*~*Chapter One*~*

Eve looked at a few of the hand crafted necklaces upon the table before her.  The detail was excellent with beautiful vibrant color weaved through the lovely beads.  She glanced over the jewelry display and smiled as the native woman looked to her.

"You like?" The woman asked with a light smile.

"It's all very beautiful," Eve replied, her eyes fixating upon a particularly lovely piece, "How much?"

"Five American dollars," The woman said softly.

"I'll take it," Eve paid for her purchase before slipping the piece of jewelry onto her wrist.  She smiled brightly as she crossed the courtyard of the marketplace, finding Karen standing near another vendor, "Find anything yet?"

"I just can't decide what Frank might like," Karen sighed, "I want to get him something to let him know that I haven't stopped thinking about him since I've been on this trip."

"Then let me write him a letter and tell him that you've been talking about him non-stop," Eve teased as Gabriella joined them.

"I found this shop where the cloth is amazing.  You guys have to see this," Gabi said with exuberance as she tugged on Karen's arm.

"Come on, Eve," Karen chuckled as she followed Gabriella.

Eve started to follow her friends when a car caught her attention from the far corner of her vision.  She stopped as she watched the range rover stop at the end of the courtyard.  A distinguished looking older gentleman stepped out of the vehicle and made his way into the local grocer.  Eve's curiosity got the better of her as she looked to their tour guide, "Who's that?"

Raul turned to see the vehicle before he smiled, "That's Señor McFarland.  He's the caretaker of the nearby estates."

"Estates?" Eve asked, looking curiously to Raul.

"Sí, there," He replied as he pointed over Eve's shoulder.

Eve turned and caught her breath as she got her first glimpse of the mansion on the hillside overlooking the ocean below.  Her eyes widened as she tried to process this new information, "But, this area is in such poverty."

"Not so much any more, Señora," Raul's wife, Amada, replied, "El Americano brought much money and prosperity to our village.  He has helped many of us."

"El Americano?" Eve asked.

"Sí, he came here over a year ago.  Before then, we had little money, food, medicine, no work, but El Americano has brought all of that for us.  He's a very good man," Amada smiled.

"A blessing," Raul added, "He came when we most needed him."

"Who is he?" Eve asked as she looked towards the grand house on the hill.

"El Americano likes his privacy," Raul spoke softly.

Amada tugged on Eve's arm and pulled her aside, "There's a rumor around the village that he was hurt very deeply by someone he loved.  He came here to get away from the pain.  He stays in his house, and we seem him very rarely."

"Doesn't anyone know his name?" 

"Only Señor McFarland," Amada replied.

"Then that's who I should talk to," Eve said softly, excusing herself before stepping into the grocer and looking around.  She quickly spotted the gentleman she'd seen earlier and made her way over to him, "Señor, might I ask the name of your employer?"

"El Americano," The gentleman replied before redirecting his attention to his list.

"I mean his Christian name, his given name," Eve prodded.

"I'm sorry," The gentleman replied, "Do I know you?"

"No, I'm a doctor and I'm just passing through."

"Then what business do you have with my employer?"

"I want to know who would build such a magnificent house in obvious contrast with the people who live in poverty at his feet.  What kind of heartless monster would flaunt his wealth in the face of such deprivation?" Eve challenged.

"Obviously you've been misinformed.  This village is quite affluent in comparison with others of similar size in this country.  The people are well provided for by my employer."

"I want to meet him," Eve demanded suddenly, her curiosity running rampant.

"El Americano does not accept uninvited guests."

"He'll see me or I'll beat down his door and he'll get no sleep.  I suggest you take me to meet him at once," She said sternly.

The old man groaned in surrender before gathering his purchases and making his way towards the range rover, "Well don't dawdle."

Eve held her head high as she made her way to the range rover, wondering just what kind of man she would meet once they reached the mansion.

After a drive through curvy roads, the range rover cleared the top of the mountain and drove through the gates of the large estate.  Lush jungle plant life provided a stark contrast to the perfectly white stucco walls of the main house.  McFarland escorted her inside the house and directed her to a sitting room to wait. 

Eve looked around the sitting room, seeing classical books and art about the room.  The furniture was antique but not museum worthy, beautiful in its own way.  A grand window provided a spectacular view of the ocean's rolling waves, cascading onto the rocky beach far below the mountain's edge.  The chimes of a grandfather clock alerted Eve that the afternoon was becoming evening rather quickly, and she would have to rush back to the village in order to join Karen and Gabi for dinner.

"Señora," A warm rich voice with a perfect Spanish accent greeted her.

