“You look different.”I smooth my ha

“You look different.”
I smooth my hand over my newly colored hair, my freshly painted nails catching my eye. They’re red, as bright as the color coating my lips, and I feel like a different person. But I want to show indifference. As if this sort of thing is common for me. That handsome men who just so happen to be my boss whisk me to a popular and expensive hair salon in the late afternoon without an appointment and pay for my complete makeover. All the while he’s standing by with a satisfied grin on his face, like he’s solely responsible for my transformation.
Which he sort of is.
I should be insulted. Colin taking me to the salon is basically saying I don’t look good enough to work for him. I need to change—at least physically.
But secretly, it’s also flattering, his attention. No one pays attention to me. They all just…count on me to get stuff done. My mom, my brother, my old boss at La Salle’s—yep, I gave notice this morning, finally. Drew paid attention for a little while but he’s too wrapped up in his problems to worry about mine.
I miss him. I hate that I miss him but I do. Funny how someone can come into your life for such a brief time but leave such a lasting impression. He permanently imprinted himself on my heart, and I permanently imprinted his name on my skin.
It’s silly, longing for a man who doesn’t long for me.
“Your hair—the blonde is darker.” Jennifer smiles at me, nodding with approval. “I like it. Suits you better.”
Colin is a great boss but he employs a bunch of bitches at his restaurant. And I’m starting to realize why they’re so bitchy—we’re all in direct competition with one another, not only for being the most wanted waitress at The District, thus getting the most in tip money at the end of the evening. But we also want to be the most wanted waitress in Colin’s eyes. Which is all sorts of fucked up if I think about it too long.
So I banish the realization from my brain, like I’m so good at.
Jennifer so far has been the nicest to me, but she was the new girl on the block until I showed up so she’s probably thankful there’s a fresh target here for them to hate. She’s pretty in an exotic, almost mysterious way, which I find amusing considering her standard, every-girl name. She has long straight-as-paper black hair, large dark brown eyes, olive-colored skin, and she’s so incredibly tall, I get a crick in my neck if I stare up at her for too long.
She’s everything I’m not. We’re complete opposites in every way.
“Did Colin take you to get your hair done?” she asks as we set the tables for the evening. I’m doling out the silverware, she’s setting out the freshly polished glasses and I’m so startled by her question, I stand there with my mouth hanging open for a second. Long enough that she speaks again.
“It’s okay to admit it. He took me for a haircut and mini makeover when I first started.” She smiles, her cheeks tinged red. “Colin likes to take in strays and fix them up. Bring us to our full potential, is how he phrased it to me.”
Her words make me feel the tiniest bit less special, and I want to smack myself. “Don’t you think that’s sort of…”
“Weird?” she finishes for me with a rueful smile.
“Yeah.” I finish setting the silverware on the table and watch her as she carefully adjusts the last water glass, making it sit just so. The table linens are a perfect, creaseless white, with an equally perfect silver bowl sitting in the middle, full of freshly cut flowers the colors of spring. All vibrant pinks and lavenders and whites, they add a touch of sophisticated glamour to an otherwise plain palette.
The entire restaurant is like this. Sexy yet restrained elegance. No wonder all the beautiful people love to come here.
“Colin likes to think of himself as a knight in shining armor to all of us. Like he swooped in and rescued us from our horrible lives and gave us new ones,” Jennifer explains.
I frown. I don’t need someone in my life with a hero complex. With Drew, I’m the one with the hero complex and that got me absolutely nowhere.
And why the hell does everything still have to come back to him? I need to let him go, once and for all. “That’s ridiculous,” I say.
Jennifer shrugs. “It’s the truth, isn’t it? Where were you working before? I was at some crappy bar on the outskirts of town, where the customers couldn’t keep their hands off me. I hated it. Colin came in there one night over a month ago, all clean and golden and shiny. He practically begged me to come work for him but I didn’t trust him.” Her eyes darken even more, shading secrets from me, I’m sure. “It was just before Christmas, I was pretty much broke and alone. He took me in and I haven’t looked back since.”
