Chapter 3- The Free Sample #2
Carolina didn’t even try to hide her discomfort. “Is this your kind of place?” she asked, looking around the restaurant.
Lizzie nodded, happy to lay claim to a place like this. Will seemed not to notice the comment, distracted by something on his phone. “Your family name is Molina? Are they Colombian? Venezuelan?” Lizzie asked.
“Spain, by way of Argentina,” Carolina responded as if it were the equivalent of holding up a certificate of authenticity. Lizzie nodded, feeling that she now understood Carolina a little better.
Oftentimes, people grouped Hispanics together, thinking that the bonds of a common language were like a fraternity and that they were all of one mind.
The truth wasn’t quite so kumbaya. There were differences in culture, priorities, and a feeling that their own was superior.
Lizzie felt that Carolina was probably someone who felt, whether because of her fair features or European descent, disassociated with other people of Hispanic descent, and viewed Cubans, or at least the ones who would hold business meetings in a La Carreta, as below her.
Carolina wouldn’t be the first Hispanic woman Lizzie had met who considered Lizzie to be less-than because of her tan skin, curly hair, or Cuban heritage; Lizzie took the snobs in stride, and delighted in outclassing and outperforming them.
Carolina touched Will’s arm tenderly, and Will looked up from his phone to see her gesturing to the folder—presumably holding Lizzie’s contract. “Shall we?” Carolina said, shining a large smile she must save for Will.
Carolina pulled out a wet wipe from her purse—because of course she carried those—and wiped down the table before laying out the contract Lizzie recognized as the standard one from her company, except this one had sticky notes with the neatest handwriting she’d ever seen, littered around the pages.
“So I’ve reviewed the contract a few times, and there are a few notes I think we should cover.
For one, you give a timeline, but there is no time-definite guarantee. ”
“What type of guarantee would you be looking for?” Lizzie asked.
“The returns are figured on an annualized basis and conditional on the improvements being met and on a year-over-year comparison, assuming the same market conditions. While I believe all of this is fair, you can hardly expect me to guarantee those results and wait a year for them to produce before paying me.”
Will leaned forward, excited to get into this sparring match with Lizzie.
“No, but that doesn’t mean the work should go on indefinitely, and that we invest without knowing when the improvements and changes should be completed.
After all, you were the one who said you could implement the changes in 90 days. ”
Lizzie considered this for a moment and then said, “Fair enough. As long as I am not met with any opposition—and barring any act-of-God-type unforeseen circumstances—I am happy to guarantee that the work will be completed by the end of the year, which is just over 90 days.”
“Good, I’ll add that. After all, we can’t just expect to have you around forever.
” Carolina mumbled the last part under her breath, but Lizzie still heard her.
That seemed uncalled for, she thought. She shot a look at Will, who she thought would admonish Carolina in some way, but he was looking at his phone again.
Lizzie rolled her eyes and marked another notch against Will in the imaginary tally Lizzie had in her head.
“And there is the matter of your rate. The hourly expectation versus your rate seems to imply…”
Here, Will cuts her off. “Pay her the rate she quoted.”
“Will!” Carolina looked at him incredulously. “For three months’ work, at this fee, the rate per hour is…” She shook her head as if she didn’t know a word to describe her incredulity.
Will looked over to Lizzie now. “90 days to implement these changes—and that’s it, right? No additional cost or fees? We don’t have to keep you on payroll or keep your company on retainer? Nothing like that?”
Lizzie felt a little hurt by the need to keep reassuring them that she would end their relationship after the project was completed.
She assumed she wasn’t for everyone. And who cared if they liked her?
They were going to pay her to do the job, and she would.
She wasn’t exactly clamoring to spend more time with them.
“Yes, that’s it. 90 days, and then you don’t have to see me again.
In fact, I can do most of the implementations with your team, and you don’t have to be directly involved at all. ”
Will clenched his jaw as if bothered by the comment—or maybe because he realized how obvious his desire to have her go away was; Lizzie wasn’t sure. Carolina looked at him pointedly, waiting for his response, which prompted him to clear his throat and say, “Right, good…”
Just then, Will’s phone rang, and he gestured to it, got up, said, “One sec, I have to take this,” and left the two women on their own.