Eve turned and lay her eyes upon her host.  His black slacks clung to his strong male thighs hanging tightly to his waist where his cream colored shirt caressed his chest.  The top few buttons of his shirt remained unbuttoned, no doubt due to the hot and humid tropical air.  But it was his face that drew her interest.  She gasped with the reality of what she saw before she could control the reaction.  The dark eyes she met penetrated her very soul, touching her from across the room in intimate and erotic ways.  His lips curled in a roguish smile as he extended his hand towards her, "I think you wanted to meet with me to discuss....what was it McFarland called it....my heartless behavior?" He asked, his sensual lips curling in amusement.

Eve struggled to find her voice for a moment.  She had expected anything but what she saw before her.  She had halfway expected a heartless old man with unmatched disdain for the world evident not only in his actions but in his appearance as well.  She had never expected to come across such a sensual figure, certainly not one who wore a mask to cover most of his face.  Perhaps it was a shield to protect him from the truth of his heartless nature, or perhaps it was because of this mask that she found him so sinfully attractive.  Her love of the unknown did always seem to get her into trouble.  Perhaps that was why she was having trouble speaking at the moment.

"I...." She stopped, hoping she didn't look like a complete fool in front of the man before her.  She took a deep breath, holding her head high and flipping her long dark hair from her shoulder, "I wanted to meet the man who would flaunt his wealth in front of all these poor people."

He regarded her for a moment before cross his arms across his broad chest, "Have you heard any of the villagers speak ill of me?"

"No," She replied, "But they're no doubt afraid of you."

"Afraid of me?" He asked, laughing softly as if he'd heard some amusing joke, "What reason would these people have to be afraid of me?"

"Because you're obviously exploiting them."

"Exploiting them?" He asked, his Spanish accent hanging thick on the words, "Señora, I have provided these people with a means to feed and clothe themselves.  I have provided medicine to the sick and a place to live for the homeless.  I have not exploited them.  I have only brought help where it was most needed," He paused, "I do not take kindly to strangers forcing their way into my home only to insult me."

"Stranger?  It would appear that everyone in the village is a stranger to you.  You haven't even given them the courtesy of your name," Eve spoke with righteous indignation, "Might I have the pleasure of your name sir?"

He paused, glaring at her a moment more before he shook his head, "I'll do you one better," He spoke, his Spanish accent suddenly gone.  He lifted his fingers to the ties on his mask, slipping the cover free before he looked back to her.

Eve gasped as she met the eyes of the one man she never expected to see again in her lifetime, and as she realized that she had been having painfully erotic thoughts about none other than Chris Ramsey.

Eve felt the heavy silence in the room as she struggled to come to grips with what she'd just learned.  She had never expected to see Chris Ramsey after he'd left Port Charles.  He'd left with no warning amidst a flurry of upheavals in Port Charles.  After he'd lost his job and Julie, Chris had went into a downward spiral.  He had spent massive amounts of money on frivolous items while embarking on a string of brief affairs.  He'd left mysteriously one night, leaving no explanation or forwarding address. 

Standing before him now, Eve could tell that whatever he'd done with his life it had benefited him greatly.  He seemed to be at ease with himself in ways she'd never seen in him before.  She couldn't read his emotional state, but the way in which he presented himself spoke volumes about his comfort in his surroundings. 

Chris watched his visitor for a moment before he tossed his mask onto a nearby desk.  He looked back to her, "Surprised?"

She nodded silently, "What are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't that be the question I ask you?" He walked across the room and poured a small glass of water, "Though I imagine you're vacationing, and you've made your way to our village," He closed the distance between them and placed the glass of water in her hand, "But being the strong willed woman that you are, you couldn't just pass through.  You had to make your mark here, didn't you?" He asked with some degree of amusement in his tone as he took a seat in a nearby leather chair, "So I suppose you're here to set me straight, right?"

"But....how did you get here?"

Chris put his feet upon the coffee table before him and braced himself on the arm of his chair, "Why is that of any concern to you?"

"I just....this place..," She paused, "I never expected to see you here."

"Nor I you, but that doesn't change the fact that you're here," He watched her for a moment, "Why don't we get back to the point of your visit?  Didn't you come here to reprimand me?"

She took a deep breath, trying to get back her courage, "What was the point of building something like this when the people down in the village are poverty stricken?"

"They aren't poverty stricken.  It's true that when I first arrived here they didn't have food enough to survive for a month, but I changed that.  I brought in food and supplies.  I made arrangements with the state government to bring tourism to the area.  I helped to create an economy for these people.  And if you bothered to pay any attention while you were down in the village, you'll see that the people are very well taken care of, most are in good health, and they all have roofs over their heads."

"Yet you live in the house on the hill like some king on his throne," She accused.

