A/N: Thank you Thank you Thank you! The support was amazing. I am so glad that you guys enjoyed the last chapter. Please read this one all the way through…I am sure it will be a shock. You guys are awesome! It won't be very long before I update!
The next morning…
"Last night was amazing.' Ivy said looking at the director with big eyes.
"I am glad." Derek said as the elevator opened.
Derek walked into the rehearsal room chatting with Ivy. It was nice to be able to have a conversation with her, the way they used to. There was no arguing, yelling, jealousy. He was able to satisfy her needs, and that is what really matters. Besides, Derek couldn't imagine loosing his job over nonsense. So he made a choice.
"You know I am really glad that we got everything worked out." Ivy smiled at him.
"Me too love." He said kissing her on the forehead.
Ivy went over to Sam and gossiped as usual. Derek looked at her feeling certain distaste, displeasure. But there wasn't much that he could do about it. He hated the way Ivy interrupted his evening. But he loved the fire behind it.
Karen wasn't anywhere to be found. It wasn't like her to be late, which worried Derek. Derek sat his things down in the on his workspace. He sat on the table and looked at the group as they stretch and spoke among themselves. He was proud to be the director of this production. He knew that Bombshell was going to be spectacular show.
"Has anyone seen Ms. Cartwright?" Derek inquired of the creative team.
"I think her and Jimmy went for breakfast." Tom said
"Breakfast. You've got to be bloody kidding me. I can't work on a production if she decides to up and leave for breakfast."
"I'm sure she'll be right back. She was here working on Secret all morning." Julia chimed in.
Derek got up and checked the hallways, but Karen wasn't there. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he was disturbed knowing that Karen was out with Jimmy. He knew he was her boyfriend, but that didn't stop him from being ticked off.
Derek walked back in the room. "Let's start working on the vocals for the newest Bombshell number. Josh can you pass out the lyrics to everyone" Derek said trying to find a way to waste time. He wanted, no he need, Karen to be Marilyn. He was trying to protect her, but thatwouldn't be easy to do.
Karen came stumbling in the room ten minutes late with Jimmy. But unlike her usual upbeat self, she didn't say a word. She didn't even look to the front were Derek was seating. He tried to ignore the fact that she was ignoring him. It bothered him. He didn't imagine that last night would turn out the way that it did, but it was probably for the best. Karen understood that being with Jimmy was the best thing for her at the moment. Even if it made Derek sick to him stomach.
"Alright everyone, now that our Marilyn has decided to show up, we can get to work." Derek announced in front of the ensemble.
"Oh I didn't realize you were waiting for me to show up." Karen spoke quietly but with power.
Derek was afraid she was about to go diva. So to prevent that he simply stated "We need you to take you place, that is if you still want to have a place in this production."
Derek turned his back on her and went to take a place in his seat. He heard the room go silent. Apparently everyone was shocked with his words. His words were full of venom. The ensemble sat down as Karen started to go over Secret. Derek hadn't spent a lot of time on the Choreography, but he knew that it wasn't going to be too complicated. Karen would start the song off at a vanity and on the other side of the room would be the oval office.
Karen opened her mouth to sing. But nothing too spectacular came out. It was as if she wasn't trying.
"Karen! Did you go over this with Larry?" Derek asked throwing his pen on the table.
"Yes." She stated simply.
"Well then, why are you singing this like you don't know it?" Derek said demanding an answer. "Where is the emotion?"
"I am sorry. I thought Marilyn might feel a little betrayed. A little unsatisfied with be a sideline girl." She glared at him.
"That may very well be true Karen. But this is about their forbidden love. About two people that long to be together, even though they are with other people. This is a man, who wants nothing more than to be with a woman, but he could because of his job, and about a woman who has had her heart broken and shattered finally learning how to love again." Derek said leaning on the top of the piano. "I need you to sing it, like you mean it Karen. Please" Derek said as the group all watched in silence. There was obviously something going on here, and everyone could see it.
Karen opened her mouth to sing again. And the words that came out this time were pleasing to Derek.
I don't mind living in this mans world I just want to be the only woman in it
Mr. President keep your career
But tell me when it's cold can you curl up with it?
Baby I don't need much keep the diamonds and gold
All I need is someone to love me when I am old
I would give everything just to live one day with you
But we've got so many secrets…..and too much of nothing to lose
Everyone has a secret or two, just wish my secret didn't have to be you…..
Karen shed a tear a she sung out the words so powerfully in the ballad. They came to the second half of the verse which belonged to JFK. Derek held his hand in the air to signal a stop. He felt the pit of his stomach drop. He couldn't control the emotional reaction he was having to the song. If he wasn't standing in front of so many people that feared and respected him, he may have cried himself. It was so moving.
"That is exactly what I am talking about Karen. Bravo." He said with a smile.
The group began to clap around her.
"And that's lunch" Linda called on queue as usual.
Karen didn't hesitate bolting out of the door. She didn't even wait for the applause to stop.
"Well those were some powerful words Julia!" Ivy called out from her chair. The ensemble giggled a bit.
Derek looked around the room and decided that he really didn't need to go over more of this number without a President.
"Before you all go out and stuff you faces, and then comeback whining like a bunch of babies about having to dance…..let's call it a day." Derek announced.
The group broke out in a unison cheer.
"You know how much I hate your enthusiasm." Derek joked with the group.
After a few goodbyes and ensemble trading plans with each other the studio was completely empty, except for Ivy who stuck around waiting for Derek.
"Did you want to grab something to eat?" She asked quietly sitting on his table.
