ye

t one five thousan

et such an amou

lf as I pressed my forehead against the

p me," I whispered-

, behind the bakery across

cried from hunger. But the image of my mother's pale, fragile

he went to. I decided to try my luck t

fé, noise surrounded me. Laughte

s seems to be the manager, she was standing there ta

n a calm, g

t can I o

"I just came to ask if you need

waitress," she replied, tapping

a cleaning job, I'll do

arly touche

for a moment. T

see how despe

nd snapped her fingers

large caram

rista

ack to me, a

ineteen on the outdoor terrace. Fast. If you

it?" I

the door when my phone buzzed.

worsened overnight. She has be

t crack

ath st

gs we

whispered, tears b

ond, I didn't see

My arm jerked. T

and exploded across a man's gray

fr

fro

please, I'm so sorry." The wo

y raised

ine. Storm

eet pause, as if everyone was wa

ro De L

owerful and dangerous billionaire in

his voice low and dang

y thoughts spinning. It was s

ammered. "I didn't mean

how much this

wide, my heart slamm

dangerously. Like a man h

gaze drop

e temperat

y, "do you have any i

I whispered. "Plea

ng worth more than

u

ed to explain. "It

pping closer, "are what c

ped something

barrassme

hispers spread t

," I blurted. "Or-or the shirt

t there was n

y i

soaked fabric with two fingers, "c

llowe

h where you're g

sto

buzzed again, sti

essage glowed

flickered across his face-curi

ed the phone, m

loser, invad

he murmured darkly, "you shou

ologize again. Instead, s

t," I hissed. "I didn't p

ifted in his

? Annoya

ur name?"

ee how that'

't like not knowing the name of the person who

th fel

was a ne

ike him don't dat

his voice droppi

. N

lla," I w

d on me-too long

ly, chillingly, "I always repa

pped. "That's

murmured. "You'l

ke a promise.

driver rushed out, horror spreading ac

ir

sed a hand, s

t look-sharp, unre

got into

in the street, holding an empty coff

o the café, the manage

s," she snapped. "

do it Int

e not

ee words

aze, fighting the b

d int

oyed

billio

ting for hope I

t like it wa

p bench and covered m

could go w

dn't

niverse c

words Alejandro whispe

z. Let's see who