A/N: Thank you guys for continuing to read my story. A lot did happen last chapter and the reviews inspired me to write this. I hope that you enjoy this chapter as well.
Please continue to read, review, follow and favorite if you feel so inclined.
Constructive criticism, comments and questions always welcome.
By the way I am not sure if everyone keeps up on the spoilers, but I simply love the reviews or premier. Here are two of my
review/smash-s2-s-new-character-dynamics-renew-excitement-for-the-series
/2012/12/17/smash-season-2-premiere-preview-spoilers/?utm_source= &utm_medium=facebook
Well enough with my rambling. I hope that you enjoy this chapter!
Derek Has made several choices, some messier than others, and this is where he has gotten so far.
"Ivy, I was actually just on my way out." Derek said as he answered his cell phone.
"Hey you. Where are you heading?" She inquired cheerfully.
"Just have a few things to handle for the show. We are going to have a long rehearsal week." Derek said trying not to divulge his true plans.
"Well, I was thinking you might have a lot of work to do. I would be happy to come over and help." She said trying to entice the director.
"Can't. busy. Sorry. Maybe we can do lunch tomorrow at rehearsal." Derek looked himself over in the mirror in his room. He only halfway paid attention to the conversation as he spoke. "I will give you a call tonight if I'm not back to late." Derek said attempting to end the conversation.
"Derek wait…. there is one more thing." Ivy said the tone in her voice changing.
"What would that be love?" He asked hinting to his annoyance a little more than he planned.
"It's just…..look I know that I really messed up with the show. I mean really messed up, which is why you didn't want to give me a shot at being Marilyn. Plus you see Karen as Marilyn. But I just want to make sure that is all you see her as. I want to know where we stand Derek. You said that we would talk about it when we get home. But you have not had any time to talk to me since. " Ivy was concerned…..and rightfully. But Derek didn't have the time to address her issues.
"Ivy, we'll have to talk about this tomorrow….I am running late" Derek hung up the phone before she could respond.
Derek had to hand it to Ivy; she was always a woman who seen what she wanted and went for it. There was no obstacle to big, no answer to definitive. Ivy would always find her way around the rules to get what she wanted. Derek admired these qualities in her. It was one of the reasons he had been so attracted to her initially. Her drive and inspiration overshadowed most of her flaws.
But right now Derek's thoughts were far from Ivy. He was focusing on Karen. He was recalling the butterflies that were released in his stomach to flutter a few hours ago. Derek hadn't felt butterflies in years, since he was a teenage boy watching his theater crushes dance across the stage of his father's productions. He never felt this way as an adult, and definitely not as a director. He could truly say that he hadn't experience anything close to this. He had never even been in love. As odd as it sounds he hadn't allowed himself to experience love. The debacles between his parents have left him shunned and cold-hearted. He had an immense understanding of love, and the way the human mind worked. He has studied the psychology of it through college. Derek had loved him mother, father, family and friends. But women just became another notch in his belt. Karen had brought out the best qualities in Derek however. When he was with her he felt a sense of warmth and comfort ability. Something he hadn't felt since he was back home with his mother.
Derek arrived at Karen's place ten minutes early. And to his surprise she was ready. Derek assumed that all women made you wait for hours before they were ready to walk out of the door. But Karen had a natural beauty. She could walk out of the house in Pajama's and stun Derek. As the escort car pulled down in to the loading zone Derek watched her face light up as her head cocked to the side and she smiled. Derek got out of the car and walked around to open her door. He was even more awe struck when seen her up close. She was wearing black leather leggings and black boots with a sparkly silver and plaid jacket. Her hair was tied up in a bun; Derek loved when she showed of her long beautiful neck. She had on light make-up with eyeliner and a pink shimmer gloss. Derek could tell and appreciated that she spruced up for the occasion. It made him a little bit nervous as to her intentions, and his own.
"You look lovely Ms. Cartwright." Derek said as he opened her door.
"Thanks. It's probably one of my only chances to girl up since we are going to be working so much" She said sliding into the car.
"You know you can come dressed like that to rehearsal, wouldn't bother me a bit." Derek said as he eyed her from the side as he climbed into to the car.
The car ride to the restaurant was filled with small talk about the show and gossip about the future of the production. There was a slight nervous and flirtatious air around them.
They pulled up to a rather large Bar off of Broadway Street. It was a large and busy building with people running in and out. Derek strolled around to the car and assisted Karen out. They headed into the building with his hand on the small of her back. He guided through the groups of people who were eyeing them enviously. Males were obviously looking at how gorgeous Karen was and wishing they were Derek. Of course the actress and musicians noticed Derek as they highly noted director and would go to great lengths to be the woman on his arm. It made Derek smile. But what truly made him happy was knowing that he would be spending his entire evening, or as much as safely possible, with Karen.
"You are a really popular guy" Karen said as they slid into the booth. She was noting all of the waves and gestures of hello Derek received.
"Oh Darling, I wouldn't call it popular. These are all people who want me to better their career in some way or another. I'd rather enter the room and have one genuine friend." Derek smiled a small smile at the young woman.
"Can I grab you two drinks while you look at the menu." A young woman with long black hair and hypnotizing green and hazel eyes said softly. She was obviously used to the presence of Broadway's finest. But she hadn't met Derek before and it showed in her mannerism.
"I'll have a Johnnie Walker Blue on the rocks." Derek said in his charming tone.
"I'll have the same." Karen responded shocking the director. He gave her his signature look of surprise with his head tilted to the side.
"What?" Karen exclaimed as the director smiled at her.
"I just thought you'd order another fruity something with an umbrella and a pink straw with the cute little pineapple on the side." Derek explained teasing the beautiful woman.
