Pearl emailed Jason at Epic and they set the meeting for Friday. Three days of planning was hardly enough time but Pearl knew it was an opportunity they couldn't afford to pass up. After getting the guys on board, she took her lunch break and worked on regaining her focus at work. Her life was a bit insane right now and definitely not what she had been used to. "Good morning." A voice said from behind her. David looked amazing. He was in a tailored suit and he had let his hair grow out a little. He was looking less Robert Redford and more Brad Pitt these days. He was really beautiful. "Good morning." Pearl replied, trying to keep it professional. "Are we still on for later tonight?" David asked. "Yes." Pearl began and figured she would let him know about Friday "I'm going to need to take Friday off. I have a meeting in New York with a record producer. I fly out early Friday morning and won't be back until Sunday. Ashley will cover everything for me."

"Great rehearsal." Dylan said as they were walking to their cars. "Are you nervous about Friday?" "I am a little." Pearl replied. "I just feel like we are who we are, and even though I know we have a lot of talent, I guess it just seems very surreal, you know? Like it's not really happening." Pearl looked down and put her hands in her pockets, leaning against her car. "How do you feel?" She asked Dylan. "I feel great about having someone take my writing and playing seriously. It's all I've ever really known. Music. Poetry. Books. Words from other people have kind of been the voice I never had most of my life. And now, I might get to return the favor. It's humbling, really." Dylan said, walking over to her, leaning on her car beside her. "I don't think many can relate, though, to what I have to say." "What do you mean?" Pearl asked. "I don't think anyone has ever had anyone like you as a muse. I feel very fortunate to feel for you the way I

"Maggie. What are you doing here?" Pearl asked as she opened the door, pulling her towel around her tighter. "I'm here in a personal capacity. Can I come in?" Maggie asked. Pearl motioned her in and excused herself to throw on some clothes. "What can I do for you?" Pearl asked, also offering Maggie a drink. "No thank you. I won't keep you long. I'm sorry to intrude on you like this. This is about David." Maggie looked directly at Pearl, not mincing words. "David's father is taking over the company completely. He told me the night after we offered you the new position. It's not a merger, it's a full take over." Pearl remained quiet. She didn't want Maggie to know she knew any of this. "And there's more." Maggie continued. "He is dying and wants to give David the entire company, with one condition. And that condition, is you."Pearl already knew. She remembered how Thomas Powers looked at her when he said it. The g

John texted Pearl and told her they were all meeting in the hotel bar at 6. Iris told them the company car would be there at 7:30 to collect them and take them to Jax at the studio. Pearl changed her outfit 3 times and decided on a shirt skirt with over the knee high boots with a fringe shawl and Rhys's Tom Waits t-shirt. She looked like a 70s groupie but old enough to know better. It was whimsy and edgy. She made it to the bar a few minutes early and saw Dylan sitting alone with a cocktail. "Manhattan when in Manhattan." He said to her as she sat down next to him. He looked like a man about to record in a studio. He had on jeans with a tight fitting vintage Led Zeppelin t-shirt paired with a leather blazer and knitted beanie. "I'll have one of those, also." Pearl said to the bartender. There was a silence between them for what seemed like forever. "I never said thank you. For this. I'm sorry for chastising you about making this happen. Calling you a

"You should go back to the hotel and get some rest. It's 3 in the afternoon and you've been at the hospital for 10 hours. He's resting. He's in critical care. The best thing you can do is rest." Iris said as she brought Pearl a coffee. The rest of the guys had went back to the hotel to get some sleep a couple of hours earlier. Their flight left the next day at 4, so they had discussed taking shifts before the three guys went home. "I'm insisting you sleep. We all are." Iris said sternly."Ok. Ok I will. But I won't be long. I'll be back in a few hours." Pearl said."I'm going to be here until John comes back at 7. I will let you know if his condition changes. I'll come and see you at the hotel after I meet with Jason at 8. Set an alarm for 9 pm, I'll be there around then. We are all shattered by this. Jax and Jason refused to put off the meeting on your demo because you all said it's what Dylan would have wanted. Everything is going to be ok, I can just feel it." Iris said