Chapter 171

It had been an entire day since Pearl had seen or heard from Erik. She met the guys for a drink and they discussed the set list for the concert in Seattle. Jim drove her home and Pearl took a bath and crawled into bed. She didn't know if Erik would ever return but she knew that she missed him terribly.

The next morning, she woke up and felt arms around her. It was Erik. He was still in his clothes and she knew well what jet lag felt like. She was so happy to feel him next to her. She looked over on the bedside table and saw a blue Tiffaney box. She reached up and opened it. Inside was a another charm for her bracelet. It was another heart and inscribed on it were the words, "I love you, too."

She felt her heart might burst. She put it back in the box and cuddled up to him, falling back to sleep in the warmth of his arms.

She woke up to the sound of the shower. She looked at her phone. It was almost noon. Erik walked out of the bathroom in a towel and looked at her.

"Good afternoon, nightingale." He said, leaning down and kissing her.

She broke down and started to cry.

"Pearl? What's wrong?" He asked.

"I just felt so scared when you left. And now I'm just so happy that you're back." She said.

He kneeled in front of her. "Listen to me. I know you have been hurt. Badly. I can't imagine the hurt you've felt. I am telling you right now, right here that I am not them. I am a real man that would never hurt you. Not even accidentally. My intentions are absolute and true with you. And if I have to work extra hard because of the damage they caused then so be it, you're worth it." He said.

He handed her the box. She opened it and saw the heart charm again and this time, it made her cry. He reached for her wrist and placed the charm on the bracelet. "I'm not just going to be a man that says this and leaves it in the air like it has no worth. I am putting it in writing, on your wrist, in gold, so you never have to forget I mean it and wonder where it is. It right here. In your hands. My heart. I am in love with you and I intend to be the first man to show you what that really means." He said.

She put her arms around him and kissed him. "My god, the road I took to find you." She said.

"I'm here now. I am right here." He said. "Now get up. I need to take my girl to eat, she is opening for the fucking Rolling Stones tonight."

They sat down at the diner and Jim and Charles had to chase away photographers from the outdoor table they were sitting at. Pearl ordered a cheeseburger and a beer. Erik smiled as all five feet nothing of her wolfed it down like a grown man. "Stop staring at me, I have to eat, I have a gig tonight." She said, embarrassed.

"It's quite adorable, actually." He said.

"Erik, why did you go home?" She asked.

"I went home to tell my parents about you." He said.

"You what?" She asked.

"I knew when you told me you loved me, it was what I needed to do."

"You did that because of what I said? I'm so sorry." She said, putting her head down.

"Sorry for loving me?" He asked.

"No. No of course not. Sorry that you had to talk to them about me. Maybe I should have waited to tell you." She said

"It was beginning to take all my strength not to confess it to you. I think I've known since Italy. Since that day you were walking along the castle wall and I was writing poetry in my head about you. I just didn't want to tell you first because these knobs before me ruined it. Using love to manipulate you." He said.

Pearl looked at him in shock. "You gave how you felt about me that much thought?" She said.

"Yes."

She practically jumped across the table to kiss him.

"Anyway. I want you to come to England with me and meet my parents. Whenever you are available, that is."

"Wait. What? You want me to meet them?" She asked.

"Yes. I want them to meet the amazing woman that has change my life." He said.

She smiled so big it lit up her entire face. Then it changed.

"They won't like me. I'm not the kind of girl they want you to be with."

"Well that is too bad for them. It will be their loss. I also want to talk to you about Trigon." He said.

"Ok" Pearl said.

"I want to help you with it. I want to help you grow it. And my family might also be interested in investing in it." Erik leaned in "I'm going to help you become the biggest corporation in your field in the world." He said.

"Why would you do that?" She asked.

"Because I love you." He said.

"I don't know if I want your help. Everything I've achieved has been because some man helped me."

She said. "It makes me feel I can't accomplish anything on my own.

"No. Men help you because they see that you are going to do great things, change lives. That you have talent and potential. I'd give you the world if I could. Why not take what I have to offer because I want to give it to you? If helping you makes me feel anything like what loving you makes me feel, I may just be able to give you the world, because I will have taken it over." He said, smiling. "My Father will likely bring it up. It's a non emotional reason to meet you. He is better that way." Erik said.

"It would be an honor to meet them. Thank you." She said.

Pearl understood. The guise of the company for a door to meeting the king. Erik is smart. And Pearl was smart, too. She couldn't believe the effort this man had put in already just to be with her and love her the right way. She made up her mind that moment what she would not let him down. She would make sure she was worthy of this man's efforts. No matter what.

"Ready to go to your show?" Erik asked.

"I am." Pearl said.