The billionaire's ledger

Chapter 6: Empty Plates

When I got home, from my regular small cleaning jobs, the apartment was freezing. My little sister, Mia, was sitting at the tiny kitchen table, her head buried in a notebook. She’s only twelve, but she already has these dark circles under her eyes from stressing about school and... well, everything else.

"Hey, Peanut," I said, dropping my bag. "How was school?"

"Fine," she mumbled, quickly closing a flyer for a school trip I knew we couldn't afford. She saw me looking at the empty fridge. "I’m not really hungry, El. I had a big lunch."

I knew she was lying. I found a single sleeve of crackers and one yogurt in the back of the fridge. I pushed them toward her.

"Eat," I said. "I ate at the diner. I’m stuffed."

My stomach let out a loud, traitorous growl right then. Mia looked up, her eyes soft and sad.

"You're a bad liar, El," she whispered.

"Just eat, Mia. I’ve got a lead on a new job tomorrow."

The next morning, I spent four hours walking the city. Being a college dropout is like having a "do not hire" sign on your forehead for anything that pays a living wage. Every office wanted a degree. Every boutique wanted "prior luxury experience."

I ended up sitting on a park bench, my feet throbbing, staring at a 'Help Wanted' sign for a construction cleaning crew. It was hard labor, but I was desperate. Just as I was about to walk in, a black SUV pulled up to the curb. The window rolled down, and those cold, gray eyes were staring at me again.

"You look like you're struggling, Elena," Silas said, his voice smooth as silk.