May 2002
"You're sure?" Stephanie asked her brother.
"Yeah, of course," Shane said. "We could definitely use another female in the WCW."
"I'd love to come," Stephanie said. "Except..."
"Chris?" Shane asked.
"Yeah," Stephanie admitted. "We haven't been together that long and I don't know how we would deal with the distance."
"Well, talk it over with him then," Shane said. "This deal doesn't expire. Now that you own fifteen percent of the company you can pretty much come and go as you please."
"A change of scene would be nice right around now," Stephanie said.
"Well, I've got a meeting with Vince," Shane said.
"What about?" Stephanie asked.
"He's going to try and buy out my shares of WWF again," Shane said. "He was pretty pissed when Mom bought into WCW and gave me a better hold on all of my holdings. He was hoping I would have to sell my WWF shares to get WCW off the ground."
"Mom only bought five percent," Stephanie said. "That couldn't have freed up too much."
"He thinks she bought twenty percent," Shane said. "We weren't sure you wanted him to know you were fence sitting."
"Thanks," Stephanie said. "Well, Dad's all yours."
"See you later," Shane said, hugging his sister.
Stephanie walked down the hall of the WWF headquarters to her office. She had finished all of her work for the day, but she and Chris were supposed to go to dinner with Vince tonight. Actually, Vince thought he was just having dinner with Stephanie but she was going to tell her dad she was going out with Jericho.
She sat in her leather chair and put her feet up on her desk. She leaned back and lost herself in thought. Jericho lightly tapped on the door when he got to the office. When there was no answer, he walked in. He stopped and stared at her.
He wondered how many people were lucky enough to truly fall in love once in their life, let alone twice. He wasn't looking forward to telling Vince that he was dating Stephanie, but it would be nice to let people know they were dating.
"A penny for you thoughts," Jericho said.
Stephanie looked up in shock, "Oh, Chris!"
"I knocked," Jericho said, coming around the other side of the desk.
"I was lost in thought," Stephanie explained.
"What thought were those?" Jericho asked.
"I'll talk to you about that later," Stephanie said. "You look good."
"I always look good," Jericho teased. "As do you."
"Thanks," Stephanie said. "And that's how you accept a compliment gracefully."
"Yeah yeah," Jericho muttered. "So, when is old Vince going to be ready to go?"
"He's meeting with Shane," Stephanie said, standing up. "His secretary is going to buzz me when they are done."
"So I have you all to myself for a little while," Jericho said, banding his arms around her waist.
"I guess you do," Stephanie said. Just as they were about to kiss the intercom on her phone buzzed loudly. Jericho and Stephanie rested their foreheads together. "Yes?"
"Your father and Mr. McMahon are finished," Vince's secretary said.
"Thanks Nat," Stephanie said.
"So much for that," Jericho said, lightly kissing her before moving away from her.
"We'll just have to continue later," Stephanie said.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Jericho said.
"So where are we going sweetie?" Vince asked as he came into his daughter's office. "Oh, hello Jericho."
"Hello Mr. McMahon," Jericho said.
"I didn't know you and Stephanie had an appointment today," Vince said.
"We didn't," Stephanie said, grabbing her jacket and putting it on. "Chris is coming with us to dinner."
"I see," Vince said, not entirely certain he did see. "You like Italian."
"I like all food," Jericho replied.
Stephanie beamed at her father and Jericho. "Lets go."
Dinner was pleasant and Vince and Jericho managed to remain civil throughout the meal. Stephanie was growing more and more confident that Vince would handle the news well. They had all nearly finished their dessert when Stephanie said, "Daddy, I have to tell you something."
"Yes?" Vince asked.
"Actually Chris and I have something to tell you," Stephanie said.
"I'm waiting," Vince said.
"For the past month," Stephanie said. "Well, Chris has been really supportive of me and helped me readjust a lot."
"I've noticed," Vince said. "I appreciate that Chris."
"It was my pleasure," Jericho said. He couldn't help but be amused at Stephanie's dancing around the truth. After everything that had happened in her life, she still wanted her father's approval.
"But Daddy, Chris and I have been," Stephanie said quickly, "We've been..."
"Spit it out Stephanie," Vince said.
"We've been seeing each other," Stephanie said.
"Well, you work together," Vince said. "That's normal."
"I meant that we've been dating," Stephanie said.
"Okay," Vince said blandly.
"You're okay with that?" Stephanie asked.
"Stephanie, why wouldn't I be okay with that?" Vince asked.
"You've always said that I would never date a wrestler," Stephanie said.
"I think you've been engaged to one wrestler and married to another," Vince said. "I don't think I have a lot of say in the matter."
"So you won't give us hell?" Stephanie asked.
"As long as you're happy," Vince said. He turned to Jericho; "If you ever hurt her your ass is mine."
"I would expect that," Jericho said seriously.
"Good, we understand each other," Vince said.
Stephanie looked at her father in awe. He had been way too understanding. Stephanie could come to only one other conclusion. "You already knew."
