"Dave has three broken ribs, Mark has a broken hand, Paul has two fractured ribs, and Adam has a torn shoulder," Stephanie was saying.

"Wow." Stephanie nodded and leaned back in her chair as Kurt Angle processed everything that had happened on Friday. He regretted not being there but since Vince forced him into a low key rehabilitation program…he couldn't show or wrestle for the whole month. Now, thanks to Stephanie and her connections, he was back. "I can't believe they'd go that far."

Stephanie stopped and looked at him. Sitting up, she said, "You don't?" Kurt shrugged. "You worked under Heyman both in ECW and Smackdown after I left."

"Yeah, so?" Stephanie peered at him but said nothing, just shook her head. "So…who am I against tonight?"

Stephanie sighed and ran her hand through her hair. "Oh, I don't know."

Kurt frowned. "Well…I'm main event status, right?"

"Didn't I just say that I don't know?"

"Well yeah, but come on…I'm your best friend."

Stephanie glared at him. "What does that have to do with anything?" Kurt shrugged again. "I'll tell you what…I already have a main even scheduled, but Cena still doesn't have an opponent so I'll set you two up."

Kurt nodded. "Alright, thanks Steph."

"No problem, now excuse me." Standing up, Stephanie grabbed her cell phone and walked out of her office and down the hall. Once Kurt could no longer hear her heels clicking on the cement, he stood up and leaned over her desk. Hitting the mouse so the computer came back on, he glanced at it. Moving the cursor to a folder on the desk top, he double clicked. Seeing the names and roasters of the contracts, he grinned and flipped open his phone.

-----

"I couldn't believe it," Michael said.

"Honestly, me either," Dwayne said laughing.

"Did you all know about ECW trying to take over?" Randy asked.

Dwayne looked over at Steve who was sitting down, listening to everyone talk. John, Steve, Randy, Dwayne, and Michael were all sitting in the locker room reliving Friday night. "You gotta understand something, kid," Steve said, standing up. "We've been in the company for a long time. Even though I don't like a lot of them, and just because we're always not on television, this company is always a part of us and they're a part of us. We were there, fighting, when this happened in the storyline. Now that it's real, and they think they can take over and take away everything we fought to keep alive…they're fucking mistaken."

Dwayne nodded. "ECW has no discipline. That's what'll get them. Here…we're a team, an army."

John shook his head. "I just can't believe that a lot of the wrestlers here would cross over."

"It's a war," Steve said. "If they're not happy here or Heyman sweetens the deal somehow, 'course they'd switch. Wouldn't you?"

Thinking about it, John shook his head. Not only could he betray his friends, family and fans…but Stephanie as well. He'd never be able to do that to her; to just walk away and fight with her. He knew he'd lose. Stephanie was one of a kind. In some ways like her father, others like her mother, and then she was her own person who fed on power and money. No doubt that who ever crossed her she'd kill or seriously injury, one way or the other. She did it with Brock Lesnar, making him actually go to a different country to get a wrestling job since she spread rumors about him across the country. Of course it was heartless, but he got what was coming to him. "No, I wouldn't."

Steve chuckled. "You're still young, Cena. Still young."

Just as he went back and sat down, the door burst open and Chris ran in. "Alright, what the hell happened?"

John raised his eyebrow as Randy laughed. "A little late there, Chris?" Michael chuckled.

Chris frowned and shot him a dirty look. "Yeah, Steph didn't tell me shit." Seeing Dwayne and Steve, he smiled and shook their hands. "Wow, I never thought I'd see the two of you again with you all living in Hollywood."

"I don't live in Hollywood," Steve said with no emotion.

Chris faltered. "I know that…"

"Then why'd you say it?"

"It was just a joke…"

Steve smiled at him and Chris hit him in the shoulder. "You're a dick." Turned to the others he said, "SO listen, I heard from someone yesterday that an ECW guest is appearing here tonight."

John's eyes widened. "You serious?" Chris nodded.

"Well, we knew that'll happen," Dwayne said.

"Apparently Heyman's not backing down since Stephanie is running things."

Dwayne shook his head. "Of course he isn't. You know how his ego is. He doesn't like getting beaten."

"Especially by a woman," Steve remarked.

"Especially by Stephanie," Dwayne added.

