**Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. I greatly appreciate it. I
apologize for the lack of updates lately, but work has been extremely busy,
and I'm dealing with an awful case of writer's block for this story. So, at
the end of this chapter, I will have a question listed, and whatever answer
I receive the most of, is how the next chapter will go. Thanks for
everything, and please continue to read and review!!**
Steph pulled into Smackdown and quickly grabbed her bags and headed inside. She was running a bit late, and she had wanted to make it through the backstage area and to her office, without running into Matt. She was still upset with him, and she wasn't quite ready to face him.
Steph signed in with the guards, and headed to her office as quickly as she could. She made it all the way there, without being stopped by anyone. She called her dad to advise him that she was there, and she was going to set up her laptop, and then she would be all set for the show.
Just as Steph was about to head out and face the world, there was a knock at her door. Steph took a deep breath, "Come in." She called.
The door opened, and in walked none other than her confidant Kurt Angle. "KURT!" Steph squealed and ran over to him.
"Hey girl, how are you doing?" Kurt said hugging her.
"Oh, Shitty but besides that good. How about you? How are you doing? How's that neck of yours?" Steph replied.
"Doc says that I can be back in two weeks for a non-wrestling role, and four weeks to be wrestling again. I'm just now working out in the ring." He replied hugging her one more time. "I've missed you so much. John informed me that he took my place for awhile," Kurt said pouting, "Do I get it back, or is it gone forever?"
"Trust me, John's been great, but no one and I mean NO ONE can replace you Kurt." Steph said with a smile. "And right now, I need all of the help I can get."
"Yeah, speaking of that, I just thought that you should know that I've heard bits and pieces, and apparently you and Matt are in the middle of a fight if I understand correctly." Kurt asked.
Steph sighed, "Yeah we are. We've had a few fights, and I don't know what to do. I can't tell if it's just because we're two different people trying to make it as one, or what. Maybe I'm letting everyone get to me without realizing it, but this time." Steph said shaking her head. "This time, he just doesn't understand where I'm coming from."
"So I've heard." Kurt replied softly.
"Excuse me?" Steph inquired.
"Steph, there's something that I need to tell you, but I'm not quite sure how to do it, so bare with me and let me be gentle." Kurt said walking her back to her chair and sitting her down.
"Kurt, right now is not the time to beat around the bush with me. I'm already running late, and I'm not in a good mood, although seeing you did cheer me up, so please just come right out and tell me what you have to tell me." Steph said practically whining to him.
"Alright, if you insist. Matt is in the locker room receiving advice from some of the guys." Kurt started.
"Ok, I'm seeking advice from you right now, what's the big deal?"
"Well, you see.Matt is coming right out and telling them why you guys are fighting. There's a big difference. Right now, I wouldn't be surprised if three-quarters of the crew know why you and Matt are fighting right now." Kurt said cautiously.
"HE'S DOING WHAT?!?" Steph exclaimed. "I'm going to kill him, that's all there is to it. Kurt, I'm going to fucking kill him. What am I going to do if someone asks dad or Shane about it? God, what is he trying to do, ruin my life? Does he not realize that I am their boss? More importantly HIS boss? Now I know that dad is the one who owns the company, and everything is under him, but I am in charge of Smackdown for the most part, and he does something like this??? What am I going to do?" Steph said pacing around the office.
"Steph, honey breathe. I'm sure that it's not as bad as you and I are making it seem." Kurt said trying to reason with her, yet knowing that she had every right to be upset.
"Not now, I'm going to go and talk to him. MY WAY." Steph said walking out and heading towards the guys locker room.
Matt was in the locker room talking to a couple of the guys when there was a pounding on the door. Spanky (Brian Kendrick) got up and answered the door to a very pissed off-looking Stephanie. "Hey Steph." Spanky said trying to get the mental image out of his head that Matt had placed there earlier.
"Is Matt in here?" She asked in a quiet yet upset tone.
"Yup, I'll get him for ya." Spanky said with a smile. "Matt, it's for you."
