Ch. 11..20
Life at the Top Chapter 11
“Try it on,” Jasper ignored the two of them and said to Wendy with a smile.
In the last life, he dared not get close to Wendy, but this life was different. He was rich and would be even richer in the future!
When a man did not have to think about his financial situation, he would naturally exude a fascinating self-confidence—not to mention Jasper who had led two lives.
As Wendy said before, the two completely different temperaments of maturity and youth were intertwined. It was like a drug that made women unable to extricate themselves.
Looking at the necklace lying in the jewelry box, it looked even more radiant under the bright light of the Cartier counter. Wendy felt a little flustered.
It was not because of the valuable price tag of 800,000, however. As the daughter of the richest man in the province, this was not enough to shock her.
It was mainly because under Jasper’s gaze, Wendy felt incredibly nervous. It was not appropriate to put her hands anywhere and she dared not even look at Jasper straight in the eye. She could only turn her gaze away and say in a panic, “I… This is too expensive.”
Why would a man give a necklace worth 800,000 to the opposite sex?
Even a fool would understand.
With her mind in a mess, Wendy only felt flustered and subconsciously wanted to escape.
At this moment, Jasper picked up the necklace, stood in front of Wendy, and said softly, “Lower your head. I’ll put it on for you.”
Jasper’s voice was very gentle but with a power of reassurance. Wendy subconsciously obeyed his orders.
The skin on the back of Wendy’s neck was white and delicate with some mischievous green veins scattered around.
The distance between the two was very close and Wendy could feel the masculinity of Jasper’s body!
As for Jasper, he was intoxicated by Wendy’s faint maiden fragrance.
Watching this scene, Felix’s expression darkened. He had already viewed Wendy as his woman in his heart!
Right now, Jasper was acting so intimately with Wendy in front of him. The more hateful thing was that Wendy did not resist at all!
‘Damn it. If you can’t buy it later, you’ll get it from me!’ Felix thought inwardly.
After gently helping Wendy put on the necklace, Jasper took a step back and looked at it carefully before praising, “Beautiful.”
Wendy was already very beautiful, but this necklace was able to accentuate her skin and temperament even more!
When Wendy raised her head wearing this necklace, she seemed to be the most elegant and exquisite goddess. There was nothing more beautiful than her at this moment.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror that was being held by the salesperson, Wendy only saw her flushed cheeks and her moist, shy eyes. This was not her usual self at all. She totally looked like a silly little girl having her first crush!
Wendy was a little angry about her lack of resistance in front of Jasper.
“It is beautiful, but can you afford to buy it?”
Felix sneered, “If you can’t, then get out of here quickly. Stop embarrassing yourself here. It’s not your fault you’re poor, but it’s wrong to be poor and still be pretentious in a place like this. It’s fine if you make a fool of yourself, but why drag Wendy along with you?”
Wendy glanced at Felix and said stiffly, “Felix, I never thought about asking Jasper to buy me a gift, so you don’t have to agitate him. We won’t fall for it. Jasper, let’s go.”
Wendy did not want Jasper to buy her a necklace just because of a moment of anger. After mediating the situation, she was about to take off the necklace and leave.
However, Jasper stood still and held Wendy’s hand as he chuckled lightly. “It’s really beautiful. You don’t have to take it off.”
“Swipe the card.” Jasper then handed his card over.
“Hahaha!”
Felix laughed wildly. “Do you have 800,000 in your card? Are you done pretending already? Are you going to say you got the wrong card when the transaction fails later? This is really embarrassing. I’m going to die from laughter. You look very calm on the surface, but you must be jumping in panic, right? Hahaha!”
Lindy stretched out her hand to hold Felix’s arm and said with a smile, “That’s right. Both are men, but the gap is so big. Felix can always buy what he wants without any hesitation.”
While they were mocking, the salesperson had already taken the credit card machine and swiped the card.
800,000, the transaction was successful!
Felix and Lindy’s laughter suddenly stopped as if their throats were pinched, and their faces were blank.
Especially Felix. He refused to believe that Jasper could really afford this necklace.
Even the salesperson was shocked. This necklace had been on their counter for half a year. Many people had seen it, but no one in this town had the financial resources to buy a necklace for 800,000.
“Did something go wrong? This poor bum can’t afford it!” Felix asked the salesperson with a grim expression.
The salesperson shook her head and said, “It’s impossible. We’ve received the transaction slip. People can make mistakes, but the machine given by the bank can’t be wrong.”
“How could it be…”
Felix glared at Jasper fiercely, stunned on the spot.
“Maybe you think this necklace is invaluable, but in my eyes, 800,000 is not as precious as Wendy’s smile.”
While speaking, Jasper pulled Wendy along. She was dumbfounded by the sudden wave of sweet words. They then turned to leave together.
These words, like a crisp and loud slap, made Felix’s face swell up.
Thinking of his taunting before, as well as Jasper’s words now, Felix only felt that his face was hot and painful.
Wendy was also shocked by Jasper’s last domineering remarks. It was not until Jasper pulled her away from the counter that she came back to her senses. She said softly, “It’s really too expensive. Besides, I’m not ready yet.”
“Ready for what?” Jasper asked.
“Huh?” Wendy looked at Jasper blankly.
That was right. What was she going to be ready for?
Somehow, Wendy felt her cheeks growing hot. She became shy. She stomped her feet in annoyance and said, “You’re deliberately teasing me!”
“Haha!”
Jasper laughed and said, “Just treat this as a welcome gift. It’s not a special thing and it doesn’t have any special meaning. Just accept it. It doesn’t mean anything and I don’t require you to make any promises.”
Upon hearing this, Wendy fell into a new wave of dilemma.
