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Authors: Lee Lamond
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to give money to the museum. Badeau said that you are worth about two hundred million euros. Is that right?
“I don’t actually know. I have a majority interest in my company, my dad left me a lot of land and my mother left me some money and stock, and I got some money from my wife’s estate. It might be more or less, but so what? As long as I am trying to do some good in the world and not being irresponsible, it is none of his business. This guy Badeau is beginning to frickin’ annoy me.”
“If Badeau has an interest in your project proposals, it’s not because he wants to be nice or because he cares about the art. It would only be about him.”
“That’s okay, as long as I get my way. I’m doing what I’m doing because I believe in it. I’ll use these bozos and their egos to get my way if I have to. But as I said, the obstacle is not your friends—it’s the Church and the other red-tape machine that Vassar mentioned. If the Church accepts help, they’ll be admitting that there’s a problem. Then they’d have to explain why the problem is so big, why it exists, and why they can’t fix it.
Austin paused, then looked at Madeline. “So what do you say? Are we going to be partners, or what?”
Madeline looked at her new friend and again studied his eyes. She wanted to answer with a yes, but she felt timid about doing so. His question was so direct. It was coming from an individual that she had met before but didn’t really know. Austin Clay had made a commitment to her, a commitment that no one else had made. She had no idea where the new friendship would take her, but she was willing to go.
Austin extended his hand, offering to shake that of his new ally. Madeline smiled and shook Austin’s hand. Austin smiled back with a smile that gave Madeline confidence. When Austin Clay made a commitment to a person, even in a business relationship, they were usually much better off in the end. Whether or not the same would be true with Madeline was yet to be determined.
It was now dark outside, and the light from the candle on the table reflected off Madeline’s face and accentuated her light blue eyes. Austin was disarmed by her ever-changing good looks, but more importantly he was impressed with her goodness. Inside, the beautiful Madeline Rousseau was a good person.
The food arrived, and Austin looked down at the plates being presented. He wasn’t panicked, just a little concerned. Austin Clay was a meat-and-potatoes man and had his limits. A quick inspection suggested that he would be okay. On Madeline’s side of the table was a fish dish and a small bowl of snails.
“So what did you order me?” he asked, trying not to reveal any concern.
“That is a lamb dish in a very nice wine sauce, and these are carrots mixed with small onions.”
Lamb was not his favorite, but he would keep that secret to himself.
“Would you like some of my snails?” Madeline asked, holding the dish toward Austin.
Austin looked at the dish and then at Madeline. “Ah … no, thank you.” The look on his face conveyed more than his words.
Madeline took back the plate with a laugh. “How am I ever going to convert you into a Frenchman if you won’t eat snails?”
“Madeline, my friend, that will be the least of your problems.”
For the first time that evening, Madeline began laughing, and it was a laugh that had been waiting a long time to surface.
“Tell me, Madeline, where did you learn your English? It is excellent.”
“In school, when I was younger, and in the university. I also spent a year at your University of Pennsylvania on an exchange program. I speak a little Italian, and some Spanish, and a little German.”
“My goodness, Madeline, you’re pretty and you’re smart. My French is pathetic, but I am trying. You humble me.”
After dinner Austin insisted that Madeline have a dessert with whipped cream on top to celebrate their new alliance. She complained about the calories,
“I don’t actually know. I have a majority interest in my company, my dad left me a lot of land and my mother left me some money and stock, and I got some money from my wife’s estate. It might be more or less, but so what? As long as I am trying to do some good in the world and not being irresponsible, it is none of his business. This guy Badeau is beginning to frickin’ annoy me.”
“If Badeau has an interest in your project proposals, it’s not because he wants to be nice or because he cares about the art. It would only be about him.”
“That’s okay, as long as I get my way. I’m doing what I’m doing because I believe in it. I’ll use these bozos and their egos to get my way if I have to. But as I said, the obstacle is not your friends—it’s the Church and the other red-tape machine that Vassar mentioned. If the Church accepts help, they’ll be admitting that there’s a problem. Then they’d have to explain why the problem is so big, why it exists, and why they can’t fix it.
Austin paused, then looked at Madeline. “So what do you say? Are we going to be partners, or what?”
Madeline looked at her new friend and again studied his eyes. She wanted to answer with a yes, but she felt timid about doing so. His question was so direct. It was coming from an individual that she had met before but didn’t really know. Austin Clay had made a commitment to her, a commitment that no one else had made. She had no idea where the new friendship would take her, but she was willing to go.
Austin extended his hand, offering to shake that of his new ally. Madeline smiled and shook Austin’s hand. Austin smiled back with a smile that gave Madeline confidence. When Austin Clay made a commitment to a person, even in a business relationship, they were usually much better off in the end. Whether or not the same would be true with Madeline was yet to be determined.
It was now dark outside, and the light from the candle on the table reflected off Madeline’s face and accentuated her light blue eyes. Austin was disarmed by her ever-changing good looks, but more importantly he was impressed with her goodness. Inside, the beautiful Madeline Rousseau was a good person.
The food arrived, and Austin looked down at the plates being presented. He wasn’t panicked, just a little concerned. Austin Clay was a meat-and-potatoes man and had his limits. A quick inspection suggested that he would be okay. On Madeline’s side of the table was a fish dish and a small bowl of snails.
“So what did you order me?” he asked, trying not to reveal any concern.
“That is a lamb dish in a very nice wine sauce, and these are carrots mixed with small onions.”
Lamb was not his favorite, but he would keep that secret to himself.
“Would you like some of my snails?” Madeline asked, holding the dish toward Austin.
Austin looked at the dish and then at Madeline. “Ah … no, thank you.” The look on his face conveyed more than his words.
Madeline took back the plate with a laugh. “How am I ever going to convert you into a Frenchman if you won’t eat snails?”
“Madeline, my friend, that will be the least of your problems.”
For the first time that evening, Madeline began laughing, and it was a laugh that had been waiting a long time to surface.
“Tell me, Madeline, where did you learn your English? It is excellent.”
“In school, when I was younger, and in the university. I also spent a year at your University of Pennsylvania on an exchange program. I speak a little Italian, and some Spanish, and a little German.”
“My goodness, Madeline, you’re pretty and you’re smart. My French is pathetic, but I am trying. You humble me.”
After dinner Austin insisted that Madeline have a dessert with whipped cream on top to celebrate their new alliance. She complained about the calories,
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