Life at the Top

“Ms. Garcia, not resting yet?”.

Jasper spoke first.

Ms. Garcia smiled and said, “There’s something I want to discuss with you privately.”

He recalled what Mr. McNeal had told him. If Mr. Mason was one of his men, then Ms. Garcia was obviously not one of them.

Jasper sighed to himself.

This was why he was unwilling to form connections with these political factions.

It was too confusing and torturing.

“Sure. Shall we look for a quiet space?”

Jasper might be thinking that, but obviously, he would not display his thoughts on his face. He smiled warmly as he spoke.

“Let’s talk in my room,” Ms. Garcia offered.

The layout of Ms. Garcia’s room was the same as Mr. McNeal’s. They were both suites that first led to a living room and then extended beyond into two bedrooms, a small study, and a parlor.

Jasper and Ms. Garcia headed straight to the parlor after entering her room.

“Ms. Garcia, how may I help you?”

Jasper cut straight to the chase and asked after sitting down.

When Ms. Garcia noticed the exquisite – looking ruby pendant in Jasper’s hands, she said, “That pendant is beautiful. It looks familiar too.”

Jasper smiled and replied, “Adele asked M r. McNeal to give it to me. She said that it used to be one of Grandmaster Brown’s playthings. I think it’s much too valuable, and I don’t know what to do with it now.”

Ms. Garcia was someone who gave things a lot of thought. When she heard Jasper’s choice of words in his explanation and noticed how he did not hide his ruby pendant but instead openly held it in his

hands, she immediately discarded what

she had previously prepared to say.

She replied, “There’s nothing to obsess about over this. You should accept it since i It was a kind gesture. Pushing the gift back and forth would do even more harm to your relationship.”

Jasper nodded and said, “You’re right, M s. Garcia. But friends should be polite and reciprocal too. I should take a look and see which gifts are more suitable so that I won’t always feel like I owe Adele something whenever I meet her in the future.”

Ms. Garcia’s eyes lit up when she heard

that.

Jasper had made his intentions clear.

This gift is an olive branch from the Brown family, and it’s terrifying me. However, I can’t refuse the olive branch if they’ve already extended it since it’ll harm our relationship.

However, this is merely a mutually beneficial relationship. If they give me some benefits, I’ll have to return the favor in the future once I get the chance to do so.

That way, no factions or bonds will be

formed. Everyone comes and goes as they

outcome that Ms. Garcia had been

think that’s a good way

Mr. Laine, I

good

addition to doing business.”

“You’re too kind, Ms. Garcia. To be honest, I’m just someone who wants to carry out my responsibilities without any complications. Besides, the storm is about to arrive at this point. It wouldn’t be

is not suitable now, we can hang on for a while longer before further discussion. All friends have the same motive, which is to protect the environment where we live. Friendships are not as complicated and sinister as you think they are. Frankly, everyone’s just trying to accumulate some

for themselves.”

your advice, Ms. Garcia. I’m

slightly

the best outcome he could

hoped for.

Garcia merely asked

and made

after that.

not engage

f wits.

intellectuals here, and there were many matters where indirect words were enough for them to understand the other’s stance and takeaways. After all, would

to end

Garcia, she would

had not formed any

other people, she

to watch Jasper be set

the benchmark for

also having

deep with political

her boss was

unwilling to see.

power

factions

be done

best interest.

identity and

could

matters as others did.

reason behind Ms.

she wanted to

Jasper’s stance.

Jasper had given

She

would be satisfied

not stay

returned straight to

room instead.

time for

He did not have the

brewed in the outside

economic forum.