Chapter 442

Dinner was wonderful. So much laughter and terrible jokes, mostly at Erik's expense.

"And you just invited yourself to the home we were renting. And you had your cousin with you." Fi laughed as she recalled their first night in Italy together. "What was his name again?"

"Louis." Ian grumbled.

"Yes Louis. Oh don't be jelly dear husband, I shagged him long before I met you." Fi teased. Ian rolled his eyes.

"And you knocked Rhys out?" Christian asked.

"Yes. I did." Erik nodded, looking over at Pearl.

"Sounds like the prick deserved it." John said, taking a drink of his beer.

"Oh he most certainly did. Where is the old chap anyway? Haven't seen him in a long while. Would love to have another round." Erik said.

"He is around. I saw him at the cancer gala a few months ago. He tried to make a pass at Nora." Christian said.

"He will be at the ball. The one for the movie premier." Fi said. "He's producing it."

Erik looked over at Pearl again.

"May have to make an appearance at that." Erik smiled as he said it.

Everyone laughed.

"God I miss that place. The Villa dell'Angelo. Heaven, it was." Erik looked off into a memory.

"Still is." Pearl said.

Erik looked over at Pearl. "What? I thought… I was told…"

"That I sold it? Yes. I almost did. But I couldn't let it go."

"You mean it's still there?" Erik could barely contain his shock and his excitement.

"It is. Yes." Alex chimed in. "Mum won't let anyone stay there, though. What a miser."

Erik smiled. And Pearl smiled back.

After dinner, Fi cornered Pearl in the ladies room.

"Pearl, tell me you know what you're doing."

Pearl sighed. "I do and I don't."

"How could you bring him back here?"

"It wasn't my idea. I fought it. It was Christian. He hired him as the royal solicitor. Official title and all. And now I've been around him and he's so different. So much so."

"Pearl, he's still a liar and a cheat and much worse, corrupt." Fi put her hand on Pearl's shoulder. "People don't change."

"I was a liar and a cheater, too." Pearl said. "Am I still welcome at your table?"

Fi looked at her and stepped back.

"You love him. You love him still."

Pearl nodded.

"And Dylan? The good and kind man that has loved you and stood by your side all these years? You just gonna throw that away?"

Pearl put her head down.

"I'm not in love with him. I always chose others over him. It isn't fair to keep up like this with him, Erik or not."

"Is that a lie you're telling yourself to feel better?" Fi asked.

"The lie is to not say it." Pearl said. "I guess Erik and I deserve each other. We are both horrible people."

Fi shook her head.

"I guess you're just the definition of 'love conquers all' in the end."

"If that's true, then I welcome the mess this is going to be." Pearl sighed.

"Pearl, my love, from you, I wouldn't expect anything less." Fi smiled and hugged her. "I'm here and I have your back, always."

Pearl wiped a tear from her cheek.

"THAT is the definition of love conquers all." She laughed.

"Well don't get too excited I'm not eating your muff or anything!" Fi said as she laughed and walked Pearl out.

"Can, can we talk for a moment?" Erik asked as they walked by.

Fi looked at Erik. "I will rip your heart out of your chest and stuff it in your throat so help me god if you aren't being sincere with her." She was quiet so no one else could hear her.

"Noted." He said.

"Note the shit out of it. I mean it." She said, smiling and walking back to the dining room for after dinner cocktails.

Erik placed his hand on Pearl's back and walked her to the small study off the main office.

"Erik, are you al…." He put his mouth to hers and kissed her long and hard.

"This dress. This is the dress from our first night together." He kissed her again.

"I knew you'd remember." She said breathlessly.

"I remember everything." He said, ripping her panties from her thighs and lifting her up against the wall.

"Erik what if they come looking for us?" She panted.

"You cumming is all I care about presently." He said, moving his hand up her leg and to her sex, feeling how wet she was.

"My god." He moaned. He unbuckled his pants and took her, pounding into her as he gently put his hand over her mouth to muffle her cries.

He worked hard to bring her to peak as quickly as possible because he knew he wouldn't last long himself. As soon as they finished, there was a knock at the door.

"Pearl?" A voice called.

"Come in." Pearl's voice cracked as she spoke.

"Oh, I apologize, I didn't know you were speaking in private." Charles said as he walked in. Erik realized he still had Pearl's ripped panties in his hands and quickly put them into his pocket.

"Yes. Drinks are served. I need to make a call to our office in Wales to remind them of the meeting tomorrow." Charles said. They all stood in silence for a moment.

"If I may?" Charles asked, motioned to the telephone.

"Yes of course. Sorry. We were just discussing the Frogmore venture." Pearl said.

"Yes. Lovely of Christian to gift it." Charles said. Erik nodded and walked out with Pearl behind him. They both giggled as they walked into the dining room for drinks with everyone.