(A/N) Thank you for ready my story. I am so glad you decided to comeback for another chapter. I hope you enjoy. And thank you all for the continued reviews, follows, favorites! It means the world to me.
"Oh bloody hell Eileen, this isn't my first go round as a director." Derek was trying to lower his volume and convey dominance at the same time . He walked towards the hallway careful not to wake Karen, but it was too late.
"Of course I will be back today, but this is highly unneccessary Eileen. " he paused, Karen could hear the venom of his words dripping onto the floor. The tension was so omnipresent that it made her uncomfortable.
"Yes, I am protecting her. You know better than anybody the media can be more than vicious, they will eat her up and dissolve her before she even knew what happened." Derek sighed, and Karen heard the conversation become muffled as he walked into another room. "I'll tell her myself. I don't care how bloody fantastic Ivy is...If she is leading this production, I won't stay on to hell with contracts Eileen. Now I will be back in Boston in a few hours, I would like to be privy to all future decisions. And yes Karen will be with me. Rehearsals will be at nine" He peeked back in the room and Karen closed her eyes tightly to insinuate being asleep.
"I am not a bloody child Eileen. Now you should know better than anyone that I am capable of making good choices. I chose you over Jerry because I trust you Eileen. Now I need you to trust me, and drop it. I am an adult whom can keep my private life and my business endeavors separate."
Karen wondered why Derek told Eileen she was coming back to Boston, she had no intentions of returning. She absolutely wasn't ready to go back on the stage. How could he even think of asking her back to Boston. She thought that he was really into her, seems as if he was only paying attention to her for the show. Big surprise there.
"Good morning love" Derek said strolling back into the room. He was completely dressed. He appeared to have been awake for hours.
"Save it Derek", she hissed at him with animosity.
"What's gotten into you?" Derek was confused. He tried to remain polite even though he was angered by his conversation with Eileen.
"This is why you came back, to make me go into the show. I thought you cared, but it was just you being the director." Karen huffed as she moved swiftly from the bed throwing her belongings into her shoulder bag.
"Karen, are you hearing yourself. I left the production in mayhem just so I could check on you. I would never leave a production to go star chasing. I make stars not chase them love." he paused realizing how forward he was being. " I came to New York for you. I care about you Karen. Is that so hard to believe?" he was furious, his voice rumbled with contempt.
"Yes it is. You get into my head, and you know it. You think you can whisper sweet nothings to me and I will do whatever your show needs." Karen yelled and she tried to shove past him through the door of his bedroom. He grabbed her wrist, and she resisted the struggle.
"Oh come on now Ms. Cartwright. Use your brain and think for once. I have been practically worshiping you for the past week. I am doing things with you that I have never done for anyone. I wouldn't even break my rules for the bloody Queen, and yet here we are in my apartment, and I'm falling for you. Still you think this is about some stupid production, which could quite frankly go one with any actress in New York and be successful. Mind it not as spectacular as it will be with you." the words sounded more like a lecture from an enraged father, than a confession.
She was at a lost for words. Flabbergasted. She didn't expect those four words to come out of Derek's mouth. And by the pale flushed look on his face, neither did he. His words designated within her brain. 'He was falling for her'? The fact that he had the capability of falling for anyone was astounding. Derek wouldn't fall if someone stuck a thousand banana peels in his path.
"Karen, I've spent the last thirty minutes on the phone fighting with the woman who controls all our jobs. For you. I know you don't want to go back to Boston. But we've been playing games. Investors are weary. They have yet to see the real Marilyn. Ivy's pill popping problem is affecting her performance. And we need to make a choice. Eileen wants to make Ivy the permanent Marilyn if you are not on that stage tomorrow night. So you tell me what you would like to do. Would you like to stay in New York crying foul play by your director, or come back to Boston with me?" He paused and looked deep into her eyes. She was scared. "Either decision you make will be okay with me." he attempted to reassure her by rubbing on her arm.
"Derek, I'm sorry." her eyes filled with tears held back only by her large batting eyelashes.
"Is that an apology for your large emotional break down, spiraling out of control and jumping to conclusions? Or sorry I can't go into the show." he smiled with his eyes, but kept a straight line with his mouth.
"Nope. I am sorry I tripped you." she smiled a cheerful smile. She observed Derek's obvious confusion.
"Excuse me?" he asked grinning himself. Her smile was contagious
"You said you were falling for me."she stated simply, trying to make light of the situation. She was perplexed by the situation with Derek. But the truth was she had to trust him. He had been the only one there for her in recent times. In reality Bombshell was her only chance at making something out of her current situation. She was single in Manhattan with a part time job waitressing and no apartment.
