Love Again (Read 992 times)

[bradydiva06]

I thought I'd add this one since Villa has dropped me the hit. lol ;D

Stephanie sat in the black leather chair and tried to distract herself from what was coming. She doesn’t even know why she is bothering; she knew when she did what she did, it could end this way. She was sort of anticipating this after everything all came out. Her palms seemed to instinctively sweat and her heat race, when she heard the door open and shut close.

She couldn’t bear to look them in the eyes. She couldn’t take their looks of disappointment or anger. She was ashamed of herself. She didn’t even know she had it in her, to do what she has done these past few months.

“I’m pretty sure you are aware, of why you are here, right now.” The person finally said to break the since. Stephanie simply nods. She couldn’t make eye contact with her, or she would definitely lose it. “You know I have to do this.” She stated now her voice was a little shaky.

“Yes I know.” Stephanie says with a sigh. “Just do it Lexie.”

Lexie shakes her head and has to remind herself right now Stephanie is just an employee. She has to have her business hate on, not her friend and family hat on. “I’m going to have to terminate your employment here at university hospital.” She stated quickly and trying to regain the authoritative tone in her voice. Stephanie feels like the wind has been knocked out of her. This is the first time that she has ever been fired. “When you accessed private information from a patients file, and then attempted to change the results in this test, it was a clear violation of the company’s policy. Plus it brings scrutiny to the hospital.” Stephanie couldn’t keep from letting out a small laugh at this statement, especially since she knows that Lexie has done her fair share of illegal things at this hospital. The fact that Carly Manning, got off with a slap on the wrist, after she ran the test under false circumstances. Today she is the only one getting punished for her actions.

“I’m just going to pack my things, and leave now.” Stephanie said while standing up and making sure she used an agitated tone when she stood up. “I wouldn’t want the hospital to get anymore scrutiny.”

“You don’t have to do that your things, they have already been packed.” Lexie informs her. Stephanie turns and looks at her with a bewildered look. She didn’t expect to be treated like a criminal. “It’s nothing personal Steph I’m just going by the protocol.” Lexie said while standing up from behind her desk. “I wish things would have ended differently. You were definitely an asset to this hospital. I had to do this.”

“It’s fine.” Stephanie said while blinking back the tears. She was determined not to cry. She had made it this long. “I’m sorry and would just like to thank you for the opportunity.” Stephanie said while grabbing her belongings and heading for the door. She wanted to leave as graciously as she could before she said something she regretted out of anger.

It seemed like every nurse and doctor on duty was standing at the nurse’s station. She saw that news traveled fast. They were all waiting for her to do her walk of shame. She looks over to the side and sees the security guard Aaron a cute young guy that she was very aware of his crush. He stood with a dopey smile and was watching while holding on to her with her belongings. She didn’t know she would have security already waiting with her belonging. She guesses they felt like she could flip out.

Since everyone was here and staring, she decided when she walked out, she would walk like she were a top model on a runway. When she notices her enemy Melanie Layton was there, she knew indeed she would be walking like this. She hated the day she steamed rolled into her life. She knew that she was trouble then, and she was definitely right. A small smirk swept across her face while they locked eyes. Stephanie could see the smirk was probably because she thought she was finally successful and had ruined her life. At the moment she did feel like it. She had lost her job and her fiancé all over this woman in just one day. She would never let her know that.

She turns away from her and glances over at Aaron who was staring at her. She smiles at him then winks and asks “I’m ready when you are?” he was obviously taken back by this and smiles and nods. She starts to strut to the elevator while he was hot on her trail with her belongings. She looks back at Melanie and smiles and waves goodbye to her before the elevator closes.

If only it were real goodbye, where she would never have to see her face again. She was ok with not working at the hospital. She really didn’t want to see Nathan go all gaga over Melanie right before her eyes. She knew he had no shame, and would do it, hell he already has done that enough this past year.

She was sure that he probably ran right over to Melanie, and told her that they were over right after their fight. If she asked he would deny it to her face. But yes she was the liar in this situation not him of course.

