4

And that's when Nathan realized that the night was just the beginning of an unexpected adventure. Fates were about to intersect in ways he could never have imagined.

The atmosphere in the bar had taken on a festive tone, filled with laughter and music, but it all seemed to take on a note of arrogance when Jake began to let himself go under the influence of the 'alcohol. Glasses followed one another on the bar, and with each sip, his mood darkened. As drunkenness set in, trust turned to contempt.

"Look at this," he said, looking around the room, a smile on his face but his eyes bright. "What is this shithole? It looks like a scene from a movie. »

Sophie, sitting next to him, stiffened. " Jake , it's not very nice to talk like that. »

"Why should I be nice? » he retorted, waving his hand casually. "Look at these people, they seem happy to be here. But who would actually come to a place like this if it wasn't to escape reality? »

Nathan, behind the bar, felt his heart tighten. He had seen drunken customers make disparaging remarks before, but something about the way Jake spoke touched him personally. It was as if his words cut through the walls of modesty he had built around himself.

"I'm sure they're having fun, but it's mostly because they have no other choice," Jake continued, his tone becoming more acerbic. He stood up, pointing an accusing finger at the bartender. "And what are you doing here? You seem to make cocktails like an amateur. Maybe you should take some lessons or something. »

The tension in the air became palpable. Nathan, who had always been proud of his work, froze for a moment. "I do my best to serve the customers," he said in a calm voice, trying to keep his composure.

But Jake didn't listen to him. He was too caught up in his own arrogance. Leaning towards the bar, he glanced at the bill piled up on the counter. "Here's what I'm going to do," he said with a smirk. "I'll tip you, but I doubt it'll make any difference. »

Sophie looked at him, worry painting her face. " Jake, stop. It's not worth it. »

But he was too far gone in his arrogance. He grabbed a wad of bills from his pocket and, with a theatrical gesture, he tossed them to Nathan, the bills scattering like confetti in the air. "Here, take this for your efforts. I'm sure it'll help you get through this," he said with a chuckle.

The moment seemed suspended. Nathan, stunned, watched the tickets fly around him. The laughter of the customers slowly died away, replaced by a heavy silence. The humiliation he felt was overwhelming, and he could see faces in the crowd turning towards him, judging him.

"This is unacceptable," Sophie whispered, shame burning in her chest. She stood, looking at Jake with an intensity he had never seen before. "How can you do that? »

Jake , stung, didn't understand right away. " What ? It's just a joke! » he cried, his hands raised in a casual gesture. "He can't take a little joke? »

"This isn't a joke! » she replied, her tone desperate. "Look what you just did. You humiliated this man in front of everyone. »

The reality of his words hit Jake , but he didn't want to acknowledge it. The light laughter he had felt a few moments earlier had turned into deep unease. Yet his pride was even stronger than his sense of empathy. He glanced at Nathan, who was trying to gather the bills, his face decomposed. "Oh, come on, you have to know how to laugh a little," he tried, but the strength in his voice was fading.

Nathan looked up, and their eyes met for a moment. Jake read something there he hadn't anticipated: pain, but also a quiet strength. This look struck him more than any insult.

"I'm not here to amuse you," Nathan whispered, his tone becoming firmer. "I'm just trying to do my job. »

Sophie, realizing that the situation was becoming even more tense, stepped forward and placed a hand on Jake 's arm. "We should leave," she said softly, but determinedly.

Jake , intoxicated by alcohol and his own ego, did not want to give in. "Why should we leave? It's not me who did something wrong here, it's him. »

"No, Jake . What you just did is wrong. Look around you. People look at you, they judge you. You are a billionaire, but here you are just a drunk man. » She turned to Nathan, her gaze full of compassion. "I'm really sorry for him. »

Sophie's words echoed in the air, but Jake , feeling cornered, did not want to relent. His ego pushed him to defend himself, to prove that he was right. "You know what? I'm sorry if this hurt your feelings, but life isn't always easy. Learn to deal with it. »

The bartender, already collecting the tickets, slowly stood up, his gaze fixed on Jake . "Maybe I should thank you, then." At least you showed me what not to become. »

A shiver of guilt ran through Jake at that moment, but he was too proud to admit it. Instead, he shrugged, ignoring the pain he had caused. "Come on, we're having fun, right? » he exclaimed, turning to Sophie, who was now visibly angry.