Matt walked out and seen Steph, "Hey Steph." He replied.
"My office, 5 minutes." Steph said trying to keep her calm.
"Sure, should I bring anything?" Matt asked.
"Nope, just you." She said turning and heading back to her office.
Five minutes later, there was a knock on her door. "Come in." Steph said sternly.
Matt walked in and shut the door. "What's up? How was your lunch?"
Steph stood up and shot him an evil look, "Don't how was your lunch me. What is this that I hear that you're talking to everyone back here about our fight?" She hollered at him.
"You talk to everyone about our problems, why can't I?" Matt shot back.
"Gee Matt, when I do it, I don't get right to the nitty, gritty about it. I walked from your locker room to my office tonight and had three people try to tell me that it's not so bad to talk dirty and get caught. Matt, I AM YOUR BOSS. I am your boss, I am the boss of each and every superstar back here, and now all they're going to do is picture me as your dirty talking, trashy girlfriend." Steph yelled at him. "Jesus Christ Matt, what are you doing, trying to sabotage my work?"
All of a sudden, Matt felt bad. He felt really bad and really sheepish. It didn't seem bad at the time, but now, now he was seeing the situation through her eyes. "Steph, I'm sorry, I guess I didn't think about that." Matt said sheepishly, but Steph was on her mean streak.
"You're SORRY?" She snapped back at him. "Well I'm glad you're sorry. But I'm the one that has to be sorry. I'm the one that has to go out there and face my father when there's a locker room talking about what I said to you in bed. I'm the one that has to attempt to discipline someone when they can turn to me and quote something that I said to YOU in an intimate moment. I'm the one that has to be sorry for every letting my guard down with you." She said coldly.
"Wait a minute, what are you saying? Are you saying that you regret being with me?" Matt replied half angry and half hurt by what she said.
Steph sat down and rubbed her temples, "Look Matt, I don't know what I mean. It just seems like lately it's one thing after another and there's not any good coming from all of this." She said quietly.
"NOTHING GOOD coming from this?" Matt shouted back at her catching Steph off guard. "Since when was everything about YOU? What about me? Have you ever stopped to think how I feel? Or what I've been going through since we started seeing each other? Huh? Do you know what it's like to be in my shoes? No you sure the hell don't. This is not the Stephanie McMahon show, this is an us-thing. It's supposed to be about you and I, not just YOU." Matt said seething.
"And what do you mean by that?" Steph asked in a snotty tone.
"I mean, it hasn't exactly been a walk in the clouds for me either. I'M the one who hears all about trying to make myself a main-eventer by sleeping with you." Matt started listing.
"I warned you about that." Steph shot back.
"I'M the one that hears all of the whispers about how you're only with me because I saved you from the muggers and you're just using me as a tool to get back at Paul." Matt hollered at her. "I'M the one that has put my family on the backburner so that I can work on you and I, but do you ever realize that? NO. Do you ever seem to care about that? NO. Nothing I do is good enough for you is it? I should have seen it coming, but I guess what they say is true, love is blind. Because I sure was too swept up in the love that I have for you to realize what was going on. NOT ANYMORE." Matt replied with tears in his eyes.
Steph was finally quiet. His words really hit home for her. In a way, he was right. He had been taking a lot of flack for being the "prince charming" and nothing more than just a rebound for Steph. And, he had really been apart from his family a lot lately, but she never told him that he had too. He chose to because he loved her and he loved spending time with her. "What are we doing?" Steph finally whispered. "What are we doing to ourselves?"
Matt sat down and put his face in his hands, "I don't know." He replied quietly.
"Maybe we need to take some time to evaluate our situation and figure out what we both want." Steph suggested nervously.
Matt nodded, "Yeah, I think that's a good idea." He got up and walked to the door, "Goodbye Steph." He said as he turned and walked out the door letting it slam behind him.
Steph put her head on the desk and began to cry.
**Uh-oh.looks like there's trouble in paradise. What do you guys think? Should they find out what they really have? Or will there be other people involved in their "time to think?" You guys let me know how you would like to see this story continue. I have some ideas for both, but I would really like to write what you guys the readers would like to see.