“Took you in, what do you mean?”
“I’m staying at his house.” Her gaze skitters away from mine. “I’m not the first. I won’t be the last.”
Wow. He’s like the Pied Piper and we all follow after him like a bunch of hypnotized mice. I feel like a fool for thinking the attention he gave me was special. Unusual. I was just another long list of girls who work here he’s taken under his wing.
I’m such a skeptic I still can’t help but wonder if he has an ulterior motive.
“There’s a private party coming in at nine.” Tenerria walks into the dining area, her demeanor all business. She’s the shift manager, having worked with Colin at his previous restaurants. He brought her with him to help open The District and I’m not sure if she’s a permanent fixture or eventually moving on. I respect the hell out of T, what everyone calls her, but she also scares the crap out of me. “Fifteen confirmed college football players celebrating a twenty-first birthday so be prepared. That confirmed number will probably fly out the window.”
My heart drops to my toes. Football players. Could Drew be one of them coming tonight? He’s not one to be social and last I heard—because the rumor mill is rampant in this small town—Drew had left. Not that I ever pay too much attention to rumors. They’re usually all lies anyway.
“I’m throwing you to the wolves tonight, Fable,” T continues, a smile curling her bright red lips. We’re all wearing the new “uniform” Colin gave us earlier: black shorts, white lace tops with a black bra underneath. I added the black heels that I teeter precariously on. He even gave us the same lipstick, so that we’d all match. “You and Jen both are working the private party. We have an extra bartender on staff as well so you should be set.”
Nerves eat at my stomach. “Okay,” I say weakly. Being around football players will make me think of Drew. Plus, they’ll probably give me shit because yep, I’m ashamed to say, I’ve been with a few. Nothing major, mostly make-out/grope sessions but still. Back when my self-esteem was in tatters and I thought their attention was the only kind I deserved. So embarrassing. I hope they don’t say anything rude.
More than anything, I hope Drew’s not there.
Okay, I lie. A teeny-tiny part of me hopes Drew shows up. Not that I know what I’d say to him.
Fuck you for stomping all over my heart!
Hmm, yeah. That would go over real well.
“What do you think of the new duds?” T asks.
I glance down at myself. The shorts are extra short but at least I’m not in a dress, where I’m always afraid my ass is hanging out. And the lace tops and bra are most definitely see-through, but I don’t feel like my goods are on blatant display. I’m always afraid I’ll get cold, but there’s too much running around throughout the evening for that to happen. “I like them.”
“I do too.” Jen pipes up, moving so she stands beside me. “I prefer the shorts to the dresses. Feels like I can move better in them.”
“Same.” I nod in agreement. “Why did he pick out new clothes for us? And even gave us all matching lipstick?” Saying the question out loud made me realize just how odd the situation is.
I mean, who does this sort of thing?
“He likes all of us to look the same yet different. Bring some of our own personality to the outfit, you know?” T ran her gaze over Jen and me. “I know you were just given the outfits but the next time you work, make sure you add something to give yourself a little more pizazz. Individuality.”
“What if I can’t afford it?” I had to ask. I’m mostly a broke joke. The biggest extravagance I’ve given myself is the damn tattoo with the initials of a man who ditched me. The expensive shoes I wear? A gift from Drew. The same ones I wore the night of that crazy country club dinner, when he kissed me for the first time.
Just the memory of his lips grazing mine sent a shiver stealing over me.
“Fable, you can go to one of those cheap stores in the mall and pick up a three-dollar necklace. There’s Target and Walmart too.” Shaking her head, T starts to walk away. “Get those tables set up. Doors open in fifteen!”
Jen and I busily finish setting up the tables, polishing glass, lighting candles, sweeping the bare wood floors. Colin comes in, offering murmured words to Jen I couldn’t quite catch before he locks his gaze with mine and heads toward me.
