Once Stephanie made it to the arena five hours later, she went straight towards Paul's locker room hoping to tell him all about the meeting. She herself was excited as well as cautious about the whole appearing on television again. She had done it briefly before, then much to her dismay, both her family and the board of directors frowned upon it. Stephanie hoped this time it was different.
Stephanie pushed open the locker room door labeled 'Triple H' and stepped inside. Stephanie sighed in disappointment when she didn't see Paul anywhere in sight. Stephanie looked around and saw her bag laying on the floor and picked it up, opening it to check and make sure it was hers, and then she left the room and headed for her office. When she reached her office she saw Shane already in there sitting in the far corner of the room.
"Hey little sis," he smiled.
Stephanie raised an eyebrow and dropped her bag on the desk. "Shane? What're you doing in my office?"
"Well, since we're both the General Managers of Raw, which means that we both direct and produce the show," Shane clarified. "I thought I'd just drop in and say what's up." Shane walked up to Stephanie and shoved is hands in his pockets and shrugged his shoulders. "What's up?"
Stephanie giggled at her brother and sat down at her desk. "You haven't seen Paul by any chance, have you?" she asked hopeful.
Shane shook his head. "No, I just got in. You two didn't fly here together?"
Stephanie frowned and opened her laptop. "No, I had told Paul that he could go ahead without me."
"Then what's the problem?" Shane questioned.
Stephanie shrugged. "I don't know. He hasn't even called. I expected him to at least do that."
Shane nodded and leaned against her desk. "He doesn't know you're going back on television," he stated.
Stephanie blushed slightly and shook her head slowly. "No," she whispered.
"Then call him."
"I'd much rather tell him face to face."
"Okay, your call. Just trying to help."
"And I appreciate it. Really," Stephanie smiled.
Shane smiled back at her and stood up straight. "You ready for tonight then sis?"
"To get booed at by millions of fans?" Stephanie questioned. "I'm a McMahon. Of course I'm ready."
Paul slammed his fist onto the door of his locker room causing the door to fly open. Paul grunted then slammed it shut. To say he was pissed off would be an understatement. He was furious. Since when did other wrestlers, stupid ass newbie's no less, get a win over the game? Paul pushed back his hair and decided a shower would be best, not only to wash all the sweat from his body but to calm down before Stephanie walked in.
A pang of guilt hit Paul and he frowned while drying himself off and changing. He was told that Stephanie was looking for him but he avoided her. And why exactly? Paul had no idea. He just simply didn't want to be with her at that time. When she left for the meeting, without him, he was able to sleep in and leave the hotel at his own pace and not with Stephanie barking at him to hurry up. It's alright, Paul thought, I'll make it up to her tonight.
Paul turned on the television to watch the ending of Raw where there were rumors of a huge announcement at the end of the segment. Paul laid down comfortably on the couch and pulled out his cell phone. He expected Stephanie to come in after his match by now so he dialed Stephanie's cell phone number and waited but she never answered. How busy could she be? Paul stood up and prepared to go and search for his wife himself. Just as he reached the door he heard a certain song on the television. In fact, he heard it in the building as well and he slowly backed up to look at the television…to see his wife walking down the ramp. Live?
He stared at the screen in complete shock not even realizing that John had walked into his locker room. "Yo, man, you got any extra tape wrap?"
Paul didn't answer or glance in his direction. Cena frowned and positioned his belt onto his shoulder and walked into the locker room and stood beside Paul watching what he was. Cena immediately smirked and put his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. Paul finally sensed him and stared at him, almost growling. "What's so funny?"
"Yo," John began, "I know I told her going back on television was something she should do but I never actually thought that she'd do it!"
Paul stared Cena down then switched his attention back to the TV when Shane was coming down. Wait a minute, Shane and Stephanie in the same ring? Together? Both men watched the television curiously while Shane informed them all that Raw still had no general manager and hadn't in months. They only had transition GM's and that the McMahon's have decided that it was time that something changed.
Paul raised his eyebrow in curiosity as Stephanie then took the mic. Stephanie smiled as the cheers for her and the chants of 'Slut' were heard. "What my dear brother is trying to say," Stephanie told everyone. She paused as the chants got louder and louder and she tried to keep a straight face. She couldn't believe they were actually cheering for her. "What Shane means to say," she continued. "Is that as of right now…we are the new General Managers of Raw!"
Paul's mouth dropped open and John stopped laughing. Did she…? Paul thought. She's the GM of Raw? Back on TV? Paul was in so much shock that he didn't even register Shawn walking in the locker room. "Paul, my boy…" he started.
When Paul didn't respond, Shawn looked questionably at John, who only shrugged.
"Paul…"
"She didn't tell me," Paul whispered.
"What?" John asked.
Paul turned towards them. "Stephanie didn't tell me…"
Shawn smirked. "Well, she was trying to look for you all night."
Paul mentally slapped himself. Of course! "But still!" Paul argued. "She's a McMahon! Stephanie never had any problems finding me when she needed to."
John shook his head. "I don't think that's the issue man. You were probably just off doing your thing and she didn't want to bother you."
"Or maybe she didn't think it was a big deal," Shawn added.
"Not a big deal!" Paul yelled. "We've been married for a week and she's back on TV? She promised she wouldn't go back so soon!"
John looked up at the TV and saw Shane and Stephanie making their exit. "Yo, I think this is the time we make our grand exit," John told Shawn.
Seeing Paul's face, he nodded quickly. "I think you're right." He looked at Paul and placed his hand on the man's shoulder. "I'll call you, alright?"
Paul mumbled something Shawn couldn't make out and walked out of the room with John. As they walked out, they saw Stephanie and Shane with a crowd in the back as the show went to commercial. Shawn sighed and walked over to her. "Steph," he said approaching her. "You got a minute?"
Stephanie turned around to see Shawn and John standing beside her both looking serious. The smile from her face disappeared slowly as she nodded. "Yeah…sure."
Shawn led her away from the group so they were out of earshot. "You didn't tell Paul that you were going back on TV, did you?"
Stephanie let out a frustrated sigh. "I tried, okay?" She looked at them both. "Is that what this is about?"
"Steph, Paul's pretty pissed," John told her. "Maybe more shocked, but still pissed."
Stephanie nodded. "I'll talk to him."
"And say what?" Shawn asked.
Stephanie shrugged as she began to walk away. "I don't know," she admitted.
As Stephanie got closer and closer to Paul's locker room, she began to grow nervous. The promise, she suddenly remembered. She had promised Paul that she wouldn't return to TV so quickly, just to keep her out of harms way and away from any family feuds, like the one she had when she was GM of Smackdown. She had promised and a week later, broke that promise. Now she was dreading seeing Paul. Stephanie bit her lip and prepared for the worse as she turned the door knob to Paul's locker room.