Pearl typed a formal letter of resignation and sent it to David. She told him she would work remotely for the next two weeks and be on hand if they needed her for any transitioning of her replacement. After a day, she hadn't heard back and figured that was that.
It had been a week since she had last seen Rhys. It was the longest week of her life. She just wanted to talk to him. To have the chance to explain everything, then he could hate her forever. Dylan was doing great. He had started out patient therapy and he and Blake were getting along so well, Blake decided to move in permanently and be his roommate. They still hadn't heard from Jason and their dreams were becoming more and more distant. Pearl had about a thousand dollars in the bank and that was not enough to live on for long. Dylan had talked to the owner of the brewery and they agreed to let her take over covering while Dylan was off, serving there as a side job a few days a week. ItShe knew he was in town. He had to be to drop off the book. But he wasn't anywhere she knew him to be. It was frustrating. She checked with Frank at the bookstore, Dylan, the charity hospital. No one had heard from him. She didn't understand what the inscription meant and it was tearing her up inside.She finally heard back from David two days after she sent her resignation email."That will be fine. Thank you. And you will be paid for a full 30 days and your paid time off days. Contact HR with any questions."And that was it. She thought she should be surprised but she wasn't. How awful it was that she had wasted her time with him and lost Rhys because of it.She had known Rhys for a short time. She knew it was fast. She knew it was insanity to think about a serious future with him. But she did. Tuesday morning, she still had heard nothing from him. They had their gig at the brewery the following night and she knew she had to
"Ok, that's the last box." Pearl said, thankful the move was over. "Ha! It's final! You live here! Come here, Pearl with the pretty eyes." Rhys said, giving her a big kiss.It had been two weeks since he proposed. He stayed for her show that night, and made a huge announcement about their engagement to the crowd, but he left right after their show to get back to filming. They moved her in the day he got back into town and she hadn't had a moment alone with him since she said yes.She remembered the last time she moved, the fear and anxiety that went along with it. This time it was full of love and laughter."You can put all that in the library, it's where I'll be living." She said to the moving men. They all stopped and looked at her."Oh no....you're not living there, I'm taking you to the bedroom and locking the door." Rhys said, picking her up over his shoulder and carrying her to the main floor master suite."You think you o
"Hey. Speaking of us being partners now, I want to give you this." Rhys said, walking to his jacket. He grabbed an envelope and handed it to her. She had already assumed he would want to prenup and that's what she expected when she opened the envelope. Inside, she found two cards and some paperwork for her to sign. One card was an American Express card and the other was a bank debit card. There was also a business card "Mark Graham, CPA Entertainment Accountant"She looked at Rhys. He smiled and said, "You never have to worry about money again. These are yours. Any large purchases, over a thousand dollars, just let Mark know about ahead of time. He likes to run a tight ship.""Rhys, I don't feel comfortable with this. I don't feel right." She said, handing him back the cards."This is non-negotiable. Plus, you have a house to help decorate. I'm sure you will be getting to know Mark very well. I'm not worried about you mesmerizing him with your goddes
"Rhys we can't invite anyone here, we don't even have a couch." Pearl said, standing in the middle of the giant living room, admiring the beautiful stone fireplace."Well get your shit together and let's go. Time to get domestic all up in here. Let's go shopping.""Right now?""Yeah? They don't have furniture stores here in town?" He joked."Of course they do. I've just never been able to just 'go get furniture' before on a whim.""Well today you are." He said and shooed her into the bedroom to get ready. She heard him on the phone and when she came out, he said "I called the mover guys. They are meeting us at a place called Klingman's in three hours. They're bringing the big truck so we should be able to get enough stuff to have your friends over. Also, I want to invite my family over at Christmas so the sooner we get some things to sit on, the better.""Your family? You want me to meet your family?""Pearl...yo
"Hey! So glad you could make it!" Rhys greeted John and Janie at the door, grabbing the pizzas from their hands. John looked up to ceiling of the giant open foyer and Janie's jaw dropped looking into the living room. Rhys could tell they were a little taken aback. "It's a bit bigger than I wanted but I bought it for the library. Pearl loves books. It's how I finally won her over, chicks dig libraries." He winked, patting John's back, leading he and Janie into the kitchen."Hey there! Thanks for coming." Pearl said, hugging them."This house is amazing." Janie said. "Thank you, I'm still not used to it but I definitely am enjoying some things", Pearl said, looking out at the hot tub. Rhys choked on his beer.They gave them a tour and Rhys took Janie to see the guest house and the pool while Janie and John stayed in the library. "Jason called. They want us to come to New York in a couple of weeks again. They want to sign us." Pearl said."Wh
The rest of the week flew by and Rhys had to go back to Ontario to film again. She was going to miss him so much. She had less than a week to prepare for New York. They were flying out December 19 and coming back Christmas Eve. Rhys' family was coming into town the Saturday after Christmas. The band decided to come to their new rehearsal space every day until they left. John and Jason had set up a couple of gigs as a promotion for the record company while they were in the city for their signing and they would have to interview guitar players to replace John.Rhys sent texts and selfie and called her a few times a day. He said he only needed to reshoot a couple of scenes and would meet her at their loft in New York on the 22nd. She was already starting to understand the chaos that came with this life.The morning her plane was flying out, she received a package in the mail. She opened it and saw a Bukowski book inside. It was a copy of "The People Look Like Flow
It was late when another knock came at the door. Pearl and Dylan had fallen asleep on the couch. Pearl picked up a fire poker from the hearth and tip toed to the door. Dylan followed.She looked through the peephole and saw a large man standing there. "Who are you?" Pearl yelled through the door."I'm Jim. I'm here for Rhys."Pearl opened the door let him in, he stepped back and raised his arms, attempting to take the poker from her. "Sorry! I forgot I had this. I was half awake. Come in." Pearl showed him into the living room."Yeah so what the fuck is going on? Who was that chick and who are you?" Dylan cut right to it."Ok. Again, I'm Jim. Rhys had hired me in the past for security. This isn't the first issue we have had with the young lady in question.""I'm sorry. I'm half awake, like I said. Can you please elaborate more?" Pearl felt that was a shitty explanation from him and she deserved more."Her name is Brian
"I don't need a chaperone, Jim I'm a grown ass woman" Pearl said as Jim drove her back to the apartment.He didn't say a word and she was still obviously drunk. "I don't understand why all this is happening anyway." She mumbled to herself. They got to the apartment and she opened the door to see Rhys standing in the kitchen. Jim closed the door and stood outside. Rhys walked to Pearl and forcefully grabbed her by the arms and pushed her up against the wall, kissing her. He took her clothes off and her bra and panties. He kissed her mouth and her neck, moving his hands up and down her body. He pulled his shirt off and his pants down. He lifted her up against the wall and entered her, thrusting in and out of her. "Do you see what you do to me? Do you see how beautiful you are? How much I want you? How no woman will ever even compare to a fraction of you?" He said as lifted her higher in the air, thrusting harder. "Yes" she gasped."Say it. Say you're enough. I flew her