“Much improved,” he says, stopping directly in front of me, crossing his arms in front of him. He’s wearing a black T-shirt that stretches across his wide shoulders and chest and black pants. The dark clothing only seems to emphasize the golden hair, the golden skin, the pale green eyes.
Ugh. And I hate how proprietary he seems. Yet that approving light in his gaze secretly pleases me. Makes me want to stand tall and preen like a good little girl who’s done right.
Sick and twisted, I know.
“You were there for the transformation yesterday.” It had taken hours. We finally left the salon after nine. Luckily enough, I wasn’t scheduled last night and considering he was the boss, he could show up at the restaurant whenever he felt like it. He’d even driven me home. Now he acted like he never saw the end results last night.
Weird.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

"Anda terlihat berbeda."Saya halus tangan-Ku atas rambut saya baru berwarna, baru dicat kuku menangkap mata saya. Mereka merah, sebagai terang sebagai warna lapisan bibir saya, dan saya merasa seperti orang yang berbeda. Tapi saya ingin menunjukkan sikap acuh tak acuh. Seolah-olah hal semacam ini umum untuk saya. Bahwa pria tampan yang hanya begitu kebetulan menjadi bos saya membawa saya ke salon rambut populer dan mahal di sore hari tanpa janji dan membayar untuk saya lengkap makeover. Sementara dia berdiri dengan senyum puas di wajahnya, seperti dia bertanggung jawab untuk transformasi saya.Yang ia semacam ini.Aku harus dihina. Colin membawaku ke salon pada dasarnya mengatakan aku tidak tampak cukup baik untuk bekerja untuknya. Saya perlu mengubah — setidaknya secara fisik.Tapi diam-diam, itu juga adalah menyanjung, perhatiannya. Tidak ada yang memperhatikan saya. Mereka semua hanya... mengandalkan saya untuk mendapatkan barang dilakukan. Ibuku, adikku, bos saya tua di La Salle-ya, aku memberikan pemberitahuan pagi ini, akhirnya. Drew perhatian untuk sementara waktu tetapi ia terlalu dibungkus dalam masalah untuk khawatir tentang saya.Aku rindu padanya. Aku benci bahwa aku kehilangan dia tetapi saya lakukan. Lucu bagaimana seseorang dapat datang ke dalam hidup Anda untuk waktu yang singkat tapi meninggalkan kesan abadi. Ia secara permanen tercetak dirinya pada hati saya, dan saya secara permanen dicantumkan nama-Nya pada kulit saya.Sangat konyol, kerinduan bagi seorang pria yang tidak lama untuk saya."Rambut Anda — pirang lebih gelap." Jennifer tersenyum padaku, mengangguk dengan persetujuan. "Saya menyukainya. Cocok untuk Anda lebih baik."Colin adalah bos besar tetapi ia mempekerjakan sekelompok pelacur di restoran miliknya. Dan aku mulai menyadari mengapa mereka sedang sangat bitchy-kita semua dalam kompetisi langsung dengan satu sama lain, tidak hanya untuk menjadi pelayan yang paling dicari di distrik, sehingga mendapatkan yang paling dalam uang tip pada akhir malam. Tapi kami juga ingin menjadi pelayan yang paling dicari di Colin's mata. Itulah segala macam kacau jika saya memikirkannya terlalu lama.Jadi aku membuang realisasi dari otak saya, seperti aku begitu baik.Jennifer sejauh ini yang paling baik untuk saya, tetapi dia adalah gadis baru di blok yang sudah jadi dia mungkin bersyukur ada target segar di sini bagi mereka untuk membenci. Dia cantik dalam cara yang eksotis, hampir misterius, yang saya temukan lucu mengingat namanya standar, setiap gadis. Dia memiliki rambut hitam panjang lurus-sebagai-kertas, besar mata coklat gelap, kulit berwarna zaitun, dan dia begitu sangat tinggi, saya mendapatkan crick di leher saya jika saya menatapnya sampai terlalu lama.Dia adalah segalanya aku tidak. Kita sudah lengkap yang berlawanan dalam setiap cara."Apakah Colin mengambil Anda untuk mendapatkan rambut Anda dilakukan?" Dia bertanya seperti kita mengatur meja untuk malam. Saya membagikan