Author's Notes: I realized this morning that I had done something pretty stupid in this story and have backed myself into a "name" corner. I chose Therese's brother's name as "Evan" because I liked the name. Then I chose "Kevin" as the love interest because I'm being so mean to him in my other two fics. Little did I realize that the two men in my original character's life have rhyming names!! I swear I never meant for it to be that dorky but it's too late to turn back. Hope you don't mind and didn't want you to think it was on purpose. :)
Chapter XVI: Irksome Ire
Stephanie decided that she wanted to be the one to greet Evan to immediately "charm" him. Therese hid behind her and waited to watch his reaction. The look on his face at seeing Stephanie was one of absolute shock. His eyes went wide and he wasn't sure how to react. This woman that he had watched for years and would have done anything to meet hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Therese couldn't take it any longer and made her way out of the crowd. He pointed at her and spluttered unintelligible words. "When did we forget to talk?" she asked. His reply was a punch to her arm.
In the limo, all Evan wanted to do was talk to and about Stephanie. Out of the month they had been separated, he and his sister had only spent two days together. Therese was trying to hold in her jealousy.
"I hate to break this up," she said, "but we've got to get some things together between us three. Evan, you can't exactly go by Evan or Mitchell. If you could have any name, what would it be?"
"Undertaker!" he said with a hopeful look.
"Okay, are we four or thirteen?"
"I was just joking. Lighten up, 'Rese. I want to be Mark." With the most important decision over, they settled on Therese being the godmother of Mark Evans, who was in her care while his mother is in the hospital.
"Can he do this?" Stephanie whispered when Evan was out of earshot.
"In all reality, he's better suited for this job when it comes to acting," she quietly laughed.
"Have you told Kevin he's here?" the brunette asked.
"Nope and I take it that you've not told Shawn." Therese folded her arms across her chest. "What are we doing tonight anyhow?"
"Bowling."
"Well, I guess Evan won't stick out too much. It's just getting him to get over who we're with."
"He doesn't like Shawn and Kevin?" Stephanie asked with surprise.
"Don't get him started," the blonde answered with a roll of her eyes. "I guess I ought to break it to him or to Kevin and Shawn that we're not coming."
"Oh, no, we're going," Stephanie responded adamantly.
"Then you tell him." Minutes later, a dreamy-eyed Evan agreed.
Shawn and Kevin acted as if they had no problem with Evan being there. Therese's theory was beginning to be proved right-if he spent time with them, he would come to like them. The poor boy couldn't decide whom to talk more to when confronted by three WWE superstars. He seemed to be dazed when meeting up with the two guys and seemed to turn in circles as to where to begin, the list of questions he had made so he wouldn't forget everything he wanted to ask hanging limp in his hand.
Over supper, Therese explained the "situation" of "Mark's" presence.
"Sorry about your mom," Kevin said to Evan. "I hope she gets better soon."
"Thanks," he replied, producing a little sniffle. Therese lightly kicked his foot to remind him to cut the theatrics.
"Man, you can stay with us tonight if that'll help you feel better," Shawn offered, then glanced at Nash, who nodded his approval.
Evan produced another sniffle and then looked up at Therese with a pout, hoping she would say 'yes.'
"Guys, I can't ask you to do that. He's my responsibility," Therese protested and, in turn, received a kick to her foot that was heavier than the one she had delivered. Besides, you're only doing this to impress Stephanie and me, she thought as she rubbed the offended foot against the back of her other leg.
"It's okay. It'll be the guys hanging out, doing guy things and the girls doing girl things. It'll give you ladies some privacy," Shawn said, continuing to try to persuade her.
She felt she could trust them. Glancing at Stephanie with her pleading eyes, Therese nodded. "Yeah. It'll only be for a night, so why not?" She thought she was going to have to sit on Evan to help him contain his excitement.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Stephanie was angry with Evan being there but she couldn't determine anything else to do with him. If Shane himself wasn't traversing the country left and right, she would try to send Evan to him. She wanted time with Shawn, not Shawn and some kid. It wasn't that Evan was trouble or annoying. He was quite a charming kid, but she just couldn't be with Shawn without him. He and Kevin had taken him under their wing over the past few days instead of going on to Texas and had kept him entertained. Now, he was off with Hulk Hogan, meeting every SmackDown! superstar willing to talk to him. She and Therese had both agreed that maybe it was best that Michaels and Nash not come to the arena since no other RAW employee was welcome.
SmackDown! was about to start and Sable had yet to "report" to her new job as assistant. Stephanie and Therese were still nervous over the whole situation and were hoping the woman wouldn't come. Their hopes were dashed as the show's montage opened and the blonde bimbo knocked on the door. Therese opened it up and the already tight skin around Sable's eyes widened. "What are you doing here? I'm her assistant."
