“Maybe I’ll just call him… to see when he’s coming back,” Pearl muttered to herself, pulling out her phone. She froze as she selected his contact, debating about whether or not she should hit call.“Slow it down there a minute, Pearly.” she reprimanded herself. “The last thing you want to do is to come off too needy.”She sighed and dropped the phone back on his desk. She’d wait a bit longer. Then when he came back she could act all cool and casual like she’d only just got here.Pearl had been in Khura'in for a little over six months now, undertaking the same spiritual training that Maya had. It was a long road ahead and a very long time before she’d see Kurain again. She missed home terribly, and the adjustment to living overseas hadn’t been easy on her. Thankfully, Apollo had been around to make the transition a little easier.He was thoughtful, kind and accommodating, even if he was a little bit dorky (a trait which she had grown to find endearing), but the best thing about him in her eyes was the fact that he didn’t treat her like a little kid. She knew she was of diminutive stature, and wasn’t what any man would describe as sexy, but Pearl was getting tired of people consistently assuming she was younger than she was and dismissing her with a pat on the head. A strange feeling had started to blossom within her when she started spending time with Apollo after arriving in Khura'in. It only intensified when to her surprise he had treated her like an adult. An equal.Maybe it was the homesickness… or maybe something else entirely… but his kind eyes and ready smile had the young woman’s heart all aflutter in the recent weeks. Never one to sit idly by in the presence of love, she had decided to make her move.She would talk to him today.If he ever got back to the office, that is.Picking up her phone again, she exhaled heavily. Maybe she could text Maya. What time was it in LA anyway?’Stop. Drop. SELFIE!’ she typed into her phone and hit send. It had been her and Maya’s way of asking what the other was up to for years now. Seconds passed before grey dots appeared, signifying that Maya was sending a text. Moments later, a picture appeared of Maya and Phoenix - she was smiling and holding up a peace sign while Phoenix had a mouthful of burger. Clearly Maya had snapped the photo without warning. Responding with a laughter emoji, Pearl chuckled to herself and dropped the phone back down and crossed her arms.Suddenly, the office door flung open and Apollo barged through, talking on his phone. Pearl jumped in surprise, removing her feet from Apollo’s desk and sitting up straight in his chair.“Ma'am, please. Slow down.” he frowned. “I can assure you we are doing everything we can. Just let me look into it some more and I promise I will call you as soon as I have more information.”He moved across the room slipping out of his jacket and dumping it across the back of the couch. “Yes. Yes. I promise.” he pleaded with the woman on the phone. “Give me two days.”With a sigh, he hung up the phone, slipping it into his pocket. He rubbed his hand over his face, sighing again. He had his back to his desk. He probably hadn’t even noticed she was there yet.“Need to me to slap someone for you? Because I’ll do it.”Apollo spun around, surprised to see Pearl sitting behind his desk.“Pearl, you scared the crap out of me. How long have you been here?” he asked.“Not long,” Pearl lied. “You look like you’ve had a rough day.”Apollo groaned, flopping back on the couch where he had deposited his jacket moments before. He stared at the ceiling.“You can’t even begin to imagine. Everyone seems to want to hire a lawyer but they’re still all scared to become one. So I’m in high demand with very little help.” Apollo explained. “How about you, Pearl. You want to give up a life of mysticism and come be my partner?”Pearl blushed as her brain immediately started creating scenarios where they ran a law firm together and raised little lawyer babies. They’d name them Maya and Nick and they’d have the cutest little suits. She’d teach them how to point and yell ‘Objection!’…“Hello?” Apollo interrupted. “Earth to Pearl? That was a joke by the way.”Pearl shook her head quickly, bringing herself back to reality. She thought for a moment, her eyes narrowing as the perfect idea formed in her mind.“Okay, now you’re scaring me.” Apollo said, watching Pearl think silently.“But what if…” she began. “It wasn’t a joke.”Apollo frowned.“What do you mean? Of course it’s a joke. You’re not going to quit spiritual training and go to law school.” he stammered.“Of course I’m not.” Pearl said, shaking her head. “But what you do need, is an assistant. And that assistant…”Pearl stood, moving around in front of Apollo’s desk. She motioned to herself with a twirl and a flourish. “…is me!”“Now just hold on a diddly darn minute.” Apollo sputtered, standing and moving towards the young spirit medium. “Have you forgotten about your training? It’s the entire reason you’re here and Maya will KILL me if you get distracted from it." Pearl shrugged. "I don’t train every day. I’ll just make sure I’m here when I’m not training.”“And what if I can’t afford to pay you?” Apollo countered, raising and eyebrow. Because that was a very real probability.“I’ll work for free.” Pearl responded. “You need the help and I need to learn other things besides channeling and meditating.”They stared at each other for a moment, each questioning the other with silence. Pearl smiled meekly at him, mouthing the word ’Please...’ Apollo gave in, letting his shoulders slump.“Okay, fine. But you do everything I say and keep quiet when I say to keep quiet and learn everything I teach you, okay?”Pearl jumped up and down on the spot. “Yes, yes of course! You won’t regret this, I promise.” she grinned.Pearl knew that Mystic Maya had won Mister Nick’s heart by first becoming his assistant. If Pearl wanted Apollo to notice her, this was definitely a step in the right direction. They’d fall in love just like Maya and Phoenix did, she was sure of it.Moving closer to Apollo, she reached out and grabbed his tie, pulling his face closer to hers, just as she had seen Maya do to Phoenix many a time. He sputtered and blushed, just like Phoenix always did - especially back in the old days. Pearl smiled wickedly.“Okay boss. First order of business is a lunch break. I’m starving.” she smirked, letting the tie slip through her fingers before sauntering over to the office door. She stopped, looking back at Apollo as she waited for him to follow.Apollo swallowed heavily. Did… Did Pearl just make him blush?Just what had he gotten himself into?
