"Thanks again for getting me in here" the brunette told her friend.
"No problem Karen, you make me look good with management; you already have customers eating out of your hand" the young writer complimented. Karen had met Kyle Bishop through her roommate Ana. The red head actress was rambunctious and easily made friends with anyone especially musicians; which is how she met Jimmy Collins, Kyle's roommate and best friend. Kyle and Jimmy worked at the bar of Table46, a restaurant that was cherished by many in the Broadway industry. Since her split with Dev a little over three months ago the actress needed extra income and the Thursday through Sunday shift had become available. She still worked in the café the other days of the week in between auditions.
She was beginning to lose hope she would ever get a callback as it had been a year and half since she moved to New York and still nothing. Ana kept her spirits up and meeting Kyle had been a blessing too. He was positive that his dream of writing a Broadway musical was going to be realized, it was hard for Karen to give up on her own dreams. "Hey look who just came in" Kyle motioned his head towards the door.
"Who?" the actress asked.
"Derek Wills" the writer gushed. "You know the famous director and choreographer."
"Ooh, he's sitting at my table maybe I'll get a good tip."
"A tip; he could change your career." Kyle told her. "Want to play our game?" he asked
A sly smile played on her lips "sure if it means I'll get a better tip."
"Scotch and Apple Martini" he informed her. "The girl he's with is Ivy Lynn, she isn't the friendliest you've been warned."
"Thanks," Karen smiled as she made her way to their table along the way making sure her other customers were taken care of.
Derek hated eating at Table46 because there was always a constant stream of people who wanted something from him and interrupted his meal. It could be a producer who wanted to pitch the latest show, or a reporter seeking the latest gossip or a waitress looking for a break; it was always something. He agreed to come today though because Ivy claimed she needed to talk to him. The director had slept with her several times and it was a nightmare ever since. She was beautiful and talented but she was insecure that all she wanted to do was cling to him. Despite his reassurance that she was a great Marilyn Monroe, she still had it in her mind she got the part because of their after hour activities which were enjoyable. In light of that he had put an end to their affair before previews in Boston.
Suddenly Derek's attention was drawn to a tall brunette who was making her way to his table. Her legs looked as though they went on for miles and her smile was genuinely sincere. She walked with such grace and confidence that every table she passed turned to catch a glimpse. "Hi, I'm Karen and I'll be your waitress this evening can I start you off with a cocktail."
"Hello, Karen I think I'll have…" his order interrupted by her silky voice
"Wait, don't tell me, I bet I can guess" she teased.
At her response Derek titled his head to one side and a smirk appeared on his face in amusement. "Really, am I that transparent?" he asked.
"Not at all, it's just a gift I have" she coyly answered. "Besides you look every bit a manly man." Realizing how her words came out she immediately blushed a deep red. Derek on the other hand couldn't help but let out a deep laugh while Ivy glared with hatred.
"Oh my god I am so sorry I didn't mean for it to come out that way," Karen stuttered.
"It's alright darling; I'm both flattered and intrigued now, what drink do you think a manly man like me would enjoy?"
Gathering her composure she responded "Scotch on the rocks. But not just any scotch only the best, Saint Magdalene, in this case."
"Impressive" Derek grinned. He was quickly growing an affinity for the young woman in front of him. In a matter of 5 minutes she had made laugh and complimented him which never happens.
"Excuse me but I'd like to get on so can you take my drink order" Ivy seethed.
"Sure, I'm sorry an Apple Martini right" Karen smirked.
"How did you know" Ivy angrily questioned.
"It's a gift remember. I'll have those drinks right out while you take a look at your menu. The young waitress explained the specials for the day and proceeded to leave the two alone.
"Can you believe her, all she did was flirt with you" Ivy spat.
"I would hardly call guessing my drink flirting, Ivy. Even if she was, for the hundredth time we are not together so we are both free to flirt with whomever we want." The director's temper was beginning to get the better of him.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I can change Derek, just tell me what you need from me and I can do it. I want to be with you."
"Ivy, it's not a matter of what you can do differently; I just don't see you in that way. I'm not looking for a relationship, I thought you understood that. I apologize if I was wrong. I care about you but I don't want to be involved with you." He honestly informed.
Just as Ivy was about to reply Karen returned to the table. "Here you go one scotch on the rocks and an Apple Martini." Her voice so cheerful Derek couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you" he replied.
"Are you ready to order?" she asked.
"You mean you can't guess that too?" Ivy sarcastically inquired.
"Anything is possible" Karen retorted. "What would I get if I guess right?"
"What would you like darling" Derek asked.
"I'm not sure yet, I'll let you know when I win. But I get two choices" she stated
"Fair enough" he responded
She gave a quick glance to Kyle who had the biggest smile. "I think you will be having the New York Strip medium rare with garlic red potatoes and asparagus. For you Miss, you will have either the red salmon salad or the blacken snapper with wheat rice and broccoli."
