Zaria had to agree with him this time. She nodded and took out her checkbook again. "You are right. How about ten million? Scratch that. Ten million is still chicken feed. Thirty million will do, right? My allowance is at its lowest this year, so

Zaria felt embarrassed as she spoke about this.

She wrote another check for thirty million and forced it into Claudia's hand.

“Please make do with this. I can't go higher than that now. But don't worry. When I get the dividend at the end of the year, I'll make it up to you. That said, you can go back to practicing the piano. I'LL take my leave now."

Scared that Claudia would give her the check back, Zaria grabbed her bag and ran away with her heels clattering against the floor

Claudia's mouth was agape as she Lowered her head to Look at the check in her hand.

After thinking for a moment, she looked at Bennett, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

Bennett walked to the table and poured two glasses of water, one for himself and the other for Claudia.

“Thank you."

Claudia accepted the glass and took a few sips. Then, she asked, “Is it like a thing for rich people to give people money?"

Just the other day, Bennett transferred the whopping sum of one hundred million dollars to her. And now, Zaria just wrote her a check for thirty million!

Why is that? Did she give off the vibe of someone who needed to be tempted with wealth?

Claudia feared for her dignity. She felt that if things went on like this, she might Lose herself to the love of money.

Bennett glanced at her. "No."

"Then why? Why did you... I mean why did Zaria give me the money?" Bennett looked at her with a faint smile. "It's simple. I gave you money because you like it. Zaria did the same because I told her that's what you like."

"This doesn't make any sense! There are millions of people who Like money. Why don't you go about giving them money? Why me?" Claudia blurted out, defensively.

“Because they're not Claudia."

A strange emotion swirled in his black eyes as he looked at her. His words sent warmth to Claudia's heart.

Blushing, she took a long shot at saving face. "You have the wrong conception of me, Bennett. I don't Like money a lot."

“Yeah, I know that."

Bennett stared her in the eye and said with a smile. "Same goes for me. I don't like money a lot, but that doesn't mean I hate it. After all, who in this world hates money?"

Claudia was flustered by the glint in his eyes and the way he looked at her. Her heart began to beat faster and faster.

Oh, Lord! Talking about money issues wasn't what was on her mind now! She was thinking about love. Was she falling for him?