Chapter 54 (Jody and Phil Prologue)

Phil sat on a bar stool with his elbows resting, staring at the television mounted on the wall behind the bartender.

His facial expression was stoic, not at all amused by what was on TV.

Occasionally, he took a sip from his beer but didn't enjoy it. He was not engaging with anyone around him and instead kept to himself.

As Phil sat there, lost in his own thoughts, he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see a woman with a bright smile on her face, trying to get his attention.

"Hey there, handsome, you look like you could use some company," she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

Phil wasn't sure how to respond, feeling a bit taken aback by the sudden attention. He gave her a half-hearted smile and turned back to the TV, hoping she would take the hint and leave him alone.

But the woman wasn't deterred. She leaned in closer to him, her perfume overwhelming his senses. "Come on, don't be shy," she said, placing a hand on his arm. "I promise I'll make it worth you