"I guess I will be back on the stage tomorrow. I have to got get my things from the hotel. Should I meet you back here?" she was frustrated by the proposition from Eileen. But she knew she could trust Derek.
"No time, we will go together. We are going to fly to Boston, and go straight to the theater. Today is going to be excruciatingly long." he said as he turned towards the door. "We'll have to grab breakfast on the way." Derek was back in director mode.
Two cups of coffee, two Bagels, two bathroom trips and four kissed on the cheek and they were back in Boston. The morning had a steady flow. They walked into the lobby of the theater, and Karen stopped in her tracks. She prepared herself for the stares, questions and gossip that was sure to surround her. She looked at Derek with big brown pitiful eyes.
"You okay love?" He asked sympathetically.
"Yeah, yeah." she lied. But she didn't want to sound like baby, so she sucked it up and walked in to theater. Derek hustled to his usual table to talk with Linda. rehearsal didn't start for 10 minutes.
"Oh my gosh! Iowa! where the hell have you been!" Bobby said in a mirthful tone. he ran towards the door. With the rest of the four amigos at his side.
"Hi Guys" Karen said giving them all hugs. "I missed you guys".
"Hmmm...you disappeared, Derek disappeared, and now you're back...and so is he" Bobby eyed the statuesque woman standing in front of him. "Hey girl hey, how was it?" he said jokingly.
"You're sleeping with him!" Dennis quipped.
"Oh my goodness. Shut up you animals. You know what she is going through and you can only talk about sex?" Jessica shoved the boys and grabbed Karen by the arm. "Are you okay hun. We heard about what happened. I am so sorry" Jessica was sincere.
"Yeah we are all sorry, Karen. We understand how crazy these past weeks have been for you. We are here for you if you need anything." Sue spoke endearinlyg and held Karen's hand as she spoke.
'Thanks guys. I really needed to hear that. We should get lunch after rehearsal. I feel like I haven't seen you guys in years." she fought back tears. Seems as if she became extra sensitive lately.
"Oh my God. You are rehearsing?" Bobby said so fast she almost couldn't understand him.
The group gasped in unison Sue, Dennis, Jessica and Booby gave telling looks.
"You are going on tonight aren't you!" Jessica squealed.
"Yeah, I have to." Karen replied.
"This is going to be great." Bobby said sarcastically.
"Oh shut up Bobby. You are going to be great hun. You were amazing last week!" Jessica cut in.
"I'm just saying Karen, you've been M.I.A for a while, plus Ivy is going to have a bitch fit." Bobby was accurate. And Karen hated him for it.
"Well that's her problem." Karen was snide in her comment.
"Meow! The gloves are coming off and the claws are coming out" Dennis chimed in.
Before anyone could think of a response a large familiar voice came bellowing through the theater.
"Listen up everyone. We are about to get started. As you may know, Ms. Karen Cartwright has decided to join us today as Marilyn. " he paused for her introduction and the theater filled with applause. "So we are going to take a look at Let Me Be Your Star. Please let me be your happy director today, which means get it right the first time. Also as you may have expected, today will be a long rehearsal." Derek was oddly cheerful today.
Ivy's face turned a pale green as Derek announced Karens return. Karen watched as she began to cringe, ringing the strap of her purse. Ivy stood up with as much dignity and class as possible and headed for the door. Sam ran after her. Karen felt a slight push of guilt inside. But she didn't have time to worry about Ivy. Why should she? Ivy never cared about her.
"I told you Iowa, go out of town, and all hell breaks loose. On the bright side, you'll be so busy with production, you wont mind." Bobby said as he stood up making his way to the stage.
"He's never been good at sentiments Karen, that is his way of saying he cares about you." Jessica also got up as she was speaking, pulling Karen with her. "We all care about you Karen."
"Where Ms. Cartwright? I need her, Now!" Derek's deep british accent boomed from the stage and echoed through the theater.
The beginning of rehearsal was grueling. Karen had to make her body remember the moves she needed to perform. SHe need to embody Marilyn, which was a tough task. She was nervous. Ivy made a breath taking Marilyn Monroe. But Derek believed in her, and that made a world of difference. She looked in his eyes each time he yelled at her, and seen a glint of happiness hidden behind his dark facade. She remembered the preview that she witnessed Ivy perform. And while she didn't want to imitate her, she knew she had the sexy part down. So she giggled more with the lines and cooed longer. She played the sex, as Derek would put it. And for the most part it worked. Derek moved her to her mark a few times, and corrected last minute changes that she hadn't been available for. She was good. Her dancing was spot on, and everybody noticed. That was the one thing that didn't need any improvements. They made it to the intermission, and Linda called lunch.