The one thing she regrets about all of this is not telling Philip he was going to be a father. At the time she was being selfish, she can admit that now. She did think that he didn’t want that baby, because of the ramifications that would follow if Parker was his. Deep down she knew that, if this baby was his he would not deny him, and he would be a great father despite what her grandmother or mother thought. They talked about the subject of kids many times when they were together, and he often talked about his desire to have a lot of kids. She could tell even if he wouldn’t admit it to himself that he missed his son Tyler more and more each day. She could see it in his eyes.

“Your stop Ms. Johnson.” Aaron said from behind her. Stephanie was so lost in thought that she almost forgot he was there or that they were even in an elevator still.

“Thanks.” She mumbles while stepping off the elevator. Aaron was still hot on her trail. Once she gets to her car she thanks him again and takes her boxes and stuffed them in her car and heads home.

She desperately needed to get away from the stares, the questions of her behavior, and the disapproving looks. She opens the door to her apartment, and sees more boxes and groans. This was just another reminder how her life was a disaster. Nathan walks into the room from what used to be their bedroom with more boxes in his hand. He stops in his tracks when he sees Stephanie standing there. “Oh I didn’t know you would be here.” He said softly while walking over to put these boxes next to the rest of them.

“It is my home.” She reminded him while walking into the kitchen. She was in need of a drink and a strong one at that.

“Well I mean I thought you were at work. I can come back later” Nathan said while jamming his hands in his pockets. She didn’t know if this was his way of trying to apologize for packing his things not even hours after their big fight or what, but she didn’t care. She was glad this charade was ending. She knows she lost her mind for a minute at the break up. Right now she was just done with everything. She was done playing second fiddle to that bitch.


“No need to come back later and no I don’t work at University Hospital anymore.” Stephanie told him while closing the door to the fridge when she sees there is nothing strong then milk in there.

“Really?” Nathan questioned her.

“Yes, so you and Mel can eye up each other all day long now with out worries.” Stephanie said while laying the sarcasm on hard and batting her eyes at him.

“Stephanie lets not go there.” Nathan said while walking back to his bedroom to get his things. He was desperately trying to play the good guy like he had no fault in this relationship. So he never wants to hear anything about him and Melanie. Even if he wasn’t physically cheating he was emotionally cheating with this woman. He let her into places he would never let Stephanie. He was using her till Melanie decided to divorce Philip. Why would she do that? She had two men’s full attention and she was loved every minute of it.

“Let’s go there. You would flirt with her right in front of me without even thinking of my feelings. She loved every minute of it. She wanted to dangle in my face that she had the two men that were attracted to me falling for her every word. She married Phillip even after she tried to get me to give you a letter professing her love and that she’d run away with you on her wedding day to Philip. If she had class and really did love you she wouldn’t write a letter she would have been a big girl and told you herself. She married Philip and was fine with dangling you both along.”

“Enough.” Nathan roared with his nostrils flaring. Stephanie was a little startled by his outburst. She had never seen him so enraged. I guess pushing the envelope about his saint Melanie was just too much for him. It sort of pissed her off that talking about Melanie would get such a rise out of him. She doesn’t know why she is surprised though. “Even if that were true-” He started and Stephanie shakes her head in disbelief that he still doesn’t believe that any of that could be true. Well it was true, and anyone in town could tell him this. “It doesn’t change the fact that you lied to me, repeatedly, for months. I wonder if one thing you told me, these past few months, was even the truth.” Nathan asked while walking past her to get the last box he had packed. Stephanie rolls her eyes he was good at always throwing salt in the wound before walking out of a room.

Stephanie walks over to the door and now opens it to help him get out. “I think I was the only one trying in this relationship.” Stephanie reminds him while putting on hand on her hip and using the other showing him the open door letting him know it was definitely time to leave. “I’m glad I don’t have to try anymore. So just leave.” She said firmly. Nathan grabs his things and heads out the door. She closes the door and leans against it this time to catch her breath. The last time she did this, she was begging him not to leave.

