Chapter 23

Tahlia about had a heart attack the moment Shane mentioned marriage. She was DEFINITELY not signed up for THAT to happen. There was no way she'd ever marry simply to get close to a person. Not happening. So when Shane backtracked with his adorable pout, Tahlia visibly relaxed.

"I would think proposing marriage would be a lot more nerve-wracking. And you're right, you're not anything like your father." Taking his hand, Tahlia laced their fingers together and looked up into his eyes. "You're better than him. Now what did you want to ask me?" Her voice had taken on a honey-filled tone, soothing him the best way she could.

Her words of encouragement helped quite a bit and he found himself squeezing her hand gently, a smile gracing his lips. Shane shifted his position, so they were now face to face, and took her other hand in his. "After hearing this, you might wish I'd just proposed." He informed her, already knowing what he was about to ask her would be hard for her to swallow, all things considered. When Tahlia simply tilted her head to the side in confusion, he took a deep breath. "I want you to join the Corporation, Tahlia. Be my partner."

Well… about time. Apparently, her services had finally paid off. Smirking, Taker shoved down the jealousy he had felt, was now ignoring, and shouldered his bag. He already knew she was going to say yes. She was well trained.

"Or we could get married if you prefer." Shane added when he seen the look on her face.

Her heart rate increased drastically along with her breathing, the color draining out of her face. When Shane began to laugh, she smacked him hard on the arm and shook her head. "You ass! I thought you were actually doing it! And for the record, no, I'm not marrying you or anyone else." Taker wasn't the marrying kind or she would consider the possibility with him. "You want me…to join the Corporation?" Tahlia had to make sure she heard him right. "What about the old man? Surely, he won't allow it. I was with the Ministry after all…" Shane had lost his mind, it was official.

Shane had already made it clear to Vince that Vince's opinions of Tahlia were unwarranted and unfounded. She was trustworthy and more than just another pretty face. Hell, Tahlia had been giving him input that had been put into action a lot lately and Vince was pleased with the results. He hadn't been pleased earlier today when he found out those were Tahlia's ideas, but they had been effective nevertheless.

"I'll deal with Vince, don't worry about him." Shane assured confidently, aware she was seriously considering it. He knew because she hadn't said no outright. "And yes, I want you to join the Corporation. You're already helping us out, they just didn't know until today." He then grinned, reaching out to finger a strand of her raven locks. "And what is so wrong with marrying me? It's the name, right? McMahon?" He was teasing.

Tahlia nearly said 'yes', but bit her tongue and held it back. "There's nothing wrong with being a McMahon. But I won't marry you because…I – I like you. A lot." That last part was a lie. She had to say something to soften the blow. "I'm sure if we spend more time together, that like could grow into something more…" Sliding a finger down his dress shirt covered chest, she smiled up at him wickedly. "Who knows, maybe we could get to know each other on a personal level." Just as Shane was about to kiss her, Tahlia pulled back and clapped her hands together. "The answer to your offer is yes. I'll join the Corporation." This was the perfect opportunity to infiltrate the Corporation and complete her mission.

If Shane would've known she was about to say 'yes' because of his last name, he wouldn't have faulted her one bit for it. It was a name he was most of the time proud of, but there were those moments… moments when he wished he had any name except McMahon. Mostly due to his father being an arrogant, maniacal jackass. It did, however, take him a moment to process everything she had just said. He caught the yes part, to joining the Corporation and he was pretty giddy over that, but… it was the rest.

She was a better actress than he had given her credit for. Taker had heard enough and was finally on his way inside the building. She liked him. He was pretty convinced of that himself, she was just that good. And he was the one who told her by any means necessary.

"So, you'll join the Corporation, and you…"

The smile on his face was contagious and Tahlia didn't have a moment to retreat because he finished the kiss he had been meaning to angle for. It wasn't tongue and all that, but it was firm enough to let her know he had been wanting to do this awhile. Tahlia accepted the soft pliant kiss and wiped some of her gloss away from Shane's lips with the pad of her thumb once he pulled back. As much as she did enjoy Shane's company, she desperately wanted to get back to the Ministry of Darkness, where she belonged.

