Chapter 77

"Hey. I need to head back to Ontario. I'll be home Christmas Eve. There's an issue with a script change I was working on before I rushed here. I'm so sorry." Rhys said when Pearl came back into the room. "I left quickly because of Briana and because I was worried about you."

"It's ok. I understand. Just be safe and be home for Christmas, ok?" Pearl said, kissing him.

He kissed her back and lifted her sweatshirt over her head. "How is it I finally found you? God I'm a lucky bastard." He said, running his hand down her back and cupping her bottom. "I guess it's because you're so good in bed?" Pearl joked, lifting his shirt.

"Ah! I see now! It's all about the sex, huh?" Rhys laughed and scooped her up, laying her on the bed.

"My mom always told my the way to a man's heart is through his.....penis." Pearl laughed hard at her own joke.

"Hahahahaha. What am I going to do with you?" Rhys pulled down her pants and kissed the insides of her thighs.

"Looks like you already know", she said as she grabbed his head and pulled him to her.

He packed up and left and Pearl rested a little while before their show. Their love making helped relax her and she drifted off to sleep, missing him already.

She got up after a power nap and took a shower. Just as she was drying off, there was a knock at her room door.

"Ian. What do you want?" She asked as she opened the door, trying to keep herself covered.

"Hey, ooooh I see you're busy. I'm, was wondering if you could meet me down in the lounge before the gig? I want to make nice so we have a good show. I'll buy the bloody Mary's and I'll keep them coming."

"Um, ok. I'll be there. 5 ok?" She asked.

"Yep. See ya then." And he left. Good, she thought. She was going to ask him how the hell he knows about her personal life and what is problem is.

She got ready for the show and headed down to meet Ian. She dressed down that evening. Jeans and Rhys' Tom Waits shirt again, black high heels and her hair in a messy up do. "Hey. So what's up?"

Pearl said and she sat next to Ian at the bar.

"I want to apologize. I told you all I'm not into the social aspect of joining a band. I come off like a dick", he began "it's part of the gig, you know? Bouncing around band to band. It gets messy sometimes. I'm sorry about the comments I made about Rhys and your personal life. Not my business."

"Ok. I accept that." She ordered a drink. Took a minute to process what she wanted to say and asked, "Why did you ask me about my boss?"

He looked at her and looked away. "You hear rumors. Band members talking. That Dylan guy cares a lot about you."

"You've been with us for 3 days. I can't imagine you could have heard that much." She rolled her eyes. He was still lying to her and he was throwing Dylan into it which pissed her off even more.

"You'd be surprised how much talk happens. Again, it's none of my business. We are going to be doing this for awhile together and I want us to be cool." He sounded sincere but she wasn't buying it.

He looked at her and she saw him trying to read her for some reason. "Are you ok? You know, you really are a great person." He said, and he reached up and touched her cheek. He moved closer towards her and Pearl realized he was going to kiss her! Just as he was inches from her face, she pulled back and slapped him. Hard.

"What the fuck, man!" She asked, standing up.

"I'm sorry. I was just...in the moment. You seemed so sad for some reason. My bad completely. Won't happen again." He put his hand on his heart, looking like he actually wasn't full of shit.

"Yes. It won't. Thanks for the half drink. I have to go." She said and left. What a creep! She couldn't figure out what the guy's deal was but she was going to keep a distance from him for the remainder of their contract. She walked into the elevated and ran into Dylan. "Hey. How are you?" He asked.

"Come to my room, I need to talk to you." Pearl said.

"What is your impression of Ian?" She asked.

"Like as a guitar player? He's great. As a human, he's trash. Why?" He knew this had a purpose.

"He asked me about sleeping with my boss yesterday. He knew about David and he knew David had money. Also...he told me Rhys is supposed to get some inheritance? I know nothing about it. Rhys and I talked about his financial standing and he never mentioned that. I'm trying to figure out what his deal is." Pearl paced the room.

"Just relax. It's not hard to find things out. Maybe Jason told him. Rhys and Jason talk. And just ask Rhys. I'm sure there's an explanation and I wouldn't put anything past Ian. Usually the people that say out loud that they hate drama are the ones that feed off it the most." Dylan made sense. He always made sense.

"Thank you. I love you. You are so important to me. I hope you know that. Also, tonight, show that mother fucker up. Take his crowd. I know you can do it." Pearl hugged him and bro fisted him.

He laughed and told her he'd see her downstairs in a little bit.

She checked her phone and saw Rhys had texted.

"Just landed. I love you. God I'm so happy."

She was too.