Chapter 19

The preview was a huge success and went off without a hitch. The cast had just finished their performance and they were waiting in the other room while the creative team spoke with the potential investors. The cast felt good about the show they had just put on. There was an energy as they came into the waiting area.

"Oh my God, that was so awesome!" Bobby said and all anyone could do was agree.

"It feels so good to be in this stage of a musical again. It's one of my favorite parts." Karen said as she was beaming from the performance. She knew of course there would be changes but she knew they had something great on their hands.

The cast continued to talk as they waited for the creative team to come and get them to discuss the fate of the show. After about 20 minutes Linda came in to get the cast and bring them back into the performance space. The cast began to file out of the room and towards the performance hall. Karen was one of the last ones out of the room, only followed by David. David saw this as his chance while everyone was focused on getting back to hear the news, he would take advantage of their distraction and steal a moment alone with Karen, so once he saw the last person in front of Karen go into the room, he grabbed her hand before she could go in. Karen turned around looking confused as the door to the performance space closed.

"Hey what's up?" She asked curiously. She wasn't sure what he was doing but something told her it wasn't anything good.

David got closer to and entering her personal space before speaking. Karen did her best to keep a distance, but it was a tight space. She was very uneasy about the whole thing.

"Before we go back in there, I just wanted to tell you how great you were and how much I have loved working with you." David said as he inched closer. Karen inched slightly further back.

"Uh thanks, it's been good working with you too." Karen responded trying to keep things as casual as possible.

"I don't think you understand. I mean yeah I have really loved working with you but…" Before David finished his sentence, he backed Karen into the wall and tightened his grip slights on her hand and before Karen could even register what was happening his lips were on hers. Karen was shocked to the point of complete stillness for a brief moment, her mind was spinning, and she couldn't bring herself to move. She certainly wasn't returning the kiss. When she finally regained movement she pushed him away.

"What are you doing?" She asked sharply while wiping off her face.

"I just. I thought. I thought you wanted this." David replied with confusion and anger creeping into his tone.

What the pair didn't see was the person standing in the doorway watching the whole exchange. Just before David kissed Karen, Derek began to come through the door in search of his girlfriend and his male lead. Just as he was going to open the door, he saw the pair standing in the hallway through the window in the door. He watched as David encroached on his girlfriend's space. He was frozen and confused. He couldn't see Karen's face, so he wasn't sure if she was happy about the situation. Before he could open the door to react, he watched as David kissed Karen. For a moment he was devastated and trying to figure out what he did wrong to push her into his arms. And then it happened. She pushed him away and when he could finally see her face, she looked pissed. This was his cue to come through the door.

"Just what the fuck do you think you're doing?" Derek said as he advanced to where David was standing looking more angry than most had ever seen him. Karen saw Derek and she was relieved that he was there. She was also relieved that it seems he was angry at David and not at her.

"You need to stay the fuck out of this Derek. It doesn't concern you. You don't own her" David spat back.

"The hell it doesn't. She obviously doesn't want anything like that from you, so you need to back off"

"I am sick and tired of you thinking you control and own all of us. I don't give a shit about your reputation, you don't control any of us." "And you" David said turning towards Karen. "You don't know how good you could have it and instead of taking advantage of what's in front of you, you sit here and worship this asshole!" Karen was shocked at his sudden outburst towards her but before she could say anything Derek was moving.

"Alright asshole, I've had enough" Derek said as his right fist made contact with David's face.

David fell on the spot and seemed so shocked he got hit that he didn't try to fight back. He just sat on the floor rubbing his face. At this point the entire cast and creative team was watching this unfold. No one really knew what was going on.

"Get out and don't come back!" Derek said to David as he turned towards Karen. Taking her into his arms he started to comfort her.

"Are you ok love?" He asked softly.

"I'm so sorry Derek. I didn't know" Karen said on the verge of crying.

"I know sweetheart. It's ok. I know." Derek said softly as he kissed the top of her head and pulled her tighter into his arms.

The cast continued to watch on with confusion. All unwilling to speak at the moment. That was until Eileen stepped through.

"What the hell is going on here?" Eileen yelled. Derek and Karen pulled apart, but Derek continued to hold onto Karen's hand not wanting to take his comfort away from her.

"Well Eileen, David here decided to corner Karen and assault her and then he decided to get into with me when I tried to protect her, so I punched him in the face and told him to get out." Derek said with anger laced in his voice.

"Is this true Karen?" Eileen asked Karen looking for the truth

"Um, yeah it's true. David backed me up against the wall and kissed me. I didn't want that, so I pushed him away and that's when he started yelling." Karen said to Eileen.

Eileen paused to think of what to do next. She didn't want to have to train a new lead but it was apparent she may lose Karen if she didn't get rid of him, so she made her decision.

"David, I think it is best that you leave this production. Thank you for the work you put in but we won't be moving forward with you in the show at this time."

"Are you fucking serious? He punches me and I'm the one that has to leave? This is bullshit. This production is going to fail as long as you have him around. Oh, and just so you know those two are fucking." David yelled and gestured in the direction of Derek and Karen.

"David I really do think it's best you leave now before I have you escorted from the building." Eileen said calmly but seriously. She could see Derek getting worked up again out of the corner of her eye. She knew she had to address the things David said but first she needed to diffuse the situation.

"You know what? You and your show can shove it! I don't want to be a part of this shit anyway." David said as he stormed through the door to the stairs.

The entire cast was still holding their breath waiting to see what would happen next. Everyone was looking to Eileen to see what she was going to do.

"Ok everyone, go back in the room and we will be discussing the show in just a few minutes."

With that everyone turned to go back into the room knowing better than to test Eileen at the moment. Derek and Karen began to walk in that direction when Eileen stopped them.

"You two need to hang back for a moment please." She said please but they knew it wasn't a question. Derek and Karen shared a concerned look and hung back. Once the cast was back in the room and the three of them were alone, Eileen began to talk.

"Karen are you ok?" Eileen asked.

"Yeah I'm ok. I was just surprised. I'm ok now though" Karen responded, unsure of where this conversation was going to go.

"Good I'm glad. Now I want an honest answer because I cannot tolerate games right now. Are you two involved with each other?" Eileen asked with a serious tone.

Derek and Karen glanced at each other. Karen gave Derek and almost imperceptible head nod and he gave her one in return. Turning to Eileen Derek took a deep breath before answering her question.

"The short answer is yes"

"How long?" She asked without a change in tone.

"A few weeks" Derek replied. Both Derek and Karen were holding their breath waiting to see what was going to happen. What bothered them the most was how Eileen's facial expression remained stoic.

"Ok, both of you go back into the room so we can talk about the preview, then you will both be staying after so we can have a full discussion and I can make a decision.

Derek was about to say something when Karen grabbed him by the arm dragging him into the room and giving Eileen a stern "Yes ma'am"