a/n: So Sorry for the extremely long delay in this story. I have no Idea why, but I couldn't bring myself to write another chapter. So finally I have come up with something suitable. I hope that you continue to enjoy my story. Feel free to read and review. Please follow if you feel do inclined.
Here is the link to the dress that Karen is wearing in this chapter. Please imagine her looking g exactly the same only in white. I love this look btw.
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Karen arrived at the investor's part at 8:30. It was located at the Mecca of jazz, Birdland. Karen was humbled in the building. Although, it was not the original building, there was something very nostalgic about being in the same place where Marilyn Monroe herself resided so many times. Karen felt particularly Marilyn-esque wearing a white full-length Elie Saab gown. The dress was low cut in the front and held every curve of her body. A small golden belt emphasized her tiny waist. She looked like a mixture between Marilyn Monroe and a Grecian goddess. She looked around the room for Derek, but he was nowhere to be found. He sent a limo to pick her up. She was grateful for the gesture, but wish that he would've come himself. She knew he was upset, so she didn't complain.
"Karen you look absolutely amazing" Julia said waltzing over to her with a smile.
"Thanks Julia. You look beautiful too. You skin is glowing." Karen smiled at the writer. She admired Julia.
"Thanks, I guess I will be glowing for the next few months." Julia spoke softly.
"Why?" Karen asked confused by her tone. "Wait. You're pregnant?" Karen asked in astonishment.
"Yes, but you're the first person I have told….so keep it between us?" Julia said. Karen was touched that she had chosen to share this secret with her. She hugged the lyricist.
"Congratulations Jules. I am so happy for you! You guys have been trying to adopt right?" Karen spoke to soon wishing she could take her words back. She wasn't sure if the baby belonged to Frank or Michael.
"I have. I am ecstatic about it. I am going to go get some punch….Do you want some?" Julie asked with a smile. But Karen could tell there was something wrong.
"Actually I will get the punch. You stay here." Karen said smiling warmly at her. Luckily the punch table was just behind them; Karen didn't want to be whisked off before she had a chance to chat with Julia.
She returned quickly.
"Here you go Julia. Are you okay?" Karen said sipping the punch and surveying the room for Derek.
"Frank and I are getting a divorce." Julia admitted with a blank stare.
"I am so sorry Julia." Karen said face obviously registering shock.
"Oh don't be. Frank and I have had nothing in common for years. We got married when I got pregnant. And now ironically we are getting a divorce while I am pregnant." Julia paused for a moment and then reluctantly said "I feel like I can trust to Karen and I want you to feel the same."
"I do." Karen said with a small smirk.
"I know this week had to be the craziest week in your life, especially the tragedy with your fiancé. I am saying all this because I need you to understand that I truly have your best interest at heart. Derek is a playboy." She paused
Karen began to feel her stomach sink. She knew there would be ridicule, but she didn't expect it from Julia, Julia who had an affair with another married man and is now possibly carrying his child. Karen felt warmth run across her flesh.
"But I have seen him act and say things in the past two weeks that I have never seen in the seven years I've known him. I don't what you guys have shared, but for some reason he seems to really enjoy your company." Julia looked worried.
"I enjoy his company too Julia." Karen responded a bit confused about the direction of the conversation.
"I am sure you do Karen, I just don't want you to cling to him because of what is going on in your life. With tragedy there can be lots of mixed emotions. And I don't want anyone to get hurt." She responded.
"You are worried about me hurting Derek?" Karen said with a chuckle.
"I know it sounds absurd. But beneath his hard exterior and crazy antics, he is a gentle and loving soul." Julia said placing a hand on Karen's shoulder. "Just think about what I said. Now you have a party with millionaires to attend. You gotta make them see you as Marilyn….not as Karen." Julia said placing a small kiss on the young woman's cheek.
Karen was still in a bit of shock as Julia walked away, but I wouldn't last long. Before she had time to dwell on the conversation the room was suddenly full and Eileen was grabbing her by the arm and flinging her from man to man. There was still no sight of Derek.
In one hour Karen had been hit on more than at any other single moment in her life. She laughed in their faces and cooed when she spoke and gave winks as they passed her by. She simply tried to be as much like Marilyn as she possible could. She even took off her shoes under her dress so she would seem shorter and stouter. The men were eating out of her hand. Before long they were begging Karen to sing.
"Give us a song Marilyn!" One of the guys yelled from the bar.
Karen held a martini glass in one hand and smile bashfully as Tom sat down at the piano. She didn't even realize Tom was there. She had spent so much time flirting, that she didn't have much time to talk with anyone.
Karen walked to the stage and began to sing a sultry rendition of I Want to Be Loved by You.She played coyly across the stage eyeing gentlemen one at a time. Tom played beautifully along as Karen laid across the piano, something she imagined Marilyn herself would have done. Her performance was good. She could tell that Eileen was pleased the way she smiled and nodded her was.
An hour and a half had past and finally the party guests were starting to mingle amongst themselves. The artistic investor spent time talking with Julia and Tom. The business men were sharing drinks with Eileen, and Derek was no were to be found. Karen didn't understand the reason for Derek being missing, but she was sure it had to be something major. Derek never seemed to miss anything. She didn't want to text him and seem clingy. But she didn't know how to react at the same time. She sat at the bar and ordered another Martini; it was her third one of the night.
