A/N: Thanks again for the feedback! Glad you are enjoying the story so far, hope I can keep it up!
Later that day, Derek came into Eileen's office to hear about the new project. He popped his head in the door and she was on the phone. She waved him in and he took at seat and waited for her to wrap up her call.
She hung up a few moments later. "Derek, good to see you! How have you been?"
"Well, I've had a rough couple weeks, but things are finally looking up," Derek said, thinking about Karen.
"Yes I understand you had a rough patch. Glad to hear your doing better. Congratulations on all the nominations by the way! Very impressive and exactly why I want you working on my next project." Eileen said.
"Well you're probably the only one that wants me after the stunt I pulled with Daisy. But I just want to say I'm done with that now. I'll never do it again and I'm over that phase. I won't be causing near as much drama as I have in the past." Derek told her.
"Well that's good to hear, although I would work with you either way." Eileen was very loyal to her close friends.
"Thank you, Eileen. So what is this project you're so excited about?" Derek asked.
"Well, in short it's a musical version of the movie Pretty Woman. We want to modernize it, make it a little more dark and seductive," Eileen explained to him. "You always have a modern vision and I think your direction would be perfect for this."
"Hmmm ok I could see that having potential," Derek sat in thought for a moment. "Who are the writers?"
"Rob Dryer and Kayla Thomas, they're great writing partners. This is their second musical, their first one had a respectable run on Broadway for the better part of a year," she said.
"Yeah, I've heard of them. They seem like a younger version of Tom and Julia. I'm not saying yes yet, but I am saying maybe. I wanna hear some of the songs and see the book and see what I would be working with," Derek requested.
"Of course, I'll email it all to you right now. It's not all finished, but it's getting there. Listen to it and read what they have then let me know what you think."
"Ok I'll look at it tonight," he said. Derek stood up with Eileen. He kissed her on the cheek before walking toward the door. "I'll be in touch."
"Ok thanks, bye Derek."
Derek walked out of Eileen's office feeling hopeful. You could do a lot with Pretty Woman. He just hoped the music was good, that was the key.
Karen had just gotten back from her Hit List performance when she got a text from Derek.
D: Hey love, wanna come hang out with me tonight and watch a movie? I'll even cook you dinner.
K: Wow you can cook? Yeah I would love to. I just got home from Hit List so I'll be over in a bit.
D: Ok great cause I miss you.
K: Miss you too! 3 See you soon.
D: Ok can't wait!
Karen took her time getting ready and wore a cute but comfortable outfit, skinny jeans with a long sleeve v-neck. She felt nervous and excited. She thought about the fact that they hadn't actually slept together yet, which she was happy about now. Derek hadn't even pushed it last night or this morning. They had only been officially together for a day, but Karen was ready for it. She was so ready to be with him. From the moment he put his hands on her when he was teaching her the Fox Mambo for her dance audition she wanted him. She didn't want to admit it because she had Dev then, but she couldn't deny that she liked the feeling of his strong hands gripping her waist and easily moving her around. There was always a physical attraction between them. Now that they were together, she couldn't wait to see what it would be like to actually be with him. She took one last look in the mirror before saying bye to Ana and heading over to Derek's place.
The elevator opened into his apartment, but he was nowhere in sight. "Derek?" Karen called out.
"In the kitchen!" He responded. She smiled and headed toward the kitchen.
"Wow, it smells delicious," Karen said walking in the room.
"Thanks love." Derek turned around and hugged her, lifting her up in the process and she squealed. He set her back down, tilted up her chin and kissed her a few times. Karen bit her bottom lip and looked up at him.
"Don't make that face or we'll never make it to dinner," Derek said seductively.
She snaked her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.
"I missed you," Karen said against his lips.
"Missed you too love." Derek replied. "Would you like some wine?"
"Yes I would love some," Karen said stepping apart from Derek. "What're you making?"
"Pasta with homemade alfredo sauce and grilled chicken with steamed broccoli." Derek said proudly.
"Wow I'm impressed. How did you learn to cook?" Karen asked as he poured two glasses of wine.