What was the meaning of his words just now? Why did it not mean anything and what promises was he talking about?
Was she looking too much into it or was he angry with her?
Was he going to pursue her?
Should she agree?
In short, he was really different from other men.
With jumbled thoughts, Wendy subconsciously reached out and gently stroked the pink diamond on the necklace on her chest. She felt a little dazed for a while.
After living two lives, how could Jasper fail to notice the changes in Wendy’s expression? Naturally, he could guess what she was thinking.
This feeling was really amazing!
In his previous life, he did not have the courage to speak in front of her, but in this life, she was obsessed with him on her own accord!
However, Jasper was not too anxious. After all, the relationship between the two should progress slowly. Besides, there were more important things to do!
“Wendy, let’s go. We need to attend the banquet.”
“Okay.”
Wendy nodded heartily as her thoughts went wild along the way.
Life at the Top Chapter 12
Royce Villa.
It was the most famous private club in the local area. It was said that the boss behind the scenes was a formidable figure with a very strong background.
Jasper had heard of this place in his previous life. At that time, the boss of his company was a member here. As for the boss behind the scenes of Royce Villa, he was naturally not qualified to get in touch with him.
Now, standing at the entrance of Royce Villa, he already possessed the capability to be ranked among the top financial circles in the city.
“Jasper, you’re finally here.”
John Jackson smiled and greeted him with a beautiful female companion by his side.
On this sort of occasion, the protagonists were the men, but there were many ways for men to show their strength. The quality of the women around them was one of the most powerful ways.
However, the female companion John brought was completely crushed by Wendy from all angles.
“John, thank you for giving me such a chance.”
John waved his hand and said, “I know your capabilities. Even if you didn’t have me, sooner or later, you’ll still enter this kind of circle. I’m just doing this for you in advance.
“Many people have arrived inside. Everyone is talking about your recent performance in the mung bean futures market. Why don’t we go in together?” John said with a smile.
“Sure.”
Jasper nodded with no show of anxiety.
By his side, Wendy held his arm, looking as bright as a star. She attracted the admiration of many men along the way.
In terms of identity, Wendy’s background was stronger than most people present. After all, her father was the richest man in the province, so Wendy also showed no anxiety and acted very graciously.
John led Jasper to a small circle. Four or five men in suits and leather shoes were talking and laughing. Not far away, their female companions chatted.
Wendy was very eye-catching, and after saying hello to everyone with Jasper, she went to the group of female companions to foster some relationships.
“Brother, how’s this assistant of yours?” John muttered in Jasper’s ear in a low voice.
“Not bad.” Jasper chuckled in response.
John probably did not know Wendy’s identity. Otherwise, he would not dare to assign Wendy as his assistant.
After all, the daughter of the richest man in the province was enough to scare some people out of their wits.
“Everyone, this is the stock god that everybody is talking about!”
John’s words attracted everyone’s attention.
Instantly, several eyes that were filled with scrutiny, curiosity, or cynicism fell on Jasper.
No matter what they thought, everyone was surprised by Jasper’s youthfulness.
Everyone present was at least in their mid-30s, and Jasper Laine, a young man in his early 20s, stood above the crowd.
“Is this the man who created a miracle in the mung bean futures market some time ago?” a middle-aged man asked curiously.
John grinned and said, “Naturally. His account is opened in our Commercial Bank. Why should I lie to you?”
“I must get to know this person, then. My name is Kai Jones, President of Ascendas Investment.”
Kai smiled and stretched out his hand with a friendly expression on his face.
“Jasper Laine,” Jasper responded curtly and shook hands with the other party.
With his previous glorious record, Jasper easily made his initial integration into this circle.
After all, anyone would be willing to flatter an outstanding person. Not everyone could use a capital of 800,000 and earn 13.6 million in five months.
Therefore, the people present were also very curious about Jasper.
At this time, John said triumphantly, “You don’t know this yet. Some time ago, this brother of mine entered the stock market with 1.6 million and tripled it in just a few days.”
“Wow! Incredible!”
The people present looked at Jasper differently.
If the success of one investment was based on luck, then the second success in a short time was strength. Besides, he got three times the profit! Few people present had the confidence to do this.
“As expected of the god of stocks!”
Kai exclaimed, “When I was your age, I was still bragging in the disco every day. I didn’t have your skills back then.”
“You’re too kind. With this small ability of mine, how can I be worthy of that title? Some people will think that it’s a joke,” Jasper said modestly.
Just when Jasper was talking and laughing with a bunch of bosses within the city’s financial circle, a group of people arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall.
Next to Hugh Lewis was Penelope Hunt who was holding his arm. Richton White followed behind them.
A few days ago, Penelope lost a lot of money because of the stocks recommended by Richton. She had been pestering Richton to get the money back.
However, Richton did not have that much money to spare, so he introduced her to Hugh. He told her that as long as she could obtain Hugh’s approval, not to mention hundreds of thousands, but even millions would not be a problem.
Who was Penelope Hunt? Money was more important to her than anything else.
As long as she had money, she was willing to do anything.
Besides, the man she met this time was Hugh Lewis. She felt that as long as she could get hold of Hugh, she would definitely not be short of money in the future!
Hugh felt that Penelope was good-looking and sensible, so he took her to this banquet to let her experience his ability and status.
“Oh my, it’s too luxurious here. I haven’t even seen these decorations before,” Penelope said excitedly.
After she returned this time, she would brag about this so hard.
After all, being able to enter Royce Villa was a symbol of status.
She murmured, “Just how big is this place? This hall alone is as big as three or four houses combined.
“This villa must cost at least tens of millions.”