She shakes her head to get rid of that image. She hated who she had become to be with Nathan. After her last few relationships didn’t end as she thought, she was desperate to hang on to Nathan. He was everything she thought she wanted in a guy. He was the All-American boy from a good family with a great job, and he seemed to have great family values like her. She quickly found out that he was also a great user. She was good enough to get the label of his girlfriend, and good enough to keep his bed warm, but that was it he was waiting for Melanie.

She blinked back the tears she didn’t want to shed another tear over him. She looks around her apartment and it seemed so empty. It didn’t seem like Nathan had that many things here. She grabs her purse and heads back at her apartment. She thought she needed to be alone but right now this place was just bringing bitter memories.

She heads to the cheating heart and thinks maybe a game of pool would change her mind. She heads to the bar first and get herself a drink then heads over to one of the tables. She racks up the balls and sees someone come to her table. She sees a pair of prada shoes tapping the floor. She definitely knew this person wasn’t a usual customer. She looks up to see Vivian smiling at her. She definitely didn’t think she would ever seen Vivian Alamein in the cheating heart. Just by her facial expressions when she gave the place a look over and the frown that was creeping across her face.

“Stephanie dear its so good to see you.” Vivian said with a smile.

“We can cut to the chase. I know it’s not a coincidence that you are here. So what is it that you need from me?” Stephanie asked her while leaning against the pool table.

A smile curves against Vivian’s lips. She knew she liked Stephanie for a reason. She was a smart girl. “Well I don’t know if you knew this but I am not in full control of Titan.”

“You are?” Stephanie asked with a raised eyebrow. She knew that Philip and Victor must be flipping their lids over this.

“Yes and I wanted to offer you a position at Titan. I think you could really help this company out. You did great work here before.” Vivian said with a smile.

Even though Stephanie just got fired and was in need of a job desperately. She knew that with Vivian there is always going to be something more with her. There will be some type of ulterior motive. Before she could answer her request she felt someone stand behind her and she turns to see it is Philip.

“Leave her alone Vivian.” He warned with an icy stare.

“I’m not bothering her at all.” Vivian told him while returning the glare. “Simply offering her an opportunity at Titan.” Philip looks at Vivian stunned by those words.

“She can’t work at Titan.” Philip said quickly.

“Why not?” Stephanie demanded with her hands on her hips.

[fluffysmom]

Thanks for posting this new story BradyDiva. It's off to a great start.

[jaysdelina]

Good start.I hope to see more soon.

[MrsM]

Great start! Can't wait for more!!

[bradydiva06]

Love Again-2
“Why not?” Stephanie asked with her hands on her hip waiting for Philip to explain his outburst.

Why not? Philip could think of a million reasons why she shouldn’t accept Vivian’s offer. Half of them he couldn’t even verbalize them though, because half of them he wasn’t quite ready to admit them to himself. He knew for sure doing business with Vivian was like making a deal with the devil. He didn’t want Stephanie anywhere near the crossfire with her.

“Why not?” he repeated and now he lets out a hearty laugh. He stops when Stephanie’s eyes narrow at him and he could have sworn that daggers were piercing him with that stare. He holds his hands up to gesture at ease he meant no harm. “You just can’t trust her Steph. Look at what she did to Maggie and Melanie.”

He sees Stephanie’s head tilt a little and a small smile cover her face. He knows that her hatred with Melanie runs deep but he knew not this high. Stephanie was no killer. She snaps out of it and asks. “What did she do to Maggie?”

He had forgotten that he hadn’t told her what she did to Maggie. No one knew but his family. There was a time that he kept no secrets from Stephanie. Talking to her right now reminded him of that time and kept him at ease. He wondered how things could change this quickly because she kept one of the biggest secrets from him, for months with no problem at all.

“I did nothing at all to Maggie. She has particularly run around town trying to steal my husband. Just like Melanie ran around town stringing Nathan along. Disgusting isn’t it?” Vivian asked while taking a step closer to Stephanie. Stephanie nods her heads and he can see the tears welling up in his eyes. Philip had to fight the urge to pull her in close. He instinctively wanted to do that to her right now. He wanted to protect her from all harm.

