(A/N)Alas a flustered man must make a choice in life. A choice to love or a choice to hate. A choice to stay of to go. A choice to live, or to die. This is the story of a man who made a choice, that will affect the entire outcome of his future.

Choice 1: Karen for Marilyn.

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Derek paced up and down the dark alley behind the theater as the rest of the cast rushed off to the hospital. He contemplated whether he should follow suit, or keep his meeting with his old pal Johnnie Walker. He had to make a choice. He wasn't entirely delighted by the prospect of being ridiculed by Tom. He imagined the scene wouldn't be pretty. Tom would cry foul play, and insinuate that this unpleasant and gruesome situation was Derek's fault. Derek wasn't entirely sure he would be wrong. He had in fact coerced Ivy into taking the pills in the first place. He also ignored the signs of increased prescription usage. Nevertheless she was an adult and capable of making her own decisions. He didn't force pills down her throat. Nor did he wish she would kill herself. The fact that she was affected by his decision to the brink of death worried Derek. She had been unstable from the beginning of the production. Now she had cracked. He wasn't even sure how she would react to his presence, seeing how the last conversation they had developed around how highly he thought of Karen Cartwright. He had been brutally honest during that conversation.

If Derek didn't go to the hospital, surely he would never here the end of it. The cast would attribute his absence to his cold-hearted nonchalant attitude towards Ivy. His nonattendance would elicit feelings of revulsion from the cast. He needed them to fear him, respect him, but he never wanted anyone to hate him. If he wasn't there for Ivy he would be seen as heartless. They would account his disinterest in Ivy for his new found glory in Karen Cartwright. They assume that he was sleeping with her, in a true leading lady scandal. That couldn't be further from the truth. Derek rarely cared what anyone thought of him. In fact he really didn't care now. He was more interested in the accusations that would surround Karen. She didn't deserve to be overshadowed once again by Ivy. She had one great moment to revel in, to celebrate, and suddenly it was snatched from her.

Against his better judgment, Derek walked towards the front of the building. Hopefully there wouldn't be any media attention; he wasn't prepared to answer questions about another Bombshell scandal. The air was crisp and the sound of the night life bustling across the town was pleasant. Derek liked Boston; he traveled here on several occasions, but never for pleasure. He thought about the prospect of coming back once his schedule allowed him a moment of piece. He'd been working on My Fair Lady with Eileen for three years, along with a couple of films. His plate was full as usual. This was the first time that he had all of his focus on one project since he could remember. He enjoyed working on the project of Marilyn, it challenged him.

He walked to the edge of the street and tried to hail a cab. His thoughts were beginning to linger on his journey to the hospital. He considered going to grab a bite first. His thoughts came crashing to a sudden stop. A familiar voice floated above the night life scene.

"Derek….Derek, wait." The soft, gentle, soothing voice called from a distance.

He stopped for a moment. Mum? He thought to himself. It couldn't be. He turned around to see a vision in a blue knit yoga top draped over a tank top and skin tight black jeans. Her face was as pure and white as virgin cotton. She had wind kissed rosy cheeks and her hair curled slightly framing her face.

"Ms. Cartwright. To what do I owe the honor?" He smiled. It seemed as if the only genuine smiles he had all week came to his face in her presence. "I expected you to be at the hospital by know." He continued.

"I was actually on my way. Is that were you are headed too?" she responded acknowledging the cab that pulled up to the curb.

When she came closer Derek realized her eyes were puffy and red, matching her red nose. She had been crying. Obviously she had found out about Dev's extracurricular activities with Ivy. It was all coming together slowly the argument, her disappearing, and her stare down with Ivy on the stage. Derek couldn't help but feel guilt as she walked towards him. Karen had no business going to that hospital to check on Ivy, she was too kind for her own good. He glanced at the cab and back at Karen. He opened the door.

"You look like you could use a drink." He motioned for her to enter the cab.