Richton could not help scorning at her words. “You’re really ignorant. The decorations alone cost tens of millions. If you don’t know anything, talk less and read more. Stop making a fool of yourself.”
Penelope quickly shut her mouth, knowing that she could not afford to offend anyone here.
Hugh’s arrival attracted the attention of many people. Although they belonged in the same circle, they were also divided into the strong and the weak. Hugh was undoubtedly the strongest one.
At this time, Hugh was in full swing. Lantern Capital was well-known throughout the province. As soon as he appeared, people who wanted to fawn over the powerful would naturally flock to him.
“You go to the side first. I need to talk with some old friends,” Hugh said to Penelope.
Penelope was busy admiring the magnificence here, just like Alice when she entered Wonderland. Of course, she dared not oppose Hugh’s instructions, so she obediently agreed and walked away.
Looking at Penelope’s back, Hugh was quite satisfied. He liked obedient and meek women.
Such a woman was worth his time to play with.
Penelope walked to the side of the banquet hall and looked at the magnificent decorations here, as well as the luxury brands and jewelry the guests wore. She envied the rich.
Richton wanted to squeeze into the upper-class circle, but he was not worthy at all. Today, if not for Hugh, he would not even be qualified to enter the doors.
Thus, after bumping into a few obstacles, he could only return to Penelope’s side dejectedly.
“Richton, look at that cake. It has 12 layers. I’ve never seen such a big cake.” Penelope admired the giant cake on the dining table not far away.
It was the first time she saw such a luxurious cake. She shook her head and said, “I wonder how much it cost?”
“To hold a banquet like this, it’d cost at least a million.”
Richton knew a little more. He sighed while feeling jealous. “This is the real high society.”
“A million!”
Penelope widened her eyes in disbelief.
She had never seen so much money in her life, and these rich people were spending that much for a party?
“Penelope, do you think that person is Jasper?”
Richton’s words suddenly caught Penelope’s attention.
“Richton, it must be a mistake. Where do you think this is? How could a poor bloke like Jasper enter…”
Before she finished her sentence, Penelope’s words were stuck in her throat when she saw Jasper’s figure not far away.
Life at the Top Chapter 13
She was shocked when she saw Jasper, but she reacted immediately.
He must have entered under the banner of someone else. Otherwise, how could he appear at such a high-end party with his abilities?
Penelope snorted with a sneer on her face. She walked toward Jasper on her own initiative. Her snooty voice interrupted Jasper who was chatting with John and the others.
“Oh, Jasper, I didn’t expect you to be here!”
This sentence immediately attracted the attention of everyone around him.
John frowned and looked at Jasper.
However, Jasper remained indifferent.
“Acting cool!” Penelope sneered and said, “You’re nothing but a poor wretch through and through. You actually came here to pretend to be rich?
“Listen up. He’s just a man who relies on women. He only managed to get in here because he found a rich woman. All of you are big figures. Don’t be fooled by him!”
Penelope sneered, thinking that he was being taken care of by Wendy who she saw that day!
Thinking of this, she became irritated and looked at Jasper contemptuously, wanting to see panic and fear on his face.
“Jasper, why don’t you look in the mirror to see what you look like? Are you qualified to participate in this kind of event?”
Jasper looked at Penelope’s ugly face and said stoically, “If I’m not, are you?”
Penelope curled her lips disdainfully and said, “Of course, I am. I was invited by Mr. Lewis himself. And what about you? Do you think yourself superior just because you found a rich woman? Let me tell you, you’ve lost even the most basic dignity of a man!
“Jasper, don’t you realize that a lowly person will forever be a lowly person? Even though you’re here in a rented suit, you’re still inferior!”
Penelope’s tone was harsh and full of contempt.
Jasper, who was in the center of the storm, was not as angry as Penelope imagined. He remained extremely cold.
For Jasper, Penelope was nothing but a pesky fly that would not leave him alone. She was a little annoying, and her intentions to harm him were simply wishful thinking.
At this time, a hearty voice from a middle-aged man sounded.
“Penelope, what’s wrong?” Hugh walked over.
Seeing Hugh, the group of bosses who had talked and laughed with Jasper before all went up to greet him. Even John gave Jasper an apologetic look before going up to greet him.
After all, Hugh was in full swing at the moment. They could not afford to offend him.
“Nothing. I saw an acquaintance.”
Penelope looked at Jasper with a sneer, revealing a fearless aura that oozed from every inch of her body.
“This guy is actually a poor man. He found a rich woman to bring him here. I was worried that the other bosses were being deceived, so I exposed him.”
Jasper looked at Penelope and said calmly, “I was brought in by someone else, but you came here on your own?”
Penelope sneered and said, “How can you compare yourself to me? I was brought here by Mr. Lewis.”
Jasper was no stranger to the name Hugh Lewis. He was the most legendary stock god in the city. He used 2,000 dollars back then to enter the market that year and earned 20 million in just a few years. Later, he founded Lantern Capital, which was regarded as the city’s first financial company in the truest sense.
However, according to his memory, Hugh failed in various investments this year, which caused investors to lose confidence and withdraw from his company. Due to limited funds, Hugh made a desperate move and invested heavily in Tycoon Industry and then… Tycoon Industry was delisted.
Hugh lost everything and was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the crime of illegal fundraising.
Finally, he committed suicide in prison and died.
The reason why Jasper was so impressed with Hugh was not only because he was regarded as a legend in the city, but also because this old fogey was actually a playboy.
He heard that he had more than 20 lovers. These were all regular lovers, not counting those who were just for show.
“Are the people brought by Mr. Lewis better than others? How are you better than me?” Jasper said lightly.