perak, dia adalah pengaturan keluar kacamata baru dipoles dan saya sangat terkejut oleh Pertanyaannya, saya berdiri di sana dengan mulut saya terbuka untuk kedua. Cukup lama bahwa ia berbicara lagi."Tidak apa-apa untuk mengakuinya. Dia membawa saya untuk potongan rambut dan mini makeover ketika saya pertama kali mulai." Dia tersenyum, pipi diwarnai merah. "Colin suka mengambil dalam piatu dan memperbaiki mereka. Membawa kita untuk potensi penuh kami, adalah bagaimana dia mengatakannya kepada saya."Kata-kata dia membuat saya merasa sedikit kurang khusus, dan aku ingin menampar diri. "Jangan Anda pikir itu adalah semacam...""Aneh?" dia selesai bagi saya dengan senyum rueful."ya." Aku menyelesaikan pengaturan perak di atas meja dan menonton dia sebagai dia dengan hati-hati menyesuaikan terakhir air kaca, sehingga duduk hanya begitu. Linen meja yang sempurna, creaseless putih, dengan mangkuk perak sama sempurna duduk di tengah, penuh segar memotong bunga warna musim semi. Semua bersemangat pink dan lavenders dan putih, mereka menambah sentuhan canggih glamor palet jika tidak jelas.Seluruh restoran adalah seperti ini. Sexy namun menahan keanggunan. Tidak heran semua cinta orang-orang yang indah untuk datang ke sini."Colin suka menganggap dirinya sebagai seorang kesatria berbaju zirah untuk kita semua. Seperti ia menukik dan membebaskan kita dari kehidupan mengerikan dan memberi kami yang baru,"Jennifer menjelaskan.Aku mengerutkan kening. Aku tidak perlu seseorang dalam hidup saya dengan seorang pahlawan kompleks. Dengan Drew, saya adalah salah satu dengan pahlawan kompleks dan yang membuat saya benar-benar mana-mana.Dan mengapa sih semuanya masih harus kembali kepadanya? Saya perlu untuk membiarkan dia pergi, sekali dan untuk semua. "Itu konyol," kataku.Jennifer shrugs. “It’s the truth, isn’t it? Where were you working before? I was at some crappy bar on the outskirts of town, where the customers couldn’t keep their hands off me. I hated it. Colin came in there one night over a month ago, all clean and golden and shiny. He practically begged me to come work for him but I didn’t trust him.” Her eyes darken even more, shading secrets from me, I’m sure. “It was just before Christmas, I was pretty much broke and alone. He took me in and I haven’t looked back since.”“Took you in, what do you mean?”“I’m staying at his house.” Her gaze skitters away from mine. “I’m not the first. I won’t be the last.”Wow. He’s like the Pied Piper and we all follow after him like a bunch of hypnotized mice. I feel like a fool for thinking the attention he gave me was special. Unusual. I was just another long list of girls who work here he’s taken under his wing.I’m such a skeptic I still can’t help but wonder if he has an ulterior motive.“There’s a private party coming in at nine.” Tenerria walks into the dining area, her demeanor all business. She’s the shift manager, having worked with Colin at his previous restaurants. He brought her with him to help open The District and I’m not sure if she’s a permanent fixture or eventually moving on. I respect the hell out of T, what everyone calls her, but she also scares the crap out of me. “Fifteen confirmed college football players celebrating a twenty-first birthday so be prepared. That confirmed number will probably fly out the window.”My heart drops to my toes. Football players. Could Drew be one of them coming tonight? He’s not one to be social and last I heard—because the rumor mill is rampant in this small town—Drew had left. Not that I ever pay too much attention to rumors. They’re usually all lies anyway.