O'Haire was getting his belongings together in the locker room after the show. He felt really good about the match he'd had earlier in the night. It had been against a local jobber from the area, but he'd gotten a good feel for it. He would probably have considered it his strongest showing since before his character had been changed several years back.
Much to Sean's delight, his devil's advocate gimmick was being reinstated. He hadn't yet recorded any promos for it, but Stephanie had assured him that would be next on the agenda. Likewise, she'd promised that he would be allowed once again to come up with his own stuff. She'd been the one to stand behind him two years earlier, and he was eternally grateful toward her for it.
Thoughts of the youngest McMahon brought a smile to the big man's face. How very kind she was toward him. She had always supported him in his career with the company. He remembered how she'd contacted him upon learning of his release.
"Hello?" Sean said into his cell phone.
"Hello? Sean, it's me - Stephanie."
"Yeah... I know."
He heard her sigh sadly before she spoke again.
"I... I want you to know I am completely against your release," she blurted. "I just feel terrible about it. I... I guess I don't know what more to say." There was a definite hint of despair mixed with hopelessness in the young woman's voice.
"I know, Steph... And thanks," he replied. Inwarded, he thought, I'll miss you, but since she hadn't voiced that sentiment toward him, he kept it to himself.
"Anyway," the brunette continued, "if there's anything you need from me - ever - don't hesitate to call."
Sean didn't fail to notice the suddenly empty, chasm-like sensation in the pit of his stomach and in his heart. Her words seemed so... final. It tore at his very soul.
"Thanks, Steph... I'll do that."
He became startled by the sudden ringing of his cell phone. In a haste, he reached into his bag for it and flipped it open, not bothering to check the display for who was calling.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Sean." Oddly enough, it was Stephanie. Maybe, just maybe, he was psychic.
"Steph... Hey, what's up?" he asked in a pleasant, surprised voice.
"Well," she said, "I was actually on my way out. But I was wondering... Would you like to have dinner with me?" She held her breath, knowing it was pretty late, but she hadn't had time to grab a bite earlier, and she would enjoy the dark-haired man's company.
Sean smiled.
"Sure, that sounds great."
"Yay! How about we meet right outside the arena, in front of the main entrance in say... ten minutes?"
He let out a soft chuckle.
"Sounds perfect to me."
Shortly thereafter, he hung up as they ended the conversation. He finished gathering up his belongings, and minutes later, he was heading out to meet Stephanie. Unfortunately, he wasn't prepared for the scene he was about to interrupt.
"I told you, I'm not going to discuss it. This isn't the time nor the place!"
"Oh, give me a break. It'll never be the time or the place whenever I'm concerned. Why do you always have to be such a bitch?"
Sean frowned as he approached Stephanie. She appeared just as aggravated as she sounded. Her jaw was set with indignation, her blue eyes glittering dangerously as she fixed them on her former fiance.
"Hey... You don't call this woman names," he said in a low, warning tone. He placed himself before the blonde, glancing at her quickly before turning back to Paul Levesque. "Is there a problem here? Something I can handle for you?" he asked, glaring at the other man.
Paul stared at him with such hatred gleaming in his amber-colored eyes. However, he was unphased, even as the guy responded.
"Yeah, I got a problem," he said, his furious gaze shifting from O'Haire to Stephanie, "but I'm talking to her - not you."
"Why don't you just get a life, Paul?" the young woman challenged, her head cocked to one side as she gave him the dirtiest look she could manage.
"Why, you little-"
"Enough," Sean growled. He was angry... He'd been in such good spirits, looking forward to meeting Stephanie for dinner, but here she was, upset thanks to this man. It didn't sit well with him at all.
"Let it go, Levesque," he ordered, his gaze hard as he fixed it on the other man. "If you've really got a problem - whatever it may be - maybe you should take it up with Vince. As for Steph, well, she's got dinner plans." He slipped an arm around the woman's waist as though for emphasis. "Now, if you'll excuse us."
With that, he ushered the blonde away. Stephanie was all smiles as she whispered "thank you" to him. She took hold of his arm as he offered it to her.
Paul, on the other hand, stood there fuming in silence. He stared after the two with malice, muttering a string
of curses under his breath. If it was the last thing he did, he would get even with Stephanie as well as that bastard
O'Haire.