He couldn’t believe Nathan stomped on her heart this way. He did a true number on her heart and he knew that the next man would have a hard time trying to gain access to her heart again. His eyes turn back to Vivian. He could tell she was really being a snake in the grass with her attack. He was dangling the apple right in front of Stephanie’s face to get her to do exactly what she wanted. Right now he could tell it was working. “Philip is simply overreacting.”

“Overreacting.” Philip retorted with a laugh. “You almost killed Melanie and you practically tormented Maggie. She will do anything to get what she wants Steph. She doesn’t care who she hurts to get it” Philip tried to plead with her.

“That is in the past. We are in the here and now.” Vivian tells him. “I can care less about that self-righteous bitch Maggie or your wife. While you and your father, were running around playing games. I was at home taking care of business.”

“Plotting to kill someone is hardly doing business.” Philip retorts.

“Nor is sleeping with your father in-laws wife.” Vivian reminds him of his own past mistakes. “But I do have control of Titan. I feel like Stephanie would be a great asset to the company. She did great work while she was there in the past. I feel she can do it again.”

“You’re in control of Titan now?” Stephanie asked with a raised eyebrow. She turns her direction back to Philip. He has no answers just breaks the stare and looks to the ground. So she knew it was true. She was wondering just how that happened. Philip and Victor usually never took their eye off of Titan. Things have dramatically changed at the Kiriakis Mansion.

“Yes dear.” Vivian told her now taking a hold of her hand. “The first order of business is hiring you back. We need some strong female influence in order to whip the company back into shape. Second order of business is getting these men back in shape. I suggested a corporate haircut for this one.” Stephanie smiles at this comment. She did have to agree with her on this one. Philip’s hair was a little long now. Philip stares at her and now she is holding her hands up to tell him at ease.

“So what do you say?” Vivian asked her. “I’ll double your salary at the hospital. I want you in control of PR at Titan.”

Stephanie eyes widened when she said she would double her salary. Only a fool would turn down this type of offer. She looks back at Philip and tells her. “I accept this over.” She sees Philip run his hair through his hair, like he does when he is frustrated.

“Good you’ll start early Monday morning.” Vivian told her while hurrying out of the Cheating Heart. It was like she didn’t want to be seen in this place for another second. Stephanie turns to look at Philip who was now racking the balls.

“Care to play?” he asked with a smile. He notices Stephanie shift her weight like she was contemplating it. He knew she was going to play.

“Only one game.” She insisted while picking up her pool stick.

He closes his eyes and remembers their first date here. That day he knew then he wasn’t going to let Ms. Johnson walk out of his life. He opens them and can’t believe how much had changed in two years.

“You didn’t want me to work at Titan because you want nothing to do with me at all right?” Stephanie questioned him while leaning over the table to break the balls. She was solids I was stripes like usual. He smiled when he saw that. He saw she misconstrued the smile and put down her stick and was ready to get her stuff and leave. He puts down his stick and quickly makes it around the table and grabs her hand turning her towards him.

“You didn’t even let me answer.” He said with a laugh.

“The smirk said it.” Stephanie said back while trying to wiggle out of his grasp. He brings hand up to the side of her face and pushes back the hair around her face. She felt her whole body tingle just from his touch. She pushed this feeling away and continued to scowl at him

“That was our problem in the past. We’d assume something and run away.” Philip told her bluntly. Stephanie was taken back by this. They really hadn’t discussed much of their past. After their break up they seemed to run into the arms of other people that they thought they wanted. That could help them ease the pain. “You just caught me reminiscing about us playing here. You are solid and I’m strips like old times.” Philip confessed to her. Stephanie sighs after jumping to conclusions.

“I’m just having a rough day.” She explained.

“Yes 2011 has started out rocky for both of us.” Philip told her while finally letting go of her and walking back to the other side of the table quickly. “Why don’t I want you at Titan? I don’t want Vivian using you as a chess piece to her sick games.” He told her.

“I can handle Vivian.” Stephanie told him.

“A lot of people have said that in the past Steph. She is a snake that plays on people vulnerabilities. She comes out squeaky clean after she ruined your life.”

