Sam groaned. “I saw that coming,” the boy quipped.
* * *
—
Current Miami “it” girl Pearl Eklund awoke in a familiar place—the lavishly decorated study in her adoptive father’s penthouse apartment at the top of the Eklund Energy building in downtown Miami. She glanced over to see the occasionally friendly but always firm face of psychiatrist Ridley Hawkins. Dr. Hawkins had been working with Pearl ever since she’d come to live with Lief Eklund, helping the girl process her grief in the wake of the loss of her parents. They died in a boating accident several years earlier, when she was only ten years old. Pearl had also nearly drowned but was rescued by Lief, who in light of the awful tragedy had felt a call to adopt her. Doctors believed that the loss of oxygen she suffered while underwater had led to significant memory loss. Subsequently, Pearl had no recollection of her parents or anything before the incident.
Pearl didn’t much care for the constant sessions with Dr. Hawkins, but Lief insisted. He believed the doctor was helping her, though Pearl wondered if Lief’s judgment was just a touch clouded by the fact that he was attracted to Hawkins. Pearl wasn’t surprised. The man was a workaholic with no real social life, and Hawkins was pretty much the only woman in his life other than Pearl. Besides, the doctor seemed like a good catch, even though she could be a little too stiff at times. Pearl’s appointments with the psychiatrist often involved hypnosis, which the doctor attempted—unsuccessfully—to use to unlock Pearl’s lost memories. Hypnosis was also intended to help train Pearl’s mind to deal with life in a productive and confident manner. When it came to this last objective, Pearl couldn’t help but conclude that the sessions were effective. She was soaring to the top of the fashion world, and she had yet to experience a single moment of doubt that she deserved all the wonderful things that had come to her, particularly the fame and tremendous wealth.
Although she usually felt refreshed following a session with Dr. Hawkins, this time was different. Ever since that “creepo” guy accosted her in San Francisco, Pearl wasn’t feeling like herself. She was tense and out of sorts, and the terrible dreams had returned. They were just like the ones she’d had for several weeks following the boating accident. In these nightmares, Pearl was trapped underwater, flailing for help and taking in large gulps of seawater. Then she would suddenly find herself on the deck of a ship, still thrashing about and gasping for air. It was usually at this moment that she would wake up, drenched in sweat. After several appointments with Dr. Hawkins, Pearl stopped having those terrible dreams, and then years went by. But the evening she returned from San Francisco, she had one again. It was the same nightmare, only this time when she found herself on the boat, the man who’d accosted her in San Francisco was standing over her, his hand reaching out. She could hear him repeating those same words he’d said earlier.
“Come home before it’s too late and all is lost.”
Pearl clutched her necklace anxiously as the man’s strange message echoed in her mind. The red coral pendant that hung on a thin gold chain around Pearl’s neck was one of the few items salvaged from her family’s boat and had likely belonged to her mother. As such, it never left Pearl’s sight and brought her some small comfort after the tragic turn her life had taken. Dr. Hawkins encouraged Pearl to wear it, as she believed it was a therapeutic way for Pearl to remember that even though her parents were gone, they were always close to her heart. Pearl often found herself gripping it in times of stress or worry, and Hawkins must have noticed this pattern.
“Is there something wrong?” the doctor asked as she peered over the top of her glasses and studied her longtime patient. Pearl was not about to tell her the truth. If she admitted to having the dreams or to still being shaken up by the encounter, it would likely lengthen this appointment and get back to her father. Pearl had no time to waste sitting on a couch talking with Hawkins—she had shopping to do. Lief was holding a party that evening to celebrate Eklund Energy’s new state-of-the-art methane drilling ship, and it was going to be attended by a veritable who’s who of Miami’s elite. The guest list was sure to include a few environmentally conscious Hollywood types, whom Pearl hoped to persuade into giving her a part in their latest projects. In Pearl’s mind, the fashion world was merely a stepping stone to greater fame.
