Chapter 131

Pearl looked at Erik sitting across from her and though she should have felt guilty for confiding in another man, she didn't. She felt that he was there when she needed someone, he was so easy to talk to. It could have been anyone but it just happened to be him and she truly was grateful. The place she was in the night before wasn't good and who knows what could have happened, would have happened if it was anyone else that found her at that bar. He was a gentleman and she was lucky.

"Ok. I'm ready to hear it." Pearl said, nervously shifting in her seat.

"I wasn't completely honest with you the night we met. There was more to me wanting to talk to you. I've been a bit of a stalker over the last year." Year? Pearl thought. That was before any of this happened. How would he know anything about her?

"There was a charity event that I was involved in with Trigon industries last winter. My charity, New Hope, provides housing, grant money, vehicles and cell phones to battered women leaving abusive homes, sponsored it. And there was a woman from Trigon, a marketing director there, that gave the most powerful and emotionally gut wrenching speech I had ever heard about the abuse she saw as a child and the abuse she endured in her marriage. I have never heard so much pain in a voice. I could feel it, in my heart. It moved me. She helped raise over a million dollars that night. After, I used all my resources to find out about her. When I finally caught up to where she was, I found out she was marrying a movie star and signing to Epic records. I couldn't believe it." He looked away and Pearl felt the air leave her lungs. She remembered the speech. It was a last minute request from David when their featured speaker couldn't make it. She completely ad libbed the entire thing with about five minutes to prepare. She went up in front of hundreds of people and spoke of her childhood and her marriage she had just left. She wanted the donors to know how important the charity was. If her mother of if she had access to assistance like that, it would have made leaving so much easier. She started to say something and he stopped her. "There's more." He said. "I bought the house in LA because I knew Holden was a neighbor. I knew you both were in town and I saw him leave you alone the other night, and decided it was time to meet her. The woman that moved me so. I promise I'm not a creepy stalker. And I meant what I said when I first met you. I did come there to meet you. I wanted to tell you thank you for giving yourself so openly to the cause and to also tell you that no matter what, I would make sure you never hurt like that again. I wanted to protect you from the moment I saw you on that stage, small and far from helpless. But strong and brave and worthy of something far better than what you had to endure. And then after hearing your story last night, I know it was the right thing. Finding you." He looked at her for a response. The air was tense between them and Pearl felt both awkward and flattered all at once. She didn't like the pull she felt toward him. She didn't like how he made her feel because she was married and doing her best to be a good person. But that was the only reason.

"I don't know what to say." She finally said to him. "I don't think you're a creepy stalker. I was happy to raise money for your cause and it's admirable you are so passionate about it. I just feel so flattered and it's truly unbelievable you would notice me. I think I should go back to my room. I think I need to leave your presence. I think it would, will, complicate things. I doubt myself when I am around you. I doubt my will power." Pearl said to him.

"And you are being honest with me as well, which I appreciate in return. Thank you, Pearl." Erik said, placing his hand over hers.

"No. Thank you. Thank you so much for being here for me last night. For noticing me. For putting forth effort to meet and know me. I can't tell you how incredible that is. For comforting me. Thank you." Pearl said. She went to stand up and he held her hand in place.

"I'm not finished yet. Go back home to your husband, I'll be waiting for the moment you realize you deserve more." He said and let go of her hand.