Chapter 91

Pearl awoke the next morning on the couch and checked her phone. Still nothing from Rhys. She was in a panic, she hadn't heard from him since Sunday. She was supposed to stop in to the bookshop at 11 am to talk with Frank. They were hoping to transition by February 1 and he was interviewing some employees to hire so he could train them before his departure. It was part of their agreement.

She called Rhys two more times and left him a voicemail telling him she was heading to the bookstore. Where was he? What was going on? She decided that if she didn't hear from him by this evening, she was going to Canada.

"Hey Frank! So nice to see you. How is your wife?" Pearl asked as she walked in. "She is feeling well today. The good news of all this has helped her spirits, I think. The mind is a great healer." He said. They talked about the interviews and she said her assistant Iris was coming Monday to help there, among other things. She was going to stay in one of their spare rooms upstairs until Ian was finished using the guesthouse. Pearl wanted him no where near the main house.

She finished up with Frank and headed home. She made a few more stops while she was out to get food and drinks for the upcoming weekend.

She checked her phone and saw a text notification. Her heart leapt until she saw that it was from Ian.

"Hey, I need to talk to you. ASAP. Call me." He wrote.

She put her phone down. She didn't have time for his shit today.

She pulled up to the mailbox outside before she went to the house. Inside was a manilla envelope, addressed to Rhys. There was no return address.

Normally she wouldn't open his mail but it said "open NOW" She opened it and gasped.

Inside she found several 8x10 photographs of herself with Ian! Someone was taking pictures of their meeting before their second gig. Him touching her face. Him almost kissing her. It looked like he was kissing her! There a photo of them talking outside at the venue. One of them talking close to each other in the hotel lobby. These pictures looked like she and Ian were fucking around! There was also a typed letter inside.

"You've been deceived. She goes after anyone with money. How does it feel to be a fool? If you don't end things with her, I will go to the press about your money and your whore. I sent another packet to your location in Canada."

There was no name. She had no idea who it was from. Panic set it. The packet had been sent to Rhys' location. Oh my god. Was that why he wasn't responding? She rushed up to the house and ran inside.

There she saw Rhys, standing in the kitchen, the pictures spread out all over the counter.