Karen looked around for Derek, but she didn't see him. She was worried, maybe he didn't think so highly of her performance. Maybe she really was off. It had been a week since she was on the stage. Then she stopped to think. This week had been like an eternity. She tried not to think of things thus far, to her success and detriment. But if heartbreak improved performances, she should have the best performance of them all.
"Come on Iowa, we don't all starve ourselves like you." Bobby teased.
She had completely forgotten about lunch with them. She just wanted to see Derek, but she smiled and said "I eat plenty Bobby, I'll show you when you buy my lunch".
"I'm not feeding your fat ass, literally you butt is growing, has someone been in there?" he tilted his head to side to emphasize his line of sight.
"Bobby!" Jessica gasped joining the two.
"What, I'm just saying, If i were straight, I would so-" bobby was cut off by an eager voice.
"Ms. Cartwright they need to see you in the office.' Linda caught her just in time.
"I will catch up with you guys later." Karen passed a lingering look of sorrow to her cast mates.
Linda led Karen down the hall to Eileen's makeshift office. It was in a small conference room towards the entrance of the theater. Karen was anxious due to the conversation she overheard with Derek and Eileen this morning. Her brow began to furrow before she entered the room. She heard tense whispers she couldn't make out. She knocked softly on the door, as if they weren't expecting her.
"Karen, it's good to see you" Tom smiled as he let her in the room. He wasn't overtly friendly, he never was with Karen.
"Hi" she sounded nervous and her voice cracked as she spoke.
"We are so glad to have you back." Julia stood up and gave the young woman a hug.
Derek sat in the corner of the office, he didn't say anything to Karen just grinned.
"Karen, sweetie we're so glad you could join us." Eileen's voice was cheerful and dominate.
"Thanks for having me" Karen smiled. A smile as fake as everyone elses in the room.
"Well I just need to come out and say it. This production has been a disaster thus far. And we have a lot of work to do to get it out of a slump. This show is fantastic. The music, the lyrics, the direction is all magnificent." Eileen paused. Karen was mortified, they were firing her.
"What we are trying to save Karen, is we need to start thinking about the future and the talent." Eileen continued. "We need to know that you aren't going to crack anymore. You can't run off disappearing if we are going to make you our permanent Marilyn." Eileen smiled as she presented the news to Karen.
Karen turned to look as Julia and Tom who were both smiling. She knew that Tom and Ivy were best friends. He couldn't be happy about this decision. .
"Tom, Julia are you okay with this?" Karen asked before addressing Eileen's concerns.
"Of course we are honey." Julia smiled.
"Ivy was spectacular. But it turns out horrible human beings can make good decisions for theater." Tom snarled at Derek more than Karen.
"I'm so sorry for running off guys. I can do this" Karen said releasing tension from her body. She smiled.
"We know you can love." Derek smiled and stood up. He briskly fled the room.
Eileen placed a phone call to some investors that would be thrilled by the finalization. And Karen excused herself. She was full of joy, but wanted to relax before she had a meeting with center stage.
"Karen," Tom called down the hallway.
"Yes," she turned around to see Tom chasing her down with sheet music in his hands.
"We changed a lyric or two in Don't Forget Me." he said shoving the papers into her hand. "He fought tooth and nail for you. Probably the most civil thing I have seen him do in years." Tom smiled at her.
"Well thank you all. This production means everything to me." she smiled.
"I know. We all know. You are phenomenal, which is why I chose you too." Tom smiled. "See you after lunch Karen".
"See ya." she felt a surge of emotions knowing that Tom, whom never seemed to like her, wanted her to lead his musical.
Lunch flew past as well as rehearsal. It's almost like she never left Boston in the first place. She hit her marks, she nailed her lines, and her dancing was impeccable. But some how Karen's thoughts seemed to dwell on Ivy. Ivy, who had been mean and malicious. She felt her pain, the yearning for something, gaining it, and having it snatched away. It was a horrible thing to go through, and Karen should know. Karen sent Ivy a text message, despite the nagging of her left brain.
Ivy...I hope that you are ok. Please don't take this out on yourself. You are phenomenal.
The show was better than the first time. Each member was recharged by the appearance of Karen. She had a way of causing people to react in a positive manner. Each time she smiled at someone, they would catch it and pass it on. She was contagious, and it was refreshing in the world of Broadway. She received a standing ovation for her performance, and Derek couldn't be more proud.
After the show Karen joined the ensemble in the hotel bar for a drink. Which in the wake of her week she desperately needed. Turns out she needed six drinks. and by the time she consumed them all, she was totally uninhibited. She decided she wasn't going to wait on her suddenly coy director to make the first move.
