Chapter 89

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... a lot.", Dylan said. "And I don't have any idea how I would handle that if I were you. That kind of money changes people." He looked around the house they were in. "Look how much this has already changed you. Imagine being a billionaire. I don't even know what that means. I don't even know what kind of lifestyle you'll have. And what it will do to Rhys. Will he continue acting? Will he want someone else?" Dylan understood. She was grateful for his friendship. "I do know one thing", he said "I'm going with you on Monday. You need someone there to support you other than a lawyer you don't know. Don't worry, I'll wear a suit." He winked.

They chatted for a little while longer and Dylan had to leave to go to work at the brewery. He told her he would be back Monday morning. She had a whole day and half to herself and she was in need of the peace. She ran a bath, threw on a bathrobe and walked into the kitchen to grab some wine.

"How was Canada?" A voice said from behind her. She jumped three feet in the air and saw it was Jim.

"Jesus Christ you scared the holy shit out of me!" Pearl shouted.

"You have the mouth of a sailor and are probably going straight to Hades." Jim said, not breaking his serious face.

"Yeah. I'll keep that in mind." She said.

"Rhys said you have some people flying in this week and you'll need the guesthouse. He wants me to stay on permanently now. I am supposed to move into a room upstairs for the the time being. Which room would you prefer?" Jim asked.

"Pick one, man. I don't mind. Whatever one you want." She liked Jim. He nodded and picked up his suitcase. He was older than her and a kind of father figure, even though he could whoop some ass if he needed to. He was spry and tough as nails but she felt good about him. She thought about the money Rhys was going to inherit. "One more thing." She said. He stopped and turned. "I'm giving you a raise. A big one. We love you, Jim. Happy New Year." She closed the refrigerator and headed to take a long bath.

The attorney Rhys hired showed up at the house Monday morning right about the time Dylan arrived. They all sat in the living room, having coffee, as Pearl told them the entire story of her and David. She told them about Seattle. About David's father and the first and second encounters with him. About the marriage ultimatum. She talked about David wanting to be exclusive and that she hadn't agreed. She told them about how she had ended things. She could see Dylan shift in his chair, uncomfortably for some of it, even though he knew she had been sleeping with him. "So that's it. There isn't anything else?" The attorney asked.

"No. Nothing. That is everything." She said.

"So what's going to happen today?" Dylan asked.

"Today is the formal reading of the will. I called the contact and that's all he would tell me. It's not a necessary thing but it sounds like it was outlined in his last wishes that it happen this way before the probate process begins His attorney is insisting this happen before he files with the courts. They will give us all a copy of the will today. It sounds like no one but his executor knows what is contained in it." Rhys' attorney explained.

Pearl had no idea what to expect.

They arrived at the executors's office downtown and were greeted by a man in the lobby. "Hello. I'm assuming you are Pearl." The man said.

"Yes. I'm Pearl. This is my friend Dylan and the attorney representing me." She said, shaking his hand.

"Nice to meet you. Let's go upstairs." He said.

They went to the third floor and into a conference room. At one end of the table sat a young woman with what looked like and attorney and at the other end, David and his attorney. The woman did not even acknowledge them. David looked at Pearl and stood, he looked so sad. "Hello. Thank you for coming. I'm sorry you have to deal with this. And.... Congratulations on the engagement." He said, extending his hand. She shook it and sat down. "I'm sorry about your father." She said.

"I'm not." He said.

"My client has no idea why she is here. She was not related to Mr. Powers and had no personal relationship with him." Pearl's attorney pointed out before anything began.

"You are all gathered here today because Thomas Powers has passed on and asked that each of you specifically come to meet today to discuss his last will and testament." The executor began.

He started reading the will and Pearl soon realized the woman sitting at the table was his widow. He left the house and what was in the bank to her along with vehicles and all other personal property. After reading the personal belongings list, he moved on to the business assets. It appeared he had sold all of his business interests after finding out his terminal diagnoses. All but one. The merged company that he had taken over. Her former company.

"Trigon and all of it's subsidies, employees and contents therein are hereby given to Pearl Clarke. She will be named the successor of the company and will own it for a minimum of 5 years before she may sell her interests. Money has been set aside for all estate taxes levied against this business after my death."

What!?

"My son, David, gets nothing."

There was silence in the room.

"This is bullshit. Complete bullshit!" Thomas' widow yelled. "Who is the bitch? Why are you here? Were you fucking him?" She came at Pearl. Dylan stood up and got in the way.

"No. She was fucking me." David raised his voice over them. "We were seeing each other and I love her. This is to hurt me."

They all looked at David.