Shelby's ringtone began to play, and Shelby threw a pillow at the phone blaring out Daylight by Maroon 5.

"Shut up Adam." Shelby mumbled. There was a quiet giggle and Shelby sat up.

"Hi sweetie!" Shelby said to three-year-old Beth. Beth smiled and tossed her curly hair over her shoulder as she walked up to the bed.

"Mommy, the reason it's playing Maroon 5 is cause someone's calling you." Beth said, still giggling. Shelby grabbed the phone and answered without glancing at the caller ID.

"Hello?" Shelby asked, her voice cracking slightly. Shelby winced and Beth laughed.

"Shelby? It's Rachel." Rachel's voice said. She sounded like she'd been crying.

"Rachel, what's wrong? Where are you? Who-" Shelby began but Rachel cut her off.

"I went to audition for the Funny Girl revival but the director turned me down. He said because I was related to you, that I couldn't have the part." Rachel almost ranted. Shelby raised an eyebrow, causing Beth to giggle again and grab the phone.

"Rachel? It's Beth. I wanted to say hi. Hi!" Beth handed the phone back to her mother and Shelby could still hear Rachel's chuckles.

"What was the director's name?" Shelby asked. She racked her brain to find someone who could hate her that much. Then, as she came to the conclusion, Rachel answered:

"Derek Wills."

Shelby scrolled through her contacts and reached the last one. Derek Wills. He had the nerve to lash out onto Rachel, whom he knew she barely knew? She dialled the number and the phone rang. Once, twice, three times before he picked up. "Hello?" he drawled in his perfect British accent. Shelby nearly melted, his voice had always done that.

"Derek." Shelby responded almost automatically. It had been their way of communicating when they'd been together.

"Shelby? Why am I not surprised?" Derek said sarcastically. Shelby almost rolled her eyes. He was hopeless.

"I need to talk. Meet me in five minutes." Shelby said, then hung up. He didn't like it, oh well. She couldn't stand him. It had been almost ten years since Tom Levitt had told her that Derek had cheated on her. Who in their right mind, besides Shelby and that new star, Karen, could stand Derek, she wondered. He was arrogant, self-absorbed, vain, sarcastic and cold. Shelby was his pair, his female counterpart, except Shelby wouldn't as far as to say that.

"Shelby, this had better be good, Tom already bloody pissed at me." Derek sat down next to his ex-fiancee. Shelby just glared at him. He looked good. No, screw that, he looked great. Forty- years-old and still had a six pack, as well as all of his hair and he still looked as alert as ever, even if he was faking being annoyed.

"Oh, we both know you're happy to see me." Shelby said, "So cut the crap." Derek chuckled and eyed Shelby.

"What makes you say that?" Derek asked, amused. Shelby resisted the urge to punch him.

"Derek, you know why I'm here." Shelby said quietly. Derek frowned.

"What, the fact that I turned down your daughter and used you as an excuse to do it?" Derek asked, checking his nails. Shelby's hands tightened into fists, and she counted to ten in her head before letting go. I can't go to jail, Beth needs me, Shelby thought. Derek seemed to follow her thoughts.

"Why wasn't she good?" Shelby asked in a surprisingly even voice. Derek thought for a moment.

"She's not right for the part. Her voice, it's for belting. However, I'm working on this other musical, if she wants. Actually, if you need a job also, I have a part for you." Shelby's mouth dropped. She immediately snapped her mouth shut, pulled out her phone and started texting. Derek stared at her for a minute, before waving a hand in front of her face and saying her name. Shelby blinked and looked at him.

"Are you alright? You seem a little, I don't know, stressed? Tired?" Derek said, genuinely concerned. Shelby started and stared at Derek. He looked right back at her, confused.

"Since when are you feeling anything other than happiness at my showing weakness?" Shelby finally asked. Derek blushed and muttered something like "Met someone." Shelby realized she'd need to have a talk with Karen Cartwright.