Chapter 76

Olivia knew she owed Carly an explanation but that didn't stop her from being angry with her. 'In the first place, why do you have it?' she demanded. 'Why did you take it out of the frame?'

'Ciara chased the dog to your room and accidently knocked it off the dressing table. Naturally after she owned up, I went upstairs to sweep up the glass and I picked it up, meaning to get it re-framed for you. But then I saw the inscription. Olivia, you've been lying to your father and me. You're involved with E.J DiMera, aren't you?'

Olivia wished she was in the mood to laugh at the sheer irony; busted right after her relationship with E.J ended. What else was there to do except tell her mother the truth. 'I was.'

'My God!' Carly exclaimed, getting up. 'E.J DiMera? He's almost twice your age! He's Sami's ex-husband, not to mention he's Stefano DiMera's son!'

It wasn't something I bloody planned, all right?' Olivia replied harshly. Carly shook her head, still filled with shocked disbelief her daughter has been consorting with a sworn enemy of the family. Bo and Roman would throw a major fit. 'Have you been sleeping with him?'

'No, he never touched me and it was more for my sake than his own!'

'Then what the hell does he want with you? I know you're not a child but still...!'

'I told you, I didn't plan this. We met the day after you moved back here and after Shawn D and Grandy told me everything, I wanted nothing to do with him. Then I met Nathan but E.J kept bothering me and… I felt attracted to him. But I realized I was in love with Nathan so I told E.J nothing could ever happen between us.'

Agitated, Olivia ran her fingers through her curls; pacing. 'But after Nathan left, E.J and I… we became close after I got hurt in the accident. He said he was still love with me. It was a force bigger than me, Ma; I fell in love with him in return.' Tears ran down her cheeks. 'And I fell hard.'

Carly moved to her, enveloping her in a close hug before drawing her to the couch, sitting next to her. With her mother's silent encouragement, Olivia told her the whole story.

Carly didn't know what to think. Even though he stepped up when Olivia's life was in danger, E.J was a DiMera and from what she heard, as ruthless and notorious as his infamous father and he and Sami shared a very troubled history. How could her daughter get involved with a man like that, of all people? She looked at her daughter carefully. Their relationship, thanks to the strange circumstances they lived in, had been more of best friends and equal partners than mother and daughter. By the time Olivia was ten the little girl was gone forever; developing mentally and physically way too soon. The eighteen year old sitting next to her was a grown woman so Carly knew there was no way she could say something like "you're grounded" to her or issue any form of punishment. Instead, she slipped her hand into hers, squeezing it.

'I'm so sorry for lying to you and Dad.'

'There's nothing to be sorry about, kitten.' Carly assured her. 'But you got to understand, EJ DiMera is a bad lot.'

'He's a changed man.'

'A man like that can never change; believe me. Remember, I've been there.'

'If you just see him the way I've seen him, you'll believe what I'm telling you. He loves me. Twice he's saved my life. The man everyone's been warning about doesn't exist.' Olivia pleaded.

'Olivia, you can't see him again. You just can't.' Carly said firmly. 'This isn't right and you know it. His history more than his age is the huge point against him and I'm not going to stand by and watch EJ hurt you the way he hurt your cousin. And I won't let history repeat itself; your life forever plagued by a notorious, obsessive man. You must never see him again, understand?'

'Well you don't have anything to worry about because he has already dumped me, it's over.' Olivia said bitterly. 'He saw Nathan kissing me at the Pub and said he never wanted to see me again.'

'Are you sure?'

Olivia nodded, a sad look on her face.

Carly hesitated before replying. 'I don't want you having problems with your father over this and since you say it's over between you and EJ; there's no point of telling him. But in future, Olivia; I don't want any secrets between us. We never had in the past and I don't want to think there'll be a time when you feel you can't confide in me.'

'That time will never come, I swear it.' Olivia promised, hugging her. 'Again, I'm sorry for lying to you.' Swallowing, she added, 'I won't see EJ again either.'

Carly nodded. 'You're well rid of him. He wasn't right or appropriate for you anyway. It hurts right now but in time you'll get over this, this attraction you feel for him.'

'That's what hurts the most,' Olivia said quietly. 'My love for him is all too real. And now I have to let go of it.'

