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Stephanie made her way down the hallway of the arena in search of the women's locker room. She was on her way to speak to Stacy Keibler and hoped the young blonde would agree to what she was going to request of her.
She pushed some of her long brown hair off one shoulder, trying to stay focused on the matter at hand. She had mentally rehearsed everything she was going to say, and how she was going to say it. She didn't want to scare or bother the tall diva in any way, shape or form.
Finally at the door to the right locker room, Stephanie lifted her hand and knocked.
"It's open!" a female voice called from within.
The brunette turned the knob, pushing her way into the room. "Hi, Trish," she said with a smile to the woman who had responded to her knock a few seconds earlier.
"Hello, Stephanie."
Steph looked around, noting that, besides Trish, only Jacqueline and Ivory were in the room. "Is Stacy around?"
The petite blonde Canadian instantly knew what the brunette had in mind. "She stepped out for a minute," she explained. "She just went to get a soda, but she should be right back."
"Okay...thanks."
A moment later, the tall blonde stepped into the room, a can of Coke in her hand. She looked up, surprised to see Stephanie McMahon in the room.
"Hi, Stacy," Steph said as she rose from a small couch upon which she'd been sitting. "I...I need to talk to you privately for a few minutes. Do you have time?"
Stacy's eyes widened slightly. "Yeah, sure. What's up, Stephanie?"
The brunette glanced around the room nervously at the other women present. Trish, who was standing nearby, took the liberty of helping her out.
"Err...Jackie, Lisa? How about the three of us go for a little walk for a while?"
The two older women looked up from their conversation and turned toward Stephanie, who wore a look of concern on her face as she gazed from Stacy to them, then back again.
"Okay, girl," Jackie said. "Come on, Lisa."
The three women left the room, giving the other two divas their privacy. Stephanie again seated herself on the edge of the couch, gesturing for the tall young woman to sit down as well. Stacy obliged, looking at the older woman with question marks in her eyes.
Stephanie cleared her throat, looking the blonde seriously and directly in the eye. "The reason I needed to speak to you, Stacy," she began, "is because I need you to do something for me."
"Okay," Stacy said with a slight nod. She still had no idea what the brunette wanted.
"You see," the other woman said, taking a breath, "I'm suing my father for full ownership of the WWE." As Stacy's eyes widened, she continued. "I'm not sure you know what's been going on for the past couple of months, but Chris Jericho has been harassing Amy - making her and Adam's lives miserable."
"Oh, God," the young woman said. "So, the rumors I've been hearing are true..."
"Yes, they are," Stephanie said morosely. "And now that Adam and Amy have just gotten married, it hasn't gotten any better."
Stacy's face registered surprise upon hearing the word "married," but she didn't comment on it. Instead, she said, "So what did you want from me? I don't understand."
"I was getting to that," the other woman said gently. "Well, I don't know if Trish has spoken to you about this or anything, but a big part of the reason I'm suing my father has to do with what I just told you...the other has to do with the way my father is constantly disrespecting the women in this company and using them for his own personal pleasure," she nearly spat. Stephanie took a deep breath, closing her eyes in an attempt to calm her aggravated, stressed nerves. She didn't want to scare Stacy in any way.
The blonde stared at her silently, waiting for her to continue.
"This is where you come in, Stacy...like Trish, you yourself have been used by Vince McMahon for his own amusement, although he claims it's strictly for the sake of the storyline. But I don't think that's the case, and I know that you didn't enjoy it." Stephanie ran her hand through her brown locks and continued. "What young woman would enjoy being forced to make out with a man old enough to be her father? Anyway...what I am asking of you is this..." she said. "...I would like you to testify, along with Trish, against him and for me at the trial."
Stacy stared wordlessly at Stephanie for a beat. She chewed the inside of her cheek, looking down at her soda can while she mulled it all over. Finally, she stood up. "No...I'm sorry, Stephanie. I-I can't do it."
Steph flinched in surprise and disappointment as she rose to go after the young blonde. She was afraid this might happen but had hoped beyond hope against it. "Stacy, please," she begged, grasping the woman's arm. "I really need you to-"
"I said no! I can't do it...I don't want to sit up in some witness' box being interrogated like I did something wrong," the tall diva cried. "Like I asked for his disgusting sexual advances!"
"Stacy-"
"He makes me sick," Stacy spat, her face contorting with the anger she felt. "I can still feel his hands all over me...it was disgusting..." She began to cry and lifted her free hand to her face.
"Oh, Stacy..." Stephanie moved closer to the young woman and hugged her. She stroked her long straight hair down her back and tried to soothe the near-hysterical diva. "It's okay...he'll never do that again. I promise."
After a moment, the blonde woman pulled back a little, freeing the arm she'd had around the brunette during their hug. As she wiped the tears off her pretty face, she focused her gaze back on Stephanie. "You know what? I'll do it," she said reluctantly but firmly.
