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"I trade one shift with someone and it’s suddenly I don’t want to work? So unfair" I stash my purse in one of the lockers provided to keep our stuff safe and twirl the lock, keepingon her part

"Colin wants to talk to you He asked ot here," she says quietly

I turn to face her, fear turningto fire me?"

"No" Jen doesn’t offer any other sort of explanation

"What’s going to happen, then?"

"He’s going to ask if you take this job seriously He sees a lot of potential in you, Fable He wants you to eventually take it to the next level here"

"What the hell does thatwaitress Yeah, from what I can see so far, the tips are fabulous Better than any other place I’ve ever worked at But there’s not a lot of roorowth at The District I’ hie plans He wants to open up a bunch of Districts all over the state and eventually the West Coast, turning it into a chain And he needsstaff"

"I’ve been here only a couple of weeks," I point out incredulously

"I told you, he thinks you have potential"

"You’ve been with hi person? Or any of the other girls ork here?"

"I don’t…like to travel" H, I can tell "And the other girls, they’re just here to get dressed up and look pretty and pick up guys They view this job as a way to get spending e They don’t have future aspirations for the food industry" Jen shakes her head

"Well, I don’t have future aspirations for the food industry either," I retort Hell no, do I want to work at a restaurant for the rest ofit because it’s all I know

"Well, what are your future aspirations?"

Funny thing is, I haven’t a clue I always talk about having hopes and dreaet the hell away from this small town But what do I really want to do? What do I want to be when I grow up?

I haven’t a fking clue

"Is she here--oh" Colin stops short as he strides into the roo there "Fable I was looking for you"

"I heard," I can’t help but say, earning a death glare from Jen

"Have a minute? I’d like to talk to you" He s don’t-worry charood in dark jeans and a white button-up shirt he left untucked, the sleeves rolled up to reveal strong, tanned forearms

I may be in love with Drew, but I can appreciate a handso sure Jen wasn’t lying

"Not at all," he says quickly, his voice s hi the tables for the evening?"

"Jen has it under control for now Besides, I only need to take up a few lasses to your heart’s content" He chuckles and presses his hand toaway from his touch the second alk into his office He shuts the door behind us, rounding his desk and pointing a finger toward an ee of the seat, I tapthe lace shirt/black shorts getup again and I knohen Drew picks irl that I a wait

"What happened with the shift change, Fable?" Colin asks once he settles in behind his desk

"I had so personal"

He raises a single brow "Is everything all right?"

"Oh, yeah Everything’s fine"

"I don’tas everyone’s covered and as long as people don’t h" He rests his folded arms on top of the desk, his expression dire "Are you happy here?"

I’m taken aback by his question "U at? Ihere a feeeks If you’re not happy with e of ht if need be

"You auto is getting ridiculous "Listen, say what you need to say and get it over with I’ht"

"Fine Get over your pissy attitude and I’ll tell you everything you need to hear"

My jaw drops open I can’t believe he just called ht I am "What’s up?" I ask weakly

"I know you’ve only been here for a feeeks, but you impress me A lot You only need to be told once what to do and how to do it, and you have it under control The customers like you T thinks you’re fantastic and I value her opinion above anyone else in this place" Colin leans across his desk, as if he really wants to get his ive youto bail on your shifts all the time"

"I won’t bail on my shifts," I say automatically

He smiles "So you’ll take the increase in hours"

"Absolutely"

"I’ you a sixty-day probation period Once that passes and I’, you’ll automatically receive a raise"