Olivia got the sketch reframed and kept it in her drawer. True to her promise, Carly said nothing to Bo and hoped Olivia would keep hers.

Olivia knew her mother had her best interests at heart and loved her all the more for it, yet she felt Carly had a lot of nerve talking to her about appropriateness. Of all the men in Salem she chose to move on with after Bo kept rejecting her; why did it have to be Victor Kiriakis, his biological father? She felt ashamed immediately for that thought, considering it was a time Carly really regretted, that and her time with "James". No, she couldn't think that way about her mother. Instead she decided to simply try and forget EJ DiMera even though her heart was breaking.

::::::::::

'You've barely touched your meal, Olivia. Are you okay?'

Olivia raised her eyes to meet Nathan's concerned face. 'I'm fine. And the food's delicious.' She assured him, digging her fork into the poached salmon. Poor Nathan was really making an effort and EJ never called her after that fateful night. She missed him terribly but maybe Carly was right, she needed to forget him. Time was a great healer, half the time. And she was tired of crying herself to sleep.

'Look I understand you still feel cautious but I want you to know, I'm willing to take things slow. No rush, okay?'

'Okay.' Olivia smiled faintly.

Nathan smiled back at her. She looked very beautiful in her white silk dress and from the looks the men were giving her he was the envy of every one of them. He and Olivia were bonding again, only a matter of time before they were back to where they were in the beginning.

Taking a sip of her iced seltzer, Olivia glanced round the restaurant; thinking how ironic she could have dinner with her ex while she and the man she loved had to sneak off so no one would see them. Just why did this have to happen? She felt she was living in limbo.

Nathan saw that Olivia still looked pensive. 'Whatever it is, can't you tell me?' he encouraged.

Olivia shrugged. 'I guess I'm just worried about my mother. Having to live in fear of this stalker and wondering when he'll be caught.'

'Your dad, Steve and Roman are going to find him and she'll never have to worry about Dean Hartman again.'

'I still don't understand why he picked her. She wasn't even here when he kidnapped Ciara.'

'Bo was the one who arrested him, probably it's his sick way of trying to get even. But don't let it ruin our evening okay? Let's see that smile.'

It was the last thing she felt like doing but she managed to all the same. She just wanted to go home.

After desert, Nathan asked her to dance with him. As they moved to the music, Olivia looked over his shoulder and stared in horror as EJ entered with a woman with blonde hair. The maître'd ushered them to a table and EJ sat down, his date opposite him. Just as EJ accepted the menu, his eyes wandered then met Olivia's.

Olivia stared at him, unable to look away, filled with pain and anger.

EJ stared back, longing for her and hating Nathan Horton. He'd forbidden Stefano from asking her anything, telling his father to mind his own business in the matter. Many times he wanted to call her, tell her he was sorry. But now watching her with Nathan, who was closer to her in age; he felt he made the right decision. Tearing his eyes away, he focused his eyes on the menu in front of him.

'Olivia, what is it, honey?' Nathan asked, filled with alarm at the sight of tears in Olivia's eyes.

'I can't…. I can't do this… I just can't…' Wrenching herself away from Nathan's arms, Olivia fled the restaurant with Nathan at her heels.

EJ saw her run and it took a lot of effort not to go after her.

'Olivia, stop!' Nathan grabbed her by the arm outside. 'What the hell's going on, why did you run out like that? Did I do something wrong?'

'No, no you didn't.' Sniffling, Olivia slipped her arms round his neck. 'I'm sorry, it's not you; I swear.'

Nathan held her tightly in his arms, upset and worried. 'Tell what it is then. Let me help you.' he pleaded when Olivia pulled back.

'I can't tell you Nathan; not now, anyway.' Olivia wiped her tears with the back of her hand. 'Take me home, please.'

:::::::::

'A package just arrived for you, sir.' The young officer handed Bo a thick envelope.

'Thanks.'

'Like I was saying,' Steve continued, 'I think Dean's got a partner. He's hiding himself damn too well yet he's able to drop his "gifts" right under our noses.'

'Well, when we do catch him; I'll show the son of a bitch what I think of his "gifts" to my wife.' Bo growled, reaching out for a letter opener.