"That's enough, Jake . Let's go," she said, her voice firm.

She headed towards the exit, with a heavy heart. Jake followed her, a mixture of anger and confusion in his mind. As they walked out, he took one last look back, his gaze landing on Nathan, who continued to put away the tickets.

The bartender, for his part, was disgusted. He had never felt such humiliation. It wasn't just the money he threw away, but it was the way Jake treated him, like he was nothing. Yet, deep down, he knew that this moment had to mean something, that he had to learn from this experience.

Sophie stopped outside, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her heart racing.

Jake sighed, his hands in his pockets. "It's okay," he said, but he felt a crack forming between them. Sophie's look was now different. There was a disappointment he had never seen before. "I didn't think it was that serious. »

"Maybe you should think about how you treat people, Jake . They are not here to entertain you. » She looked down, sadness filling her heart. "I don't recognize the man you became tonight. »

Jake felt hurt by her words, but he knew deep down that she was right. The alcohol had amplified his arrogance, but he didn't want to admit it. As they walked in silence, the tension between them grew, and he wondered if this night would mark the beginning of change, or the end of something precious.

Sophie walked in front, with a heavy heart. She had always admired Jake's strength, his ambition and his power, but what he had done tonight was beyond what she could accept. The laughter in the bar still echoed in her mind, and she wondered if their life together could still be the same after this.

Inside, Nathan was putting away the tickets, with a heavy heart. He realized that, despite the humiliation, he had to maintain his dignity. People came and left, but he stayed there, creating moments of happiness for those who needed them. Jake and Sophie may have had their problems, but Nathan knew he had to continue doing what he loved, regardless of others.

As the night continued, Nathan took a deep breath,

Realizing that sometimes humiliations were lessons in disguise. And although the pain was present, he knew that he had to use it to move forward, to grow. Perhaps this meeting with the arrogant billionaire would be the start of a transformation, not only for him, but for everyone else in the same boat.

The bar, once filled with laughter and energy, was now plunged into a heavy silence. Nathan stood behind the counter, his hands shaking and his thoughts in disarray. The glasses sparkled in the dim light, but it was no longer a reflection of joy; it was a mirror of his humiliation. The smell of varnished wood mixed with that of spilled alcohol, creating a heavy, almost suffocating atmosphere.

"How could he do that? » he whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of anguish. Each word resonated in his mind like a distant echo. He had always dreamed of a different life, but this experience had become an open wound. The memory of the billionaire, laughing and throwing money like confetti, was unbearable to him.

Nathan looked around, observing the few remaining customers, absorbed in their conversations. They had not seen the humiliation he had just suffered. No one knew how much this situation affected him. He felt invisible, like just a background character in a movie he didn't want to be a part of.

Anger and humiliation boiled inside him. He began putting away the glasses, a mundane task, but one that only amplified his inner torment. His hands were busy, but his mind was wandering. How could anyone be so cruel, so callous? The billionaire had played with him like a cat with a mouse, and he had had enough.

"If only I could trade my life with hers," he cried, his voice echoing in the emptiness of the bar. The absurdity of her words struck him, but something inside him was ready for anything. The despair had become so heavy that he was ready to make a wish, even if it only underlined his folly.

He stopped for a moment, staring into space, his thoughts swirling. "If only I could have his life, everything would be easier. I would be rich, admired, I could live without worrying about every penny. I could have everything I want, everything I deserve! » He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palm.

He remembered his difficult life, the hours spent behind the bar serving demanding customers, putting up with insults and derogatory remarks. The weight of his unfulfilled dreams weighed on him like a stone. "I don't want this life anymore. I want his, Jake . Everything, even for one night. »

In that moment, something changed. The air around him seemed to vibrate, as if time had stopped. Nathan closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, his voice trembling but firm. "I vow to exchange my life of misery for that of billionaire Jake . I want to discover what wealth, recognition, really is. »