A/N 1: Firstly, the beginning scene is dedicated to AndyGarcia23 who requested for it way back, sorry to keep you waiting (: This performance is definitely one of my favourite of Karen/Katharine McPhee's because she was so hot in it. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy it.

Chapter 10

Two weeks had passed with no word about furthering rehearsals for the show. It was all silent except for Derek and Eileen's side. Eileen had requested that certain changes were to be made and though Derek knew he would probably come to regret this later, he offered a change in song producer which led to having a new track and Eileen calling Karen in because she thought her voice suited it.

Karen had jumped at this opportunity despite how things were left between Derek and her. He was glad that she was rather professional and that things were not awkward during the rehearsals and voice warm ups.

As Karen stepped onto the bed acting as the platform wearing nothing but a white silk bedsheet wrapped around her into a make shift gown, Derek couldn't help but curse within himself. Karen Cartwright was a temptress, a siren stepping out from the ocean calling out to any unsuspecting warm blooded male. Hell, if he had known that she would have taken something as simple as silk bedsheets and turned it into something provocative...

Don't be afraid of the sex you say? Karen was definitely not afraid to amp up the sex.

"Touch me, I want to feel it on my body, put your hands on me," she sang while revealing a long and toned leg through the extremely high slit of the gown. Derek watched her trail her fingers down her leg, slowly but surely, seducing everyone who was watching her even if it was just Julia, Tom, Eileen and himself. The white light lit up her alabaster skin, enhancing her already huge eyes and red lips, her smile revealed dark promises.

"Do you like when I'm leaning, leaning into you?" she sang while moving towards her dancers "Close your eyes breathe in, breathe in my perfume..."

Those lyrics struck Derek, bringing back memories of that fateful night on the couch. Oh god, why did he agree with Eileen to use Karen for this? Ivy would have been a safer option.

He watched her hips sway, the way she messed up her dark curls and then the way she slowly fell to her knees while singing something about him watching her every move.

Derek blinked, she wasn't referring to him what was he thinking? Was she wearing anything underneath that silk? His eyes took in the show of skin that kept peeking and eluding through the slit.

"Not much more that I can take, if you don't take it all..."

Derek closed his eyes while gritting his teeth. He couldn't take it much more if she continued visually assaulting and tempting him.

He almost jumped for joy when the song came to an end, he wanted to get away from Karen and was eager to get Tom and Julia's feedback. That eagerness was quickly diffused when Tom and Julia shot it down and was outraged that this could even happen. It didn't help that Eileen had also backed down and apologized to the both of them. What happened to years of solid friendship and supporting him? Clearly show business had no room for that.

Julia and Eileen then left the room, leaving him alone with Tom.

What did he know? His songs were bullshit even the critique that broke 11 years of their friendship had said so. Why did he allow the critique's words to affect them so badly in the first place? Oh, it had all been his father's suggestion. Please the media and you'll get far.

"Not at the expense of friendship!" Tom roared in his face "Your father was right, please the media...he was pleasing that critique by sleeping with him! Did you even know that?"

Derek wanted to deck him for those words but he held back and stumbled on the bed, the life drawn out of him.

Seeing how affected Derek was by that information, Tom realized he had overstepped the boundary and apologized before swiftly leaving the room, not staying around to wait for Derek to explode again.

With hands covering his face, Derek sat there in shock. Was that the real reason to his parents divorce? He always thought it was his mother's fault.

"Derek?" Slowly he looked up to find Karen still dressed in that make shift gown standing at the corner of the bed, looking at him with concern.

"I heard..." she shook her heard not wanting to repeat what Tom had said "Are you ok?"

"Just peachy, thank you," Derek replied sarcastically. He thought he was the last one here, apparently not.

Karen took a few steps and sat beside him. He sat there taking in her warmth and her scent...a change in scent? Chocolate? Derek frowned. He wasn't in the mood for all things sweet now.

"What a day huh?" Karen sighed while clenching and unclenching her fists.

Derek glanced at her, "Being my pity party now?"

"I'm not," Karen said frowning at him while playing with the silk on her.

He watched her cross her legs unconsciously, revealing that damn leg again.

"What are you doing here, Karen?" he asked "If I do recall, not so fondly I must add, you made it clear you didn't want me near you when we are alone."

She looked away guiltily, "About that, I had time to think about it after fixing problems with Dev, we're kindda okay now" Karen quickly added before continuing "You and I will be practicing alot together in the future so..."

"You're back with Dev?" Derek looked at her incredulously.

"Is that all you processed?"

"Yea, yea we'll be working together in the future so it wouldn't make sense to be strangers blah blah," Derek pushed it aside like it wasn't important.

"Why are you back with him?" Derek just thought it was rubbish. Karen deserved someone better, not Dev. Mr I-can-hear-it-in-the-O's was possessive as he had seen in the bar and Dev clearly did not trust Karen enough to be with another man which was an insult to her seeing that she was more than a woman despite being only 24. He did not appreciate her which Derek was very much aware of during the lunch break three weeks back when Karen was supposed to meet Dev, which Derek had overheard, and she ended up coming back furious and with lunch. Then there was that phone call which he deduced was about Dev wanting a break and somehow an RJ, whatever or whoever that was, also played a part.

