An Affair To Remember: I won't let you Go.

by tarskeewee08

"Okay Nora spill it" Evangeline says cutting into her hamburger

Nora looks at her friend confused "Spill what?"

"Don't what me, Kevin has been asking me a million questions about you and Bo. I agreed to meet you at Rhodi's for lunch today to get the skive. What's going on with you two?"

Nora shrugs sadly "I kicked him out Van"
Evangeline stops cutting her burger and looks at her friend "You did?"
"He had the nerve to deny it, to tell me that he wouldn't betray us."
"Did you show him the letter?" she asked

Nora looked up "I sure did! Only to have him tell me it meant nothing. That he was sorry for the betrayal, begging that I now let it ruin what we have. Can you believe him!"

Evangeline sits back in her chair and looks at her friend. "I don't know Nora, I mean marriage is complicated we both know that, sometimes you have to forgive even the most painful things."

Nora puts down her salad fork and looks at her friend. "Are we talking about me or you?"
Evangeline smiles weakly "You of course"
"I don't think so, something is going on with you. Are you and Kevin back on track?"

Evangeline looks at her food, her appetite now gone. "I guess you can say that. I'm trying."

"Why Evangeline, you don't want this marriage and you don't love him."
"Don't say that!"
"It's true Van, what is really going on with you? What are you hiding from?"

Evangeline looks away and thinks about last night. He was getting married and yet he took her to bed over an over again. He let her believe that she was special. God that hurt, but to know that everyone knew the truth but her was humiliating.

She couldn't help but feel like a fool. She felt like it all happened yesterday. Everything was raw again, including her desires and unrelenting need to have him. After all that was said she still couldn't deny the soulful connection they shared. She made love to her husband pretending it was him.

She recalled her first time with him and how explosive it was. That night for her was her first time and he was the most romantic gentle lover she ever had. He claims to not be one to value women, well she couldn't tell by the way he swept her off her feet. Maybe he was telling the truth and what they shared meant something to him. Well if it did it took him 14 years to say so and that's one year to many.

"Evangeline.."

She looked up at Nora who was frowning "What's going on with you?"
"I…I think I'm in trouble Nora" she said weakly letting tears fall.

Nora reached across the table and touched her friend's hand "What is it? Tell me please"

The Palace

John opens the door and a young blonde man saunters in. He looks at the young bloke amused by his confident swagger and curious as to why he requested this meeting.

"What can I do you for Mr. Balsom?" John asked closing the door.
Rex turned around holding the photos in his envelope. "Actually Mr. McBain it's what I can do for you."

John slides his hands in his pockets and stares at him unfazed. "You have 10 minutes" he says dryly.

"And that's all I need" Rex says handing the folder over to John.
John looks at it but doesn't reach for it. Rex smiles "Trust me you want to see these"

Taking the folder from him John opens the flap and pulls out the pictures of him and his sunshine last night. Looking up at Rex he glares at him dangerously. "What do you want Mr. Balsom"

"Something you have plenty of Earl of Munster…. money"
John smirks putting the pictures back in the folder and then tossing them over to the table. "Now why would I give you that?"

Rex folds his arm "Because I can help you get what you want?"
"Which is?" John asked with a raised eyebrow

"Evangeline."

Rhodi's

"Now he's back Nora and I don't know what to do. I'm so torn"
Nora stares at her friend shocked "He's an Irish prince?"
Evangeline laugh "Something like that"
"My god, I'm your best friend why haven't I heard about him before?"

Evangeline shrugs "He hurt me and I chose to forget him. After learning the truth I'm not so sure if I can anymore."

"So you want to stay with Kevin? I mean according to you this John guy is like the love that got away…what's the choice? You don't love Kevin anymore"

"I'm so sick of everyone telling me that! I love my husband."
"Evangeline.."
"NO! I love him, I may not be in love with him but I love him dammit!"

Nora frowns "And you don't see the problem in that? Hell I love cheeseburgers but I gave them up last month."

Evangeline looks at her friend then burst into giggles. She does too and they can't control them. Covering her mouth she stifles her laughter and shakes her head. "I can't leave Kevin without giving my marriage an honest try, Nora. I haven't really tried since he slept with Kelly. I've been walking in a fog. I just need to be sure that my marriage is over."

"Well I don't know how you plan to try with that heart throb breathing down your neck. I saw him at the party and girl he's delicious. I've read all about John McBain. He's the most sought after bachelor in Britain. Have you turned on the TV and seen the women he's dated? My god Van he dated Catherine Zeta Jones before she married Michael Douglas. I can't believe he's the long lost love of your life. I can't believe he came back for you."

"You know I don't watch TV or read the rags you do" she said laughing drinking her coke.

"Whatever…the man looks hot!"
Evangeline laughed "Well he taste as good as he looks"
"Umm excuse me but what does that mean?"
Evangeline blushed "I kissed him last night!"

"At the Palace! Are you crazy? What if someone saw you and told Kevin?"
"Someone did…"
"Who?" Nora asked wide eyed.
"Blair and Todd"
"Good grief Van!" Nora snapped throwing her fork up on her plate.

