DISCLAIMER: As much as it breaks my heart to admit it, I do not own anyone or anything connected to Vince McMahon and his awesomeness. I can only claim property rights of OC.
Randy didn't catch up with Claire until she was in the parking lot, standing beside the car. Her back was to him. Approaching slowly, Randy forced himself to take a deep breath. He knew she was upset and didn't want to add to her distress.
"What happened?"
The sound of Randy's voice caused Claire's spine to stiffen. She hadn't expected him to follow her out into the parking lot, "Nothing."
"Bullshit." Reaching for her, Randy placed his hands on her shoulders. He turned her to face him. Her eyes were red and swollen. He knew she was trying to keep herself under control.
"Talk to me." It wasn't a request.
"Go to hell." Claire pulled in a deep breath and forced herself to look Randy in the eyes. She was tired of playing games. She had made her decision; she was turning in her resignation to Stephanie the minute she walked into her office. She was through playing games and getting kicked around.
"Don't push me. What the fuck happened back there?"
Claire bit the inside of her cheek to keep her silence.
"One minute we're having a nice dinner, the next I'm dragging you out of a fight? That doesn't make sense, Claire."
Again, silence was her answer. Biting back a frustrated sigh, Randy forced himself to calm down. He knew that raising his voice wasn't going to accomplish a damned thing. It would only make Claire close herself off even more. It was time for a different tactic. Randy reached for her, gently placing his hands on her arms.
"Baby, this isn't like you. What made you so upset?"
The gentleness in Randy's voice brought back the sting of tears. She didn't want to talk about it. She just wanted to go home. Randy knew Claire was trying to keep an emotional distance between them. Why was she so damned determined to keep pushing him away? What was it going to take to get through to her? He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face as he looked deeply into her eyes. With every ounce of strength he had, he willed her to trust him, "You can tell me."
Claire squeezed her eyes shut tightly, wishing he would stop being so damned nice to her. It was breaking her heart even more. Randy prayed for patience. Her silence was speaking volumes. She didn't trust him. He hated the fact that he was standing in a semi-dark parking lot, begging her to open up to him. It was almost more than he could stand. Randy resisted the urge to shake her, "Claire, please."
Frustrated, Randy let his hands drop away from Claire. He hated losing even that slight contact with her. It made the distance between them feel even greater. Randy took a step back and crossed his arms over his chest. Fine. If she doesn't want to talk, he'd just have to wait it out. Randy kept his eyes locked on Claire's face. He didn't have the first fucking clue what had happened. Thinking back over the events of the last hour didn't give him any insight. He had been sitting at the table, waiting for Claire to come back from the ladies' room. An older had followed Claire into the bathroom and returned to her table a few minutes later, nearly breathless. She had informed the waiter that two "young chippies" were arguing in the bathroom. It didn't take Randy long to figure out that one of the "young chippies" had to be Claire. After pushing his way through the crowd of gathered onlookers, Randy stepped into the ladies room. His surprise had turned to utter disbelief as he took in the sight of Claire striking Natalie. What could have possibly provoked his usually laid-back Claire to physical violence? It just didn't make sense. Randy knew it was time to break up their little spat when Claire was about to slam Natalie's head into the mirror again. It wouldn't do either of them any good if he had to bail her out of jail.
Randy was quickly growing tired of playing games with her, "Get in the car."
Claire remained motionless.
"Dammit, Claire, get in the car." Randy spoke each word slowly, forcing himself to stay calm.
Claire stood rooted in place. Randy reached around her to open the car door. He waited wordlessly until Claire decided to get in. Slamming the door closed, Randy moved around to the driver's side of the car. He shoved the key in the ignition and started the engine. The driver back to the hotel was almost too painful for Claire. Her thoughts were moving so fast that she couldn't pin a single one down. Doubt and guilt clawed at her. What if Natalie wasn't lying? What if Randy really had set her up? What if he really had bet Jake that he could get her into bed? What if the last few days really had been some sort of sick, twisted contest? Just the thought of it made Claire sick. Randy parked at the front of the hotel and came around the car to open her door. He stood there silently and waited for her to emerge. Claire glanced at Randy. Anger blazed in his eyes, a muscle ticked along his jaw. She could tell he was pissed beyond words. Turning sharply on her heel, Claire stalked into the hotel. If anyone had a reason to be pissed, it damned sure wasn't Randy. He wasn't the one who had been used a pawn in a desperate game.