Again, thanks for your patience and loyalty. Please continue to read and review. Thanks!**
Steph pulled into Smackdown and quickly grabbed her bags and headed inside. She was running a bit late, and she had wanted to make it through the backstage area and to her office, without running into Matt. She was still upset with him, and she wasn't quite ready to face him.
Steph signed in with the guards, and headed to her office as quickly as she could. She made it all the way there, without being stopped by anyone. She called her dad to advise him that she was there, and she was going to set up her laptop, and then she would be all set for the show.
Just as Steph was about to head out and face the world, there was a knock at her door. Steph took a deep breath, "Come in." She called.
The door opened, and in walked none other than her confidant Kurt Angle. "KURT!" Steph squealed and ran over to him.
"Hey girl, how are you doing?" Kurt said hugging her.
"Oh, Shitty but besides that good. How about you? How are you doing? How's that neck of yours?" Steph replied.
"Doc says that I can be back in two weeks for a non-wrestling role, and four weeks to be wrestling again. I'm just now working out in the ring." He replied hugging her one more time. "I've missed you so much. John informed me that he took my place for awhile," Kurt said pouting, "Do I get it back, or is it gone forever?"
"Trust me, John's been great, but no one and I mean NO ONE can replace you Kurt." Steph said with a smile. "And right now, I need all of the help I can get."
"Yeah, speaking of that, I just thought that you should know that I've heard bits and pieces, and apparently you and Matt are in the middle of a fight if I understand correctly." Kurt asked.
Steph sighed, "Yeah we are. We've had a few fights, and I don't know what to do. I can't tell if it's just because we're two different people trying to make it as one, or what. Maybe I'm letting everyone get to me without realizing it, but this time." Steph said shaking her head. "This time, he just doesn't understand where I'm coming from."
"So I've heard." Kurt replied softly.
"Excuse me?" Steph inquired.
"Steph, there's something that I need to tell you, but I'm not quite sure how to do it, so bare with me and let me be gentle." Kurt said walking her back to her chair and sitting her down.
"Kurt, right now is not the time to beat around the bush with me. I'm already running late, and I'm not in a good mood, although seeing you did cheer me up, so please just come right out and tell me what you have to tell me." Steph said practically whining to him.
"Alright, if you insist. Matt is in the locker room receiving advice from some of the guys." Kurt started.
"Ok, I'm seeking advice from you right now, what's the big deal?"
"Well, you see.Matt is coming right out and telling them why you guys are fighting. There's a big difference. Right now, I wouldn't be surprised if three-quarters of the crew know why you and Matt are fighting right now." Kurt said cautiously.
"HE'S DOING WHAT?!?" Steph exclaimed. "I'm going to kill him, that's all there is to it. Kurt, I'm going to fucking kill him. What am I going to do if someone asks dad or Shane about it? God, what is he trying to do, ruin my life? Does he not realize that I am their boss? More importantly HIS boss? Now I know that dad is the one who owns the company, and everything is under him, but I am in charge of Smackdown for the most part, and he does something like this??? What am I going to do?" Steph said pacing around the office.
"Steph, honey breathe. I'm sure that it's not as bad as you and I are making it seem." Kurt said trying to reason with her, yet knowing that she had every right to be upset.
"Not now, I'm going to go and talk to him. MY WAY." Steph said walking out and heading towards the guys locker room.
Matt was in the locker room talking to a couple of the guys when there was a pounding on the door. Spanky (Brian Kendrick) got up and answered the door to a very pissed off-looking Stephanie. "Hey Steph." Spanky said trying to get the mental image out of his head that Matt had placed there earlier.
"Is Matt in here?" She asked in a quiet yet upset tone.
"Yup, I'll get him for ya." Spanky said with a smile. "Matt, it's for you."
Matt walked out and seen Steph, "Hey Steph." He replied.
"My office, 5 minutes." Steph said trying to keep her calm.
"Sure, should I bring anything?" Matt asked.
