A Diamond In The Rough - Chapter 26 (Julian, Eve, Whitney, TC, Ivy)
by EvianForever
 
 
 

Kathy Lyons was enjoying the luxury of a scented bubble bath in her apartment--it had been a very long day, and she was more than ready to call it a night. As she lay there, her tired mind went over the day's events, trying to prepare herself for tomorrow's challenges.

She sat up, her dripping hand covering her mouth in horror.

"Oh my God," she gasped, "I never called the guards!" Immediately she leaped out of the tub, grabbing the towel on the rack beside it. "Mr. Crane is going to have my head on a platter!" Tears sprung from her eyes as she wrapped herself in the towel and made a mad dash for her bedroom.

"I'm fired, I just know it," she cried as she hurriedly dried herself off. "I have to get in touch with Captain Wilkes right away!" She thought of Mr. Crane's instructions to message him if anything happened, but fearfully dismissed it--it was hours later, and he would be incensed.

"Maybe I can do this without him finding out," she thought in near panic. "I'll just call Captain Wilkes and everything will be all right." She snatched her day planner and cell phone and flipped through it until she found the number. Dialing the number, she held her breath as it rang several times, then hung up as it went to voice mail.

Kathy was in near panic mode as she grabbed her car keys. If the guards weren't answering, then that could mean that they were already on the premises of eithier Dr. Johnson's apartment complex or the Crane mansion. And if they were....and Mr. Crane found out that she hadn't warned them...her job was history.

"I'll drive to Dr. Johnson's first....then go by the Crane estate. Please let everything be okay!"
 
 



 

Captain Wilkes and Captain Morgan were pulling up to the Crane security gate shack. After determining that there was nothing amiss surrounding the area, Captain Wilkes had delegated two guards to secure the area while they headed to the Crane estate.

Karen punched in the code she had been given by Julian's assistant, and the security gates opened, affording them a spectacular view of the mansion. A smile curved her lips as she thought of the times that she had been here with Julian.

"Karen, I see that grin on your face--what are you thinking about?" Ally raised an eyebrow at her friend.

"Nothing Ally, why do you ask?"

"You're grinning like a Cheshire cat--I never saw work do that to you, so it has to be something else."

"All right, Ally," Karen gave in. "I guess I was thinking about Julian again."

"I thought you said it was a long time ago. Whatever happened, it's over now,"Ally quietly pointed out. "Are you sure you are up for this job?"

"I'm fine, Ally. It's just seeing the mansion--it brings back some pretty intense memories." Karen sighed deeply. "I can handle the job--I'm a professional."

"Professional, yes, but you're also human."

"Can we change the subject please, Ally? We have work to do," Karen's voice had an edge to it.

"Sure, sure--let's just get out and look over the grounds." Ally shook her head as they exited the car. She'd hit a nerve with Karen--she didn't want to push her any further. What was it about Julian Crane that he had this kind of effect on so many women, she thought.

The light of the day was waning, and Karen squinted as she stepped away from the car. She was still feeling prickles of irritation from Ally's questions earlier, when her cell phone, strapped to her hip, vibrated. She picked it up, then stared at it.

"Who called?" she wondered aloud, seeing her phone's MISSED CALL display. When she pushed to see the number, "UNKNOWN" flashed back at her. Pushing another button, she saw that no voice mail had been left.

"Must not have been important," she shrugged. She walked back down the drive leading up to the gate, then bent to examine some tire tracks on the lawn. They were at a skewed angle, and her eyebrows shot up. Now who would have dared to deface the property of Julian Crane...?
 


TC had left the Crane estate earlier--he had been talking to Ivy, who had implied that Whitney was in danger from Julian. Now he was meeting her again at the hotel--Ivy had hinted that she had a plan to rescue Whitney from Julian, but as she put it, she didn't want to discuss it over a cell.

"I'll kill that bastard," he thought. He couldn't understand how Eve could have let him anywhere near his baby girl. TC conveniently forgot that Whitney had avoided him when she had found out that he had hit Eve. "Nobody tries to hurt my daughter in any way and gets away with it."
 


Julian stepped away from the embrace that he had shared with Eve and their daughter. His heart was almost bursting with happiness as he viewed the two beautiful women who stood before him.

