Chapter 22
“Y’all ready to come to the atrium for our meet and greet?” Heather, the theater’s resident stage manager, poked her head
into the costume shop. “Five minutes till we start.”
“Thank you, five,” Zoe acknowledged automatically. The four years of college had ingrained the call and response into her.
She and TJ gathered up her presentation boards and headed upstairs along with Trixie and Shawn, the costume shop manager.
She still had no idea what to say to Derek about their kiss, so she waited until the last possible minute to join everyone.
When they arrived, Greg was escorting Derek from table to table to meet people in suits. They were probably board members
and producers. Zoe’s shoulders dropped in relief.
The atrium served as a café on show nights so there were plenty of tables and chairs for everyone. A brunch spread of coffee,
tea, bagels, fruit, and pastries had been set up on a six-foot table covered with a white tablecloth. Whoever had arranged
the food had given a nod to the musical. She spotted a squeeze bottle of sweetened condensed milk. Tropical fruits such as
lychees and mangoes were nestled on trays with the usual honeydew, grapes, and watermelon.
Zoe’s stomach growled at the sight of baked pork buns, but she was too nervous to eat.
“Breathe,” TJ whispered to her before adding in his normal voice, “Heather wants us over here with the rest of the design
team.”
She followed TJ to a group of tables that had been pushed to one side of the atrium to become the “front” of the room. She’d had video meetings with the other designers but this was their first time meeting in person. Asian faces smiled and waved at her.
Zoe stopped mid-step as she scanned the atrium. Outside of her family and events at Eden Center, Asians weren’t in the majority
at other group events. Yet right now, the room was at least 75 percent Asian rep. Her eyes welled as she was filled with pride
and an intense feeling of belonging. Why had it taken her almost thirty years to be in the room where it happened?
She and TJ began introducing themselves to their fellow designers but were interrupted by Heather. The meet and greet had
begun. TJ, always a rebel, snuck away to grab some coffee and fruit as everyone found their seats.
“I don’t want to take up too much of your time because this show isn’t about me,” Greg announced after introducing himself.
“However, I want to acknowledge that we’re making history today as Prestige Rep’s first all-Asian musical production, including
the cast and creative team.”
The room exploded in cheers.
“We wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t discovered Derek Bui five years ago playing a bit part in an off-Broadway play,” Greg continued.
“I invited him to be my assistant director and have taught him everything he knows. I feel as if this production is my grandchild,
so to speak.”
TJ quietly snorted behind Zoe as he slid paper plates full of food and two cups of coffee onto their table. Zoe hushed him
but gave a slight nod in agreement. Greg continued in great detail with how he’d plucked Derek from obscurity to become a
sought-after director.
Eventually the stage manager cleared her throat loudly and tapped on her watch. Greg chuckled at her gentle reminder to stay
on schedule.
“I’ve talked enough, so let me introduce you to the man of the hour, Derek Bui.” Greg waved at Derek, who was sitting at the foremost table. “Our esteemed director and writer of T?m Cam .”
The Vietnamese people in the atrium visibly cringed at Greg’s mispronunciation, including TJ, who also rolled his eyes. Still,
Derek received an enthusiastic round of applause.
“We can debrief later,” she whispered to TJ. “Try to be professional.”
He mimed zipping his lips. TJ knew all about her meeting with Greg the previous week when he challenged her designs. She’d
also told him how Derek had stepped in to defend her before she said something she’d regret.
“Thank you, Greg,” Derek said as he pushed his glasses up his nose. He took Greg’s spot in the center of the atrium. Someone
she didn’t recognize whistled and cheered. Of course Derek had a fan club. He had a way of making everyone feel special without
making it trite or cheesy.
Zoe sucked in a breath. He’d transformed from adorkable friend to a sexy, well, director. Instead of all black, today he wore
a deep blue sateen button-down shirt, which he’d kept untucked from his black jeans. He’d rolled up his shirtsleeves, which
accentuated his muscular forearms. Wait, she found forearms sexy now?
He’d also slipped on shiny black leather loafers, which could only mean that his Chucks were still damp from last night’s
incident with her cat. She didn’t even know that he owned any shoes but his Converse sneakers.
Derek’s words faded away as images of their kiss flashed in her head. How she’d felt his cock twitch against her body. Her
cheeks—and places much lower—heated at the memory. She bit her lip to keep her focus on the meet and greet.
“I’d like to introduce everyone to Th ? o Nguyen, my cowriter, the composer, and our musical director,” Derek continued. “She’s put up with my crazy ideas for the last year and made everything sound good.”
Th ? o was dressed to kill every day, but she’d injected even more of her chaotic personality into her outfit today. Her typical
ripped extra-wide-legged jeans were covered in colored patches. She stood up and waved, making her bangles chime.
“Hope you’re ready to sing your heart out,” she said warmly. “Because I will push you until you’re tired of me.”
Several of the actors laughed. Zoe recognized some of them from the headshots that the costume shop manager had pinned next
to their corresponding costume sketches on the board downstairs.
