The superstars were getting on the plane, and Melissa was looking for her seat. She kept walking to her seat, bumping into Randy at first. Paul was talking to Ric, and John and the two noticed the look on Paul's face seeing she was here. She was talking to Randy about the storyline. Paul grinned at the fact she made on time, and was very lively, even after last night. He couldn't sleep, because she was right next door. Right at the moment, it was lust, nothing more or less. He wanted more than that, and he saw in her eyes, she did too. Something was holding her back, and he wanted, no, he needed to know what exactly it was.
"So….are you and Paul growing close?", Randy asked.
She blushed at what happened last night. Randy noticed her grin, and wondered what happened.
"Ok, I'll take that beautiful grin as a yes", he said.
"We are, and I like him. I don't want to come in-between your friendship with him or any of Evolution. I've got some issues that need to be dealt with, and like I told him, I want to get to know everyone first. I just want to thank you for being a good friend to me so far. ", she said hugging him.
"You're welcome, and if you need anything, just ask", he said.
"Well I need to get to my seat", she said sliding by.
Melissa felt something between her and Randy, but couldn't place it. She thought he was attractive, and she felt Paul was too, but she remembered combining business and pleasure was something that spelled disaster. She looked up at Randy and softly smiled, and it melted his heart seeing her smile at him. He wanted her, was it for to say he been with the feisty African American, or was he looking for something deeper, he didn't know, he just knew he needed to act fast.
Paul saw the hug, but shrugged it off. Besides, they weren't a couple, she could hug anyone she wanted, but before this flight was over she would be with him one way or another, and she would know that over the past days he developed an attraction towards her.
He walked to his seat, and she looked up from her magazine.
"Wow, we're sitting together?", she said.
"Yeah, weird isn't it?"
He stood next to her seat. He proceeded to put his luggage away, and she stared at him. He was wearing a black turtleneck, and some khakis. She liked what she saw, and never recovered from last night's kiss on the cheek. He looked down at her and grinned, and she turned back to her book. His eyes wondered to her frame again, to examine her wardrobe also. Even in a t-shirt and jeans she was burning him up.
"I had a nice time last night, especially since you weren't some drunken girl I met from the club or picked up at the arena", he said sitting down.
"So did I. I think Randy might be a little annoyed with me, since all I did was ask about you".
"He'll be fine. Where do you think he and Torrie left to last night", he said arching his eyebrow.
"Are you serious?", she said a little hurt. She wasn't the type to mess around.
"Yeah, everyone knows, and they're cool with it. So who cares".
"I don't wanna end up like that. I want something stable in my life, considering the life I'm living, I don't think I'll find it", she answered.
"I often too, feel the same way. I want to talk to you about something, and it's really important. I just want you to let me finish, ok?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"Melissa, I'm extremely attracted to you, and it isn't just for sex. I really like the intelligence you have, the confidence, and professional attitude you show was something I've searched for a long time. I also loved the laid back attitude you have, which is something you need in this business, and that you know what it's like to work in the business, considering you are in the business. I want to get to know you on an exclusive basis, and I was wondering in the next city if you would go out with me to dinner. I know it's forward but, I wanted to tell you since last night. We were both a little fucked up, so I figured I'd wait until we were both in our right mind".
He felt free after that, it had been on his mind ever since she body slammed him. He felt a connection to her that even Joanie didn't have with him. He knew something could be made of this, just wanted to get to know her first.
"Paul, I feel the same way, and I wanted to tell you that, but I guess I did try with coming on a little strong last night. Saying we were a little fucked up would be an understatement. To be honest, I was torn between you and Randy, but knowing what I know now, it's hard to see myself with someone with no serious goals towards anything to do with a relationship. I didn't know how you would take it, especially since Randy asked me out. To answer you I would love to go out with you after the taping", she smiled.
Randy was sitting behind them hearing their conversation with Dave.
"I'm happy for him, finally he found someone, since that's what he wants", he said reading.
"Yeah, but I want her too", Randy mumbled.
"You what? Whoa, wait a minute? You, Randy Orton, the lady killer, want Melissa?", Dave looked up at Randy. Dave pulled Randy to the back of the plane, and they continued their conversation where no one would hear them.
"Yeah. At first, I wanted to just do what Torrie and I are doing, but she has this effect on me, just like with Paul. Dave, she's a great girl, but she wants Paul, what should I do?", he asked.
"Leave it alone, and forget it. He wants to date her exclusively. She is really diggin him, and same goes for him. She said she didn't want to mess things up for this group, don't you start either, alright?", he warned.
Dave saw what could possibly happen, and he and Melissa talked. He knew how she felt about Evolution, and Paul. She loved everyone like family already, and if she felt as if she was driving a wedge, she was going to ask Vince to switch her to Smackdown!
