Despite how bloody freezing it is outside, Stephanie had promised herself to wait outside the doors before the show started; Brie was going to turn up any minute, and she wants to be there when she's walking up to the building.
While working out the details, Brie had mentioned that she's going to come alone (both Bryan and Nikki were busy), so she can run up to her and give her the longest, most overdue hug they've both been craving. Of course, Stephanie would still hug Brie, even if she came with her family - but she has to be cautious of the fact that said family don't particularly like her.
Shivering slightly, Steph wraps her arms around herself; wearing a sleeveless dress probably wasn't the best idea for such a cold day. Although, Stephanie was quite pleased with herself when she looked in the mirror this morning - so it's worth withstanding the cool air for a few minutes. Besides, actually liking her reflection was becoming a sort of rarity these days; Paul never compliments her, and her children certainly don't. But this dress was a designer brand, so it's an inherent mood lifter. Plus, Brie's presence generally makes Steph feel more confident anyway.
Brianna's way of making Stephanie feel happier is something the older woman's been pondering over the past few days - knowing she's coming to Raw has left it lingering in her mind. There's no denying that Brie makes Stephanie feel wanted and valued, simply the way she looks at her makes Steph's heart near skip a beat. But besides that, there a so many beautiful, little things about Brie which Steph has never found within another person.
"Ms McMahon?" A professional voice calls from behind her.
She turns around to see her secretary, Rosie, standing in the doorway, holding a clipboard.
"You've been out here a while, are you okay..?"
"Oh.. yeah, I'm just waiting for someone.." Steph replies.
"Still?" Rosie questions. "Miss, we've just reached the first commercial break?"
Mildly perplexed, Stephanie looks down at her watch and comes to the realisation that she's been waiting in this bitter wind for about half an hour. It's not like Brie to be late - let alone 30 minutes late. Despite many people's probable reaction of rightfully getting angry for being kept waiting, Steph's initial feeling is worry. Her mind was going to scary places, even though there was no need for them. What if Brie was driving here and got in a car accident? Or what if she stopped to get gas and some crazy fan attacked her?
Shaking her head of the thoughts, Steph clears her throat in attempt to compose herself; Rosie doesn't need to see her be in a state over something which probably hasn't happened. Stephanie isn't even sure why her gut reaction is so negative, but perhaps it's just the protective side of her coming out? After all, she'll openly admit to being protective over Brie, particularly.
"Don't worry, I'm sure they'll turn up soon.. you know how traffic can be." Rosie smiles before waltzing back into the building.
Slightly stunned by Brie's lateness, Stephanie quickly racks her brains for anything which could possibly be the reason. Hopefully, she can arrive at a conclusion which doesn't involve Brianna being hurt, a thought so unbearable it could almost make her cry. So what else could it actually be..? Supposedly, traffic is an easy answer - almost too easy.. if that really were the case, why wouldn't Brie just text a heads up?
Thinking of texting, Stephanie pulls out her phone to send Brie a message; before doing so, she rechecks their messages from a few days ago. No, they definitely agreed upon today's date, there's no mistaking that part. She goes to type something out, being careful not to come across as too whiny.
'Hi Brie, hope you're alright. I'm outside waiting for you, are you okay? Xx' - Stephanie,
Once the text was sent, Steph slumps against the side of the wall. Words can't describe how excited she was to spend time with Brianna again. It feels as though they've both been through the absolute ringer as of late, it would've been nice to forget about all their problems and just enjoy one another's company; they get along so well, by merely being in the same room, they can each find so much comfort. Being honest.. comfort is something they're both in desperate need of at the moment.
Stephanie's mind casts back to the day they met up for coffee - it was almost like the first time they met each other for real. Before then, it was bitterness and caution; afterwards, it became sweetness and carefree abandonment. Brianna looked so beautiful that day - simple dress and cowboy boots, hardly any makeup - a signature Brie outfit, but God was she stunning. In all honesty, she'd look gorgeous in anything, but there was something so perfect about a makeup-free Brianna. She just looked.. radiant.
Without that day happening, they might still be rivals today. Lord knows how Stephanie would cope with her world if Brie wasn't part of it..
Snapping her back into reality, Rosie once again stands by the door.
"Still not here, Miss..?" She asks. Steph shakes her head. "I'm sorry but I doubt they'll show up now.. we're half way through the show, you've probably lost track of time.."
"But.. but she promised me.." Stephanie whispers to herself, so quiet that Rosie can't hear.
"You should probably come inside, it's freezing out here.."
"She'll be here!" The older woman cries out, almost trying to convince herself more than Rosie.
Sympathetically smiling, Rosie turns around and leaves Stephanie to it. They've worked together for years - she's perfectly aware how stubborn Steph can be. If she's committed to waiting, she'll remain in this very spot until she at least gets an explanation.
Now Stephanie's alone again, she keeps thinking about Brianna; Despite the icy air, thinking of her almost keeps her warm. Specifically, she thinks back to the conversation they had only a few days ago.. when Brie calmed Stephanie down by talking about them being close.. about them being tangled in one another's arms. Steph closes her eyes and imagines the same scenario; she thinks about being wrapped up in her bed, with the fireplace burning, and Brianna being right next to her, cuddling up with her.
Part of Steph's mind feels a deep sense of guilt - should she really be imagining something like this with someone who isn't her husband..? In her defence, Paul hasn't given her much of a reason to want him around. Regardless, the moments she was craving to have with Brianna were so intimate, surely it's wrong of her to want them so badly?
