"What should I do?" Karen asks as she looks at the book lying before her.
"Love, you know what I think you should do, the question is will you let yourself do it."
"It's not that easy, Derek; if I accept this role I will be in direct competition with our production."
Derek laughs earning himself a glare. "I'm sorry for laughing, but your modesty is endearing. Love, our production is strong enough to earn a Tony despite your presence on stage. Now whether or not Ivy can withstand the competition for a Tony; the answer is probably not."
"That's your bias opinion because Ivy is really, really, good," Karen responds.
"I have no reason to be bias, Love; we are married if you remember, so regardless of how brutally honest I am with regards to your talent, you are stuck with me," he grins. "Besides, no matter how good Ivy is; since when have you ever known a leading lady to be surpassed by the leading man?"
"That was only the opinion of two critics," she retorts.
"Now, you are just trying to kid yourself," he raises an eyebrow to her. "Why else do you think Jimmy and Kyle asked you? They know you will be a star who both leads and supports."
"Well, maybe it's not a good idea to do the play given Jimmy and my history. That wouldn't be fair to you," Karen says hoping jealousy will make Derek change his opinion. Soon after Karen broke up with Dev, she dove into a brief relationship with Jimmy. Well if you could call it a relationship since it was more physical in nature than emotional. She ended the affair when she began to notice the same possessive and jealous tendencies in Jimmy that overwhelmed her relationship with Dev.
"After eight years and two children trust me love I'm not the least bit concerned over Jimmy." Grinning he continues "I am certain you love me and have no doubt I can still pleasure and love you."
Blushing Karen was a loss for words. Not able to think of any other argument as to why she shouldn't accept the role; she simply responds "this is Ivy's time. She's waited so long to be a star, who am I to just come in at the last minute and compete against her. Isn't that exactly what I did the last time?"
Looking into his wife's eyes, Derek saw nothing but remorse and conflict. He knew she wanted nothing more than to accept the role, it was perfect for her. She loved to perform and in this role she would shine. But one of the reasons he fell in love with her was her heart. Unlike other Broadway icons, Karen didn't mind sharing the spotlight. And though she would never admit it; he knew the thought that Ivy may be overlooked for a Tony should they both be nominated worried her.
"Karen, if you don't accept the role, that doesn't guarantee Ivy will win a Tony. You know I'm right when I say that Ivy's performance has flaws. All it will take for her to lose is someone else to come along who commands the stage more. It is just a fact, Love. Be put, I love you and because of that, I will share a certain piece of information with you. In order for an actress to be nominated for a Tony for leading actress; they must open the play when it hits Broadway."
Karen sat thinking about what Derek had just said. Sinking in she smiles and asks, "Do you think Kyle and Jimmy would allow that?"
"I think Kyle and Jimmy are more concerned with proving to everyone they're first production wasn't a fluke and I know they don't want to lose you a second time; so I am going to say yes."
A slow smile growing on her face, Karen gets up from the table and walks over to Derek who is leaning against the counter. Standing directly in front of him, she wraps her arms around his waist and places her head against his chest. He bends down to kiss the top of her head as she sighs, "How did I get so lucky? I love you so much Derek Wills."
"I love you too Mrs. Wills. Why call Jimmy," he says kissing her passionately on the lips.
The next morning the studio is abuzz with the news when Ivy arrives. "What's going on?" she questions.
"You haven't heard?" Amanda asks confusion clear on her face. "Karen was offered and accepted the leading role in the production Twisted Fate."
"When did this happen?"
"She accepted last night and decided to calls us before we heard it from the papers."
"This is bullshit!" Ivy exclaims. "I'm the lead in this play yet no one bothered to contact me."
"What are you going on about Ivy," a voice came from behind her.
Turning, Ivy saw Kevin standing in front of her. "Did you know?" she inquires anger evident in her voice.
"Yes Ivy I did; and so would you if your phone was on," he responds reaching for her phone and revealing to her the phone was in fact turned off.
Ivy was beet red but not ready to concede she changes her argument. "That still doesn't erase the fact that once again she has to one up me. She sees I'm succeeding and she can't stand it. Just like eight years ago she is competing with me again."
Kevin too is now angry and he is glad he had made the decision to pull Ivy away from everyone to talk about this. "Ivy, you never cease to amaze me and this time it's not a good thing. Just when I thought you were past your insecurities and petty jealousies, yet here they are again. If you weren't so quick to jump to conclusions, you would know that Karen isn't competing with you Ivy. Yes, she accepted the role; but, she accepted on the condition that she would not open first night on Broadway."
"Why should that matter to me?" Ivy asks
"Because, Ivy, If she doesn't open on Broadway then she can't be nominated for a Tony," Kevin answers shaking his head in disappointment.
Realization hitting Ivy, she opens her mouth to speak but is shut down by Kevin's raised hand. "Don't Ivy because I don't want to hear another excuse. We have to get back into the studio. Despite what you may think, the people in there are counting on us and I for one have no intention of letting them down."
As he leaves the room, all Ivy stares in disbelief. Once again her insecurities have gotten the best of her. She knows Kevin won't tell Karen or Derek what Ivy said simply because he doesn't want to hurt Karen's feelings. Ivy's concern is what her mistake means for her future with Kevin. She takes a deep breath , leaves the room and heads back to the studio.