"They really have a bad history, huh?" John asked.

All the men, save for John and Randy, nodded. "Oh yeah," they said in unison.

-----

"No Dad," Stephanie said on her phone in annoyance. "No…I have it under control. Yes, I'm sure."

Stephanie stopped in the indoor parking lot of the arena and sighed, seeing Steve's truck blocking her car. "Dad…let me call you back."

She closed her phone as Steve walked past her saying, "Stressed?"

Stephanie sighed again, loudly, and looked at Steve, defeated. "Why must you annoy me so much?"

Steve grinned at her. "Because it's in my character."

Stephanie rolled her eyes and walked to her car, clicking the alarm off as Steve jumped in his truck. She closed the door and inserted the keys. As the car roared to life, she looked at the clock and realized the show would start in two hours. As she shifted the car into reverse, the passenger side door opened and Steve jumped in, closing the door behind him. Stephanie glared at him as he made himself comfortable, holding a can of beer in his hand. "What do you think you're doing?" she asked slowly.

"Going with you."

"I'm just going across the street."

Steve shrugged. "So? What if Heyman or his boy toys are waiting for you outside? What're you gonna do? Scratch them with you're abnormally long nails?"

Stephanie huffed and subconscious looked at her nails then shot Steve a dirty look. "You're a bastard."

She backed up and threw the car into drive and sped out…desperately needed some Advil for her headache called Steve Austin.

-----

As Stephanie pulled into the gas station, she put the car in park and took out the keys, throwing them into her purse. Pinching the bridge of her nose and sighing, she dug in her purse and pulled out one of her credit cards and handed it to Steve.

He raised his eyebrow at her. "What's this? Late retirement gift?"

Stephanie glared at him. "No smartass. Use it to fill up the tank while I go inside to get some Advil."

Steve shook his head and handed the card back to her. "I don't do bitch work."

Stephanie opened her door. "You came with me so make yourself useful."

He rolled his eyes as she slammed the door and jogged up to the front door and went inside. Steve opened his door and unscrewed the gas top of the car and did the required steps to use the card. As he put the gas in, he leaned against the car, his arms crossed against his chest as he looked over to a man who was wearing a suit, with is back to him. Steve noticed the car, a shiny black Lexus, one that he could swear he saw before. He narrowed his eyes as he saw another car drive up. The person that got out of the car he immediately recognized as Kurt Angle. The short, buff body and bald head was impossible to miss. Steve watched as the two talked and Kurt handed him some papers. The man in the suit seemed very pleased and patted Kurt on the back, who seemed too excited. Something's wrong with this picture. Hearing the click brought Steve back to reality. He heard the door bell ring and saw Stephanie walking back to the car. Steve quickly took out the gas pump and screwed in the top. He snatched the receipt and card and turned around as Stephanie stood by her side. "Get in the car."

Stephanie frowned at him, noticing his tone. "What the-?"

Steve glared at her. "Get in the fucking car." As Steve jumped in and slammed the door, Stephanie rolled her eyes and did the same. As she started the car he said, "Hurry up and get out of here."

"I haven't even buckled my seat belt," she complained.

Losing his patience, he shifted the car into drive and drove his hand into her leg, pressing the gas hard. Acting quickly, Stephanie jerked the steering wheel to the left and the car made a perfect u-turn, burning rubber, as she went to the stop sign. Steve released the pressure and Stephanie slowed down into the dip, and then hit the gas, getting his message, and sped away.

Kurt and the man in suit watched the car that sped away and exchanged worried and suspicious glances at each other.

---

Stephanie stepped out of the car and slammed her door. "What the fuck was that about?" she yelled.

"I saw Kurt and Heyman together," he said.

"At the gas station?" He nodded. "And you thought it was wise to make that big ass get-a-way scene right in front of them?"

"They probably had their people around," he argued.

Stephanie shook her head and walked away. "You are such an ass."

"Why?" he called out to her, following her. "Because I told you that you're 'best friend' is probably with your worst enemy?"

"No, just because I don't like you."

"Feeling's mutual, Princess," he spat.

"What, you're already drunk?" she snapped back.

John and Chris walked up to them. "What's going on?" John asked.

"Kurt is working with Paul," Steve said.

Chris frowned. "Paul…?"