"And why not?  It's not like the people in the village are living in tar paper shacks, Lambert.  Besides, most work here in one capacity or another.  It's not like I'm just sitting back and enjoying myself like some exploitative jerk.  I'm their doctor and their friend."

"But....this isn't like you at all, Chris."

"Isn't like me?" He repeated, chuckling with his amusement, "You wouldn't know what I'm like at all," He paused before standing, "Now that we're through with this little meeting, I'll have McFarland escort you back to the village."

"Back to the village?  What makes you think I'm interested in going back to the village?  Can't I stay here and catch up with an old friend?" She asked defiantly, making her way over to him.  She met him eye to eye, "I'm not going anywhere, Ramsey.  You might as well accept that fact."

Chris regarded her for a moment before he eased closer to her, "Why do I warrant such special attention from you?"

"We're friends, Chris.  Remember?" She asked with a perfectly arched brow, refusing to back down from him.

He smiled as he looked her over, "I have the feeling that you aren't in town alone.  So should I send McFarland back to town for your companions?  Your husband perhaps?"

"Karen and Gabi, but no husband."

"Really?" He asked, his smile taking on a different tone, "Why not?  Couldn't get him to come on a vacation with you?"

"I'm divorced," Eve replied, crossing her arms over her chest effectively putting a shield between them, "Not that it's any of your business."

"Is that any way to speak with a friend, Eve?" Chris asked with a defiant grin before he stepped away from her, "I'll have Sofía show you to a room where you can freshen up while McFarland goes to collect your friends.  We'll all have dinner," He smiled wickedly before he stopped in the doorway, "Then I want you and your friends to leave our village first thing tomorrow morning.  The last thing these people need is for you to come in with your high and mighty American values to change their way of life."

"And what makes you think I'm inclined to follow your wishes?" She asked with a rebellious tone.

"Because I'm not giving you a choice, Eve.  You'll be leaving this village tomorrow, or I'll have you escorted out of the village.  I expect you to take the more pleasant route."

Eve watched Chris with his wicked smile before he turned and left her alone in the sitting area.  She took a deep breath, not exactly comfortable in her current situation.

Eve splashed some cool water upon her face before she cast her eyes upon her reflection in the mirror.  She took a long deep breath as she tucked her hair behind her ears.  She attempted to make some sense out of the chaos her day had become.  She hadn't imagined that her vacation could become such a jumble of memories come back to haunt her. 

Chris Ramsey.  She hadn't even allowed herself to think of that name in a very long time.  And now here he was in the middle of her vacation.  He had irritated her beyond belief in just the few minutes they'd shared in the sitting room.  So how was she going to be able to get through dinner sitting opposite him?

And what ever had possessed her to demand to stay?  Had she completely lost her mind?  Karen had suggested they take this vacation to clear help Eve get over the pain of her divorce from Ian and to take her mind off the fact that Daniel was with Ian for the next two weeks.  Visitation had been one of the biggest arguments during the divorce.  Eve hated being separated from her little boy for even an hour.  Being apart from him for days at a time almost killed her, but it was the price she had to pay to get away from Ian.

After the many misadventures surrounding Caleb, Eve had never been able to rediscover her feelings for Ian.  She had fallen blindly in love with Ian Thornhart without even knowing one thing about his past.  Trust had never been very easy for her, and it was the one lesson she thought she had tucked under her belt by marrying Ian.  Learning about Ian's past one jagged puzzle piece at a time had proven her wrong.  She learned that trust was something she would have to have in any future relationship.

After signing the divorce papers, Eve had resolved to forget about finding a man in her life.  She already had one that required all the attention she could ever give, her son.  Daniel was such a special little boy who didn't deserve to be a casualty of her crazy love life.  She regretted even subjecting herself to that area of her life.  She had put her faith in her relationships and been disappointed too many times now to hold out hope of ever finding a true love to make her happy.

Hearing a sound from the other room, Eve quickly dried the droplets of water from her cheeks before leaving the small powder room.  She stepped down the hall and into the sitting room where she had been earlier.  She smiled as she met the inquisitive eyes of Karen and Gabi.

"Eve," Karen smiled as she glanced around, "So this is where you disappeared to?"

"Hmm," Eve nodded, "This is where my curiosity led me."

"Where are we exactly?" Gabi asked as she gazed at a painting in front of her.

"My home," Chris spoke smoothly as he leaned against the doorway.  He crossed his arms and smiled as he watched the ladies before him, "Eve just can't seem to mind her own business.  So you ladies get to enjoy my hospitality for the evening."

"Chris," Karen spoke his name as she looked back to Eve, "What is he doing here?"

"I live here," Chris answered before he looked back to Eve, "And Eve just couldn't resist the temptation to disturb my peace of mind."