"Don't drink too many, or I might start to think that you have a problem. That's your third one tonight isn't it?" The warm familiar voice said.
Karen turned so fast in her stool that she fell out and went tumbling into his warm embrace. Derek smiled.
"Maybe my count was off." He quipped. "You look ravishing in that dress. I had a feeling you would pick that one." Derek said practically undressing her with his eyes.
"Thanks, it looked like Marilyn to me. I thought you weren't coming" Karen said smiling.
"Why would I miss this party? I wouldn't have missed you flirting with all those men for anything in the world." Derek as he looked her up in down in the dress. His eyes glued to her hips.
"Where were you hiding?" Karen said looking incredulously at Derek. His warm smile broke her concentration and she started to laugh.
"I was talking with a friend" Derek responded rather quickly.
Karen began to feel uneasy. A friend. She thought to herself.
"I have someone I want you to meet." He said mysteriously pulling her towards the kitchen area.
"Karen Cartwright…..this is Scott Welker, an old mate of mine." Derek said introducing a tall handsome African American man. He wore a red sweater with and black slacks, but yet he looked more important than any investor in the party.
"How do you do Mrs. Cartwright?" He said in a smooth voice. "Pretty impressive singing up there" he continued.
"Thank you Mr. Welker." Karen said bashfully.
"You can call me Scottie, Karen." He was extremely charming.
"You've got quite the looker on your hands D, you better be careful, someone might come scoop her up before you have a chance." Scottie joked.
"Is that right Scottie?" Derek laughed patting the man on back. "I think you have had one too many.
"Alright Derek, give me a call" the man said walking off.
"What was that all about?" Karen inquired.
"Scottie is interested in an investment." Derek stated simply. "Would you like to get out of here….maybe grab something to eat?" He asked.
"There is plenty of food here." Karen pointed towards the spread sitting across from the bar.
Derek didn't respond he simply began to usher her towards the door. The entire room watched as he guided throw the crowd, one hand on her lower back and the other in his pocket. Eileen spotted them and started moving hastily toward the director. Derek yanked Karen out of the door and they ran down the street.
"Ok Derek!" Karen squealed once they were half way down the block. "I didn't even get my shoes." She laughed.
"You'll be able to buy a lot of shoes just like those." Derek retorted in a playful voice.
"So what is the big rush? Where are we going?" Karen said slightly exasperated.
"I told you we are going to get something to eat." He said hailing a cab.
They drove across town, and Karen did not know what restaurant it would be, but she was sure it would be fancy. She was very surprised when they pulled up next to the alley of her new apartment.
"We were rushing to go back to my place?" Karen asked with a perplexed expression.
"We were rushing back to one of my favorite places. Derek said as he helped the young woman out of the cab.
He headed down the street half a block and stopped at a hot dog cart. He was the third person in line. Karen started to laugh hysterically. Derek placed an order for four chilidogs and four hotdogs.
"Are you serious?" Karen asked between breaths.
"What I can't eat hotdogs? He smiled devilishly. He grabbed his bad and tipped the man generously.
"Thanks Mr. Wills. See you next week." The man behind the cart said.
"I never pegged you for the type." Karen giggled.
"I am a man love."
She opened the door to the apartment.
"So you eat here often?" Karen asked referring to the man at the cart.
"I eat this once a week when I stay here. It really is the best food ever." He stopped at the door frame.
"What are you doing" she asked him.
"I am waiting on an invitation into your place" he said grinning at her.
"Will you?" Karen asked overly dramatic clasping her hands together as if she were begging.
They entered the apartment and headed up the stairs towards the bedroom. Karen searched through her drawer looking for pajamas to put on while they ate. When she found something that cute and comfortable she headed to the bathroom to but it on. She was surprised to see that Derek had change in to flannel pants and a white thermal.
"You really don't like to stay dressed up to long huh?" Karen huffed in the door frame.
"I like to be comfortable darling. Most of my days I am working on choreography and staging, I don't have time for flaunting."
He pulled the food out of the bag, and they began to eat. They each had two chilidogs and two hotdogs. Derek was astonished when he realized Karen finished before he did.
"You can really put it away darling" Derek said wiping his mouth and laughing at the young woman.
"Shut up Derek!" She giggled. She was so comfortable around him.
"You look really beautiful in here." Derek said as the lights from the city cascaded in the room and made Karen appear radiant.
"Thanks." Karen smiled at him.
"This was my mother's room." Derek smirked at her. "That is why I got so upset earlier. " Derek continued looking at the floor.
"I am so sorry." Karen was starting to apologize as Derek cut her off with a kiss.
The kiss was soft tender and sweet.
"Don't be love. You are not responsible for this. Somewhere along the way I started acting like a teenage horn dog and shagging every pretty face with legs. I would expect you to be weary of my behavior. But I can assure you Karen that I have never acted this way with another woman. I don't know what it is you have over me. But I am falling for you hard…..And I want to know if I can call you my…..girlfriend." he Derek's eyes were still glued on the floor.
"I can't" Karen said softly.
"I understand," Derek said getting out of the bed to leave.
"I can't say no to that" she spoke even softer. Her heart fell in to her stomach and she smiled jumping in his arms.
To be continued. ….