Chapter 385
Chapter 385:
“It was torture to sit through!” he roared. “How dare you stand on that stage with such a terrible voice?”
The young man stepped forward quickly, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “Sir, please understand. She’s unwell today, and her performance wasn’t her usual standard. As an apology, we’d be happy to waive your drinks for the evening. Would that be acceptable?”
The man scoffed. “Waive my bill? Do you think I’m here to beg for your charity? Are you accusing me of extortion? I don’t need your free drinks—I paid to hear music, not endure that noise! Get someone else on stage immediately!”
The bar fell silent, every patron holding their breath as his voice echoed through the room.
Wendy hurried over to the singer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and offering soothing pats to calm her.
The man barked, “You’ve got five minutes to put someone else on stage! I paid for this booth, and I won’t sit here listening to this.”
Wendy, seasoned by years of working in bars, recognized his type—men who let alcohol turn them into troublemakers. She knew reasoning with him was futile. The quickest solution was to appease him and send him away before the scene escalated.
The young man hastily pulled out his phone, his tone conciliatory. “Yes, of course. Please hold on. I’ll get another singer immediately.”
“Five minutes!” the man demanded, jabbing a finger at him. “If no one’s singing by then, I’ll raise hell at your door!”
His demands were outrageous and absurd. Even if another singer lived nearby, there was no way they could arrive that quickly. It was clear he wasn’t merely unreasonable—he was looking for trouble. If they failed to meet his demand, the consequences could be disastrous. A scene like this could tarnish the bar’s reputation, something Wendy and her colleagues were keen to avoid.
For a moment, the room froze in uneasy silence. The singer, overwhelmed by guilt, sobbed harder, her tears falling faster with the weight of knowing her performance had caused trouble for everyone.
Fernanda’s eyes shifted to the stage, where an electronic keyboard, drum set, and acoustic guitar sat waiting.
After a brief pause, she stepped closer to Wendy and tapped her lightly on the back. “What if I sing in her place?” she asked softly. Wendy’s face lit up, her initial tension melting into relief. She had seen Fernanda captivate a crowd with her voice at the welcome party and knew Fernanda could turn the situation around.
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“If you’re willing, that would be amazing.” Wendy squeezed Fernanda’s hand, then turned to the flustered young man nearby. “This is my friend. She can perform tonight—she’s an incredible singer.”
“Perfect, perfect,” he said, nodding fervently. Then he addressed the disruptive patron with measured politeness: “Sir, we have a new performer for you. Please return to your seat and enjoy your drink.”
The man glanced at Fernanda with skepticism and arrogance. “You’d better sing well. If not, I won’t let it go easily!” he barked.
Fernanda’s calm smile was her only response as she let his words slide past her. Once the young man had escorted him back to his seat, he hurried over and dabbed at his forehead. “Thank you so much for stepping in. We’re really grateful,” he said.
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