Almost annoyingly, Stephanie's thoughts are again put to a stop - she can hear the sound of Rosie's heels coming up behind her. She turns around with every intention of telling her to go away, but sees her holding up the jacket Steph walked in with this morning.
"Since you're so insistent on waiting, at least don't get cold doing it.." Rosie chuckles.
"Thank you Rosie.." the older woman says sincerely, wrapping herself in the warmth of her coat. "You're probably right though.. If she was coming, she'd be here by now.."
For whatever reason, Stephanie can feel herself becoming quite teary, but she's able to blink them away. Words can't describe how happy she was for today - it basically pulled her through her crappy weekend of an absent husband and distant daughters. It becomes more apparent to her every day just how much Stephanie relies on Brie, but she was always confident in never being let down.. until right now, that is.
"Do you mind me asking who you're missing?"
"Brie Bella.. It's okay, she probably just got her days mixed up - I do that all the time." Steph explains.
"Brie..? Oh.." Rosie repeats, biting her lip guiltily. Stephanie folds her arms and raises an eyebrow expectantly. "I'd have told you if I knew you were waiting for her.. I was helping Nia with some contracts, and she mentioned that Brie was supposed to be coming today, but she'd phoned her to say she wasn't anymore."
A sharp sting of betrayal shoots through Stephanie's whole body. She can easily forgive a case of mixed up dates, or even forgetfulness - but this? Besides, it's not even the fact she didn't show up.. it's that she had the curtesy to phone Nia, but not mention a word to Steph herself, or even reply to the text she sent. Of course, Stephanie knows that Brie has other friends at work, but she offered to come for Steph in the first place... she just supposed they were stronger than this.
"I'm so sorry Ms McMahon, I just wouldn't have guessed you two were friends.."
"Honestly Rosie, it's not your fault.. Did um.. did Nia mention why Brie wasn't coming?"
"No, I'm sorry.." Rosie says, noticing the disappointment in her boss's face. "Hey, don't be upset about it.. here's an idea, I'll finish all the paperwork for today, and you can grab Paul and go home early?" She offers.
Stephanie smiles. At the very least, Rosie of all people seems to somewhat care about her, even if it's on a painfully professional basis. Normally, Steph doesn't mind when her job overtakes the time she has with Paul; after all, it isn't like Paul goes out of his way to make time for her. But maybe Brianna not turning up is the universe's way of telling Stephanie that she needs to put more energy into her marriage?
Here she is, freezing half to death, thinking so intimately about one of her closest friends. Perhaps it's time to give the same effort to the man she married, the father of her children, the once love of her life.
"I'll take that offer.. thank you Rosie." Steph smiles.
"No problem.. besides, it's typical, I go out of my way to get your coat, then you come back inside.." she chuckles.
With intention, Steph walks down the corridors towards her husband's office; hopefully, he won't put up too much of a fight against coming home early. Although, that's less than likely, given Paul's understandable aversion to paperwork. Plus, even though him and Stephanie have admittedly been drifting, he's still her husband. Perhaps their rings don't mean as much as they used to.. but they have to account for something, right?
Even from a selfish point of view, it feels like Brianna's completely rejected her in some way.. Stephanie feels lonely, and if throwing herself at Paul helps to remedy that, she's willing to sacrifice some mild self respect.
As she's at the door, the slightly over dressed woman takes a sigh and fixes her hair. With the most seductive looking smile she could muster, she opens the door with a single intention on her brain, but her smirk is soon wiped away once she's greeted with a heart wrenching sight.
Like a deer in the headlights, Paul frantically retrieves his white shirt from the floor, which was covered in office supplies that had once been on his desk. In place of the post-it notes and staplers, his desk was resting a half dressed blonde receptionist, who's eyes were almost wider with embarrassment than Paul's.
Stephanie completely chokes - she doesn't have it in her to scream at either of them. To be truthful, her mind wasn't surprised by the sight.. it had near damn accepted it. But her heart was another story, and it was shattering into several pieces in this exact moment.
"Honey..?" Paul says, reaching towards his wife.
She flinches away from his touch. How dare he call her 'honey' while another woman's bright red lipstick stains are plastered across his face and neck? She knew this, or something of the like, was happening behind her back.. but seeing it plain as day was killing her. The man she's stayed loyal to for over ten years disregarding her worth so blatantly, for the first pair of legs which would take him.. how could he do this to her?!
Crying openly, Stephanie flees the office and runs towards the women's bathroom, taking refuge in one of the cubicles. Thankfully, no one saw her - she can't deal with the shame of other people knowing what she's just found out, let alone the people who work for her.
When alone, the crying woman just continues to sob, desperately wailing her heartbreak out of her system.
Call her stupid, but even though she left her high and dry, even though she made her feel betrayed, there's only one person who Stephanie wants to turn to during a crisis like this. No matter what Brie's reasons are for being a no show, nothing can hurt her more than the past few minutes have. Right now.. all Stephanie wanted, needed was Brianna..
Shakily, she takes out her phone and slowly calls Brie, her chest becoming tight from all the crying.
"Hi this is Brie..." Stephanie's breath hitches. "Leave me a message after the beep!"
"B-Brie..?" Stephanie weeps. "I.. I don't know why you didn't come but.. whatever it is, I don't care.. I just really need you.. I-I found out t-that.. it doesn't matter, just.. just please call me back..? P-Please..?" She weakly begs, breaking down entirely in a fit of tears.