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

was the outcome that Ms. Garcia had been hoping

I think that’s a

things. Mr. Laine, I didn’t

good with relationships,

addition to doing business.”

my responsibilities without any complications. Besides, the storm is about to

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.

for themselves.”

advice, Ms. Garcia.

slightly more

best

hoped for.

merely asked

and made small

after that.

did not engage in another

f wits.

enough for them to understand the other’s stance and takeaways. After all, would not be wise to

would be easy to end up becoming

Garcia, she

as long as she confirmed Jasper had not formed any

like some other people,

Jasper be set

benchmark for the

also having ties

too deep with political

her boss was

unwilling to see.

in power hated

factions

longer be

best interest.

identity and position

and he could not

matters as others did.

reason behind

that she wanted to

Jasper’s stance.

Jasper had

answer. She believed that

be satisfied

did not stay back after

returned straight to

room instead.

opening time for the

did not have the extra time to

in the outside

economic forum.