When I wake up the next morning, I am no longer lying on the floor, but on the bed.

I panic and look to the side, but he is not lying there, although the sunken pillow gives me an idea that he must have been there before. Growling, I run my fingers through my hair as I get goosebumps at the thought of how he must have carried me into bed, where I slept next to him all night.

I just hope I didn't fart...

Praying and with red cheeks, I carefully get up and look around. I recognize his clothes, which he has scattered on the floor, and only then do I hear the water rushing in the bathroom. 

He is taking a shower. 

Sighing with relief, I slump my shoulders and close my eyes with a groan. By the time he comes out of the bathroom, I'm already out of the room and therefore don't have to face him, but that's when the water suddenly turns off and the bathroom door opens a few seconds later.

I flinch as Leroy comes out with only a towel wrapped around his waist. I immediately curse myself for my eyes widening and attaching themselves to his torso like bees to honey. My heart skips a beat, only to immediately beat up to my throat with full force. Leroy notices my look but says nothing, which relieves me immensely. It would have been quite embarrassing otherwise. 

"It's good that you're awake. My dogs need their food," he says immediately and runs up the few steps to disappear into the dressing room. 

Good morning to you too, Leroy... 

"Did you hear me?" he calls sharply, to which I answer in a startled affirmative.

My sleepy gaze meets his as he comes back out dressed. Unfortunately, I have to admit that he looks damn good in dark cloth pants and a black shirt. His hair is still wet and while some strands fall on his forehead, the curls are already curling at the nape of his neck. I watch him put on the expensive watch, but as soon as this happens, he looks at me expectantly, as if from nowhere. I shake my head slightly, coming back to myself. 

"No?", Leroy suddenly asks menacingly, slowly coming closer to me as only a predator does to its prey. I swallow, not understanding what's going on. My throat dries up completely. It's as if my body senses it by now.... sensing that it could be dangerous for me now. 

"What?", I whisper as he reaches me and leans down.

Immediately his pleasant scent of wooden needles and musk hits my nose before his fists dig into the blanket and encircle me, but at least he's at eye level with me now, and I don't have to look up at him.

Intimidated, I pull in my shoulders and return his cold gaze rather questioningly. What's wrong with him? Did I miss something? 

"Did you just contradict me?" he asks calmly, but this makes him seem much more threatening as it makes his voice sound so much harsher and deeper. I shake my head in confusion and bite the inside of my lower lip. Where the hell did my courage from yesterday go? 

"I rather wasn't listening to you," I confess to him quietly and only then realize that that doesn't necessarily sound any better, which is also shown to me by the lift of his brows. "I was just thinking," I add hastily and a little too loudly. Cursing inwardly, I bite my lower lip.

An apology almost escapes my lips, but I refrain. No, I'm certainly not going to apologize for something like that! He has to understand that. 

"All right. I'll repeat myself then," he replies after a while, making me sigh inwardly with relief. Nodding, I wait for his next words. "I don't want you snooping around the house again and I want you to be respectful to our guest, got it?" 

Again, I just nod, but can't help but pardon my face for a moment. What does he mean I should behave respectfully towards our guests? Has Kelly said anything to him? 

"What is it?" his voice thunders, making me cringe violently. Did he really get louder now, or did it just seem that way because he snapped me out of my thoughts again in the process? Leroy raises an eyebrow questioningly as I just shake my head slowly, not taking my eyes off him for even a moment. 

"Nothing in particular. I... Does that mean you want me to take care of Kelly too?" 

"Would that be a problem?" he asks, frowning a little in surprise.

I just shrug and lower my head this time. "Well, I don't think she likes me very much. So I don't want to get on her nerves." 

Let's see how he reacts to that. That will tell me whether I can tell him about yesterday's incident or not. 

"Bullshit, she doesn't even know you yet. Kelly is not prejudiced." 

And my hope shatters. So I can't tell him.

Taking a deep breath, I look down at my now-healed wounds. Only my arm still bears the crusts of his last action with the cigarette, but that will disappear too. 

