Chapter 7
Julian was getting anxious. Eve did not want to listen to reason, what could he do? He wanted to make her understand that he loved her, but she was not being receptive.

A plan began to form in Julian's mind--did he have the nerve to do it? Thinking about Eve walking back out of his life made the decision for him...he would, and God and Eve forgive him.

"My dear, you seem to be very tired and worn, would you like to be taken home?" he asked, seeing her yawn and look at him wearily.

She nodded, grateful for Julian's perception and compassion. "I would like to get some rest before tomorrow, I'd appreciate that." She picked up her purse and began walking towards the door, Julian a step behind her. When they reached the foyer, Julian picked up the house phone and summoned the chauffeur.

Turning towards her, he smiled at her. " I still would like to hear about what you have been doing all this time. May we speak again? Tomorrow, perhaps?"

Eve shook her head. "I don't think that would be a good idea, Julian. I don't need Ivy or someone else getting involved in my life." She tried to ignore the pain in Julian's eyes, and the nagging feeling that she was hurting herself as well. Eve knew that she had to keep her past--THAT part of her past--hidden from everyone, especially Julian Crane.
 

"I understand." Julian took her arm as they went towards the car. Taking the chauffeur aside , Julian told him their destination. He then helped her into the limousine. Entering on the other side, he asked her where he could drop her off."Wherever you would like to go, my dear."

"Back to Harmony General, my car is still there," she answered,leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes. She was tired to the bone, and dealing with Julian again and his witch of an exwife had taken a toll on her mind.

"As you wish," he replied, knowing the driver would go where he had instructed. Eve barely heard him. He looked at her and noted her gentle breathing signalling that she was asleep--and how perfect, he thought, that she would not see where she was going. Later, he'd have his chauffeur pick up Eve's car at the hospital, after he retrieved her keys from her purse.

Julian hated having to resort to such measures, but he felt that he had had no choice. He loved Eve, and was not about to harm her--yet he remembered how determined she had been when she left him all those years ago. He couldn't take another blow like that....he loved her, and he could see that she still felt something for him as well. What he needed was time...time to have her realize how much he truly loved and wanted her, and she him.

Two hours later, they drove up to the Crane cabin. Getting out of the car, Julian gently carried Eve into the cabin, thanking heaven that she was still deep asleep. Walking carefully, he went into the master bedroom and placed her on the bed. He then went and got her keys, giving them to the chauffeur and instructed him to drive Eve's car back to the Crane mansion.

Watching the limo make its way down the hill, Julian inhaled deeply. What he was about to do now was abhorrent even to him...he prayed Eve would forgive him. Twenty-five years of being unloved was too much for him to bear--he would not lose his love this time.
 

Eve woke up several hours later, stiff and a little sore. Her mind a bit fuzzy, she remembered driving home with Julian--she must have fallen asleep in the car. She tried to rub her eyes, but she could not move her hands--what was wrong? Opening her eyes wide. Eve saw that her hands were tied with ropes--she was tied to a bed! Her arms were stretched across and tied to two posts, and her legs were bound as well. What had happened to her?

"Oh my God," she breathed, "I've been kidnapped! Where am I --who's taken me, why?" She tried to sit up, and managed a half sitting position. "Who has me here? Whyare you doing this to me?" Her eyes filled with tears of fright."Please let me go!" She heard movement in a room close by, and screamed even louder."Let me GO!"
 

To her eternal surprise, Julian walked into the room carrying a tray of food. He had a contrite look on hisface as he placed the tray on the table across fromthe bed. Turning to look at her, he answered the
question that she was too shocked to ask:

"Yes, my dear. I brought you here." Julian sat on the bed, and reached for her hand. Eve tried to pull away, but her wrist was immobilized by the nylon rope. " I needed to make you understand how much you mean to me--I honestly love you, Eve." At her paralyzed expression he continued," You would have ran again from me--I couldn't bear to let you leave again without you knowing how much you mean to me." He looked deeply into her eyes. "And how much I mean to you--you still care for me, Eve, I know you do. Why won't you let me in?"

Eve was silent no longer."So you KIDNAP me, and tie me up like an animal??" she said in a dangerously low voice. "How in the world do you justify this, Julian? You had better turn me loose now, or I will scream so loud the neighbors will hear me--or the next county, in fact!" she warned, struggling against the ropes.
 

"Eve darling, we're in the Crane cabin, 125 miles away from Harmony and about 100 miles from any 'neighbors'. I'm afraid we're rather secluded out here," Julian told her, wincing at the look of hate she gave him.
 

"What about my job! I can't not show up on my first day, I'm as good as fired!" she cried, tears overflowing now. "Why would you do that to me?" She stopped tugging at the ropes, her arms had begun to hurt. Where had he learned to tie someone up like a prize bull, she wondered angrily.

"I've already spoken to Dr. Walter--I told him you were on a special assignment for Crane interests--your job will be waiting for you," he explained, trying to reassure her. "Your car has been taken to the Crane estate while you are here." Julian moved closer to caress her cheek, but Eve turned her head away, not wanting him to touch her.
 

Suddenly Eve became very frightened--if Julian was capable of this, what else would he do? Could he do? She realized she was helpless at the hands of a very determined Julian Crane, who at this moment wanted something from her, so badly that he'd resorted to kidnapping and restraint. And she had no one who would look for her..... she lost that chance years ago...