Authors Note - Ok, my life is now complete. Vera has given me a review. You really have no idea how much it means to me, that you would take the time to give me a review. It gives me so much confidence to carry on, and thank you for words of inspiration. To my faithful crazybutcute20 and DollFace80 - I thank you guys so much for taking the time to post your thoughts. I hope this chapter is to your liking. I actually really like it. As I said, I've split this chapter, so the night isn't over yet. The next chapter, is where I got the original story's inspiration, it'll have the stories' title...

As ever, I own nothing and no-one. Oh, and as side note, I'm sorry to disappoint you, if thats what I'm doing by breaking this to you...but I'm a guy. I only just noticed that some of you think I'm a girl. I'm not, my name is Reece. Hope you'll keep with the story...

'The New World' was billed as being Los Angeles' best kept secret. Away from the main streets and over populated restaurants, and more importantly free of the glare from paparazzi zoom lenses and their incessant shutters, was the quaint oriental establishment.

The owner, Ling-Mai, was an aging Chinese woman, with a broad smile and rolling laugh, a woman who seemed to bring out the warmest 'fuzzy' feelings in everyone who visited her restaurant, guaranteeing a small, but heavily loyal base of customers. One of these such customers, was Randy Orton. An ex fling of his had shown him this little place a few years ago, and he returned every time he was in the area. Ling Mai often found Orton's choice in company lacking, but tonight she was pleasantly surprised. Busily welcoming an elderly couple to the restaurant, the small shuffle at the entrance was enough to capture her attention. Shuffling to get a better view, her laugh bounced around the room with joyous intones.

Randy laughed softly at the sound of her voice, waving a little to the owner. Ling Mai's eyes fell across Randy's date for the evening, and was shocked by the serene beauty of Trish Stratus. Shuffling across the length of the restaurant, Ling-Mai pulled Randy into a warm heartfelt embrace.

"Mr. Orton, so good to see you. Welcome back to the 'New World'…and with such a pretty lady! Welcome my dear, I am Ling-Mai. Anything you need I shall happily provide." Stepping in front of Trish, Ling-Mai bowed slightly, before taking in the vision in pink before her. Satisfied with her assessment, she nudged Randy slightly, adding a deep chuckle before pulling the blushing Trish into an embrace much as she had done with Randy.

"Come, come. You're table is free Mr. Orton." The slightly greying Chinese woman shuffled back across the room, towards a candle lit table in the far corner. Partly portioned off by a Japanese tapestry of dancing Geisha women, Ling-Mai chuckled as she waved the pair over to take their seats. Standing behind Trish, Randy gently eased the chair in behind her as she sat. Waiting until Randy had seated himself, Ling-Mai bobbed down once more before shuffling away to the kitchen.

Trish watched the old woman, finding a goofy grin plastered across her own lips. Having only just met her, Trish loved Ling-Mai already. Turning back across the table, Trish tilted her head softly as she studied Randy's face. She didn't know whether it was the lighting, but Trish found Randy's expression unreadable. Nervously fiddling with the strap on her purse, Stratus didn't know what to say.

"I hate uncomfortable silences." At least Trish was being honest, even it wasn't the most appropriate conversation starter. Randy seemed to take it all in jest.

"I think silence is very underrated. It can be nice to just sit and not talk." His answer was diplomatic, but Trish could imagine the hidden barbed comment.

"Is that your way of telling me to shut up?" Randy's laugh seemed to rumble out of his chest, filling the space between them.

"Not at all. I was just trying to make conversation."

"By telling me how much you like silence?" Now it was Trish's turn to laugh, her well known giggle tickling out from her lips. "Great way to start Orton."

Either her the light was playing was tricks on her, or Trish was sure she could see the hint of a blush in Randy's cheeks. Finding more than a little uncomfortable, Trish hastily spoke.

"It's nice here. Do you bring all your conquests here, or am I getting special treatment because you feel guilty at cheating to win the bet?" There was glint in Trish's eye. She thought she was being funny, but in all reality there was a deadly seriousness in what she said.