"And I'm just her friend, hanging around. You're late. You better get to work." Sable glared back before sitting down on Stephanie's desk and asking what she needed done. She set Sable to organizing some files and typing several documents. Sable talked non-stop about how wonderful a boss Vince McMahon was being. Stephanie took it as long as possible and pulled Therese from the room.
"Let's go find something to drink. I can't handle her one more minute." The two ambled about for a while until the thought struck about the havoc Sable could be wreaking with Stephanie's computer and files. "We have to go back. God knows what she's in," she abruptly said and almost ran back to the room at breakneck speed. "Be warned, a camera," Stephanie said, turning to Therese, when she saw the camera crew waiting outside the office. Yes, she wanted the camera crew following what others did, but not her. However, she couldn't reverse the decision for herself only.
She pushed the door open to see Sable quickly typing away at the computer. Stephanie asked her if she had found Zach Gowen's contract. Of course, she had not but she did state that she had noticed that Stephanie was bringing back the U. S. title. The brunette picked up the magazine with Sable on the cover and glanced at it before deliberately tossing it aside in front of Sable.
"Thank you for ruining the surprise," she responded to the announcement of the U. S. title. "And, uh, Sable, listen, you might try to sweet talk me and try to lie to me and say you were just looking for Zach Gowen's contract but I don't trust you."
"But, Stephanie, I'm your assistant. I'm only here to help," Sable innocently protested. If Therese had not known her history, she would have been convinced.
"Sable, that's so sweet, but I don't need or want another assistant, especially you. And if you think you can out manipulate or out connive me, Sable, you've got another thing coming." The women stared each other down, not one of them willing to move.
Therese pushed in between to receive a glare from both. She put a hand on Stephanie's shoulder and whispered, "Stephanie, have a seat and cool down. Send her on an errand to Vince. She won't be back for a while."
The GM shuffled papers in thought and then finally sent the other assistant to her father to ask exactly how the armwrestling match was supposed to take place. Sable wasn't seen from again until the contest and both of the ladies were just about positive how she was spending that time. Stephanie spent the next two matches, ranting and raving. Therese tried to block her out and almost told her to 'shut up' several times. Finally, she came up with a diversionary tactic. "Let's work out how we're going to do the armwrestling contest. As always, you can't go alone." Nothing was going to change but, at least, Stephanie's tirade changed.
When the time came, the two made their way to the ring from the different entrances. Before Therese stepped out, she caught sight of Hogan and grabbed him by the arm. "Where's Mark?"
"With Mark," he answered.
"Who?" she asked with a crinkled brow.
"The Undertaker," Hulk slowly answered.
"Oh, gotcha. The Undertaker's Mark and my Mark's with him.Anyhow, thanks." With a red face, she slipped through the entrance and followed Stephanie. Therese stood at the edge of the barricade and chatted with the arena security. She kept one eye on the ring and the other on the entrance, daring someone to start something. What was started wasn't exactly what she wanted.
Stephanie confidently strode to the ring, looking all the part of a General Manager. She stated her intention for being there-to oversee the armwrestling contest. The brunette reminded the crowd of the stipulations but, before she could introduce Zach Gowen, Sable's music interrupted. Stephanie tried to contain her ire. Sable reached for Stephanie's microphone but the GM jerked it away.
"Sable, um, how nice of you to interrupt. How can I help you?" Stephanie held the mic out for her.
"Well, Stephanie, I am-" the blonde started, but Stephanie jerked it away.
"Never mind. Alright, now before I was so rudely interrupted." Stephanie introduced Zach, who came to the ring with Mr. America. To her pleasure, the crowd erupted into cheers, filling the arena with electricity. The jeers were just as loud as McMahon came out, dressed in track pants and a black tank.
Mr. America immediately started in on Vince, trying to intimidate him. He reminded the Chairman that Hogan was at home and that this was between him and Mr. America, not him and Zach. Hogan immediately dropped down to table set up for the contest and invited Vince to take him on. Stephanie licked her lips and held her breath, waiting to see her father get his butt whooped by Hogan. "USA! USA!" broke out and Stephanie gave the crowd a smile to approve of the chant. McMahon stepped back and told Mr. America that he wasn't afraid of him. He stated that he signed to armwrestle Gowen and not him and demanded that he leave. Sable quickly stepped over and whispered in his ear. Stephanie's heart started to beat a little faster in her chest, worried about Sable was cooking up. Vince seemed to have a change of mind and agreed to Hogan as his opponent-however, there were stipulations involved. This was not for Zach's contract and, when Hogan lost, he had to leave the premises.
