A WOMAN APART: Chapter 22 - LISA AND JOHN

by tarskeewee08

John walked into his office and slammed the door. He was so angry he wanted to hit something. Kicking the chair in front of him he fought the urge to take it and throw it against the wall. The door opened and Antonio walked in "What's going on?" he asked concerned at the anger he saw on his friends face.

John paced with one hand on his hip and the other in his hair "I can't get through to her. No matter what I say or what I do I can't get through to her"

Antonio frowned "Who? Who are you trying to get through too?"
John shook his head "It's that mother of hers. She messed with her head and it's just beyond my control"

Antonio watched his friend and knew it must be Evangeline that he was talking about. "Man first you have to calm down"

John looked at him angrily "You have no idea how calm I've tried to be. Now its time to get angry. Its time to do something"

Antonio shook his head "Whatever it is between you two….anger is not the way to go."
John looked up at him confused "What?"

Antonio bent over and picked up the chair. "I met their mom and she's a trip, but from what I can tell she has used her manipulative ways to control those two. If you want to reach her man you have to let her reach out to you. Don't try to control her"

John looked at Antonio and got what he was saying "You got a point"
Antonio smiled "Of course I do."

John walked around to his desk and sat down. He'd been pushing Van to face her pain. Pushing as hard as her parents pushed her to cover it up. It was no wonder that she responded to him the way she did. No wonder it got out of control whenever he got to close. He needed to allow her to face it on her own. He would do what Antonio suggested and back off. He'd give her some space.

Evangeline walked into her office to find Eugene Barker waiting. She jumped at the site of him and had to cover her surprise. "What are you doing in here?" she said walking to her desk.

"My brother's pretty pissed" he said looking her up and down.
Evangeline rolled her eyes and sat down in her chair. "And that's my problem how?"
Eugene laughed "Remind me again why we never fucked" he asked licking his lips
"Oh that's an easy one, you turn my stomach. And please don't speak to me in that manner or I'll call security to drag you out" she said growing more uncomfortable.

Eugene stared at her lustfully "Sorry about the parting of ways between you and my brother but there will be some changes in the wind. I am extending you an invitation to be apart of my team"

Evangeline frowned "So that's what this is about, you set up my sister to piss me off and force me to drop your brother while he's still under a federal/state investigation. Then when the dust settles you become reigning king?"

Eugene smiled and walked around her desk to face her "I have a new partner and you come highly recommended in more ways than one." He said staring down at her looking into her blouse.

Evangeline moved so that his viewpoint was less intrusive "I beg your pardon? A partner? Exactly why are you here Eugene?"

Eugene stepped back and smiled "Just a friendly visit to let you know that I'll be in touch. Oh and I saw your sister, she's as tasty as you" he said walking toward the door.

Evangeline watched him exit and reached for the phone. She called federal prosecutor Davis to arrange a meeting. She wanted to deal with Eugene Barker now.

Layla walked into Capricorn and went to the bar. She'd had a wonderful time with Antonio last night. He taught her how to salsa and they danced until sunrise. She smiled to herself thinking of him.

"Beautiful smile" a voice said from behind the bar.
Layla looked up and saw it was the man with the dreadlocks she's seen a couple of times.
"Thanks"
"What would you like to drink" he asked leaning on the bar and flashing his pearly whites at her.
"A chocolate martini "she said bushing.
Extending his hand to her he introduced himself 'Name is RJ Gannon and yours?"
Layla accepted his hand shake "I'm Layla Williamson"
"Williamson?" RJ said raising his eyebrow "Any relation to Evangeline?"

Layla smiled broadly "Yes that's my sister" she said excitedly "How do you know my sister?"
RJ smirked "We used to be close"
Layla looked at him and got what he implied "Okay" she said uncomfortably
"So what do you do Ms. Layla?" he asked staring into her face
"I'm an actress" she said smiling.
RJ laughed "Really? Now why would an actress come to Llanview?"
Layla blushed "Long story and I'd rather not talk about it"

Handing her the drink RJ watched her closely as she sipped her martini. He looked up to see Eugene Barker step in the door and nodded. Eugene sauntered over to the bar and took the seat next to her. Layla moved over slightly and smiled at him still sipping on her drink.

"What's a sexy woman like you doing drinking in a bar alone" Eugene asked staring at her intensely

Layla looked at him and blushed at the compliment. She thrived on attention, which is why she wanted to be an actress. Years of being invisible to her family had left her with low self esteem. "Who says I'm alone?" she said saucily to the attractive Italian man.

