Dear Diary,
My Dad liked my idea, my Dad liked my idea. Oh my God, seriously I can't believe he liked my idea. Maybe Paul and my Dad are right, maybe I need to believe in myself more.
Steph xx
Looking to the side she couldn't help but smile softly as Paul spoke so animatedly to one of the writers about his storyline. She was shocked out of her daze when her brother took a seat next to her, "he's good for you."
Turning her head she looked at her brother like he was crazy, "are you out of your mind?"
"Maybe? Seriously Steph, I haven't seen you this happy in a long time. I don't know what he has done or said or what the status of your relationship is but I like what it has done to you. Even if you're only friends he is a good friend to have when he pushes you to believe in yourself."
She shrugged, "don't let him hear you say that, it will inflate his already oversized ego."
Shane laughed, "my lips are sealed."
At the point Paul turned around to talk to Stephanie again and smiled at Shane, "hey man. So how awesome is Steph's idea?"
Swatting him gently on the arm she shook her head, "shut up, it's not that good."
She then pushed her chair back and gathered up her papers to go back to her locker room.
Both Shane and Paul stood up to follow her which caused her to raise her eyebrow, "are you two following me?"
The two men exchanged looks and both shrugged, "sure."
Rolling her eyes she turned and walked towards the door, "heel doggies."
Laughing both Paul and Shane caught up to her and without thinking Paul draped his arm around her shoulder, "so why are you running away from us?"
Before Stephanie had chance to answer Shane cleared his throat, "is there something you two want to tell me."
Paul laughed and turned slightly towards Shane as he stood next to him and draped his arm around his shoulder too, "sorry dude, I didn't mean to make you feel left out even if Stephanie is my favourite McMahon."
Stephanie laughed and Shane rolled his eyes and playfully shrugged his arm off in disgust, "get your filthy hand off of me."
Shane then walked around them to stand the other side of Stephanie as they walked down the corridor, "so what made you think of Jericho and Chyna both pinning Hardcore instead of Chyna winning outright?"
She shrugged, "I don't know really. I just thought it would make more interesting television if they shared the belt seeing as Jericho and Chyna hate each other so much and then we can sort out the problem at the Rumble."
None of them realised that their conversation was actually being listened to and Joanie was mad.
Walking into her locker room Stephanie dropped the papers onto the coffee table before she took a seat on the couch, "Joanie is going to hate me for taking the title from her."
Paul sat down next to her and rested his arm no the back of the couch, "it's a business decision and business decisions have to be made and we don't always like them but we know this when we get into the business so she should understand."
She snorted, "sure Paul. We're talking about Joanie here, she isn't known lately for being rational because she did accuse us of having an affair together."
Sitting down on one of the plastic chairs Shane was baffled, "she thought you two were having an affair together?"
Paul nodded, "that was one of her many accusations yes."
Just then the door opened and Vince walked in, "oh I'm sorry, I thought you were alone Steph. I just wanted to talk about the idea you pitched."
Stephanie shrugged, "they can stay, I don't mind. Have you changed your mind about it?"
Vince shook his head, "on the contrary, the more I think about it the more I love it."
"Oh. Then what is it you want to talk about? Who gets the pleasure of breaking the news to Joanie?"
Shane quickly jumped in, "I'm not doing it."
Vince rolled his eyes at his son, "no, although that does need to be decided on. I wondered how far you'd thought about it? For example, how would they both get the pin? How long would the duel reign go on for?"
Unsure on whether he was testing her to see if she'd thought about it or genuinely interested she decided to answer anyway, "I was thinking that maybe the ref could be bumped and a new ref come in but when it comes to the pin the original ref to come to and them both to count Bob's shoulders down as both Jericho and Chyna cover him and the refs to each declare one of them the winner. As for how long, I think it should be settled at the Rumble, no later than that."
As Vince opened his mouth to speak the door was barged open and Joanie stormed in, "I heard what you're doing you little bitch. Apparently stealing my man wasn't enough for you, you have to take the title reign from me too."
Everyone turned to look at Joanie and all had very similar expressions on their face.
Vince was the first to speak up, "what the hell are you talking about?"
Joanie pointed at Stephanie, "she stole Paul from me. She manipulated him, she lied to him and she slept with him all behind my back just because she wanted him."
Stephanie's stomach dropped, how did she know what she had done to Paul? Even though some of the details were incorrect she still had most of them correct.
Vince looked between Joanie and Paul and Stephanie, "I'll ask you again Joanie, what the hell are you talking about? What do you mean Stephanie lied to Paul and slept with him behind your back?"
"After Armageddon she slept with him, she had it all planned out and she manipulated him and then she made it seem like she was the one who got hurt from it all. She's lying to him though, they're seeing each other right now and she's just using him."
Stephanie wanted to just crawl into a corner and curl up into a ball and cry but she couldn't.
Having listened to Joanie's ramblings Paul started putting two and two together because there was no other way she would know any of that stuff, "you read her diary?! Joanie how could you?"
Vince stood up and put his hands in the air, "stop! Will somebody, preferably Stephanie or Paul please tell me what's going on?"
Paul wasn't willing to go into everything with Joanie stood there so he simply said, "Joanie has apparently been reading Stephanie's personal diary."
Joanie's eyes widened as she thought her information was key to getting him back, "you know?! You've read it too so don't put all of this on me."
"I know I've read her diary but she gave it to me to read, you read her diary because you went snooping through her bags."
Vince shook his head as he stood up, "Joanie I will deal with you later but for now I suggest you leave this locker room this instance otherwise you won't get any part of the Intercontinental Title. "
Her eyes widened and she pointed at Paul, "but what about him?"
"Paul will be staying here as I have a few bones to pick with both him and my daughter and I would prefer to do that without insults being thrown across the room and shouting."
Joanie angrily spun around and walked out of the room slamming the door behind her.
As soon as Joanie had left the room Vince stood up, "I will be back in a minute as I have something I need to do quickly but when I return I expect a full and honest explanation from you both."
With that Vince stood up and walked out of the room.