Hearing this, Penelope hardened her face and pointed at Jasper while cursing, “What are you talking about? Mr. Lewis is a prominent figure. It’s my honor to be invited by him. For trash like you who sold yourself for this, you’re still acting so arrogantly?
“How dare you not put Mr. Lewis in your eyes? Jasper, I really think you’re conceited and lawless. For an ant like you, Mr. Lewis can crush you countless times with just one finger.
“That’s enough.”
Hugh glanced at Jasper before saying flatly, “Young people are always ignorant, so I won’t pursue this matter with you, but you must remember that you should be humble and prudent when you go out. Some people are not for you to offend.
“Alright, this is indeed not a place for you to be. You should leave now. Don’t let me ask the security to drive you away.”
Penelope smiled triumphantly and said to Jasper, “Did you hear that? Do you want to leave on your own or do you want to get kicked out?”
“Mr. Lewis, I’m the one who brought Jasper here.”
John spoke up at this time, sweating profusely. After all, Jasper was introduced by him. If Jasper was really driven away, it would make things difficult for him.
“John, he’s your friend?” Hugh frowned.
“This is my little brother. He’s quite capable. Some time ago, he was the mysterious retail investor in the domestic mung bean futures,” John explained.
This time, Hugh was really surprised.
In the financial circle, in addition to stocks, futures was inevitably an area most people would dabble in. Some time ago, the skyrocketing mung bean futures caused many people to become rich or go bankrupt overnight.
He also participated, but unfortunately, he forecasted the wrong direction and lost millions.
However, the young man in front of him was actually the retail investor who was rumored to build an account at the lowest price and sold at the highest price. He even took away tens of millions of funds?
Even so… What did it matter?
Thousands in funds, in Hugh’s eyes nowadays, was nothing. One successful speculation was nothing more than luck.
“So it’s him, the rumored stock god.”
Hugh laughed tauntingly and said, “Young people are so capable now. It seems that old guys like us should retire.”
His words were complimenting Jasper, but there were hostility and disdain between the lines.
When these words were spoken, the expressions in the eyes of others became ambiguous.
Hugh was a player recognized in this market. Facing a blooming young man like Jasper, he naturally felt contempt for him.
It depended on how Jasper would respond.
“Mr. Lewis is too kind,” Jasper said lightly. Knowing that Hugh was on Penelope’s side, he said offhandedly, “The capital market doesn’t look at age. If you can earn money just because you’re older, then all the old ladies and old men in the nursing homes can be stock gods.”
Hugh narrowed his eyes as he stared at Jasper with a dangerous glint. He sneered, “No one has dared to talk to me like this for a long time!”
“Mr. Lewis, you’re my senior. I should respect you,” Jasper said unhurriedly, “But I’m quite familiar with the woman next to you. I was with her for several years.”
The atmosphere in the crowd fell silent. Some admired Jasper for facing Hugh head-on, while some laughed at Jasper’s ignorance. However, no matter who it was, they did not plan to get involved.
Jasper actually dared to say such things in front of Hugh. Was he not mocking Hugh for playing with his former woman? Was he looking for death?
Life at the Top Chapter 14
“Haha, kiddo!”
Hugh was silent for a moment, then he laughed out loud. “Young man, it seems that you’re very arrogant!”
“Stock god or not, it’s just a title. I don’t care for it. But if someone wants to act all high and mighty because of a woman, then I can’t be bothered with it,” Jasper retorted again. The reason was simple—because Penelope was using Hugh to try and dominate him.
Others may be afraid of Hugh, but not Jasper.
The current Hugh Lewis had reached a turning point where his prosperity was bound to decline. Several of his investments would be in trouble in the second half of the year, and all of them would go bust, which would eventually lead to a break in the capital chain of Lantern Capital.
Moreover, in Jasper’s opinion, Hugh’s downfall would happen sooner or later. With such a personality, who else would die if not him?
“Young man, it’s useless to talk big. Since everyone is here and the market will open in half an hour, why don’t we make a bet? We’ll choose a stock each and see which has the bigger gain. We shall see if I’m getting old or if you’re simply too arrogant!”
Hugh looked at Jasper with a sneer, obviously angry.
“Mr. Lewis, this is…”
John stepped forward as mediator. To others, Jasper was still young and inexperienced, after all. How could he be an opponent for an old fox like Hugh Lewis?
John admired Jasper very much, and he was also a big customer of his. Whether for official or private reasons, he could not watch Jasper suffer such a big loss.
“John, shut up if you don’t want any trouble!” Hugh barked, making John back away with an ugly expression.
“Do you dare to?” Hugh looked at Jasper with scorching eyes.
“Of course.”
Jasper’s words astonished the others. Not only did he agree to the bet, but he also added to the stakes. “But I plan to add something more. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Heh, kid, don’t think you’re standing at the top of the world just because you’ve earned some money. Do you have more money than me?”
Hugh laughed.
Jasper ignored him, turned around, and said to John, “John, the ruby pendant I’m keeping in your bank, please send someone to fetch it for me. I’ll bet on that ruby pendant and I hope Mr. Lewis can match it.”
“Okay! No matter how much it is, I’ll take on the bet!” Hugh scoffed.
How much would a ruby pendant cost?
Sure enough, as expected of a poor wretch, even the stakes were so tacky.
John immediately made a call and got someone to bring the ruby pendant to Royce Villa. Penelope, who was standing next to Hugh, suddenly recalled this item.
“He bought the ruby pendant for 500,000,” Penelope said to Hugh.
Hugh was startled for a moment before bursting into laughter. “500,000? Are you kidding me? If you lack this amount, I’ll give it to you. Are you not ashamed to take it out for a bet?”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s expressions seemed to be holding back a smile.
