The Arrangement

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Melanie's POV

I was relieved when Stephanie eventually left, but I was still trapped. She had circled around me once, nodding in satisfaction before leaving and the lock clicked into place behind her. I was left here as the sacrificial lamb; that thought chilled me to the bone. There was no robe, no sign of my overnight bag and she had wandered off with the dress. I was stuck standing in this room in the skimpiest outfit I had ever seen. It barely covered anything and would have been as well to be made by spider's webs. I was afraid if I moved too much it was split and fall to the floor. I wasn't a virgin by any means, but I wasn't heavy on the experience either.

My stomach turned and my head was spinning. I sat on the end of the bed, trying to calm down. There was no getting out of this; I had three choices. Wait in the room and go through with the inevitable, lock myself in the bathroom or get in the bed and pretend to be asleep. The first and third options filled me with abject terror; either way I was leaving myself vulnerable to a man I didn't know and couldn't trust.

At least the second option might have provided me some sort of protection; but I knew if Randy wanted to get at me, no door was going to separate us. He was taller than me, and at least ninety percent solid muscle. I didn't stand a chance. I leaned my head against the bed post in despair.

"I think he'll enjoy you. Remember, you obey or your family suffers".

Stephanie's parting words echoed in my head. This was such a mess, no family obligation was worth this situation.

I've felt betrayed before, I've felt depressed and alone, but I've never felt like a possession, and I've never felt cheap.

I just feel…lost, and I have no way to fight back.

Normal POV

Randy entered the elevator and rubbed his hand tiredly across his eyes. Hunter kept yammering at him and pouring drink after drink of scotch. Randy had kept drinking and stopped listening to Hunter about five minutes in. He knew what Hunter and Stephanie were expecting from him tonight; truthfully he was dreading it. Hunter's lewd jibes didn't really help. At least his family wasn't here to witness any of this. At one point, Hunter had pulled over Dusty, who had stayed for three minutes and then made his excuses. His face was pale and the American Dream looked twice his age in that moment.

Randy slumped against the wall of the lift as it paused a couple of floors from the top. He looked up to see Roman staring at him imploringly.

"What"?

"Please don't hurt her. Please just leave her alone, it's too much".

Randy just laughed. "See, now I know it's not love. So why are you acting the knight in shining armour"?

Roman shrugged. "She's a good kid. I just don't think the situation was fair to her".

Randy heaved himself off the wall and stared Roman down. "It's not fair on anyone. You should know that. May as well make the best of a bad situation".

With that, he brushed past Roman and walked out of the lift. Roman sighed and hung his head. Sometimes he wished the gimmicks had an element of truth; then maybe, just maybe he wouldn't feel like he was party to a huge injustice,

The key card clicked in the door. Melanie jumped slightly but she dared not turn around. She remained sitting at the edge of the bed. His shadow fell on her and she still didn't look up.

"Stand up". The command was quiet and forceful. She swallowed as she stood.

His rough hand gripped around her neck and she met his steel eyes, terror shining in hers.

Randy stroked the side of her neck with his thumb. He could feel the pulse under his touch, it was rapid. Her skin was smooth, and he traced it more, running his hand over her shoulder, grazing the thin strap and trailing down her arm. He snaked his arm around her waist and cupped her face with his other hand. A slight whimper escaped from her lips as her eyes squeezed shut. He ignored it and pulled her closer.

"You're very beautiful", he murmured, and leaned his head down. His lips brushed against her, once, twice, three times. Then against her neck, breathing her in. She could taste the scotch on his lips, and feel intensity behind his touch. Her eyes widened slightly as she felt him press against her; he was definitely not small.

Randy continued pressing gentle kisses to her neck, Melanie squirmed slightly. She couldn't deny he was attractive, and she could feel resistance breaking down. She was tired of being forced by the Authority, tired of having to make sacrifices for her family. She could do this on her own terms. But she wasn't sure if she wanted this.

The kisses on her neck stopped, and he leaned his forehead against hers with his eyes closed.

I can't believe I'm doing this…

"Go to bed", Randy whispered. "You've had a long week".

I can't do this, she's terrified of me.

He released her and walked over to his suitcase. He dug around and picked up a pair of shorts and a black t-shirt. Turning he handed them to Melanie.

"Here".

Wordlessly she took them and walked to the bathroom to change out the lingerie. Randy watched her walk away and silently groaned in frustration. As soon as the door closed he rearranged his trousers and started digging through some of the more disturbing locker room moments, willing himself to calm down.