The two well-built men settled down on the table and locked arms. Neither seemed to budge as Stephanie intently watched. When Hogan seemed to gain the upper hand, Sable reached out and grabbed his fist and declared that he was cheating. Stephanie immediately told her if she touched another contestant again that Mr. America would be declared the winner. The two locked up again in an intense battle, all eyes on their fists-except for two. Sable had slipped her dress strap down and Hogan and Gowen glanced back and forth. As she flashed them and Hogan lost, Stephanie realized what was going on. After her initial shock, she chewed her bottom lip, thinking about the things she would do that woman when she had the first opportunity. Hogan was banished from the ring and McMahon ordered the General Manager to go with him. At first, she thought of refusing but, then, she couldn't do anything to stop him from cheating Gowen out of the contract. She quickly said a word of encouragement to the teen and beckoned Therese to leave with her.
Vince noticed the wave and turned to see to whom she had motioned. His eyes narrowed into slits. "I thought you were fired," the Chairman stated, walking to the turnbuckle and pointing at Therese. She did a double-take and realized he was talking to her. She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "Security! Security, escort that woman out." They didn't move. The woman he wanted out gave them orders and that was not one of them. "Security!" he yelled again.
To cover for the situation, Stephanie jerked the microphone from his hand. "Yes, she is fired, but she's here at my request as a friend."
Vince glared at the young GM. "It's still my building and I can still remove who I wish. Therefore, she goes. Secur-"
"Wait," Stephanie interrupted. "She stays because I've got an idea. Let's have a match with Therese and Sable. Whoever wins, stays as my assistant. The other, well, you know what happens there." She finished with a cocky smile.
Therese's mouth fell open in shock. Oh, the conversation that would later occur between her and her boss. Sable's face lit up like the cat that ate the canary. The poor woman thought that Therese had spent her life as a secretary and that she would easily demolish the other blonde. Therese wasn't worried about winning. She was more worried about what this would do for security measures and how bad Sable would end up getting hurt.
McMahon mirrored Sable's grin. He glanced back at Therese, who was obviously fuming. He snorted and turned back to Stephanie. "You're on. Now, let's get back to this farce. Get a move on out of here."
Therese beat Stephanie to the back and met her at the monitor. She was so mad she was almost shaking. "What do you mean by-" she angrily bit out until Stephanie interrupted.
"It's the best thing I could think of at the time. We'll talk later."
"No, we talk now," the blonde demanded.
Stephanie's eyes never moved from the monitor. "Shut up. I have more important things on my mind."
"More important." she had to stop to keep from going off. "Do you understand exactly what-"
"Shut up! Just shut up!" Stephanie yelled. Everyone in the hallway turned to stare at them. The other woman nervously smiled and pointed at the monitor. They slowly turned back around. Therese was seething. She wouldn't be treated like this and now there were no holds barred.
As they looked on, there was only the hopeful wrestler and the Chairman left in the ring. McMahon taunted him before the two locked fists. The look of shock on McMahon's face at the boy's strength was priceless, but he started to taunt the younger man through it all until Gowen began to get the upper hand. Gowen was an inch away from his dream when Vince kicked his prosthetic leg out from under him. The Chairman once again insulted him and then threw him out of the ring, yelling that he didn't deserve to be in the ring since he was freak. Zach dejectedly hobbled around the ring and up the ramp. As the referee raised McMahon's arm in victory, Stephanie's stomach turned and supper almost came back for seconds. She met the young man as he came through the black curtain and hugged him to her. No words of comfort came and she promised to work something else out. What it would be, Stephanie was not sure yet.
The GM left the poor boy with Hogan and stalked towards her office. She was so pissed over the outcome that she wasn't talking. Sable losing her job as her personal assistant in two weeks and Therese suffering a little bit of embarrassment was only a pinpoint of light in the middle of the blackness. She didn't have Therese answer the door for anyone as they settled down to watch the rest of the show. Therese was still too angry to talk either, especially after Stephanie told her to compete in the match or to find herself another job.
When the Undertaker had to leave for the evening, Evan was deposited back in the office. He started to say something but Therese shook her head and put a finger to her mouth. She was quite proud of him until the main event when the ring collapsed under Brock Lesnar and the Big Show, but she couldn't blame him.
"Holy Sh*t!" Evan yelled and jumped from lounging in the floor in front of the television. She and Stephanie both rose to his shout and watched in horrific awe as the ring collapse was played over and over while the wrestlers were being tended to. Evan started jabbering about how awesome the whole scene was.
"Evan!"
"I don't answer to that, remember?"
Therese folded her arms and stared him down. "Don't start with me. You're already in trouble for that cussword you let fly."
