Stephanie was sat staring at her computer screen willing her brain to stop thinking about Luke and focus on the words in front of her but it just wasn't happening. Every time the phone rang or every time somebody walked into the office she immediately thought it was Luke and she would jump and lose focus on her work resulting in nothing getting done.
She sighed as she looked at the clock for the billionth time that afternoon, the little digits on her computer screen read a little after 4 which meant she still had an hour to go at work but she just wasn't getting anywhere. Deciding to just cut her losses here and hopefully work from home after Alex had gone to bed she started to pack her things away.
Once she had everything that she was taking home in her bag and the computer turned off she grabbed her jacket and headed for the door.
Paul lifted his head as he heard her walking out of her office, "wha . . . you're leaving?"
She sighed softly, "yeah, I'm not getting much work done here so I figured I'd just go home and then once Alex is in bed tonight I'll do the work then."
"Okay. If anybody calls I'll tell them you're otherwise engaged for the rest of the day and I will pass the message on and you will call them back or do whatever you need to do tomorrow. If I say that then they're not to know you're not here."
"You're sweet, you know that right?"
He laughed softly, "I'm not really, it's just for your safety."
"Well whatever the reason you're doing it thank you. I will see you in the morning, goodnight Paul."
He smiled softly, "good night Steph, take care on your way home."
She smiled softly and waved goodbye before she left the office, she put on a brave front for him but inside her stomach was tied in knots at the prospect of heading home in case Luke was sat outside waiting for her.
Paul watched Stephanie leave concerned about her leaving alone after Luke's letter but he didn't have long to dwell on it as the phone rang almost immediately.
Stephanie was relieved when she pulled into her parents drive after a safe and uneventful drive which didn't involve her being followed.
As she pushed open the front door she was immediately attacked by her son, "Mommy's home!"
She laughed and scooped the little boy up dropping her bag at the side and kicking the door shut behind her, "she sure is."
Linda was stood there watching her daughter intently, "it's not even five o'clock, is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine Mom, I just couldn't concentrate so decided to come home early and spend some time with Alex and then work later when he's gone to bed."
Linda looked at her daughter sceptically, "are you lying to me?"
"No Mom, I'm not lying."
With that Stephanie kicked off her shoes and put Alex back on the floor, "to the playroom we go."
Linda couldn't help but smile as she watched the little boy run off screaming and her daughter following her also smiling but as her Mother it was hard for her to not notice that the smile didn't quite reach her eyes, something was going on but she just didn't know what it was.
Back in the office and Paul was just closing everything down when Shawn walked in, "Steph ready to go?"
"She's already gone."
Shawn's eyes widened, "are you nuts? You let her leave alone?"
"She left at 4 Shawn, I could hardly accompany her. She didn't look herself anyway so hopefully some time with Alex will do her good."
Shawn wasn't listening to him as he was calling Stephanie to see if she got home safely.
Stephanie was happy sat on the floor playing cars with Alex and with her phone in her bag by the front door she didn't hear it ring and she really didn't care either.
As Shawn stood there waiting for her to pick up he started tapping his foot as it kept ringing before it went to message bank, "fuck, she's not answering."
Ending that call Shawn dialled her parents home number hoping somebody there would answer.
Linda was working on dinner when she heard the phone ringing so wiping her hands on her apron she picked it up to answer it, "hello, McMahon residence. How may I help you?"
Shawn sighed with relief, "Linda it's Shawn, is Steph there?"
"Shawn, it's so good to hear from you. Steph is here though, she's in the play room with Alex. Do you want me to get her for you?"
"No it's okay thanks, I just wanted to make sure she got home okay."
She was confused, why would he want to make sure she got home okay? "What's going on Shawn? Why are you checking up on her to make sure she got home okay? I didn't think you worked as her PA anymore."
His eyes widened when he realised she was getting suspicious, "nothing is wrong, I just didn't know where she was. I came up to see her and her new PA was gone, she was gone and she wasn't answering her cell so I wanted to make sure everything was okay."
She didn't quite believe his story but she didn't want to pry, "okay then. Well Stephanie got home safely about half an hour ago now. Would you like me to tell her you were looking for her and called?"
"No no, that's okay Linda but thank you. It was good talking to you."
"You too Shawn, take care."
When Shawn hung up Paul shook his head, "you so nearly dropped Steph in it then. You've got to be careful Shawn because she doesn't want her parents to know."
"Well if she'd answer her damn phone I wouldn't have to check up on her."
"Whatever, she's just trying to spend time with her son. That isn't a crime is it?"
"No but with Luke hanging around like a bad smell I am a little on edge."
"I'm on edge too and I don't even know the guy, I just know we need to protect Stephanie but not too much so she pushes us away because we're smothering her, that's why I let her walk to her car alone."
Shawn made a face at Paul, he talked so much sense that it was actually scary how well he seemed to know Stephanie in such a short period of time, "well you know how you could protect her without smothering her."
Paul raised his eyebrow, "I do? I think you've lost me there."
"Ask her out. If you're dating her then you have an excuse to be around her and to protect her without her feeling smothered."
Paul was starting to regret telling Shawn how he felt if he was going to use it against him like this, "not happening Shawn so we'll just have to protect her without me attempting to date her just to make you happy because you know she'll be protected."
"It's not like that Paul."
"Is it not? You could have fooled me."
"Okay maybe it's a little like that but I only say it because I know you like her and I know the two of you together would be a perfect couple and you'd be so happy."
"Yeah well if anything is going to happen between us it will happen in our time and not yours so just back off. Goodnight Shawn."
With that Paul grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and walked off leaving Shawn stood there alone in an empty office wondering why exactly Paul was so sensitive.