Even their gazes toward Jasper were filled with mockery.
In this era, although 500,000 was not a small sum, who were the people present? 500,000 in this scenario was really not worth mentioning.
The Commercial Bank was not that far from Royce Villa, and because President Jackson had personally given the instructions, an employee soon came with the ruby pendant.
After getting the pendant, Jasper said to Hugh indifferently, “This pendant is called the Chance Ruby. It was once worn by Queen Victoria. It’s considered a rare treasure by now. The market value is at least 30 million. In an auction, the value will be higher. Is it enough for me to make a bet with this?”
When these words fell, everyone was silent for a moment. Penelope then took the lead to laugh wildly.
“Hahaha, this Jasper Laine is not only arrogant but also delusional! I think he’s crazy about money. He obviously bought something worth 500,000, but he’s saying it’s worth 30 million. Why don’t you say 300 million?
“This fool really believes in the marketing gimmick of the jewelry shop’s owner. The boss said that this pendant was worn by Queen Victoria. I didn’t expect that there would be someone in the world who really believes in it.”
Penelope looked at Jasper pitifully and mocked. “Jasper, don’t be stupid. What the boss of the jewelry shop said is just a scam. If this pendant really belonged to Queen Victoria, how could it be sold for only 500,000? Only a fool like you would buy it!”
John was one of the few people who did not laugh at Jasper. His expression was full of embarrassment.
Seeing Jasper so confident, there was not a shred of a guilty conscience when he faced a room of people ridiculing him.
John’s eyes shifted about, and he pulled over an old man in his 50s from the crowd.
“Mr. Landon, you own an auction house and have been in the antique business for so many years. Why don’t you look at how much this pendant is worth?”
“Very well. Let me look at it, then.”
The old man by the name of Mr. Landon nodded. He approached Jasper and said, “Can you show me the ruby pendant?”
Jasper nodded and handed the pendant to him directly.
The old man took the item and observed it carefully.
Everyone saw his expression changing from casual to solemn. Then, he started breathing rapidly as his wrinkled face became flushed with excitement.
“Mister, stop looking at it. The fool Jasper must’ve been deceived. I think 500,000 is already overdoing it, let alone 30 million,” Penelope said to Mr. Landon.
“Shut up if you don’t know anything!”
Mr. Landon shouted abruptly, making Penelope’s face turn white with shock.
The people who were still laughing at Jasper were all stunned.
Hugh narrowed his eyes and said, “Mr. Landon, what do you mean?”
Mr. Landon dared not chastise Hugh.
He sighed and looked at the ruby pendant in his hand. He then said something that made the whole room change the look on their faces. “Mr. Lewis, this ruby pendant is genuine!
“It’s indeed a ruby pendant worn by Queen Victoria, called the Chance Ruby. The most recent record of it was in the hands of a duke, but there was no news of it later. It must’ve changed hands after that. I didn’t expect it to reappear today.”
Mr. Landon sighed as he stroked the jewelry in his hand. Then, he carefully returned it to Jasper.
“Mr. Laine, if you’re interested in selling it, you can choose my auction house. If this item is auctioned out, it can definitely be the finale. I can give you the best price in terms of commission,” Mr. Landon said sincerely.
“Thank you,” Jasper said with a smile.
“Mr. Landon, are you sure it’s not a mistake? If it’s genuine, how could it be sold for 500,000?”
Hugh frowned at this.
Mr. Landon’s face straightened as he said confidently, “I’ve been in this industry for most of my life. I’ve never made a mistake since I officially entered the industry. I can’t be wrong. The price that Mr. Laine quoted is still undervalued. According to the current market, the Chance Ruby is worth at least 35 million!”
Life at the Top Chapter 15
As soon as this remark was uttered, everyone was shocked. The people who mocked him before could no longer laugh.
The venue was filled with sounds of gasps.
An item bought for 500,000 could be sold for 35 million?!
35 million!
At this moment, even those wealthy bosses were jealous.
The ones who were most incredulous were Penelope and Richton.
Their faces were distorted with jealousy.
No one knew better than them for they had watched Jasper buy this ruby pendant for 500,000. At that time, they even laughed at Jasper for being cheated of his money.
Now, it turned out that the ruby pendant was actually worth 35 million?!
Penelope’s heart was dripping with blood. They both felt that this piece of jewelry should belong to them and that 35 million was also theirs!
“Jasper Laine, why didn’t you say that this piece of ruby is so valuable?” Penelope pointed at Jasper and screamed.
“Are you crazy or is there something wrong with your brain?” Jasper said coldly, “Why should I tell you how much it’s worth?”
“You’ve earned so much now. You must give me at least half of it!” Penelope said angrily.
“Moron!” After spitting out the word, Jasper could not be bothered with her any longer.
Penelope felt as if countless poisonous insects were gnawing at her heart. That was 35 million. She should have a share of it. She used to be Jasper’s girlfriend and they almost got married!
Hugh narrowed his eyes at Jasper and said grimly, “You’re a lucky kid.”
Hugh did not care for 500,000, but 35 million was different.
No one would really question Mr. Landon’s professionalism. If he said that was the price, then it had to be true.
“Is the bet still on?” Jasper said casually.
With a sneer, Hugh said, “Since you brought it to the doorstep, why should I refuse? Find someone to bring two computers!”
After speaking, Hugh immediately took out a checkbook. After writing a check, he tore it off, put it on the table, and sneered, “A check for 35 million, right here.”
Jasper did not hesitate to put the ruby pendant next to the check and said lightly, “Let’s get started.”
Hugh felt that Jasper was handing out his money to him, but why should Jasper not feel the same in return?
