Chapter 31
'Zero, nada, niente, null, nichts! ... Impossible! Pure coincidence!'
Before we proceed with our story, let's pause for a couple of minutes to peek inside Lizzy's mind. For a moment, she mistook Darcy for someone else. This idea didn't last long, though. A few seconds later, she concluded it was a ridiculous presumption.
Or was it?
To get a clearer picture of our heroine's thoughts, let's go back to a sunny Florida morning a few months before. Lizzy had just received an anonymous text message with a link to a news article from a local newspaper. She would just automatically delete it without clicking on the link, but the name in the title got her attention. With a little apprehension, fearing it could've been a virus, she clicked on the link. To her relief, it opened the newspaper's website on her browser.
The article reported the passing of the owner of a large parcel of land in the area which was adjacent to the property Lizzy had received from her family for her incipient Foundation. Her late father had been attached to this neighboring land since he was a little boy when he used to roam all across it in search of adventure with his precious camera.
Thomas Bennet feared that one day this unspoiled and pristine area was going to be sold, drained, and transformed into another typical Florida settlement. The late owner kept the land as virgin forest, but he never made provisions for the future. According to the article, the new heir couldn't wait to free herself from her inheritance. She immediately sold it for an undisclosed but allegedly hefty amount of money to a millionaire from Flint, Michigan, who preferred to remain anonymous.
Out of curiosity, Lizzy set about finding out the plans the new owner had for his new acquisition. To her chagrin, she found out the man seemed to be a land speculator.
It was a long shot, but she contacted the millionaire to sell him on the idea of achieving his father's wishes and attempt to incorporate the land into the Foundation.
The eager seller promptly arranged a videoconference with a new prospective client to discuss her offer. He was in Michigan and she was in her office in the Foundation's headquarters in Naples. When his face came out distorted and his voice auto-tuned, he explained to her he wanted to remain anonymous and not to ask why. This surprised and almost offended her, but she figured this was a quirk of reclusively famous millionaires.
She didn't have to know who or what he was. It didn't matter. As long as he was willing to listen to her.
The instant she concluded her speech about the environmental protection and conservation ideas for the property, the millionaire broke out in a hearty laugh. Feeling doubly upset, about his digitized laughter which sounded like a mocking snarl, and her own mortification at his affront, she cut off the video without another word to the repulsive miscreant.
Her mind swirled with bitter thoughts of the countless hours she had devoted to the preparation of her speech. Her entire family had patiently endured a litany of repetitions, offering suggestions and encouragement until Lizzy had been satisfied. She had gone to the meeting with so much confidence! Only to be ridiculed by that monster in such a cruel manner!
From actual weakness occasioned by the tumult of her mind, she sat down and cried for half an hour.
After calming down, she reflected on the rude behavior of that villain and became infuriated. Never again would she waste a single breath talking to that insolent jerk! He could take the land and his millions and...
The next day, she received a call from the jerk, but she ignored it. The following day, a giant floral arrangement arrived accompanied by a letter. What an insulting gift from that presumptuous and outrageous villain! She tossed them on the garbage without a second glance. Three days later, she received a visit from a pleasant-looking middle-aged lady.
The lady identified herself as Alice Reynolds, an associate and good friend of the jerk. She claimed he was ashamed for his churlish behavior and told her he wanted to resume their negotiations. Lizzy stubbornly refused to see him again. It took Mrs. Reynolds two days and the mediation of Lizzy's entire family to convince her of the sincerity of the man's intentions.
Lizzy agreed to meet again with the jerk, subject to one uncompromising stipulation: her dad had to be present in her office, with Mrs. Reynolds monitoring the jerk in his office.
The man began to apologize, but she interrupted him, shifting the attention to the purpose of the meeting, which, she emphasized, took precedence over their personal feelings. She followed with an impassioned plea, reiterating the reasons she wished to purchase the land for a low figure. He countered with his obvious motivation for selling high, to obtain a profitable return on his investment. Also, to satisfy the need for more housing options for the growing population of Florida.
During many days they negotiated, each trying to persuade the other on the consequence and significance of their objectives. A few days after beginning anew, they were quarreling and bantering like friendly rivals, shifting slowly from the latter to the former, unaware of (or perhaps indifferent to) the absence of their chaperones. Some contentious but oddly satisfying days later, she finally convinced him on the benefits of using the land for the Foundation purposes.
He was so sold on Lizzy's ideas that he agreed to transfer the deed of the land to her with one condition. She had to be the sole owner and administrator of the land. Amused, she asked him how much she had to pay for the privilege. He replied emphatically and with a perfect accent: "Zero, nada, niente, null, nichts!"
This time it was Lizzy's turn to burst out laughing! After calming down, she vigorously rejected his overgenerous offer. The future directors of the Foundation were way wiser than her and had to be the rightful stewards of the land.
The man matched her stubbornness. He insisted she was intentionally undervaluing herself. She would have to make all the decisions regarding the land. If not, he'd sell it to her, but for a very handsome profit.
A new and surprising bargaining session ensued. She insisted on raising the price from zero in exchange for allowing more authority to the Foundation directors. He insisted on reducing the price from the highest amount as she scaled down her responsibilities.
After a few more days of haggling, they reached a happy agreement. The millionaire agreed to sell her the land for a fraction of what he paid for. In exchange, Lizzy got what she wanted. The Foundation directors would be the overseers of the land.
She would never admit it, but she had been delighted by the intriguing man who enjoyed using four or five-syllable words to confuse her! Not only did she keep up with him, but she also even contributed her own multisyllabic gems! Their negotiations had turned into a playful banter full of witty conversation about multiple subjects and teasing remarks from both sides.
When their meetings ended, she was so pleased with the interesting man as to wanting to meet him in person. He adamantly refused. Stubborn Lizzy went to his office in Michigan three times. She even disguised herself! As we already know, the sly billionaire bested her.
Although frustrated with his refusal to meet her directly, she continued to hold him in high regard. They stopped talking, but from time to time they texted each other, resuming their spirited and stimulating conversations.
Tonight, when the Darcy fellow repeated the "zero, nada, niente, null, nichts!" phrase, she became confused for a second. But then she assumed that was probably a common phrase used by millionaires. Or maybe they read the same how-to books for tycoons. Or they went to the same school for rich children. Or whatever unknown reason.
That insolent man could never be like her agreeable friend! Even though he had just redeemed himself a little with his passionate discourse, which served as a tonic for her. So wise, so fitting, and so right! She shouldn't feel a single shred of guilt for the selfish behavior and reckless actions of others!
Lizzy already knew how close and protective of Jane the Darcy fellow had been since they were children. It surprised her they weren't an item.
In her prejudiced state of mind, Lizzy assumed the generous performance of the Darcy fellow was surely meant only for Jane, she just happened to receive a collateral benefit. She failed miserably to account for the obvious attentions he had bestowed upon her. The entire night, Darcy had eyes for her and only for her. Everyone noticed this except for the stubbornly oblivious farm girl.
She anticipated with pleasure the amusement her texting friend would receive later tonight as soon as she shared this delightful tidbit on millionaire phraseology with him.
Finally, she rolled her eyes and faced Jane.