"I don't believe I could be any happier than I am right now," he breathed, his eyes still glassy. "We have a very lovely daughter Eve."

"Of course we do," Eve smiled, her arm still around Whitney. "She is the best of both of us."

"That she is," Julian agreed, a grin spreading across his handsome face as he saw Whitney blush with embarassed pleasure.

"Mom.....Father," Whitney managed,"You're embarassing me." Her almond eyes, so like her father's, twinkled at both of them.

"No need to be embarassed my dear, we are just telling the unvarnished truth." Julian went to Whitney and hugged her fiercely. Kissing Eve on the cheek, he led them both back to the living room, where they sat down on the couch. Smiling at them, Julian focused on Whitney and leaned forward.

"Whitney...your mother mentioned that you were currently attending university, and you were studying family law, is this correct?"

"Yes, sir--I'm hoping to work in family court, like child custody and support and related issues."

"That is wonderful, my dear," he smiled, full of obvious pride. Glancing at Eve, he then grinned. "Takes after me, wouldn't you say, my darling?"

Eve shook her head, but an indulging smile lifted the corners of her mouth.

"Apparently my genes had no impact on her, is that what you are saying Julian?"

"Not at all, Eve...Whitney of course has your exquisite beauty, and I am sure the quick wit to match. I was simply referring to her legal leanings towards a career," Julian sheepishly explained.

"I'll let that remark slide, since you are just getting to know her," Eve told him.

"Thank you, my dear. Now Whitney," he turned again to his daughter, "how are you managing to pay for school?"

"I've gotten grants and loans with her help, I'm all right sir."

"Whitney....if you'll allow me to, I would be more than happy to repay the loans that you have taken out. I want to help you in any way I can."

"Father, I'm fine--you don't have to, really. " Whitney was amazed that her father, even though he barely knew her, was willing to cover her student loans.

"Whitney, I don't know if you are aware of this, but I am a billionaire...and I would really love if you would at least me do this for you. I wasn't around to see you become the beautiful woman that you are today--and this would help ease a little of the pain that I feel from that lost opportunity."

She was about to protest again, but caught a look from her mother. Eve shook her head slightly, while her eyes urged her to agree.

"Thank you, Father.....I would like that very much," Whitney smiled shyly. She was suddenly enveloped in a bear hug from her father, which she returned with equal affection.

"You are more than welcome, my dear--thank you for giving me this chance." His eyes became glassy again as he hugged her.

Eve sat back and gazed at the two people she loved the most in the world. When she had first discovered that Whitney was Julian's child, she had never thought that they would meet and bond like they were doing now. Happy tears coursed down her cheeks.

"Eve, are you all right?" Julian looked over at her, a worried expression on his face. "You're crying, my love."

"I'm fine, Julian--just happier than I ever thought possible." Her cocoa-brown eyes shone with love at him.

The phone suddenly rang, startling them all. Whitney got up from the couch, and went over to the phone. While she was talking, Julian went to sit by Eve, reaching for her hand to place a kiss on the palm.

"Julian!"

"I'm not doing anything but kissing you, my beloved."

"Whitney's just over there!" Eve tried to whisper sternly, but it was difficult as Julian began kissing a trail up her arm.

"She's on the phone, Eve--"

"Father?" Whitney came towards him, a strange look on her face. She held the phone out to him. "It's for you....she says she's your wife."

"Wife? What the hell-"Julian took the phone from Whitney. "Ivy, you deceitful bitch, this had better not be you!" he roared into the phone.

"Why Julian, that's no way to talk in front of your daughter and her whore of a mother. What kind of role model are you going to be for her?" Ivy taunted.

"Unless you want me to strangle you with my bare hands, tell me why you are phoning Whitney!" Julian's veins stood out on his forehead."

"It's simple, ex-husband mine--pay me the alimony you owe me, or I'll have to resort to other means to persuade you."

"You forget who I am, Ivy, your pathetic threat mean less than nothing to me."

"TC Russell is more than a pathetic threat. Care to hear more?" Ivy could almost see the horror on Julian's face.
 
 
 

Chapter 27
Chapter 25
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