It just so happened that the crude oil market had not started yet, and Jasper’s capital of 12 million was still too little.
With the addition of 35 million in ammunition, he could instantly complete the accumulation of his base capital and start the next step of his business plan.
By betting on stocks, Jasper, who brought his past memory with him after being reborn, could kill Hugh within seconds with his eyes closed.
Very soon, someone came over with two laptops and switched on the software. At this moment, it was five minutes before the market opened.
Everyone gathered around. This was a huge bet of 70 million. Even if they were all wealthy, they were still stunned by this number.
A gamble worth 70 million. Ordinary people dared not think about it for a lifetime.
“Jasper, be cautious.”
John walked to Jasper’s side and said worriedly, “Hugh made his fortune from the stock market. His foresight is experienced and ruthless. He rarely makes a mistake.
“Why don’t we just forget it? It’s not a big deal to lose a little dignity. You still have a chance. It’s not worth it to take a fall here.”
Jasper knew John was being considerate. After all, no one was optimistic about his chances, including John. However, Jasper would not back down. He said, “Don’t worry. I’m confident.”
Seeing Jasper’s resolute attitude, John sighed and said nothing more.
Since he knew that Jasper put all 12 million into the crude oil futures account and increased the leverage by 50 times, he already knew that this young man was very decisive. He did not care about other people’s opinions at all.
Wendy also approached at one point.
Seeing her hesitation, Jasper smiled and said, “Are you also going to persuade me to give up and say it’s not worth taking the risk for my dignity?”
Wendy showed him a smile, one that looked like there were a hundred flowers blooming. She whispered, “No, I believe you’ll win.”
Jasper chuckled lightly and said, “Thank you for your trust.”
Penelope, who was standing not far away next to Hugh, was staring at Jasper bitterly. She said with a sneer, “What a shameless couple. You’ll be crying in a moment.”
Just as Penelope’s words fell, Wendy stood up from Jasper’s side.
With such a lively atmosphere here, Wendy noticed that Jasper had become the target of everyone’s attacks and ridicules.
The instigator was this Penelope Hunt.
“Are you Penelope Hunt?”
Wendy looked at Penelope expressionlessly.
Under such circumstances, not everyone would dare to stand and speak up.
As the daughter of the richest man in the province, Wendy’s intensity was undoubtedly powerful!
After all, speaking of her identity and background, none of the people present were a match for her.
With her powerful aura and perfect features, everyone dared not look down on this girl who had suddenly appeared.
Perhaps her aura as the daughter of the richest man was too intimidating, or perhaps Wendy was too beautiful, so Penelope felt a little scared when facing Wendy.
However, she now had Hugh behind her back. She mustered the courage to stand up.
“So what if I am?”
“I don’t know why you bear such intense hatred against Jasper, but I want to remind you as a fellow woman that you shouldn’t turn yourself into an unreasonable and mean lady!
“And don’t bully others by virtue of someone else! That will only make others look down on you even more.”
Seeing Penelope turning pale with those two sentences, Wendy became more confident. This was the first time she stepped forward because she disagreed with other people’s actions.
She did not understand the grudge between Penelope and Jasper, but she could see Penelope’s scheming personality.
“If a woman doesn’t even have a bottom line, what does it matter if you can win the favors of men? That’s just a temporary act of charity from others!”
Wendy’s words were like a knife in Penelope’s heart.
Although the scene was silent, most of the men present cheered for Wendy from the bottom of their hearts.
In this era, most of the people standing here were rich first-generations who started from scratch. They understood the hardships of starting from the bottom.
Wendy’s words were simple and straightforward, but they explained the simplest truth.
For example, was a woman like Penelope Hunt really worth anything?
It could be said that no man, including Hugh Lewis, would put her in his eyes.
To put it bluntly, she was just a bully because she had the backing.
“You!”
Penelope gritted her teeth furiously. She pointed at Wendy and screamed, “Who are you to say this to me? Are you qualified?
“Aren’t you just another pretty face? I wonder how many men you’ve slept with in the dark? Everyone’s climbing into a man’s bed, so why are you nobler than me?”
Life at the Top Chapter 16
Although Penelope was reluctant to admit so, she knew that comparing Wendy to her would just be like comparing a swan to an ugly duckling.
Overcome with low self-esteem and jealousy, words began spilling out of her mouth uncontrollably.
Wendy was not angered by Penelope’s insults. She simply shook her head. “It can’t be helped. You take pride in sleeping with other men, but do you think all women are like you? I’m sorry, I’m not a woman like that,” she said.
Everyone was immersed in the way Wendy carried herself.
Ever since she appeared, Hugh had been staring at her lustfully.
Even if he were to disregard her angelic beauty, she trumped all his other women with her elegant demeanor.
How could he miss out on a woman like that?
“Well said!”
Hugh, who had already fallen for Wendy’s charms, was the first to shout out supportively.
Penelope’s face paled. She looked at the man beside her in disbelief.
Why was he supporting Wendy Schuler? Could he not see that she was scolding her?
Nevertheless, Hugh did not have the slightest interest in Penelope at all at this moment. He walked over to Wendy with a smile on his face. “Miss, my name is Hugh Lewis. I’m the chairman of Lantern Capital,” he said.
Based on Hugh’s experience, every time he told women his identity, they would show him their prettiest smile and fawn all over him.
However, Wendy did not do so. She took a step back, giving off an imminent sense of isolation. Even the way her brows curved into a frown was breathtakingly gorgeous.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know you. I don’t intend to get to know you either,” she said.
Hugh’s identity clearly meant nothing in front of the daughter of the wealthiest man in the province.
Although Hugh did not know her background, his interest in her grew!
