The Last Option
Chapter Sixty-Four: Crossed Plans

That night the three of them met again for dinner and Bernadette realized that something was happening between her friend and Bernard because of the way they treated each other. Rebecca was much more animated and smiling than usual and she even showed affectionate gestures towards him, like touching his hand across the table. At times she would stare at him like a teenager looks at her favorite rock star and that ended up convincing her that she was trying to win him over. Feeling betrayed, she thought about leaving and sending her friend to hell, but then she gave it some thought and decided that this time she wouldn't let her friend get away with it. It was time for her to face Rebecca. She couldn't allow her to keep taking the men she liked only to throw them away after her.

But with Bernard now it was different. That man in front of them did not seem like a jerk, not even a womanizer, he seemed like a man with personality, hardworking, honest and above all sensitive. No, she couldn't allow Rebecca to corrupt this seemingly good man, although she needed to be convinced that he really was. If it turned out that Bernard Sullivan wasn't what he appeared to be, then she would gladly push him into the lion's den, or in this case, into Rebecca's clutches. For his part, Bernard was thinking about his future performances in front of Rebecca to finish convincing her that he really was a dying millionaire who was hurt by not having been able to have a family of his own. He needed to talk to Phil to ask for his help and obtain the necessary evidence to present to Rebecca on the sly and thus complete his plan. So far everything had turned out fine despite having given her his real name. As long as her cousin Louis Randall didn't replace out she was with him, everything would go as planned. He would take the opportunity to take him out of the equation at the right time, but it had to be soon.

After dinner they stayed near the Burj Khalifa to see the majestic spectacle of the dancing fountains. It shot great jets of water at least 150 meters high, dancing to the music of the moment and offering an impressive spectrum of lights and colored projectors across the water. Bernard was really impressed seeing that.

"It's amazing what money can do, isn't it?" Bernadette commented, also fascinated by the spectacular crossing of water and lights.

"I'll never get tired of watching it," Rebecca said, pretending to be excited.

Bernard glanced at them sideways and chose not to say anything, turning his attention back to the sources. Seeing him so abstracted, Bernadette took him by the arm, seeing an opportunity to get closer to him. Rebecca saw that and barely drew a smile on her lips.

"What do you think?" Bernadette asked. "Suddenly you look distracted."

"It's nothing," Bernard said. "I was thinking precisely about what you said, about what money can do; useful for doing some things, but totally useless for others."

Rebecca heard that and immediately realized that he was referring to the supposed illness he suffered from, that he couldn't do anything to cure himself despite all the money he had.

"That expression is somewhat ambiguous," Bernadette said innocently. "Money is useful for everything, without money you can't do anything."

"Except to go on living," Bernard said grimly, pretending to be affected by something.

But Bernadette didn't get the message; she just clung tighter to his arm.

"We will all die one day," she said still innocently. "The important thing is to take advantage of the money to live to the fullest, if you have it. If you want to learn how, ask Becca to show you." Suddenly the innocence became something else, especially from the look Bernadette gave her friend, who pretended not to be affected by the comment.

Bernard knew exactly what Bernadette was referring to, but he continued in his role and preferred not to play along.

"You're right," Bernard said, changing his mood. "Let's make the most of being here and do things we've never done before. You have been here longer than me, could you show me the rest of the tourist attractions and we can even participate in an activity that makes us feel alive, like parachuting. What do you think?"

Bernadette separated from him, clapping her hands with excitement.

"I'm in!" she said enthusiastically. "It's practically the weekend and I'm available."

"Have you ever parachuted?" Rebecca asked Bernard, somewhat surprised. "Never?"

"No, believe it or not," said Bernard with honesty gushing through his pores. "I certainly never have." "Well, that will be our first activity tomorrow," Rebecca said. "You will see that it's very exciting.'

39

Bernard was beginning to regret having proposed that, but in order to continue his role as a millionaire he decided to go ahead. Luckily he had Phil's money, though not brave enough to do such a thing. But it was not time to chicken out, if others have done it, why not him?

"I have the second business meeting tomorrow morning and I hope to finish the agreement before noon," Bernard said to finish convincing them. "We can meet here for lunch, and then we'll go have some fun. Do you agree?" "No problem for me", Bernadette agreed, "so I don't miss work on Friday, when there is more to do."

"We forgot you're here on business," Rebecca said. "Business before pleasure. I agree. One o'clock?"

"It's a date," Bernard said.

Arriving at his room, Bernard immediately called Phil through the app they had agreed on: Telegram. Because of the time difference he knew that he would be in his office working. "Hello, Bernard. I was surprised how quickly you were able to replace our "friend." How is everything with her?"

"How do you know that I have already found her?" Bernard was really surprised and intrigued.

"She called me to ask for your references, that's why I knew. I took a chance by telling her that you were negotiating with Nathan but it had come to nothing. I didn't screw up, did I?" "No, Phil, you did very well. I also told her that. That's why she changed her attitude towards me. At first she didn't even want to talk to me, but I think that convinced her."

"I'm glad we agreed on that. We didn't agree on what you would do before you left. It was a huge risk."

"Don't worry, in this world where we are moving, negotiations are normal. I think I've got her interested, but I need you to do me a favor."

"Whatever you want, as long as I can."

"To get her interested in me, I told her that I was sick and that I had a short time to live."

"Really?" Phil frowned in surprise. "Where do you want to go with that?"

"If she really is as greedy as we think, she will want to keep my supposed fortune, since I told her that I have no one to leave it to when I die. She looked really interested as soon as I told her." "Well, knowing her as I do, she may already be thinking about it. What do you want me to do?"

"I told her that I suffered from a rare disease that deteriorates my organs. I want you to talk to Dr. Holloway so that he can give us information about some of it and help me convince her that I really have it. The more she knows the better." "Excuse me, Bernard, but I think you can replace that out on the internet. You don't need a doctor."

"You're right, but I will need you to send a false notification tomorrow afternoon as if you were my doctor to a cell phone that I bought when I arrived here, telling me that I need to get treatment again in order to manage my illness as well as possible and see if I can extend a little the time that I have left to live. It can be done by you or by Dr. Holloway, or by someone else he tells you. You will have to agree with him and convince him that it is for a good cause." "Doctor Holloway is very honest and I don't think he lends himself to a deception. It wouldn't be ethical for him."

"Tell him it's for little Nathan. He already knows part of the story."

"Let me talk to him. I'll let you know as soon as I have something."

"Okay. I'll message you the number of the new cell phone. Thank you very much Phil."

At that moment Bernard thought about everything he was going to do and decided to be honest with his friend.

"I wanted to talk to you about something else, Phil."

"Tell me."

"I'm going to spend some of your money on a few things. Today I bought an Armani suit to impress Rebecca, and I'm going to keep spending it, but not all of it. Do you agree with that?"

"No problem, Bernard," Phil said without thinking. "As you said, it's for a good cause. I hope everything works out for you."

"Thanks again, Phil. You're a good friend."

"Don't mention it."

Bernard closed the connection. He typed in the new number he had written on a piece of paper and sent it to Phil. Two hours later, while he was sleeping, Phil texted him:

'I spoke with Holloway, your fictitious condition is called "Amyloidosis", and I agreed with him to send a message after noon there from a disposable phone about the new procedure you will undergo. Take a rest.' Bernard did not read the message until he got up the next day.