Stacy turned and narrowed her eyes at the man coming towards her. His black hair fell around his shoulders in stringy waves. Most of his face was covered by a large pair of black sunglasses. It was night, and she wondered how he could see anything. The night was hot, and she thought his black leather jacket was pretty much overkill, as well. He looked like he was trying to be intimidating, but all he did was make her shake her head at so many overt fashion faux pas.
"Excuse me?" She held her little black box purse tightly beneath her arm.
"How does it feel to have my job?"
She shook her head and sighed. "Do I know you?" She pursed her lips and thought for a moment. "Your voice sounds familiar, but I can't really place it."
"Just like your old man." He shook his head and grinned. The turn of his lips made Stacy uncomfortable and she held back the urge to fidget. "Nose too high in the air to remember much of anybody."
"I'll have you know that I am not conceited. It's late, and I have no idea who you are. That being said... Say something I care to hear or get lost."
He moved in front of her and folded his arms. "Maybe you were too young, back then." He snorted a laugh. "It wasn't always Evolution Enterprises, ya know. Before your old man picked up a group of frat boys, it was Flair Unlimited. You were such a small thing, then. Still had the legs, just... not quite so much of 'em."
Stacy stared at the man, trying to remember him. Apparently, he had known her in the past, but she couldn't place him. She thought part of that could have been because he was freaking her out. If she were to rub her arms, she knew they would have been covered with gooseflesh. She could just imagine his eyes shining with mischief behind the sunglasses. The whole thing made her feel uncomfortable.
"I've never worked for anything but Evolution Enterprises, and whatever problem you have with my father has absolutely nothing to do with me." A small shiver shook her body and she cursed herself for being unable to control it. "My spot was vacant when I got it, so you obviously have me mistaken with someone else."
"It's the same building, sweetheart." Stacy shivered again. She didn't want this man giving her any terms of endearment, no matter how sarcastic they were thrown out. "Your office is the same one I had, and it's probably my same chair. If I were you, I'd watch my back. You never know when the cops'll be banging at your door."
Stacy furrowed her brow in thought, then her face lit up with realization. "Oh my God! You're... You're Bret Hart! You were arrested for embezzling millions from Dad's company!"
"Now, she remembers!" He put his sunglasses on top of his head to let her watch as he rolled her eyes. "That's an unlucky spot, Miss Keibler. People in the VP spot tend to have legal troubles."
"You know what? This is just getting ridiculous. You were the one that stole money from Dad's company. A jury found you guilty, so don't go and give me that 'Blame Flair' routine. I hear it more times than I care to. And now I remember where I know your voice." She took a step back and to the side, trying to move around him. "You keep calling my office!"
"My office! Your old man is going down. You tell him that. You make sure he knows that he and all of his cronies are going down under my hill. And you... well, by the time I'm through with them, there won't be anything left for you. Such a pretty thing... maybe I'll let you dance in one of the cages when I take over the club."
Bret reached out to touch her face, and Stacy stumbled back. Her purse fell out of her hands and she nearly tripped over her feet. Bret laughed and Stacy shuddered. She got back to her feet and held her head high. He knew that he unnerved her, but she wasn't going to show him anymore unease.
Stacy was already halfway to the front of the club when Bret came upon her, which meant that she should have been close enough to attract someone's attention. She moved to the side and Bret moved with her. She caught a splash of dark hair bustling through the crowd and waved her hand. Bret moved towards her and she dropped her hand. She stared at him with wide eyes, then ducked around to the other side, waving a little more frantically. Her purse fell again, and she bent down to pick it up. When she was back to her feet, they weren't alone.
Chyna didn't touch Bret. She stood behind him with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. "You have exactly ten seconds to leave the premises or I kick your ass, then give you to the big boys to work over until the cops get here."
He turned around and glared at her. "You wouldn't dare."
She smirked. "Now you've got five. Hit the bricks. I'm in a bad mood, Bretski and you're the perfect person for me to take my frustrations out on."
Bret growled at her, but Chyna stood his ground. If he thought he was going to scare her, he was sadly mistaken. Stacy couldn't think of one person that had managed to put fear in Chyna. As long as she'd been working at Club Evolution, she had been the one instilling the fear.
It may not have been fear that was put into Bret, but it was something. He turned back to Stacy and said, "Remember the message," then turned and left. When she was sure that he was really leaving, Stacy sighed and her body shook with the exhalation. She took a moment to collect herself then looked up at Chyna. "Thanks," she said softly. "That guy..."
"Is an asshole." She shook her head, then shrugged. "You're lucky we were expecting you. Ric said you were on your way, so I kept an eye out. With all the weird shit happening around here lately, we're keeping an eye on everybody."
"Is it getting like... dangerous?"
Chyna shook her head and turned. She waved Stacy forward and led her towards the club. "Not dangerous as much as annoying as hell. Shit like Hart, and the stuff with Regal last night. Dave's car getting trashed." She shrugged. "There's more, I hear, but nothing for you to really worry about. Next time, though, just pull up at the curb and skip the lot."
"Alright..." Stacy nodded to Chyna, then kept walking to the club. She had never been under the illusion that her father and his friends were well-liked, but she didn't think they were that hated. It was a scary thought, and she would definitely tell her father to be careful. Right after she told him about the scraggly haired weirdo with his leather jacket in the summer and sunglasses at night.