"First attack comes from the Canadian blonde," Randy chuckled, "and no, I don't. Sometimes I come here by myself, other times I'll bring a girl if I think she can carry a conversation and not bore me with how ' totally awesome' she thinks I am. But if you look at the type of woman our business attracts…well it doesn't happen very often." Feeling angry on behalf of all the other women in the locker room at the sight of that lazy, arrogant smile, Trish clenched her fists beneath the table wanting nothing more than so smack than grin so far down his throat that -

"Wine Miss?" Turning her head, Trish became aware of the small Chinese woman that had snuck up on them, brandishing several wine bottles. Not bothering to check with Randy, Trish pointed at a bottle of a White Sauvignon Blanc made in New Zealand. Dutifully, the little cherub of a woman filled Trish's wine glass with the hissing liquid, before doing the same for Randy. Leaving the bottle in an ice bucket, she scurried away as quietly as she had arrived.

Avoiding eye contact, Trish slowly sipped at the wine, enjoying the rich taste as it glided easily down her throat. Studying Trish almost, Randy did the same, sipping at his wine before replacing the bottle, all the while never taking his gaze of Trish. Knowing full well that Randy was staring at her, Trish met his gaze.

"Why did you bring me here Randy? And don't tell me its because you think we can have some intelligent conversation. Apart from the fact I don't think you're capable of discussing anything other than yourself, you're not the type to engage as a person." She kept her tone as light as possible, but Trish had harsher word sizzling on the end of her tongue she would love to have spewed at him.

"You think you've got me all figured out don't you Stratus?" Enjoying the look in her eye, Randy sipped again at the wine, finding he actually didn't mind the taste, "Maybe I'm just trying to show you that I'm not an animal. You know I could have taken you straight to my room and had my own little feast, but I didn't. Maybe I'm not all about gratification."

"Do you want me to respond to that or should I just go ahead and smack you now? Please Randy! It's your freakin' mantra. You don't think of anything else. You've proven that time and time again." Trish growled, trying to keep her voice as low as possible without causing a scene.

"How so?" The nonchalance in his voice pushed Trish to boiling point. Gripping the edge of the circular table, Trish leaned closer over the table.

"Maybe by the scores of women you have bedded at abandoned since joining the company. Amy, Torrie, Candice, Steph…the list just goes on. You're all about getting in, getting yourself off and getting out! You don't give a second thought to those girls, the one's who actually feel human emotions, who have to face themselves the next day knowing that they were duped by some overbearing slut of a man. You don't care about the hearts you've broken, or the pain you've caused…and still causing!"

"Whoa baby, simmer down there." Trish noted that her knuckles where white she was clutching so hard at the table, her breathing more ragged than she would have liked. Exhaling with force, she leaned back into her chair, furrowing her brow.

"And why do you think I get away with it Trish? If I am the womaniser and heartbreaker you think I am, why do I keep getting girls?"

"Because…"

"Why do they throw themselves at me, these Diva Search women? Why do married, older and independent women flock to me to take them to my bed and give them the ride of my life?" His question was serious, and delivered in a much more calm manner than Trish had managed. And if she were honest, it was a fair question. Rhetorical also, as Randy continued.

"Its because I don't get emotionally attached. They all knew it then, and still do now. I'm not looking for love Trish, or a relationship. I'm about having a good time, and enjoying myself. I don't claim to be Prince Charming for any girl, because fuck knows I'm not. I just enjoy myself, and make sure the girl I'm does as well. Say what you want about me, I have never treated a woman badly. Sure, I may fuck-and-run, but I never treated a woman like anything other than a woman. Hell Trish, I love women."

"Don't talk to me about love," Trish spat with venom, "you don't know the meaning of the word. How are you say you 'love women'. You use them and throw them aside. To you, girls are no better than the condoms you use when you're fucking them." Placing her palms flat on the table, she continued.

"These are girls, with hopes and dreams, who want to make something of themselves in this business. They are impressionable, naïve even. Its people like you that destroy their confidence, make them think they're less than worthy. You just break their hearts like its no big deal. Of course they were stupid enough to get involved with you in the first place, but is that justification for you to do this to them? Whilst you may not be a carbon based life form, those girls are. They get emotionally attached. They hurt. They cry. They doubt themselves. They blame themselves, because of you. So don't you dare tell me you treat them well."

"Not my problem baby girl. If those girls can't see that there is no feelings involved, then bigger fool them. This is just who I am. I'm not going to change it, or apologise for it." Randy continued to sip his wine, as Trish fumed with unexpressed rage. The ability to not leap across the table and repeatedly smash his head against the wall was slowly fading. Not only did he not accept any of what Trish had said, but he seemed to think what he did was okay, that his actions had no consequences. Grabbing a chop stick, Trish began to twist it between her palms.