"Love..." he heard Karen reply. Derek scoffed. He could show her what love was, he would make sweet love to her all ni—

Derek shook his head, being near Karen was dangerous. It made him forget his surroundings and it made him think of things he wanted to do which he should think about but involving Ivy.

"Is that so hard to believe?" Karen asked looking at him earnestly, facing her body towards him and revealing more leg in the process.

He sighed at her naivety.

"Derek," Karen looked at him pointedly, "your hand." He followed her line of vision and was surprised to find his right hand on the edge of the slit, his fingers on her thigh.

"You were showing," he muttered, lightly running his fingers against her skin to emphasize. He heard her draw in a sharp gasp and looked up to find her staring at him with uncertainty and something else.

"You looked like a siren earlier on," Derek found himself telling her softly. "Dark curls framing your face, your eyes like they contained a dark knowledge that everyone would kill to find out," he paused looking at her red lips "and those red lips, oh your lips."

As his words spun a web around them, Derek took a moment to look at Karen, gauging her reaction.

"Are you seducing me?" she asked him in a no nonsense tone.

Derek sighed deeply, "Now why would I do that?" His fingers slowly trailing up her thigh and then stilled when it met nothing once he reached her hip.

Oh gods, she wasn't wearing any underwear.

For a moment, Derek thought his brain would explode at the discovery and Karen herself was looking startled, she quickly swiped his hand away and distanced herself.

"I guess you're okay now," she made it a statement.

"Oh, I'll live through it. Tom and I we go way back," Derek smiled through his teeth, not wanting to indulge her any further.

"Look Karen, thanks for taking your time to do this even though it was a complete failure," he rolled his eyes to show that he was being sarcastic.

"You were impressive," he continued softly "and with you dressed like that, it's something I won't forget for a long time."

With that he gave her a quick peck on her cheek and walked out with a smile on his face and the knowledge of leaving Karen lost for words.

The next day, Derek found himself stuck in Eileen's office with a still grumpy Tom and Julia.

"Continue staring daggers at me, why don't you?" Derek shot at Tom and Julia in a bored voice as he slouched against the sofa. "You just don't want to admit that the song and scene was good."

Julia huffed in indignation and looked at Tom urging him to say something which only brought an eye roll from him.

"I've already said my piece yesterday and Derek knows how low his move was and is sorry," with that he gave a pointed look to Derek.

"Low? I'm not sorry," Derek crossed his arms stubbornly.

"Why you..."

"While you boys continue your pissy banter, we do have a real situation to discuss." Eileen pointed out, quickly shutting both Derek and Tom up.

"Last night, Ivy met with an accident on Heaven on Earth," Eileen began, eliciting gasps from Tom and Julia and a I beg your pardon from Derek, "The producers said she was high or drunk and fell down the stairs on set."

"Oh my god, is she okay?" Julia asked one hand placed on her chest.

"Thankfully, she didn't break her neck but she fractured her leg," Eileen stated.

"This is ridiculous! Are we supposed to put the show on hold now?" Derek asked earning a deathly stare from Tom, "What?"

"Shouldn't you be worried about her well being?"

Derek paused for a moment too long, "Well yea but we have the show to think about here."

Derek heard Tom mutter the word 'Prick' under his breath.

"Yes, I do have one. Thanks for pointing that out." He smirked at a scowling Tom.

"What? Are you guys 12?" Julia proclaimed loudly. Even Eileen was not amused with their antics, "We need a star fast. Especially with those reviews..."

The image of Karen Cartwright came rushing towards Derek like a train.

"The Cartwright girl," he muttered to himself.

"Karen?" Tom looked at him incredulously "She's too green."

Derek stared at him annoyed, Tom had been Ivy's pom pom girl since day one and though it was admirable in the beginning it was getting old quickly. Personally, Derek thought Tom was letting that cloud his judgment of realizing and accepting that Karen had potential. They were wasting his time. Derek stood up from his seat.

"Where are you going?" Eileen asked, looking up at him confused.

"I'm sick and tired of hearing you lot moan about how green Karen is," Derek spat "She has so much potential and she's breath taking, it's mesmerizing!"

Julia and Eileen looked at him with unhidden surprise, Derek had never once praise Ivy to this extent only with the said typical she's good and yes she has experience.

"She's going to be my understudy, whether you like or not." Derek stated with finality, daring them to argue back.

Tom was the first to break the silence, "If that is what you want then go ahead, I support you," surprising Julia and Derek himself.

Derek was about to thank him when he continued with an innocent look, "It'll be a huge laugh to see you fail, for once." Shaking her head, Julia gave an instant face palm at that.

"Oh, sod off." Derek said coldly and stalked out of the room. He didn't care if there was the lack of belief in him, Derek had a show to run and he was going to prove all of them wrong.

A/N2: Oooh we know what happens when Derek's in one of his moods, NOTHING will get in his way but will Karen be a willing partner despite having the huge desire to take on the role of Marilyn? lol hit me with your reviews, anon or non anon. Love you guys!