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.”

are intermediaries who could get it done by tomorrow

in disbelief, “Tomorrow morning?! Do you think I’m

said, “No one else would be able to do

grown considerably thinner ever since he got to know Jasper.

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

US dollar will be enough,” Jasper said as

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 or mother company in

of all, that place was tax-free. Second of all, foreign companies entering and investing within the domestic market was beneficial to countries like Somerland, which relied on foreign

foreign investor was considered a big plus. Thus, those who

and lifetime exemption from taxes

that the procedure is much too complicated and time-consuming. The second reason, which is also the main reason, is that as a person of Somer descent profiting off my countrymen’s money, I must pay taxes to

a shell corporation that I can get rid of once I’m

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

business. One of them has immigrated to the Cayman Islands and often helps others with

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 a headstart on the procedures. Everything should be

contact information, then. I’ll arrange for someone to get in

that, John wrote down a

immediately passed the number

to cultural influences, but this