ONE NIGHT STAND WITH A BILLIONAIRE IN DISGUISE

la's

thing so small can ruin the whole damn sauce. I turn the heat down too late a

s no laughter, no clatter of forks or hum of life. Just me, a pan of

.m., and all I've sold is a single stale muf

ust a few crumpled bills and a handful of coins. Not enough for the rent, n

ll glowing embers of hope. Panic rising inside my chest as I tried to act steady and compos

the street. Hoping and waiting. Wishing for someone to walk in, for somethi

t into gold. It should look beautiful. It just

ough from th

am

ugh the swinging door into the back where Grandpa lies on the worn-out cot. He's thinner

eat?" I a

Waiting on that fam

, but my lips

se again, like even talkin

The sauce is ruined and the

ve the back

's mostly for deliveries and the occasional heal

even the kitchen feels tense like it knows he shouldn't be here. The noise stills, like even the grease stopped sizzling. He's n

my name sounds foreign in h

wly. "Who

and pulls an enve

ructed to d

o much, or worse, nothing at all-makes my stomach knot. I wipe my hands again

t's what people expect. Mann

building. You've been given notice

bl

just-we needed a

three extensions. I'm afraid

olite, but it

ear myself say, "Can you g

and he s

equest

he's

rembling in my hand. The sile

loudly and fast. I hear Grandpa stir in his sleep, whic

itchen, the g

break, I tried to be strong for myself, for Grandpa, but I can't anymore. I hit my knees on the floor, and

alone with no one to comfort me. Then I swal

matter how hard I scrub, the grease sticks, just like the bills that keep s

swings open again. This time it's Marlene from the bakery down the

ays gently.

n though

ut a thick white envelope. "Someone

and wait until she's g

for the rich, and the details were not attached, except for a fancy logo I di

at tight. It feels like ba

where Grandpa is still sle

viction notice

ation to my chest like it's bo

o one, "Could