He expected her to question his intentions. He also expected her to insist they went to the hospital. But she simply obliged by climbing into the back of the car. Her behind grazed against his man parts as she got it, sending tingles down his back. He longed to touch her, make love to her. But that would only make things worse. If only she had known how many nights he spent think about her. Derek plopped down beside her and gave the cab driver the address to a bar near the hotel. He sat back and turned to examine the young woman. To his surprise she wasn't starring out of the window or fiddling with her phone, she was looking at him. She was smiling.

"Why aren't you at the hospital with Ivy?" she asked cheerfully. She seemed to remain happy most of the time. It was refreshing.

"The same reason you are not." He stated simply. Afterwards he realized how cold his words sounded. He only meant the prospect of getting drinks with her was more interesting.

"She slept with your boyfriend too?" Karen joked. Derek was surprised that she shared this information with him.

"Uh, no. Unfortunately the basis of my decision did not stem from that darling." He opted not to allude to the fact that he already had known this information already, and continued. "However, it doesn't surprise me that she slept with your boyfriend. I wouldn't waste my time trying to figure out why Ivy made that decision. I would wonder how that prick of yours could do something like that to you." He smirked knowing that she would defend Dev. He was right.

"He's really not that bad. I just didn't pay him any attention since the show. I could've been a better girlfriend to him." She shifted to look out of the window, drawing away from the conversation.

"Sorry, are you implying it's your fault he slept with Ivy?" Derek was perplexed by her assumption.

"If I would have been there for him when he needed me none of this would have happened." A single tear fell on her cheek as she spoke. "He was having a hard time at work, and stressed out from politics. And all I did was talk about the show." She dropped her head in embarrassment.

This was the second time Derek had seen the young woman cry. And subsequent to the last time his heart melted. He hated to see her cry. He despised not being able to save her from the pain. The feeling annoyed him. He would never be this emotionally involved with another actress, but he couldn't help his self with Karen.

"Karen, let me give you a word of advice. " He paused waiting to meet her eyes. When she didn't look up at him, he grabbed her chin and gently turned her face to him. "Look, I've seen enough of Dev to know that he is arrogant and controlling. To be with a man like that you can't live your own life, and you can forget about the theater. If that is a tariff you wish to pay, than by all means run back to him. But never blame yourself for his stupidity. You are far too good for someone like him." He was kind yet stern in his words. He wanted her to realize how passionate he was about what he was saying.

"If you think like that, why did you do it to Ivy?" her words were sharp and cut Derek's thoughts in half.

He couldn't believe he set himself up for that. He leaned back into the seat and exhaled forcefully. Suddenly the cab stopped, they arrived at the bar. Derek was saved by the bell, or by the sound of the cab driver asking for his fair. He chuckled at Karen and she rolled her eyes at him. He knew that he wasn't completely out of the woods, but a change of atmosphere might lighten the mood.

He led her into the bar with one arm on the small of her back. Touching Karen wasn't foreign to Derek. He had touched her so many times in rehearsal. But there was something extremely satisfying about touching her in public. He watched as faceless men eyed the young woman as they passed by. He felt slightly uncomfortable at the way they undressed her with their eyes. She was beautiful and undeniably sexy, but she was more than that. He spotted table near the back of the dim lit bar and made his way to it.

A young male waiter greeted them with a smile upon his face. Derek recognized him from several of his business trips to this very lounge. He smiled and acknowledged him. He took drink orders and hurried off through the bar. Derek settled and looked at Karen.

"So….you never answered the question. Why did you cheat on your girlfriend" She smiled as if she knew how uncomfortable she was making him.

"You obviously aren't going to let this go. So without further ado, Ivy was never my girlfriend. We were simply two consenting adults who participated in a sexual relationship. It just got complicated with the show. My debacle with Ms. Duvall was another story. One thing a note in my career, leading ladies find comfort in sleeping with the director. It makes them feel as if they have control. And Rebecca needed control. She was horrible as Marilyn, and she knew it. At least if she thought she had control over me she would behave. Obviously that backfired." Derek was satisfied with his answer. He wished that this was the end of the conversation, but he knew it wouldn't be. He looked for the waiter with his scotch; he could use it right about now.

"So you let Rebecca use you?" Karen chuckled.

