The greatest singer

Marcus stood in the corner of the bar, arms crossed over his chest, eyes fixed on the boy standing on the stage. 

He wasn't the type to be easily impressed—over the years, he had seen dozens, if not hundreds, of amateur singers walk into this place, carrying big dreams, only to be crushed by harsh reality.

Some were good, most were mediocre, and only a rare few had something special.

But this kid?

Adam?

He had something else. Something that wasn't just about his voice or performance, but about presence—the way he commanded attention from the first note.

It was the kind of talent that didn't come around every day, the kind that could pull people in, the kind that could make Marcus money.

When Adam finished the song, there was a moment of silence before the applause started—soft at first, then gradually growing. 

It wasn't thunderous, but it was real, genuine. Marcus saw the admiration in some of the patrons' eyes, and that was what mattered.

Adam was talented, no doubt about it, but Marcus didn't just care about talent—he cared about business.

The bar was barely staying afloat, customers were dwindling, and competition in the city was tough. But now, he saw an opportunity.

Adam was his ace.

Marcus moved toward the bar, where Linda was wiping the counter, her eyes still on her son. When he stood beside her, she noticed his presence and turned to him.

"A great performance, wasn't it?" she said, her pride evident.

Marcus nodded, but he wasn't thinking the same way she was. To her, this was her son surprising her with his talent. To him? This was business.

"He's got talent," Marcus said calmly, watching as Adam spoke with some of the patrons. "But the real question is—does he have the drive to work hard? Talent alone isn't enough."

Linda looked at him, her brows furrowing. "Marcus, he's just a kid… Don't try to exploit him."

Marcus chuckled lightly. "I don't exploit anyone, Linda. I'm a businessman—you know that."

She was silent for a moment, then sighed. "I know that all too well."

⟐ ⟐ ⟐

A few minutes later, Marcus approached Adam, who had stepped off the stage and was now seated at one of the tables.

He still looked a little dazed, as if he couldn't quite believe he had done it.

"Good performance, kid," Marcus said, grabbing his attention.

Adam looked up at him, offering a small smile. "Thanks, Marcus."

Marcus pulled out a chair and sat across from him, taking a sip of his drink before speaking in a quiet but firm tone. "Tell me, Adam… Are you planning to sing here again?"

Surprise flickered across Adam's face before shifting into interest. "Is that an offer?"

Marcus smirked, that knowing smile that always carried a deeper meaning. "Maybe. But that depends on you. Singing once is one thing—keeping it up is something else entirely."

Adam was silent for a moment, as if weighing his thoughts. Then, with more confidence in his voice, he said, "I'm ready."

Marcus smiled again.

That was exactly what he wanted to hear.

Everything was business—and Adam might just be the best investment of his life.

⟐ ⟐ ⟐

End of Chapter.

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