Eric tried to think straight, but all he could think about was how he thought he wasn't out of line from what he did, but if he wanted to keep his job, he would most likely have to apologize for trying to make the moves on the boss's daughter.

"Stephanie, that was a very dumb move, I'm sorry," he sucked it up and tried to sound as sincere as possible, which he wasn't used to one bit.

Stephanie's eyebrow cocked up, she had never known Eric to apologize for anything! Why would he be apologizing for this?

She sighed, "If you touch me again-,"

He held his hands up as if he was saying 'yeah yeah I know', "Then you'll tell your father, I know..I've heard it before," he then walked over to his desk and leaned against it, trying to think.

Stephanie seemed appalled by what he said, "I would not go running to my father Eric, I was just going to say..," she thought for a minute, 'C'mon, you know you didn't mind having your enemy's hands all over you, admit it, you loved every second of it,' part of her was thinking, Stephanie nearly choked on her own words after realizing she was thinking that. How could she? A woman of her high class could never want anything to do with a sleeze like Eric Bischoff could she? 'I'm probably just lonely...' she thought to herself, trying to rush all other thoughts out of her mind.

Eric looked at her, noticing her hesitation, he walked over to her and almost tried to figure her out by looking at her.

"Steph? This is .. this is ridiculous! We hate each other! We're supposed to! That's the way it is, it was Raw vs Smackdown, it should have stayed like that. Working with you shouldn't make me feel anything toward you at all!," he then pressed his lips tightly together, closing his eyes, realizing he just confessed he liked her.

Stephanie's eyes went wide, she backed away until she felt the edge of the couch and sat down, trying to think but at the same time trying not to hear his words repeat in her head.

He hesitantly walked over to her, a few times stopping and wondering if he should just go back to his desk and pretend that never happened. Eric decided to sit next to Stephanie and try and make things right, he needed to make her hate him so much it hurt. That was that. It had to be that way, if it wasn't then things would just be awkward.

"You have feelings for me?," she finally let the words escape her lips a bit of confusion and sadness in her voice.

Eric turned toward her, "It's nothing princess, it just came out, I don't feel a damn thing for you. You're a hearted..bitch! And.. I can't stand you. That's how I really feel about you," he looked away for a moment trying to recollect himself.

Stephanie knew he was lying, "Don't bullshit me Eric, I heard what you said. You have feelings for me and now that I know you're trying to hide it. I've been there believe me. I wish you didn't-"

"I wish I didn't feel the way I do about you Stephanie, but after so many fantasies and dreams about you I knew it was true. I... damnit this isn't easy...," Eric became frustrated, he never had to admit to a woman he liked her, there was just usual flirting, sex, then move on. But with Stephanie it was as though he felt a hammer hit his heart over and over again, and it killed him. He hated feeling this way about her, it highly disturbed him. 'This woman is almost old enough to be your daughter, what the hell are you thinking?' he told himself.

"I don't think I want to hear this," she stood up, "I know I've always wanted to hurt your pride Eric, get the best ratings, and to destroy you slowly when I was the GM of Smackdown, but since I have to work with you every week..I don't want to know what it is I think your going to tell me. I can't.," Stephanie went back to her desk and sat down.

'Maybe she was right,' he thought to himself, 'it's best she didn't know.'

That night was very uncomfortable for the both of them, they both tried to avoid each other as much as possible until things smoothed over, if someone wanted a match, Stephanie let Eric take care of it as long as she didn't have to say a word to him.

1am Stephanie laid in her queen bed at the hotel after the show. Holding onto the pillow tightly she let a single teardrop fell down her cheek, knowing she would be alone again tonight, she was usually used to this after her divorce, but for some reason it hurt her the most tonight.

Eric walked up to the counter to check in and part of him felt guilty for making Stephanie feel so down today but the other part wanted her and knew that he shouldn't feel guilty for lusting after a gorgeous woman, he was a man, he shouldn't feel bad at all, why should he?

