CHAPTER 17 – The proposal
Their table was set for six, when Fresia, Stephanie, Jessie, Nora, Laura and Cindy reached the catering. Laura and Cindy were by now actual members of the Circle and the six friends were inseparable. They sat down and Ellie, the partner in crime, a brunette in her forties, welcomed them.
"Hello girls, are you ready for an unforgettable dinner?" she asked winking.
"More than ready, Ellie" said Stephanie.
"Well, you just stay there and enjoy the evening. I'm going to take care of your need, with the menu and… the rest".
The friends thanked her and began to chat animatedly. After a few minutes Ellie served them the starter of vegetables in short crust pastry and the girls began to eat, eyes going to the door every now and then. They didn't have to wait much. Andrew Martin and Stacy Kiebler entered the restaurant ten minutes later, their noses lifted in the air in disdain, as they spotted the girls. They chose to seat to the other side of the room, to put some distance between their tables.
Stephanie met Ellie's look, that nodded in agreement. After a minute the waitress served the first course to the lovers, fish soup, perfect to camouflage the potion for Stacy. The girls looked intently, trying to go unnoticed, the blond enemy that was eating the soup till the last drop.
"Mission accomplished" whispered Jessie to the others.
"Yeah, but how long do we have to wait before the medicine hit her?" asked Fresia.
"It should start its influence during digestion, to reach its peak in about 30 minutes" explained Stephanie, reporting what the pharmacist said her.
"Right at coffee time" reckoned Nora.
The girls suffocated their giggles in the tender meat on their dishes. The evening went by quickly, between a wisecrack and a peek to their target. They were savoring the dessert, when Laura, who was at the far end of the table, started to sniff the air with insistence, then let out a disgusted snort.
"Oh God, do you smell this horrible stench too or it's just my imagination?"
The girls snuffled around them and one by one they joined the nauseated expression on Laura's face. In fact in the restaurant was diffusing a dreadful smell, halfway between putrid eggs and regurgitation of an alcoholic.
"I think we need to skip coffee" said Fresia plugging her nose.
"Yeah, why don't we ask for the bill and run away?" proposed Cindy.
The girls stood up abruptly, gathered their stuff quickly and hurried to the catering bench to pay the bill. Stephanie, with a handkerchief on her nose, told Ellie to put everything on her tab, she would have paid the next morning. Ellie nodded, thumbs up and with a smile that went from ear to ear. Going out of the restaurant, they heard Andrew tell Stacy he was going out to catch some fresh air…. The girls burst out laughing, exchanging high fives. Their revenge had started greatly and it was just the beginning. The next afternoon Vince McMahon had fixed a meeting with wrestlers and divas, together with the writers. Obviously Stephanie had to be there too, and she promised to her friends she would have filmed the nauseated faces of the presents, while the breath of Stacy spread around the meeting room.
They reached the parking lot, still laughing and giving appointment for the next day at the arena. They had to pack their equipment for the next destination.
Fresia arrived at the hotel with her stomach upside-down. But the stench coming from Stacy's breath was not the only reason. The thought of Mark and what he wanted to tell her had accompanied the entire evening and now it was time to call him… She was sweating cold.
Ok, Fresia, relax. You must behave as the adult you are. He is just a man that wants to talk to you – she reasoned. She took her cell and dialed Mark's number. He answered at the second ring.
"I'm coming – he said briefly – I'll be there in 20 minutes".
"Ok, I'm in room 1106" she replied.
He shut the phone without further words and Fresia breathed deeply, focusing on what to do before Mark got there. First of all she wanted to take a shower and change. The smell of the food was on her clothes and hair and she didn't want to appear like a fishmonger. She needed to feel at ease to face her dream man. Fifteen minutes later she was ready, dressed in a pair of Capri black pants and a black corset. She left her hair down so it could dry properly and sprayed her Chanel perfume on wrists, neck and between her breasts. She looked at herself in the mirror satisfied, then decided to fix some tea to settle her messy stomach.
A firm knock announced his arrival. She breathed again, and opened the door. Mark was there, tight jeans and black sleeveless shirt, almost completely open on his impressive chest. His red hair was down and he didn't wear the bandanna, that was tied on his right wrist. His imposing presence left her amazed, as always. In her life she had never known someone so tall, large and muscular and she felt a little intimidated… She moved to the side to make him enter the room and closed the door behind them.
"Do you want some hot tea?" Fresia asked to break the silence.