“I’m honored that so many of you took a chance to work on a brand-new musical,” Derek continued. “The first person to come
onboard was Katie Mai Vu as T ? m.”
He motioned for one of the leads to stand up. Zoe gasped inaudibly.
“Ho-lee shit,” TJ whispered in agreement. “I know we joke that all Asians look alike, but damn.”
Zoe and Katie Mai could’ve been sisters.
The actress playing T ? m was gorgeous and big—in a good way. Zoe had known that, on paper, their measurements were similar. Zoe was excited to costume
a plus-size princess. The shock was that their silhouettes were almost identical, except that Katie Mai was taller than Zoe,
even without the heels.
While their facial features weren’t exactly alike, there was an odd similarity between them. Zoe hadn’t noticed this in Katie
Mai’s headshot, probably because those were usually lit and airbrushed to make the actor look as perfect as possible.
Katie Mai wore a light pink jumpsuit that fit her perfectly, along with chunky heels that screamed summer. She held herself
with a confidence that came from years of experience on the stage.
“Girl, I think someone has a type,” TJ pointed out under his breath.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Zoe lied. She thought back to the time she’d spent with Derek since he came into
town. She’d missed the signs. His thoughtful glances and how their hugs lasted a little too long. The hungry way he’d returned
her kiss last night.
How long had Derek had feelings for her?
The woman who could be Zoe’s sister walked over to Derek. She kissed him on the cheek and they hugged for longer than Zoe
thought socially acceptable. Were they? No, he wouldn’t have kissed her back the way he had if he was in a relationship with
Katie Mai. He always told her these things.
At least he used to.
“I can never say no to you, Derek.” Katie Mai’s laugh was melodic. She probably had a beautiful singing voice, too. Even though
they’d pulled apart from their very comfortable hug, her arm lingered around his waist.
Zoe’s nostrils flared with—wait, is this what jealousy felt like? She had no claim on Derek. She hadn’t even been in his life
for the past six years. But it sounded like Katie Mai had been very involved in his life.
“I’ve played a lot of roles in the past, including a mail-order bride and a prostitute. So many sex workers,” the lead actress
continued. The Asian women in the group nodded in understanding.
“Never for me,” Derek replied as he held his hands out. His eyes shone as he looked at Katie Mai. “You were perfection in
every show I cast you in.”
“Can you say that again so I can record it?” she teased as she waved her phone in front of him.
There were a few chuckles from the group.
“But,” she continued and smiled indulgently at him as if they always bantered this way, “I thought I was too fat to play a princess, much less a Vietnamese one. Thank you for the role of a lifetime.”
Katie Mai pulled him in for a side hug before returning to her seat. Everyone applauded. She blushed, which made her more
endearing. Zoe wanted to hate her but she couldn’t. How could she find fault in a Vietnamese woman who was trying to break
down barriers?
The rest of the cast introductions were a blur for Zoe as she analyzed all of her previous interactions with Derek. And she
meant all of them, even the ones from freshman year. If she looked hard enough, there were signs of interest. She’d thrown
water on that spark before it even had a chance to catch on fire.
Part of her wanted Derek to set her ablaze and see how big the flames could grow. The other part was terrified that she’d
lose whatever connection they had as friends if things didn’t work out. Now it was too late, because he had Katie Mai.
“Hottie alert.” TJ nudged her with his elbow.
Zoe looked up to see a tall muscular man stand up.
“Hi, I’m Danny Kim, proud Korean American. I’ll be playing the Emperor.” He bowed regally.
“I’d get on my knees anytime for royalty like him,” TJ quipped. “Definitely plays on my team.”
“He’s cute,” she agreed. Zoe was grateful to think about something besides Derek and his possible relationship with Katie
Mai.
“He’s delicious,” TJ replied quickly without taking his eyes off Danny.
“He lives in New York so he’ll make the perfect fling for you, my little commitment phobe,” she teased. “Want me to find out
if he’s single?”
TJ grunted noncommittally. She snorted.
“Now that you’ve met our talented cast, let me introduce you to our production team, starting with our costume designer, Zoe Tran,” Derek announced and turned to her.
Everyone looked at her as she snort-laughed at TJ. She closed her eyes as her cheeks grew hot. This time it was from embarrassment
and not desire. Looking like an idiot wasn’t the first impression she wanted to make with people she’d have to work closely
with for the next four weeks.
Derek cleared his throat loudly to draw attention back to himself.
“Seems as if I didn’t read my cues properly.”
There was polite laughter. He’d given her a chance to recompose herself.
“Let’s try this again.” Derek looked at her and she nodded. “I present to you the talented woman who designed costumes for
a Southern Gothic–inspired A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream —complete with vampires. Perhaps my best college play ever.”
That piqued everyone’s curiosity, which was better than seeing her as some jokester who couldn’t pay attention.
Zoe took a deep breath and pushed her chair back. TJ grabbed the presentation boards and stood up next to her. Time to prove
to Greg and everyone else that she belonged here.