This was the first time he got rejected by a woman after starting up his business.
This sense of excitement and curiosity reminded him of his impulsive behavior back in his youthful days!
“I think that we can get to know each other better…”
Jasper pulled Wendy to his side while he was speaking.
“Mr. Lewis, she’s my date. You’re talking too much,” Jasper said lightly, putting Wendy behind him.
Talking… too much!
Everyone looked around awkwardly. Although they all found Hugh’s behavior unsightly and inappropriate, no one had the nerves to call him out except for Jasper.
Hugh’s expression darkened instantly. He stared at Jasper with a brute, lethal glint in his eyes.
Wendy did not expect Jasper to stand up for her. A pool of warmth formed in her heart.
However, she knew about Hugh’s position and abilities. She came close to Jasper and softly whispered into his ear, “Jasp, I don’t feel well. Why don’t we leave first?”
Jasper understood her at once. She wanted to help him escape this difficult situation!
She stood up for him as she could not stand the way Penelope insulted and taunted him. Now, she wanted to help him out of this as well.
A woman like this was so much better than Penelope Hunt!
Right then, a warm sensation washed over Jasper’s heart. Not only was Wendy beautiful and well-mannered, but she was also warm-hearted and meticulous!
However… Jasper could not retreat right now!
Jasper looked at Hugh’s aggressive stance. “The game is not over yet. How can I leave?” he asked.
Worry filled Wendy’s face. Just as she was about to say something, Hugh spoke out.
“Haha, I was worried that you’d run away! My dude, although you’re bold and rash, I can’t deny that you’re really one of a kind. You’re just a little foolish since you don’t know when to give up!” he said.
The both of them were already not on good terms. Instead of giving in, Hugh chose to show off his position and abilities!
“Mr. Lewis, I have an idea!”
Penelope came forward with a murderous glare fixed upon Jasper and Wendy. She smiled cruelly. “Why don’t we raise the excitement? Besides the 35 million dollars, why don’t we add Wendy Schuler to the bet? Whoever wins the bet can take Wendy with him. Isn’t this much more interesting?” she proposed.
Her words sparked an uproar among everyone. They all cast weird glances at Penelope.
No wonder there was a saying that a woman’s heart was the cruelest thing that there could be. The move Penelope made was cruel and shameless.
She was forcing Jasper into a dead end.
The greatest reward in the entire bet was not the 35 million dollars anymore. It was Wendy Schuler!
A bet like this was important to a man’s dignity. If any one of them lost, they would rather kill themselves instead.
Jasper frowned. He despised Penelope Hunt more than anything in the world. A flash of hatred could be seen in his gaze.
Meanwhile, Hugh burst out into laughter. “Penelope, you’re smart. I admire you!” he exclaimed.
He continued to smile proudly. “My dude, kneel down and crawl away if you don’t dare to take on this bet!” he told Jasper and Wendy.
There was an icy glint in Wendy’s gaze. She was thoroughly angered by Penelope Hunt. How could this woman be so devious and scheming?!
“Wendy, we…”
Although Jasper was not afraid of Hugh at all, he did not want Wendy to get involved in his affairs.
Furthermore, using her as a bet was extremely insulting.
Hugh and Penelope could be shameless all they want, but he treated Wendy as his friend. He would never insult her.
“Jasper,” Wendy cut him off, looking at him intently.
“Tell me, are you confident in winning?” she asked.
Jasper laughed softly in response to this question. “I can easily defeat him,” he said.
“Alright, carry on with the bet. Put me on the bet!”
As Wendy spoke, everyone could not help but be impressed by her courage.
Not everyone would be willing to become a bet, let alone such a beautiful woman.
Looking at Wendy’s determined expression, Jasper nodded. “I won’t let you down,” he said.
“I believe you!” Wendy said, nodding her head firmly.
Jasper turned over to look at Hugh after registering her words. “Mr. Lewis, since I’ve agreed to your request to add to the bet, you should add something too. I don’t fancy the woman beside you. Raise your money to 50 million dollars!” he said calmly.
His words made Hugh stare at him.
The others did not expect Jasper to be so daring as well. Just when they thought that Hugh would never agree, he sneered out loud. “Alright, I’ll bet with you!”
Life at the Top Chapter 17
Hugh requested a checkbook immediately after speaking. He wrote out a check for 15 million dollars and signed it. He then slammed it onto the table.
“If you win, take everything. All this money will be yours! However, you need the skills to win first,” he said.
“Wow… Mr. Lewis actually agreed to it…”
Everyone burst out into an uproar instantly. This bet was reaching up to 100 million dollars!
In 2000, even someone with just a million dollars would be put up onto a pedestal and be known as a millionaire, let alone 100 million dollars!
Even to the high-status people present right now, a bet worth 100 million dollars was shocking!
Furthermore, the person joining the bet was Hugh Lewis. This made everything even more interesting.
Looks of excitement appeared on everyone’s faces. They all could not wait for the round to begin.
Right then, the afternoon trading session began.
The stocks were continuously fluctuating. The market changed every second. There was no way to guess what would happen in the next second.
Jasper and Hugh stood in front of their respective computers and focused on their screens.
Jasper was going through his memory in search of something. Not long after, he picked a company’s stocks.
Horizon Shares.
When he opened the interface of Horizon Shares and looked at the downward trend of the stocks, Jasper grew confident.
According to history, this stock first fell to the limit and rose all the way up to the limit. After that, nothing much changed. This was why Jasper did not choose it as one of his investment targets before this.
It was the perfect timing to use this as a bet.
The stocks of Horizon Shares had almost fallen to its limit.