"Have you eaten too much? – He joked – I'll take some with pleasure, thanks". He wasn't crazy for tea, truthfully, but he needed something to calm his nerves. He wanted to grab her since she opened the door and her scent reached his senses, arousing him immediately. He was a man of action, but couldn't risk to throw away his chances jumping on her like a gorilla in heat. However he didn't see the reason to waste their time so he sat down on the couch, patting the place beside him to make her sit too.
"I'm here Squirrel because this situation between us has to stop"
Fresia looked at him confused and was about to say something but he halted her with his hand.
"Please, listen to me first, then you'll tell me what you think".
Always bossy, Fresia thought but she didn't utter a word, letting him continue with her heart pounding hard in her chest.
"I don't know how you manage to do it, but since I know you it seems like I can't get rid of you. First of all because you're always in my way, challenging me… imprudently – and he underlined the word with a severe look – Secondly because you're in my every thought, even if I don't want it".
He paused, sipping his tea, the silence in the room broken only by the rain outside. Fresia was perplexed, what was he saying? She was annoying him or he couldn't be without her? Insecurity was killing her. Mark put the cup down and turned completely toward her.
"I think about your hair every time you braid mine; about your body every time I look at another woman and understand that she doesn't interest me; about your smile every time something amuses me. Your scent drives me crazy. The fantasies I have about you every time I look at you probably would scare you".
Fresia was listening breathless, now. She had never hoped to have such an effect on him.
"No other woman had ever obsessed me as you do, so I have a proposal to make. I'd like to have you at my side, as my woman. I'm not just talking about sex, of course. We will live together, spend all our available time together. I want you with me during work and free time – He paused, as to pointing out what he was about to say – I want you, Squirrel".
Fresia was speechless, breathless, the thoughts were running wildly in her head. He wanted to be with her! Did she understand right? Her dream man wanted to be her real man? The look on her face had to be eloquent, because he went on.
"I want to be sincere, I'm not talking about love and marriage. This has to be definite since the beginning. I respect you too much to make fun of you. But what I'm feeling is too strong and I don't want to ignore it anymore. I'm asking for a relationship, we will be a couple Squirrel".
He was devouring her with his eyes while talking, impatient of touching and caressing her…
"It's not necessary for you to answer me this evening, if you're not ready. But I'm not a patient man and will not wait for long. Tomorrow evening I'd like to know your decision".
Fresia felt split in two: on one side she wanted to throw herself in his arms and take anything he wanted to give her; to the other side she wondered if it was fair to have a relationship with a man who didn't reciprocate her love. The risk to end up hurt was truly strong. Then her curiosity had the upper hand.
"Mark, forgive me, there's something I don't understand. What about the… perplexity you had on inexperienced women? – she asked him, ashamed but even too shocked – because nothing changed, I'm still… you know… like that" she stuttered, avoiding his eyes.
"Good" he answered in a low deep voice.
Only then Fresia lifted her head and looked at him like he was crazy or something.
"One of the reasons I'm here now is because I hate the idea of another man touching you… before me".
He put his elbows on his knees and looked at Fresia, who seemed in la-la land. He really shocked her.
"So Squirrel – he plied – can you give me and answer now or tomorrow evening? And this time you won't have other appointments". Dominant as usual, he waited for her decision.
Fresia stood up to rinse the tea cups, then started to walk back and forth around the room, dip in her thoughts. She felt like a sexual toy, to tell the truth and it was new for her. She wasn't a beauty and no man had ever competed to have her in his bed. But Mark wanted her. The consciousness made her happy and frightened at the same time. How could she have a relationship with a man who refused any connection with love? Could she adapt to this? On the other hand she never backed down, every time she had a new aim to reach; she always fought nail and teeth to win the challenge. Why don't try this time too? Besides when she arrived in WWF Mark didn't even see her, like she was a piece of furniture but her tenacity and determination leaded her where she was: he wanted her as his woman. Who knows, maybe she could make him love her? That's it, this was her next target, Fresia concluded, but first she wanted to clarify a few points.
Mark watched her walking pensive, silent. He took it like a sign that she needed to reflect on his proposal and stood up himself, going to the door. He was about to leave, when she spoke.
"Your rules?" she asked
"Rules?" he echoed, confused.
"The first one is evident: love has nothing to do with this – explained Fresia – Do you have more rules?"
He looked at her a little amused, the girl had common sense after all.
"Nothing much, really. I just want you to understand that I'm not husband material, and I will not tolerate tears, whimpers… requests of engagement rings… and so on".
He didn't mean to be brutal, but she had to get his intentions fully.
"I have three rules" Fresia declared.
