“It’s too late to think about what we should’ve done now. But Jasper, we were thinking if you could lend a helping hand? It’d be fine if it was just Kai, but his family shouldn’t have to suffer because of it as well,” John spoke hesitantly.
Jasper smiled subtly at John and replied, “You’re too good of a friend, John.”
John waved him off. “Kai and I have been friends for more than a decade. There’s no way I can just stand aside and watch him kill himself.”
Jasper asked, “Then how do you want me to help?”
Kai and John’s eyes shone at Jasper’s question. Especially Kai, for he did not expect Jasper to be willing to help. Kai quickly replied, “I need an extra 3.5 million in funds, and I was wondering if you could lend me that amount? I promise I’ll pay you back once this whole incident is over, Mr. Laine.
“Honestly, 3.5 million isn’t a lot at all,” Jasper replied. Seeing the elation on Kai’s expression, Jasper quickly continued, “But I have a series of investments after New Year’s, so I don’t plan on lending the money.”
At that, both Kai and John’s expressions changed.
John quickly spoke, “But Jasper…”
“John,” Kai interrupted him, smiling bitterly as he spoke, “Mr. Laine has his own difficulties and reasons. I wouldn’t lend someone money if they asked for 3.5 million out of the blue either. Don’t make it difficult for Mr. Laine.”
John’s words were on the tip of his tongue when he sighed and swallowed them back, opting to say something else. “I went too far.”
Then, John raised a wine glass to Jasper. “Don’t say anything, Jasper. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have forced this on you. I’ll down a glass as punishment.”
John then tipped his head back and finished it.
Jasper could not even stop him in time and smiled bitterly. “Calm down, let me finish talking first.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Life at The Top