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Chapter 4

Karen had fully expected Derek to be on the other side of the door. However, she was shocked to see the smiling face of Dev.
"What are you doing here?" her voice full of utter disbelief.

"I came to see you Karen. I can't live without you. Please, forgive me. I made a mistake, but we can move past it." Dev begged.
"Please leave. I don't want to see you," her voice not nearly as strong as she wanted it to be.
"Karen, don't be like this." He said as he reached out to brush a strand of hair off of her face.
"Dev, I said leave! Now go. I don't want to see you again," she said, almost shouting.
Dev's face fell realizing that their relationship was beyond repair. Before Dev could leave Derek arrived to pick her up for dinner, seeing the anger in Karen's dark brown eyes Derek said, "What are you doing here?" his voice dripping with anger.
"She's my girlfriend, what are you doing here?" Dev asked still feeling possessive of Karen and not wanting her to go out with someone like Derek.
Karen stepped between them before things could get out of hand. Looking at Dev she said, "We broke up. I am not your girlfriend," then turning to Derek she wrapped her arm in his and said, "Shall we go?" with a wink and a smile he responded, "Absolutely darling."

Karen and Derek left a startled, heartbroken Dev standing in the hallway looking lost and confused. As they walked away Karen smiled at Derek and his heart melted just a little.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"It looked like you could use a hand." He said smiling before growing serious and asking, "Has he been harassing you?"

"No, well other than the 30 messages he's left me, that he's bothered me since…" her voice trailing off not wanting to think about Dev and Ivy. Seeing the sadness and hurt in her eyes Derek said, "Perhaps you should change hotels? That way he can't find you. There's a room open next to mine. I'll get it all arranged and we can move your things after the show."
"Thank you, Derek. I…a lot has happened in the last 48 hours. It's hard to process," her voice barely above a whisper.
"If you want to talk about it…I know I said art isn't therapy and it's not but you don't need to live in misery either. Just know I'm here if you want to talk. Not as your director but as a friend." He said less confidently than she was used to him being. It really was almost as if Derek cared about her. The very idea of having a real relationship with Derek Wills made her stomach do flips, or was that just pre-performance jitters?

They arrived at a small café near the theater and ordered their meals. They ate in relative silence both mentally preparing for the night's performance. Derek's green eyes grew dark and it was obvious to Karen that something was bothering him. She hesitated in asking him about it because she didn't want to seem too forward or give him the wrong idea, but he had shown her so much kindness over the last few days that she decided she had to at least ask. He'd probably blow her off anyway.

"What are you thinking about? You have that look in your eyes." Karen said gently.

Derek looked up and their eyes met. Yes, there was definitely something bothering the dark lord.
"I was just thinking about that loser ex-boyfriend of yours," he said. He regretted the words the second they passed through his lips. It was so unlike him to let things like that slip, but Karen did something to him that he still couldn't explain. Her hand reached across the table and rested gently on his. Her face light up in a smile and she said, "that's sweet of you." Confusion flashed across her face and she said, Wait,why are you being so nice to me? Is it a perk of being your star?" her eyes twinkling.

"I like you a lot Karen. You're not like the other women that have been in my life." He said smiling gently his eyes sparkling.
"Derek, I…I'm flattered, but I can't, right now, I just…" she put her head down and played with her food.
"I know, I just wanted…I shouldn't have said anything." He replied noticing the crease in her forehead as she thought about the words he had said and all that had transpired over the last 48 hours.

They made their way to the theater and got ready for the performance. Karen's mind was reeling from what Derek had said earlier and Derek noticed while everyone was warming up that Karen seemed to have her head somewhere else.

Good job Derek. I had to go and open my mouth right before a performance. I'm the last thing she needs right now. Everyone, including me, knows that I ruin women. Karen's strong. Stronger than most, but I'm still not sure she could handle another heartbreak right now. And am I really sure that I wouldn't break her heart? What am I blathering on about? I have a show to direct in less than two hours and I'm thinking about a woman….when was the last time that happened?

The curtain rose and Karen was once again transformed to Marilyn. She did as Derek had told her and harnessed all of the negative and confusing feelings she was having. She poured her heart out on stage and once again the crowd was mesmerized by her. As the curtain fell, Derek, like the night before, took her shaking hand in his.
"You're a star Miss Cartwright. Enjoy every second of this," smiling he released her hand and let her go take the stage for curtain call.

She smiled and greeted everyone after the show and just like last night she was exhausted and yet strangely exhilarated not only by the performance, but also by the fact that she knew she was going to get to spend time with Derek tonight.

While she was changing out of Marilyn and returning to her life as Karen she started thinking. When did I start looking forward to spending time with Derek? I can NOT fall for that man. He has a habit of using women and then leaving them feeling used and abused. I can't handle that right now. I need to protect myself. I need to figure out what I'm doing with my personal life. I'm so glad at least this performance went well. I wonder what Derek thought. Oh there I go, thinking about Derek again. I really must stop doing that!

"Are you coming?" Jessica asked slightly annoyed that Karen was taking so long.
"Oh, yeah, I just…let me grab my bag." Karen said smiling. "I can't stay out long, I'm switching hotels. Dev showed up and was harassing me," she explained before Jessica had a chance to ask "Derek saw and decided it was necessary for me to move."

Jessica's eyes lit up, "So you're moving into Derek's room?" she chided playfully.
"No!" Karen said reaching out and gently shoved Jessica, who stumbled into Bobby, whom they had joined up with to head to the bar. Bobby caught Jessica and noticed the glint in Karen's eye that said she was holding something back.
"You just wish you were moving into him…I mean his room." Bobby said playfully.
"Okay, new rule no more talk about my love life and Derek in the same conversation," she said seriously. Unknown to Karen, Derek was standing right behind her when she said it.
"Would it be so bad to be with a wonderfully handsome, powerful director Miss Cartwright?" he asked grinning mischievously.
"Oh Derek, I didn't…" she stopped too embarrassed to form a reply.

Derek feigned hurt. Bobby and Jessica bought that it was feigned, but Karen caught the look of disappointment in his eyes the split second before his gross exaggeration of hurt.