"If I was going to work with her, I needed to make sacrifices. It's why I hate chasing stars for Broadway, they are too demanding." Derek fidgeted in his seat. He shifted trying to conceal his obvious discomfort.

The waiter came over and brought two double shots of Johnnie Walker blue label and a fruity concoction for Karen. Derek tossed the first shot back in a hurried fashion. The alcohol couldn't reach his bloodstream fast enough. He began to sip the second one and looked at Karen. She had barely been able to take a sip.

"What?" Derek inquired about her sad puppy dog face.

"It's just that I seen Ivy, and she was so upset about you and Rebecca. I really felt bad for her." Her tone was genuine.

"Darling, in theater there are a lot of misconceptions about relationships. However, I believe that Ivy was very aware of the circumstance surrounding our friendship. I may have made an arse of myself. But I believe it was displayed by the lack of any real date, or public outing that we were not a couple. Truth is Ivy and I had a professional relationship. It happens in theater, and I am sure you find out as you go along that they hardly ever turn into anything real, unless they start out on the right terms." Derek was truthful to a fault.

"So then what did you mean when you said 'you do understand love'"? Karen now took a long drink from her tall glass filled with pink and yellow slush.

Derek felt himself freeze again, he had forgotten about that. He hadn't even had time to figure out why he said that, or what it meant.

"I am not an animal you know. I have had my fair share of relationships. I know what love is and how to love. I have many blunders to account for by mixing business with pleasure. But I have always understood love, more so than I lead on." Derek continued.

"Why did you tell me?" Karen questioned while licking the bottom of her straw.

The pure sight of something so innocent drove Derek to bliss. It was so sexy and intriguing. He immediately began to think with his other head. But he had to stay on topic.

"I feel like I can trust you Ms. Cartwright." His response shocked him as much as it shocked her.

They sat in silence for a moment and Derek wondered if he had said too much. Maybe he should call the young woman a cab, and finish drowning his thoughts with liquor.

"Do you want to dance?" Karen broke the silence and the tension.

"Dance? I don't dance." Derek chuckled taken back by the proposition.

"You're a choreographer, and you don't dance? Come on Derek" She stood up smiling and grabbed his arm rushing him to the center of the dance floor.

Nobody knows what i'm feeling inside

I find it so stupid

So why should I hide

That I love to make love to you baby

(yeah make love to me)

So many ways wanna touch you tonight

I'm a big girl got no secrets this time

Yeah I love to make love to you baby

(yeah make love to me)

Derek was intrigued by the song playing the beat was edgy and upbeat. But Derek didn't dance. He simply stood on the floor and swayed as Karen shook her hips around him. He wanted to grab her hips and take her to quite corner where he could get the best of her. But he shook the thought from his head. Still watching as raised her hands in the air and moved her hips in circles. Clearly there was more liquor in her glass then he thought because suddenly she was uninhibited. This was not the reserved, cheery Karen that he had witnessed so many times before. This was a sexy and lustful woman longing for his affection. She slung her arms around his neck and rolled her body against his smiling and letting her hair fly. Derek did enjoy her performance very much. But he was growing uncomfortable with his sexual desires.

The song was over and suddenly Karen slowed down.

"I think we need to get you back to the hotel" Derek smiled at her, he was prepared to argue.

Instead she responded by saying "You should come with me….You should come to my room."

Albeit an intriguing offer, Derek had to refuse. Back at the hotel he led her up to her room, where they were sure to run into questionable looks from the ensemble. Luckily no one had made it back from the hospital yet. When they arrived at her door he smiled at the young woman.

"I expect you to be fully recovered by rehearsal tomorrow." He felt awkward. He was sure there was something more gentlemen like to say, but he didn't want to cross any lines.

"Goodnight Mr. Wills" she responded kissing him on the cheek.

Derek turned and walked down the hall. The alcohol had definitely affected her judgment. He laughed at the thought of a drunken Karen. She had far more layers than he suspected. This surely was worth choosing not to go to the hospital.

Well what do you think? Did Derek make the right choice? Please review! Thank you so much.