Derek laughed for the second time clapping his handing at the pure enjoyment of seeing Ivy's face. He had seen the young man whom Karen had glanced at and recognized him as a regular waiter. "Well done Miss?"
"Cartwright; and thank you, so which will it be for you?" she turned to Ivy.
"I'll take the blackened snapper."
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence with Ivy giving Karen death stares every time the young waitress made her way over to see if they needed anything. Finally done with their food Derek asked for the check. "So, what is the prize you wish to claim for guessing right?"
"I was just joking, thanks for playing along though. It can get kind of stuff in here" she smiled.
"Well I must say this has been one of the most enjoyable meals I've had in a long time Karen. Thank you for the great service and I think I may have found a favorite spot."
"That's sweet; I only work part-time though so it would have to be your favorite spot Thursday through Sunday."
"I can live with that" he answered. "Have a good evening darling."
Once outside Ivy asked "What was that about, you may not want to be with me but do you have to blatantly throw yourself at her."
Derek rolled his eyes "I have to go Ivy, I will see you at rehearsal tomorrow" and with that he turned and walked away. By the time Kyle stepped out to try and catch the director, he was out of earshot. The writer turned to Ivy and was about to let her know Derek had left his phone behind; but something in the way she glared at him made him think better. "He was already gone," Kyle informed Karen when he walked back into the restaurant. "I'm sure he'll be back once he realizes its missing.
When Karen went to gather the check off the table she was shocked at the generous tip Derek had left and made a mental note to give half to Kyle. It was with his help she was able to impress. She continued on with her shift and the two remaining hours went by in a blur.
"Hey how did it go for you?" Jimmy asked. He had come midway through her shift in order to close out the bar.
"Great I got a really good cash tip that I plan to share with Kyle" she answered.
"Yeah I heard about the great Derek Wills. He can be an ass when he comes in here but he tips really well." He commented.
"I thought he was rather charming."
"You would, you have a thing for British guys first Dev and now him."
"Who said anything about having a thing; I just said he was charming. Anyway did you want to practice that verse of Broadway Here I Come?"
"Yeah just let me close out the drawer but the music is on the piano if you want to take a look. I changed the key to go lower at the start."
Karen made her way to the piano that sat around the corner from the bar. She sat on the stool and started to review the sheet music. Of all the songs she had heard from Jimmy, this by far was her favorite. She started humming the melody with the added changes and lost in her own world failed to hear someone enter the restaurant. "I'm sorry we're closed" Jimmy informed the customer, his back still facing the door.
"I'm sorry to bother but I may have left my phone earlier" the familiar British voice declared.
Jimmy turned to face the director but before he could say a word Kyle came from behind the door "Mr. Wills, I guess you realized you left your phone. Let me grab it from the back" he stated.
"Thank you." Derek responded as he leaned against the bar. As he patiently waited for Kyle to return he was struck by a melody coming from around the wall. He started to walk over where the sound was coming from when the silky voice he heard earlier starting singing. "I'm high above the city; I'm standing on the ledge"
The voice was mesmerizing "I'm sorry but you can't go back there." Derek turned to see Kyle standing next to him. "The restaurant is closed and we technically aren't supposed to be playing."
"I won't tell anyone" Derek promised continuing his forward stride. "What is that?" he whispered as he turned the corner.
"It is the music from a musical we are working on" the writer responded.
Derek gave him a questioning look as he continued to hear the enchanting voice; "We?"
"Jimmy, Karen and me" he answered just as Derek turned the corner.
"The view from here is pretty; and I step off the ledge." Derek watched as the young waitress from earlier eyes closed was lost in the moment. Unaware of her audience she continued to play and as the next lyric left her lips her voice was powerful and demanding "Oh Broadway here I come; Broadway here I come."
As the song came to end Derek's applause startled the young woman and she blushed at the thought she had been caught. "That was amazing "he complimented.
"Thank you; what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Phone" he responded as held up the device Kyle had just handed him.
"Right," she smiled. "I think your girlfriend was in too much of hurry to leave she distracted you." She laughed.
Derek smiled "she is far from my girlfriend" he commented. "If all of the music for this musical you are working on sounds like that, I'd like to hear more about it." he said. "I know you must be tired so can I walk you home and then perhaps the four of us meet over the weekend?" he asked looking at Karen and then at the two young men.
"A meeting would be great" Kyle responded.
"Yeah I'm cool with that" Jimmy added. "You'll have wait for Karen to come back to earth for her to answer you about the walk home though." Jimmy laughed at the stunned expression on his friend's face.
Derek looked at the young woman "Karen" he tapped her arm "Can I walk you home?"
"Sorry, you had me at wanting to meet." She responded earning a laugh from the three. "It's really not my musical its Jimmy and Kyle's but I can fill you in on what I know."
"I'd like that; shall we" he extended his arm for her to take.
"Bye" she waived to her friends. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Kyle and Jimmy watched as the Brit and the girl from Iowa exited into the warm evening air. This weekend could potentially be life changing and there was a certain thrill in that thought.