'I'm going to call the warden, find out who Dean shared a cell with before he broke out. Who knows, maybe he might have said something or confided in him.' Roman decided.

'Bo, what is it?' Steve asked, noticing the look of sheer disbelief on his brother-in-law's face as he shuffled through what he'd pulled out of the envelope.

'What the hell...' Bo said, his brown eyes glinting in anger. 'Is this somebody's idea of a sick joke?' He slammed the photographs on his desk.

'What is that?' Steve took one and stared in amazement. 'You've got to be kidding...'

'Bo, come on, these are obviously fake!' Roman exclaimed, leafing through them. 'You can't possibly think they're real; nothing more than some stupid photo shop work. Dean's just trying to mess with us some more.'

'Maybe,' Bo's voice was ominously quiet. 'But I'm having them analysed at the lab all the same.'

::::::::

E.J locked his car and was crossing the street to grab a cup of coffee at The Java when he found himself face to face with Bo, whose face was a picture of fury.

'You filthy bastard; I'm going to kill you!'

Before EJ could back away, Bo's large fist landed on his jaw, causing him to stagger.

'What are you talking about...' EJ exclaimed as Bo grabbed him and punched him again, slamming his knee on EJ's ribs. People nearby stared in astonishment at the sight of the police commissioner beating up EJ DiMera who was not even defending himself. Or rather he had no chance to defend himself; Bo's vicious punches and kicks rained like bullets on him.

'If you ever touch my daughter again, if you so much as look at her; I'll break all your bones, do you understand me, you son of a bitch? You stay away from her!' Bo roared over his prostrate form on the ground.

EJ was in too much pain from the beating to reply, but managed to nod his head; at the back of his mind wondering how on earth Bo had found out and hoped he wouldn't be too hard on Olivia.

Olivia... he missed her.

::::::::

Olivia finished the paper she was assigned to write. Thanks to the strict, pompous tutors she had back in Alamainia, she was far ahead of the other students in her class and it was a done deal that she will leave Tamara and the others behind and begin college next term. It was a sobering thought and Tamara and the others weren't happy about the idea of losing their friend but the teachers and the principal have already approached Bo and Carly to let them know Olivia was more than ready to move on to the next phase of her education.

Olivia rubbed the side of her neck. Three colleges have sent acceptance letters; NYU, Berkley and Harvard- all far away from Salem, away from her family... away from EJ. The night she saw him at the restaurant with that woman, she'd cried herself to sleep again and in the morning hated herself for her weakness. The letters from the colleges were in her drawer. All she had to do was pick a college and put some distance between EJ and herself. The trouble was, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

She jumped as Bo barged into her room, his eyes burning with anger as he stared at her. At the doorway stood Carly, her face white.

'How could you, Olivia? How could you lie to me; make a fool out of us, go against your own family?'

'I don't know what you're talking about.'

'Oh? What's this then?' he snarled, throwing an envelope at her, which she caught before it hit the ground.

Olivia opened it, her eyes widening at the photographs of her perched on EJ's lap in his car, EJ kissing her. 'Where... where did you get these?'

'I'm the one asking the questions, young lady! You've been lying to us the whole time, you've been involved with EJ DiMera!'

'Dad...'

'How could you be sleeping with that bastard, do you realise the consequences of what you've done?'

'We've never had sex! How dare you assume that without even asking me first!' Olivia shouted back.

Bo grabbed her by the arms to shake her but Carly rushed forward, placing herself between them. 'Bo, please no!' she pleaded; pulling Olivia away him.

'Are you listening to her? She's not even ashamed about it!' Bo shouted.

'I'm ashamed I lied to you.' Olivia replied, her voice shaking. 'But I'm not ashamed for loving EJ. He saved my life and he's done nothing but love and respect me; he never touched me the way you're implying.'

'He's trash, the son of a gangster! You have any idea how many people he's hurt besides Sami. You think you know the man you're bent on protecting? How long has this been going on?'

Defiant silence.

'Olivia so help me, answer the question before I...'

'Bo please... calm down. She's not even seeing him anymore...' began Carly then realised her mistake by the stunned look on his face.

