When I was too coward to buy a land opposite the… Parliament Palace (!)
Part 1
(to read part 2, click here)
(When so many intelligent, honest and serious people try to trick a "naïve foreigner"…)
The view of my office's garden was marvelous. I had just moved there (September 2006) and after one week of packing, moving, unpacking and organizing, I decided to invest 15 minutes of my life sitting on a chair, with my legs up on another one, looking at the trees and the flowers our gardener had just taken care of. But it was never meant to be… "Mister Ilias, could you please come?" a colleague of mine knocked at the glass door and destroyed my "nirvana".
"A land across a famous Landmark is for sale"
Feeling heavier than an elephant, I stood up and slowly walked to the conference room. My colleague was discussing with a man of about 50 – 55 years old. Quite tall, with a white moustache, a wide smile and strong hands. "The gentleman here says he has a super opportunity for us". "I am glad I am so lucky then". "You just need to have 2 millions and another 20 to follow. Do you have or I talk for nothing?" "First of all, what kind of millions? Punches? Kicks? What?" "I am talking about euro, mister". "And do you know lots of people who have {C}this amount available in cash?" "Yes, many", "Then why don't you go to them?" "I am generous and want to help you too". (How can you refuse such a gesture…) "Let us say that we have clients with this amount of money and even more. But what is it all about?" "A land across a famous Landmark of the city. It is for sale".
"Direct view to the Parliament Palace…"
"Which is this Landmark? The Ghencea stadium, where the famous Gigi Becalli salutes his fans?" "No, why don't you believe in me a bit more? I am referring to a land with direct view to the Parliament Palace of Romania". (Ooooops) "Where is this land located at?" "On Calea 13 Septembrie road". "But all this area is protected, you can not build". "Nooo, everything is arranged, you will have a lovely building of ground floor plus ten floors with direct view to the Palace. And if I crosscheck that you are smart enough, I will also give you another large surface of some hectares there".
"Look, do you have any conscience of what you say? Do you realize how serious is this and what it means?" "What does it mean? There is an owner who has property titles for part of the whole area and he wants to sell it, legally, fast and at a low price". "And I am Mahatma Gandhi, preparing my peaceful revolution against the English". "Do you have the money? Or I lose my time?" "I can bring you 5 investors with the money, but I don't believe that you are serious". Sometimes I ask to know things which are definitely wrong, but I want to be sure. I was curious to find out what was hidden behind this…
One land – endless intermediates
The gentleman left and he was supposed to return the next day with papers, property titles and proofs. You can easily guess that this did not happen. It would have been easier for him to… swim until Unites States. When he finally decided to be grateful and reply to my colleague's calls, he informed her that there was another intermediate involved, who had the papers, but he also wanted a commission. Soon the other mentioned another two guys. All the three of them were asking for commissions too, but they kept refusing to show me any papers. Then each of them disappeared (or they simply had to change numbers, being chased by someone). After some months we found two of them, who introduced us to another four (!), each to another two. Guess what? They also wanted commissions. We were just following the case because of curiosity. I still remember all my people gathering after work and discussing the weekly news… Until the moment when "Mister Big" appeared…
Tomorrow:
- The lawyer from Cluj
- The "famous" owner
- "Mister Big" takes the situation under control
- "Secret" meeting at Herastrau Park