AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is based on the idea/request of a fan, who wishes to remain nameless. I enjoyed writing it and hope it's enjoyable to read.
*****
London had always been one of Trish's favourite cities. It was the sort of place where a world-famous superstar could walk in the street without being mobbed every two minutes. And, so far this visit, she hadn't had a single microphone stuck in her face. Leastways she hadn't if she didn't count the endless string of interviews she'd had to endure.
She smiled as she walked into the hotel lobby, liking what she saw. As something of an expert on the finer hotels, she'd been surprised to be invited somewhere she'd never heard of. This one didn't look bad, though. In fact, on first sight it ticked all her boxes.
Let's see what the suite's like, she thought. And the quality of room service.
A guy with tattoos was staring at her as she passed. She recognized him as an English football player but couldn't remember his name. He obviously recognized her because he was salivating. Or maybe he just liked well put-together girls.
Tough luck, buster, I've better things to be doing. Come back when you're as well-known as me.
Trish wasn't the only world-famous superstar in town that evening. Everyone connected with WWE had flown across the pond to be there for Saturday night's production. The best hotels were packed with talent. Well, hers was, anyway. The lesser lights and wannabes were probably holed up here, there and everywhere. Which raised a question, didn't it? How had The Sioux found this little gem?
There was an elevator waiting for Trish. Getting into it alone, she reckoned it was the first time she'd had privacy since she'd landed at Heathrow. All those interviews! Okay, as champion of the world she had her responsibilities, but what a drag. And how could they believe her when she so gushingly said she loved the UK? How when all she'd seen this time was the inside of one studio after another?
They believe me because I'm an actress, not just a pretty face. And a friggin' good actress at that.
'The face ain't lacking either,' she said aloud, admiring her reflection in the inbuilt mirror. Then, on impulse, she leant forward and gave herself a kiss, leaving pouty lipstick marks on the glass. 'Very Marilyn,' she concluded. 'Someone should get that on eBay.'
The British-made "lift" stopped and, smiling again, she got out. As an expert on hotels she had her opinions on elevator speeds. Her favourite was one in Tokyo that took passengers up hundreds of storeys in about two seconds. At the other end of the scale was a Parisian, cage-like contraption that had taken her up three floors in about five minutes.
'I like it,' she murmured, taking in a wide, thickly-carpeted corridor. 'A bit old fashioned but that's the Brits for you. Olde worlde equals classy.'
Trish had no fear of going blindly into the unknown. Her body didn't just look good, it was trained to perfection. Few men could overpower her and, as far as women were concerned, she WAS reigning champion, wasn't she? And The Sioux was hardly likely to cut up rough.
Well, I'm sure she isn't, she assured herself. Her signals have been anything but rough.
In truth Trish knew next to nothing about the new kid on the block. Neither did anyone else. Facts were thin on the ground. She was in her early twenties and came from Ontario. She'd only been with WWE a few months and had already exploded onto the scene. She was strong, athletic and stacked. And she was widely admired. The only criticism anyone had about her was that it seemed unrealistic when it was her turn to lose.
At first the name had misled Trish. She'd expected a Native American. Then, when she heard The Sioux was a white girl from Hogtown, she'd expected a punk-like Goth with spiky black hair and cat-eye makeup.
Wrong!!
In reality The Sioux was even blonder than Trish. At five eleven she was also significantly taller. Being a fellow Torontonian (and realizing the girl had one heck of a career ahead of her) Trish had gone out of her way to smile, nod and drop the odd compliment. Before long they would be in the ring together, perhaps as allies, perhaps as bitter rivals . . . or probably both. A bit of gratuitous bonhomie at this early stage couldn't go amiss.
The Sioux had responded to her overtures with a polite restraint. Trish had suspected the girl was secretly sizing her up. Everybody else did, so why not? Being sized up was a fact of life for her. As champion she had something coveted by all . . . something she wasn't prepared to readily give up.
Polite restraint, she'd mused. Is that the way they're building her character? Then, chuckling: It's a first if they're taking that route!
The invitation had come out of deep left field: supper in a seventh story suite; French champagne and Aberdeen Angus steaks. 'Very Anglo-Franรงois,' she'd said (a little inaccurately). 'It's a date.'
Now, sashaying along the corridor, Trish wondered if she was being presumptuous. She'd simply assumed The Sioux was inviting her for more than food and drink. That had, after all, been the case with every other invitation she'd ever received.
She's only young, she reminded herself. And she might be no more than a fangirl. I'll keep cool and play it by ear.
All doubts were dispelled when The Sioux opened the door in a kimono-like robe; nothing else, just dark blue silk that went perfectly with her hair and eyes. 'I'd have suggested the a la carte restaurant,' she said in greeting, 'but that isn't very intimate, is it?'
'Intimate sounds good to me,' said Trish, 'although I do feel a bit overdressed.'
'Take off anything you like,' The Sioux replied, laughing as she closed the door.
'Perhaps we should dine first. And wow, what great digs!'
'It's the Presidential Suite. Although don't ask me which president stayed here. Knowing the Limeys they'll have made it up.'
'Judging by the rest of the hotel, it could be any one of many presidents.' Trish was still assessing her surroundings. 'I like it,' she said again. 'My suite is bigger, but not much. And the dรฉcor here is a lot classier.'
'Why thank you,' said The Sioux. 'Fancy a glass of Moet?'
'Why not,' Trish agreed sociably.
She watched as her hostess produced an ice bucket. That was not a kimono after all, she decided. There was nothing traditional or modest about it. The Sioux was showing off plenty of bare arm and yards and yards of bare leg.
Nice tan, she thought. I can't wait to see if it's all-over.
'It's Dom Pรฉrignon,' the blue-robed beauty announced. 'And it's twelve years old, according to the label.'
'I'm sure it's a fine vintage,' said Trish. 'It would have to be, in a place like this.'
'Cheers, as they say in these parts.'
They clinked glasses and swapped smouldering glances.
'So,' Trish began, 'why the name?'
'Three reasons.' The Sioux grinned. 'It sounds nobly savage. I always wanted a name beginning with "The". And my mentor likes it.'
Trish wondered what sort of sugar daddy the girl had hooked up with. Apart from one who knew which strings to pull, that was . . . or which palms to grease. This young lady had every God-given attribute she needed for success, but nobody made it so far on her own. Not so quickly, anyway.
'What do I call you?' she asked, intrigued but not wanting to launch into an interrogation. Not yet.
'You don't like "The Sioux"?'
Trish laughed at the girl's mock-outraged expression. 'It's brilliant for the ring,' she said. 'Not quite so appropriate for an intimate supper.'
'Oh yes, supper.' Another wide grin. 'I've got us a supply of canapรฉs. I thought we'd save the steaks until we've worked up an appetite.'