"I thought that I might need something a little stronger tonight. Plus you seem to like them so much." She teased him back.
"Why would you need to be strongly inebriated to have a conversation with me?" Derek said hoping this would be an opening to the conversation at hand. He waited all day for this conversation.
"Well if you didn't notice it seemed to get a little intense in the rehearsal room today." Karen said as the waitress gracefully placed there drinks in front of them.
"Thank You." Derek said politely to the short woman.
"Do you guys know what you would like to eat?" She said taking out a pen from behind her ear.
"I haven't even looked over the menu yet. Sorry." Karen said bashfully hiding the bottom of her face from Derek.
"We'll have two of the house specials." Derek insisted handing his menu to the waitress.
Derek waited for a moment to speak and simply stared into Karen's eyes. The connection was magnetizing and he felt the electricity between them.
"So what were you saying early about the connection we forged in Boston. " Derek said cutting the tension in half.
"Are you always so direct Mr. Director?" Karen said deflecting the question.
"I guess I have a natural leadership quality." Derek winked at her. "Or I have been waiting to have this conversation for weeks." Derek divulged.
"For Weeks?" Karen responded a little confused.
"Yeah….Since we got back from Boston. I just didn't know how." Derek said looking at the table feeling a little uncomfortable. "When I finally arranged the words to say, well you know the rest." Derek said quickly shaking the thought from his head.
"I thought that after the night at the hotel bar that you were back with Ivy." Karen explained as she finished her drink.
"That night I had no idea Ivy would be there. She showed up at my room, and I told her we would talk when I got back home. But you got so upset, and drunk, that I didn't know how to explain that to you. I wanted to tell you how interested I was in you. How you made my day brighter with your smile….as cheesy as that may sound." Derek felt his chest fill with self-empathy.
"I had no idea you had interest in me at all." Karen said with big eyes.
"I don't wear my feelings on my sleeves. That doesn't mean that I don't have them. And yes Karen I feel something every time I am around you." Derek said beginning to feel a little more relaxed.
"I do too. I mean I did. It's just…." She trailed off.
"It's just the boyfriend, right?" Derek finished her sentence for her.
"Derek…." Karen said placing her hand on his.
"You don't owe in explanation love." He said moving his hand from beneath hers.
"Are you upset with me?" Karen inquired with a frown across her face.
Derek felt the anger brewing inside, but he wasn't upset with her. He was upset with himself. He had found the woman of his dreams and let her slip from his hand.
"Of course not Karen. I am a little upset with myself….but that is neither here nor there. I enjoy being your friend more than you would ever know. " Derek said as the waitress arrived with the food.
She sat one plate in front of Karen and one in front of Derek. They were twisted chicken nachos and they looked amazing. Blue and yellow corn tortilla chips topped with fried chicken strips shredded with cheese, onions, baked beans, bacon, jalapenos and sour cream drizzled with a spicy taco and sweet chili sauce. Each was a perfect portion for one.
Derek ordered two more drinks and two beers as well. They tasted the nachos and Derek could tell that she was enjoying the food as much as he hoped. The flavors were explosive and one of his favorite calorie splurging man foods.
"How do you like it?" Derek asked her.
"It is amazing. I have never had nachos this good." She said taking a swig of her beer.
They ate in silence for a moment savoring the taste of the nachos. Derek was really enjoying her company. She was so cute when she ate and it made Derek chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Karen said suspending her eating. She immediately became self conscious as he peered at her and he could sense it.
Derek leaned across the table bring their faces close together. Her breath was warm against his face. She closed her eyes as if she expected a kiss. Then she opened them again.
"Derek I can't" She whispered into him.
He placed a finger on her lips "Sssshhhh." He hissed at her.
She blinked slowly in anticipation. And Derek couldn't stand the torture, but he did what he sat out to and pulled a long string of cheese from the corner of her mouth. He sat back in his seat and ate it with a wide eyed look.
"Hey, I was saving that for later." She said swatting at the director.
"Right. What did you think I was doing Karen?" He said with a devilish smile.
"I didn't think anything." She responded bashfully; her cheeks beginning to blush.
"It seemed to me you thought I was going to kiss you." He said placing his hand on hers between the plates.
"Yeah that's what it looked like to me too." An angry voice stated coming from behind Derek.
"Jimmy what are you doing here?" Karen said suddenly moving her hands off of the table and adjusting her jacket.
"I could be asking you the same thing." Jimmy scolded her.
"I told you I was meeting with Derek" Karen said with large eyes.
"To discuss a show." Jimmy said volume escalating.
"This is exactly what we are doing. Why are you hear?" Derek asked with an uncouth tone.
Jimmy's eye quickly shifted to the door and back to the table. "I had a meeting as well. But I am not staying. And neither are you Karen." Jimmy said grabbing her arm and pulling her towards him.
"Jimmy let me go." She said in a low commanding tone. He released her and put his hands in his pocket as he surveyed the room again. He looked towards the door as if he was expecting someone.
"Derek I am really sorry. I will talk to you tomorrow." She said with a wary smile.
"Yeah. Tomorrow." Derek said with lingering glance. He felt the pit of his stomach fall as Karen turned to walk away. Something didn't seem right at all. Derek didn't trust Jimmy and he definitely didn't want him around Karen.
Immediately after Karen and Jimmy left the bar Ivy headed in. This intrigued Derek. This couldn't be a coincidence. There was no way that Ivy would have wonder into the same bar as him, Karen and Jimmy. The Derek remembered the way that Jimmy was looking around and talking about a meeting. Derek also recalled the bathroom conversation that he had with Ivy. Ivy was so shaken by the appearance of Jimmy that she nearly went into child birth. Something was beginning to seem seriously off.