“I’m throwing you to the wolves tonight, Fable,” T continues, a smile curling her bright red lips. We’re all wearing the new “uniform” Colin gave us earlier: black shorts, white lace tops with a black bra underneath. I added the black heels that I teeter precariously on. He even gave us the same lipstick, so that we’d all match. “You and Jen both are working the private party. We have an extra bartender on staff as well so you should be set.”Saraf makan di perutku. "Oke," kataku lemah. Berada di sekitar pemain sepak bola akan membuat saya berpikir tentang Drew. Plus, mereka akan mungkin memberi saya omong kosong karena ya, aku malu untuk mengatakan, aku sudah dengan beberapa. Tidak ada yang besar, sebagian besar membuat-out/meraba-raba sesi tapi masih. Kembali ketika harga diri saya compang-camping dan saya pikir perhatian mereka adalah satu-satunya hal yang aku pantas. Jadi memalukan. Saya berharap mereka tidak mengatakan apa-apa yang kasar.Lebih dari apa pun, saya harap Drew tidak ada.Oke, aku berbohong. Bagian kecil mungil-saya berharap Drew muncul. Bukan berarti saya tahu apa yang akan saya katakan kepadanya.Bercinta Anda untuk stomping seluruh hati saya!Hmm, ya. Yang akan pergi ke nyata baik."Apa pendapat Anda tentang duds baru?" T meminta.Aku melirik ke bawah pada diriku sendiri. Celana pendek ekstra pendek tapi setidaknya aku tidak dalam gaun, mana saya selalu takut pantatku bergaul. Dan renda dan bra yang paling jelas tembus, tapi saya tidak merasa seperti barang-barang saya adalah terang-terangan dipajang. Saya selalu takut aku akan mendapatkan dingin, tapi terlalu banyak berjalan sekitar sepanjang malam itu terjadi. "Saya suka mereka.""Saya melakukan terlalu." Jen pipa, bergerak sehingga dia berdiri di samping saya. "Saya lebih suka celana pendek gaun. Merasa seperti saya dapat bergerak lebih baik di dalamnya.""Sama." Aku mengangguk dalam perjanjian. "Mengapa Apakah dia memilih pakaian baru bagi kita? Dan bahkan memberi kami semua cocok lipstik?" Menyebutkan pertanyaan membuat saya sadar betapa aneh situasi ini.I mean, who does this sort of thing?“He likes all of us to look the same yet different. Bring some of our own personality to the outfit, you know?” T ran her gaze over Jen and me. “I know you were just given the outfits but the next time you work, make sure you add something to give yourself a little more pizazz. Individuality.”“What if I can’t afford it?” I had to ask. I’m mostly a broke joke. The biggest extravagance I’ve given myself is the damn tattoo with the initials of a man who ditched me. The expensive shoes I wear? A gift from Drew. The same ones I wore the night of that crazy country club dinner, when he kissed me for the first time.Just the memory of his lips grazing mine sent a shiver stealing over me.“Fable, you can go to one of those cheap stores in the mall and pick up a three-dollar necklace. There’s Target and Walmart too.” Shaking her head, T starts to walk away. “Get those tables set up. Doors open in fifteen!”Jen and I busily finish setting up the tables, polishing glass, lighting candles, sweeping the bare wood floors. Colin comes in, offering murmured words to Jen I couldn’t quite catch before he locks his gaze with mine and heads toward me.“Much improved,” he says, stopping directly in front of me, crossing his arms in front of him. He’s wearing a black T-shirt that stretches across his wide shoulders and chest and black pants. The dark clothing only seems to emphasize the golden hair, the golden skin, the pale green eyes.Ugh. And I hate how proprietary he seems. Yet that approving light in his gaze secretly pleases me. Makes me want to stand tall and preen like a good little girl who’s done right.Sick and twisted, I know.“You were there for the transformation yesterday.” It had taken hours. We finally left the salon after nine. Luckily enough, I wasn’t scheduled last night and considering he was the boss, he could show up at the restaurant whenever he felt like it. He’d even driven me home. Now he acted like he never saw the end results last night.Weird.