Free Seduced by the Italian Billionaire by C J Howard Page B

heat rising to my face.
                "Well, I mean, I guess I thought about it for a split second. But that was it."
                "Well, hell, girl, I don't even blame ya."
                "But it only crossed my mind for that split second because I thought about the kids at school, and what the money could do for them. What it could buy to help them learn."
                "Well, it'd sure buy a whole lot of notebooks; that's for damn sure."
                "Yeah. It sure could."
                I got up to get a bottle of water out of the fridge, and Tasha twisted around in her chair.
                "Yo, can you score a homegirl a lil'  milk while you in there?"
                I grabbed my water, her milk, and a glass and returned to the table.
                Tasha filled her glass with milk and then drained it in one long, thirsty series of gulps. "Ah. That hit the spot, for sure." She set the glass on the table and looked at me. "So -- what you were sayin' about takin' the money for the kids. Are you for sure, sure, sure not doin' that, or?"
                A warm breeze blew in through the yellow-curtained windows, lifting the  check out of the decorative dish. I didn't return it, not even wanting to touch it again.
                "Yeah. I'm absolutely positive. Sure, I'd like to help the kids, but I can't lose Benito to do it. He means everything to me. I love him with all my heart."
                "Well, just let's just think this all the way through. Because I don't think you have."
                I glanced out the window at the suddenly darkening sky. "There's nothing to think about."
                "But hold up, though. Just hold the hell up."
                "Why? You can't seriously think that I should take the money and run."
                "I'm just sayin' slow down. Think about this. Now, I know Benito the Billionaire's a good dude. I know he treats ya good. I know you love him. But a man's mind can change in a flash. In a flash faster than lightning. And I just had it happen to me too many damn times to think this ain't true. Men be all lovey-dovey on ya one day, all flowers and dinner and trips and attention, but then somethin' happens. Maybe some new chick catches their eye. Maybe somethin' just changes inside of 'em. Maybe they just ain't forever type of men. Maybe who the hell knows  what. But the point is, men ain't forever. And they usually ain't. And you know I'm speakin' the truth, 'cuz of what happened with you and Dwayne just a few months ago."
                "What Benito and I have is different. What we have is real. And I don't think he'll ever stop loving me."
                Tasha shrugged. "All right. You know him better than me. I'm just sayin’.
    Consider this scenario. Two months down the road, he ain't returnin' your calls. He ain't returnin' your texts no more. He's duckin' ya whenever he sees ya in public. Somethin's changed, and it's a sad thing, but y'all have broken up. And you sittin' up here at home, kickin' yourself, thinkin' about all the stuff that hundred grand woulda bought for the school."
                I stared at tiny blue swirls in the center of the decorative plate, thinking of the teenage girl who'd painted them. And all the other kids at my school like her. Some kids who couldn't even afford backpacks to take their homework home in.
                Tasha poured herself some more milk. "Just think about how fast a relationship can be over. Just think of how much good that money could do for the kids. And, hey --   ... you wouldn't have to spend it all on them; you could keep a little to do some good for yourself, too. Maybe some new shoes, or jewelry, or--."
                "I wouldn't keep a penny of it for myself."
                Tasha frowned. "Not even for a new handbag or