'Oh my God... you knew and you kept it from me?'

Carly swallowed then nodded. 'Yes. It was wrong of me and I'm sorry. But she told me it was over between them and I didn't tell you because I wanted to prevent what is going on right now from happening!'

Bo stared at his wife as though seeing her for the first time. 'I can't believe this... Carly.' He walked out of the room. Glancing at Olivia helplessly, Carly hurried after him.

'Bo, please listen...'

'You kept this from me.'

'I was trying to protect my daughter.'

'Our daughter, Carly; ours! She's my daughter too. How could you keep this kind of secret from me? I have the right to know that our daughter was involved with that bastard! Suppose he raped her, like he raped Sami; would you have kept that from me too?'

'Bo, don't talk like this, I was just trying to...'

'Just stop.' Bo growled. 'Not telling me about this was one thing but keeping a secret at all is another. I thought we've gone past having secrets between us. Before we got married you promised you'll never hide anything from me ever again. Looks like it's one habit you just can't rid of.'

Carly couldn't say anything and Bo shook his head. 'I'm so disappointed in you.'

Olivia came downstairs and found Carly alone in the living room, hands covering her face. 'Mum?' she walked over to her, placing her arms round Carly. 'Where's Dad?'

'He stormed out.' Carly said quietly.

'I'm so sorry... this is my fault. You were only trying to protect me.'

'It's not your fault, kitten.' Carly assured her.

'When he comes back, I'll apologize; I'll tell him I begged you not to tell him.'

'No lies.' Carly shook her head. 'I stand by my decision. I just hope he'll understand that, once he calms down.'

However, Bo refused to speak to either of them when he came back; maintaining a cold, sullen silence to their distress.

Roman was really disgusted at the idea of his ex-son-in-law with his young niece while Steve was glad to hear Bo beat the bastard up. As for Stefano, he demanded to know what happened but EJ kept his mouth shut. The last thing he wanted was for Stefano to carry out some form of revenge on Bo. And he was very worried about Olivia. While he lay in bed, trying to get some sleep in the middle of his pain, his cell rang.

'EJ, it's me, are you alright? My father didn't hurt you, did he? I've been so scared for you.'

EJ closed his eyes, feeling Olivia's voice was like a balm to his wounds. 'The commissioner paid me a visit but I'm fine.'

'I don't believe you. I saw his hands; he hit you, didn't he?'

Silence and Olivia made an impatient noise. 'EJ please... I've not been able to rest easy about this.'

EJ gingerly shifted. 'Just a little bit; no major harm done.'

'Oh my God... my father has a terrible temper; I can just imagine what he did to you!'

'I'll be fine, love.'

Silence then, 'you just called me...'

'That's right. My feelings haven't changed.'

'Nor have mine.'

'Can you meet me at the docks tomorrow night?'

::::::

Olivia locked her door and climbed down the tree near her window; slipped past the guards who were still posted outside and took a cab.

'EJ?' she called on arriving at their meeting space.

'Over here, angel.' EJ stepped out of the shadows.

'Oh my God…' Olivia covered her mouth in horror. EJ spotted two black eyes and livid bruises all over his face and he limped as he walked up to her. 'Oh my God… my God…' she walked up to him, holding his face between her palms as his arms went round her waist. 'I'm so sorry…'

EJ shook his head. 'He just reacted like any father would. I'm alright really.' His arms tightened round her. 'Your phone call and coming here… it really means a lot to me. After the way I treated you…'

'No…'

'I hate myself for what I said to you that night.' EJ touched her face, tracing her cheek with his fingers. 'God...I've missed you so much.'

'I've missed you too,' Olivia kissed him lightly on the mouth. 'I'm not with Nathan... I swear.'

'I realise that now, it's all right. How are things at home?'

'Dad's not talking to me, or my mother. She found out first and chose not to tell him. He's very angry with us.'

'Ah hell…' EJ shook his head.

'What now?' Olivia asked. 'What do we do?'

EJ sighed heavily, taking her hand and leading her to a bench. 'When you called me, I was making a decision about us.'

Olivia's slim fingers gripped his hand. 'Do you want to end this?'

'Do you?'

'How can you ask me that… of course not.'

