Thanks for the encouraging reviews! I have another chapter for you today - but not to worry, I'm not abandoning my other stories. Just wanted to get a little bit more of this posted to get it going.

Chapter 2: Baby I'm a Star

Oh baby I'm a star
Might not know it now
Baby, but I'm a star
I don't wanna stop, 'til I reach the top

Meredith sailed confidently through the huge glass doors fronting the Montecito Casino and Resort, her Manolo Blahnik knee high grey snakeskin boots tapping across the marble foyer. The bellhop trailed behind her, luggage piled high on the rack that rattled along with him. Her Ungaro grey silk halter dress hugged her slim form provocatively, and showed off her toned shoulders, her honey blonde hair loose and bouncing along with her sexy stride. She grinned happily, looking around at the glitz and the glamour of the place – she loved coming here – it made her feel like a star.

"Meredith…" The voice of Sam Marquez, the effervescent casino hostess, caught her attention, and she turned in the direction of the sound. "Woo hoo! Meredith!" The tiny brunette waved her hand as she made her way through the crowd. As usual, she clutched her cell phone in one hand, and gestured with her other. "You made it…"

"Sam…how are you?" Meredith murmured, leaning in for the air kiss.

"Oh, you know, crazy as always around here." They started to walk towards the elevator, as Sam snapped her fingers at the bellhop to follow. "Now…I've got your usual suite ready, and you're already checked in, so don't worry about that. I have your favorite appetizers upstairs in the room, and the wine is chilling for you. The reception for the poker tournament is tonight in the Gold Room, and the Pussycat Dolls are performing." The elevator whooshed silently and quickly upstairs, as Meredith tried to catch everything Sam was telling her. "You can call me any time, whatever you need, I can get for you. If you don't like something, I can take it away…"

They stepped into the luxury suite, and Meredith walked over to look out the wall of windows, at the lights of the strip starting to glitter in the dusk. "Now, the suite for Cristina Yang is reserved next to you, adjoining as usual. Do you know when she's arriving?"

"I'm not sure, she had a photoshoot in L.A. today, and got hung up I think. She might be here late…"

"Whatever…that's fine." Sam gazed at the slim blonde speculatively, wondering as always about the relationship between Yang and Meredith. They always booked adjoining suites, and always spent most of their time together. Well, no matter if they were lovers….this was Vegas baby…

"Good," Meredith said, looking out the window again. "Thanks for everything, Sam."

"My pleasure, Meredith. Good luck tomorrow…" And with that, she spun and headed out the door, already dialing her cell phone for the next guest's arrival information.

Meredith shook her head – being with Sam Marquez always made her a little dizzy. That woman was a mini dynamo, she thought with a giggle, heading to the softly lit bar to pour herself a glass of icy cold chardonnay. As she sank down onto the luxurious bed, putting her feet up, she wondered if it would be worthwhile attending the reception.

Derek Shepherd leaned against the railing around the upper deck in the Gold Room, at the reception for the tournament, watching the crowds go by. It was the usual insanity in the casino – bells ringing, people shouting, and the overall sense of anything being possible that permeated the air. "Why did I let you talk me into coming here?" he asked his friend, Mark Sloan, who stood beside him, facing the opposite direction, looking out into the casino. "I hate Vegas…"

"I think it had something to do with the money you could win," Mark said lazily, watching the well toned derrieres in skimpy bathing suits go by, heading for the swimming pool. "Or the women….I'm not sure which…"

Derek sipped his Scotch, his dark blue eyes amused, as he looked over at Mark. "No,you wanted to come here for the women," he said dryly.

"Right…" Mark's head swiveled again.

"But you're right, I want to win this tournament."

