On september i5, preet wrote to lila as follows: "i offer to sell you blackacre for $300,000, all cash, closing on november i. advise as soon as possible. (signed) preet." on october i, lila mailed her acceptance to preet, unaware that preet had died on september 30 when lila learned of preet's death, on october 5, lila insisted that the estate of preet nevertheless deliver the deed to blackacre in exchange for lila's certified $200,000 check. xavier, the executor of preet's estate, refused to do so.