Chapter 39
“Great job today,” Derek said at the end of rehearsal. “Before you head out for the night, I have some news.”
From behind the cast, Heather and Th ? o nodded encouragingly. The three of them had agreed to wait until the end of the day to announce Greg’s news. As the director,
he shouldered the responsibility.
“We’ve been presented with a great opportunity to be one of the headlining shows for DC’s API Heritage Month Festival,” he
said with false excitement.
The actors cheered.
Th ? o rolled her eyes, obviously annoyed that he hadn’t blamed Greg for the “opportunity.” Derek couldn’t change the timeline,
so there wasn’t a point to inciting drama or hard feelings against the artistic director. He needed this team to focus.
“Which means, we have to move up opening night.” He swallowed before dropping the bad news. “By two weeks. Which means we’re
skipping previews.”
Their cheers turned into groans.
“We’re not even close to ready!” cried Katie Mai.
“I’ll make sure you’re ready,” he reassured them. “Memorize your lines and nail those songs.”
“I’ll be here if you want to schedule one-on-one time,” Th ? o offered. “Talk to Heather and we’ll make it work.”
“What about Equity rules?” Danny asked. “We’re already working our max hours.”
“I can’t—won’t—ask you to break Equity rules.” Derek bit his lip as he searched for a solution. Tech meant twelve-hour days
and he wanted them to be as well rested as possible before then.
“Th ? o and I will work with Heather to redo our rehearsal schedule,” he said while looking at the two women.
They flashed him four thumbs-up in agreement.
“I know we’re under a lot of pressure now that opening night has been moved up, but I’ve worked with all of you before. You
have talent and drive. You’re going to do this show justice no matter what.”
They responded with “Hell, yeah!” and “You got that right!”
“Now go home and get some rest. I’ll see you all tomorrow morning.” Derek’s smile was real this time.
He slumped into a chair once the actors left. Heather waved good-bye before heading to her office.
“You should’ve thrown Greg under the bus,” Th ? o said.
“There was no point. What’s done is done.”
“Yeah, but every story needs a white dude as the villain,” she half-joked. “You give him too much leeway.”
“Don’t you start. I still have to tell Zoe.” He sighed.
She’d sent him a We need to talk text over an hour ago. All he’d managed to tell her was After rehearsal.
“You’re going to see her now? What about us?”
“What do you mean?” Derek’s forehead furrowed in confusion.
“You forgot again.” Th ? o’s exasperation was all over her face. “We have to finish the fucking song. Something’s not right and I need your ears.”
“Th ? o, I’m wiped. I’d be no good to you.”
“If you were my boyfriend, I would’ve dumped you already with all your excuses.”
“Ha ha. Can it wait until I talk to Zoe?” He pleaded.
“I’m so tired of you putting Zoe ahead of our work. I know that the two of you came up with the concept, but I’m the one writing the music and all the Vietnamese lyrics.”
“I’m sorry. I thought I had more time, but she needed my help.” The excuse sounded pathetic in his ears.
“I’m starting to think this entire production was just an excuse for you to confess your love to her,” she accused.
“That’s not fair. You know there are bigger reasons! We need more than Miss Saigon on Broadway.”
“Yeah, yeah, blah, blah. You keep saying that but your actions tell me the opposite.” She frowned and crossed her arms.
“We can work on the lyrics tomorrow. I promise.”
“Sure. Whatever.” She waved dismissively. “I’ll finish the song myself and you can’t argue with it because you are too busy
for it.”
“Th ? o, I’m sorry. It’s going to take everything I have left to break the news to the creative team. They’re professionals and
will roll with it. But Zoe—this is her first pro gig. She needs extra help.”
“Thanks for letting me know where I am on your list of priorities.” Th ? o tossed her bag over her shoulder and stormed out.
Derek rubbed his temples. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep all his plates spinning. He only had to make it to
opening night.
As soon as the costume shop shut down for the day, Zoe ran upstairs to find Derek. He hadn’t responded to the cryptic and
slightly panicked text she’d sent him after her incident with Greg.
She stopped in the doorway of the rehearsal room. All the lights were off except for a small lamp on the stage manager’s station.
Derek was lying on the floor under the six-foot folding table that Heather sat at during rehearsals.
“Derek?”
He didn’t respond. She’d never seen him like this except when he slept.
Keeping her footsteps soft so she wouldn’t wake him in case he was taking a nap, she crept into the room for a closer look.
Derek was flat on his back, wide-eyed and staring at the underside of the table.
“Hey, you. You ready to go home?” Zoe tried unsuccessfully to keep the worry out of her voice. She tried to crouch down but
the day had caught up with her. She sat her ass on the cold floor.
“Zoe.” Derek blinked quickly, as if waiting for her to come into focus. “What time is it?”
“Eight p.m. ,” she said without checking her phone. The exact time didn’t matter right now. “What are you doing under there?”
“Thinking. When I was a kid, I was home by myself after school. I didn’t like the emptiness of the house without my mom, so
I’d sit under the dinner table.”
“That’s really cute and kind of sad. What’s on your mind?”
The silence stretched as she waited for his response. He’d tell her when he was ready. After a few minutes, he crossed his
arms over his chest and rolled out from beneath the table. He pulled himself up to sit next to her, their shoulders touching.
“I knew putting on this show would be challenging, but the obstacles are not the ones I planned on.” He sighed.
“Let me guess. Gregzilla,” she said dryly.
Derek covered his face with his hands and groaned.
“Greg moved up opening night by almost two weeks.”
“He what?!” Zoe exclaimed. Her voice echoed off the walls. This was what Greg had alluded to this afternoon.
“Th ? o and I got into an argument. She stormed out,” he added.
“Oh.” Zoe frowned.
“I’m going to make it work.” He combed his fingers through his hair. “As soon as I figure out how.”
“Once you get some sleep, you’ll come up with something.” She gave him a side hug.
“I will. I will,” he repeated as if to convince himself.
The man who could never stop moving needed rest. He’d spent all Saturday and Sunday cleaning up Eden Center then dove back
into rehearsals on Monday. Even the strongest person had to take a break.
Her altercation with Greg could wait. She refused to add to his stress. Derek needed her strength right now and that’s what
she’d give him.
“Let’s go back to your place.” She helped him up. “How about I order some Indian food? Want some goat curry?”
He finally smiled and nodded.
Seeing Derek like this only increased her anger at Greg. The artistic director was fucking with people’s livelihood like they
were his puppets. She’d dealt with a man like him before. While that didn’t end the way she’d wanted, this time would be different.
She had her Boss Babes to help her figure out how to solve this.
She’d prove to Greg that she wouldn’t crumble under his machinations. These costumes were going to be the best work she’d
ever done.