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The night before...
In the early evening, after Adam had convinced Amy to go out on the town with him, they had walked into a tiny cafe for some coffee. They'd been surprised to see the pair sitting at one of the three tables within - not only because it was unexpected to see them there, but also because the duo were together. Stephanie McMahon and Jay Reso were sitting together cozily and sipping espressos while they engaged in deep conversation. They both looked up as Adam and Amy said hello.
"Sorry - we didn't mean to interrupt anything," Adam said politely.
"No, don't be silly, Adam," Steph said, waving her right hand in a gesture that they should join them.
Amy instantly slid into one of the chairs between them, grateful to have run into friends. She certainly felt there was more safety in numbers.
Adam exchanged glances with Jay and noted a slight gleam in his best friend's eye. He could tell that Jay was smitten with Stephanie and wondered if they were on a date together. As he sat down in the chair directly opposite Amy, he nudged Jay in the side, then gave him a questioning look. Jay remained silent but his eyes said, "I'll tell you about it later."
"I'm glad you two are here," Stephanie said. "I wanted to tell you how my meeting with my new lawyer went..." She began elaborately explaining her plans. A waitress soon came by and took Adam and Amy's orders.
Fifteen minutes later, after Adam had finished his cafe latte and Amy was nearly finished with her cappuccino, Stephanie said, "He is going down, guys...And when it's all said and done, there are going to be a lot of changes taking place. I've talked with Trish already, and she promised she will testify..."
"Good," Adam said.
"If you need me, I'll do it, too," Amy suddenly spoke in a small voice.
"Great," Steph said. "I should speak to Stacy about this as well."
The four continued the conversation until they paid the bill and left the cafe. From there, they cruised the town on foot. A couple of hours later, Adam turned to Amy as she pulled down the handle of a slot machine.
"Here's a wacky thought...Let's get married..."
"What?" Amy's jaw dropped as she stared at him. Had she heard him correctly?
The slot machine stopped on two pairs of cherries and an apple.
"I'm serious," Adam said, gripping her right hand. "I love you so much, Amy...let's do it - let's get married, right here and now." His emerald eyes sparkled as they peered deeply into her hazel depths.
Nearby, Stephanie, who had overheard the entire spur-of-the-moment proposal, nudged Jay. She smiled and met his shocked gaze before they both looked back expectantly at their friends.
Amy was speechless for a few seconds. Then, she found her voice. "Adam...I..." Another brief pause. "...yes...okay, let's get married!"
Adam laughed and swept the redhead in his arms, kissing her as he moved his hands to her face.
"You guys," Jay exclaimed as he and Steph approached them from the blackjack table, "I can't believe you-"
"Congratulations," Stephanie finished for both of them.
And so, Amy and Adam were married in the small chapel in the building. Stephanie and Jay served as not only maid of honor and best man but also as the two witnesses. Amy was a little sorry that she had to be wearing a pair of stretch jeans and a baby tee with a picture of a rose on it - but she knew that she and Adam would have a formal ceremony and reception somewhere down the line. This was all so impromptu, and she was so overwhelmed by it all.
Fortunately, there had been a small jewelry store in the lobby of the building, and they had gotten beautiful matching gold wedding bands. Adam had also purchased the gorgeous marquis diamond engagement ring Amy had favored. After gambling some more, the four friends went for dinner at a steakhouse a couple of blocks away. It couldn't have been a more perfect evening.
"Who the hell does Adam Copeland think he is?!" Chris Irvine's voice pierced Amy's brain. "You belong to me!"
Amy's eyes continued to scan the hotel room, the terror inside her nearly consuming her. She had to do something. Where was Adam???
She got her answer a moment later when, suddenly, Irvine's blue eyes focused on something between the pillows Amy was leaning against and the ones beside her on the other side of the bed. He reached over and plucked up whatever had caught his attention. Amy watched his every move warily and instinctively tried to move away from the hand that now held up a neatly folded piece of paper.
