Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 204 -

Весса.

The day following some angry, but hot sex with James, he was out trying to establish some connections again while I was at home sipping wine, contemplating going out to the bar or something myself.

There was nothing interesting on television and no new news regarding the myriad of situations we always seemed to replace ourselves in. I wasn't happy about the outcome of the fight I'd had with James, but the sex had been nice. I took a sip of my wine, going over everything else. The kids, at least, seemed to be happy. Alessandro was talking more and didn't seem afraid of the neighbors like he had been with the Stepford wives.

I'd noticed he very much flinched away from them and wasn't happy from the first time we'd interacted. No surprise, as they saw him, and me, as lesser. I clenched my fist at that thought.

As upset as I was to be here in Italy, at least we weren't there anymore.

My thoughts turned to Antionette again and how she had been the one to suggest looking for a charity in the first place. I recalled how she sometimes traveled to work for places in Africa. She really couldn't be that bad. Maybe it was a moment of weakness? She'd been trying to protect her family, I supposed.

I frowned to myself, letting out a sigh. It was too early to forgive her, or even reach out, yet. My heart was tender and kind, but I couldn't let people keep walking all over me. James included. I really hoped he would see what I was seeing. Contemplating how to accomplish that, I snapped my fingers and stood up. No use wasting away in front of the television when I could be making use of my time. I entered my office, sitting down in the chair, and turning on the computer. I opened up several tabs, closing down my notes and shutting off my thoughts on how to make things viable. I needed to appeal to emotion in this case. I scrolled through several photos, my eyes widening in realization. I really needed to make a difference here. I observed several before pictures of children with little to no weight on their bones, and sad eyes that were lost and afraid. I felt a pang of sadness, wanting to help but also wanting to be conscious of their own culture and needs as well.

I needed to avoid the savior complex and make sure I was doing this for them, not me. I saved a few pictures, wanting to sway James, but also reminding myself to be conscious of whether or not I would want that to be my own children's fate. Would I feel it right for people to take pictures of my children, if they were in a terrible situation, even if it was meant to help them? I wasn't sure. Either way, it would hopefully help us get there. I bit my lip, having a dilemma on this for a moment.

The article I researched did mention that could be a problem. Really, I wasn't perfect. But, I knew that my research would be fruitful, and when I got there, I needed to be unobtrusive. I had all of this money and needed to do it their way, not mine.

Now, I sort of wished I'd asked Antionette about her thoughts on this matter. How she accomplished it without trying to focus on herself and putting the kids first, along with their cultures. I needed to make sure I wasn't in the mindset that my way was better than theirs.

First, though, I needed to make sure it could be a possibility in the first place. After saving a few pictures and stories, I felt satisfied enough. James would be seeing it, but no one else, after all. Hopefully, I would be doing some good. Hopefully, I could convince him to do the same.

After looking into all of that, my resolve was strengthened even further than before. I printed out a few sheets of paper with the pictures and descriptions saved. "I'll show James later," I told myself, then exited the office and entered the living

room.

I sat down on the couch again, flicking through the channels on the television and trying to focus. From the nursery emerged Sophia. She had a brilliant smile that lit up the room, and all was quiet in there.

I raised a brow, giving her a nod of greeting.

"Hey," I said. After a pause, I said, "Thank you so much for coming to visit, by the way. How have they been?" I'd been so preoccupied with not wanting to be here that I'd forgotten about the main purpose-keeping my children comfortable and okay.

Sophia brightened at my question, her entire demeanor simply radiant. She said, "Oh! They've been little angels. Alessandro's vocabulary is so funny!" She winked at me, causing my face to flush in embarrassment. "Oh, right, yeah. I've gotten in trouble for that," I admitted, giving a nervous laugh.

Rather than obtain a judgmental glint in her eye, Sophia just laughed, no doubt in good spirits. "Hah! Oh, are you kidding? It's hilarious! Alessandro is simply wonderful, and Daliah is too. So well behaved! I know you folks have been through a lot, but these kids have taken it in stride!"

I widened my eyes, surprised at how well Sophia was doing with the kids. "Wow, I'm so happy to hear that," I said, gushing a bit. Shame she had a multi-million dollar company to run when she wasn't taking "time off." She would be a natural nanny, for sure.

