Stephanie smiled as she eyed the man sitting across from her. She raised her glass of wine to her lips, took a deep swallow and spoke.
"So... How do you feel about the terms of your new contract?"
Sean smiled, shaking his head.
"They're great... I can't complain at all. I mean, the terms are quite generous," he said. He'd actually been a little shocked to read that not only was he going to be main eventing, he was also going to be feuding with the WWE Champion for the title. It was really an amazing feeling.
"Well," Stephanie began, her cheeks actually flushing slightly pink, "I have a confession to make... I drew it all up." She took another sip of wine before continuing. "My father read over all the terms, and he agreed with them."
O'Haire merely stared at the young woman, touched and full of wonder. He couldn't believe her generosity.
"Welcome to the big leagues, Sean. You deserve it." Stephanie held her glass out to him, and he got the message and clinked his own into it. Sean was so taken aback. He had to thank her, show her how truly grateful he was feeling. It seemed for the moment, he was almost at a loss for words.
"Steph, I... I'm really quite humbled. I... Thank you."
She grinned at him, and her blue eyes completely lit up.
"No, thank you, Sean," she said. "You've been terrific, and you rescued me from Paul earlier. Thank you for that."
O'Haire hadn't been thinking of the earlier incident with Levesque for the better part of the two hours they'd been at the restaurant. He had questioned Stephanie early on, when he'd come by and whisked her away, but she'd basically shaken her head and said the man was an ass, but not much else. Now that she brought it up again, he wondered.
"What was that all about, anyway?" he asked. "What was it really all about?"
The young woman's face darkened, her smile fading. It was a shame that the subject of Paul Levesque should have to come up to dampen the mood. Things had been going so well.
She sighed, rolling her eyes as she set her wineglass aside.
"Paul is a bitter, insecure, jealous person," she stated. "Apparently, my idiot father gave him the details of your contract, and he's none too happy about them."
Sean arched an eyebrow. That was surprising news - at least the part about Mr. McMahon sharing information about a superstar's contract with another. It was wrong, unprofessional.
"Oh, is that so?" he asked, finding all of this news quite interesting. It didn't take a brain surgeon to realize that Stephanie's former fiance didn't like him. But it was quite another matter altogether that the man apparently felt threatened by him.
"Yeah. That's what we were arguing about. He thinks 'his' spot is being taken away." The blonde shook her head again. "Too bad he can't get it through his thick skull that he's not king of the universe. He really thinks he should be the next WWE Champion. He's so intimidated by anyone else who gets a main event push."
Sean actually found this bit of news amusing. Go figure that Paul Levesque hadn't approached him to confront him yet. On the other hand, when he'd originally come to the WWE several years prior, no one had had the guts to approach him in that manner. He guessed it was because everyone knew his reputation as being an expert in both karate and muay tai. It did bother him, however, that Levesque was taking his frustrations out on the beautiful woman seated across from him. She didn't deserve the aggravation that man bestowed upon her. He cocked his head as he eyed her, an idea crossing him.
"Stephanie, if you wouldn't mind it, I can have a word with him."
Her blue eyes widened slightly in surprise. She caught herself just in time to prevent herself from choking on the sip of wine she'd just taken and waved her hand at him.
"No, Sean... You don't have to do that," she insisted. Actually, she preferred he not do it. After all, knowing Paul, he would think Sean was trying to start a fight with him, and he'd no doubt think she put him up to it. Things would only get ugly in this scenario.
"All right. You're the boss."
Stephanie felt a smile blossoming again. This man made her feel so good about just about everything!
"Let's change the subject to something pleasant... A toast... To the future." She raised her glass again.
O'Haire smiled as he raised his own glass, clinking hers.
"To the future," he echoed.