Disclaimer: Once again, I own no one so don't try to sue me because all you'll get is a small dorm room and a load of laundry. The situations presented here are for your entertainment and enjoyment and do not represent the character of those in the story.

Author's Notes: Sorry about the delay in updates... we are currently experiencing a Internet connectivity crisis (well to me it's a crisis) on campus due to a cut fiber optic wire along one of the highway areas which is gonna take a while to get repaired. Also, this chapter is kinda lengthy... tried to cut it down but there was just too much to build up for Chapter 3.

Comments are welcomed and highly encouraged, I love feedback.

Chapter 2 – De-nial isn't just a river in Egypt

Paul knew he shouldn't be at his current location but the opportunity before him was just too good to pass up. After all, how many guys can say they've hooked up with the Canadian knockout Diva Search contestant Maryse? At the moment they were in one of the unoccupied locker rooms on the opposite side of the arena, laying on a couch.

"You know, we're going to have to start being more careful about these meetings. If we get too comfortable, we're likely to slip up and be caught." Maryse said, rounding up her belongings. "The last thing I want is to have an angry McMahon looking to beat the crap out of me."

"Don't worry about it, I've got that all figured out. All you need to worry about... well actually, there isn't a thing you need to worry about. You're young, sexy, great outgoing personality... you've got everything going for you." Paul said, watching her move around the room.

To say that he was pleased with this arrangement was a huge understatement. Not only did he get to have hot sex with one of the hottest up & coming divas whenever he wanted, but Stephanie had no idea what was going on.

"She'll never find out about us, I can make sure of that."he said, leaving the room.

Unknown to either of them, there was someone lurking in the shadows videotaping the entire thing.

"What is what?" Stephanie asked, trying to play the whole blissfully ignorant card.

"Don't play dumb with me, I know that you know what I am talking about here. What the hell are these pictures about?" Kurt asked, knowing in his heart what the answer was. He wasn't stupid enough to think for a moment that there was any innocence in either picture. Too bad there would be no easy way to break the news, let alone get Stephanie to believe him.

"I honestly don't know what this is all about. Someone e-mailed them to me with no explanation, just 'thought you should see this' typed below them." Stephanie said, pointing it out on the screen. "Obviously they're of Paul, there is no questioning or denying that fact. But why? Why is he at the bar with a girl he barely knows and why are they so close in the one picture? He would never cheat on me, I know he wouldn't" she told Kurt, getting only a questioning glance in reply which concerned Steph quite a bit.

"He wouldn't do that to me, to us... would he?"

Kurt sighed, he really didn't want to hurt her but she needed to hear what both himself and many of the guys in the back thought.

"Steph, you're one of my best friends and I hate to see you in this kind of situation but this has to be said. A lot of the guys in the back think that he is having an affair with this Diva Search tramp but we can't prove it 100 because he's very sly about everything. Obviously he is starting to slip up since someone got photos of them together, but we are really concerned about this. Paul's been acting weird, very suspicious phone calls that he has to leave the room for, never staying in the same hotel as everyone else... it's what has been going on when you're not here." Kurt told her, hoping that his concern was taken seriously.

It was no secret him and Paul did not like or trust the other and Kurt hated how much the arrogant prick was becoming like Vince. It was almost heartbreaking to say the very least. He could still remember a time when the former champ placed his family and the business on at least even ground.

"Do you really think he would do something like that? I mean, this is Paul we're talking about here, not Randy." Steph said, hoping and praying it wasn't true. "Plus, how do I go about finding out if what you're telling me is true without seeming suspicious or like I don't trust him? And why should I believe you over anything he tells me? For all I know, you could be trying to split us up." said Stephanie, taking out her frustrations on Angle.

This went on for the next half hour, Stephanie rambling on about how he wanted to sabotage everything that made her happy in life. This was a lot to take in all at once and because of the implications it had on her life and her marriage, she didn't want any of it to be real. Kurt finally had enough and decided to lay it all out for Stephanie.

"Okay first off, the only difference between Paul & Randy is their situations, not their behavior. Both of them act like they're still teenagers. Second, all you have to do to find out if anything is going on is take notice of how he acts in general, especially around you. And lastly, if you still think I would try to split the two of you up, then you obviously don't know me very well. I've grown up since then and am not going to sabotage a friend's happiness for my own personal gain. But... I'm not going to lie and act like I don't know what's going on; you deserve better than that from me, as a friend." Kurt explained to her, heading towards the door.

As Kurt was about to leave the room, Shane-O appeared on the other side.

"Hey Shane what's up?' Kurt said, happy to ease the tension in the room.

"Not much Kurt, just stopping by to visit and let you know I was told by my father that he could meet with you anytime from now till dinner to talk about whatever it is you guys were discussing over breakfast." he told Angle, aware that there were some serious bad vibes in the room flowing between him and Stephanie. 'He must've said something about Paul's behavior to her' Shane thought, knowing that interaction couldn't have gone well.

"Don't make yourself a stranger bro, come on in but keep it down because Aurora's sleeping.", Stephanie told her brother, hoping he would stay long enough to scare Angle away.

"Thanks for the heads up Shane. I better get the bulk of this meeting done and over with, as it will probably take a while if anything gets accomplished. Talk to you later man, don't work yourself too hard on the website stuff.", Kurt said, making a quick exit, letting the door slam shut on the way out.

"What was that all about sis? You could cut the tension in the damn with a knife the way the two of you were staring the other down.", Shane asked, very curious as to what went on before he came by. It had to be something major because Kurt had left in such a hurry.

"Shane, not now... I'm really in no mood to talk about any of this crap going on today." Steph told her brother, not even wanting to discuss why there was shit going down between her and Angle.

"But it's good to see you, it feels like I've been stuck in the bubble called home forever. This is like my first major outing away from the house since before Aurora was born. It's a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, even after being around Declan so much."

Shane sighed, still wanting to press on about the lingering tension but knowing he should just back down for now and let it play out. He knew that if she needed to, Stephanie would come to him or one of the other guys to talk things out.

"Actually, there was a reason I came here that I almost forgot about... that being Aurora. Can I please take her for a little bit sis?? I could use some uncle-niece bonding time before the show and you could relax for a bit and maybe even take a short nap. Please, pretty please?" he asked, almost begging his sister for the kid.

"I guess you could... everything of hers is in the Mickey Mouse bag on the couch. Don't be offended if I come looking for you guys within an hour, I haven't left her for more than 10 minutes so far and I might get a bit anxious and want to come find you. Call me if you need anything or want me to come take her back here." she told Shane, getting Aurora in her carrier for him. "Wow, she slept all the way through me fumbling with the straps on her carrier, that has to be a first. She probably wore herself out silly with her crying earlier today."

Shane picked up Aurora in her carrier along with her bag and headed towards the door. Before walking out, he turned around, looking at his sister. "The offer still stands if you want to talk about what is going on with you and Kurt. Anytime you decide you want or need to, just give the cell a ring, it's always on." he said, walking out of the room as Stephanie breathed a sigh of relief. She sat back down on the couch, putting her head in her hands and wondering how she ever got herself in such a mess as she was in now.

Before going to his meeting, Kurt decided to make a stop in the men's locker room really quick. After looking around to make sure no one else was in the room, he took two white tablets out of his pocket. He then proceeded to pop them into his mouth & take a quick drink of water before anyone could walk in and blow his cover

' Steph would kill me if she knew what I was doing' he thought, letting out a sigh. "I better get going to this meeting before anyone else gets involved." he said to the empty room, walking out the door and towards the conference rooms.