Page 109 of Something Cheeky

“I got it on sale. Don’t worry.” She came back into frame and waved at the wall. “I painted it myself because I quit my job!”

“You what?!” Derek exclaimed.

“Technically I retired and I saved up so much vacation time that they are paying me to redecorate my house.”

His mother’s face lit up as she belly laughed. He barely recognized her. Never in his life had he seen her so happy.

“Your turn. Tell me what happened.”

“I found out my boss has been stealing from the school for the past ten years. He tried to bully me into fixing the books and lying for him. He threatened to report me to immigration.” She rolled her eyes.

“But you got your U.S. citizenship when I was in middle school.” Derek had drilled his mother until she knew all the test questions and answers perfectly. She’d passed on her first try.

“He’s not very smart. I told him that if he paid out my twenty-four weeks of saved vacation time and a bonus, I’d retire. Then he can do whatever he wants.”

“Mom! You could get in trouble as an accessory.”

“No way. I cashed the check right away. Then I mailed the school’s snooty board of directors an anonymous tip plus the flash drive with all the evidence.” She smirked.

Derek’s mouth dropped.

“So now I’m free of my bully boss.”

“How did you know he’d agree?” asked Derek.

“I didn’t. But I’m too old to put up with his threats and the disgusting way he looks at me.” She shivered. “You’re old enough to know that now.”

“Mom! Did he ever—” Anger welled up in his chest. He’d jump in his rental car right now and drive the eight hours home.

“No. I would kick him in the balls before I let him touch me,” she spat.

Derek barked with laughter and his shoulders dropped in relief.

“This means you’ll come down for opening night?” he asked hopefully.

“You already got me a plane ticket. You know I hate wasting money.”

“I’ll email you the details.” He’d buy the ticket as soon as they hung up. “I miss you, M?.”

“Sang, I know I taught you not to make trouble, but making trouble is fun.” A giggle escaped her lips. “Now, I need to buy some new clothes before I come see your big show.”

She looked happier and lighter than she’d ever been. His mother had found the courage to stand up to her bossanddemand what she wanted.

“I’m proud of you, too,” he said. “And I love you, M?.”

“I love you, Sang. Make sure you eat something better than a frozen dinner.”

Before he could react to what she’d said, his mother hung up. Derek sat with his mouth open in shock. Not only had his mother said she was proud of him but she’d actually told him that she loved him. He’d always known that she loved him, but to hear those words aloud smashed the self-pity he’d wallowed in all week.

He couldn’t let his mother down when she flew in for opening night. Before he and Zoe came up with the musical, his mother had told him her version ofThe Brocaded Slipper. He wanted a production worthy of her bedtime story. Derek wanted his mother to hear her native tongue and see herself on that stage when Katie Mai sang.

He’d actually missed the Viet they’d removed in the show. He was more comfortable with English, but the songs had lost their magic without the melodic tones of Vietnamese.

Tomorrow he’d walk into Greg’s office and tell Greg that he was putting the Vietnamese back into the show. His mentor would have no choice but to accept it because it would be bad PR to fire a Vietnamese American director and take Derek’s place.

Then he’d march downstairs to the costume shop to apologize and tell Zoe he loved her. He should’ve kept her in the loop about everything instead of worrying that he’d look weak for being unable to protect her. It was too late to change the past but it was time to make things right.

Everything would either work out as planned or blow up in his face, but at least he would try to do the right thing.

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