He didn't read the note aloud but rather told her what it said. "Oh, he went out for a few to get you some breakfast...Well, isn't that sweet?" Chris drawled, exaggerating that last word. He began crumpling up the paper, and that was when Amy took the advantage.
Slowly, she slipped her legs out from under the blanket and with all her might, kicked him. Her foot connected with his jaw, and she felt a measure of satisfaction coursing through her when she realized it. Irvine grunted and stumbled a little on the bed. Amy leapt up and tried to run, but Chris grabbed her loosely by the arm. She managed to get free easily, and with a little yelp, she balled her hand into a fist and punched him right in the face.
As he stood there, looking shocked and pressing a hand to his cheek, Amy ran toward the door. It felt like an eternity as she unlocked it, and she dared a quick look over her shoulder. Chris was coming after her - and he was only a few feet behind. She threw the door open and ran out into the hallway in nothing but her teddy, her bare feet padding quietly over the plush red carpet. She yelled in an attempt to rouse people from inside their rooms - maybe someone would help her.
Still running, she dared a glance over her left shoulder and saw Chris still giving chase. She was a decent distance away from him and continued sprinting down the hall.
She began to stop at closed hotel room doors and banged on them, looking back at her would-be attacker. Each time she did so, Irvine gained on her. She wondered why nobody was opening their doors. It couldn't be possible that everyone was out to breakfast or that soundly asleep!
She banged on yet another door and was relieved to hear a female voice call from within. "Coming!"
Amy kept hitting the door, crying a mantra. "Please, please, please!" and she heard a lock being turned. Chris was now a mere three or four feet away. Just as the door opened, he disappeared into a nearby stairwell. Amy was pulled into the hotel room and its occupant shut and locked the door behind her.
"Amy? My God, what's going on?" a shocked and sleepy-looking Stephanie McMahon inquired. The boss' daughter took in her friend's appearance with disbelief. She wondered what Amy was doing out in the hall in only a teddy - and why she looked so upset. Actually, she looked terrified.
"Oh, my God...Amy-" Steph's blue eyes widened in horrified recognition of what must have happened.
Amy tightened her grip on the other woman's hand. "No, Stephanie...he didn't...I fought him..."
"You did?"
"Yes...I kicked and punched him, and then I ran the hell out of there."
"Where was Adam during all of this?" Stephanie asked as she led her frantic friend to the bed. They perched on the very edge of it as Amy explained.
"He wasn't there...I woke up to someone kissing my chest, and I thought at first that it was Adam - but it was Chris," she said in a near whisper, her voice cracking in her near-hysteria. "And Chris - he found a note between the pillows that Adam had left for me. He went out to get us breakfast...Oh, God!" She buried her face in the hand that wasn't holding onto Stephanie for dear life.
"It's okay, Amy...you're safe here," Steph said soothingly. She pulled the redhead close in a hug, then pulled back a moment later.
"I'm going to dial Adam's cell phone." She reached over to the nightstand and flipped open her Star Tac, pressed a few buttons and held the phone to her ear.
"Adam - it's Stephanie...yes, I know...Amy is in my hotel room. Adam, you have to get over here - right away..."
*
Adam grew more and more agitated as he listened to Amy recall the story of what had transpired a mere twenty minutes earlier. As she progressed into the horrifying tale, Adam ran a hand through his long blond hair as he paced the length of the floor.
"I'll kill him!" he shouted before Amy had finished telling him every detail. "I will rip his dick off and ram it down his fucking throat," he hissed, enunciating each word in a dangerously low voice.
He could not believe what had happened - and what could have happened - to his new wife. And although he was more furious with Chris Irvine, he was also angry at himself. He should have known better than to leave Amy alone, even for only a few minutes.
"Adam, calm down," Stephanie ordered. "You're making me nervous." She sat back down on the edge of her hotel room bed beside Amy, who was now donning one of Steph's robes.
"I can't calm down!" Adam muttered between gritted teeth. He slammed his right fist down onto the top of the nightstand, causing a vase full of flowers to rattle and both women to give a slight start.
