"The bar''s always been doing well. Why is it closing down all of a sudden?" I asked.


    "Who knows? Juste, and you''ll find out," Matthew replied.


    Curious, I hailed a cab and headed over. When I arrived, Matthew and the others were already enjoying their drinks. This time, however, the women didn''t tease me like usual. Instead, the mood seemed much more somber. I didn''t know if it was because Lina and Charlotte hadn''t been acting up much, my improved image, or because the bar was closing down.


    A nce around the room confirmed that there was a sign posted about the bar being transferred.


    I plopped myself down next to Matthew and asked in a low voice, "What''s going on? I thought the bar was doing fine."


    It wasn''t nighttime yet, but the ce was already filling out.


    Matthew whispered, "I heard that the owner is the mistress of someone from Arnoult Group, the one who came for Charlottest time.


    "I heard he failed to put his hands on her. So, he took his frustration out on the bar owner and is forcing her to shut it down."


    "I see."


    It seemed like the bar owner was an innocent bystander in this situation.


    I scanned the ce again. This bar had an excellent location and a steady stream


    of customers. If I could take it over, I''d be raking in cash effortlessly. I was


    instantly drawn to this idea.


    "I need to use the restroom," I said, excusing myself.


    I approached a staff member and asked, "May I know where the owner''s office is?"


    "Right over there."


    "Thanks."


    I walked over and knocked on the door.


    "Brooklyn, is that you? Come on in," a woman''s voice called from inside.


    Although I wasn''t Brooklyn, I pushed the door open anyway. I never expected to see a beautiful woman in the middle of changing clothes. She had just taken off her shorts, leaving her in nothing but her underwear.


    My mind went nk. Before I realized what I was doing, I had stepped inside the room and locked the door behind me.


    The woman froze, staring at me in shock. I stood there like an idiot until I realized I''d locked myself in instead of walking out. Just as I turned to leave, a pillow came flying at my head. "You pervert! You''re dead meat if you think I''m an easy target!"


    "Wait, this is a misunderstanding!" I spun around to exin, but she was still half- dressed, so I turned back again.


    "I''m not a pervert. I came to discuss some business with you. I had no idea you were changing," I defended myself. "I only entered because you said toe in. I''ll leave now."


    "Stop right there," the woman barked, stopping me in my tracks.


    There was some rustling as she put on her clothes. Momentster, she stormed up behind me and pinched my ear forcefully.


    "You had better have a good exnation for this, or you''re not going to leave here in one piece!"


    Finally, I could turn around. My ear was throbbing in pain, but I didn''t dare pull away.


    "I swear I''m not a pervert. I saw the transfer notice outside and just wanted to ask about it," I exined earnestly.


    "About what? You''re looking for a part-time job?"


    "Part-time?"


    No, I was there to buy the bar. However, my gut told me that saying that now would be just absurd, especially as a mere student. So, I nodded. "Yeah. I was hoping to get a part-time job. I didn''t expect you to transfer the bar to someone else."


    "Just because the bar''s being transferred doesn''t mean you can''t work here. Are you a university student? Show me your student ID."