Eve rolled her eyes, "You still have an overblown ego.  You think this visit was all about you."

"Wasn't it?  You did come up the mountain to reprimand me.  You did come here to tell me how wrong I am," He shrugged, "Forgive me if I take that a bit personal."

"I had no idea that you would be here," She countered.

"No, but it does make things a bit more interesting, doesn't it?" He grinned before he saw McFarland motioning for him to come into the kitchen.  He looked back to the ladies, "If you'll excuse me," He smiled before leaving the ladies to themselves.

"Chris Ramsey," Gabi shook her head lightly, "What in the hell is he doing here?"

"That's a very good question," Eve sighed, "He says that he helps the people in the village, and he's even their doctor."

"That doesn't sound like the Chris we know," Karen offered.

"No, it doesn't, but none of this seems like the Chris we know," Eve looked around the house, "I wonder what his real reason for being here is."

"Do you think it's possible to find out?" Gabi entered the conversation again.

"I think it is possible, and I'm determined to find out," Eve spoke as she turned and followed Sofía into the dining room where dinner would be served.

"Sorry I'm late," Chris apologized when he entered the dining room in the middle of the meal, "I had some business to attend to."

"Oh don't mind us," Eve said as she looked to their host, "We were just discussing your life with Sofía."

"Really?" He asked as he looked to the older Hispanic woman, "Were you telling them of our torrid romance, Sofía?"

Sofía clucked softly before she patted him on the shoulder, "That only exists in your dreams."

"Actually, she was telling us about how you came to the village and saved the people from a lumber corporation," Karen said in awe, "I didn't think you had that kind of selflessness in you."

Chris shook his head just a big as Sofía provided him with a martini.  He smiled at her in thanks before he looked back to the ladies at his table, "None of you ever got to know the real me."

"And just why is that?" Eve asked as she watched him tear a small piece of bread from a roll upon his plate.

He allowed his eyes to float across the table and meet hers, "Because no one was ever interested in knowing the real me.  All of you were only interested in your high and mighty lives and always doing the right thing.  You only saw things in black and white....never the gray that exists in between.  You never allowed for the kind of person that I am."

"And just what kind of person are you?" Karen asked from the end of the table, "If you're saying that we never allowed you to be a part of the group..."

"That wasn't what I said.  Where I see gray, you see black.  You see only evil where I see a way to bend the rules and still accomplish the right goal," He shrugged, "It doesn't matter.  I'm not particularly interested in the past and where I came from."

"I just have one question," Eve began as she leaned forward upon the table and focused upon him, "Why did you leave so mysteriously?"

"Does it matter?" He asked as he continued to eat his dinner.

"As a matter of fact, it does.  Why leave in the middle of the night?  Did you do something that you didn't want the rest of us to find out about?  Did you have to runaway to clean your conscience?" Eve asked as she sipped her martini.

Chris paused, placing his silverware upon the table before lifting his white cloth napkin to his mouth.  He licked his lips slowly before placing the napkin upon the table and meeting her eyes, "I left because I didn't want to answer any questions.  I left in the middle of the night so I wouldn't have to explain myself.  I left without so much as a goodbye because for as long as I lived in Port Charles, people couldn't have cared less if I lived or died.  So why bother to give any of you the courtesy of a farewell?" 

Eve watched his eyes carefully, sensing another sentence behind his dark pupils.  There was still something he wanted to say, and he wanted to say it very badly.  However, it occurred to Eve that he was exercising a tremendous amount of self control.  While his lips didn't communicate the words to be spoke, the tension in his body and the ferocity of his gaze spoke volumes to her about his state of mind. 

Chris sipped his martini and returned to his dinner as he looked to the women, "So tell me, what are your other destinations on your vacation?"

Gabi looked to Eve and Karen, noting the thick tension in the room before she spoke with an uncertain voice, "We had planned on going to see the ruins in Mexico on our way back to the States."

"It should be lovely there this time of year.  The weather shouldn't cause any problems," Chris spoke, seeing Eve's unwaivering gaze upon him.  He refocused on her for a moment and cast her a sexy smile, "That is if you can keep Lambert's curiosity from overwhelming her."

Eve noted his attempt to break the tension, feeling a smile threatening to curl her lips.  She allowed it to play gently over her face before she looked to the olives floating in the martini glass before her, "I deserve that."

"Have you ever been able to control your curiosity?" Chris asked, allowing a hint of humor to slip into his tone.

"From time to time," She noted before looking back to him.

His smile touched her unexpectedly, causing her to feel a familiar tinge of friendship.  She returned his smile, her curiosity about the real Chris Ramsey sprung to life.....what she would do with that curiosity remained to be seen.