Lizzie squirmed in her seat, eager to fill the silence with conversation but unsure what to talk to Carolina about.
Carolina busied herself with pulling out some hand sanitizer and rubbing it on her hands, even though Lizzie hadn’t seen her touch anything since she sat down.
“Poor Will’s been so busy these days,” Carolina said.
“With the company growing at a record-fast pace, his father’s failing health, and of course his soon-to-be engagement, he’s running out of hours in the day. ”
Lizzie’s surprise was obvious. Not that she was surprised that he would be involved with someone—men of Will Pemberley’s stature often were—but that she hadn’t known.
She took great care in researching her potential clients, and while she found several reports of his attendance at galas and events, nothing had mentioned a relationship, with a few stories even calling him “the most eligible bachelor in Miami.”
Carolina smiled slightly, obviously happy to see that her comment had been met with surprise, which she registered as disappointment, and elaborated on the subject unprompted. “Yes, it’s not common knowledge, but all of us close friends of his know of his relationship with Alisa Reed.”
“Alisa Reed? The daughter of the guy who owns Reed Medical Centers?” Lizzie knew the centers well—there were Reed urgent cares and hospitals all over South Florida.
“That’s one couple that would be kept in good health,” making a note to look her up later.
She couldn’t remember what Alisa looked like, but she’d remember seeing the father in the social pages: porky with a red face and thick glasses. Her curiosity was definitely piqued.
“Yes, well, the plan would be—if they continue their relationship, which seems to be a certainty at this point—they might be tempted to relocate the company to West Palm Beach or Naples. Somewhere less, you know…” Carolina looked around, searching for the right word.
“Busy” was the word she settled on, although Lizzie could feel the word she wanted to say was “chusma.”
“So you see, it’s not that I don’t want to make this deal or work with you—it’s that I’d hate for you to waste your time just for everything to be moved and the work to be undone.” Carolina’s words dripped with fake concern.
Lizzie simply shrugged and said, “Will seems to know what he’s doing. I think he can choose to hire whomever he chooses.”
Carolina bristled, obviously unhappy with the lack of more emotional response, and said, “Right, well, I just thought I would let you know. You know, woman to woman, as a friend.”
Lizzie almost laughed at the word. Friend? I’ve experienced warmer interactions with TSA, she thought.
Will came back to the table, no longer on the phone but typing something out on it. Without looking up, he said to Carolina, “Alisa says call her about that thing.”
Carolina beamed—I told you so written all over her face.
Lizzie sipped her cortadito and then said, “Are we good here?” She waved her hand over the contract. “You can make the changes, and I’ll have it DocuSigned the moment you get it over to me.”
Will looked at both women and said, “I think so. Did we have anything else to cover?”
Carolina shook her head, and Lizzie grabbed her bag, saying, “I think we covered everything. Implemented by year-end, and I’m gone in 90 days. Merry Christmas to everyone.”
Carolina’s smile widened. Will’s jaw flexed again. Lizzie gave a small wave and said, “I’ll start at the DC Monday if you get those over to me today.” Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she left.
Carolina waited three seconds.
“Will. She’s… aggressive.”
Will stared at the contract. “She’s effective.”
Carolina touched his arm. “Alisa might not like…”
Will pulled away. “Alisa doesn’t have anything to do with this.” He stood. “I want to be kept in the loop of her progress. I’ll oversee her work directly.”
Carolina’s smile froze. “But she said…”
“It’s just 90 days. I can manage it.”
He left, grabbing his colada and sipping it, trying to get back some of the buzz he felt in his DC this morning.
* * *
From the Desk of William Pemberley
1:14 PM- Pemberley Office, 12th Floor
I was impressed by her; the demo, the savings, the way she managed herself.
She could’ve asked for more, I would’ve paid it.
In comparison to Caro, maybe any woman in my acquaintance, Lizzie felt like a breath of fresh air.
I had forgotten the taste of authentic Cuban; the taste of sugar in my coffee; the enjoyment of a conversation where I knew that the other person wasn’t just saying what I wanted to hear.
Maybe it was a mistake to hire her, but too late now. Looking forward to Monday; maybe too much.