Chapter 33

Pearl was halfway through her morning at work. It was weird not seeing David there. But she knew a little time away from him was needed for her just as much it was needed for him. There was a knock at her office door. "Pearl, there's someone up front in the lobby here to see you." The receptionist said. Why did she come all the way to Pearl's office to tell her this? She could have just told her over the phone. "Ok? I'll head that way.." Pearl responded curiously. "He's an actor! It's Holden Tomlinson from Knights of Eden! Is he here for PR for our company? Oh my god I've loved him since he was in that spy movie with James Franco!!" She was practically screeching. "No, he's my....friend" Pearl replied.

She made her way to the front lobby of the building. It was always bustling there. They shared the building with a popular tech company so it stayed busy most of the day. Sure enough, there he was. Dressed in dark grey dress pants and a white button up with the top few buttons undone and a beautifully patterned blazer, he looked as ridiculously handsome and alluring as ever, his hair was a little shorter and styled and his goatee was gone. He must be shooting again soon, Pearl thought. There were three people talking to him and one asked for a selfie together, which he obliged. He looked over and saw her standing there and walked past them to her. "Hey there, Pearl with the pretty eyes. Surprise! I surprised you! Oh and these too." He beamed, handing her more flowers than she'd ever seen in a bundle. There must be 3 or 4 dozen roses in it. "Thank you. What are you doing here?" Pearl was blushing. "I told you! Surprising you? And you look surprised so mission accomplished. Let's get lunch. Can you take a lunch?"

"Yes. Give me a second to grab my things."

"I'll come with you." Rhys said and followed her back to her office. Everyone stopped and stared. You could of heard a mouse fart in the 4,000 square foot room. Pearl handed Ashley the flowers and asked her to put them in water. Rhys was cheesing really big and Pearl knew he was enjoying this scene at her expense. "What are you smiling about?" Pearl asked, already knowing the answer.

"I'm just enjoying seeing another layer in the life of my little Pearl. Hope it's ok I stopped in. I got the information from you boss Dale or Daniel or whatever his name was." He beamed. "What?" She asked. "How?"

"Oh he came by the hotel the day of the comic con. Before you came for dinner. He wanted to let me know he wouldn't be making it to dinner and to make sure I wasn't going to murder you or anything and told me to be good to you. Asked if I was planning on hurting you. Told me I should know that was a lucky guy. And I asked for his card. Thought he seemed like a good dude. He could be someone to network to in the future. Never can have enough PR people you trust. So I called him Monday and asked what your schedule was. Told him I would be in town and wanted to surprise you. So here I am!" Rhys spun around in her chair and flipped through her desk calendar of quotes from philosophers.

Wow. Pearl thought. David knew he was coming and took off work to avoid it all. And he went to Rhys' hotel room! Why didn't he mention that to her?? Oh my god. This is such a mess. "What did you tell him? I mean when he asked if you were going to hurt me?" She asked. "I told him I wouldn't dream of it." He replied and kissed her forehead.