“I’m good,” Pearl responded, releasing the pendant and flashing her most adorable smile.
“Are you sure?” the doctor asked with a healthy dose of skepticism.
“Totes!” Pearl assured her charmingly before springing to her feet and grabbing her purse. “The girls and I are going to Bal Harbour so I can pick up an outfit for tonight, and I’ve really got to get going. Daddy said I can spend whatever it takes, and I intend to put his words to the test!”
Minutes later, a company limousine whisked Pearl off to her third shopping spree of the week. At her father’s insistence, she was accompanied by two oversized security guards, who would no doubt cramp her style.
Pearl’s friends—a coterie of spoiled rich kids and yes-girls who hung on her every word—were waiting patiently at the entrance to the Bal Harbour shops. With her entourage in tow, Pearl paraded into the luxury fashion mall, known for housing some of the most expensive shops in the country. She was immediately recognized, and mallgoers gawked and pointed her way. Pearl just smiled and waved. She was also shadowed by a few paparazzi that had likely been tipped off by a member of her crew, as was customary for their outings.
“Can you tell us what happened in San Francisco?” one of the gossip hounds shouted while snapping pictures.
“Were you hurt falling into that pool?” another barked as he shot video of her. Pearl was miffed at the paparazzi’s determination to discuss the incident and ignored the queries. The photographers had served their purpose in snapping her picture, and she didn’t want to be bothered with more questions, so with a nod to her security guards, Pearl had the photographers promptly escorted off the premises.
Pearl led her crew to her favorite French couture boutique, traipsed inside, and pointed to a slinky black dress in the window.
“I’d like to try that one on,” she told the attendant, who practically leapt to a nearby clothing rack to pull out the right size. But Pearl wasn’t done. She gestured to a few others. “And that one. And that one.”
“Of course, Ms. Eklund,” the woman said excitedly, no doubt sensing a huge commission. Pearl headed into a dressing room, then popped out a few seconds later in the black dress. It fit her like a glove, and she modeled it for her friends in front of a mirror. Her posse nodded their approval and showered her with compliments. She was basking in the attention when something in the mirror caught her eye. Just beyond the door…someone was staring her way.
She turned toward the boutique’s entrance for a better look and spotted the man from San Francisco! He was standing on the other side of a planter that acted as a central divider for the shopping mall’s main thoroughfare. Pearl gasped and cupped her mouth as she felt her heart drop to the floor. Just then a crowd of shoppers strolled in front of the divider, and after they passed by, the man was gone. Pearl stumbled back and nearly fell into the mirror. Her security guard caught her, and she blinked up at him, stunned.
“I want to go home,” she told him, her voice cracking with fright.
“Right away, Ms. Eklund,” the guard said.
“Just box it all and deliver it to Eklund Energy by five,” Pearl told the saleswoman in a daze.
“Of course. Thanks!” The massive purchase had the clerk bursting at the seams with excitement.
* * *
* * *
On the drive home, Pearl attempted to push the incident out of her mind. She worked to convince herself that she was just seeing things and that the man hadn’t actually been in the mall staring at her—it was simply the lingering effects of the encounter in San Francisco. When she got back to the penthouse, she
aimed to distract herself and checked her social media profile, where she hadn’t posted in a couple of hours. She pulled a quote from her favorite book, Inspirational Sayings, and posted it for her fans, whom she had dubbed her “gems.” Her gems responded instantly. Her phone vibrated with hundreds of incoming messages as they eagerly liked her post and replied. Most thanked her profusely for her words of wisdom or declared how much they loved her, which she took some comfort in. She enjoyed the attention. It helped her get her mind back to what was most important to her: herself.
With the Hollywood producers coming that evening, she began thinking about ways she could increase her followers, since that would surely help her cause. Maybe she’d surprise some of her fans with personal visits and catch it all on video to post online. Or she could plant a rumor that she was dating Jason Bellamy, a hot new singer her age. She gravitated toward the latter idea, especially since it required the least amount of work. Pearl decided to go through his photos, strategically liking the posts where he was alone. Before Pearl knew it, the party was only an hour away. She sorted through her bags, selected the priciest outfit, refreshed her hair and makeup, and then headed downstairs, determined to not let the events of the past few days affect her.
