Chapter 18: Premiere Ready

Derek sat in the Ivy, glancing at his watch, Meredith was now fifteen minutes late, and Derek was starting to get worried. He remembered that Meredith never like to be late. He had ordered himself another drink of scotch before pulling out his cell phone and calling Meredith's number. He hung up as Meredith rushed through the door and walked over to him.

"I'm so sorry I'm late Mr. Shepherd, I had some business to deal with and it over ran."

"It Derek's, Meredith you know that."

"This is a business meeting, Derek, we should stay professional."

"I always call my business contacts by their first name, Meredith" Derek motions her to sit down, she does. "Would you like a drink Meredith?" Derek can't stop saying her name, remembering how good it feels to have her name rolling off his tongue.

"Just water for me please…" Derek motioned to the waiter. A cell phone goes off, and Meredith rummages through her bag, before pulling it out.

"Two seconds please Derek" she says flashing him a smile and answering the phone.

"Iz, I am in a meeting, I'll call you back later." Mer says before hanging up.

"How is everyone?"

"They are all fine, Izzie and Alex are married, and Cristina works at Mount Sinai, in cardiothoracic. How is Mark?"

"Mark is still Mark, but he is married now"

"Mark married, that is surprising"

"I know, he and Addison have been married for two years. Mark is in plastics and Addie is an OB/GYN"

"Addison isn't that you're..."

"Yeah, but that was an incredibly long time ago, Mer." Derek says gently, locking his eyes on hers, getting lost in each other gaze, until Meredith looks away. She doesn't want Derek to see how much he still affects her; she pulls herself together.

"So, Derek, what exactly was it you wanted to discuss with me." Meredith says with a professional tone, just as Derek is about to reply a waiter comes over and takes their order. Over the next hour they discussed Passions, and the concept of the show, which Meredith noted was familiar to her, and Serena's role on the show.

After they had finished lunch, Derek asked Meredith if she fancied joining him for a couple of drinks.

"I don't know Derek; I have a stylist coming in at 4."

"Meredith, it's only 2 o clock, please, I will drop you back to your hotel."

"Derek, I really don't..."

"Meredith, we have twelve years to catch up on."

"Derek, I am your client's agent, that is it."

"Meredith, you are a lot more than that, and you know it."

"Derek, I can't do this." Meredith looks down at her hands and starts playing with them. As their waiter came over with their bill, Meredith gets her purse out and settles half of the bill and before Derek can react, she stands up and grabs her stuff.

"Derek I can't, it was nice to see you again, we will probably see each other around every so often, bye." Meredith holds her hand out, Derek takes it, and rubs her hand with his thumb. He releases her hand, and once again she is gone.

Later that day, Meredith was putting the final touches to her dress on; she was still waiting on Serena, after leaving her hundreds of missed calls, when there was a knock on her suite door.

"It's open." Serena walks into the suite.

"Meredith, I am sorry."

"Wow, you look stunning Meredith."

"Where the hell have you been?" Meredith is seething with anger.

"You don't want to know."

"You better not be mixed up in anything bad, Serena, because you will destroy everything that you have built up in your career"

"Meredith, I promise. I have my dress; can I borrow your make up please"

"It's in the bathroom."

"Thanks, Meredith." Serena went into the bathroom, emerging ten minutes later, all dressed and with make up on.

"How do I look Meredith?"

"You look beautiful Serena, now shall we go down to the hotel bar, and have a few drinks before the limo get here?"

"The theater is only next door."

"I know that Serena, but you don't walk to a red-carpet event, do you?"

"I suppose not."

"No, it will pick us up in fifteen minutes and drive around the block before going to the theatre."

"Okay." Meredith grabs her bag and hotel room key before exiting the room.