A Few Weeks Later

The next six weeks went by at a snail's pace.

You almost immediately began making arrangements for Mr. Edwards' funeral. You had anticipated a large turnout to his services but even your expectations couldn't have prepared you for the actual event. Nearly ten thousand people showed up to pay their respects, including some of the music industry's biggest names, all of whom owed Mr. Edwards a debt of gratitude for opening doors to them.

After his funeral, an impromptu celebration of life occurred at Carpe Diem. Many top music acts performed in honor of him while the club was closed to the public for the first time ever(to your knowledge). When all was said and done, you were physically, mentally and emotionally drained.

Daisy not being around since Mr. Edwards **** was both a blessing and a curse. She had to leave for the west coast before going to Asia and Europe as she began her press tour for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Her absence enabled you to almost completely withdraw from those around you. You still text and FaceTimed with Daisy, but you hadn't been to work in since the celebration at the club five weeks ago, something you've never done. You've ignored all of Ingrid's texts, calls, emails and any other forms of communication. You've essentially shut yourself down.

Which leads us to now, where you lay in your bed, shrouded in darkness as you just stare off into space.

Your loneliness and sorrow is quickly interrupted when your curtains are flung open and the unwanted sunlight blinds you.

"What the fuck?!?" You shout as you try to shield your eyes.

"Oh calm down you big baby." Ingrid chides as she looks upon you in disapproving fashion.

When your retinas finally recover from the sudden onslaught of light, you look at her with anger and contempt.

"Don't you dare give me that look William Carpenter." She scolds, her tone the most serious you've ever heard. "If anyone here has a right to be angry, it's me."

She folds her arms under her breasts, which make them look bigger than they already are(You haven't gotten any in six weeks, you're gonna notice this shit even though you're 100% committed to Daisy).

"What the hell do you want?" You ask rolling over to hide from Ingrid's deaths stare. You can still feel her eyes on you.

"First off, it's nice to see you too." She says as she rounds your bed to face you again. You give up and sit up against your headboard. "Secondly, you have some nerve shutting me out like you did. I don't know if you know this or not but you're the person I talk to the most in my life. Believe me, I'm not too happy about it either. With you going AWOL like you did, I've had to try conversing with Tony. TONY!! As great as he is, Tony has the conversational skills of a goddamn monk."

"Sorry." you say half-heartedly

"Don't you dare do that." She points at you. "Since you've been gone, I've had to step into your place and run the club. Sidebar, I'm totally killing it just so you know. But this shit is difficult and I don't have the luxury of having someone like me to rely on. I'm fine covering for your ass when you want to screw off somewhere or even go on vacation. But I am not fine with working my ass into the ground and that's what I've been doing for the last six weeks. I've been putting in so many hours that I feel like I'm turning into you and that is NOT okay."

You take a deep breath, waiting for more but she stops. She just stands there, looking over you, her anger subsiding.

"I know you're hurting." Her voice softens as she takes a seat at the edge of your bed. "I know Mr. Edwards' **** hit you harder than anyone else and that you're still grieving. But I need you to come back. You have to come back."

"You're right." You admit softly, leaning your head back.

"Honey, I know I'm right." She smiles.

You smile back. "I'm sorry for shutting you out. I always knew he was going to eventually pass but...Ingrid, seeing him like that was...hard. Then his funeral and the celebration of his life, seeing all those people he interacted with and helped, I just don't get how someone could have killed him."

"It's normal to try and rationalize things darling." She soothes, placing her hand on your leg, below the knee.

A thought finally occurs to you. "How did you get in here anyway?"

She smiles brightly. "Daisy sent me her elevator key card and password."

"I knew I'd regret letting you two meet."

Ingrid playfully slaps your leg before standing up.

"I guess going downstairs and doing some mundane tasks wouldn't hurt." You admit as you get up. You notice Ingrid tenses up. "What's wrong?"

"Sooo, you really haven't read any of my texts or emails have you?" She asks tentatively.

"Sorry, I haven't." You answer while putting on a shirt. You look in the mirror and you look rough. Your hair is unkempt and your normally clean shaven face is covered with in facial hair.

"Oh." She slowly paces around. "There's something you should know."