RJ smiled "She's a feisty one"
Eugene looked at RJ "Just like I like em"
Layla rolled her eyes and played with the stem of her martini glass.
"She's an actress" RJ said staring at her
Eugene smiled broaden "Now that's interesting because I've produced several independent films out of Llanview"

Layla looked at him in awe "You're a producer?"
Eugene nodded and accepted the drink being offered to him by RJ."I sure am but there really only for serious actresses"
Layla nodded "I'm a serious actress and I've done a few plays too"
Eugene leaned in closer "These movies require a commitment that you don't get from a play. They have an adult theme"
Layla stared at him and then RJ and frowned "Porno?"
RJ and Eugene laughed. "Not exactly but they are erotic" Eugene replied casually

Layla felt uncomfortable and wanted to escape them both at that moment "I'm not interested in anything like that"
Eugene frowned "Here's my card. It's just an audition and if it's not anything you would want to do no sweat. Just hold onto it and keep all avenues open."
Layla looked at the card and after several minutes accepted it "Thank you" she said softly

Eugene smiled and winked at RJ "See you later bro" he said rising and finishing his drink
Layla turned to him "What's your name?"
"Just call me Gene" he said walking away.
Layla studied the card it only had 'Divas Studio' on it with a phone number and no name.
"Is he legit?" she asked RJ
RJ smiled at her. "As legit as they come." He said walking away.
Layla stuck the card in her purse. Maybe she'd check into it further she thought.

John couldn't concentrate…he sat at his desk staring at his paperwork and kept seeing Evangeline's face when she screamed at him for breaking her trust. A knock at the door caused him to come out of the simmering hatred he was feeling toward Lisa Williamson. "Come back I'm busy!" he shouted aggravated.

Lisa pushed the door open and stepped through it "Well this won't take long" she said nastily closing it and glaring at him.

John looked at the woman that called herself a mother and smirked "I was wondering when you'd pay me a visit"

Lisa smiled and walked to the chair in front of his desk and sat down. She never took her eyes off him and she saw the disgust on his face. She found that interesting since she hadn't bared her fangs to him. Not yet. "I'm here about my daughter."

John raised his eyebrows and leaned back in his chair "Really? What about her?"

Lisa put her purse in her lap and looked around "How long have you been a cop?"
"More years than I care to count" he said still staring at her with disgust

Lisa looked back at him "All you aspire to do is be a cop I assume?"
"Your point?" John was working hard to maintain his cool. He wanted deal with Lisa in the way you want to silence the school yard bully.

"My point is that you and my daughter are not a match. Evangeline has a promising future and its important she remained committed to it. Since I've arrived to Llanview she has been sullen and miserable. She's too much a sweetheart to tell you that there is no connection between the two of you, that's her mother's job"

John laughed, he couldn't help himself. Lisa was as crazy as she was dangerous. "Did it ever occur to you that your presence in Llanview inspired this mood?"

Lisa looked at him shocked "Excuse me, don't speak to me like that"

"I'll speak to you anyway I like. You're a controlling, manipulative, mean woman. The things you've done to your children make me want to throw you in a cell downstairs with all the other child abusers!"

Lisa put her hand to her chest and became flushed with anger "How dare you! You know nothing of my relationship with my girls"

John sneered at her and rose from his chair. He walked around and sat on the edge of his desk and leaned over to face her "You don't fool me. I see you. The real you. The woman that is sadistically happy when her children are in the most pain. Your antics destroyed something beautiful in your daughter. Something apparently you were jealous of. Her spirit. You tortured teenagers and forced a child to take his own life because you were too selfish to put the needs of your daughter first. Evangeline is accomplished. She became everything you and your husband wanted. And in exchange she gave up on any happiness of her own"

John narrowed his blue eyes on Lisa and leaned even closer "That makes you a monster. A cruel, sadistic, evil woman masquerading as someone's mother."

Lisa dropped her hand and glared at John "Okay, you want the truth here it is. Evangeline is my child. That's right detective….my child! No matter how hard you try to make her succumb with that pathetic example of manhood you tote between your legs….you'll never break the hold I have over her. She'll always strive to please me and her father. Because that's who I raised her to be."

Lisa smiled and leaned back into Johns face "I've known her since she came into this world. I taught her to walk and talk. She'll be what I want her to be whether she wants too or not. I tried to give you a break and let you escape my wrath. But you want war? You got it"

Lisa got up from her chair and headed to the door, she turned and laughed at the look of revulsion on John's face "Find another piece of ass detective, my daughter is off limits!"

John watched Lisa slam out and kept reminding himself that he didn't hit women. If he suspected that she was a monster he just saw the hard cold truth. She was that and much more.

How did Evangeline come from something like that? Antonio told him to back off and give her space. But he couldn't sit back and watch this woman play on her daughter's demons. He wouldn't do it. Some way he'd win this battle against Lisa. He hadn't begun to fight.