The Deal Between Adam and Marcus

Adam sat in the corner chair, watching Marcus take a sip of his drink before placing the glass on the table.

The atmosphere in the bar had calmed down slightly after his performance, but there was still a murmur in the background—the sound of patrons discussing the unexpected show he had put on.

Marcus looked at him directly, his tone serious as he said, "So, you're saying you're ready to work hard?"

Adam nodded without hesitation. "Yes. If you mean singing here again, then I'm ready."

Marcus smiled, but it wasn't just a smile of admiration—it was the smile of a man who saw an opportunity before him.

He leaned forward slightly and began speaking in a low but clear voice: "Adam, let me tell you something about this bar. It's not a fancy place, and crowds don't come here searching for new talent, but it has something important—regular customers. People here like stability, but they also look for change every now and then. And you? You might be the change we need."

Adam listened silently, his eyes fixed on Marcus, but inside, he was seeing the scene from a completely different perspective.

He had lived this moment before. 

He remembered that night years ago when he stood in a similar position, but he wasn't in a position of strength like he was now.

The first time, he had been just a scared kid standing on stage under the spotlight while the crowd eagerly waited, only to disappoint everyone with a terrible performance. 

He hadn't known how to control his voice, he hadn't been ready, and as a result, he had walked out of the bar humiliated. His mother had lost her job because of him.

Back then, he had thought Marcus was a ruthless man with no mercy.

But now? Now, he saw things differently.

Marcus leaned back in his chair, sighed slightly, and continued, "But it's not that simple."

"Singing once and making people clap is one thing—keeping them coming back is another. Do you have enough songs? Do you have your own style? Can you draw people in night after night?"

Adam felt those questions hitting him like a dose of reality.

"This time, he wasn't the terrified boy from before. This time, he had a chance to rewrite his story—to correct his mistakes, to use his knowledge of the future to his advantage."

He took a deep breath and said, "I'm ready, but I'll be honest with you… I don't have real experience, and I didn't plan for this in advance."

Marcus raised an eyebrow as if expecting that answer. Then he said, "And that's where I come in. I'll give you a chance, but on my terms."

Adam felt his heart beat faster. "And what are your terms?"

Marcus raised one finger. "First, you'll sing here two to three times a week. No pay at first, but you'll get a cut of the profits if people start coming just to hear you."

Then he raised a second finger. "Second, failure is not an option. If you want to keep this going, you need to improve every time."

Adam swallowed at those words but decided to ignore the reference to his past performance. To Marcus, this was just a general warning—not a hint at an actual previous experience.

Marcus raised a third finger. "And finally, no trouble. No showing up late, no bad attitude with customers, and don't make me regret giving you this chance."

Adam listened carefully, weighing his options in his mind. The deal wasn't perfect, but he had no other choices.

This was his chance to prove himself—to achieve the dream he had chased for decades in the future.

He took a deep breath, then extended his hand. "Deal."

Marcus looked at him for a moment, then gripped his hand firmly and shook it. "Alright. Let's see if you can keep up."

Moments later, Adam sat in the corner of the bar, thinking about his next steps.

He needed a solid setlist.

He needed serious training.

And most importantly, he needed to make this place the true beginning of his journey.

Marcus returned to his table, taking a deep breath before saying, "Adam, I have a question for you."

Adam looked up. "What is it?"

Marcus studied him for a moment before asking, "Why do you seem like you already know all this? You have a confidence I haven't seen before—especially in someone your age."

Adam felt a sharp pang in his chest. He couldn't tell him the truth.

He simply smiled and said, "Maybe because I've been dreaming about this my whole life."

Marcus chuckled lightly. "Your dreams are about to face a tough reality, kid. But let's see if you can handle it."

Adam nodded, fully aware that this was the real challenge.

This was his chance to rewrite everything—and he wouldn't let it slip away.

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End of Chapter.

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