"Of course I knew," Vince said.
"How?" Stephanie asked.
"Because Jericho's best friend is Benoit," Vince said, "and he's a notorious gossip."
"I'll have to remember that," Jericho said dryly.
"So I was nervous for nothing?" Stephanie asked.
"I'm just glad you told me this time," Vince said.
"This time?" Jericho asked.
"Well, you two were together when you came to the WWF right?" Vince asked.
"You knew?" Stephanie asked in shock.
"Shane is your best friend isn't he?" Vince asked.
"He told you?" Stephanie asked.
Vince grinned, "Yeah."
"Oh my goodness," Stephanie said.
"I was expecting you to end up married to Jericho," Vince said. "I was shocked when Hunter interrupted the wedding."
"That makes two of us," Jericho said.
"I see," Vince said. "Well, I'll let you two enjoy the rest of the evening. I'll see you tomorrow at Raw."
"Goodnight Dad," Stephanie said.
Stephanie and Jericho sat for a few moments in stunned silence. "I do not believe that."
"I know," Jericho said. "It was a little eerie."
"At least it's over," Stephanie said.
"You ready to go home?" Jericho asked.
"Yeah," Stephanie said, hailing the waiter for the bill.
An hour later they ended up at Stephanie's apartment. She turned on the lights as they walked into the room. "Do you mind if I crash on your couch tonight?"
"Go ahead," Stephanie said.
"Hey," Jericho said, pulling Stephanie to him. He kissed her deeply. "You are so beautiful."
"Thanks," Stephanie said. "You aren't too shabby."
Jericho grinned. "So what were you thinking about earlier?"
"Oh," Stephanie said. "Something Shane and I were talking about earlier."
"Which would be?" Jericho asked.
"Me taking an onscreen presence in the WCW," Stephanie said.
"Really?" Jericho asked.
"What do you think?" Stephanie asked, as they sat down on the couch.
"Do you want to do that?" Jericho asked.
"I do," Stephanie said, "except I don't want to be away from you."
"I don't want to be the reason you stay here," Jericho said. "We'd still see each other."
"Yeah, of course," Stephanie said. "We'd be working the same days."
"And you'd get to make a fresh start," Jericho said.
"That was the plan," Stephanie said.
"You should do it," Jericho said.
"You think we could handle it?" Stephanie asked.
"If we can't," Jericho started, "maybe we shouldn't be together."
"When did you get to be perfect?" Stephanie asked.
"I've always been perfect," Jericho said. "Perfect for you."
"You're sure?" Stephanie asked her brother.
"Yeah, of course," Shane said. "We could definitely use another female in the WCW."
"I'd love to come," Stephanie said. "Except..."
"Chris?" Shane asked.
"Yeah," Stephanie admitted. "We haven't been together that long and I don't know how we would deal with the distance."
"Well, talk it over with him then," Shane said. "This deal doesn't expire. Now that you own fifteen percent of the company you can pretty much come and go as you please."
"A change of scene would be nice right around now," Stephanie said.
"Well, I've got a meeting with Vince," Shane said.
"What about?" Stephanie asked.
"He's going to try and buy out my shares of WWF again," Shane said. "He was pretty pissed when Mom bought into WCW and gave me a better hold on all of my holdings. He was hoping I would have to sell my WWF shares to get WCW off the ground."
"Mom only bought five percent," Stephanie said. "That couldn't have freed up too much."
"He thinks she bought twenty percent," Shane said. "We weren't sure you wanted him to know you were fence sitting."
"Thanks," Stephanie said. "Well, Dad's all yours."
"See you later," Shane said, hugging his sister.
Stephanie walked down the hall of the WWF headquarters to her office. She had finished all of her work for the day, but she and Chris were supposed to go to dinner with Vince tonight. Actually, Vince thought he was just having dinner with Stephanie but she was going to tell her dad she was going out with Jericho.
She sat in her leather chair and put her feet up on her desk. She leaned back and lost herself in thought. Jericho lightly tapped on the door when he got to the office. When there was no answer, he walked in. He stopped and stared at her.
He wondered how many people were lucky enough to truly fall in love once in their life, let alone twice. He wasn't looking forward to telling Vince that he was dating Stephanie, but it would be nice to let people know they were dating.
"A penny for you thoughts," Jericho said.
Stephanie looked up in shock, "Oh, Chris!"
"I knocked," Jericho said, coming around the other side of the desk.
"I was lost in thought," Stephanie explained.
"What thought were those?" Jericho asked.
"I'll talk to you about that later," Stephanie said. "You look good."
"I always look good," Jericho teased. "As do you."
"Thanks," Stephanie said. "And that's how you accept a compliment gracefully."
"Yeah yeah," Jericho muttered. "So, when is old Vince going to be ready to go?"
"He's meeting with Shane," Stephanie said, standing up. "His secretary is going to buzz me when they are done."
"So I have you all to myself for a little while," Jericho said, banding his arms around her waist.
