AttitudeEraChick asked for this update so here you go, I hope you all enjoy it :)
Arriving at the meeting Stephanie put her things on the table and slipped into a seat but the second she sat down she heard Vince's voice, "Stephanie I would like a word with you after the meeting so I would appreciate it if you would stay behind please."
Raising her head she looked at him none too impressed but nodded her head slightly before she turned her attention back to the papers in front of her.
Sliding into a seat just as the meeting began Paul couldn't sense any particular tension in Stephanie's body just yet so maybe Vince was going to let what he heard slide and keep his nose out of it for the sake of his family, he could only hope anyway.
He remained hopeful until he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and he pulled it out to see who the text was from and upon seeing his girlfriend's fake name he opened it:
Vince wants a word with me after this meeting -_- I may need more kisses.
He wanted to smile but resisted because of where they were but he didn't resist replying to her:
Don't worry baby, I will give you all of the kisses you want and need.
Sending the text he turned his attention back to the meeting but also plotted briefly on how he could keep Stephanie from tearing Vince apart.
The meeting ended and Stephanie stayed sat in her chair and just waited.
Paul moved down from his chair and sat beside Stephanie, "So you wanted to talk to me after."
Turning her head to look at her boyfriend she couldn't even bring herself to smile, "I have to talk to Vince first."
He shrugged keeping one eye firmly on his boss and one on his girlfriend, "Then I will wait until he is done with you and we will walk and talk business and then the conversation can go anywhere you want."
Vince kept an eye on his daughter and her ex-boyfriend and he was less than pleased to see them looking so cosy, "Stephanie. Can we talk alone?"
Looking at Paul and then back at Vince she shook her head, "We have business to discuss when you are done with me so I can't imagine that you have anything to say that he can't hear."
Shrugging his shoulders Vince really didn't give a damn at this point as it might split the two of them up for good when he found out that she has moved on, "Your choice. I am not impressed with your lack of punctuality this morning. Fine if you slept in I could forgive you but being late because you were too busy sleeping with some random guy you picked up off the street is not the look of a McMahon."
Paul grabbed hold of Stephanie by the arm and around the waist as she flew out of her chair to go after her Dad. Moving his hand from her arm to around her waist so he had a tight grip on her, "Get out Vince, just leave whilst you can walk out of here unscathed and won't have to explain anything to anybody."
Glaring at the younger man he shook his head, "Don't tell me what to do. You shouldn't even be a part of this conversation."
He knew he shouldn't stand up to his boss like this but with his girlfriend still struggling in his arms he knew it was what he had to do, "If I wasn't here then your daughter would have already hurt you so for once in your life listen to somebody who knows more about the situation and just leave and shut the door behind you." Burying his face in her hair he whispered, "Calm down baby, calm down."
Looking between the two the older man hesitated before he did as suggested and picked up his things and left the conference room shutting the door behind him.
As soon as the door was shut Paul loosened his grip on her but didn't let go completely, "Are you going to calm down now?"
Turning around in what room she had she glared at her boyfriend, "Why didn't you let me get at him? After everything he has put me through he would deserve every hit and punch and kick I could lay on him."
Seeing the woman in front of him actually broke his heart, she was so close to her Father and to see her talking about wanting to physically hurt him was just heartbreaking, "Because you are better than that, you are better than resorting to physical violence because he listened to idle gossip . . ."
"And assumed the worst of me, his daughter. What has happened to him Paul? Where has my Father gone?"
She seemed to be calmer so he released her and stroked her cheek with his finger, "I don't know baby but you can't rise to it and react with anger, you have to be the calmer one because next time I won't be around to save him."
She couldn't help but smile at that comment, "Save him huh?"
Nodding his head seeing her smile right now made everything worth it, "Yes, save him, there is no way you need saving from anyone."
Stroking his cheek with her thumb she smiled softly, "There are so many reasons why I love you but just one of them is the fact that you know the right thing to say at the right time. We should get out of here and go back to the privacy of our locker room where we can lock the door as I want to ask you something."
Despite the fact that the door could open at any minute he pressed a kiss to her forehead and smiled softly, "You have yourself a deal." Turning to the table he helped her gather her stuff together, "Whilst we are walking we will talk about the show so they think that that is what it is all about."
Picking up her notes she walked towards the door, she felt more relaxed right now but she knew it wouldn't last if she saw Vince or if one of the other guys said something.
As they walked to the locker room they talked about the logistics of the segments they shared tonight during Raw but once inside the conversation stopped and she shut and locked the door behind them.
Sitting down on the couch he relaxed back and put his feet on the coffee table, "I assume this isn't a really serious conversation so I can relax back like this?"
Rolling her eyes she sat down beside him, "Well sort of yeah, I was just wondering what your schedule this week was and if you had time to come down to the beach house with me? I'm heading home after Smackdown to do some laundry and then I am going down there until Raw next week."
"I do believe my schedule is free so I can join you if you wish to have some company."
Leaning against him she closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of his cologne, "I would love your company please, I obviously have my work to do but I am sure you will be visiting the gym so we can do our own things and then spend some time together."
Kissing the top of her head as it leant on his shoulder he then rested his cheek on her head, "Sounds like you have got it all worked out. We have just two days to get through and then we can get away from here."
Sighing heavily she wished that she didn't have the reminder, "Thanks for that, I could have done without the reminder."
"Even if I hadn't have said it then I would have said about work now as I need to go and get some stuff done in the ring so I will change and catch you later as I am sure you have some work of your own to do."
Lifting her head she made a face at him, "Party pooper."
Laughing he leaned his head closer to hers, "And don't you forget it. I should make it up to you though so I hereby give you an IOU for anything you want to be redeemed tonight." Pressing his lips gently against hers he kissed her slowly before he pulled away and got up to go and change.
Watching him enter the bathroom with his clothes she got up and retrieved her laptop from the bag to get started on the alterations for the show, immersing herself in her work always helped take her mind off things.