"Heyman, you jackass."

"I'm not the jackass, jackass," Chris retorted.

Stephanie shook her head. "Will the two of you brats shut up!" They all looked at her in surprise. "Look, we don't know yet what Kurt was doing with Paul, if it was in fact him. I'm pretty sure if it was them, then they'll try something tonight." She turned to John. "You're fighting him tonight mid card. Don't hesitate."

John nodded. "I won't."

Stephanie turned to Chris and Steve. "Steve, you have a promo with Chris. As I told you last night, I don't care what you do or say, just take up air time. The fans love hearing you talk shit anyways," she muttered.

"All right, Steph," Chris said, watching her walk away. "Whatever you want."

John frowned and looked at the two men, Steve who shrugged and Chris who looked concerned.

-----

Stephanie had her head on the desk when she heard a knock on her door. "What?"

"It's me, John." Stephanie said nothing. "Can I come in?" Still, she said nothing. John cracked the door a bit and saw her lying her head down on the desk. His frown deepened as he walked into the room and closed the door behind him. "You feelin' alright?"

Stephanie lifted her head. "No, not really," she admitted.

John grabbed a chair and pulled it directly beside her and sat down. "Anything I can do?"

She smiled weakly. "You could kick Kurt's ass for me." John smiled. "It just kills me that he'd do this."

John shrugged and looked into her eyes. "Well, he's weak. Doesn't know a good friend when he's got it."

"Yeah but…we've been friends for years. I knew him before I ever met Paul.
John frowned. "Levesque," she cleared up.

"Oh."

"I just…find it funny that people would take advantage of this company and my family because my father isn't here," she told him.

"I don't think you're weak at all."

"Don't lie."

"No, seriously," he said. "I think you're the strongest woman I know. The only one I'm scared of at times." Stephanie giggled. "I mean, when you left Smackdown, it was so unexpected. It…broke my heart." Stephanie looked at him and he blushed slightly. "I've had a crush on you for the longest time. Everyone told me after you left and I came to Raw to forget about it. I had all this money, and fame…all these girls after me, but I didn't want any of it. Every girl was a bimbo. I wanted someone that was my equal. That would love me for me and drive me insane but keep me on my feet. Someone who didn't care if I had money or if I was the champion."

Stephanie nodded, her eyes shining. "And have you found this woman?"

John shrugged. "I dunno. Haven't really gotten the chance to know her."

"Well…maybe you should."

John smiled. "Well, what about you?"

Stephanie shrugged. "Oh, I don't know."

"Come on."

"No seriously. I don't know," she told him, "I always thought that I'd get married, have a good career, a good job and have kids. Then I got divorced and it all changed."

"Haven't you dated since then?"

"Yes, but none of them were my type," she admitted. "They were…boring."

John chuckled. "What kind of guy do you want?"

Stephanie looked at him closely. "I'm not sure," she whispered.

They sat there, for a good few minutes, just staring at each other, unsure of what to say, but John couldn't hide his smile. Stephanie wasn't sure what to think though. She felt attracted to John, but she was his boss. After Paul, she wasn't sure dating an employee was a good idea. All that was flushed away however when John leaned in and kissed Stephanie. Though she was surprised, she didn't stop him. The kiss was tender and sweet; innocent. Stephanie then kissed him back and she could feel his surprise, but it didn't stop him. She leaned in and grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him in closer. It felt so right to her that they didn't hear the door open.

"Oh!" Both quickly broke apart and Stephanie wiped her mouth and looked down as John looked up to see Trish standing in the doorway, smirking. "Sorry, I didn't know you two were…busy."

Stephanie glared at her best friend. "Trish, get out of here!"

"Okay, but you might want to lock the door this time," she chuckled as she closed the door.

Stephanie rolled her eyes as John laughed. She looked at him and couldn't help but smile. John stood up and went to the door, locking it. Once he turned around, Stephanie grabbed his shoulders and shoved him against the wall. He looked down at her in surprise and excitement. Then she kissed him roughly and lifted her and moved to the couch. Putting her down, they both laughed, both surprised that they were doing this, but neither stopped. John took his shirt off and threw it. He never imagined he'd be with the Billion Dollar Princess this way…but he didn't care. He was; and that's all that mattered.