'You realize… us seeing each other will be very difficult now, more or less impossible. I don't care about myself but I won't allow you to be the victim of slander from the whole town or to be an outcast from your family. My head tells me to give you up, to end this but my heart keeps telling me otherwise… Olivia Brady, I love you more than life itself.' His voice shook a bit.

Olivia's eyes filled with tears. 'I love you too.'

'This is very hard for me. But I feel it's the right thing to do, the best thing for us for now.' EJ swallowed. 'Believe me when I say this, this is the most difficult decision I've ever made.' He paused and continued, looking deep into the green eyes he loved so much. 'I'm leaving Salem.'

'What?' Olivia whispered.

'It's the best solution…'

'How is the man I love leaving me the best solution!'

'Olivia, listen to me. I'm doing this for us, especially for you. You won't be allowed to see me, no matter how we try to. I want to be with you so much but if your family shuns you because of me, I'll never forgive myself. Maybe you should give me up, that would be easier… move on with your life.'

'No, no…' Olivia began to sob, slipping her arms round him. 'Don't ask me to do that, please. I know what's in my heart… you. And I know you. Please don't EJ, please.'

EJ hugged her back, one hand stroking her hair; feeling the tears stinging his eyes. 'Are you sure about this?'

Olivia's arms tightening round him was her answer.

EJ took a deep breath and pulled away to wipe her tears with his fingers; holding her face. 'I'm leaving Salem, not you. Hear me out… it's not for good. For a few years.'

Olivia's face was full of anguish. 'For how long?' she whispered.

'Five years. I have an old college friend in England who owns a law firm… he's willing to give me a job. I'm out of my father's world forever, I told you that.'

'Five years without seeing you,' more tears fell down Olivia's cheeks. 'How do you expect me to do that?'

'We have to be strong, angel. It's not going to be forever. Maybe by that time, your family will finally learn to accept me and be convinced I'm really a changed man. We'll talk on the phone and email each other or even video conference as often as we want. Like I said, this isn't easy for me; I'll be leaving Johnny and Sydney as well as you.'

'A long distance relationship?'

'Either that or we say goodbye for good and it's not what either of us want. I want to believe our love's strong enough to last, no matter the distance. It's best this way.'

Olivia sighed heavily and nodded. 'Alright, I suppose we have no other choice.'

EJ kissed her, closing her close to him. 'It's going to be okay, my darling. One more thing…'

From his pocket he pulled out a rectangular velvet lined box and opened it. Olivia stared down at the glittering round shaped amethyst in a white gold setting, dangling from a matching white gold chain. He'd bought it the day after he returned from Mexico.

EJ looked at her, smiling faintly but the faint smile was filled with love. 'I know this is your birthstone. I was going to get you a ring…'

'My God…' Olivia whispered.

'But this will have to do in the meantime. Olivia, until I can come back to you, this is going to serve as your engagement ring. It's going to be a very long engagement but I'm prepared to wait because I believe what I want so badly will happen in the end. Olivia Gwyneth Brady, will you marry me?'

Olivia sobbed, touching his face. 'Yes.' She whispered.

'You mean it?'

'Yes, EJ DiMera, I'll marry you; I'll marry you.'

Without a word, EJ slipped the chain round her neck, clasping it firmly. His mouth took possession of hers and they clung to each other tightly.

'When do you leave?' Olivia whispered.

'Tomorrow , I have some affairs to clear all day.'

Olivia's face was sad. 'This isn't goodbye.'

'No, it isn't.' EJ kissed her again. 'I'll call you as soon as I get there, I promise.'

Olivia hugged him in silence.

'You should go.'

'I know. What did your father say? Does he blame me?'

'No.' EJ assured her. 'Surprisingly he felt it was time I followed my destiny after years of following the one he had mapped out for me.' he stroked her hair again. 'I forbade him from asking you anything or interfering; it's none of his business.' He raised her chin. 'It's going to be alright. Come on... I'll drive you part of the way.'

Before Olivia got out of the car, she kissed him one more time, touching his face longingly before exiting. EJ stared after her before driving off, feeling more hopeful about their future.

Back in her room, Olivia showered, changed into her nightgown and got into bed, placing the amethyst against her heart.