Cracks in the Crystal
Five
Stephanie shook her head at her father's question, hands coming up to cover her face. She couldn't believe that that had just happened and she didn't even want to look at her father, knowing she'd have no choice but to explain everything. She couldn't stop the tears from coming, there was no way her father was getting a coherent answer from her any time soon. She was grateful then when he walked over to her and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly.
After several moments of crying on her dad's shoulder, Stephanie began to calm down. She pulled out of the embrace, wiping her hand under her eyes and over her cheeks to get rid of any wetness. She must look a mess she realized, her mascara probably running and her face most likely red. It only added on to the further embarrassment and shame she was feeling.
"You need to check on Paul," she whispered, still not looking her father in the eyes.
"I'll deal with him later," Vince replied gruffly, hands reaching out to hold his daughters shaking hands. "You're my daughter and you're obviously upset. You need me more than he does right now," he told her astutely.
Stephanie shook her head at her father's words, "No I don't," she told him matter-of-factly. "Please daddy, I need you to check on Paul. I need you to make sure he's okay," she continues, finally looking at her father pleadingly.
Vince heard the desperation in her voice for him to check on his son in law and nodded. He would check on the other man and then most likely yell at him for getting into a physical fight with one of their top Superstars. As he left the office, casting one last worried glance over his daughter, he tried to tell himself that he wasn't worried over whatever it was Paul and Orton had been fighting over. He tried to tell himself that but he couldn't quite believe it.
His fist pummeled against the wooden utility door, imagining Orton's face as he hit it. He couldn't fucking believe what he'd walked into. Sure, he'd imagined Orton touching Stephanie, fucking her even but what he'd just seen? That was too fucking intimate to just be about sex.
He punched harder, not caring that his fist was growing sore or that there was a dent slowly growing in the wood. It wasn't until he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning around to yell at whomever it was that he realized he'd probably hurt his hand. It was nowhere near as hurt as his heart though.
"What?" he snapped before realizing that the man stood before him was in fact Vince, his father-in-law.
Vince frowned at the younger man, arms crossed as he glared sternly at the younger man. "What the fuck was that in there Paul?" he asked sharply.
"Why don't you ask your stupid slut of a daughter," he growled angrily, pushing passed Vince. He did not want to do this right now. All he wanted was to get away; from Vince, Stephanie and this while Goddamn place.
"Hey!" Vince snapped angrily. "She is still my daughter," he growled, grabbing at Paul's arm and turning him around roughly.
"Well you and Orton can keep her. She's been fucking him Vince. And apparently has no intention to stop. Say hello to your new son-in-law! I'm not sticking around here with those two little fucks. I'm done. I fucking quit Vince," Paul mouthed off angrily.
He stormed away then, leaving Vince reeling at his words. The last few days and Stephanie's words certainly made sense now. He shook his head in disappointment, sighing as he thought over Stephanie and Paul's actions. He was inclined to believe what Paul had said; the basic evidence he had made it make sense. Besides, he knew the younger man wouldn't be so angry or say those things without having proof. It by no means meant he liked or approved that Paul had called his daughter a slut but he could see how angry and hurt he was.
Vince was however disappointed in his daughter. He'd have thought she'd learned from his mistakes at least. He also didn't understand why Stephanie would cheat on Paul. They went through a lot to be together and he just didn't understand why she would jeopardize their life together. Paul loved Stephanie with everything he was, you could see it plain as day and Stephanie was completely and utterly in love with Paul and he wondered what had changed.
He sighed, shaking his head as he walked back inside. He needed to talk to his daughter about this, despite being at work, because something needed to be done.
AN: It's been a while and this is short, but I needed to get over some writer's block for this. Hopefully this means I'll start updating and writing for this a bit more now.
I hope you enjoyed. Please review. :) LT.