Ethan tugged his jacket tighter against the evening chill as he stepped off the bus near the apartment building.

    The neighborhood was quieter than usual, the sounds of distant traffic and a barking dog filling the air. With a steady pace, he made his way down the cracked sidewalk toward the property he''d come to think of as his second chance.

    The food truck business was thriving.

    His decision to hire an additional person for each truck had proven wise, even though it meant paying out more.

    The streamlined operations and their combined efforts were pulling in daily profits he could hardly believe.

    Ethan''s phone buzzed occasionally with updates from his team, but for the most part, he trusted them to handle the work.

    It was liberating, in a way — this idea that he didn''t have to do everything himself anymore.

    The apartment building loomed ahead, a stark contrast to the how it had been. It was still a work in progress, but Ethan could see the improvements already taking shape.

    The graffiti that had once defaced its walls was gone, and fresh coats of paint were gradually bringing it back to life.

    He spotted Marty near the front entrance, talking with one of the workers. The contractor waved when he saw Ethan approaching.

    "Hey! Just in time," Marty called, his voice echoing slightly in the empty street.

    Ethan shook his hand, glancing around. "How''s it looking?"

    "Come inside and see for yourself."

    The interior smelled faintly of paint and sawdust. The hallway walls, which had been crumbling when Ethan first saw them, now stood smooth and clean.

    A few workers were measuring planks for flooring near the far end of the hall, their voices low as they discussed the next steps.

    "We got the walls done ahead of schedule," Marty said, gesturing proudly. "And the windows? Most of them are in already. You won''t recognize this place once we''re finished."

    Ethan nodded, running a hand along one of the walls. The surface was cool and even, the rough patches and exposed brick gone. "You guys are doing amazing work."

    "We aim to please," Marty said with a grin. "Flooring''s next, and then we''ll tackle the fixtures. You''ve got yourself a solid property here, Boss."

    He ran his fingers through his hair, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. He hadn''t splurged on anything for himself in months now — his salary hadn''t been enough to delve into expensive things and he was mostly working.

    A young salesman in a polo shirt approached him, a friendly smile on his face. "Welcome! Looking for a bike today?"

    Ethan nodded. "Yeah, something... fast but reliable."

    "You''ve come to the right place," the salesman said, gesturing to the rows of bikes. "We''ve got some incredible options, all top-of-the-line. Any particular budget you''re working with?"

    Ethan chuckled lightly, more to himself than anyone else. "Not really. Show me what you''ve got."

    The salesman''s eyes lit up. "Alright, let''s start over here."

    He led Ethan to a deep red bike that seemed to glisten under the store''s lights. "This is the Ducati Panigale V2 — 955cc engine, sharp design, and one of the best in its class. It''s $25,000, but every penny is worth it."

    Ethan leaned closer, running his hand along the smooth surface. "Looks like it could outrun a jet."

    The salesman laughed. "It might feel like it too when you''re on it."

    They moved down the row.

    "Now, this one here is the Yamaha YZF-R1, $22,000. It''s got a more aggressive feel and is packed with tech, like its crossplane engine and advanced electronic aids. Perfect if you want something sporty and futuristic."

    Ethan nodded, appreciating the sharp edges and bold blue paint job.

    "And lastly," the salesman said, patting a sleek black bike with a subtle green trim, "the Kawasaki Ninja H2. It''s $30,000, but this beast is supercharged. You''ll feel like you''re flying every time you hit the throttle."

    Ethan stepped back, taking in all three bikes. He hadn''t planned on spending this much time deciding, but each option was tempting in its own way.

    After a moment, he pointed at the Ducati.

    "This one feels... right," he said.

    "Excellent choice," the salesman said, already pulling out a tablet to finalize the sale.

    The paperwork didn''t take long.

    As Ethan handed over the payment, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.