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*October 4, 2005*
Alone... She felt more alone than ever. She could barely bring herself to lift her head from its downcast position as she jotted down some notes on the papers strewn before her. Even when the voice hit her ears, she didn't bother looking up.
"Ma'am?" the voice repeated.
Stephanie McMahon looked up almost impatiently, broodingly as she met the eyes of the waiter. The man merely smiled at her, seemingly not at all aware of her mood. Well, it wasn't *his* fault.
"More coffee?" he asked genially.
The youngest McMahon glanced back down to her left at her cup - it was nearly empty. She picked it up and handed it to the man gratefully, nodding.
"Yes, that would be good. Thank you." She offered him a quick smile before she cast her gaze immediately back down to the work she had spread out on the booth's table. She had to get this damn paperwork done before tonight's SmackDown taping, or it would be her ass.
The waiter poured her more coffee, and she sighed the moment he was gone. She stared down at the steaming hot beverage, her thoughts darkening as the blackness of the drink.
She felt so unfulfilled... She hated that feeling with such a passion. It was something she herself didn't even quite understand. She had a fabulous career and had been born into a prestigious family. Being the daughter of Vincent Kennedy McMahon definitely had its benefits. As much as Stephanie and her father had not seen eye-to-eye for awhile now, she was smart enough to realize that.
Stephanie had made her return to WWE television just the prior night at RAW's Homecoming, when the program had returned to its original network, USA. At first, when she'd been informed of the situation and that she would be appearing, she'd been damn near ecstatic. However, as time drew nearer to that night, she found herself more disheartened. It wasn't anywhere near as exciting as she'd initially found it. It wasn't that she would be receiving a Stunner from Stone Cold Steve Austin, either. She'd always liked Steve, and he'd always been so gentle with her when she took bumps at his hands. It was... something else.
The young woman raised her head again, her left hand clasping the mug as she blinked thoughtfully. Alone - that's what it was. She was so terribly alone. It was strange... She had friends and a whole team of people working under her in the company. Yet at the same time, she felt a yawing, chasm-like emptiness inside of her. Melancholy seemed to be her best friend.
Stephanie sighed again as she raised the cup to her lips. She needed that caffeine fix, or else she would never stay awake long enough to finish all this damn paperwork.
"Oh! Shit!" she cried abruptly as she burned her mouth and tongue. She put the mug down in a hurry, upset and embarrassed as she realized she'd drawn the attention of a few fellow diners nearby. And great... She noticed she'd spilled some of the coffee on her papers.
Shaking her head, she gathered up her napkins and some fresh ones from the dispenser to her left to sop up the liquid. This was just exactly what she needed to further darken her already rotten mood.
"Stephanie? Oh, my God, I thought that might be you."
The young woman looked up slowly at the sound of the voice. It was male, but not at all like that of the waiter who'd come by moments earlier. It was deeper in timbre and... familiar, so familiar.
Her blue eyes widened in shocked recognition as she met a pair of orbs just as blue as hers. They were eyes she hadn't seen in nearly two years. Her breath seemed all but lost as her own seemed positively glued to their piercing, penetrating, brilliant gaze.
"Sean?" she breathed. It didn't seem possible, but it was indeed of course him. She hadn't seen him since he'd been released by the company in November of 2003.
"Yeah," Sean O'Haire replied with a bright smile. "Same old," he continued. He gazed her over for a beat in silence before speaking again. "Wow, your hair..."
"Oh, yeah," she replied, dumbfounded, her right hand quickly and absent-mindedly going up into her hair. She'd dyed it blonde several months back and enjoyed it enough to keep it that shade. However, she'd been growing tired of it and had been starting to long for her natural brunette again.
"... It looks great," the muscular man went on. "*You* look great." He meant it wholeheartedly. He could hardly take his eyes off of her, despite himself. Damn it, but she was gorgeous.
Stephanie cocked her head to one side as she smiled bashfully, her gaze still on his blue eyes. She gathered up her papers then, quickly, her mouth nearly running dry.
"Would you like to join me? Please..."
"Don't mind if I do," O'Haire replied, and he slid into the booth across from the young woman, his gaze still fastened on her. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Life was obviously treating her well.
The blonde woman moved her papers into the briefcase beside her on the booth, almost shyly sneaking a look at him at the same time. She suddenly felt an even more uncomfortable emptiness inside of her as she recalled some news she'd heard back in May of this year.
"So... I guess congratulations are in order..."
"For what?" Sean asked, arching a brow questioningly. He gratefully accepted the menu the waiter came by to deliver to him.
Stephanie nearly blushed as she said the words. They came out so softly that O'Haire could barely hear them.
"Your marriage... I heard you got married back in May."
"Oh, that," the dark-haired man said. "Thanks, but... Well, actually, the truth is, we split up."
The young woman looked up sharply at him.
"You did?" she asked, surprised. She wasn't lost to the fact that her heart was hammering like crazy in her chest. She sincerely hoped he wouldn't be able to actually hear it.
"Yeah," Sean replied. "It didn't work out. I filed for divorce over two months ago."
"I'm sorry," Stephanie replied genuninely. She looked down for a moment, not knowing what else to say.
O'Haire was silent as well for a beat, then swallowed a few sips of water before speaking again.
"I guess I should congratulate you... How's marriage treating *you*?"
"I'm not married," the woman replied quickly.
Sean cocked his head, his blue orbs fixed on her lovely face. She looked sad. He hoped he hadn't touched on a tender subject with her. He was about to say something again, but she spoke first and explained.
"Paul and I broke up two years ago... I..." She sighed for the umpteenth time. "... I found out he was cheating on me, and I kicked his ass out. To be honest, the only reason he still has a job is because Daddy practically worships him." A bitterness consumed her as she spoke that last sentence.
O'Haire didn't know what to say this time. His head swarmed with about a dozen different questions, but for now, he kept them inside.
Stephanie looked up yet again and met his gaze, instantly noticing the pleasant shivers rippling their way down her back. She bit her lip and raised her coffee cup again, knowing that by now, the beverage had cooled considerably. After a long swallow, she regarded him again.
"How is your career going these days?"
Sean grew visibly uncomfortable at the question.
"Well... Not as good as I thought," he replied with a sigh of his own. "They've been cutting back on competitors in my federation in Japan. That's why I'm back here in the States."
"Oh, no," Stephanie exclaimed. She listened to him go on about his job, and how he'd lost it. The federation's budget had steadily declined, and unfortunately, Sean had been one of the competitors to be cut.
"I have a great idea," the young woman said, a sudden brainstorm hitting her. "Come back to work at the WWE!"
One of the man's brows arched in surprise.
"Really?"
"Yes, really," she answered. A brilliant smile came to her face, lighting it up. Hell, to O'Haire, that beautiful smile lit up the entire room. "I'm officially hiring you."
"Wow... I don't know what to say, Stephanie. Yes, I do - thank you." He couldn't stop gazing at her, even when the
waiter came by to take his order.