LITMIR.BIZ

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by a knock on the door and George shouts “Come in!”, still stunned. Rafe comes in and starts talking:

      “Julie, it’s almost...damn shit!

      This stresses me up even more. I must look awful, because Rafe let out his third swearword of the day.

      “What is it? Guys, get me a mirror!”

      “Julie, is it you? My goodness, Danny was absolutely right. When he finds out that I allowed this... I am fucked” he says, more to himself than to me.

      When George realizes that I am about to crumble in tears, feeling that my “pop diva” career failed before it took off, he takes me to the bathroom so that I can look at myself in the mirror.

      I feel just like Cinderella must have felt when she saw the transformation the Fairy Godmother did on her for the ball.

      As I look in the mirror, I feel my heart tightening hard. I see myself, for the first time, just like my mother. It’s as if I was seeing her own reflection on the mirror, looking at me, just as I recall from my childhood.

      My blue eyes are huge, highlighted by the dark shadow and the eyeliner that Jo had applied.

      In the mouth, a pale lipstick, with a slight gloss shine, turns my lips sensuous.

      As for my hair, it doesn't even look like the one that is always tied because I think it's dull. I don't know what magic George did, but he left it with perfect waves, with volume and a "pop diva” look, just like we see it on magazine covers.

      This is a turbocharged, adult version of the little girl Danny used to see. No wonder he never looked at me in any other way. Before, I seemed to be, at most, nineteen years old. Now I'm a real woman. Beautiful, sensual and adult.

      "Did you like it, little girl? Say something!”

      "George, I love it. I'd be crazy if I didn't like it. I had no idea I could look so beautiful.”

      I leave the bathroom with a giant smile on my face and I run into Rafe, still bewildered.

      "Rafe, is it time?”

      “Twenty minutes. Are you sure about that? Danny's going to kill me and then kill the three of you.”

      I decide to ignore his warning.

      "Let Alan know we're going to start with Put your records on — I say, giving him what I hope will be my most sensuous look.

      Chapter four

      Julie

      I leave Danny's office with my head held high and feeling powerful. It's amazing what a new outfit and perfect makeup can do for a woman's self-esteem.

      Hey! You don't have to pull a face for me. I know very well that I should not feel safe and beautiful only after going through the hand of the Fairy Godmother ... or the Genie of the Lamp, since the responsibility for my transformation is George's? Well, regardless of who we are, it's very easy to forget our own worth. Especially when you like someone, and that someone doesn't give a damn about you. I promise myself that from today onwards I will have new rules of conduct established for myself and will do my best to comply with them:

      Rule #1: love myself more than anyone else;

      Rule #2: believe more in myself and value my beauty;

      Rule #3: go after what I want and make my dreams come true.

      And, feeling strong, safe and invincible, I begin to follow my new rules and take control of my own life and destiny. I give each of my friends a kiss and go to the side of the stage, waiting for my cue.

      When they see me, the guys of the band seem surprised. I give a little smile and stand next to Alan, who holds my hand, trying to give me peace of mind.

      “Is everything all right?”, he asks me when he feels my cold hand.

      "Yes, I'm a little nervous, but fine. “Professional, Julie.” “Be professional“, I say to myself.

      “Don’t worry, you look beautiful and everything is going to be just fine.” I asked Rafe to introduce us in a different manner - he can hardly finish the sentence as he announces on stage “Juliette & The Band”.

      Wow! Now this band’s name sounds good. With my name upfront! I remain calm on the outside while inside I’m so happily dancing the Macarena away.

      We step on to the stage together, waving to the audience. Alan makes a small announcement before we start.

      “Good evening, everybody! It’s a pleasure to have you guys here.” The women scream like crazy. “The ones that always come to our shows must have found the call strange, but we want you to know that from today we have a wonderful new boost with Juliette coming to be part of the group. We hope you enjoy the show and have fun!”

      He looks at me with a sensual smile on his lips. I smile back, feeling pretty awkward, and wave to the audience, while I place myself in front of the microphone.

      The boys start playing the song I chose for the opening. I close my eyes and just shut the audience down. I feel the cold rising in my belly, but in a good way. The best part about singing songs I love is the fact that I get more involved, passing on all the excitement. I hear my cue and start, with a very soft and charming tone, singing the first verses of the song:

      Three little birds, sat on my window

      And they told me I don't need to worry.

      Summer came like cinnamon, so sweet,

      Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.

      I feel a shiver from head to toe. The audience begins to applaud. The music carries on and suddenly I realize that the bar is in complete silence. I open my eyes and realize that most of those present are staring at me. They're not booing or throwing cans on to the stage. It's got to be a good sign, right?

      I break into a half-dull smile, and close my eyes again, dipping into the verses of the song. When I utter the last words, the audience bursts into applause, taking me by surprise and making Alan and the boys proud.

      We continue, mixing up slow songs and more lively ones, and the audience doesn’t stop dancing. After we play She will be loved, Alan announces a twenty-minute break, which is super welcome, as I'm dying of thirst and heat.

      Away from the public eye, the three of them just embrace me, happily.

      "Julie, it was amazing! Our show never had such energy!” Brian, the drummer, says as he hugs me.

      "Congratulations." I thought you wouldn't handle it, but you caught me by surprise” Levi, the bassist, throws me a wink.

      "You were amazing on stage... and your voice drove all the guys crazy at the bar. Even me”, Alan whispers in my ear and blows a kiss to my neck.

      I feel a chill. It strikes a chord why women keep screaming when he shows up. If I wasn't in love with Danny and wasn't 100% sure that Alan would shred my heart after devouring me, I'd melt at his feet and take my place in the line - pretty long, by the way - of Alan Hunt's conquests.

      "Thank you," I speak to everyone, moving away from Alan's seductive touch. “It was great.” I fail to speak out the words to demonstrate how thrilled and happy I am. I smile at them and ask permission to speak to Rafe, who is coming to meet us.

      "Julie, what a show! People are crazy about you. Danny's going to kill me, but I'm sure it was the best decision I've ever made.” He laughs and gives me a very tight bear hug. Rafe's cute, even in his somewhat serious way.

      "Thank you! Coming from you, that's a top-compliment. Thank you so much for letting me do this. I need a drink of water and I wanted to talk to George and Jo before I get back on stage.”

      “Of course. They're there by the bar. I'm going to go talk to the boys.”

      I give a kiss to Rafe and go straight to the bar. On the way,

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