My apologies that it took so long to get this out! The formatting of this one is Paul's POV and then Stephanie's. I'm not sure if every single chapter will be split up that way but it's a definite possibility. Don't forget to check out the poll and the trailer for this fic, located on my profile :). Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Paul's POV

I'm not sure what just happened between Stephanie and me. I'm not sure what it is that I'm doing…or what we're doing. I'm not sure what any of this means or if it even matters at this point.

One thing that I'm sure of is that even though I'm already nervous and confused, I can't stop myself from smiling.

What was supposed to be a ten – maybe fifteen minute impromptu, surprise meeting, turned into an entire half an hour being gone without us realizing that time was passing us by. We'd just been sitting there chatting and teasing each other like old college friends. Despite the fact that we just officially met we had an instant connection.

And then I shocked the hell out of both of us when, "I'd love to hang out with you outside of this coffee shop," popped out of my mouth in a completely random fashion. Stephanie's eyes had gone wide and her mouth parted slightly. I wanted to retract the invite…not because it wasn't the truth but because I could see the brief deliberation going on in her mind. If she said no, I'd be completely embarrassed.

Unable to bring myself to form any more words, I sat and waited for what seemed like ten minutes. In reality it couldn't have been longer than a few seconds before the unthinkable happened: Stephanie beamed a smile at me and said, "I'd love that, too."

For some reason I didn't want to leave without making solid plans with her. Though she's open, friendly, funny and vibrant there's just something about her that makes me feel like she's not totally present. Almost as if her mind has gone someplace else or that she's prepared to bolt.

Interesting how I got all of that after knowing her for all of an hour. But the woman is a paradox and it's a mystery to me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't compelled to figure out what the big secret to Stephanie McMahon is.

So tonight at eight we're meeting at P.F. Chang's. No one goes in there wearing sweats or shorts, but it isn't so upscale that it's stuffy and boring. It's a relaxed, fun atmosphere but the dim lighting casts a romantic yet comfortable aura. In addition to the pier and beach, there are tons of restaurants, bars and shops around, so the night doesn't have to end there if we don't want it to.

As I walk through the sliding double doors of Gaston Investments, my phone vibrates in the pocket of my slacks. I stick my hand in and pull out my iPhone. I have a message from Shawn.

Becca's mad at me, gonna give her space to cool down before I go home. Hanging with the boys tonight. U down?

I twist my lip while I consider. Sounds like he's already got a group going, so my absence won't leave him out to dry alone. I key in my reply.

Can't. Have plans.

Shawn's reply appears before my screen can even dim.

With who? Lol. Basically all our friends are coming out tonight.

I can feel myself smiling hugely when I write back.

Got a date!

It's not Heather is it? Shawn asks.

God, no! I'm done with her for good.

So it's a new chick?

My friends are so damn nosy. But it does no harm to answer these questions, I guess. They're bound to find out sooner or later. Yup.

She hot?

I snicker as I enter my office. Of course that's always the first question my friends asks about a new girl. Questions pertaining to intelligence, employment and sanity always come later. I suppose that for them, being hot is a prerequisite. Aforementioned girl doesn't matter unless she first passes the hotness test. Well, Stephanie most certainly does and then some. Smoking!

Niiiiiice!

With a shake of my head I place my phone down on my desk and settle down into the plush leather chair, so I can begin moving my clients' money around strategically.

Stephanie's POV

I'm sitting at my desk browsing tile patterns on my computer. I know exactly what my client wants, now it's just a matter of finding it. I've been going through this particular vendor's selections for ten minutes and I still don't see what I'm looking for. Maybe I'll have to have it custom made or something.

The intercom buzzes. "Stephanie, Alex is on line two for you," Reggie announces.

An audible sigh leaves my mouth. I even feel myself rolling my eyes. My morning had been going perfectly until now. I managed to bolt out of the house without seeing or speaking to my husband or his child. Surprisingly there wasn't much traffic as I made my way from Westwood to Santa Monica. I dropped in for my morning coffee and not only did I get it for free, but I also landed myself something that I hadn't been expecting.

A date.

I have a date. I'm married. And the date isn't with my husband. I mean Paul and I didn't specifically say that it was a date. But with the time and place we're meeting up…and the flirtatious banter we had over coffee, what the hell else could I classify it as?

I pick up my phone and allow the call to come through.

"Hey Alex." My tone is neutral – maybe even bored. I don't call him honey, baby, sweetheart or any other term of endearment I've used in past relationships. This marriage is complete shit because I feel absolutely nothing for him.

