Life at the Top

Jasper immediately sought out John after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

John had rushed over from work and began complaining the minute he walked into the bar where they had planned to meet. “Mr. Jasper Laine, couldn’t you have told me what you wanted to say over the phone? Must we meet here?”

“It’s not a good idea to talk about it over the phone. I’m alright, but you’re a high profile man. I don’t have the means to compensate you if anything happens to a man holding an important job like you,” Jasper said as he smiled.

As the two grew closer, John and Jasper slowly became less formal when they spoke to each other, paying no attention to titles or tone. John did not treat Jasper as a multi-billionaire, and Jasper did not treat John as the vice president of one of the largest banks in the country.

John had a startled expression on his face as he glanced suspiciously at Jasper, saying, “Just listen to what you’re saying. Why have you come looking for me? You aren’t trying to team up with me and rob the bank, right? I won’t take part in these crazy schemes, but you can go ahead.”

Jasper did not know if he should laugh or cry as he said, “Do you think I need to rob your bank? With time, I can easily earn as much money as a bank in the province has.”

John suppressed a smile as he said, “That’s the most depressing thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

After the two sat down, Jasper beckoned for a waiter to serve them some appetizers as he said, “Frankly, this isn’t anything major. But it is quite urgent, and after a lot of thought, the only person I could think of who would execute this efficiently without compromising quality was you.”

John said boldly, “Stop beating around the bush. Tell me, what do you need me to do?”

“Help me register a shell corporation in the Cayman Islands,” Jasper replied.

Startled, John said hesitantly, “You could just pay a corrupt intermediary to take care of matters like this for a couple of million dollars.”

I said it wasn’t a major problem, but do you think there are intermediaries who could get it done by tomorrow morning?” Jasper asked exasperatedly as he tossed John

widened as he asked in disbelief,

else would be able to

ran his fingers through his hair, which had grown considerably thinner ever since he got to know Jasper. He said,

a company in the Cayman Islands isn’t hard… but a shell corporation? Do you want it to have the minimum registered

will be

heaven for multinational companies, and the Cayman Islands was one of them. In fact, even in the year 2020, after 19 years had passed, several large corporations would still register either their branch offices

of all, foreign companies entering and investing within the domestic market was beneficial to countries like Somerland, which relied on foreign funding to develop in the year

able to attract a foreign investor was considered a big plus. Thus,

and lifetime exemption from taxes were enough to cause the masses

on having all the companies registered overseas. The first reason being that the procedure is much too complicated and time-consuming. The second reason, which is also the

getting you to do this for me. I just need a shell corporation

speak. Then, he let Jasper watch as he took his phone and made four or five phone

of them has

by tomorrow does prove to be a challenge, but my friend has promised he’ll make it happen. It’s almost daytime where he is thanks to the six-hour time zone difference, so we should send him the information now. He’ll go get in line first thing in the morning and get

arrange for someone to get in touch with him regarding the

heard that, John wrote

the number to Malcolm after

to cultural influences, but this American was