"Look, I am going to talk to my father about everything," Stephanie said seriously, looking from Amy to Adam. "I was going to wait a little while longer, strategize completely before letting the cat out of the bag - but after all of this, he deserves to hear it now."
Adam eyed the young woman and knew with every fiber of his being that she was just as angry and upset about the most recent turn of events as he was.
"Very well," he said evenly. "I don't suppose us talking to him with you would do any good, huh?"
"Actually, I think that's a very good idea," Steph replied. "Because then he would see the disgust and fear Amy feels because of that...lech."
"I don't want to face Mr. McMahon," Amy protested. She was still shaking ever so slightly, the memory of Chris' lips, tongue and hands on her still all too vivid.
"Why not?" the brunette questioned, her pretty face a mask of concern.
"No offense, Stephanie - since he is your father, but...he sickens me. He's flat-out refused to help me on more than one occasion, and I think the effort would be in vain. Besides, I'm afraid I might end up spitting in his face," she said bitterly.
Adam smirked sardonically. "Yeah, I don't blame you, babe."
"I don't blame you, either," Stephanie admitted. "Okay, then I'll go talk to him alone. You two have things to do anyway." She stood up, giving Amy's hand a squeeze.
*
While the newlyweds went back to their room to shower and dress before making a complaint to hotel security, Stephanie paid her father a visit.
She marched directly to the elaborate suite in which he was staying and knocked. As she waited for him to answer, she realized that the main reason for this little chat should really come out once he was served with the papers, but it was too late for that - far too late.
"Steph...what are you doing up so early?" Mr. McMahon asked cheerfully upon seeing his daughter just outside the door. Stephanie normally wasn't known to be awake any time before eleven AM, and he couldn't recall seeing her up before noon for the past year or so. She hadn't even showered or dressed yet, which was also unusual when she was paying someone a visit - even if that someone was him. She was clad in a forest-green silk robe, matching slippers on her feet. Her long brown hair was slightly mussed from sleep and her face held no trace of makeup. He noted that her eyes looked serious - too serious.
"We need to talk, Dad," she said as she stepped into the suite.
"Sure, honey..."
"Don't even bother with the 'honey' stuff," Stephanie said with annoyance. She had never quite seen her father in the same light since the night he'd threatened her after she'd questioned his motives for going along with Chris Irvine's crazy idea for a "storyline" - and refusing to protect Amy.
Vince arched an eyebrow. "What's up, Steph?"
"Well, for starters, did you know that your precious Christopher Irvine attacked Amy Dumas-Copeland a half hour ago?"
McMahon's face registered genuine surprise. "What? I'm afraid I'm not following you...and Copeland?"
"Yes, Dad - they got married last night. But that is not the point. Irvine snuck into their room while Adam was out and attacked her - he could have raped her, Dad!" Stephanie's voice began to raise. She took a deep breath and exhaled through her mouth in an attempt to remain calm. She was terribly distraught over what had happened to her friend, but she had to stay in control of the impeding situation.
"Honey, I don't...I don't know what to say," Vince finally said after a long pause.
Stephanie stared at him wordlessly for a moment, then shook her head in disbelief. Actually, she could believe such a nonchalant reaction from him.
"That's what I was afraid of," she spat.
"Wait a minute," Vince said, shaking his head, the beginnings of a smile taking form on his face. "Do you honestly believe that Chris snuck into that room and tried to attack her? I'll bet that's not how it happened at all - I'll just bet she let him in - to take advantage of the fact that her boyfriend - I mean, husband, was out."
Steph glared at him, her eyes widened in horror and disgust. She couldn't believe that this wretched being was her father and that she once looked up to him and admired him more than anyone other than her mother. She wanted to slap him, punch him, scratch his smug eyes out.
"You know what? You make me sick!" she shouted. "You are a disgrace, Vince McMahon! I'm ashamed that you're my father!"
"Don't you take that tone with me, young lady," McMahon said in a low voice, his right forefinger pointing at her face, a gesture Stephanie despised. She felt the nearly uncontrollable urge to slap it away.
