nine

William looked at the man that took Pearl to the dance floor and held her waist, he knew that liquor won't have any effect on her, he was sure. What was she looking for? Oh right! Him.

He smiled as he drank the glass of water and looked back at Richard.

'When is the wedding?' He heard him asked.

'Which wedding?'

He smiled; 'Yours and Elizabeth, how is the final preparations?'

William laughed knowing his friend was just joking.

'She is really a hard one, isn't she?'

He nodded. 'Good thing we knew her back then, it would have been problem by now.'

'You bet.' Richard said and looking towards what William was looking at.

'The teacher?'

He nodded.

'She is pretty, will you introduce me?'

'Later.' He said and walked away.

She was tired of this, she should just end this and go home, where was William.

The guy stopped and turned back, she wondered but thankfully it was over.

'Can I help you?'

She looked at whom he spoke to, William, finally.

'She is mine.' William told him with a possessive look in his eyes.

The guy looked at Pearl then back at him. 'How can you.....'

William took hold of Pearl's hand. 'Stay away.' He said and walked away. When he was distance from him, he let her lean on him as they danced.

'Was there any need for you to say that?' she asked him as she lean against him.  

'Not sure but his look gave him away.'

When she didn't say anything he held her closer, she wasn't as tall as he was but she was close to where he could see her without bending his head and she was soft and small in his arms.

'You are beautiful tonight.' He said and then sense her hesitation then she rested.

'Thank you.' He guessed that was what she had been waiting to hear from him, beside did he missed the part that he told Molly to dress her up.

'Do you know anyone here?'

'Yes, I have a very good friend; Richard Samson; his parents are good friends of mine.'

'How long have you known them?' She asked as she raised her head.

'Few years, they practically helped raise me.'

Pearl looked at the man; who William says is his friend; he was looking at them and now, he had done towards two elderly couples; maybe that was his parents, William talked about, then from behind them she saw Elizabeth in a purple long gown, she was gorgeous why would William dream of ending that relationship because of her, what if he was just joking about them not feeling guilty.

'William, did you know; Elizabeth would be here?'

She felt him nodded.

'You guys are still together...and...'

'Shush, shush….' He said and pats her head.

'Elizabeth and I are over.'

'Why?'

'I told her I couldn't sell, that I will be at the losing ends no matter how she pays me back, I rather manage it with my eyes opened than with my money in the bank.'

She sighed.

'William, as your friend.....'

He didn't let her finish. He stopped and brought her face to his, holding her arms. 'I am not going to do anything, you don't agreed of but I am going to try my best to not get too close, if that is what you afraid of. Nothing will happen between us until I get an approval from you.' He said when he saw doubt and fear in her eyes.

'William, you have to understand, I have been through to so many things.....'

'And so have I, I won't rush into something you might regret.' He said then smiled.

'Pearl, as my friend, please, don't worry and trust me.'

She managed a smile as they resumed their dance; she closed her for a second and wished she could move on as he expects her to. 

By the time they got home, it was 12, after the dance, William introduced her to some people especially the celebrant, Elizabeth had seen her but she practically ignored her, even when she walked all over William and even asked him for a dance, but eventually it ended well, they walked inside.

'Would you like to have coffee before you go up?' She heard William asked her as soon as he locked the doors.

She shook her head. After she had spent the entire night with him, she was afraid, her instinct would failed her, because all she wanted to do was spend time him but she just couldn't.

'No, I better head up.'

'Pearl…..' She looked at him.

'Can I get a hug?'

She looked at him, what...

'A hug from a friend to end the night, beside I enjoyed myself a lot, thank you very much.'

She smiled and moved to him, then her hands went round him, although she hesitated for a moment, she held him tight she breathed in his scent.

'I enjoyed myself too.'

She held him for what seems like a long time, she had never felt so right and calm in any one's arms before but with William it seems like it was supposed to be, she felt like he was all she wanted, all she needed right at this time and with him; she could forget a man like Richard existed. She could love this man, why couldn't she give herself a chance, why did it feel so hard to give him everything; he was like a shield, a rock she could rest on.

She moved away but not completely, her heart raced as she looked at his face, he was gorgeous, the perfect image of a man. He kissed the side of her face, her body visibly shook, he kissed her other side and then he looked at her as she barely gathered her breath.

'I won't do anything.' He said with a crocked voice.

This was clearly affecting him too, she could see that.

Then he forced a smile, leaving her finally. 'Goodnight, I will see you tomorrow.'

She nodded with a smile as she watched him leaving with the knee wobbling, she touched her face; she was dead.

It took Sophie hours to find the right address that Mrs Sonia had given her, she has standing at the pouch of Sheer and luckily no one could look at her, she was rough, she didn't have a car so she had to walk and walk, her shoes were bad and her hair damp from the showering of the rain. She rang the bell.

It took like what seems like a few minutes for someone to come to the door but it wasn't Sheer.

'Yes, can I help you?'

'Sorry, miss, I am looking for Sheer Duchene, please.'

'Who are you?'

'A friend of hers.'

'Daniele, why is it taken you hours, I will finish this drink.' She heard another voice walking towards the door.

The door opened fully and then she saw Sheer in a white night dress.'

'Sophie!'

'Sheer!'

She hugged her friend as she invited her in, the lady closed the door behind as she entered, the lady took her bag.

'Sheer, I will see you tomorrow.'

Sheer nodded not paying absolute attention. Sophie watched as the lady walked out and closed the door.

'What happened to you?' Sheer asked her as they sat on the couch.

'It is work.'

'First, I will introduce you to my husband and then to the children before I let you go freshen up.' Sheer stood up and went into the room, she came out with her husband and two little beautiful kids.

'This is George and these are Michael and Niña.'

Her husband was good looking; this was the kind Pearl should have married, not that man.

'Mummy, she looks like that woman, you showed us yesterday, is she the one?'

Sheer nodded. 'She is one of my best friends, Sophie.'

'Does she have any children?' Nina asked this time.

Sheer shook her head. 'But you will asked tomorrow now go to bed.' She said shoving them away.

George shook her hand. 'Sheer talks a lot about you and Pearl, how is Pearl?'

Sophie managed a smile; Sheer recognised as fake and then she nodded.

George turned to his wife. 'I will be with you soon.' He said and walked after the children.

Sheer turned to her friend. 'We have a lot to talk about but first freshen up.' She said taking her hand and pulling her with her.

After Sophie had rested bath, eaten, she sat down on couch and explained everything to Sheer and George.

'That is a lie, I don't believe it, Pearl would never do such thing.' Sheer told Sophie.

'Don't you think the man must have done something hurtful to her for her to have killed him....it could be maybe he cheated on her...'

'Cheated? Honey, believe me, nothing is worse than a cheat but if she was able to live in the same house with him for several years, she could have tolerated him if he cheated.

George shrugged.

'The main issue isn't why she killed him or if she killed him, the thing is that when they find her they will have her locked up and she won't be able to help herself.'

Faces went sober, Sheer and her husband exchanged glances.

'What about Mrs Sonia, does she know?'

Sophie shook her head. 'I am afraid of putting her under pressure but I told her to get a good lawyer for Pearl.'

'That is a good thing.'

Sophie relaxed on the chair. 'I just pray wherever Pearl is, she is running.'

Although that was against an advice a practiced detective would give to a murderer but Pearl wasn't a murderer, she wasn't cold-blooded; she was her best friend.

'She has to, I fail to imagine her with those other criminals, it is going to be bad.'

Sophie didn't not reply; she looked into space; hoping she knew any other person; who knew information about Pearl, anything, it would help.