Stephanie stared into the other woman's eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Stacy said with a nod. "I have to do this...for myself, for Amy, for Trish, for you - for all and any women who might someday end up in this company. He shouldn't be able to get away with this."
"How right you are..." The brunette smiled gently at the young woman. "Thank you."
Stacy managed a tiny smile, her tears now completely gone. She silently reached out and hugged the brunette again. "No...thank you, Steph..."
*
Later that night, Amy stood uncertainly in Adam's corner during his SmackDown match against Eddy Guerrero. She glanced around the ringside area and toward the entryway and the audience every few seconds, fearful that Chris might jump out from one of those places at any moment and make a grab for her.
It didn't happen, and she was thankful that the match went smoothly without Irvine's interference or molestation of herself. When Edge was declared the winner, the referee raised his hand in victory, and Amy slid into the ring to stand beside him. She grabbed his hand and raised it herself before the couple left the ring to make their way backstage.
They were almost at the curtain leading to the backstage area when something happened. Adam suddenly fell face-down on the ramp, and Amy began to turn around in alarm, her eyes wide. Chris Irvine was standing right there! He'd punched her husband in the back, and now he grabbed a handful of her red hair, shouting and pointing furiously in her face. She could hardly hear his voice over all the loud boos from the fans, but she was able to make out a few things: "You belong to me!" and "You bitch!"
Amy began to scream as the man tugged painfully on her hair, yanking her toward the back. Her eyes darted around quickly, and she noticed Adam just getting to his feet. But before her husband could reach Chris, someone else ran over and attacked the blond man...
...Eddy Guerrero. The San Antonio native punched the man whom had been one of his closest friends since their WCW days together in an attempt to help her. His face looked angry as he spat, "Leave her alone!" Then, seconds later, Adam joined the Latino man in the assault, punching Chris as well.
The crazed stalker released Amy's hair as he was suddenly outnumbered, and the redhead ran away from him, nearly cowering behind her husband's back. She wanted nothing more than to disappear - disappear from Irvine's sight forever and ever, so that he could never bother her again.
The men began to take their fight backstage, away from the eyes of the thousands of fans in the arena and the millions more watching on their television sets at home. However, it didn't last long.
"All right, that's it!" a female voice yelled shrilly. They all turned to see an enraged Stephanie McMahon standing there, glaring their way with widened blue eyes.
Although Stephanie was a woman and smaller than Chris Irvine - certainly no match for him in physical strength, Amy instantly felt better, safer seeing her there. The brunette's presence made it feel as though a considerable weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
The young woman stepped closer to Chris, her face still furious, her gaze unwavering as she focused on his crystal blue eyes. "Let's get one thing straight right now, Chris," she nearly spat, pointing a finger directly into his face. "You are going to leave this woman alone from this moment forward! I am not asking you, I'm telling you! If you do another thing to upset her, or if you do anything to Adam because of your sick obsession with Amy, I will personally see to it that you are thrown out of the WWE - right on your ass!"
The blond man seemed to flinch for a split second before his face was dominated by a nasty smirk. "Sorry, Princess," he said, "but if I remember correctly, your father is the one who owns and runs this company - not you!" He pointed a finger back in her face, mimicking her own gesture, his smirk disappearing and being replaced by an angry frown.
Stephanie didn't back down an inch. She moved even closer to the man, and, seething with anger, spoke to him between clenched teeth. "Don't feel so confident...that won't be the way it is for much longer. I'm taking over!"
"In your dreams, Princess," Irvine said with a sarcastic laugh. "Daddy would never hand the company over to you - unless he was on his death bed..." He smirked at her again. "...what's wrong, Steph? Aching for another kiss, like the one I gave you at SummerSlam last year?"
In a flash, the brunette reached out and slapped him across the face, Chris' head rocking to one side with the impact. "Don't you ever mention that to me again," she ordered. "Don't cross me, Jericho...take everything I've said to you to heart, because if you keep up this insane behavior, you'll be out like yesterday's trash! And then, where will you go? Nowhere - absolutely nowhere! You would be nothing without this company!"
Irvine glared at the furious woman in an angry staring contest for another moment or so, but then he looked away. Without another word, he stalked down the hallway to his locker room.
When he was gone, Stephanie went over to Amy and peered into her distraught face. "Are you okay?" she asked with concern as she reached out to touch her friend's shoulder.
"What the hell was all that about?" Eddy Guerrero asked, looking from Adam to Amy to Stephanie.
Amy glanced at him. She'd forgotten he'd been there. She shifted her gaze to Adam, who stood directly at her left side. He reached over and grasped her hand, squeezing it gently.
Stephanie looked at Eddy, reluctant to tell him anything, but, because the man had been present during the exchange that had just occurred, she felt she had to say something.
"Chris has been acting insanely lately," she explained to the Latin man. "And if he doesn't snap out of it, he's going to suffer serious consequences - I'll make sure of it."