"I wish I could love. I have to stick around here for a while. I have a couple of meetings. I will call you a little later." Derek said as he put down his work.
"Okay. Did you want me to grab you something? Maybe a salad and some tea?" Ivy suggested.
"You are hard to say no to Ms. Lynn…..unfortunately for me…I have got a lot of work to do love." He said escorting her to the elevator.
"Alrighty….I'll talk to you later." Ivy said batting her eyelashes as she entered the elevator.
Derek walked back to the rehearsal room to gather his stuff.
"How was I?" Karen said sitting in his chair wearing a lavender and white striped dress.
"You were amazing love." He said walking over and kissing her slowly. "Quite the little actress" Derek remarked.
"That's what they are paying me for, right?" She teased him and twisted her head over her shoulder in true Marilyn fashion.
"Are you ready to get out of here?" he inquired with a smile.
"Of course" Karen said standing up and linking her arm in his.
They headed down the hall and to the back elevators.
"I expect that this is going to be a substantially better first date" Derek admitted.
The night before…
Derek went left. The young woman was nearly moving at the speed of lighting. He had to run to catch up to her. Finally he grabbed her by the elbow.
"Karen. Where are you going?" He questioned.
"I am going home." She said forcefully.
"Please don't go." Derek said grabbing her by the arms.
"I don't have time for this Derek."
"Oh darling, as many times as your boyfriends have shown up…..surely you can stay. Just let me explain what is going on." He pleaded with her. He was panicked and rightfully so. He didn't want to lose Karen.
"You are right….so explain" Karen said.
"Not out here. Do you want to go back to my place?" Derek inquired.
"No, I would rather not." Karen looked as if she was ready to cry.
"Okay, let me grab my jacket." Derek didn't want to see her hurt. It killed him to see her upset.
He ran down the hall and grabbed his jacket from his place. He turned off the lights and grabbed his keys.
Derek walked Karen to a nearby garden park. As they walked he explained what happen at lunch with Ivy, and subsequently what happened with Eileen. Derek figured that Karen would bow out gracefully, but what came out of her mouth he would have never expected.
"That little b****!" She said shaking her head as took a seat on the bench.
"Ms. Cartwright." Derek said with a huge smile.
"Sorry, but I really get tired of all the drama. I just want to be a part of something great. She's the one that can't live with me having the part." Karen said frustrated.
"Well love, I don't know what is going to happen next." Derek admitted. He was a little frightened by that.
"I do Derek. There is no way that I am going to let you lose your job over this. If she wants the part…..then she can have the part." Karen looked down at the grown.
"Oh Darling….I'll figure something out. But it is not going to included you loosing the part…..you deserve the part." Derek said placing his arm around her shoulder.
"Derek!" Karen exclaimed.
"What is it love?" he asked confused by the sudden excitement.
"I have an idea that I think may work." Karen smiled a twisted smile. "Remember when we were working on Touch Me?" She questioned with big eyes.
"How could I forget?" Derek said slyly.
"Okay this may sound crazy, but I've been working with Jimmy and his writing partner Kyle. They have some amazing stuff…..but they need a director. Not just any director…They need you." Karen said with a hint of skepticism in her voice.
"No way Karen" Derek said with an appalled look on his face. "I am not going to direct a musical for your boyfriend!" Derek stated very matter-of-factly.
"Just take a look at it Derek; please…It's really good." Karen pleaded with him.
"Let's say I take a look at it….then what?" Derek was now curious.
"You said that you needed a hit. It doesn't have to be Bombshell." She smiled at him.
"Okay Karen. But what about right now? No producer, no investor is going to want to hire a fired director and star. Lord knows what nasty rumors Leigh Conroy and Ivy will spread." Derek couldn't believe that he was actually contemplating her idea. "Plus I doubt your boyfriend is going to want me hanging around all the time. Especially once he finds out that I can't keep my hands off of you.
"We won't get fired, because you are going to catch a cab to Ivy's take her dinner and make everything right. And I am going to go home and call Jimmy and tell him that you are willing to listen to his musical." Karen stood up.
Derek stood up as well. "Karen this is ridiculous. I don't want to be with Ivy and I don't want you to be with Jimmy." Derek frowned.
"It will only be temporary Derek. Besides you can take me on a real date tomorrow. We will just have to be private about. And in the end you and I will be together. I will star in a musical and you will when a Tony!" She smiled a deliciously wicked smile.
"It's that good?" Derek wondered.
"It is….and I want you to be there with me." Karen said making a puppy dog face.
"Where did all this come from? This manipulation and scheming….I thought you were a good girl." Derek teased Karen.
"I was, and then I moved to New York and met you." She replied. "So do we have a deal?" She held out her hand.
Derek pushed her hand out of the way and kissed her. "Deal" He responded.
Derek hailed a cab and rode with Karen home. They planned out the details of their date and how they would escape tomorrow. When they arrived to Karen's house Derek walked around the car and opened her door. She got out and kissed him as he held her around the waist.
"Are you sure about this Karen?" he asked concerned.
"Trust me, everything will work out fine." She said with a smile.
"Omg! I totally knew this would happen!" Anna yelled out from the window.
They immediately let each other go.
"Good evening Ana!" Derek yelled back to her.
"So I'll see you tomorrow Ms. Cartwright?" Derek asked tilting his head to the side.
"You surely will" she said kissing him on the cheek.
Derek shook his head. Somehow he knew that this choice would have more consequences than he bargained for. But for Karen he was willing to deal with the outcomes.
Okay guys...did you see that one coming?
This is the end of part 1. Part two will be coming soon, in the the same story.
Pleas review if you would like to read more.