"I've lived on my on for quite some time so I just learned over time. Plus I find it kind of therapeutic." Derek told her.
"I'm impressed; you can probably cook better than me. But I can bake anything," Karen said.
"Good to know," Derek smiled at her.
"So how did the meeting go with Eileen? What's the project?"
"A musical of Pretty Woman."
"Really? Oh my gosh, that's one of my favorite movies ever!"
"Good, and that's why we're watching it tonight," he said.
"That's pretty exciting, do you think you'll do it?" She asked.
"Yeah it's got potential. It's not like I have any other offers anyway," Derek sighed.
"I think it could be great," Karen said, encouraging him.
"I hope so," Derek said. "Alright, dinner is ready."
They sat and ate and talked about anything and everything. Truth was they were still getting to know each other. They learned a little more about each other's past. Derek told her about his family in London and his parents' divorce due to his Dad admitting he was actually gay, which was never easy for Derek to accept. His dad had always worked in the theatre and was the reason he was where he was today. It was just so hard for him to understand how he could leave his mom like that. He rarely ever saw his father, even though he also lived in New York.
Karen loved learning about Derek's life. He was interesting and had more than his fair share of life experience. Karen was obviously much younger and had a pretty traditional, uneventful upbringing in Iowa. An exciting weekend consisted of high school football games and going to the movies. When Karen told him that he laughed out loud. She loved hearing him laugh.
"Derek this was really delicious."
"Thanks love. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"Derek there is something I wanted to talk to you about," Karen said nervously.
"Anything darling," he said stroking her arm.
"I have to tell Jimmy what's going on, maybe not with us, but at least that I can't be with him. I was gonna visit him tomorrow. Do you think you could go with me? I mean I don't think you should be in the room with me, but I want you to be there."
"Of course I will, I know it won't be easy for you. I'll definitely come with you, whatever you need," Derek said. He would do anything for Karen.
"Ok great, thank you so much. It'll be a lot easier with you there." Karen let out a big sigh of relief. "Now let me clean up these dishes, since you did the cooking." She said grabbing the plates and bringing them to the kitchen. Derek set up the movie on his living room tv while Karen cleaned up.
When she was done, she came over to the giant couch and cuddled up next to Derek with her glass of wine. He put his arm around her and felt truly relaxed and content for the first time in years. He started the movie and he had seen it once, but that was a while ago. He needed a refresher.
They watched the movie in comfort and every once and a while Karen would make out with him, before turning her attention back to the movie saying "I love this part." She would play a great Vivian, Derek thought, as he watched the movie. He was beginning to think he could never work without her again. Maybe they could become a modern day Fosse and Verdon, it was a nice thought.
The movie ended and Derek was all worked up after kissing Karen so much throughout the movie. He would have to watch it again cause he had definitely missed some parts, but he wasn't complaining. Karen straddled him on the couch, "So are you gonna direct it?"
"I think I just might, I already have some great ideas," Derek said. "But right now all I can think about is reenacting some of those scenes with you."
"Oh really? Well maybe we can make that happen," Karen said, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply, biting his bottom lip lightly. She let out a small moan when Derek kissed her back harder. He pulled away.
"Karen, are you sure you are ready to do this? I mean we've only been officially together for a day. Should we wait? I want it to be right," Derek told her honestly.
"Derek, I know we've only been together for a day, but we both know our relationship has been building for almost two years. I'm more ready than ever to be with you, as long as you're ok with it." Karen said.
"Karen, I've been waiting a very long time for this moment. I want to make you feel how much I love you." Derek said, stroking her cheek with her thumb.
Karen got off of his lap and held out her hand. "Let's take this up to the bedroom shall we?" He was correct; this had to be done right. The couch would not be the best place for their first time, although it would be ironic, she smiled to herself.
They spent the night exploring each other fully for the first time, and neither was disappointed. Derek thought he had made love before, but he realized he never had until now, until Karen. They couldn't get enough of the immeasurable pleasure they gave to each other. At 3 in the morning, they finally fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.