Alice was not one to give up easily. Once she set her mind on pursuing Raymond, she was determined to see it through. Over the next few days, she almost made the bar her second home.
At first, the bartender tried to keep her out, but it was no use. One look from her wide, pleading eyes, and he had no choice but to let her stay.
Besides, it wasn't like Raymond had truly banned her. Every time she showed up, Raymond would quietly instruct the mixologist to make her a cocktail, one that barely had any alcohol in it.
Whenever Alice was around, the usual rowdy, inappropriate shows would come to an abrupt halt.
The bar still buzzed with life, but it lost that simmering, feverish energy. It was like her presence forced the place into a strange, subdued calm.
Two weeks passed, but Raymond's r
