"First things first," Stephanie said to herself the next morning after she had gotten dressed. "Go to lunch with soon-to-be ex-husband."
Stephanie had called Hunter the night before to tell him she wanted to have lunch with him in New York City. She had taken the red eye and spent the night in their apartment in the city. Hunter had been staying at the house in Greenwich.
Stephanie went to the kitchen to work on some paperwork for her company. She was honestly trying hard to make ECW a powerful wrestling federation. She loved the WWF deep down, but she knew that the only way the company would remain inventive and committed to excellence was if there was competition. She felt bad about what she was doing to her dad, but she felt she was doing the right thing.
She refused to let herself think about Jericho, or even worse, James. If she thought of either man she would be unable to return to her work. She worked studiously for three hours before she realized it was nearly noon. She left her apartment and walked quickly to the cage a couple blocks away.
"Hey Steph," Hunter said, hugging her.
"Hey there Hunter," Stephanie said. Hunter had become her best friend since they had married. They were the only ones who knew what it was like to be in their situation. "How's that quad healing?"
"Pretty good," Hunter said. "It's been awhile."
"I've been a bad wife," Stephanie admitted.
"No," Hunter said. "You've been great. You call everyday. How are you after that fall?"
"I'm fine," Stephanie said.
"I saw Jericho carry you from the ring," Hunter said. He was looking down at his menu so Stephanie couldn't read the expression on his face, but his tone seemed odd.
"Does that bug you?" Stephanie asked.
"No," Hunter said. "I'm just surprised that you accepted his help."
"Well, I realized a few things," Stephanie said.
"Really?" Hunter asked. "You going to let me in on those?"
"Well, I've learned you can't judge a book by it's cover," Stephanie said. "And the rest I need to keep a secret for now."
"I can live with that," Hunter said. "So what are we meeting for Steph?"
"What do you mean?" Stephanie asked innocently.
"Don't lay innocent with me," Hunter said. "You forget how well I know you."
"Okay," Stephanie sighed. "I think it's time we got a divorce Hunter."
"Really?" Hunter asked. He set down his menu. "Who did you fall in love with Steph?"
"You wouldn't believe," Stephanie said. "Anyways, I'm not in love with anyone yet really."
"What the hell does that mean?" Hunter asked.
"I'm really confused right now Hunter," Stephanie said. "The only thing I know for certain is that I need to get a divorce now if I'm ever going to get a real chance at happiness."
"Is there a reason you're being so cryptic?" Hunter asked.
"I don't want to jinx anything," Stephanie shrugged.
"Well," Hunter said. "Since you are my best friend and you didn't just file without talking to me first, I'm going to go along with the divorce."
"Thanks Hunter," Stephanie said, reaching across the table to hold his hand.
"Just don't go getting your heart broken," Hunter said.
*
Stephanie woke up and rolled over expecting to feel James next to her. She opened her eyes and was disappointed to find an empty bed. It was a crappy way to start the day. Stephanie hated to admit that she had let herself fall in love with a man she could never be with. Now she just had to get close to his modern counterpart.
"How does one get close to Chris Jericho?" Stephanie asked. "What does he like?"
Stephanie debated going online to find out, but decided against it. Mostly, she was afraid she would go to Jericho fan sites and they would all be very anti-Stephanie. Stephanie was having a hard enough time convincing herself she was doing the right thing, she didn't need some fans convincing her that she was crazy.
Stephanie decided she was going to warm up to Chris' friends. It killed two birds with one stone. She could learn about Chris and she could have an excuse to be near him. Now, who were Chris' friends? Lately he had been pretty chummy with Kurt Angle, but Stephanie had a feeling they weren't actually friends. The only people she could think of off the top of her head was Team Xtreme.
Stephanie groaned. Not only did they all think she was a complete bitch, they actually had justification. She had made Lita's life a living hell for several months and she had helped Hunter steal the IC back from Jeff. It could be rough going, but she had to do it.
*
"Hello," Stephanie said as she bumped into Matt Hardy in the hallway of an arena.
"Hi Mrs. McMahon-Helmsley," Matt said in a low voice. He was going to walk quickly by him, but she shot out an arm to stop him.
"It's Stephanie," she told him.
"What?" Matt asked.
"My name is Stephanie," she said, smiling kindly this time.
"Are you trying to be nice?" Matt asked.
"Yeah," Stephanie said.
"What do you want?" Matt asked.
"What do you mean?" Stephanie asked.
"I mean you are never nice unless you want something," Matt said.
"That was definitely true in the past," Stephanie admitted. "I'm trying to turn over a new leaf."
"You're not trying to mend the split between the WWF and The Alliance are you?" Matt asked warily.
"No," Stephanie said. "It would be bad for business if the companies were friendly with each other. But I don't see any problem with being friendly with people I see at least four days a week.
"Do you have a terminal illness?" Matt asked.
"What?" Stephanie asked.
"Well, maybe you think you are going to die," Matt said, "and you're making amends."
"I'm in perfect health," Stephanie assured Matt.
"This is weird," Matt said.
"The more often we are nice to each other," Stephanie said, "the more normal it will become."
"Conquest Stephanie?" Jeff Hardy asked sarcastically as he stumbled upon Matt and Stephanie talking.
"He's taken," Stephanie said.
"Wait," Matt said. "You didn't react to the veiled insult there."
"I know he called me a slut," Stephanie said. "I chose to ignore it."
"This is seriously making me thinking I'm dreaming," Matt said.
"What the hell are you talking about you moron?" Jeff asked his brother.
"Stephanie is being…nice," Matt said. "And she appears to have no ulterior motive."
"This is beyond weird," Jeff said. "It's kind of scary."
Stephanie laughed. "I'll see you guys around. Hey, are you going to the pool party my mom is throwing this weekend?"
"You were invited?" Jeff asked.
"Well, I work for the WWF and I happen to live where the party is being thrown," Stephanie reasoned.
"Wait a sec," Matt said. "You're living with your mom?"
"Yeah," Stephanie said. "But only temporary. Hunter is keeping the house in Greenwich so I needed a place to stay."
"You're divorcing Hunter?" Jeff asked.
"It's a mutual thing," Stephanie said.
"You sure don't sound bitter," Matt commented.
"I'm not," Stephanie said. "It's amicable. I wish I could talk to you guys a little longer, but I've got a meeting with some wrestlers. Talk to you later."
Matt and Jeff stared at each other. Stephanie had actually been a human being for the first time in almost two years.
*
Stephanie sat in her dressing room, hoping she hadn't painted it on too thick with the Hardy Boyz. She knew she had to take action if she was ever going to have a chance with Jericho. But she wasn't sure how fast she should be working on it.
She focused on the monitor in her room. She wondered if she could talk him into joining ECW. She decided against it. Jericho was happy in the WWF. ECW was mainly stars who were working to become established. A superstar like Jericho didn't really belong in the ECW.
There was a light knock on her door, "Come in."
"Hey there," her brother said, coming into the room.
"Hey Shane," Stephanie said.
"I heard you moved in with mom," Shane said, concern etched on his face.
"Yeah," Stephanie said. "Hunter and I are getting a divorce."
"Why?" Shane asked.
"Because we aren't in love," Stephanie said. "We never have been."
"Had me fooled," Shane said.
"That was the point," Stephanie said.
"Oh," Shane said. "Well, Jericho's in that match with RVD."
"What?" Stephanie asked, jumping to her feet.
"You said you wanted RVD to take on Jericho a few days ago," Shane said. "I took care of it."
Stephanie collapsed on her couch. That's the way to make a man fall in love with you…put him in a match with Mr. Monday Night.
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