"Hey Stephanie." And he feels absolutely nothing for me.

"What's up?" I ask, continuing to click through the patterns online.

"I need a favor."

Another roll of my eyes. When doesn't he supposedly need a favor from me? Hell when does he make an effort to talk to me unless he wants something? "I'm listening."

"Jamie's trying out for the lead part in The Wizard of Oz at school. Because so many of the kids have sports practices that don't end until the early evening, the try out is set for six."

"Okay…"

"Could you take her and also bring her home?"

No. Just…no. The brat doesn't take up sports because she feels athleticism is for girls who secretly want to be boys. God forbid she mess up her nails or have to tie up her hair. Therefore, she's out of school and ready to come home by four. She has drama practice every day from three to four. If you ask me, she may as well quit while she's ahead; the girl can't act worth shit. "I can't."

On the other line, Alex heaves out a frustrated breath. "Why can't you?"

"Well why can't you?" I shoot back with an attitude.

"I'm meeting a client for drinks. As long as we're in and have made the first order while happy hour is still on, we get to keep ordering for those prices."

You would, you cheap bastard. "I've got plans, Alex. I can't cancel them at the last minute. I'm sure you knew of Jamie's tryout well before now." Hell, I just don't want to cancel. I can't. I want to see Paul again and get to know him better. It feels like I don't have much of a choice in the matter…like I'm being pulled to him by some gravitational force.

"It slipped my mind."

Sure it did. Just like everything slips your mind and you expect me to drop my plans in favor of what you don't feel like doing. "Figure something else out," I tell him plainly.

"This is unacceptable, Stephanie!" He tells me so sharply that I actually flinch in my seat a little bit. "I'm sick of your selfish attitude. All right? We're supposed to be a team!"

I don't immediately realize that the laughter that I'm hearing is my own. "Team? Alex what do you ever do for me, huh? All you do is ask me for favors at the last minute. We hardly talk; you don't ever bother asking how my day went. To be brutally honest I don't even understand why you're still married to me! You never tell me you love me and you damn sure don't act like you do."

"This is bullshit and you know it! I work hard to provide for you and Jamie and all I ask of you is a little help with her. You're the only mother she's got right now and-"

"Stop right there!" I interrupt. "In case you haven't noticed, your daughter hates me. I'm not picking up the slack just because you keep making random plans on days where you're supposed to be doing things for her."

"What's gotten into you, Stephanie? I don't understand where this hostility is coming from. And this nonsense about me not telling you I love you? When's the last time you told me you loved me?" His tone sounds genuine and I find myself shocked. Surely he can't think that this is just beginning. He can't have been blind to the fact that our relationship has gone to shit ever since the day Jamie arrived. Hell, even before that it was starting to crumble. Her arrival just made it speed up.

The dull ache that begins in my back is far too familiar. Fucking cancer.

I don't know when I last told Alex I loved him…but whenever it was, it was a total lie anyway. And quite frankly I'm tired of living the lie. "I have work to do. Figure out something with Jamie. Bye."

Before Alex can respond, I hang up the phone. It's not until a bead of wetness falls from my chin that I realize I'm crying. Fucking Alex, fucking Jamie. Fucking Shane falling apart, on top of still refusing to talk to Dad or see Seth.

My personal life is pretty much in shambles, except for my relationships with my friends. Paul is new so that hasn't gone to hell. Then again, we started off on such a sour note that it probably can't go anywhere except up. I began my day with him, really. And with our plans for dinner, I'm damn well going to end it with him. It's unlikely that Alex is going to be able to find someone else to handle the Jamie thing. That means that if I run home to change around seven, as I'd originally planned, I'm going to run into them and into an argument.

I pull out my cell and scroll down to Paul's name.

Want to move dinner up to seven? That means I could get home right after they leave for the tryout and avoid seeing them altogether.

Why the change?

I'm going to be starving. Plus, I can't wait to see you. That's the God's honest truth. I'm just choosing not to mention the avoidance of my husband and stepdaughter.

Seven it is, gorgeous.

The heat that rushes to my cheeks is nothing other than a blush. I feel the bitterness and the anger slowly leave me. Maybe Paul was sent to me t help me endure what's left of my life. To ease away my unhappiness and give me something to look forward to. I don't know what we are or what we will become. I don't know what's going to happen between us.

But something tells me that he's my ray of sunshine shining through the dark clouds that surround me.