"I'll try, and if he hurts her….."
"I know, we'll all kill him, I don't wanna see her hurt either".
Paul and Melissa continued to talk, and he couldn't wait for tonight.
"So you have any siblings?"
"Yeah, one brother, and one sister. How about you? The game has to have other siblings' right", she joked.
"Yeah, one brother, he's married, and has two kids", he chuckled.
"Answer me this, what is your favorite food", he asked her.
"Hands down, has to be Italian. Don't ask, but I love it".
"Good, because I love it too".
Stephanie was touring with Raw. She heard about the new edition to Evolution, and she wasn't happy. Secretly she wanted Paul as more than a friend. She knew she hurt him badly by breaking things off with him, but she was about her career. After close to two years of not having him, she realized she loved him more than she thought. She was going to have him back, and now that the team wrote her into the script to start to appearing on Raw, to give Triple H and Melissa's relationship some 'drama', she knew this a better time than any to show him how much she missed him.
"Well, I was reading some of the script this morning, and it looks to me that Stephanie is coming back", she said to him.
"Really? I didn't notice. Looks like Vince wants you to have some competition", he joked.
"Yeah, well, I'm a fan of her, I just don't feel that being a pain in everyone's side, or throwing in everyone's faces that you are Vince's baby girl, should get you respect, you earn that respect", she added.
"Yeah, I completely agree. There was a time that I thought being with her would get me everything, but it made my life a living hell".
"I thought it was a storyline?"
"No we were dating before that. But down the line, I was ready to settle down, and start a family, and she wanted her career".
"Wow, I never thought you two off screen, the things you find out talking", she joked.
"Yeah, so, what about you? Is there any ex corporate boyfriends I need to know about?"
"Yeah, I guess this guy I was with, Evan. He was my first love, and we we're in the wrestling biz together. I wanted to settle too. I thought he was the one. I caught him with a couple having sex, and that was it for me. He took advantage of my trust, and his upcoming fame, so I broke it off with him, and been single since", she explained.
She wanted him to know everything, but in her experience, that normally scared the guy off, so she decided that if it turned serious, to inform the guy then.
"Damn, I mean why would he want that?"
"Paul, I'm a virgin, despite my appearance. I told him, like I'm telling you, I want to wait until the right guy comes along. I almost had sex with him. He was my high school sweetheart, and I thought that was it. It wasn't, so we left to college, and juggled my time with school and wrestling. I did date, but nothing serious, we tried talking, and working things out, but issues, and the cheating was too much. I hope you understand, it's something I find sacred to me", she explained.
Though, that wasn't the complete truth, she figured he settle for that.
He thought about what she said, and close his words wisely.
"I understand, and respect your decision. I hope I change your mind about that, because this is serious for me, and I'll wait as long as I have to", he grinned.
"Alright, I can respect that too".
Stephanie was sitting behind them, to the left, listening. She thought she was going to be sick. This sweet act was ridiculous. She was going to have to work harder than she thought to have him back, besides after that comment of being a pain, she considered Melissa on her shit list. She needed reinforcements, and she knew who to ask.
A week later
Since talking, and going out, Paul and Melissa were together all the time. It hurt Randy at first, but he figured they were happy, and he wasn't ready for a comment like he thought. He liked his having fun, and coming and going as he pleased. Torrie was game and so was he. Casual sex, nothing more or less.
As for Stephaine, she was trying to come between them, in every way possible, but so far nothing worked. Paul asked Vince for a separate locker room for him and Melissa, and of course Vince was happy to give them extra space.
Paul and Melissa were walking into the arena, and they ran into Chris and Trish.
"Hey you two going out tonight with us?", he asked.
"Nah, we have a photo shoot for the Raw magazine tomorrow morning", she answered.
"So we are going to dinner, and calling it a night".
"That's ok, we'll go out next city, right?", Trish said.
"Yeah, hey Trish can we talk?", she said dragging her away.
"Yeah sure what's up?"
They walked off, leaving Chris and Paul wondering what that was about. Stephanie turned around the corner, and saw a perfect opportunity to talk to Paul.
"Paul, can we talk, alone?", she said running up to him.
"Uh oh, that's never good news, see ya later buddy", Chris said walking off to find the girls.
She approached him and he was wondering what she wanted. She has been a thorn in his side since Melissa came on board.
"Yeah Steph?"
"Seriously, did you need a separate locker room away from Evolution?"
"I wanted to room with Melissa, and she didn't mind. Why? What is it to you?"
"Paul, I still love you, I've been trying to tell you all week. But you're always with her", she said angry.
"Steph, what we had is done. I really like Melissa, and she likes me. We are taking it slowly, because we both have been burned. She's really been nice about this triangle thing, and to the fact you are always around. Oddly enough, Vince doesn't mind that we are dating, and gave my ok to a hotel room with her. So you need to deal with it and move on".
