Chapter 63

Pearl looked at Rhys and saw he wasn't his normal self. David couldn't make eye contact with her.

"What are you doing here?" Pearl asked.

"I told you I was coming to see you and make sure you are ok." David said. "Well you see me, and I'm ok." She was pissed.

"Yeah man, sounds like he was really worried about you. Sounds like he had good reason to since you guys are sleeping together and he's in love with you." Rhys said as he stood up and walked toward the door. "I'll leave you guys to talk. Pearl, I'll be staying at a hotel for a couple of days. I need some time to think. You're free to be here as long as you need." He said as he left.

"Why would you come here? Have you lost your mind? I told you to stay away from me. What did you tell Rhys?" She was beginning to feel tears coming from the rage she felt in her throat and her chest.

"I called and asked for his address when I got into town. I told him I was here to make sure you were ok. He said that it seemed like a lot for a boss to come all this way. And I told him I was more than your boss. That I loved you and that we have been seeing each other." David spoke quietly, knowing she was furious.

"You came here to start trouble with Rhys and I. I never told you I wanted to commit to you. I told you I needed time to think about it. This is so fucked up. You knew what happened to me and you selfishly came here to come between us. I am disgusted with you. This is unbelievable!" Pearl started raising her voice. "Is this about your father?"

"What? How do you know...Maggie." He said to himself.

"No. Thomas Powers. He met with me two weeks ago, right after we got back from Seattle. Told me his plan. And I figured it out. He only told me that so I would question your intentions and decide to not be with you. It was a big fuck you to you and your heart. Your feelings. Your dad is beyond fucked up. And I'm learning you are too. Well the jokes on him, I didn't need his bullshit plan, I used my big old lady brain and decided for myself that I didn't want you!"

Pearl was crying now. And screaming.

"Pearl...why didn't you tell me? We could have talked about it. I'm so sorry he did that. And I truly didn't come here to start anything. I was worried sick!"

"I don't care. Get out. And consider this my resignation. Leave. I don't ever want to see you again."

She opened the door and motioned him out.

"Pearl, I...."

"Get out now." She said and wouldn't say it again.

"I'm sorry." He said as he left.

Fuck. Pearl thought. I have to find Rhys. She grabbed her purse and went to every hotel in the area, asking if he was staying there. He wasn't anywhere. She called Jason and he hadn't heard from him. She texted him. Called him. Left messages explaining herself. She made it back to his apartment hours later, wet and cold from running around New York City all night. She had screwed everything up. She had ruined her chances with Rhys right after she realized he was the one. She had lost him. She curled up on the couch and cried herself to sleep.