Randy followed Claire down the hall to their rooms. He was furious and confused. He had no idea why Claire was trying to stonewall him. Why the fuck couldn't she just own up to what she was feeling? Why couldn't she just drop the Ice Princess routine and just be honest with him? Was it really that hard for her to trust him? The only thing Randy knew for sure was the he was damned tired of playing cat and mouse. Either Claire made up her mind about what she wanted or he was walking away. As much as it would tear him apart, he wasn't going to live with Claire's constant suspicion. Opening the door to his room, Randy reached for Claire and hauled her inside. Claire gasped in outrage as Randy pulled her into his room and locked the door behind him. He moved to the center of the room and turned to face her, hands clenched at his sides. For a moment, Claire was scared he was trying not to throttle her. They stood facing each other, neither speaking for several long, tense moments. Even more frustrated, Randy collapsed on the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands. He didn't know what was going through Claire's brain or how to get through to her. Claire moved to the other side of the room to look out of the window. The knot of tension in her belly grew larger with each passing second. She was afraid; afraid to ask Randy for the truth and afraid not to know. "That night with Jake, did you set it up?"
Randy thought he was hearing things. No way in hell had she just asked him if the near-rape was a set up! What kind of monster did she think he was? Pulling his hands away from his face, Randy nailed her with a steady look, "How can you even ask that?"
"Did you?" Claire forced the words past the lump in her throat.
Randy was on his feet in less than a heartbeat. He moved across the room without a sound. He stared down at Claire, disbelief shining in his eyes. "Are you insane?"
Claire could feel her anger flaring back to life, "Did you?"
Randy's hands curled into fists as he rolled his shoulders, trying to tame the rage he felt building. He wanted to hurt something, someone. How could she stand there and ask him such a thing? Did she honestly think he would jeopardize her safety like that? Did she not understand the he loved her? "Who told you that?"
Claire was terrified by how absolutely calm Randy's voice sounded. He wasn't even trying to deny it. "Claire, answer me." His voice dropped to a deadly quiet tone.
"Please tell me you didn't." Claire's words were a whisper. He stood there, not even trying to deny the accusations. Randy reached for Claire, his fingers biting into the soft flesh of her upper arms. He pulled her close to him, his eyes burning into hers. In that instant, Claire knew true fear. She knew she had pushed Randy beyond his limits.
"How could you?" Randy's words fairly dripped acid, "After what we've shared, how can you think that?"
Claire shook her head slowly, unable to find her voice.
"Tell me." Randy shouted, his face mere inches away from hers.
"Let me go."
Randy shook her, probably harder than he should have, but he couldn't help himself. "Do you really think I could do that to you?"
Again, Claire could only shake her head.
"Do you have any idea what kind of hell I've been through? Do you know what it does to a man to see the woman he loves nearly raped?" Randy shook her again, wishing she would say anything.
Claire was stunned; absolutely stunned. He said he loved her. All this time she had been so sure he was just trying to use her. All at once, the words came pouring out of her, like a river that couldn't be held back, "Natalie said you bet Jake that you could get me into bed first."
Randy's vision took on a decidedly hazy tint as he looked down at Claire. Rage beyond anything he had ever felt took hold of him. Of all the vile, under-handed, devious things he had been accused of, this was absolutely the worst. He had been responsible for a shitload of horrible things, but that was definitely not one of them. Claire had no idea of the hell he had been through that night. He had tortured himself to the point of exhaustion. All he had ever wanted was for Claire to know how much he cared for her. He just wanted her to know how much he loved her. How had he managed to fail so miserably? "I don't believe it!"
Claire instinctively took a step back, trying to put at least another inch of space between them.
"I swear it's true."
Randy hissed out a disgusted breath and turned away from Claire. He was afraid that if he stayed close to her, he would do something they would both regret. He wanted to shake some sense into her. He wanted to kiss her until she begged him to stop. He wanted to do everything to her and all at once.
"How can you think that I would do that to you?I thought that you, of all people, who have more faith in me than that! I've been honest with you since day one! I would do anything for you, Claire. ANYTHING!" Randy fairly shouted the last word.
Oh God! What have I done? Claire felt her anger turn into panic. The look on Randy's face said it all. His blue eyes had turned almost liquid with tears he couldn't hide. She never thought she would see the day that the great Randal Keith Orton was moved to tears. She would never have thought it would even be possible. The knowledge that she was responsible was more than she could endure. Gathering what remained of her pride, Claire moved past Randy to the door.
*** A/N – Are you on the edge of your seat or what? If you're sweet enough to review, I'll have to reward your patience ***