I don't want any new wounds... 

"Because of the dogs," I begin cautiously and raise my eyes uncertainly.

Expressionless, he stares at me, waiting for what I have to say. Swallowing, I formulate the sentences in my head first before speaking them out. 

"I need the help of someone they like. Otherwise, they'll just attack me again and hurt me." 

The moment the corners of his mouth curl, I already know what will follow and I'm right. 

"We talked about this yesterday, Chica. If you want something, you have to do something for it first," he murmurs, his nose almost hitting mine. I grit my teeth. Before I can stop myself, the next words are already spilling out of my mouth. 

"I know and I'm going to do something about it! Tonight."

And with that, I have written my own death sentence... 

"Tonight? But you know it's the other way around? Do something about it first before you get what you want? Because after all, I'll decide if that's enough for your demand." 

"Yes, I know, but the wish didn't occur to me before that and yet, it will be enough, I'm sure of it," I hurry to say, looking tensely into his eyes that sparkle with amusement. Leroy's nod relieves me immensely, so much so that I forget not to look too relieved in front of him, but of course, he notices me sigh and let my shoulders slump more relaxed. Shit... 

"All right. You can take Danny with you, it'll keep the dogs quiet."

With those words, he leans down even further towards me, but this time without grazing my nose. Still, I now feel the threat coming from him again. "And should you miscalculate and your return is not enough, know that I then have a wish free." 

My heart stops for a moment at his words and I can already imagine how pale I must look now, but before I can say anything else, he straightens up with a diabolical smile and leaves the bedroom. But what am I kidding myself. I wouldn't have been able to say anything anyway. 

What have I done...

☼ ❅

I don't see Leroy or Kelly for the rest of the day anymore, which is good for me. Danny helps me give the dogs their food and afterward we take care of the flowers together with Yang, which was really amusing.

I help her with the cleaning so she can finish quicker and we can watch a film with Danny afterward. 

I think it did everyone well that Leroy was out of the house today. 

And I had a lot of time to think about what I can give back to Leroy for granting me a wish today. It really wasn't easy because I realized that he certainly wouldn't settle for anything, so I thought of cooking for him, but then Yang said that the oven and also the cooker top don't work, so we'll have to order food today until that gets fixed or Leroy buys a new one. 

I shake my head at the memory. Only I could have such bad luck. 

So I come up with something else. I shudder at the thought. I wonder if it will be okay. Whether he even wants this? And do I? 

What you want is a decent life and you'll only get that if you're willing to sacrifice a bit of time and dignity. 

It sounds so harmless, but it is anything but harmless. I close my eyes and sigh as I hear the film end in the background.

Yang and Danny have been having a super time and I feel bad for missing half the film for thinking.

Danny lifts his empty popcorn bag with a cheeky grin and I tear up as I realize he's eaten them all away. Yang has said that he can't eat so many sweets after he has already polished off so much chocolate today because otherwise, Leroy will scold her. 

And because I was there this time, I'm sure he'll scold me too. 

"Crap!", I hiss softly and look plaintively at Yang, who looks at Danny with her mouth full in gape. The sight of her makes me let out a laugh despite the lousy feeling and she too starts laughing in surprise. 

"Damn, the movie was so good I didn't even pay attention to Danny," she sighs, looking at the clock. It is already evening. "And the Patrón will be there any minute, bringing food that Danny won't eat then. That's great. That's how he'll know Danny got too many sweets." 

I bite my lower lip, while Danny just looks back at the television, beaming, where a cartoon series is about to start. I want to say something to calm her down, but I don't know what, because in the end, I can't calm her down. Leroy will notice and then there will be trouble. When did he eat the bowl away and reach for the whole bag? 

"Danny," I start, drawing his attention to me. He looks up at me questioningly. "You shouldn't have eaten that much candy without permission because your dad will get mad now if he finds out." 

Danny blinks, waiting for me to say more, as in and? 

I draw in my breath sharply as Yang shakes his head, smiling.