Big Show naked, Big Show naked, Big Show naked….

After a few minutes he let out a shaky breath, and slumped down on the bed. It was the scotch, he blamed Hunter. Shit, how was he going to explain this? He would have to lie, and get Melanie to lie somehow. God, she must think he was a total pervert now. He certainly felt like one.

The bathroom door opened and Melanie slipped out and around to the other side of the bed. Randy didn't look at her, and went straight to the bathroom for a shower. He noticed she had tossed the lingerie into the trashcan under the sink. He picked it up and tore the thin material at the top. Knowing Stephanie, she would probably check the room, may as well try and make it look realistic.

He switched the shower on and stripped down. Cold shower on his wedding night, it could be worse.

Cody's POV

They had done everything to keep her away from us. Randy had long since disappeared and Stephanie kept shooting us snide and smug looks. I was standing in the lobby watching as our work mates left or went up to their rooms. Most were laughing and joking. I think a few had worked out something was up though.

If the overall situation didn't give it away, my brother certainly did. Dustin stormed out the elevator pulling his suitcase behind him. His face was set and he stared straight ahead stopping when he came to me. I could see some people staring at us.

"Where are you going"? I asked quietly.

"Away", he hissed. "I can't stay here, in fact, I don't even think I want to go back to WWE. This is sick, this is a mockery of everything. Instead of our father swallowing his pride, he's making Mellie pay the price. I don't want to look at him right now".

"Dust, please"-

"Did you not see that?! How could he? Sitting with H and Randy, laughing and drinking"? Dustin's eyes flashed with fury. "Just let me go Cody".

I stepped aside and watched as he left.

"Trouble"? I gritted my teeth and turned around to see the cold eyes of Kane.

"No, no problems".

The devil's favourite Director of Operations grinned at me.

"Good".

I headed up to the room I was given. I didn't want to see dad either. I didn't want to see anyone, I didn't want to think about returning to work, I didn't want to think about what Melanie was going through two floors up. All I wanted to do was crawl into bed and pretend this was all a bad dream. Tomorrow I would wake up, I'd be back at WWE before any of this. I'd be working my way up, keeping my head down. Melanie would still be in New York, at college, doing what she did best.

Randy's POV

I left the bathroom, my shorts hanging low on my hips and no shirt. I rubbed the towel round the back of my neck feeling better than I had all day.

Melanie was in the bed hugging her knees to her chest. She still avoided looking at me. I sat next to her and turned her face to mine.

"I'm not going to hurt you Melanie, I promise".

"I don't believe you", she replied calmly. This definitely caught me off guard.

"Why not"?

"Cody said I can't trust you, you work with Hunter and Stephanie, you agreed to this incredibly bizarre situation, where you get full control over a complete stranger. Would you trust you"?

"Cody and I have had issues; that's just the business. You aren't the only one they hold something over you know". I got up and walked over to my case. The whole reason for my compliance was tucked away inside; I truly was a puppet.

"What do they have"? Melanie looked up at me.

"It's not your concern". It wasn't not really. It would be superficial to her, everything that's happened to me in the last two years, I don't think she would understand. I didn't fully understand my own reasoning. I organised a few things on top of the pile and then returned to the bed slipping in beside her. She recoiled slightly and pulled the cover higher. I leaned over and flipped the light off.

"Goodnight".

Melanie's POV

He turned so his back was facing me and his breathing evened out. I turned so I was facing away from him, my heart still beating in my chest. Cody said he was- but he still could be. Stephanie wouldn't be above tricks. Cody said Randy could play mind games better than anyone. I can't trust them. I know how dangerous he is, I'm scared. God help me, I'm scared.

I don't know how long I'm lying there for. Sleep doesn't come easily for me this night. I wonder if I can find the key card he had, maybe sneak out and get away somehow. But I can't move. Already the Authority has me trained pretty well.

I gasped when his arm sneaked around my waist. I didn't even notice he had rolled over. His grip tightened and he nuzzled into my hair, still lost in sleep.

Sleep still didn't come easy, but I guess I didn't feel as bad as earlier.

I stared at the window, it had started raining. I found that oddly comforting.

Stay tuned for Part 6, in which an uneasy marriage continues, the Shield reaffirm their allegiance and Melanie struggles to get grounded find her place in the grand scheme of things.

Thanks for reading, and as always reviews are cookies.