"Nope, just you." She said turning and heading back to her office.
Five minutes later, there was a knock on her door. "Come in." Steph said sternly.
Matt walked in and shut the door. "What's up? How was your lunch?"
Steph stood up and shot him an evil look, "Don't how was your lunch me. What is this that I hear that you're talking to everyone back here about our fight?" She hollered at him.
"You talk to everyone about our problems, why can't I?" Matt shot back.
"Gee Matt, when I do it, I don't get right to the nitty, gritty about it. I walked from your locker room to my office tonight and had three people try to tell me that it's not so bad to talk dirty and get caught. Matt, I AM YOUR BOSS. I am your boss, I am the boss of each and every superstar back here, and now all they're going to do is picture me as your dirty talking, trashy girlfriend." Steph yelled at him. "Jesus Christ Matt, what are you doing, trying to sabotage my work?"
All of a sudden, Matt felt bad. He felt really bad and really sheepish. It didn't seem bad at the time, but now, now he was seeing the situation through her eyes. "Steph, I'm sorry, I guess I didn't think about that." Matt said sheepishly, but Steph was on her mean streak.
"You're SORRY?" She snapped back at him. "Well I'm glad you're sorry. But I'm the one that has to be sorry. I'm the one that has to go out there and face my father when there's a locker room talking about what I said to you in bed. I'm the one that has to attempt to discipline someone when they can turn to me and quote something that I said to YOU in an intimate moment. I'm the one that has to be sorry for every letting my guard down with you." She said coldly.
"Wait a minute, what are you saying? Are you saying that you regret being with me?" Matt replied half angry and half hurt by what she said.
Steph sat down and rubbed her temples, "Look Matt, I don't know what I mean. It just seems like lately it's one thing after another and there's not any good coming from all of this." She said quietly.
"NOTHING GOOD coming from this?" Matt shouted back at her catching Steph off guard. "Since when was everything about YOU? What about me? Have you ever stopped to think how I feel? Or what I've been going through since we started seeing each other? Huh? Do you know what it's like to be in my shoes? No you sure the hell don't. This is not the Stephanie McMahon show, this is an us-thing. It's supposed to be about you and I, not just YOU." Matt said seething.
"And what do you mean by that?" Steph asked in a snotty tone.
"I mean, it hasn't exactly been a walk in the clouds for me either. I'M the one who hears all about trying to make myself a main-eventer by sleeping with you." Matt started listing.
"I warned you about that." Steph shot back.
"I'M the one that hears all of the whispers about how you're only with me because I saved you from the muggers and you're just using me as a tool to get back at Paul." Matt hollered at her. "I'M the one that has put my family on the backburner so that I can work on you and I, but do you ever realize that? NO. Do you ever seem to care about that? NO. Nothing I do is good enough for you is it? I should have seen it coming, but I guess what they say is true, love is blind. Because I sure was too swept up in the love that I have for you to realize what was going on. NOT ANYMORE." Matt replied with tears in his eyes.
Steph was finally quiet. His words really hit home for her. In a way, he was right. He had been taking a lot of flack for being the "prince charming" and nothing more than just a rebound for Steph. And, he had really been apart from his family a lot lately, but she never told him that he had too. He chose to because he loved her and he loved spending time with her. "What are we doing?" Steph finally whispered. "What are we doing to ourselves?"
Matt sat down and put his face in his hands, "I don't know." He replied quietly.
"Maybe we need to take some time to evaluate our situation and figure out what we both want." Steph suggested nervously.
Matt nodded, "Yeah, I think that's a good idea." He got up and walked to the door, "Goodbye Steph." He said as he turned and walked out the door letting it slam behind him.
Steph put her head on the desk and began to cry.
**Uh-oh.looks like there's trouble in paradise. What do you guys think? Should they find out what they really have? Or will there be other people involved in their "time to think?" You guys let me know how you would like to see this story continue. I have some ideas for both, but I would really like to write what you guys the readers would like to see.
Again, thanks for your patience and loyalty. Please continue to read and review. Thanks!**