"He's been stalking my wife," Adam added with a scowl.
Guerrero was slightly taken aback. "Your wife? You two have gotten married?"
"Yeah, just the other day, actually."
"Well...I know this is going to sound stupid for me to say this now - after what just happened," Eddy said. "But congratulations anyway." He put his hand out to the tall blond man to shake.
Adam shook Latino Heat's hand graciously, despite what had just transpired only moments ago. "Thanks, man."
"My God, home...if you ever need me to back you up or anything, just let me know. I saw the way Chris attacked your mamacita - that's just not right!"
"Eddy, would you please excuse us?" Stephanie suddenly cut in. She wanted to tell her friends about her earlier meeting with Stacy Keibler, but she didn't want to do it in front of Mr. Guerrero.
"Sure, sure," the man said. "Remember what I said," he reiterated, looking back at Adam.
"Thanks, man," the Canadian replied as Eddy began walking down the hall.
When he was gone, Stephanie turned to face her the couple. "Come with me...I want to talk to you two..."
They followed her to the room that was serving as her office for the night. The brunette closed, then locked the door behind them before turning to face them again.
"I just wanted to let you both know that I spoke with Stacy Keibler earlier this evening."
Amy eyed her friend expectantly, turning to exchange glances with her husband for a brief moment. Then, as she faced Stephanie again, she said, "And?"
"And...she got terrified when I mentioned needing her testimony at the trial," Steph admitted. "But after a bit of coaxing on both our parts, she changed her mind and decided she's going to do it."
"Thank God," Adam said. "There's definitely safety in numbers..."
"Right," the brunette agreed. "Hmm...I'm wondering now if I should ask Eddy Guerrero to be a witness. After what just transpired out there, it might not be a bad idea." She looked thoughtful for a moment before eyeing her friends again. "In any case, my attorney wants to set up a meeting with you two and Trish and Stacy so you can prepare your statements for the case."
"Name the time and the place, Stephanie," the redhead said firmly. "I'm there..."
*
Vince McMahon sat on the plush brown leather chair in his office, flipping through an assortment of papers on his desk. He sifted through junk mail, tossing it into the wastebasket, then rifled through some scripts for wrestlers that he had to deliver later on. Finally, he came to the thing that most captured his interest. An advance copy of the brand new Divas Undressed magazine lay hidden beneath the junk.
"Mmm...nice," he said with a satisfied smile as he eyed the cover - Stacy Keibler decked out in white lingerie, her seemingly never-ending legs spread wide in a provocative pose. Drool began to seep out of one corner of his mouth as wickedly perverted throught pervaded his mind.
He began flipping through the magazine as he looked over page after page of beautiful divas - more pictures of Stacy, as well as Trish Stratus, Torrie Wilson, Jacqueline, Ivory, Dawn Marie, Nidia, and Linda Niles and Jackie Gayda - the two newest divas who had won their contracts via Tough Enough 2. The only divas who hadn't been in the photoshoot for this magazine were Sharmell Sullivan - who was still sidelined with a serious shoulder injury - his daughter, whom he'd never believed to be a "true" diva, and Amy Dumas - Lita. Amy hadn't gone along because she'd refused to be spread in a magazine she claimed was nothing other than a man's wild fantasy. She'd been terrified of Chris Irvine's harassment getting even worse because of it.
Vince shook his head, sorry he hadn't coerced the redhead into participating. He would have loved to see her in skimpy lingerie - scared or not. But he'd relented and let her sit that one out, as he'd been certain that Adam - who, at the time had still only been her boyfriend, would have pounded him senseless - regardless of the fact that he was his boss.
A brilliant scheme began to play out in the man's mind when he suddenly became distracted. Someone was knocking on his office door. He wondered who would dare disturb him at such a time.
"Come in!" he barked.
The door opened, and a skinny young man with unruly shoulder-length brown hair stepped inside. He wore a black leather jacket and carried a large manila envelope under one arm.
Vince glared at the boy. "Who in the hell are you?" he demanded.
"Mr. McMahon," the stranger began, "consider yourself served." He placed the envelope down on the center of the desk, saluted the enraged older man and turned around, leaving as quickly as he'd appeared.
"God damn it!" Vince shouted as he eyed the envelope. He snatched it up and tore it open. As he read its contents, he'd never felt more furious.
So, it was true... He hadn't wanted to believe it, but it was all there in black and white. His little girl - Stephanie - was really going to sue him after all...
"Damn ungrateful little bitch!" the man sputtered as he smashed the legal packet back down, sending a scattering of loose papers in the process. They went flying to the floor.
"Little ingrate! Who the hell does she think she's dealing with?!"
After a moment, he settled back down, wary of his blood pressure, which had risen over the last couple of years. Vince suddenly smirked as he decided to redirect his focus. He would elaborate on the plot he'd been devising only moments earlier - that would calm his frayed nerves for sure. And Stephanie wouldn't enjoy it one bit...