Chapter 6

"So tell me everything there is to know about Stephanie," Riley said later that night. He and Chris had just finished practicing some moves in the ring and were on their way to Chris's locker room to grab their stuff.

"There are so many layers you have to peel away to discover the true essence of Stephanie McMahon," Chris said with a sigh. "She's multidimensional."

"So tell me about her!" Riley pressed. "I'm eager to learn everything about her, and I happen to know that you have quite a vast amount of knowledge on the subject."

"Much more than I could possibly tell you in one night," Chris stated, entering his locker room.

"You could give me a few details," Riley said. "I mean, you know so much about the woman that you could write a book about her." He followed him into the locker room to get his stuff.

"Multiple books, actually," Chris said, putting his bag on his shoulder. "Volume after volume, very detailed, about her unique personality traits, and outstanding physical attributes. She's a portrait of elegance, perfection, and beauty."

"Yeah, she is pretty hot," Riley said absentmindedly. He was surprised when Chris shoved him. "Hey, what the hell?"

"Don't even start thinking along those lines," Chris warned him. "Stephanie is off-limits to you, and don't you forget that."

"Dude, it's just a storyline. I'm just trying to do my research so we can have a good business relationship," Riley explained with a scowl. "I mean, isn't that what you would do?"

"Well, yeah," Chris admitted, watching Riley put his bag on his shoulder. "But you would do well not to mention the fact that she's hot to me again."

"Done," Riley said.

"Cool. Let's get outta here."

The two brothers walked down the hall together wearing identical expressions on their faces. As they walked by Stephanie's office, the door opened, and Stephanie stepped out. They stopped walking and stood in front of her.

She looked astonished to see both Riley and Chris in front of her, side by side. They looked so much alike that their resemblance was eerie.

She smiled warmly. "Hi Chris."

"Hey Steph," Chris replied.

She looked at Riley. "Hi Riley."

She knows who he is? Chris thought in bewilderment, but said nothing.

"Once again, we meet," Riley said, smiling at her. "That's twice in two days."

She smiled a genuine smile. "Just a coincidence, or are you stalking me?"

"Stalking. See, I'm only following the portrait of perfection," Riley said with a shrug.

Is he flirting with her? a voice inside Chris's head asked. No way.

Stephanie looked around the hallway. "Perfection? Yeah, I'm not seeing it."

"Look in the mirror," Riley said, producing a mirror out of nowhere and handing it to her. She looked into it and he walked around and stood behind her. Leaning over her shoulder, he asked, "Do you see what I see?"

What the fuck is he doing? Chris wondered, trying hard to control his temper.

"I only see me," Stephanie answered. "Show me what you see."

"Look deeper," Riley ordered. "Beneath your many layers lies your true essence. I can see it: beauty, elegance, perfection. It's all in you."

"Wow. You're really poetic," she breathed, looking in the mirror at her reflection as if she'd never seen it before.

Chris's mouth dropped. "This is bull shit, Riley!" he exclaimed. "How dare you use my words and flirt with her in my face?"

"Flirting is harmless," Riley said.

"And you flirt right back with him?" Chris asked Stephanie. "Bull shit! That's what this is!" He spun on his heel and started to walk away. "Find your own ride to the hotel, Riley!" he called over his shoulder without looking back. He was pissed!

Stephanie and Riley watched Chris stomp angrily away down the hall.

"Your brother has an attitude problem," Stephanie finally said with a sigh.

"Luckily, I'm not like him," Riley replied. "It'd be like Talan and Tristan. Double the trouble!"

"I still find it hard to believe that Chris has so many younger siblings that he neglected to mention in all the years I've known him," she said, shaking her head. "I can't believe there's so much I still don't know about him."

"Would you like to learn more about him...over breakfast tomorrow morning?" he asked.

"Sounds appealing, but I don't know..." Her voice trailed off. "Chris won't be too happy about it."

"Then we'll just invite him along," he said. "Simple."

"You think he'll come?" she asked.

"Of course," he said confidently. "You know he can't resist you."

"He's doing a pretty darn good job of hiding that," she said with a sigh.

"Cheer up. He'll come around," he assured her. "And if he doesn't... Well, there are other men in the world, you know?"

"Yeah," she said thoughtfully. She looked up at him, still amazed at how much he really looked like Chris. "Need a ride to the hotel?"

"Since Chris bailed on me, a lift would be greatly appreciated," he told her.

"Just give me a sec to grab my stuff," she said, and disappeared into her office.

She's pretty and sweet? he thought as he watched her go into her office. I'm beginning to like her already...