Of course, Danny thinks it's no big deal because he can surely wrap Leroy around his finger, but he wouldn't be the one in trouble, we would. 

"Who cares, he'll scold us then. We'll just let it wash over us and then we'll be fine," Yang laughs and shrugs her shoulders before standing up. I bite the inside of my cheek. Yes, with her he will just scold her a bit and then maybe even close an eye, but with me? I don't know. He's just looking for reasons to make me feel stupid. 

"Hey, you almost look panicked," Yang pulls me out of my thoughts. Uncertainly, I meet her gaze. "Don't worry, it's not that bad, it's just uncomfortable when you make mistakes and the Patrón reacts to it, but it's not like he's yelling really angry and firing me now!" 

I nod in understanding and exhale in relief. So Yang is just uncomfortable and that's why she finds it so bad and not because Leroy somehow becomes a monster...

A car drives up the driveway and the headlights shine through the windows into the living room, making me raise my eyes. That must be the Patrón, then. Why is he back so early?

I had hoped so much that he would only come after we had all long fallen asleep.

Yang hurriedly puts away the empty bags that prove we've eaten all the sweets, but just as she leaves the living room, the front door opens and she is caught in the act. I press my lips together in pity as she greets him, smiling nervously, and get goosebumps as soon as his icy voice returns the greeting and echoes through the room.

Danny immediately raises his head, beaming, as soon as Leroy steps into the living room. His sharp gaze only brushes mine before he is embraced by Danny, who runs hurriedly towards him. 

My gaze then falls on the dark mane that appears behind him. Kelly.

So he was with her. I wonder where they have been. Well, the way they're dressed, they seem to have been somewhere doing business, otherwise, Kelly wouldn't be wearing a black pencil skirt with that fancy blouse. 

Couldn't care less.

"We brought burgers," her - admittedly - really beautiful voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I pretend not to hear her and continue to look at a certain spot at the table. But when Leroy suddenly asks Danny why he's not hungry, which he must have told him, I reluctantly raise my eyes. 

"Yang, did you give him too many sweets?" his voice thunders, making me wince. Yang, who is standing in the kitchen, looks down at the floor in concern as her cheeks turn a shade of pink. I take a quiet breath before answering in her place. 

"No, that was my fault," I draw attention to myself, not wanting Yang to be snubbed and embarrassed in front of that witch when Leroy scolds her first, which is getting close to a years-long employee. 

"I didn't know Danny wasn't allowed to eat so many sweets," I add, pressing my lips into a thin line.

Leroy's gaze immediately shoots to me, but to my amazement he says nothing. Instead, he crouches down to Danny and looks at him out of narrow eyes. 

"And it didn't occur to you to point it out to her?" he now asks Danny, who immediately shakes his head. 

"Of course, I didn't! I'm never allowed to eat sweets and now I've finally had a chance to really dig in." Danny's sweet hands make me grin. 

"I don't think it's funny, Danny. You know what the doctor said; not so much sugar!" hisses Leroy, where Danny just shrugs with a sweet grin and joins me on the couch again. Leroy straightens up with a sigh. 

"Watch out next time," he murmurs in my direction, to which I nod hastily. His gaze lingers on my humble self for another moment until I look away. And then Kelly repeats again that they have burgers with them. 

Since the knowledge that I still have to show my gratitude to Leroy is heavy on my stomach and I'm not hungry, I excuse myself for dinner and wish everyone a good night before disappearing into the bedroom to get everything ready. 

I might as well just go to bed now... 

I'm sure Leroy wouldn't wake me up, but then he wouldn't only make me pay for it tomorrow, no, he wouldn't grant me any other wish either and apart from that, that would be pretty unfair of me.

Groaning, I put my head back and go out onto the balcony to get some fresh air.

He's going to eat and then bring Danny to bed, but inwardly I hope that something important will suddenly come up and he'll tell me that I don't owe him anything and that I can go to bed. 

Keep dreaming... 

And indeed it remains only a daydream because about forty minutes later he enters the room.