Page 33 of Master A-0011

“Hello friends, it’s so nice to meet you.”

“Hello, Tara.”

Pearl’s voice had Pete’s eyes lowering, but the moment he went to come back to me, his gaze snapped back down to Pearl’s face…right to her scar. The smile fell and his stare jerked between us, stopping at me.

“This is Pearl. She’s my reason for solitude. Meet my soon-to-be wife.”

“Wife?” Pete kept looking back between us. “Married?To her?”

Pearl didn’t so much as take offense or try to hide her face. Her attention was on me. Her smile had me mirroring it as I wrapped my arm over her shoulder.

“Damn right.” I turned back to him, narrowing my lids with a threat that had Pete swallowing hard. “Is that a problem?”

“N-No. Of course not. I mean, congratulations. She, ah.” He pointed towards his face, level with his temple, cheek area. “Is that real?”

Pearl laughed, flattening her hand on my chest as the monster inside had me pitching forward the slightest amount.

“It’s real. It came from a boating accident from when I was twelve.” She shrugged. “Luckily for me, the Main Master has found the perfect person to fix it. I go in for surgery first thing in the morning.”

“Not that I want her to,” I snapped with a sharp tone. “I want and chose Pearlfor Pearl. Not because of her face.”

“Of course,” Pete rushed out. “I didn’t mean to pry into your private matters. I just saw the two of you talking to Hazel and with her father being the inventor for that special costume makeup?—”

“You thought, what? That Pearl was faking her injuries?”

“I mean, you’re getting ready to start filming your new movie.”

“So you thought I was dressing her up for some part?”

Pete looked like a fish out of water as he repeatedly opened and closed his mouth. “I don’t know. I had no idea. I just thought you wouldn’t have?—”

“Wouldn’t have what?” I pushed out between clenched teeth.

The challenge and pressure for Pete to answer had him glancing to his slave, only to turn back to look at Pearl.

“I was mistaken. Your slaves. They’re always so…they’re…the best.”

It was my turn for my mouth to open, and with it, came an instant smile.

“You’re still bitter that I outbid you at the last auction.”

Uncomfortableness turned to rage in the blink of an eye.

“Slave one-twelve was the perfect slave for me. You could have had any of them, but you waited for me to bid, and the moment I did, you took it to an impossible price. You couldn’t just let me have her.”

“I can assure you my bid had nothing to do with you and everything to do with the slave.”

“That’s not true. You’re always trying to one-up me.”

“Because I get the movie offers over you? That’s talent, Pete. Work.”

“I work hard too. I spent weeks studying that role. I deserved it, not you.”

No response. No arguing. At my hard stare, Pete shifted on his feet. He was a grenade waiting for someone to pull the pin, and he wouldn’t get that from me. Not with Pearl so close. I didn’t trust Pete. His dark side didn’t scare me, but a man, a future husband, didn’t put his chosen at risk.Ever.

“How about a truce? You wanted one-twelve. If she means that much to you, I don’t mind sharing.”

He stood a little taller, the anger melting.