"I will take any damn tone I please with you, Mr. McMahon," she countered. "And what's more, I have a little tidbit to share with you..." Here it was, the big news - the huge plan Stephanie had been scheming and preparing for over the past month and a half. "...I am suing you! That's right - I'm taking you to court and I'm going to sue you for full control of this company! I'll be damned if I'm going to sit idly by while you allow a sick, demented pervert terrorize innocent women in this company! Hell, why should anyone expect anything more of you? You yourself took advantage of some women in this company and used them for your own personal enjoyment! Trish Stratus tells me she still feels filthy from having your hands and other things all over her, and I know Stacy Keibler feels the same way. You even allowed that psycho stalker to harass me for awhile, even though you knew I couldn't stand him! Your own daughter!" She winced with the memory, for it had hurt that her father had forced her to be subjected to such torment. "Kiss this company goodbye, Daddy - because it won't be yours to have fun with for very much longer!"
Vince stared at his little girl in shock. And then it hit him - she was no longer his little girl. She was furiously angry, and he knew that she meant every word she had just said. He swallowed hard, then regained his composure as he sneered at her.
"You'll never get this company from me, you ungrateful little bitch! Who the hell do you think you are?"
"I think I am the sane one of the two of us, Dad...and oh yes, I will take the WWE from you. I do more for this company than you have done in years, and I'm a whole lot smarter than you," she shot back, unfazed. "Oh, and just so you know - Mom and Shane are behind me one-hundred percent."
"You're not serious!"
"I've never been more serious...Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do with my day than talk to the likes of you." She stormed across the room to the door, casting one last glance at her father, who simply stood there with a combination of fury and shock on his face, before walking out for good.
*
Adam looked up sharply at the sudden knocking at his hotel room door. The only person he could think of visiting him and Amy at the moment was Stephanie - but she couldn't have finished with her father so soon.
"Who is it?"
"Adam, it's me," Jay's voice called from out in the hall. "I need to speak to you."
The tall blond strode to the door and unlocked it, then opened it. His best friend stepped inside, looking at him with a sort of goofy, nervous smile. Well, not quite a smile - Jay seemed to be trying to do that, but he appeared to be very jittery about something.
"What is it, Jay?" Adam asked a little too impatiently. "This is not the best time..."
For the first time, the shorter man noticed the agitated expression on his friend's face, the angry glint in his eyes. "What happened?"
"Chris snuck into our room this morning while I was out - just getting us some breakfast, mind you - and attacked Amy..." Adam revealed in a low voice.
"My God! Is she-"
"Shh...she's in the shower right now," Adam whispered, "and I don't want her to hear this because she's already a nervous wreck."
"Who could blame her?" Jay said, a look of horror dominating his facial features. "What else happened?"
Adam gritted his teeth, glancing at the closed bathroom door before he continued. "She fought him off when his guard was down. She managed to get out and run to Stephanie's room for safety."
"God," Jay breathed, thankful that his redheaded friend had managed to be so resourceful and defend herself.
"Anyway," the taller of the two blonds said, "what did you want to talk to me about?"
The other man eyed his best friend for a moment, wondering if he should do what he'd come for. After hearing the horrible things he'd just heard, he felt reluctant. "I...I don't know if I should tell you now, man," he said. "I'd feel like crap talking to you about this now, after what you just told me."
"Just spit it out, Jay," Adam said. "Whatever it is, it's okay...besides, if it's something good, it'll take my mind off of all the violent things I've been thinking of doing to Irvine..."
Jay studied him for a beat, Adam's face going from furious to placid in the span of a few seconds. Then, he made up his mind. "Okay...well, I never did get a chance to talk to you last night, what with your wedding and all, but...well...I'm in love with Stephanie McMahon."
Adam's green eyes widened somewhat. "What? Jay, that's great!" he exclaimed, a genuine smile taking residence on his face.
Jay smiled, too, somewhat modestly. "Yeah, well...lately, she's all I think about," he revealed.
"Does she know?"