Sophia giggled and nodded, her eyes just glittering with joy. "I'm glad you are! You look like you could use some time to yourself after everything, Becca." Her eyes flashed with sympathy, and she shook her head with a sigh. "I mean that with concern, by the way."

"I figured," I said, smiling softly myself. "Yeah, I could. I'm so glad the kids are doing so well. I have a lot on my mind. The people there in New York weren't welcoming at all." I winced, thinking of the Stepford wives. "Except one of them. Sort of."

"Oh, what happened?" She took a seat on the couch. I sent a maid for some wine and wine glasses. The kids must be asleep right now. I couldn't replace myself denying some good wine. The whistling on the stove indicated tea was on the way too. Good options.

When the maid returned, I took a glass and thought about how to respond. "Well," I said slowly. "They were the ones who chased me out. With James, of course. They said I didn't belong. It was a horrible experience." I shuddered, wondering what could have happened if I dared to stay.

We didn't need more enemies right now, that was for sure. Sophia tilted her head curiously, then asked, "You said all but one, right? How come one of them wasn't so bad?"

"She brought up a charity idea. I want to start a charity to make a difference, for once. Children who never have a chance at a good life could be helped by my money-and me. I know there's a lot of research to be done on it, but it's what I want to do."

"I see," she said, taking a sip of her wine and thinking about it. "That's nice of her to bring that up. Did she behave badly like the rest? You seem a bit hesitant." Oh, was I being obvious? Maybe I was. I unclenched my jaw and tried to massage the side of my cheeks.

After a long pause, I gave a nod. "She sided with them in the end. I think it was because her reputation and way of life would be completely destroyed otherwise. I have mixed feelings. She texted me saying sorry, though. I wish I knew how to feel in this situation."

"That sounds like something to sit on," Sophia observed softly. Wise words. She was right. With all that was going on, I couldn't dwell on it now. Rather, I blinked and nodded, happy for her smile, and someone to talk to who would listen in general.

"I think I will, yeah," I agreed. "Besides. I have so many other things on my mind. Like... James. That charity idea, I already know where I'd want to go. I need to do more research on the culture, and how to help without being obtrusive, but I don't think James is with me on this."

"Where do you want to go? Why don't you think James is into it?" She took a sip of her wine, shaking her head and letting out a sigh. "Granted, he's always been phenomenally stubborn! He must be giving you headaches regularly." "Yeah," I chuckled, though then my grin faded to a frown. I sighed, then said, "My idea is to start a charity in Guatemala. I found many children in need there, from my research, and while there's more to be done, I think I'm set on it." "Have you thought of adapting to a new way of life there?" she asked. Then, she turned to look at the nursery door. "And how the kids may adapt? It's quite different from here, naturally, though I don't know the specifics."

"I have," I said confidently. "I think this family could achieve the dream while also stabilizing there. We can do so much good, and in fact, I think it's our obligation to. After all, that's happened, I'm confident." "You sound it," Sophia said. She appeared unsure, then added, "James has incredibly strong family ties, though, Becca."

"I know," I groaned, shaking my head and placing my hand on my forehead. That was a frustration I had been dealing with regularly. It was why we were here. Granted, convenient, since we were safe for now. "It's one of the things holding him back."

"One of the things?"

"Well, he replaces the idea dumb. That's the other thing. I think if I show him pictures of the children in need, though, it may sway him," I explained. Sophia nodded thoughtfully, tapping a manicured nail on her chin in thought. "Well. If James is willing to leave the family and go do that, then he really loves you. Whether he does so or not..."

"That's the thing," I said. I shook my head, fire burning in my eyes for just a moment. "I don't think he will. He's too stuck on Italy being a place to settle. I'm ready to move on and make a difference. I wish he had his eyes open and would do the same."

"Maybe the pictures you show him will sway him?" Sophia asked with a raised brow. I shrugged, still not entirely sure. It was certainly better than nothing, though. I rubbed the back of my neck and took a sip of my wine, turning my attention to the whistling teapot in the kitchen.

"Maybe they will," I whispered softly. "I certainly hope so."