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"And so...you felt threatened by Mr. McMahon in that you felt you had no other choice but to partake in that storyline?"
Trish Stratus blinked as she looked into Miles Prescott's face, her lips parting as he finished the question.
"Yes - absolutely."
"And what kind of acts did he force you to perform?"
"Objection!" Dana Finley cried, rising to her feet. "Your honor, Mr. Prescott is leading the witness!"
"Sustained..." Judge Williams spoke. "Counselor, please rephrase the question."
Stephanie, seated at her table, turned her head to openly glare at Finley. That woman really annoyed her.
"Sorry, your honor...Miss Stratus," the man said, facing Trish again, "what acts did you perform?"
"Mr. McMahon had me kiss him - on the lips," she replied, her expression remaining neutral but then darkening with anger and disgust as she continued. "He even slipped me the tongue on two of those occasions. And then, later, he made me strip down to my bra and panties in the ring and get down on all fours and bark like a dog!"
From his seat between Chris Irvine and his woman attorney, Vince scowled as he eyed the young woman.
"He made you strip down to your underwear in the ring and get down on all fours and bark like a dog..." Miles repeated. "Tell me, Miss Stratus - was this a live, televised event?"
"Yes," the petite blonde answered. "It was in the middle of an episode of RAW."
"Which is an extremely successful show, I understand...Therefore, not only were there people sitting right there in the seats at the arena...There were also millions more watching from the comfort of their own television sets at home..."
"That is correct."
Miles looked toward Louise Williams.
"Your honor, I think I've made my point. No further questions."
"Very well...Ms. Finley?"
Vince's lawyer stood up as Prescott sat down, and again, she moved slowly as she stepped near Trish in the witness stand. As Stephanie eyed her like a hawk, she couldn't help but think everything the woman did or said was deliberate and calculating - as though trying to obviously intimidate her witness. The brunette couldn't help but liken the attorney to her father in that regard. She also couldn't help but wonder if Vince had ever slept with the bitch...
"Miss Stratus..." Dana began, her head up as she momentarily stared at the ceiling, her hands templed before her. Just as quickly, she turned back to eye the little blonde diva. "...During the time of the angle you just spoke of with Mr. Prescott, weren't you known for dressing quite provocatively?"
Trish's brown eyes widened for a split second, the expression quickly transforming into a frown. She didn't like this one bit.
"I was known for wearing some short skirts and low-cut tops..."
"That would be considered provocative, would it not?" Finley questioned, a tiny, smug smile playing at her lips.
Trish refrained from rolling her eyes.
"Yes, I guess it would," she replied. "But I don't see how that would have any-"
"So, basically," the woman said, cutting her off like a Mack Truck cutting off a car on a highway, "you were very seductive and Mr. McMahon couldn't resist your charms..."
"What?!" The blonde woman was incredulous, and suddenly filled with fury. In fact, she was so outraged that she nearly bolted up out of her seat.
"I object!" Miles Prescott shouted. "Your honor, the way Ms. Stratus looks has no bearing on this case!"
"On the contrary..." Dana said, turning her steely eyes from the opposing attorney to the judge, and, finally back to Trish, she spoke again. "I think it does."
"I'll allow it..."
Stephanie's hands balled into fists on her lap as she too was enraged. She could not believe this bullshit!
"Miss Stratus...Do you think it's possible that my client was merely at a weakness? I mean, you are obviously a very beautiful young woman..."
"My looks don't matter!" Trish suddenly cried. "Just because a woman is attractive doesn't give a man the right to jump her! If that was the case, rape and sexual harassment would not be illegal!" She glared at the attorney with hatred, her blood pressure pounding in her temples.
"While you are right about that...you were alluring...Face it, Miss Stratus - poor Mr. McMahon simply could not resist you. And so, he chose you in that storyline, and he was merely playing a part."
Stephanie turned her head from her father's lawyer to glare at the son of a bitch himself. He had a pleased grin
on his smug face. She was fuming and hated him for the mudslinging to which he'd resorted. At the same time, she'd
expected no less from the man...