Disguising himself as best as he could, it was now two weeks. Normally for him, if a woman left him, he didn't care. He'd find another one. Of course, it would be a HUGE IF. He wasn't used to this. The seriousness of a relationship. Yes, he pursued women, including Stephanie, and they easily gave in. This woman was different. She demanded his honesty and attention, and for the first time, he gave it to her. It was almost like a drug for him. Equally chased but equally vulnerable.
He worked from a makeshift office in the hotel he found while he spied on her once he saw her. His PI gave him her schedule and the first day he was there he just watched her from a far. He wanted to talk to her so badly, but it wasn't time. One way his creative writing worked so well was because he knew people better than he knew themselves in this business. In this case, this was her turf. She controlled everything, and in his mind, it was best to see where exactly she was most weak.
Watching her, he commended her on her strength in not falling apart. In moving on in some ways. It also hurt because was he just the plaything at this point? The shoe was on the other foot. All the times he discarded women to make sure he didn't get divorced.
Just to be a temu version of the YOU stalker. Watching her walk on the beach had him truly thinking about the conversation of where they were.
~Flashback~
She was reading a magazine when he came into the hotel room. She knew it was going to be a long night, but why stress. He would get there eventually. Yes, they were seeing each other but she was her own person and could survive without him. The difference was she didn't want to. He took off his blazer and tie walking over to the couch where she was sitting. He went to kiss her, and she gave him her cheek.
"Oh, so no steamy greeting as usual?"
"I was reading, and you looked tired".
"I'm never that tired for you".
She looked up at him and gave him a long careful kiss.
"Hi".
"Hi".
"What are we reading".
"Décor on a budget".
"Do you need to tell me something? You need money, it's not a problem".
"I have my own, I'm just trying not to spend it all. I don't need help. I'm good".
"No seriously if you ever need anything, please tell me".
"The same goes for you".
"I feel like a married couple having these conversations".
She chuckled, "But we aren't".
He paused.
"If we did, what would you want. Brides are very particular about these things".
"No. I'm not playing this game".
"Humor me".
She looked at him, and he was serious.
"A beach. Small and intimate. Our own vows. Night reception".
"What's small".
"100 max".
"Oh you mean tiny".
"Oh I'm sorry Mr. McMahon, some of us like intimacy in important moments in life".
He chuckled, "touche".
She began to walk back to her apartment, and he made his way back to his hotel. Both changing for the night activities, and he knew it was time to confront her at this apartment. He had sweaty palms going to her space. The flowers he had damn near were crushed by the time reached the door. Knocking, it was now or never.
She decided to order arroz con pollo and was waiting for the knock at the door. Take out was getting old, and she needed to really start learning to cook for herself.
'Girl you really landed this man without knowing how to cook'.
The knock broke her thoughts.
"Dame un momento".
Rushing around the kitchen island and grabbing her wallet, she pulled the door open to see him there. Her thoughts were everywhere but then she saw the sorry-looking flowers he had in his hands, all she could do was cry and laugh at that moment.
"You never listen, do you?"
"Can I come in?
The delivery guy arrived while he was at the door. It became awkward until she paid him. She stepped out of the way for him to enter. He walked into a simple apartment. Nothing of her or their lives together was in the place.
"You really should throw those flowers away. No amount of life support will save them".
"They were supposed to be my peace offering, but I got so nervous coming here".
"Why, because you don't listen, or you had me followed?"
She put the dinner on the counter as he closed the door.
"That obvious".
"Not until Monday. Your disguises suck, but you can't take no for an answer".
He grinned and watched her in the kitchen. That's when it clicked. In that moment, he wanted to this. The awkwardness of coming home to this woman. He wanted her smart-ass comments, and for her to be at peace with him. WWE or not.
"So. Why are you here?"
"To apologize and bring you home".
She let out this sigh. It wasn't one of relief. It was realizing she had to make those choices now. No more hiding, running, and avoiding. She showed him to the couch. Both sitting it was quiet. A tense quiet.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why should go home?"
"Because we love each other".
"That may not be enough. I'm not visiting you in jail, Paul".
"You won't".
"You don't know that. Tell me this, would you break the law if Stephanie asked you to".
He sat in shock, not because she asked, but because he never thought about it.
"That's the mother of your kids. She called me and let me know what happened. She can go to jail because she wanted this company to function so badly. Would you let her go to jail or would you and her become Bonnie and Clyde?"
He put his head in his hands. It was a tough question to answer.
"I'm going to protect her as much as I can, but if she has to go to jail, I have to let her. Someone must be here for the girls. Are you ready to be a mother figure if that happens?"
It was Kamaria's turn to get the truth wind knocked out of her. She thought he would go into hiding with his kids, but to hear not only he is prepared to let things happen, but that he trust her with their kids, was a lot to take in.
"You know I would. I'm not going to leave you four in the wind like that. It's just an adjustment for us".
"Then why are here?"
"Because, you haven't walked away".
"Ree. I'm divorced. I'm here chasing after you".
"You are divorced on paper. When this comes out completely, you must walk away. You must choose".
He looked at her. She was searching his eyes to see if he knew what it meant. He rubbed his beard and shook his head in agreement. It hurt but it was time. They may have grown up together, but he had to let her go. Others were involved. His girls came first. She made her bed, and she'd have to deal with it. It was he and Kamaria versus the world.
"I lost my appetite, so I'm turning in", she got up to walk to the room. He sat for a moment before he called out to her. Pacing over to her, he grabbed her and kissed her with everything he had. If this was going to work, he needed to reassure her any way he could. Pulling back, they just stood there looking at each other in a new light.