Weathered Love

SUIT

**AUTHOR'S NOTE: There are some legal points in this chapter. This is in no way verified by an actual attorney and shouldn't be taken as legal advice or even legally sound. It is purely for purposes of advancing this story and is only meant to be for the sake of entertainment.**

"How is this even happening?" I nearly screamed. I had been ranting for a good thirty minutes at this point. Andrew had tried everything short of tying me down and sedating me. I was inconsolable at that point. Inconsolable is putting it way too lightly. I was in hysterics. I was angry and terrified and in shock all at once.

"These things happen, don't worry," Andrew repeated for what must have been the thousandth time in that conversation.

"Drew, I'm getting sued! This isn't a small deal," I angrily pointed out. "And they took down the video," I choked. I couldn't care less if they took down any videos of my solo work. But it was an old video that still had Ivan in it.

The channel's platform informed me that they had to take it down because of copyright infringement and they were launching an investigation. I also got an email since there was no way of finding our physical address from a lawyer saying they were going to sue the channel for the profits.

"Except you didn't receive any profits from that video. All you have are a few sponsors who have given you some free stuff that you've advertised on your videos. You've given credit to the original artists. You're fine," Andrew insisted.

"I can't deal with this right now," I sniffled. I slammed my laptop shut and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Except that, as soon as I got into my room, I didn't want to be there. I felt claustrophobic. I quickly spun around and was about to go outside when I bumped into Andrew coming through the door.

"Hey, take it easy," he lightly encouraged.

"Not now Drew," I sighed. I appreciated that he wanted to help, and his legal expertise would be helpful, but I wasn't in the head space to listen to logic at that point. And I knew I could be destructive. I needed some alone time.

"Why are you pushing me away?" he inquired, still forcing a smile on his face. I knew it was bothering him that I seemed to be avoiding him.

"I just need to vent, so please just give me some space," I managed to choke out in a semi-cordial tone. I was getting dangerously close to lashing out and I needed to make sure Andrew was as far away as possible.

"Vent to me," he insisted.

"Drew," I sternly replied, giving him a no-nonsense expression. What little patience I had was waning and if he didn't clear my path, I'd clear it myself in the worst way possible. "Just... leave me be," I wrestled the words out.

"Ivy, come on," he insisted, getting equally as stubborn.

"Just let me go!" I finally yelled, feeling the instant guilt rise up in me as the words escaped. Andrew stepped back, clearly surprised at my outburst. "Can't you just let me have a minute?" I accused, my mouth taking on a life of its own and paying my brain no mind. "I need to be alone, get that through your head!"

"Are you serious right now?" Andrew threw back at me. "I just want to help and this is how you're reacting?" he accused.

"Yes! Because I've told you that I need some isolation and instead of giving me what I've told you I need, you're insisting on doing the opposite! And you're surprised that I'm upset?" I asked incredulously.

"You're being selfish," he stated, matter-of-factly. That pierced right through me. Why couldn't he understand that I needed to process? How was it selfish of me to want to avoid the very fight we were having?