Of course she was a great actress! That was her job and Tahlia wouldn't, couldn't, let Taker down. He was her master, after all. Whatever the master wanted, he would get.

"I promise to do my best for the Corporation and not ask you for any favors. I'll get at Sable on my own. So don't go striking any deals with your old man on my behalf, okay? That's my only condition to joining."

Occasionally, it did strike Shane that perhaps Tahlia really was too good to be true. She offered her services to him, her insight, all of it and here she was still not asking for anything in return. Actually, she had asked for one thing and that was to let her do things on her own merit. Shane had so much respect for that, especially now. He had seen the way things were working in his father's faction. Favors for favors, matches being used for bartering as a way to climb ladders and it was just politics. She wasn't like that.

"Are you sure you're legit?" He asked after a long moment. At her confused look, he smiled. "You ask for absolutely nothing. You want to make it on your own standing. You can't be real."

She had done her job. The worst of it was over. Tahlia was in the Corporation and, very likely, Shane's bed. Just the thought of it made Taker nauseous.

"I've always been a firm believer in hard work pays off. I don't want anything handed to me because I want to earn it. I've earned everything I've achieved throughout my life. Politics aren't my cup of tea. People think I didn't earn my place in the Ministry of Darkness, but I did." Her eyes flashed for a moment before turning back to their amber color. "I know Undertaker has been a thorn in the Corporation's side along with the Ministry, but when I was with them, I earned every single bit of it. Like it or not, Undertaker is the cream of the crop around here, even if Triple H doesn't believe it or Austin for that matter. He is the top guy and if you want to follow anyone, it would be him. It was a privilege and honor to be in his group, even if it was for a short amount of time. And now I'm about to become part of another elite group that will catapult my career greatly. So there's no reason to ask for anything when I'm getting everything I could ever want to begin with. So thank you, Shane. Thank you for this amazing opportunity and I promise not to let you down." She just hoped he hadn't asked her to join the Corporation solely to try getting in her panties because that wouldn't happen.

Sex was off the table – she belonged to Undertaker.

If he had known she was wondering about the status of him, her panties and her invitation to join the Corporation, he would have laughed out loud right in her face. Shane knew he was good looking and, if that hadn't been enough, which sometimes it wasn't, he was also a McMahon and wealthy. Those things alone guaranteed him plenty of female companionship if he were so inclined. As it was, Tahlia wasn't a one-night stand. He already knew that anyone who was able to secure a relationship with her was in it for the long haul simply because she was that kind of person. Also, interestingly, was the way she spoke of the Undertaker and the Ministry of Darkness. More to the point, the Undertaker. Shane wasn't a complete fool.

"You're right," He said slowly, studying her thoughtfully. "He is the cream of the crop. However… he's also insane." Shane and Vince had probably drunk out of the same fountain of crazy. "I've seen his initiations on TV, and…" He trailed off, realizing he didn't want to continue because he didn't want to know just how far down the rabbit hole she had allowed herself to go. "Come on, let's go back inside."

"I'm not denying that fact. You're right, he is insane." And sexy, she added in thought, immediately focusing back on the task at hand. "I'd be an idiot if I didn't at least commend him on the job he does for the company. But he is also frightening and hopefully the Corporation will bring down the Ministry sooner rather than later." That was a complete lie that flowed naturally out of her mouth as they both walked back inside the building. "So when are you going to break the news to the old man about me joining, prince?" That term of endearment fit him since he was the prince of the WWE empire.

Just like that, the unease over the Undertaker and the way she had spoken about him just disappeared. Mostly because she had used the term 'Prince', which was one he had heard before and was never pleased to hear. He would die a happy man if people would just… he was Shane – not Prince. Not Boy Wonder, none of it.

"Don't call me that." He muttered, running a hand along the back of his neck, feeling his cheeks tinging pink. "Please." He added as an afterthought. "And Vince already knows. I cleared it with him earlier, just because I wasn't going to bring you in without his say so. He would've gone out of his way to make you miserable, Tallie."