"Which room is Stephanie McMahon in?," he asked the woman behind the counter.

"I'm not allowed to give such information a way Mr. Bischoff," she said politely.

"You don't understand, I have to speak to her. We work together. I have something very important to go over with, with her. Can you please tell me where I can find her?," he asked her again.

She sighed, "Alright, but don't tell my manager I told you. She's staying in room 214, she checked in about 30 minutes ago."

Eric smiled then took his key to his room and shoved it in his pocket, he stepped into the elevator and pressed the 2 button. He waited and hummed softly to himself until he heard a ding. He smiled then stepped out of the elevator, walking to room 214. He knocked on the door a few times, then waited.

Stephanie heard a few knocks on the door and yawned, stretched a little, then pulled the covers off of her. She placed her feet firmly on the floor then walked over to the door to answer it, she opened it up just a crack and saw a familiar smiling face standing at her door.

"Eric, what do you want?," she said, obviously tired.

He gently shoved passed her and looked around the hotel room she was staying at, "Good choice Steph, really nice."

He looked over and saw that Stephanie was just in her revealing white nightgown and trying to cover herself up. He smiled as he looked her over, Stephanie's cheeks turned a light shade of red as she noticed him looking her over.

"Would you stop that? It's really gross," she said, trying to insult him, getting back to the old ways of them making fun of each other because they can.

He smiled then walked over to her, "I can't help it Stephanie, you're in a very revealing nightgown, any man would have done the same thing I'm sure," he gave her his best cocky smirk.

"Get out Eric," she said as she walked over toward the door, Eric beating her to it, he laid against it and put his arm around her waist, bringing her to him.

She felt anger and part of her lust rush over her, knowing that the only man who has ever touched her the way Eric was trying to was Hunter. What Jericho had said about her all those years were never true, the only man she had been with was Hunter, and they were married.

Eric ran his hand down farther to her butt, bringing her closer as he began kissing her neck, his hands now roaming up her nightgown to her naked body. He started removing his jacket and undoing his pants. Stephanie watched him for a moment then realized what she was about to do, "Get out Eric, please, just leave..," she said, realizing his black boxers were showing through his pants which were almost halfway down his body.

"Did I do something wrong?," he asked, obviously hurt she was rejecting him after he started getting undressed, 'did she not like what she saw?' he asked himself as he pulled up his pants, zipping them back up.

"Eric, I'm not like other girls. I'm not going to sleep with you to get ahead in the business, and I don't...," she paused, trying to hold back from crying, "I don't...have any feelings for you," she said through glassy eyes.

Eric could see right through her, it was more then obvious she was lying, just as he had been since he met her. It's impossible for either of them to lie to each other any longer, Eric had to be the one to say it.

"I'm in love with you Stephanie. I don't like it, but I am. I hate being so lovesick over someone who is the daughter of a man who I've hated for many years and competed with. I can't explain it Steph, it's just.. it's hard to ignore," he tried to explain as he paced around the room.

Stephanie couldn't think of anything to do about this, she felt so confused. She didn't know if she should still make him leave, or comfort him in knowing that they both feel the same way about each other.

"This is a very awkward moment if I do say so myself," Stephanie half laughed, realizing Eric was looking at her with confusion.

"Do you honestly feel anything for me Stephanie? Please, I won't make any wise ass remarks, just .. tell me..," he walked up to her and put his hands on both of her arms, "Do you have feelings for me?"

Author Note: Dun Dun Dun! Will she admit it? Should she admit it? Hmmm I'm not quite sure yet! Sorry it took so long to update, I've been out and about, plus I've been wanting to work on a 10th Kingdom Fanfic as well as a Collateral one. But I do intend on finishing this one first before starting another one. But it's getting close! THANK YOU for all the reviews everyone! I'm glad to see some Eric/Stephanie shippers out there, I can't seem to find many, plus it's rare to find fanfiction on them. But if anyone can find any please e-mail em to me, I'd LOVE to read em! Thanks!