"What is wrong with you Randy? Don't you feel even the tiniest bit ashamed of what you do to those girls?" Trish felt she was just pleading with Randy to be a human being. His blank look defeated Trish as though he just RKO'd her through the table, "you know, I actually thought, maybe even hoped that you could understand what you are is a disgrace. Now I see how I wrong I was." Trish added bitterly. How could a human being act like this? How could Randy Orton be so cold?

"No…that's not why you want here Trish. What you want is some proof that you're aren't me." Randy smiled across the table. Trish's head shot up to meet his gaze.

"What are you doing? Sniffing the incense? How am I like you Randy?"

"We're both very good at manipulating emotions. We distance ourselves from everyone else, so we don't have to feel. For me, I just don't care about what I feel for women. But you…you're so fucked up. You try so hard not to feel, because you're frightened if you do, you might just shatter. Trish 'fuckin' Stratus isn't as strong as everyone believes she is."

Trish levelled him with a glare. It was one thing to show no remorse for being such an ass, but for him to tell her who she was as a person was so far beyond okay, it was in another area code.

"I've seen you Trish. You just cut yourself dead from everyone. The girls backstage, the boys backstage, any man who ever wants to get close to you, you've just shut your emotions down. So don't patronise me on not feeling, because you do it much better than me." Randy leaned back in his chair to study Trish reaction.

Shaking with anger, Trish rose to her feet, her eyes darkened with a rage she had never felt before. Her lips parting to unleash the most foul mouthed abuse she could think of, Trish was instantly quieted by the arriving Ling-Mai with a convoy of trays with a selection of dishes filled with Oriental cuisine.

"Dinner is served." Focusing on her breathing, trying to regain her centre, Trish carefully dropped herself back into her seat, folding and re-folding the serviette resting on her lap as Ling-Mai co-ordinated the waiters placing dishes on their table.

Oh, what I'm going to do with those Satay skewers…

XXXXXXXX

Dinner was eaten in utter silence. Neither Randy nor Trish made any eye contact as they ate the delicious collection of food that Ling Mai had provided for them. She had checked on them several times, finding it more than a little disturbing that they weren't talking. But there was nothing that could be done. If Randy even breathed too loud, he knew what Trish's reaction would be. Maybe he had gone too far? But then, he reasoned, if Trish was so willing to highlight his short comings as a person, then she should be prepared to accept the same. Clearly, Trish could dish out the judgement, but couldn't take it back. At all.

Placing her spoon down, Trish dabbed at her mouth. The ice cream was probably some of the best she had ever eaten. Everything about the meal had been perfect, if you excluded the company. More than ever, Trish knew exactly why she hated Randy Orton. It was a crusade now. She wasn't just hating him for herself, she was doing it for every woman who had been hurt and used by this monster.

Reaching down into her purse, she breathed a sigh of frustration as Randy pulled a collection of bills out of his wallet, placing them on the tray. Normally, she found it sweet when a guy offered to pay on a first date, but she really wasn't about that. Financially independent, she wanted to pay her own way. Counting out money from her purse, she was disrupted from behind.

Shuffling over, Ling-Mai enveloped Trish in another warm hug, bringing a heartfelt smile to the petit Canadian's lips.

"The meal?" Ling-Mai asked, her eyes full and expecting.

"It was absolutely amazing. It was so good, all of it. I'm definitely coming back next time I'm in town." Trish smiled warmly. Chucking, Ling-Mai pulled Randy into another hug.

"Beautiful as ever Ling-Mai. You're too good to me." Orton smiled, planting a kiss on the woman's cheek.

"You're a charmer as ever Mr. Orton. You have a lovely lady here. Make sure you're good to her. I'd like to see the two of you back here together soon. Hopefully next time, you'll even talk during the meal, eh?" Chuckling to herself, giving the pair knowing wink, Ling-Mai shuffled away from the pair and back to her other guests. Getting out of his chair, Randy moved around the table, fully intending to help Trish from her seat.

Not giving him the chance, Trish was out of chair like it was on fire, marching across the restaurant and out the door. Randy broke into a soft jog to catch up to Trish.

This was going to be a long trip home he mused.