Somewhat disappointed, Erica started for the door.

“Well, then I'll go home first!

"Wait!"

She stopped and turned around.

Matthew produced his checkbook, a doubtful look on his face.

"You really don't want me to reimburse you for the one hundred thousand dollars?"

Erica's face twitched. She was about to blurt out an affirmative, but held it in at the last second.

"No, I don't need it this time. You've reimbursed me a lot already!"

Her husband didn't seem to hear the refusal; his pen was already scratching across the check.

"I said that I would reimburse you for all your expenses, and this is no exception. Take the check and leave!"

Grinning from ear to ear despite herself, Erica walked over, took the check, and Looked it over. She almost swore out loud when she read it.

"Seven figures! It's really ten times the reimbursement!'

Overcome with emotion, the miser kissed the Little slip of paper once, then again. Remembering her husband, she threw her arms around his neck and cried, "Matthew, honey, I love you so much!"

She planted a fierce, wet kiss on each of his cheeks. Suppressing a laugh, he deftly took out a handkerchief, wiped his face, and pulled away from her.

Trying to look a Little disgusted, Matthew said, "Look, why don't you be on your way? I don't want to see you, or anyone, for a Little while." Seeing how she had reacted to the check, he wanted to test which was more important in his wife's heart: himself or his money.

Slipping the check into a pocket, she said, "Honey, if you don't want to see me, why don't you give me another million? I promise that I wouldn't go home tonight then!"

Her tone suggested that it was a joke, but it left Matthew speechless all the same. His expression froze in a broken sort of smile-really, it was more of a grimace.

There was no need for a test, he realized. The truth was obvious already. Money was more important in Erica‘s heart!

His mind spun with confusion. Wesley and Blair were not mean people.

Not only that, but Gifford gave a considerable living allowance to

Erica every month, despite the fact that his sister routinely drove him crazy. Why did this Little woman still carry herself as if she was so poor?

Clearly, whether a person loved money was not solely dependent upon their financial condition.

Finally he spoke, his voice cold-he almost didn't realize he was speaking.

"How about I give you a billion dollars? And in return you could give up the title of Mrs. Hilton, and I'd let Phoebe—"

Before he could finish his words, Erica slapped the check heavily on the desk.