Page 51 of Something Cheeky

“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–inspiredA 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.

Chapter 23

Derek plopped in the seat next to Th?o so everyone could give Zoe their full attention.

“You’re doing great,” Th?o said as she patted his arm. “Katie Mai is glowing today, don’t you think?”

“Hmmm,” he replied without taking his eyes off Zoe.

She’d given him a funny look when he attempted to introduce her the first time. He couldn’t tell if it was because he’d caught her off guard. Or she was embarrassed about their kiss last night.

He’d caught her entrance into the atrium earlier, but he hadn’t been able to break free from Greg’s introductions to talk to her. He wasn’t entirely confident that she even wanted to talk to him. But she’d cracked the dam he’d built to hide his love for her. They’d talk tonight as friends and not collaborators on a musical.

“Thank you, Derek.” Zoe nodded at him as she stood up. TJ followed suit behind her. “This is TJ, my assistant. Both of us are thrilled to work with you all.”

TJ curtseyed and made eyes at Danny Kim, who winked in response. Derek was not surprised by the interchange.

“Oh boy, I see trouble,” Th?o whispered, “but not the bad kind.”

Those two would make a great match. Flings among the cast and crew weren’t uncommon but they could cause unnecessary tension or drama that could hinder the chemistry of the production.Even worse, these relationships could become HR nightmares if there was a whiff of a power imbalance.

“Derek convinced me to come out of retirement by dangling this show in front of me. Like Katie Mai”—Zoe stopped to acknowledge the actress—“and for many of us here, this is an opportunity of a lifetime.”

She continued to explain her vision as TJ held up the sketches for the two sisters and the Emperor’s costumes. Both Derek and Th?o had agreed with her suggestion to keep the Emperor nameless because the crux of the musical was about the sisters’ relationship with each other.

“So while T?m’s dress is fluid and soft, you see hints of her toughness here”—Zoe pointed to the leather cuffs with metal rivets—“and in the traditional headpiece she wears when she marries the Emperor. We’re giving it a Lizzo-meets-punk vibe by using lace, leather, and metal spikes.”

“Derek, these are fucking gorgeous,” Th?o said quietly. “She’s making me wish I had a costume.”

“I told you she was talented.” He grinned.

Even though he’d seen her sketches evolve from the time he almost ruined her sketchbook at the Wharf to the final renderings, he was still mesmerized by her designs. A quick glance proved he wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Everyone—the actors, creative team, the board—they were hanging on her every word.

From the very first day he’d met Zoe, she’d exuded some sort of magic around her. Though she didn’t speak often or loudly, she had a way of commanding attention whenever she spoke. As if they knew she was destined for greatness.

Their classmates had flocked to her, hoping that some of her glow would rub off on them. Zoe preferred a smaller circle of friends, unlike Derek, who thrived in large groups. Everyone, especially theactors, was on the edge of their seats as she explained her vision behind each character’s costumes.

Everyone except for one person. Greg.

Derek sighed. For once, his mentor was in the minority. Even the producers were captivated by Zoe.

---