That wasn't to say he wouldn't anyway, but Shane already knew how vindictive his old man could be. He wasn't going to lie. Shane figured a chunk of why Vince had agreed had been due to her former Ministry status. Vince probably figured he could use her as a weapon, leverage, or just for information. Not necessarily a bad thing, he supposed, but then she had already been proving herself useful and Vince had just learned about it today.

"He might still try yet." He admitted begrudgingly. "He's an ass that way. You ready to go in and… make it official?"

Making it 'official' required Tahlia doing a segment with Chyna…where she lost. It was a way to prove her loyalty to the Corporation and knowing her place. Tahlia never felt so humiliated in her entire life, hoping this is what Taker wanted. She had to keep reminding herself it was for him and in the Ministry's best interest. The match was quick and, mostly, painless due to Vince's strict instructions not to harm each other. Tahlia wanted to pluck Chyna's eyeballs out and feed them to her, but instead took a couple moves before being pinned for the victory. She laid there for a moment, staring up at the bright lights of the arena and shut her eyes before rising to her feet.

Chyna hadn't left and walked up to her, extending her hand for the entire world to see. It was Raw and live…Tahlia had no choice and took the woman's hand, shaking it firmly to solidify her Corporation status.

Edge and Christian both stared at the monitor with dropped jaws, slowly turning eyes to their master, who did NOT look happy. This wasn't going to end well.

The cherry on top was Tahlia actually walking backstage side by side with Chyna.

A loss to Chyna, of all people. The only way that could have been any worse would have been it had been Sable. Taker knew Tahlia would have probably lost her mind if she had been asked to lay down for Sable, who had no talent. At least Chyna possessed something besides looks. Such as they were. He ran a finger through his goatee, acidic eyes narrowed as he stared at the monitor, finally letting them close the moment Chyna and Tahlia disappeared behind the curtain. Getting what he demanded of her had been in the cards, but he just hadn't expected to find himself so disgusted or jealous. Or upset with himself. She had just sold her own self out by doing that. And Tahlia had done it for him. This was what he had wanted, right?

Waiting backstage was Shane, who had not been pleased or amused with Vince's demands for Tahlia. He knew Vince wanted her to prove her loyalty, but knowing the history between the two women, to do it that way was wrong. Shane kept the smile on his face when Chyna and Tahlia emerged through the black curtain, though his eyes were telling a different story.

"Satisfied, Dad?" He asked casually, knowing provoking Vince would only cause him to do this all over again.

"For now."

"Nice to see you've finally learned your place, Tahlia." Sable boasted, holding the women's championship over her shoulder with a satisfied smirk on her lips.

Vince had done her a favor by making that bitch lay down for the same woman that helped her win the Women's title in the first place! Was there anything sex couldn't get her? Sable felt proud of herself for the idea and snuggled up against Vince's side, eyes glittering with wicked intentions.

"Well done, Vinnie. Thank you."

Hearing those words come out of her mouth made Tahlia's heart sink to the pit of her stomach. So this wasn't Vince's idea…it was SABLE'S? Tahlia kept the smile on her face until Vince walked away with the slut on his arm, Chyna following suit. It was just her and Shane in the hallway; she backed up the moment he reached for her, barely keeping the tears from falling.

"I need to be alone right now." Not caring what he thought, Tahlia took off down the hallway and went to the nearest women's restroom to empty the contents of her stomach, crying her heart out.

What the hell did she just do to her career?!

All Shane could do was stand there, his own mouth wide open, jaw on the floor. What the hell had just happened? Sable?! That was Sable's doing?

"Well goddamn it!" He cursed, raking a hand through his carefully coiffed hair, messing it up totally. Tahlia was probably pissed off royally with him and he did not blame her one bit. "Damn!"

Paul Bearer, was the one who was lurking tonight and, when he caught word of what had gone down, and by Sable's request no less, he went pale underneath the rice powder he wore to make his face white. No makeup required tonight. He knew that would have torn Tahlia to shreds. She was a proud woman, who had been very career oriented and tonight it had gotten shredded because of the Undertaker. She was doing this for Taker. He wondered if the Deadman truly understood just what it was he was asking Tahlia to do. She was tearing herself apart, ripping herself down, all because one man had asked her too.