudly, eventually nodding.
"Oh, okay fine. One minute," she warned, watching as he pulled out the seat and sat down.
"Okay… thanks. I just wanted to say… that I'm sorry," Randy said in one breath, pausing and looking up to see what Trish's expression was. She looked up suddenly, a look of surprise coming over her pretty face. Randy sent her a half smile, and continued. "Look, I know I fucked up, but I want to make up for it. You have to give me another chance Trish… I swear, I'll never do anything like that to hurt you again." Trish pursed her lips together, sending him an unamused look.
"You know Randy, I had a feeling you were going to try and do this. How can I ever trust you again? You *lied* to me for God knows how long, and you want me to just forgive you and pretend like none of it every happened? I just don't think I can do that," she explained. She couldn't believe how ballsy Randy was being, coming right up to her and asking to start over. Randy met her eyes, sending her a confused and hurt look.
"But Trish, please? Look, I know I've given you no reason to trust me, but you have to listen this time…"
"That's exactly my point Randy!" Trish cried, a little more loudly than she had wanted to. "If you've given me no reason to trust why should I listen now?"
"Because, I… I just… I love you, Trish," he offered finally, shrugging his shoulders. Trish couldn't shield the tiny gasp that escaped her lips. I love you? That certainly wasn't what Trish had expected to hear.
"You… you what?" she asked him to repeat. She had to have heard him wrong. Randy hadn't told her he loved her in months…
"I…" Randy started, but trailed off, looking up as a man in a uniform approached him.
"Are you Randy Orton?" he asked, pulling out a badge and showing it to the two wrestlers. Looking up at the officer nervously, Randy nodded. He hadn't done anything, at least not that he could remember… what the hell could the man, who was obviously some kind of law enforcement officer, want with him?
"Yeah… what is it?" he asked, swallowing hard. Trish sent the officer a very confused look.
"I've been sent here by the Orange County police to deliver this message to you," he said, handing Orton a piece of paper. Randy accepted the paper from the officer, who then walked away saying nothing, and eyed it over. His eyes bulged when he realized what it was.
"Randy? What is it?" Trish asked, trying to peek over the top of the paper to get a glimpse of what it was about.
"Umm… nothing Trish, don't worry about it," he said, quickly going to stuff the paper in his pocket. Shit, I'm fucked, he thought to himself frantically. As he went to put the sheet away, Trish reached out and snatched it from his hand, opening it back up and reading over it. Her eyes widened as well, and when Randy looked up he could plainly see the tears building up in them.
"Another one? I just wasn't enough for you, was I?" she asked painfully, standing up and storming away from the table after tossing the paper at him. Randy sighed, looking down at the paper once more. He really was screwed…
The paper that the officer had delivered to him was a request for a paternity test from a woman named Christina Lee.
Hehe, here's the next chapter! Hope you like it! Okay, I'm a pretty easy-going person, and I'm very accepting to criticism, but there are some things I just won't tolerate. Sorry to rant on all of you, but this is directed at Doug. I received two reviews from you on this story (you can all check), and both of them have been for the most part negative. The first one, about the story being predictable, I can handle. But in the last one (for chapter 12) you seem to just be searching to find things wrong with my story. In response to number 1, I did say there was no roster split, and there still isn't. The shows are still split, but Smackdown is headed by Stephanie and Raw by Eric Bischoff. Secondly, I can give power to anyone I choose (I could give the whole company to Brother Love if I wanted) because this is a little thing called FICTION. If you've read any of my stories, you'll notice that that is an occurring theme in all of them. If you seriously can't make any other comments other than the ones you chose to make, stop reviewing. If you can't sit back and just enjoy the story for what it is then stop reading it. Once again, to the people who *are* reading the story and enjoying, thank you. It means a lot, and I'm sorry to have ranted on for so long.