Bella, walked into Ken’s dimly lit ho office, a crisp, ivory envelope in her hand. Ken, hunched over his desk, seed oblivious to her presence. He was staring at a photograph, a faded image of a young woman with bright, laughing eyes. It was Maeve.
Bella sighed. Since Ken had been saved by that Lyse girl, he had beco a shadow of his forr self. The vibrant, charismatic man she had known, the life of every party, the one who embraced every opportunity, had retreated into a self-imposed exile. He had shunned his usual routine, canceled all of his upcoming events, and spent his days locked away in his office, lost in his grief which had apparently been woken up by the Maeve look alike.
"Ken," Bella said softly, breaking through his reverie.
He looked up, his eyes dull and lifeless. "What is it, Bella?"
Bella held out the envelope. "There is an invitation," she said. "For you."
Ken glanced at the envelope, his expression uninterested. "Tell them that I will not be attending," he mumbled, turning back to the photograph.
Bella’s patience, usually boundless, began to fray at the edges. "You seem to forget that I am not your assistant, Ken," she reminded him, her voice laced with gentle exasperation. "I’m your manager. And part of my job is to make sure you are...managing...your life which I am currently failing at."
Ken did not respond. He simply continued to stare at the photograph, lost in his mories.
Bella studied him for a mont, her heart aching for him. She understood his grief, she truly did. From all that she had heard about Maeve, she had been special, a light in his life. But she was certain that this...this self-destructive behavior was not what Maeve would have wanted for him.
"Ken," she said, her voice firr now, "don’t you even want to know what the event is for? Who is hosting it? Where it is being held?"
He shrugged, his indifference palpable.
Bella sighed again. She had tried everything, gentle persuasion, tough love, even outright pleading. Nothing seed to work. But she wasn not going to give up. She owed it to Ken, and she owed it to the love he had shared with Maeve. There was a mystery to be unraveled about Lyse, she knew it in her hearts of hearts and only Ken could unravel it.
"I am going to give you a hint," she said, her voice playful. "The hint is...Lyse."
Ken’s head snapped up, his eyes suddenly alert. The na, spoken aloud, seed to jolt him out of his lancholic trance. He snatched the invitation from Bella’s hand, his fingers trembling slightly.
He scanned the invitation, his eyes searching for any ntion of Lyse’s na. He didn’t find it. The event was a birthday party. He raised confused eyes at her.
"There is no Lyse here." he said, his voice barely a whisper.
Bella nodded. "I know," she said gently. "But the party is holding in her city and you are allowed a plus one. You can invite her as your guest.
Ken stared at the invitation, his mind racing. He had not seen Lyse since their brief encounter at the coffee shop, the encounter that had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions inside him. She reminded him so much of Maeve, and even though they had barely been able to have ti to speak, he had been drawn to her instantly, captivated by her presence.
"I...I don’t know," he stamred, his usual confidence deserting him. "I haven’t been to a public event in months."
"I know," Bella said softly. "But maybe it’s ti. Maybe it’s ti to start...living...again."
She paused, then added, her voice encouraging, "You could use this opportunity to see Lyse again. Talk to her. Get to know her."
Ken hesitated, his mind battling with conflicting emotions. He wanted to see Lyse, he truly did. But he was afraid. Afraid of the emotions she stirred within him, afraid of the mories she evoked. He was afraid that he would never be able to move on from Maeve, that he would forever be trapped in his grief.
"I don’t know, Bella," he said, his voice hesitant. "I’m not sure I’m ready."
"Ready for what, Ken?" Bella asked gently. "Ready to live? Ready to confront your demons and why she looks so much like the woman you loved and lost?"
He didn’t answer.
Bella sighed. She knew she was pushing him, but she also knew that it was for his own good. He needed to break free from his self-imposed isolation, to start living his life again.
"Look," she said, her voice persuasive, "why don’t you just...try it? Go to the party. See Lyse. If you don’t feel comfortable, you can always leave. No pressure."
Ken considered her words. It was true. He could always leave if he felt overwheld. It was a low-risk proposition. And the chance to see Lyse again...it was tempting. Very tempting.
"Alright," he said finally, his voice a little stronger now. "I’ll go."
Bella smiled, her heart filled with relief. "That is great, Ken," she said. "I promise you won’t regret it." She paused, then added, her voice playful, "And who knows? Maybe you’ll even enjoy yourself."
Ken chuckled, a small, genuine laugh that Bella hadn’t heard in months. It was a sound that ward her heart.
"Maybe," he said. "Maybe you’re right."
Bella bead. "I always am," she said with a wink. "Now, let’s talk about your attire. We need to find sothing that will make a good impression."
Ken groaned. "Do we have to?"
"Yes, we have to," Bella said firmly. "You are seeing Lyse, you need to look your best."
"I am going to get the stylist to co and get you so appropriate clothes." Bella said, back in business mode. "Will you be going with Felicity?"
"Absolutely not!" Ken said sharply and Bella laughed at his reaction. Felicity was not going to be happy when Ken disappeared, and when photos appeared out of nowhere she would no doubt try to burn the world down.
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