The make shift tent was set up along a river, running through an open field, covered in new snow. They had cleared an area for filming and built a large fire for the scene, lining the ground with faux fur blankets and other props like rocks and extra plants. There were lights set up all around with two stationary cameras and a moving camera. Rhys hadn't talked to her much over the course of the previous night. It was obvious he didn't want her first experience on a movie set to be him making love to another woman. Pearl had no idea what to expect and tried to remain calm and supportive. It was his job. It's what he did and she knew it going in. Pearl was set up under a tent with Matt, the director and a small amount of cast and crew members. "Oh hey! I met you at Comic Con. Nice to see you again!" One of the female leads said as she came and sat by Pearl. "I bet this is really odd, isn't it? Seeing your man like this? I do this for a living so sometimes it's hard for me to remember
Pearl tried to get a read out of him, but could not. She sat down at the small table, set up for dinner. "Ok, what is it?", she asked. She was leaving the set the next day and wanted to try to spend as much quality time with him as possible.He seemed nervous."These last few months have been amazing. I knew that you were something special, but I had no idea I'd feel like this, ever." Pearl watched him talk, noticing his anxiousness."And I want you to know that I wouldn't change any of it. I'd do it all again if I had the choice, even the difficult parts." He continued. Oh my god, she thought. He's ending things. He's breaking up with me. She felt her heart starting to pound hard and fast in her chest. She felt frozen in her chair."I wanted you to know that, before I tell you this, so there isn't any confusion in case things change." He looked at her, his voice wavering."Stop, right there. I already know what you're going to
She made it home Saturday afternoon and tried to pull herself together, focusing on what was happening with David's father and not the guilt about Rhys. She had to focus on one thing at a time to avoid a complete meltdown. She texted Rhys and let him know she made it home alight. He responded that he would call her later, he was currently shooting.She decided there was one person she could call to talk about all this."Hey. What's going on?" Dylan said as she opened the door. When he saw the look on her face, he knew she was troubled and took her in his arms."Are you ok?" He asked."Not really." She said. She invited him in and he followed her into the kitchen. She offered him some of the coffee she had made. She sat down and told him everything that was going on. Rhys' family. His love scene. The letter about David's father's will. And what Rhys had told her that night before. How they spent their New Years."Wow. That's...
No one said a word for what felt like forever. Pearl finally spoke, "I don't want it. Any of it. Give it to David, he should have... ""Pearl, I advise you to refrain from saying anything right now." Her attorney interrupted."I'm sorry, ma'am. I have to honor my client's wishes. I'm not opposed to considering other ideas but I'm not giving David the company right now", the executor said."We will talk it over and I will be in touch. Please keep me in the loop so that I can be present for any court proceedings and paperwork that needs to be finalized." He gave the executor his card."David I'm so sorry. I had no idea. I don't want anything to do with this. Please figure something out so I can give it to you." Pearl said, as her attorney led her out of the room."I'll be in touch.", David said."What am I going to do? What happens now? I just signed a three album record deal. I don't have the ability to run a Fortune 500 c
Pearl awoke the next morning on the couch and checked her phone. Still nothing from Rhys. She was in a panic, she hadn't heard from him since Sunday. She was supposed to stop in to the bookshop at 11 am to talk with Frank. They were hoping to transition by February 1 and he was interviewing some employees to hire so he could train them before his departure. It was part of their agreement. She called Rhys two more times and left him a voicemail telling him she was heading to the bookstore. Where was he? What was going on? She decided that if she didn't hear from him by this evening, she was going to Canada. "Hey Frank! So nice to see you. How is your wife?" Pearl asked as she walked in. "She is feeling well today. The good news of all this has helped her spirits, I think. The mind is a great healer." He said. They talked about the interviews and s
She was pretty buzzed by the time Rhys was done making phone calls. "I talked to my attorney. He filled me in on what was going on. We have our hands full with David and the company and we are going have to ride it out until we get some clarification. I have some people looking into Ian, also. Is there anything you can remember about him that seemed off?" He asked. She was still sitting on the counter when he returned. "Yep. Everything seemed off. He's a smug bastard that did nothing but give me shit the entire time. He even said I was a gold digger." She said slammed her drink. "Wait. That's important. He told me you were going to inherit a lot of money. He said I was a gold digger. I thought he was fucking with me until you told me everything the other night. I think this is important intel", she slurred. "He said that? He kne
Pearl showed Ian to the guesthouse while Rhys was still on his phone. "Make yourself at home." She said, putting fresh folded linens out for him. "Our housekeeper will be here tomorrow, full time. She and her sister are moving here from New York. Hopefully you'll be ok until then."Ian thanked her. He promised to make things right. She knew he would. "I'm really sorry. I hope this all works out. I feel terrible.", he said as she went to leave. "I know you do. Let's focus on this album and get through one day at a time. Thank you for telling us about her." And she left.When she got to the main house, Jim and Rhys were talking in the kitchen. She heard Rhys say, "We have to make sure she doesn't have a copy. I'm certain I had the only one.""The only one of what?" Pearl asked, interrupting them. Jim put his head down and excused himself. Rhys looked nervous. "The only one of WHAT?" Pearl asked again.Rhys took a deep breath. "There's a video. A
Pearl woke up to Rhys sitting on the bed, watching her sleep."I need to tell you a few things and then I'm going to let you decide what happens after." Rhys began, "I'm not perfect. I told you that in the beginning. I'm not proud of my past. But if you can learn to love me in spite of it, I swear to you, I'll spend the rest of my life making sure you never doubt that it is exactly that, the past. Since the moment I met you, no other women existed. I don't even see women anymore. It's only you. I am giving myself to you, all of myself, if you'll have me after all this."She reached out and put her hand on his."I have one condition." She said"Ok. Anything.""You keep loving me like you have." She smiled. "And keep being you, the charitable, caring man I love.""That's it? Consider it done." He said and kissed her cheek.She asked him what time it was and how things went after she fell asleep. Rhys told her that
"Have an extra smoke?" She asked Ian."Yeah." He said, handing her a cigarette."I hear you and Dylan had a talk." She said, reaching for his lighter. He nodded.She smoked in silence with him for a few minutes."So, let's start over", she finally said. "Hi. I'm Pearl. Welcome to the band." She extended her hand. He shook it."Nice to meet you, Pearl." He said, smiling."Nice to meet you. You fuck up again and you're out. And I'll make sure you never have a paying gig anywhere in this industry, ever again." She said, putting her cigarette out and walking back inside.Rhys was up early. He had a zoom call with the director about the upcoming shoot next week and his lawyer was flying in that afternoon to stay with them for a few days. Pearl met him in the kitchen, he handed her a cup of coffee, kissing her forehead and smiling a devilish smile."What?" She asked."Last night was naught