“Why do you care?” Stephanie questioned him. “I thought you would be the first members of the I hate Stephanie Johnson fan club.” She retorted.

“I could never hate you.” Philip told her sternly. “I can be mad as hell at you but never hate.” He said with a laugh.

“Are you still mad?” Stephanie asked. He didn’t have to ask about what, he knew what she meant. He had to admit he was still angry, but more confused. He thought she would never keep a secret like this from him.

“Yes.” He told her softly. She couldn’t make eye contact with him any longer after that. “I’m confused about the whole thing. I thought you would have told me.”

“You don’t know how many times I thought about doing it.” Stephanie confused. “But Melanie told me you told her you didn’t want a child.”

Philip looks at her thinking at the time he didn’t. He didn’t even know why must people wanted to start a family right away, but something was holding him back from that type of commitment. He remembers telling Stephanie he wanted a lot of kids. If someone would have told him he’d be having 2 kids by two different women. He would have laughed in their faces.

“At the time I didn’t.” Philip started. “But I would never deny another one of my children again.” Philip couldn’t help but think about Tyler. He was thinking about him more and more each day. He wondered how he was doing right now. How tall was he? If he were to walk in the room right now would he even know? These questions plagued him more and more everyday. He opted to have a closed adoption now he wished he hadn’t. He wished he knew a little about what was going on with his son.

“I’m sorry Philip.” Stephanie said while trying to hold back the tears. It was useless they were freely falling now. “You will never know how sorry I truly am from keeping that from you. I swear I would never do something like that again.”

“I hope not.” Philip joked trying to lighten the mood. Stephanie laughs a little and he pulls her into his arms. He hopes she didn’t feel his heart beat quicken with this move. He was doing his best to play it cool. He wipes the tears from her face. “We all make mistakes. We just have learn from them.”

If only she would have learned the lesson quicker. Maybe it would have prevented a lot of the heartache they both had these last few months. Maybe she would have tried harder when she came to his house the first time in that blue dress. Maybe she would have given Nathan that damn letter and told Philip he was way too good for Melanie and she was way too good for Nathan. It seemed like on cue Melanie walked right into the room. She could feel Philip’s embrace stiffen a little and she pulls away from him cleaning her face quickly.

He forgot the whole reason he was here, was too meet up with Melanie, and to talk about their baby. He got swept away in memories for the moment.

“Mel.” He said softly. “We were just talking about a few things.”

“Like what her losing her job at the hospital today.” Melanie said while gazing over at Stephanie. Stephanie wanted to hit her. She hated how she tried to taunt her and throw her personal business around. Philip can see now why Stephanie was eager to jump at Vivian’s offer.

“I guess it’s the hospital’s lost.” Philip said while looking at Stephanie.

“That’s all you can say after she and her grandmother manipulated people’s lives.” Melanie said while crossing her arms across her chest.

“People do crazy things for love. I know we have done worse things.” Philip said while shrugging his shoulders. Stephanie never heard a more truthful statement. She definitely knew that was the case with her and Nathan now.

“I’m really busy Philip.” Melanie told him letting him know she was in no mood to hear excuses for Stephanie tonight. “You called me to talk about the baby and I want to make it quick.”

“I will leave the two of you alone to talk about Parker then.” Stephanie said while putting her stick on the table. “It was fun Kiriakis.”

“I had fun too.” Philip told her with that dimpled smile that always made her feel weak in the knees.

“We aren’t here to talk about Parker. We are here to talk about our baby.” Melanie informs her. Stephanie couldn’t believe her ears. Philip and Melanie were going to have a baby.

[villa281]

I hadn't realized that you had already posted Love Again, I'm sure everyone will love it.

[MrsM]

Great chapter!!!

[fluffysmom]

Great chapter. I really like this story.

[gapeach]

I never thought I would say this, but poor Stephanie... can't believe that Phillip is going to have three children by three different women . Guess his swimmers are Olympic material in these fan fics.

[gapeach]

Just realized this hadn't been updated in a while... hope everything is okay with bradydiva06,