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Paul smirked to himself as he walked to the huge house. After his little run-in with Amy, he was feeling a bit hot and bothered. This was just the perfect excuse for him to visit Stephanie so early in the day.
He rang the doorbell, surprised when the owner and Headmaster of Cannon's Worth himself, Vince McMahon, answered.
"Good morning, Paul," the man said with a curt nod of the head.
"Mornin', Vince," the burly quarterback replied. He still got the feeling the old man didn't exactly like that he addressed him by his first name, but hey - they were practically family. And someday, they truly would be, since he was pretty sure he and the man's daughter would eventually get married... Maybe after college. "Steph up yet?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, she is," McMahon said.
"Great. I'll go on up and surprise her, then." Without waiting for another response, Levesque started up the huge mahogany staircase to the second level of the very spacious dwelling. He took the time to stare around in awe, as he did every time he was inside this place. It was amazing to think that anyone could possess the sort of wealth the McMahons had. But he had to grin at the knowledge that one day, all of it would be his.
Paul reached his girlfriend's room, but the door was closed. However, he knew she was inside, as he could clearly hear music playing within from her iPod stereo system. He smiled to himself as he envisioned her reaction. How surprised she would be to see him this early on a Saturday!
In a moment, the door opened, and Stephanie appeared. Her face initially showed surprise, but it very quickly reflected a completely different emotion, one that shocked him.
"Go away, you asshole!"
The brunette tried to shut the door in his face, but Levesque held it fast, forcing it back open. What was the meaning of this?
"What? Steph, what the hell kind of a greeting is that?"
She glared at him, looking so angry he almost thought she was possessed. He had never, to his recollection, ever seen Stephanie quite so mad.
"The kind I give to lying, cheating bastards!" she yelled. Quick as a flash, she sprang out and started hitting him with her small hands.
Jesus H. Christ! Paul thought. For someone so slim and dainty, she sure hits pretty hard!
"Steph, stop it!" he shouted, getting annoyed. As he tried to calm her down, he didn't even notice Shane as he emerged from his room to listen from just out in the hall. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not cheating on you."
"Liar!" the brunette growled. She struck out and slapped him hard across the face. "Don't you dare even try it! I'm not some idiot you can mess with, Paul! I heard you last night! You didn't think I did," she went on breathlessly, "but I heard you and Shane talking outside!" Tears were by now streaming down Stephanie's face. "About your little disgusting bet!" she spat.
Levesque stopped in his tracks, though his hands were tightly gripping hers in an attempt to thwart her from hitting him anymore. So, that was it... She'd found out. He should have been more careful. It was his own fault... Well, maybe not. Shane was prick enough to talk about things just outside his house, after all. No... He couldn't blame his friend.
"Steph, let me exp-"
"No!" she screamed, yanking free of his grasp. She tried to shove him out of her room. "We're done, Paul - done! Get out of my house!"
His heartbeat quickened most uncomfortably as he backed out, staring at her.
"But Steph-"
Her face contorted with fury again, Stephanie shouted, "Goodbye!" And she slammed the door in his face. He heard the distinctive sound of the lock being clicked into place. He knew he would never get in again.
Paul stood there, his mouth still open in shock, for a moment. He shook his head, running a hand through his hair. It was all very much to take in, but it had really happened. That was it... It was over.
He turned around to see Shane standing there with his arms crossed, a sort of smug expression on his face. He shook his head, a 'tsk' sound emerging from him. If Levesque didn't know better, he would have thought his friend was amused... enjoying this.
Paul tore his eyes away from Shane and started for the stairs. He had to get out of there, and right away.
"Hey, man... You want to call off the bet, that's fine."
The bigger man stopped to give him a look from over his shoulder.
"Not on your life, hotshot."
He made his way down the stairs as Shane's laughter echoed through the area.