"So how was the Bar Mitzvah?" Jessica enquires, putting her stuff beside mine in the corner.

"Apparently I'm not Bar Mitzvah material because at this point all I've gotten is a card and a man to call. You don't think they wouldn't pay me right?" I get an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

Jessica laughs, "No, but they may tell their friends not to book you. Let me see this mysterious card."

I hand over the card and bend over to get my dance shoes out of my bag but before I can sit down to put them on; I hear a high pitched squeal and realize it's coming from Jessica.

"Shut up! OMG! Karen!" Jessica gives me a bug-eye look and I turn to confirm that everyone is now staring at our corner. "You can't be serious!" She sputters and I give her a completely confused and embarrassed look.

"Excuse me," I hear in a British accent. I'm thinking this is just not my day as I see him striding over to us. "Are we having some problems from the ensemble now? Are we following in the footsteps of our Marilyn?" He comes to a stop right before us and Jessica has completely clammed up and turned to fiddle with her bag looking terrified. I glance down as my card she dropped is floating to the ground between Derek and me. He's still glaring at me like he's waiting for an explanation.

"Ummm…" I start as I move toward the card and unfortunately him, "Nothing, just girl drama, you know," laughing a little to try and lighten the mood. I grimace and lunge a little as I see him also lean down to pick up the card, which I had hoped he hadn't noticed, and began another tirade.

"Well in my studio I would appreciate if you left your personal…" He stops mid-yell and my head snaps up, tomato red, to see him staring at the card as if it's poison. He snaps his head up to stare me down, or is that another glare, I can never tell with him these days. "What is this? How did you come into possession of this?"

I snatch the card from him, "As I think you were about to state, or yell, we should keep our personal life out of YOUR studio and this personal, so if you'll excuse me." I didn't care how rude I sound at this point. I'm pissed, embarrassed by all the stares of my peers and other bosses, and confused because this card seemed to be a big deal. I look over at Jessica whose mouth is gapping open and move to pass Derek but he catches my arm.

He hisses in my ear, "I'm not done with you, Karen. Linger behind after rehearsal."

I get the courage to look him in the eye. "I have plans after, and since I'm not your…" His hand tightens on my arm and he brings his face even closer to me. I hate myself for noticing that scruff actually looks really attractive on him. God, what is wrong with me.

"No arguments, if you want to keep this 'great opportunity,' do you understand me?" He snatches the card back out of my hand.

"Of course" I smile sweetly and yank my arm from his grasp. I keep screaming asshole over and over again in my mind as I head toward the dance floor to stretch. I keep my head down because I can feel everyone's eyes still on me, especially Ivy's hostile stare.

"Alright people we aren't paying you to stand around like statues, move into place." I roll my eyes. What a prick. "Let's get this rehearsal started and over with" And with his last words Derek had singled me out again with his stare-glare.

I had a bad feeling about today this morning and it seems for once my gut instincts were right. As we get into position I get a few curious looks, a death glare form Ivy, and Jessica mouths 'sorry' and 'lunch.' I nod my agreement and thank goodness because that gives me time to get ready for battle with Derek. I need to find out who the hell this guy is and why Derek might seem upset that I have his card. I need to have some lines ready to give Derek when he comes at me later. For once, I am not looking forward to the end of rehearsal.