I want you! -Karen
She got an instant reply from Derek, which surprised and amused her. She said good-bye to her group and stumbled towards the elevator
And I you.- Derek
Well, what are you waiting for. -K
I'm waiting for you to be ready...you're not ready yet. D
Oh, well my feminine parts are telling me otherwise. And the large surprise I felt when you kissed me tells me you are ready too. So what are you waiting for?
She laughed at the fact that she was being so forward. This was Derek she was talking to. Her wildly handsome 'friend, director, crush'.
I am waiting for you to come up to the room, I have something for you. D
She was annoyed that he was blowing her off. She could feel her insides practically burning with passion, and Derek was being a complete gentlemen.
Open the door!-K
"Are you drunk?" Derek said opening the door to his suite.
"No, I am Karen! Who's drunk? I am completely not sober" she smiled a goofy upbeat smile and walked into the room.
"Love, you are smashed" he chuckled at her. He was so cute. "I had your stuff moved to this room. albeit a little forward. I prefer if you stayed her with me. I will take the couch. I just can't bear you facing that suite again". Care was evident in his voice as he smiled.
In that moment Karen had an image of Dev lying on her hotel room bed flash across her mind. She shook her head to eliminate the horrible image.
"So you do want me?" She said walking to the sofa were Derek was seated. She straddled him. His eye's register shock, and he raised his eyebrows.
"Want you, I need you darling." His hands slipped to her waist. "But not now. As incredibly sexy as you are drunk" he started but was immediately cut-off.
"You would never take advantage of me...I've heard it all before. Why do men think that women lose their entire mind when drunk. Just because my reaction time is slow, and my body is hot and tingle doesn't mean that I can't make any decisions" she smiled slyly at the director as she started to kiss his neck.
Karen was intoxicated, and loving every minute of it. Nothing was in her way, but Derek. He wouldn't yield to her seduction, no matter what. And she wanted him. She wanted to feel him, taste him, sense his every being. Yet he wouldn't convey that her idea was brilliant. Instead he took the road less traveled, and said no. She braced herself for rejection by sliding off his lap, and noticeable erection, onto the couch. She folded her hands over her chest and pouted. It was her own little tantrum. She didn't know how much she was affecting the director.
"Let me give you something." he reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box.
obviously too drunk for her own good Karen gasped.
is he proposing?
"Just open it love." he watched as she starred in awe, and horror. "Just open the box Karen, it's not a bloody engagement ring" he chuckled at his own ability to read her thoughts.
SHe opened the box and was perplexed by what she found inside. The box contained a single silver key.
"What is this?" she asked as her face lit up.
"You really are drunk love." taking the literal route of interpreting her sentence.
"I know what it is jerk. What I mean is, why are you giving me a key. What does it unlock?" she really was quite muddled by the eclectic gift.
"My heart" Derek laughed at himself as Karen punched him in the arm.
"You need a place to stay, and I have found you one. You'll get the rest of the surprise when we get back to the city. So don't lose it." he replied.
"What are you up to Mr. Wills? Do you treat all your stars this way?" she knew this would spark a reaction.
"I hate it when you call yourself that. You are so much more than that to me.
You're my...You're Karen."
"My Karen...what a nice name...have I met her? Who is she? " She said as she twirled her head in a circle. She was beyond intoxicated.
"A woman, who I am interested in dating." He smiled.
"I see".
"Well maybe she wants to date you too." of course she did.
"When we go back to New York, she'll want to do more than date me." he was flirting with her.
Derek was mysteriously sexy and evasive, which was turning Karen on. She wasn't sure if it was the liquor or her own recent lack of sexual experience, but she had to have that man. And for some strange reason she wanted to say 'I love you". That definitely had to be the liquor. She had met this man a mere few months ago, but already she felt as if she knew him. As if he was an old childhood friend. That was comforting for her in her time of need. She couldn't contain herself. In an instant she was on top of him again, unbuttoning his pants and smiling at him as she prepared to please. And before he could protest her head was in his lap. She bobbed her hed up and down, fueled by the sounds of his pleasure. Within five minutes she made Derek curl his toes, pull gently at her hair, moan, tense up and suddenly release. She felt accomplished as she looked up and examined the look on Derek's face. She giggled watching the satisfaction and pure surprise dance across his expression.
"Oh, Karen I Lo-" his words were ended by the ringing of her phone. The name on the caller Id, Ivy Lynn.
I think this might have been more of a filler chapter. But I hope you liked it. I couldn't be oto explicit and keep it rated T, hence the somewhat evasive ending. But anyways, please review my story! Thank you so much.