Chapter337

"Why are you out here in this alley?" He asked. He looked thin and tired. Apparently prison isn't been kind to him.

"I could ask you the same." Pearl said, wondering how she got the words out.

"My attorney's office is right there." He said, pointing to an office at the end of the alley, on the opposite side of the street. "And my car is there." He continued, pointing to a car not 20 feet from them.

"You're telling me this purely coincidental." Pearl said, not even making it a question.

"There are no such things as coincidences." He said, smiling. "A wise woman once told me that." The sound of glass breaking from inside the restaurant wasn't good news and Erik pulled her away from the door. "What is going on in there?" He asked.

"Some worker is arguing with Jim and another security guard." She said.

"Come. Let's get you to your car." He said, walking her around the building. He opened her door and looked at her. "Was it all a lie?" He asked.

"Only the parts involving you." Pearl said, getting into the car and closing the door. He gave her a pained smile and walked away. She was in shock and unsure of what had just transpired. She picked up her phone a texted Jim. "I'm in the car out front."

She took a deep breath, still confused and weirded out completely.

Jim finally walked out to the car and got in.

"I'm glad you are safe. I apologize about that. That guy was an asshole." He said as he pulled away from the restaurant front. Pearl took a deep breath. Sebastian was going to be furious.

She got back to Buckingham and found Sebastian in his study, finishing up with Samuel.

"Hello my love. I'm glad you made it back." Sebastian said.

"Yes. Um, can I talk to you?" Pearl asked.

"Yes, of course." He said, closing the door behind her.

"There was a scuffle in the restaurant today. It was between Jim and the new security detail and a man working at the restaurant. I didn't want to put myself at risk so I exited out of the back door, into the alley to walk around the building and get to the car." Pearl said.

"Oh lord. Are you alright?" He asked, putting his hands on her shoulders and looking her over.

"Yes. I'm fine." She said. "There's more." Sebastian looked into her eyes. "Ok. What else?" He asked.

"Erik was in the alley. His attorney's office and car were there. It seemed purely coincidental. He heard the commotion inside and hurried me to the car." She said. She saw rage and panic in Sebastian's eyes.

"Pearl, you know that was not a coincidence." He said, pacing. She could see him shaking with anger and worry.

"I... I don't know." She said.

"Is that all that happened?" He asked.

"He asked me if it was all a lie." She said.

He looked at her from across the room, where he had paced to.

"I told him only the parts involving him." She said. "Then I closed the door and he walked away."

He walked to her and got there in only a few long strides. He took her face in his hands and kissed her, passionately. His large hands moving down her body and pulling her to him. "The fear I just had. The fear of something happening to you, to our child." He whispered, his mouth still near her mouth and his forehead leaning against hers. His breath strained and his body rigid.

"I am fine. It's ok, Bash." She said, soothingly.

He looked into her eyes. "I cannot allow anything to happen to you, ever. Ever." He said.

She nodded and hugged him.

A knock at the door interrupted them.

"Your majesty. Mr. Erik Pilsen-Chamberlain is at the front gate, asking security allow him to see you." The door man said.

Sebastian looked at Pearl.

"Show him to my office." He said. "And keep a guard with him at all times."