"Yeah, you really look like you can use the money," Mark grinned, looking back at his friend's impeccable attire. Casual enough, but with an air of confidence that exuded sensuality, and bordered on arrogance. No matter where they went, it was Derek's dark Irish looks that garnered the most attention from women – his thick black hair, and intense blue eyes seemed to make them all weak in the knees. But Derek never took the time to develop any relationships, avoiding any romantic entanglements. He enjoyed taking women to bed, giving them everything for the moment, enjoying their sleek bodies, their hot mouths, and the delights they yielded so easily – but he enjoyed his freedom more.

"I can always use the money," Derek agreed, finishing his drink. "But the rush of winning is what really gets me. I just hate Vegas – too phony, too over the top. I can hardly wait to get out of here…"

Then the lights went down in the room, and the stage lit up brilliantly, as The Pussycat Dolls bounced into the spotlights. The six young women, in their sexy, clinging tops and short shorts, waved as the crowd roared in approval. The booming bass pulsed, as they started to sing, belting out the lyrics.

"Now, those girls are hot!" Mark shouted, over the din. From their vantage point on the upper deck, they could see the dancing crowd undulate in time to the beat, strobe lights streaking over top of them. Derek grinned, shaking his head, as he scanned the writhing bodies. He caught a flash of blonde hair, cascading down a slim body, swinging from side to side, as the woman abandoned herself to the music. The short, brightly patterned dress she wore seemed molded to her body - the sleeveless sheath clung precariously to her breasts as she danced. One more bounce and she might have a wardrobe malfunction, he thought as she spun around again. There was an Asian girl dancing with her, and they seemed to exchange flirtatious looks as they gyrated. Then the crowd swallowed them up, and they disappeared from sight. Not his type, he thought, turning to point the girl out to Mark, but his friend had already headed down to the dance floor, wading among the hot bodies, searching for a dance partner.

Derek shook his head at the waitress who came by to offer him another Scotch. There was no way he was interested in having a hangover tomorrow if he wanted to play his best game. But he stayed for awhile longer, letting his eyes wander across the crowd again, unconsciously looking for the blonde again.

I don't need a man to make it happen
I get off being free
I don't need a man to make me feel good
I get off doing my thing
I don't need a ring around my finger
To make me feel complete
So let me break it down
I can off when you ain't around
Oh!

Meredith sang along with the music, closing her eyes and waving her arms as she danced. "This is my theme song!" she shouted at Cristina, who just rolled her eyes, giving Meredith a hip check, bumping and grinding along with the beat."I don't need a man!" She shimmied and moved easily, catching the attention of many of the men in the crowd.

When the song ended, she motioned towards the edge of the floor. "I'm going to the bathroom to fix my dress…" she told Cristina. "Get me a drink, sweetie? …please?"

"Sure…what are girlfriends for?"

Meredith giggled, humming to herself as she made her way through the crowd. Her eyes were down as she tugged at the bodice of the dress, which was decidedly not staying up the way it was supposed to - the damn thing was almost hanging off her nipples it was so low. And bumped smack into the broad back of a man exiting the Gold Room as well. "Oh…god…sorry…" Meredith murmured, as his hand shot out to steady her. A small shiver seemed to rocket through her, as she looked up into the most gorgeous blue eyes she had ever seen.

"You need to watch where you're going," he murmured, "you could get hurt bumping into strangers."

"I…uh…I…usually do," Meredith stammered, feeling uncharacteristically at a loss for words. "My d-dress…"

The hot gaze he dragged over her chest made Meredith gulp, wondering why she had blurted out the reason for her inattention.

"I can see that," he smirked. "I like it that way."

"You would," she retorted, regaining her wits. "But I'm not about to flash anyone, so if you'll excuse me…" She looked pointedly at her arm that he still held in his hand.

"Of course."

Meredith nodded. "Okay, thanks."

"Okay."

For a moment, neither of them moved, and then she managed to turn and head for the ladies room, resisting the urge to look over her shoulder to see if he was watching her.

Song lyrics:
'Baby I'm a Star' by Prince
'I Don't Need a Man' by The Pussycat Dolls