{Chapter 4}
Randy awoke and felt the bed next to him, frowning when he found it empty. His first thought was that Angela had made a run for it. It was then that he saw the bathroom door was ajar, the sliver of light illuminating the room dimly, and heard the sound of water sloshing. Smiling he slipped out of bed and padded over to the bathroom, pushing the door open.
Angela was just climbing out of the tub, pulling a towel around herself. She felt eyes on her and gasped looking up to see Randy standing there. The look in his eyes was almost…loving. He smiled and entered the bathroom, taking the towel and gently drying her skin.
“You weren’t in bed when I woke up,” he said softly. “I got worried that you ran away.”
“It crossed my mind,” she admitted. “But I figured you’d just hunt me down and bring me back kicking and screaming.”
Randy chuckled. “Come on back to bed, baby,” he said, wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her over to the bed.
“Can I at least put on something to sleep in,” she asked with a sigh. He nodded, heading back to the bed.
He climbed in and watched her slip a shirt over her head. Frowning he got out of bed and padded over to his open bag. He pulled out a shirt and tossed it at her. She caught it and arched a brow at him.
“Put that on instead,” he said, daring her to argue. He knew damn well the shirt she was planning on sleeping in belonged to Kane. He sprawled out on the bed and watched her closely. “I said put it on.”
Not wanting to argue Angela quickly stripped off Kane’s shirt and slipped on the one Randy had given her. Reluctantly she climbed into the bed and rolled onto her side, her back facing Randy. She was exhausted and just wanted the night to end already.
Randy slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, spooning with her. Not in the mood to fight Angela closed her eyes willing sleep to overtake her. She heard Randy’s light snoring moments before she drifted off into a dreamless slumber.
~*~
When Angela awoke the next morning she felt something soft making lazy circles across the bare skin of her leg. Opening her eyes she turned toward whatever was touching her skin and groaned inwardly. She found Randy lazily tracing circles over her leg with a single crimson rose.
“Good morning, Mrs. Orton,” he said smiling. “For you.” He held out the rose to her. Tentatively Angela reached out and took it, bringing it to her nose and inhaling its sweet scent.
“It’s beautiful,” she said softly and meant it. He smiled; the events of the night before and his anger seemingly forgotten. He seemed like the old Randy. The one who had charmed his way into her life so long ago.
“I saw it on a flower cart when I went for my morning jog,” he said getting out of bed. “Made me think of you.” He stripped off his shirt and looked at her smirking. “I’m going to take a shower. Care to join me?”
“No,” Angela replied, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. He arched a brow at her. “I…um…I’m still sore from last night.”
“I’m sorry, baby,” he said walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. He placed a hand on her knee, sliding it slowly up her thigh. Angela whimpered, her muscles tensing. “Relax, baby.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips softly. “I’m going in the shower. Why don’t you get dressed so we can leave as soon as I’m ready?” With that he stood and headed into the bathroom, stripping off the rest of his clothes as he went.
Angela looked down at the rose in her hands, confused by Randy’s actions. He didn’t seem like the same man he had been the night before. “Jesus,” she muttered. “I’m married to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” With a sigh she climbed out of bed and rummaged through her bag pulling out an outfit to wear.
~*~
“You want to stop for breakfast before we hit the road,” Randy asked about an hour later. Angela shook her head no. He sighed loudly. “We’ll be driving for a couple of hours. Are you sure? You should really eat something, Angie.”
“I’m not hungry, Randy,” she replied, zipping up her bag.
He scooped it up before she could and headed toward the door, his own bag in his other hand. “Come on,” he said cheerfully. “What’s wrong,” he asked his smile faltering when she didn’t move.
“So, we’re just supposed to act like everything’s fine? Like you didn’t drug me and marry me,” she asked, crossing her arms. Randy dropped the bags, the smile completely gone from his face now. “Am I supposed to be happy to have such a disgusting slimeball for a husband?”
Randy stalked over to her, his face screwed up in a scowl and his eyes cold as ice. He grabbed her arm tightly bringing her close to him so that his face was just inches from hers. “I know you love a good fight, darling,” he said, his vice-like grip tightening on her arm. Angela whimpered. “But we really need to hit the road. You don’t want to know what I’ll do to you if you make me late for the house show.”
With that he released her. Tears slid down Angela’s cheeks as she held her sore arm. There would be a bruise where Randy’s fingers had dug into her tender flesh. She could just tell by the throbbing ache he left behind.
“Let’s go,” he growled, picking up her bag and thrusting it at her before exiting the room.
~*~
The ride to the next town had been uneventful. Angela had curled up in the passenger seat and closed her eyes pretending to sleep for much of the way. Randy, thankfully, had been focussed on getting them to the house show and did not attempt to make small talk.
Once they had checked into their hotel they headed to the arena. Since it was the weekend of their wedding Victoria and Jason were given the night off. Angela dreaded walking into the women’s locker room. She just knew that word of her marriage to Randy had spread like wildfire. If anyone would stick by her, she hoped it would be Victoria.
When she and Randy arrived at the arena Shane McMahon greeted them. He looked none too pleased as he headed toward them. “Angela, I know you were supposed to accompany Kane to the ring tonight, but that’s been scrapped at Kane’s request,” he said. “Actually demand with death threats would be more accurate.”
“It’s all right,” Randy said wrapping an arm possessively around her. “She can just hang out in my locker room.”
“Actually, Randy, Stephanie and I were talking and I’m sure you know that news, good or bad, travels fast in this company,” Shane said. Randy nodded. “News of your and Angela’s marriage has made it to Stephanie and I and we had an idea for a storyline.”
“What’d you have in mind,” Randy asked, his curiosity piqued.
“No,” Angela said pulling away from Randy and shaking her head vehemently. “Shane, it was one thing to have the whole Matt Hardy/Lita/Edge love triangle play out for the world to see, but I will NOT air my dirty laundry in front of millions of people.”
“Angela,” Shane said sighing. He knew she would have a problem with the idea and hated to pull the daddy card, but he really had no choice. “If you want me to take this to my father I will.”
“Angie, just listen to what the man has to say,” Randy said. “Have a little respect for our boss.”
“As I was saying,” Shane said once he was sure Angela wouldn’t protest anymore. “Randy, you’re in need of some competition for your title, someone who will give you a real challenge.” Randy nodded. “That’s where Kane comes into the picture. We’ll start things off slowly having you flirting with Angela, essentially trying to woo her back. Kane will see this and in a jealous rage will challenge you to a title match at the next pay-per-view.”
“Shane, if Kane doesn’t even want me at ringside how are you going to convince him to go along with this storyline,” Angela asked. She had to admit that it would make for some interesting programming leading up to the pay-per-view. If it weren’t a living nightmare for her she would have been eager to go ahead with things. “You and I both know how stubborn he can be when he sets his mind to something.”
“You just leave Kane up to me,” Shane said smiling. “The best part of the whole thing is not only does the winner get the belt he gets Angela.”
“I love it, Shane,” Randy said smiling.
“Great. I’ll have the writers start on things. In the meantime I should go talk to Kane,” Shane said headed off.
Angela glared at Randy. “You’re just loving this aren’t you,” she asked as they headed toward Randy’s locker room. “I’m just property to you. You don’t love me. You just want me because Kane had me.”
She walked ahead of him a few steps before being jerked back. Randy’s vice-like grip kept her from going anywhere. “How dare you doubt my feelings for you, Angie,” he said actually sounding hurt. “I did this for us. You need to see who the better man is.” He smirked. “And when all is said and done not only will I still be champion I’ll have you by my side once and for all.” He released her arm and headed into his locker room.
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