BXBX NOVEL Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Fabricating News
In the club staff\'s break area, Martin received a text message from Elena and pushed open the changing room door to enter.
The stylish guys led by Hart were getting ready for that night\'s performance.
Martin banged open the door and shouted, "Superstars, are you ready? I\'ve got great news for you, a huge crowd is coming tonight, and as long as you perform well, the club\'s business will boom, and you\'ll rake in the tips until your hands ache!"
Hart asked, "Can it really be like you\'ve said?"
Martin brimmed with confidence, "The customers will double at the least, and so will your income!"
Another stylish guy, Carrington, blew a rogue\'s whistle and said, "Buddy, you better deliver, or we\'ll drag you up on stage to perform."
Martin said sternly, "You might doubt my character, but never doubt my credit! Carrington, you\'re done for. I swear, you\'ll be thrown into the Atlantic Ocean by Old Cloth."
The others burst into laughter.
Martin raised his voice again, "Guys, show off the dance moves you\'ve practiced so hard for tonight, and let the people witness what it means to be a mighty sailor! If you can\'t, I\'ll have Bruce inform everyone on West Strip that the stylish group from House of Beast is nothing but a bunch of wimps."
Hart smiled and said, "Don\'t worry, we won\'t give you the chance..."
Martin gave the finger behind his head and strutted out, circling to the back stage and entering the hall, where he found Monica by the bar.
She was Elena\'s good friend, a curvy Latina girl.
Martin asked, "How\'s it going?"
Monica quickly said, "With such a great free opportunity, the people I brought won\'t miss out, it\'s free after all."
Martin glanced at the quartz clock behind the bar and said, "In ten minutes."
Before leaving, Monica blew a kiss to Bruce.
Martin noticed Bruce staring hard at Monica\'s retreating figure and asked, "Got your eye on her?"
"I\'m a civilized person," Bruce said as he picked up a glass of ice beer and downed it in one go.
Martin emphasized, "I know, you\'re a civilized man!"
...
About ten minutes later, Elena and Jennifer bought two tickets and entered the House of Beast together.
Seeing Elena, Martin had someone notify the stylish group to take the stage, and as the powerful music started, the stylish group dedicated a spinach dance to all the patrons.
The whole place immediately went wild.
Jennifer noticed many people had forgotten their familial duties, forgotten their place in the family, and crazily threw money onto the stage.
Recklessness and decadence, Atlanta\'s social atmosphere was sliding into the abyss.
Jennifer and like-minded companions had been trying hard to pull back, not wanting it to slide further.
Yet, the moral issues in America were growing more and more severe.
After less than half an hour, Jennifer said to Elena, "Let\'s go."
Elena followed her out of the House of Beast.
Jennifer said, "You go back first, I have something to do at the Atlanta headquarters."
Elena nodded, waited for Jennifer to drive off, then got into Martin\'s Ford.
Soon, Martin came out of the club and got into the car as well.
Elena said, "She\'s very angry, went to the headquarters."
Martin patted Elena\'s shoulder, "Stay in touch with her."
...
On Saturday afternoon, practicing facial muscle control in front of a mirror at home, Martin suddenly received a call from Ivan; people had begun gathering opposite the club.
Martin grabbed his car keys and left, first asking Elena, then started to notify Bruce and little Goldie.
Reaching West Strip, Martin found people of various ages steadily arriving and converging on the spacious sidewalk opposite the club, many carrying posters and the like.
Core members of the Methodist Association like Jennifer were experienced.
Inside the porch of House of Beast, Martin threw his coat on a chair and asked, "What\'s the situation?"
Bruce poked his head out to check and said, "More people are coming; I estimate about 200."
"Who has a phone with call recording capabilities?" Martin asked.
Ivan said, "I do, and so do Goldie, Hart, and Carrington."
Martin made a swift decision, "Old Cloth, pull out all our hotline numbers, call the media journalists, tell them there\'s a big story here, and make sure to record the call, we owe nothing to any news informants!"
Ivan\'s eyes bulged in surprise as if seeing a pile of money, "I\'m willing to call you Boss Martin!"
Bruce grabbed Martin\'s shoulder, reminding him, "There are no rewards for fake news."
Martin took out his phone and said, "Old civil man, you underestimate the civilized people of the new era."
He scrolled through his contacts and dialed the number for the hefty Mr. Andrew, which was quickly answered, "Mr. Andrew, it\'s me, Martin. I\'ve come across a situation on West Strip and decided to make this call."