The soaring sixty-five-story structure of pristine glass and steel that contained Eklund Energy’s offices was the tallest building in Miami and took up a full city block on all sides. The lobby featured a courtyard that was open to the tenth floor, with a massive marble staircase leading to the second floor. The courtyard was the perfect space for its centerpiece, one of the largest privately owned freshwater aquariums in the country, featuring a host of exotic sea creatures, many of which Lief had collected on his travels. As the guests milled about and enjoyed their cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, Lief grabbed a microphone and walked halfway up the marble staircase. Pearl strode up to his side, beaming for the crowd and throwing out small waves to various luminaries.
“I want to thank you all for coming tonight and helping us celebrate my crowning achievement,” Lief began. “And I don’t mean Pearl. She isn’t an achievement; she is my blessing.” Pearl shrugged and smiled back at him; the crowd reacted with a chorus of “aww.” Lief continued, “I’m speaking of my—our—crowning business achievement, one that could change the world forever. At Eklund Energy, our goal is a clean, renewable energy source, and now that will be made all the more possible with our newest drilling ship. I call her Pearl because it will change the world, just as my Pearl has changed mine.”
Pearl beamed at this, even as her cheeks flushed. She appreciated Lief’s kind words, but he could be embarrassing at times. He made her feel like a little girl, and that was not the kind of persona she wished to project to these particular partygoers. With all eyes back on her, Pearl realized she had better do something in response, so she blew Lief a kiss and stepped back down the stairs. He grinned and winked before shifting his attention back to his audience.
“Most of the people in this room had never even heard of me ten or fifteen years ago. I was just a barge engineer on a drilling platform in the gulf who split his time between fishing and working. But I always had a dream that I could make a difference. From a one-man operation out of my garage to a multibillion-dollar corporation, it’s that dream that has brought me here today. It’s been a wild ride, but it’s not over yet.” Hoots and whistles went up in the crowd. “Thank you.” Lief paused and smiled. “Tonight we celebrate our achievements—tomorrow we revolutionize the world.” He raised his glass of champagne, and the guests followed suit. “Cheers!” he saluted, and the crowd took a drink and applauded. He waved and nodded hellos from afar before walking over to join Pearl.
“How are you feeling?” he asked his daughter. She rolled her eyes.
“So much for doctor-patient confidentiality,” she volleyed back at him.
“All Ridley—I mean, Dr. Hawkins—said was that you didn’t seem like yourself today, and after what happened in San Francisco, can’t I be a little concerned?” Lief parried.
“Thanks, but I’m fine,” Pearl assured him. “By the way, where is that producer who’s supposed to be here?” Her eyes swept the crowd and she primped her hair.
“I don’t think he’s arrived yet,” he said in reply, and chuckled at her focused determination.
“He’s not your only Hollywood contact, right? You promised there would be others…I need people who can help me break into movies.”
Lief nodded, amused. “Don’t you worry, sweetheart, there are others. Let me go find them, and I’ll arrange the perfect introduction for Hollywood’s next big thing. Now go eat something. You look pale,” he told her before being pulled away by his assistant. Pearl sighed and pinched her cheeks, hoping to give them some quick color. She wasn’t a fan of mingling and making small talk with relative strangers, unless they could have a direct impact on her career. Meandering through the crowd, she nibbled on crab cakes and sipped a Shirley Temple. And then she heard them: two voices over the din of the crowd. One belonged to a snarky male, the other to a droll-sounding female.
“Would you look at that, Nance? It’s a whale in a tuxedo,” the man said mockingly, then added, “Wait a second….It’s Shamu!”