"I guess you do," Stephanie said. Just as they were about to kiss the intercom on her phone buzzed loudly. Jericho and Stephanie rested their foreheads together. "Yes?"
"Your father and Mr. McMahon are finished," Vince's secretary said.
"Thanks Nat," Stephanie said.
"So much for that," Jericho said, lightly kissing her before moving away from her.
"We'll just have to continue later," Stephanie said.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Jericho said.
"So where are we going sweetie?" Vince asked as he came into his daughter's office. "Oh, hello Jericho."
"Hello Mr. McMahon," Jericho said.
"I didn't know you and Stephanie had an appointment today," Vince said.
"We didn't," Stephanie said, grabbing her jacket and putting it on. "Chris is coming with us to dinner."
"I see," Vince said, not entirely certain he did see. "You like Italian."
"I like all food," Jericho replied.
Stephanie beamed at her father and Jericho. "Lets go."
Dinner was pleasant and Vince and Jericho managed to remain civil throughout the meal. Stephanie was growing more and more confident that Vince would handle the news well. They had all nearly finished their dessert when Stephanie said, "Daddy, I have to tell you something."
"Yes?" Vince asked.
"Actually Chris and I have something to tell you," Stephanie said.
"I'm waiting," Vince said.
"For the past month," Stephanie said. "Well, Chris has been really supportive of me and helped me readjust a lot."
"I've noticed," Vince said. "I appreciate that Chris."
"It was my pleasure," Jericho said. He couldn't help but be amused at Stephanie's dancing around the truth. After everything that had happened in her life, she still wanted her father's approval.
"But Daddy, Chris and I have been," Stephanie said quickly, "We've been..."
"Spit it out Stephanie," Vince said.
"We've been seeing each other," Stephanie said.
"Well, you work together," Vince said. "That's normal."
"I meant that we've been dating," Stephanie said.
"Okay," Vince said blandly.
"You're okay with that?" Stephanie asked.
"Stephanie, why wouldn't I be okay with that?" Vince asked.
"You've always said that I would never date a wrestler," Stephanie said.
"I think you've been engaged to one wrestler and married to another," Vince said. "I don't think I have a lot of say in the matter."
"So you won't give us hell?" Stephanie asked.
"As long as you're happy," Vince said. He turned to Jericho; "If you ever hurt her your ass is mine."
"I would expect that," Jericho said seriously.
"Good, we understand each other," Vince said.
Stephanie looked at her father in awe. He had been way too understanding. Stephanie could come to only one other conclusion. "You already knew."
"Of course I knew," Vince said.
"How?" Stephanie asked.
"Because Jericho's best friend is Benoit," Vince said, "and he's a notorious gossip."
"I'll have to remember that," Jericho said dryly.
"So I was nervous for nothing?" Stephanie asked.
"I'm just glad you told me this time," Vince said.
"This time?" Jericho asked.
"Well, you two were together when you came to the WWF right?" Vince asked.
"You knew?" Stephanie asked in shock.
"Shane is your best friend isn't he?" Vince asked.
"He told you?" Stephanie asked.
Vince grinned, "Yeah."
"Oh my goodness," Stephanie said.
"I was expecting you to end up married to Jericho," Vince said. "I was shocked when Hunter interrupted the wedding."
"That makes two of us," Jericho said.
"I see," Vince said. "Well, I'll let you two enjoy the rest of the evening. I'll see you tomorrow at Raw."
"Goodnight Dad," Stephanie said.
Stephanie and Jericho sat for a few moments in stunned silence. "I do not believe that."
"I know," Jericho said. "It was a little eerie."
"At least it's over," Stephanie said.
"You ready to go home?" Jericho asked.
"Yeah," Stephanie said, hailing the waiter for the bill.
An hour later they ended up at Stephanie's apartment. She turned on the lights as they walked into the room. "Do you mind if I crash on your couch tonight?"
"Go ahead," Stephanie said.
"Hey," Jericho said, pulling Stephanie to him. He kissed her deeply. "You are so beautiful."
"Thanks," Stephanie said. "You aren't too shabby."
Jericho grinned. "So what were you thinking about earlier?"
"Oh," Stephanie said. "Something Shane and I were talking about earlier."
"Which would be?" Jericho asked.
"Me taking an onscreen presence in the WCW," Stephanie said.
"Really?" Jericho asked.
"What do you think?" Stephanie asked, as they sat down on the couch.
"Do you want to do that?" Jericho asked.
"I do," Stephanie said, "except I don't want to be away from you."
"I don't want to be the reason you stay here," Jericho said. "We'd still see each other."
"Yeah, of course," Stephanie said. "We'd be working the same days."
"And you'd get to make a fresh start," Jericho said.
"That was the plan," Stephanie said.
"You should do it," Jericho said.
"You think we could handle it?" Stephanie asked.
"If we can't," Jericho started, "maybe we shouldn't be together."
"When did you get to be perfect?" Stephanie asked.
"I've always been perfect," Jericho said. "Perfect for you."