"But.but you saw that! How can you not say one?" Therese shot him what he had deemed the "mean momma look" and he quickly and quietly settled on the couch to wait.
After checking on everyone's condition involved in the collapse, Stephanie announced that it was time to leave. She gathered up the pile of inter-office mail and began to shove it in her briefcase when she recognized the handwriting on the outside of the envelope. She was now used to the sight but the overwhelming feelings never changed. Behind Evan's back, she slipped it to Therese and whispered, "I think it's another one. I don't think I can read it."
Once in the limo, Therese got the chance to open the envelope. The letter specifically mentioned Stephanie's presence at the funeral last week and her leaving with all of them for lunch. The main suspect had not been at the church. "It's not Bischoff," Therese muttered to herself and inwardly sighed, feeling like they were starting over again.
Upon arrival at the hotel, Therese reluctantly sent Evan to Shawn and Kevin to give her time to sort out the letter with Pendleton. Aaron was just as unhappy as she at the news. They discussed a few options and agreed to talk again before next Thursday to decide on the next step. Therese set the cell phone down and Stephanie appeared in the door way. "Now what?" she asked. "Are we getting any closer?"
"I think so. I want us to sit down tomorrow and talk a little."
"That bad, huh?"
"Maybe, maybe not. We'll talk and-"
The knock at the door interrupted their conversation. "Open up, She-Ra!" Evan yelled on the other side. "Hey, the woman who's going to kick Sable's butt from here to-"
She jerked it open and quietly scolded, "Do you want the entire hotel to know we're here?" Then she muttered, "And don't call me 'She-Ra' in public."
"He's just being a kid," Shawn replied in an apologetic tone. "But I'm not touching that other comment."
"I know," she said with a sigh. "It's late, honey, just don't yell, okay?" Evan nodded. "You guys want to come in?" The three guys in the hall ambled in and variously dispersed themselves wherever there was room.
Stephanie offered drinks from the hotel minibar. By the time she was back with them, Evan had curled himself around Therese's pillows and was out like a light. Therese smiled and softly spoke, "It was a long night. He has more autographs from tonight than a wrestler gives in a year. I thought I was going to have to peel him off the Undertaker."
They softly laughed. "Let's go in my room and let him sleep," Stephanie said and motioned for them to follow her.
Shawn settled into one of the chairs and immediately stated, "You girls had a rough night." They nodded their agreement. "Stephanie, you're gonna have to be careful with this whole mess with Gowen."
"It's okay, Shawn," she replied, placing a light hand on his arm. "I have to put my foot down with my dad. That is my job that I was hired to do and I'm gonna do it without his interference."
"I just don't want you to get hurt-emotionally and physically." Shawn stared down into her blue eyes and the two seemed to be in their own world. A snort from the other from Evan broke the atmosphere.
"I've got Therese. I'll just sic her on anybody that gets in my way," Stephanie said, glancing at her.
"Yeah, thanks," she muttered in return.
"Do you know what you're doing out there?" Kevin asked.
She sat straight up with a serious face and answered, "If you're asking if I can wrestle, then the answer is 'no.' If you're asking if I can defend myself, then the answer is 'yes.'"
"Well, Shawn and I have been talking, especially since the match with you and Sable was made, that maybe you three," he jerked his head toward the sleeping boy in the other room, "should stay with us at Shawn's house while we're in Texas. Steph, it'll give you a break from hotels and, Therese, maybe I could help you get ready for your match."
Therese shook her head. "But we'll be a distraction from you getting ready for Bad Blood this Sunday. Kevin, that's an important match."
"I got past the mental part of it all the last pay-per-view. Now, it's just physical. Besides, She-Ra, I think you would be a great distraction," he commented with a sly smile and patted her on the knee.
"Until you know the story behind it, don't call me that."
"And when are you gonna tell us that?" Shawn said, staring at her and dropping his head until it was eye-level with where she had lounged back down across the bed.
"Never," she replied with a glare.
"So, which one of us is He-Man?" Shawn asked with a twinkle in his eye and flexed his arms.
"No, I think you're Cringer," Therese shot back and they all broke out in laughter-except for Shawn.
"There's not any more women in the cartoon for me to be," Stephanie mockingly whined.
"First, there's Evilynn," she answered with a devious smile. "But then there's Tee-La. She's in love with He-Man, you know."
Stephanie blushed and then retorted, "You know too much about that show."
"Well, when you grew up with it and that one in there watches the new one, you just about can't help it."
"What was your favorite cartoon?" Stephanie asked Shawn. The night wore on as the two couples laughed and fondly reminisced about their childhood cartoons.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC.
Author's Notes: Obviously, the match with Therese and Sable never existed but I couldn't resist setting one up. Sorry if I bother anyone for departing that far from the television storyline.