A Diamond In The Rough(Julian, Eve, Whitney, Ivy, TC)--Chapter 23
by EvianForever
 

Chapter 23

Ivy glared at TC--this man was certifiable, she thought. How he actually managed to get dressed in the morning was a mystery to her. As much as she already disliked Eve Johnson with a logic that defied all reason, Ivy almost felt sorry that Eve had been married to such an oaf.

Almost.

For now, however, she had to string him along--it wouldn't do for him to throttle Julian or Eve until she had succeeded in getting Julian to give into her demand for money. She had to throw him a bone.

"You said you know where Eve and that bastard of a husband of yours is right now--so what are you waiting for? Tell me!" TC's eyes flashed angrily.

"Must you be so primitive? Of course I know where they are. They're--" Ivy thought quickly--"They're at Julian's mansion." Even if TC did go there, like the raving lunatic he was, Ivy knew Crane security would have him trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey. And it would be certain to get back to Julian, even in his absence. " A warning shot across the bow, she thought

"Oh yeah? Where is this 'mansion'--I think I need to pay Eve and her pimp daddy Crane a little visit," he smirked.

"All you need to do is to catch a taxi outside--tell them you want to go to the Crane estate. It's the largest house in town, it would be kind of hard to miss," Ivy said with poorly concealed sarcasm.

"You know, you can be quite an arrogant bitch."

"Boo-hoo, I'll be sure to cry into my hankerchief later. Now, aren't you going to take care of business chez Crane?"

"Say what?"

Ivy shook her head. Except for her dearest love Sam Bennett, there was little to be said for the working class.

"Never mind. Just make sure you mention that I sent you."

"Why?"

What a pathetic moron, Ivy thought wearily to herself. Put a harness on him and he could rival any farmer's jackass.

"Juat do it--it will make my revenge that much sweeter."

TC shrugged as he looked at her. This Ivy Crane was a real piece of work. He almost felt sorry for Julian Crane having been sentenced to live as her husband.

Almost.
 


Whitney Russell hung up the phone, a pensive look on her face. Her mother had just called, and after assuring her that everything was all right, told her she was coming for a visit.

"Mom, I don't want to see Daddy right now. He hurt you, and I don't want anything to do with him."

Eve had sighed--this was going to be difficult.

"No, sweetheart. I mean your real father."

Whitney had gasped.

"You mean...Julian?"

"Yes, Julian. We'd like to drive out to see you--he wants to meet you, Whitney."

Whitney ran her hand across her forehead in vexation--this was not something she had expected, or wanted to deal with right now.

"Mom, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Whitney, trust me, I know how awkward this is."

"Mom, you told me he didn't want to marry you at that time--he didn't love you."

"That's what I believed at the time, honey. I didn't think he loved me." Eve stopped to take a breath."Now..he realizes he was wrong. And so do I."

"Mom, you're not falling for his story again, are you?" Whitney was incredulous. "How can you believe anything he says?"

Eve had smiled to herself--she couldn't blame her daughter for being suspicious of Julian's motives. She had felt exactly the same way.

"Whitney, I'm not asking you to do anything else but meet him, for now. He wants to see you--all I ask is that you be respectful to him. Please do this for me, sweetheart."

"Fine, Mom--when are you coming?" Whitney knew her mother would not let it rest until she acquiesced--she might as well get it over with.

"We are actually on the way there now--we should be there in about 2 hours, " Eve had confessed. Next to her, Julian looked as nervous as a cat. "See you soon!" With that, Eve had disconnected the call, knowing that Whitney was going to be furious with with the short notice.

Whitney looked in the mirror at herself. She had known for some time now that her biological father was Julian Crane--her mother had told her everything after the car accident--but she was not altogether certain that she was ready to face him.
 
 


In the limousine, Julian was cracking his knuckles, and Eve smiled indulgently at him. He really was frightened at the prospect of meeting their daughter, she thought sympathetically.

"Julian, are you sure you are all right?"

"What-oh, yes, my dear, I'm quite all right," he assured her. "Whyever do you ask?"

"I've never known you to crack your knuckles. Why don't you let me try to help you to relax?" Eve picked up his right hand and began massaging his fingers, starting with the index finger. As she applied gentle pressure, Julian began to look less anxious, and soon a smile appeared on his face.

"That is just what the doctor ordered," he grinned, "but I think I know of a better way to help me relax, my darling." With that, Julian pushed the button that raised the divider window so that they were unseen by the driver. He then turned to look at Eve, a devilish smile on his face.

"I must say that you look absolutely enchanting in your new clothes," he complimented her. After they had left the cabin, he had declared that for such a momentous occasion as meeting their daughter ensemble demanded that he purchase them new apparel. Eve had on a black Dior pantsuit, and he was, as Eve had put it, "looking pretty darn good" in Armani.

Eve had thanked him graciously, which Julian dismissed in an off-hand way.

"Eve, I am obligated to supply your every need--after all, I did abduct you, my love."

Now Julian was looking at her with passion glazing his hazel eyes. Eve recognized the look and the intent behind it, and raised her hands in protest.

"I don't think it would make a very good impression on our daughter if we met her looking like we had just made love,"she chastised him.

"Whatever do you mean, Eve? I'm not up to anything. That's your overactive imagination at work, my dear."

She had to laugh, for he had widened his eyes in an attempt to look innocent.

"That is not going to work, Julian. I know you too well,"Eve said, sliding across the seat, but Julian grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips for a kiss.

"On the contrary, Eve, vice versa, I know you very well too Eve--intimately, I'd even say," Julian purred as he turned her hand over to place another kiss on her palm.

"Julian!" Eve tried to pull her hand away, but Julian was too quick for her as he took possesion of her other hand. Eve looked exasperated for a moment, but then smiled in spite of herself .

"I don't know what I am going to do with you, Julian,"she declared.

"Just say that you love me, and I will thank God in heaven for the rest of my days, " Julian whispered as he leaned in to kiss her. Eve's lips softened under his, and Julian hugged her to him as they were driven to meet their daughter.
 



 

Kathy Lyons, Julian's assistant, was getting ready to leave for the day--all the day's work had been taken care of, snd she was dead tired on her feet. She was actually relieved that Mr. Crane wasn't there, for he would have run her even more ragged with various details. True, he usually gave her carte blanche to order whatever food she liked when she worked late, but she was tired.

"All I want to do is go home and dive into a bowl of Cheerios," she said wearily, as she left the office. She was so tired, she did not remember that she still hadn't gotten in touch with Captain Karen Wilkes and Captain Ally Morgan.
 


TC got out of the taxi after tipping the driver. He looked up at the Crane mansion, and his lips curled into an ugly sneer.

"Nice place, Crane--you'll look good buried in here."
 
 
 

Chapter 24
Chapter 22
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