"I'm listening" he said, taking a step toward her.
"One: I want the exclusive. I'm possessive and I don't share. There won't be other women except me and I will do the same in return, so we can respect and trust each other".
"I agree" said Mark, taking another step closer.
"Two: I will see my friends every time I want. No man could oblige me to choose between him and my friends, 'cause he would lose the confrontation".
Mark smiled and nodded. "If your friends won't try to interfere in our relationship, then I don't see why you should stop to enjoy their company" he replied, with another step toward her. Now they were facing each other and she had to throw her head backwards to look at him. She took a deep breath before going on with the rules; she was going to say something that could make him run away, but she didn't want to deny her feelings and her nature just to be with him.
"Three: I can manage to be with a man who doesn't love me, I don't care about marriage and I don't want children at least for the next ten years. But I have no intention of hiding my feelings for you…. I'm in love with you Mark and I won't act like it wasn't important for me. I will not embarrass you displaying my love in public, but when we'll be alone I will hug and kiss you and show you my love every time I'll feel like doing it".
Mark was stunned. The Squirrel loved him? That was unexpected. He knew she had a crush for him, everybody in WWF was aware of that, but love? That was weird.
Fresia stood there, and she could almost hear the wheels in his mind spinning.
"If you won't accept this rules, then we can forget the whole matter – she affirmed boldly – Maybe you are the one who had to think about it? I am not a patient woman too, you can give me your answer tomorrow evening at the latest" she concluded, moving toward the door.
A hand grabbed her arm, taking her back.
"Not so quickly" Mark said with a voice that was all Undertaker.
He got over the shock rapidly and valued a series of pro and cons. Her rules suited him fine, he would have not tolerated other men in her life and he wanted to go out with his friends – even if he had very few friends – without complaining because he was going to leave her alone. The third rule was the hardest to digest, but the fact that she didn't look for marriage and children set his mind on rest. As for the lovey-dovey act, he didn't mind at all, on condition that she'd do it in private. Besides he didn't believe that Fresia was really in love with him. Probably it was just an infatuation, a sexual call that she didn't recognize. When she'd have been more expert she surely would have stopped with such stupidity.
Comforted by those thoughts, Mark blocked Fresia when she moved toward the door.
"Not so quickly" he said, with the voice he used with his opponents.
Fresia shivered and wondered if she had gone too far with the ultimatum. She hoped he wasn't pissed off, after all they were all alone and her self-defense classes could nothing against his monstrous strength. He was aware of her fears, of course he would have never done anything to wound her but a little of healthy subjection couldn't hurt. She had to learn that it was him to lead the game.
He let go of her arm and took a lock of her hair, rolling it up on his finger.
"I accept your rules – he said with the same Undertaker voice – Do you accept my proposal?".
By now the lock was completely rolled up, forcing Fresia to practically touch his chest with her nose. His masculine scent was making her dizzy and without thinking she kissed that muscular torso that was driving her crazy. Mark shuddered at the sensation of her soft lips on him. He bend his head so his mouth was close to hers, always imprisoning her hair.
"I suppose that was a yes" he murmured.
"Si" she answered, just a moment before he took her mouth in a hungry kiss.
He let go of her hair and took her by the waist, picking her up till she was at his height. Devouring her, he tightened his hold while Fresia put her legs instinctively around his waist. His body reacted immediately, becoming hard as a brick wall. He continued to kiss her, an arm around her waist to support her while the other hand went under her bottom, caressing it. He had dreamed about touching that round ass a lot and now he wanted to take out her pants to put his hands on the nude soft skin.
There was no need to rush things, though. He wanted to enjoy that wonderful girl properly and the only way to do it was to take her to his ranch, in his bedroom. There nobody could hear her screaming his name…. He couldn't wait anymore and stopped the kiss
"Come to my house. We will stay there the next four days" he told her breathless.
She was melting in his arms and it took her a moment to focus on his words.
"Tomorrow afternoon I have to go back to the arena, to pack my things for the courier".
She didn't think neither for a second to protest, the idea of being alone with her dream man in his house was making her nervous but happy.
"I will take you. Now gather your stuff, it's time to go".
"You're not with the bike, are you?" she asked worried.
"No Squirrel, I'm with the truck. Now hurry up, it's late".
He put her down and called the reception, cancelling the reservation for the room while she was collecting her belongings around the room. The habit to this procedure allowed her to be ready in 15 minutes. He stood up from the couch, lifted her heavy bag like it was a feather, took her hand and together they walked out, heading for home. Houston.