In Trish's locker room
"I think he's the one, I know we have just started dating, but something about when we are together, on stage, and alone", she explained.
"I see it, but what about the billion dollar bitch", Trish said sitting down.
Chris looked up from his seat wondering what she would say. People tolerated Steph, but no one could really say they liked her. If she cut the attitude, she could be a really nice person, like her brother Shane.
"I don't mind her, she has tagged along with us, but I don't mind, I know how Paul feels about her, and as long as she knows she can look, but not touch, I have no beef with her", Melissa answered.
"For now", Chris said.
Trish and she went to find Paul, and walked up on the argument he was having with Steph.
"Paul, please, she is a baby, and she is a virgin. You think I don't know", she said to him as he tried to walk away.
Melissa was in shock, and now she had a beef with Steph.
"What did you say!?", she said loudly.
"I said you are not good enough for him, and he's wasting his time", Steph walked over.
Their was a crowd building, and Paul was right in the middle. He was scared of what was going to happen next.
"Well, Steph, I have some class left. You think its fun and will get you respect to pick on the new kid on the block. You are making an ass out of yourself", Melissa inched closer.
Eric ran over, and got in between them.
"Ladies, if you are going to be violent, settle this in the ring", he said separating them.
"Fine I have no problem with that', Melissa said.
"Bitch", Steph said.
The crowd left, and Eric picked up his phone to inform Vince of what happened.
"She what?! I knew she would flip out……but this may work. Did anyone get it on film?", Vince asked.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Bring it to editing, it will be our new promo for tonight. Besides the fact she is wrestling Victoria for the women's title. This will be good", he said hanging up.
Melissa and Paul's locker room
Melissa was fuming. She couldn't believe her. She thought Trish and everyone else was exaggerating. Now she was the next one to have her ass kicked, personally by Melissa Smith.
She was pacing and Paul was trying to calm her down.
"Melissa, please calm down, you have scene with Steve in 5 minutes".
He walked up to her, and grabbed her. She calmed down some.
"Do you still love her?"
"What?"
"You heard me".
"No, we were arguing when you heard what she said. She is a pain to me, and I want her gone, back to Smackdown, or retired to a desk, but she determined to be with me. That's not important, what is, is that you and I are together, and tonight I will be in your corner for both matches", he said inching closer.
"Thanks", she said.
"No problem, I have to change for that scene with Evolution. Stay here, I'll be a minute".
He left to change, and she changed into her burgundy body suit, and taped her wrists. She was bending over to stretch, and Paul walked back in. At first, didn't say anything, and Randy, Dave, and Ric walked in.
"She is making this pretty hard not to stare", Ric said.
"I know", Dave added.
"WOOO!", Ric screamed, and Melissa jumped up.
"How long have you guys been standing there?"
"Long enough, long enough".
She laughed, and walked down the corridor to the scene set up. Steve was there already with Eric.
"You five ready?", Steve asked.
"More than you know", Melissa said.
"And action!", the stagehand yelled.
"What do I owe this unpleasant visit?", Steve said walking to Melissa said.
"I want Steph, and I want her tonight!", she demanded.
Steve sat on his desk, and smirked at her.
"What is so funny?"
"That you are so small and yet you demand for me to give you Stephanie McMahon, your boyfriend's ex. Who's corner would he be in when you wrestle her or Victoria for that matter?", he asked.
"In her's Austin", Triple H said pissed.
"Answer your question? Now will I have her in the ring or on the street. Either way I will have her ass tonight", she said.
"Get out", he said.
"What?!"
"Get out", he said loudly.
They went to leave and he caught Melissa's arm.
"Not you, you stay".
Triple H looked at her, and she looked back at him.
"It's cool, he's harmless".
They left on queue, and she looked at Steve. He walked around her.
"What do I get if I give her to you?"
"Why do you ask", she walked up to him.
"Because I want know", he inched closer.
"Well, we will see, I mean I have to have her tonight in that ring"
"I want her gone, she has caused enough problems around here".
"AND CUT!", the stagehand said.
Melissa walked up to Paul. Steve walked out to them.
"Hey, you're not bad, and good luck", and he walked off.
They walked back to the locker room, and they passed Stephaine.
"Oh just to let you know, I will be in Victoria's corner tonight, and I'll have Andrew in my corner tonight against you", she said grinning.
Melissa walked up to her.
"How much did it cost…or should I say what did you do to get him in your corner", she whispered.
Stephanie slapped her, and it busted her lip. Melissa chuckled at her action.
"That will cost you, and trust me, I hurt people, and I just may end your career", she said walking away with Paul.
"Damn her, I will never get him back, unless, I destroy Evolution", Stephaine thought.
Test heard what she said, and it pissed him off. He would fix her once and for all.