The female laughed. “Catering can’t fry those jalapeño poppers any faster. Moby Dick has already taken down two trays,” she added. “I hope that guy next to him isn’t named Jonah.” The male cackled.
Pearl scanned the room in an attempt to find the people behind these callous remarks. Considering how loud they sounded, she assumed they were nearby, but there was no one close to her. The odd thing was that the other partygoers didn’t appear bothered by them. Then she spotted the man they must have been talking about. He was a portly gentleman in an ill-fitting tuxedo who worked in her father’s accounting department. She’d met him before, and he seemed like a nice guy, always thanking Pearl for her inspirational social media posts whenever she visited the Eklund offices. He certainly didn’t deserve such ridicule, she thought. But the voices weren’t finished criticizing the guests.
“Green dress, two o’clock,” announced the male. “I’ve seen starfish with smoother complexions.”
“If all those pimples erupt at the same time, her face might give birth to a new island,” the woman remarked, to which the man replied with a loud laugh.
Pearl noticed a young woman in the corner with an acne breakout, appearing sheepish. She was no doubt self-conscious about her skin. Now Pearl was getting angry. These people were bullies and needed to be stopped.
“Check out seaweed head at the bar,” the woman’s voice said, alighting on the next victim.
Pearl’s eyes darted over to the bar, where a woman with unruly black curls was chatting with another guest.
“Mer-Medusa,” the male said, snickering.
Pearl decided to follow the sound of the voices and found herself in the center of the lobby.
“Great. It’s Ms. Loves Herself,” the male commented. “Five fish pellets says she’s coming over to admire her reflection.”
“A guppy wouldn’t take that bet,” the woman snarked back.
Pearl walked until she stood directly in front of the aquarium that they had guessed she would look at. Then she turned away from the glass to survey the room once more.
“I totally should have taken that bet,” the female lamented.
“She has never missed an opportunity to gaze lovingly at herself,” the male said. “This is clearly a sign of the apocalypse!” They erupted in hysterics. The voices were at their most audible in this very spot, even though the nearest partygoer was over ten feet away.
“Okay….Wherever you are, I can hear you, and you are being totally rude! I am going to tell my father, and he is going to have you thrown out onto the street!” Pearl declared in a hushed tone. There were a few moments of silence. Then…
“Is she talking to us?�
�� the female whispered.
“Seems like it, but that would be impossible,” the male responded slowly. “Their kind can’t hear us.”
“Well, I can hear you loud and clear. You two should be ashamed of yourselves!” Pearl scolded them. “Picking on innocent people. Now, where are you?”
“Right behind you,” the male answered meekly.
“There’s an aquarium behind me,” Pearl said. “Try again.”
“We’re in the aquarium,” the female responded dryly.
Pearl turned and gazed into the tank. She found two fish floating at her eye level, just inches from her face. They were discus fish, brightly colored creatures from the Amazon whose finnage made them appear disc-shaped.
“You really shouldn’t be able to hear us,” the turquoise discus fish with black stripes said as he stared directly at Pearl. She could see his mouth moving as he spoke, bubbles slowly making their way to the top of the tank.
“But she can, Gary,” said the female quietly, a solid red variety. “And she’s right. We’ve been far from nice this evening. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Oh, Nance, who cares?” the turquoise fish asked. “They put us in a tank, remember?”
The female fish floated toward Pearl, so that she was now eye to eye with the model. “Ms. Eklund, please forgive us,” the fish said as sweetly as she could. Pearl’s eyes were saucers by this point. She swallowed, then dropped her drink glass, which shattered on the floor. She also screamed, a scream so loud that the entire party went silent. Even the band stopped playing. Lief came rushing over from across the room.
“Pearl, sweetheart, are you all right?”
“The fish—I can—hear them…,” she stammered.
“Excuse me?” he said, peering up at the glass, before shaking his head. “You need some sleep, that’s all. Come on. I’ll walk you up and we’ll call Dr. Hawkins.”
The Selkie of San Francisco Page 8