Free Seduced by the Italian Billionaire by C J Howard

Christina had hers off and I felt stupid that I didn't ask. Was that it? Please just tell me."
                Ignoring me, she began filling out the check, writing my name on it.
                I sniffled, completely uncomprehending. "Was it that I didn't finish all my tiramisu, even though Alonzo had made some joke earlier about how you always like everyone to clean their plates? I'm really sorry. It was absolutely delicious, but I was just so stuffed. Was that it? Please believe that I never meant to offend you."
                She glanced up at me. "Will fifty thousand cover it?"
                I stared at her, willing my brain to make sense of what she'd just said. "Will fifty thousand cover -- cover what?"
                She didn't answer and finished filling out the check for fifty thousand, then thrust it in my direction. "Take this and never speak to my son again."
                I know my mouth hung open for at least two full seconds before I was able to close it.
                "You're -- you're paying me off to never see Benito again? You're actually -- you're paying me off?"
                Elza held the  check  out, waving it. "Take it. I'm sure a person of your limited means can put this money to good use."
                I wiped my eyes, my confusion, sadness, and shock giving way to anger. "Is this some sort of a -- a sick joke?"
                "Not at all. Take this check and never speak to my son again."
                I bit back a laugh. "You're crazy. You're absolutely crazy. I love your son, Mrs. Fabriccio . I'm going to be with him. And fifty thousand dollars is not going to change that."
                She shrugged, ripped up the check, and began writing a new one. "Perhaps this will change your mind."
                I folded my arms across my chest. "Nothing will change my mind."
                "Well -- perhaps a hundred thousand dollars will. Perhaps, after I leave, when the realization fully sinks into your mind that this amount is nearly three times your yearly salary."
                "Here's a realization for you . You're sick. Do you realize that? This isn't a mother's love; this is sick."
                "No, this is love so deep you could not possibly understand."
                "You're twisted. You're twisted on a level I can hardly even wrap my mind around."
                She began signing her name on the check, shrugging. "This money will help you forget."
                "I want you out of my house, Mrs. Fabriccio. Right this second."
                She finished writing the check, set it in a decorative dish on the table, and stood. "You will never fit in with my family. You will never be accepted; you will never be welcome. So take this check and cash it. Enjoy your windfall. And do not ever contact my son again."
                She began striding back out to the living room, and I followed her.
                "Before you go, I just have one question for you, and I think I deserve an answer. How could you act so nice to me last night, when the whole time, you obviously hated me? How could you welcome me into your home and say all those nice things to me? How could you be so -- fake?"
                Elza stopped at the door, turned to face me, and lifted the corners of her mouth, her dark eyes gleaming. "I'm able to do what I must in order to not hurt my son's feelings. But at the end of the day, I'll do what I will to protect his best interests."
                And with that, she breezed out the door, slamming it behind her.
                I sank into the couch, my head in my hands. "Complete psychopath. Evil."
                Soon my rapid breathing and galloping pulse returned to semi-normal, and I went out to the kitchen to examine the check and see if she'd