Page 57 of The Billionaires

He shrugs. “The land owner called himself old-fashioned, so I figure he might feel more favorably toward a family man—or at least one attached to a beautiful woman.”

If my heart were a cactus, it would bloom right here and now at the “beautiful woman” description he’s so casually tossed my way.

“Sure,” I surprise myself by saying. “I’ll join you.”

Saguaro bite me. Why did I say that? I’m here to visit the UF campus, first and foremost.

Oh, well. I guess it’s true what they say about the power of flattery.

The meeting takes place in a stately two-story building surrounded by impeccable landscaping. When we enter the conference room, I see why the landowner called himself old-fashioned. He’s so ancient he probably predates the invention of fashion.

“This is Mr. Winston,” Lucius says.

“I insist again,” Mr. Winston says with a smile that deepens the grooves and creases around his eyes. “Call me John.”

Lucius nods. “Sorry… John.”

“Nice to meet you, John,” I say. “My name is Juno.”

“A pleasure, Juno.” John looks at Lucius. “Are you kids married?”

“Dating,” Lucius says.

“Ah,” John says. “I used to do that in my day. I dated my wife for a whole week before we tied the knot.”

A week? Things sure moved fast when you had to get married before hooking up.

“In any case.” John takes a seat. “You make a beautiful couple.”

“Thanks,” Lucius and I say in unison and sit down too.

“How about we get down to business?” Lucius says, pulling out a folder with some papers.

They launch into a discussion about surveys and development that I mostly tune out, until a question by John perks up my ears.

“Will you take any steps to preserve local plant species?” he asks.

“Plant preservation,” Lucius repeats with a frown. “I’m not?—”

“Honey, would you mind if I jumped in?” I ask. I may not be business-savvy, but plants I know.

Lucius gestures with an open palm. “Please.”

That may be the first please I’ve heard him utter, and the fact that he trusts me enough to speak at this important business meeting makes me feel things I shouldn’t.

“I’m not sure if you realize this, but urban landscaping already uses about eighty different native species, which means they can easily be salvaged during development.”

“Oh?” John’s white caterpillar of a unibrow seesaws on his forehead.

Lucius nods, as if that has been the plan all along. “Yes, thus saving on landscaping costs.” He gives me an approving look.

Encouraged, I continue. “In fact, we could build an onsite nursery to store the salvaged plants. Whatever isn’t used for Novus Rome could be sold to other developers.”

“Fascinating,” John says. “What are some examples of these plants?”

I take out my phone and do a search. “This here is red maple.” I display the picture for them both.

“I recognize it,” John says. “These would work well as shade plants.”

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