Bab 144: Chapter 144
Pearl awoke to Erik laying beside her. Even though she had denied him the night before, he was still right by her side when she woke up. Something she was not used to. "Good morning, beautiful nightingale." He said.
Pearl smiled. "Good morning."
"I slept like the dead. Sleeping next to you is the best sleep I've had in decades. I'm going to have to kidnap you just to keep you as my sleep mate." He laughed.
"Yes. Come to think of it, I sleep really well when you're around too. Even when I'm not passed out drunk." She joked.
"I have to have Auggie back to Florence this afternoon and I have an early dinner with my uncle in Venice. I will drop you off on the way. I was hoping maybe you could meet me there for drinks later this evening." He asked shyly.
"Meet you? Again tonight? In Venice?" She asked.
"Don't act so surprised, nightingale, I already told you I was kidnapping you. You're in Italy until next Friday, correct? Today is Sunday so that gives me only a week and four days to properly show you around and catch up on all the sleep I've lost since birth. It's not ideal but it will have to do." He said.
"You want it spend the week with me?" She asked.
"Yes. I do. Most definitely." He said, getting out of bed and heading for the shower. Pearl got up and got dressed, packing her things. Auggie was already having tea when she walked out.
"Good morning, you belle of the ball, you. Did you have fun?" He asked. She hugged him.
"Thank you. For everything. It was a moment I will remember forever." She said.
"You're quite welcome. Hopefully you'll forget this tea I'm about to make for you. I'm no good at it." He said, laughing.
She smiled and took a drink.
"I will definitely try to forget this." She teased back.
They arrived at the villa by noon and Auggie gave her a big hug. "I will look forward to seeing you again soon, Pearl." He said.
"Definitely." Pearl said, thanking him again.
Erik opened the door for her and offered him her hand. The driver grabbed her bag from the trunk and handed it to her.
"I'll see you tonight. I'll call you with the address in a little while." He said, kissing her hand.
"Thank you, for everything. For believing me a worthy cause, too." She said.
"Pearl. You are far from any cause of mine. You are splendid. I can't wait to see you later. Being Fi and me heathen cousin as well, if you'd like. Be safe, nightingale." He said and got into the car. She watched it drive down the road until it was no longer in sight.
Pearl walked in and sat on the couch. "Fi? Are you here?" She called out. She looked toward the pool and saw her and Louis swimming and playing outside. She decided to check her phone. So many emails. Iris confirming the paperwork was submitted. Updates on attorneys. Dylan checking in. John checking in, making sure she would be home for the Tonight Show. And Rhys. "Call me. Now." Sent to her this morning. She debated ignoring it but it was time. She walked to the kitchen and poured a scotch. She finished it and picked up the phone, dialing his number.
"Hello. Pearl?? Thank god you called. What the fuck is going on there? I saw you last night online. At a polo event with the prince of Wales? I saw the pictures. A charity ball? He picked you up? Are you sleeping with him?" It had been over a week since she had heard for him and this is the first thing he had to say to her. She felt the anger boil again.
"It's better than what you've picked up." She replied. "And no. I'm trying to be a good person here and it isn't easy."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Carys. She's living with you now. And you gave her money to make her problems disappear. The woman that tried to destroy me. Nice." Pearl said dryly.
"It's... it's not what you think." He started to explain. She had heard that so many times in her life she had to stifle a giggle. She didn't care anyway so she cut him off.
"I have one question for you. And I don't want a bullshit paragraph when I ask. A simple yes or no is what I need from you. Can you at least give me that." She said calmly.
"Pearl, let me explain. I love you. I..."
"No. I am going to ask you one question and I want you to answer me with a yes or a no." She repeated.
"Ok. Ask." He said.
"Are we legally married?"
"What? Pearl.."
"Rhys. Yes. Or. No. Are we legally married?" She asked again.
"No." He said. There was silence on the line.
"Pearl, I, I can explain." He started to say.
She hung up the phone. The shock of it took her breath away. She couldn't move. She was frozen. She expected tears to follow but they didn't come. She had been betrayed. Again. She picked up the phone when she was able to move her body again.
She dialed Iris. She told her to pack up everything that was hers in the house. "Also, put the bookshop up for sale and take any offer you get as long as Frank has a say. I want it sold." She told Iris.
"Pearl I don't understand." Iris said. Pearl explained everything. "He's not going to be there is he? When I pack your things? Because I am not responsible for what I do to him." She said. She assured her he was in LA but the sooner they could get it done, the better.
She dialed Dylan.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Please tell me you are so I don't have to go to LA to murder him." He said.
"I called you because I need your help. I need you and the guys to get my things after Iris packs them. Can you bring them to your house until I can get my own place?" She asked.
"Of course, Pearl. Me and your things will be here when you get home. Try to breathe. Don't give that fucker one inch of your headspace. I'm glad you are there. Enjoy your time. I love you. I'm here if you need anything else." He said. She thanked him and hung up. Fi walked in and when she saw Pearl's face, she knew. "That mother fucker" she said. "I can't wait to get back on set with him next week. He's going to regret what he's done." She said, putting her arms around Pearl. She wanted to cry and admit the defeat she felt.
"No. I'm not going to do this again. Erik invited us to Venice tonight. We are going and it is going to be a blast. Oh! And guess what?"she said, reaching into her purse and pulling out a shiny new American Express card. "It's all on Rhys. Let's go shopping first!" Pearl said. Fi screamed and Louis walked in. "What in the bloody screaming hell is going on in here with you birds." He said, standing there in a towel.
"Get dressed. We are going to Venice." Fi said.
"Right on. Venice is a great time." He said and went upstairs.
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