Tasha said, "You saved Claire's life, so let me reward you properly."

She motioned with her right hand, and a bodyguard appeared with a checkbook ready. "Just tell me how much you want."

Jealousy rippled through the room. Everyone knew Tasha was generous with her money, especially when family was involved. Each of them imagined themselves as the hero of the moment, picturing the money that might have been theirs.

Clarence suffered the most. He was clenching his fists hard. When he thought about how he had arranged Felix's transfer himself, all he wanted to do now was to slap himself.

Felix began, "Mrs. Sharpe, I couldn't possibly accept—"

Tasha pretended to shoot him an angry look, already scribbling on the check. "I'll give you one million dollars. And don't complain it's not enough. Any more might turn your head, and we wouldn't want that."

Sudden wealth could change people in unthinkable ways—she wasn't wrong about that. For someone with Tasha's fortune, a million dollar