Evangeline bit into her now cold hamburger to avoid giving an explanation. Nora watched her and shook her head. "You do need help because when Kevin finds out he's going to flip!"

"Who said he would find out?" Evangeline said swallowing her burger.
"Come on girl….do you think Blair of all people will hold on to this? Evangeline! She's Kelly's cousin she will tell her and Kelly will go straight to your husband!"

Shaking my head sadly I swallow my food "I don't know what to do Nora, I'm so twisted in knots over this."
"Face the truth. Your marriage is over! Get off your tail and start to live again!"
Evangeline looks at her friend and says nothing. She knew John wouldn't let up and she promised Kevin she would try. She didn't know if she was strong enough to follow her heart or dumb enough to ignore it.

Eating with her friend she smiled as she gave her the rundown on John's jet setting life. Looks like he was back to his old playboy ways after his wife died, how could she ever trust him? She didn't know what to do with Sir John McBain.

The Palace

"I don't want or need your help chap!" John said through his teeth.

Rex observed the heated glare McBain was flashing him and shifted uncomfortably on his foot, jockeying for a better position with him.

"Don't you want to know how I came about these?"
John said nothing.
"Her husband has had me tailing her for over two months. He's crazily possessive of her. Exactly what do you think he will do when I show him those pictures of you all over her?"

Rex watches as John's face darkens and he immediately regrets pushing this man. Hell he doesn't know what type of temper this man has or how far he would go to get his way. John looks him up and down and then takes a step toward him.

"I don't want Evangeline hurt." He says through his teeth. "Are you saying Kevin Buchanan would hurt her?"

Rex shakes his head "No, I'm saying he would hurt you"

John laughs and Rex finds his laughter mean and angry. He was certain of it now. John McBain was not a man easily scared. He stops laughing and glares at Rex. "Evangeline is not to be hurt. How much do you want for those pictures?"

Rex can't believe his luck. "A hundred thousand for each one, and you get the master roll of film."

John waves his hand dismissively "Done"
Rex smacks his lip satisfied. "Well thank you sir…" he says extending his hand.
John looks at the hand and doesn't accept it. "Rex is it?"
"Yes.."
"We aren't done Rex. You now work for me, and I will tell you exactly how to handle Kevin Buchanan."
Rex frowns at the penetrating stare from John's cold blue eyes. Somehow the tables were turned and he had a bad feeling that he just stuck himself in the middle of something much greater than him.

John smiled slyly. "Here is what I need you to do"

Buchanan Towers

Kevin slams his phone down angrily. Why the hell hadn't Balsom returned his call? He'd left message all day and nothing. Hearing a knock at his door he looked up to see Kelly.

"What are you doing here?" he says shocked
"Hey…" she says softly coming in and closing the door.
"Kelly leave! Leave before Evangeline sees you." Kevin says jumping up from his chair.

Kelly walks in shaking her head sadly "That's why I'm here Kevin. We need to talk"
"Not here dammit! I can't risk her seeing you ….we are too close to putting our life back together."

Kelly rolls her eyes. "It's been almost a year and you two are just putting things back in order?"

"Kelly leave!" Kevin hisses grabbing her arm.
"Meet me at Capricorn in an hour. I will get us a private room. I have something important to tell you!"
"Fine just go" he says dragging her to the door and opening it. She touches his face tenderly and he looks at her shaking his head. She drops her head and turns to leave "An hour Kevin it's important."

"Fine!" he says closing the door.
Kevin runs his hand through his hair nervously. He couldn't believe she showed up at the office. He would have to tell Pete to ban her entrance to the building. Looking at his watch he saw it was after 5pm and Evangeline should be leaving soon. Tempted to go to her he decides against it. He needs to see Kelly and then find Rex. Grabbing his briefcase off his desk he storms out.

Evangeline's Office

Evangeline closes her briefcase and turns to her file cabinet to put up her folders. She doesn't hear her door open then close, but she hears the click of the lock and turns around abruptly to see John standing inside.

"What are you doing here?" she asked confused
"I came to see you…"
"John…"
"I've decided to invest in BE, your husband has been notified."

Evangeline looks at him in shocked "You what? Don't you dare!"
"We'll need to go to Ireland right away to finalize things"
"Ireland?" she said shocked
"Yes you and Kevin will accompany me on my private jet."
"What are you up too? I won't leave the country with you! I don't want your company tied to BE"
"To late lassie I've signed the papers. Your husband wants this deal badly."

"John please…stop this." Evangeline says shaking her head. He's pushing her again and she won't allow it. Now he's dragging Kevin into it and that's not fair. What does he think he will accomplish by forcing her into a choice like this? Why is he so damn persistent?

John smiled walking closer to her desk. "I won't give up Evangeline, and I won't let you walk away either."

Blowing out a breath in frustration she slams the file cabinet. "Walk away? I can't believe you! You of all people should never try to lecture someone on walking away. Just leave!"

"I will leave but you are coming with me." He says now coming around her desk and getting in her space. She backs away frowning. "I can't, I won't"

He smiles and takes her hand. "You will"