"No," he admitted. "We've been spending a lot of time together the last couple of months, but so far, she seems to only be into me as a friend..."
"So tell her how you feel, man," Adam said, nudging him on the shoulder.
"I want to," Jay said. "But I'm not sure this is the right time...I mean, she told me all about the lawsuit she's bringing against her father - that's going to keep her real occupied for awhile...she won't have time for a boyfriend...besides, what would a woman like her ever see in a guy like me?"
"Jay, how can you even talk like that???"
The two men were suddenly taken by surprise at the sound of Amy's voice. The redhead was standing in the now open doorway of the bathroom, fully dressed, her hair damp and a brush in her right hand.
"I'm sorry," she said as she looked her friend in the eye. "I wasn't eavesdropping or anything, but I heard you tell Adam how you feel about Stephanie..."
Jay reddened somewhat as he smiled nervously at her.
"...Jay, you are such a great guy! Steph would be a lucky girl to get you!"
"Well...like I said, why would she ever want me? She's one of the richest, beautiful and most powerful women I know - she could have any man she wants!"
"But what if the man she wants turns out to be you?"
Jay glanced from the redhead to Adam, who raised one eyebrow, a smile spreading across his handsome face. "Hey, she's right, man," he said. "A few months ago, I never would have guessed I'd be with her...but look at us now - we're married now." Before he had finished speaking, Amy had moved to stand beside him. Now, Adam stepped behind the redhead and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her securely against him.
"So, Jay," Amy began as her husband gently rested his chin on the top of her head, "when did you realize you had these feelings?"
The blond ran his fingers through his long hair thoughtfully. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "For awhile now...I really never expected this. I mean, a few months ago, I never would have even wanted Stephanie as a friend - but that was before I knew what kind of person she really is. She is nothing like her father."
"Thank God," Adam muttered.
"Anyway," Jay continued, "I was up pretty much all night last night thinking about her...thinking about what I-"
An almost urgent knocking on the door interrupted him. The three of them stared at the door for a beat, then Adam called, "Who is it?"
"It's Stephanie!"
"Just a minute!" As Adam gently let go of his wife and walked to the door, Jay and Amy exchanged glances. The redhead noticed that her friend seemed very nervous, as if he wished to disappear or hide. She was slightly amused by this.
Stephanie walked right into the room, cursorily greeting each of them in turn. She seemed aggravated, and there was a sense of urgency about her. "Well, I did it," she announced.
Jay looked the brunette over, surprised that she was still wearing her nightgown, a matching robe thrown over it. He thought that, although she obviously hadn't showered yet, she looked absolutely beautiful.
"You spoke to your father? What happened?" Adam questioned.
"Well," she began, "he was surprised - shocked, even. Needless to say, he wasn't pleased in the least when I told him I was taking him to court. Even though he inherited this company from my grandfather, he sort of always thought of it as his baby." She winced as the reality of the meeting she'd just had with Vince hit her hard. "Oh, God...what have I gotten myself into?" She lifted one hand to her forehead as, to her own surprise as well as to that of the others, she began to cry. "How am I going to do this?"
Jay instantly stepped over to the young woman, enveloping her in his embrace. He rocked her back and forth gently, lifting one hand to stroke her long brown hair. "Shh...it will all be okay, Steph," he said softly as Adam and Amy exchanged worried glances.
"But you don't understand, Jay," she said. "It...it hurts so much! Do you know what it's like to see the true picture of your father?" She pulled back slightly to gaze into his face with large, tearful blue eyes. "All my life, I looked up to him - idolized him! And now, I see him for what he really is...do you know how shattering that is to a person?"
The blond man admitted that he didn't know how that felt. He pulled Stephanie to him again, hugging her tightly, and she held fast to him. "You can do this, Stephanie - I know you can...we all have faith in you."
"Thank you, Jay..."
Amy went over to Adam and looked up at him. As their eyes locked, they were both thinking the same thing - would all of this turn out in their favor? Adam wrapped his arms around Amy and held her tightly as they again shared the same thought: I certainly hope so...