“I’ll pick Horizon Shares. I bet that it’ll rise to its limit,” Jasper announced.
The audience was composed of bosses within the financial industry. Naturally, they were all familiar with stocks and knew a lot about Horizon Shares. They instantly burst out into laughter upon hearing Jasper’s choice.
“Is he joking right now? This stock has remained stagnant for three months. The dealer isn’t renewing the market or suppressing it on purpose. This can only mean that the company isn’t doing well and nobody wants to call dibs on it. If the market rises, it’ll continue falling. You’re telling me that a stock like that will rise to the limit?”
“Alas, young people are young people. It’s already about to fall to its limit. I guess he’s closing his eyes and taking a gamble. Otherwise, how would he be able to win Mr. Lewis?”
“He’s doomed. He’ll have to give up his date and his assets. Sigh, Mr. Lewis is right. Young people nowadays are too way too rash. They’ll have to lose something one way or another.”
“Exactly, look at Navy Pharmaceuticals, the stock Mr. Lewis picked. The company is doing extremely well and its stocks are stable as well. One can tell that it’ll rise at first sight. Meanwhile, look at the junk Jasper Laine chose. He’s here to be a joker, right?”
Hugh glanced at Horizon Shares and chuckled. “Don’t say that, everyone. Maybe this kid can really estimate well. What if it really rises?” he said.
After Hugh finished speaking, Horizon Shares… fell to its limit.
Everyone erupted into laughter.
“Hahaha. You’re being humorous, Mr. Lewis. How can he possibly estimate things well? This kid here picked a stock that has fallen to its limit. I’m dying of laughter.”
“Exactly, it has already fallen to its limit. Is it possible for this trashy stock to rebound and come up with a counterattack? I’ve been trading stocks for so many years and I’ve never seen something like that happen.”
Jasper and Wendy were not affected in the slightest by the laughter encompassing them and the red sign on the screen that indicated the stock had fallen to its limit.
Looking at Wendy’s indifferent demeanor, Jasper admired her all the more.
He was not afraid as he had memories from his past life. However, Wendy was doing all this based on her trust in him. How many people could do so?
“Don’t be worried!”
Noticing Jasper’s glance, Wendy thought that he had started panicking. She lowered her voice and whispered in his ear, “If worse comes to worst, I’ll call my father. My father’s very powerful! Nobody will dare to do anything.”
As Wendy’s fragrant scent lingered around his nose, Jasper felt like laughing and crying at the same time.
He almost forgot that Wendy was cheating on this bet. She had no intentions to follow the rules at all. Nothing could beat her invincible and powerful father.
“It’s rising, it’s rising. The stocks for Navy Pharmaceuticals are rising,” someone exclaimed.
Everyone turned over at once. The stock Hugh picked, Navy Pharmaceuticals, had risen up greatly. It continued to rise.
It seemed like the victorious side had already been determined right then.
Hugh chuckled. “The stock you chose has already fallen to its limit. I guess there’s no need to continue wasting everyone’s time, right? Miss, you’re now mine,” he said.
Wendy had an impassive expression on her face. She did not say a single thing. She simply stared at Jasper.
If he nodded, she would call her father immediately and ask him to take control of the situation at hand.
Right then, John Jackson exclaimed out loud in excitement, “It’s rising! It’s rising!”
“What are you hollering for, John? Everyone can see that Navy Pharmaceuticals is on the rise. Do we need you to tell us?”
“Fck, I’m talking about Horizon Shares! The one Jasper Laine picked! Fck, look at this uptrend! It’s rising way too strongly!”
Everyone, Hugh included, rushed over to look at Jasper’s screen. Their hearts lurched immediately.
Life at the Top Chapter 18
As depicted on the software program, Horizon Shares had stopped falling and began rising on an upward trend just like a dragon soaring up into the horizons!
The stock for Horizon Shares rose up rapidly and reached the limit straight away!
Only a few minutes had passed since it fell to its limit!
Hugh’s eye twitched repeatedly as he stared at the upward trend line cutting through the entire screen. He could not believe it.
This was not as simple as a stock rising up vehemently against all expectations. Within a few minutes’ time, Hugh had lost 50 million dollars in cash!
50 million dollars in cash was enough for one to buy multiple real estate in a time like this!
“Oh my God… It has really… risen to the limit! Hundreds of thousands of stocks have been directly sealed…”
Someone shouted out loud in shock.
“How can this be… I’ve never seen such a trend in my entire life. It happened without any indications beforehand. How can this be possible?!”
Everyone’s hearts lurched upon catching sight of the uptrend. After making sure that they were not seeing things, they looked at Jasper the way they would look at God—in admiration.
“He’s the God of Stocks, he’s really the God of Stocks!” John exclaimed in admiration.
He thought that Jasper’s impassiveness was a result of him being way too shocked.
However, Jasper still had a calm expression on his face. John understood now. He had been confident since the very start.
What… kind of man was he?
Jasper leisurely picked up the ruby pendant and check under everyone’s stares. He now had 50 million dollars!
He waved at Hugh.
“The winner gets it all. Thank you for your gifts, Mr. Lewis!”
After speaking, Jasper pulled Wendy, who was still standing at the same spot, and proceeded to leave the room.
“Stand right there!”
Hugh roared out in anger. He gritted his teeth upon noticing that Jasper had not stopped walking. Nevertheless, he could not bring himself to say anything.
There were so many people watching him here. If he went against his own words, he would be thoroughly screwed.
He was a powerful man. However, there were many people who would love to see him dead. A few of his arch-enemies were here right now. They would definitely not miss out on this opportunity.
However, Hugh could not lose to Jasper just like that!
Just as Hugh was racking his brain to think of something, Penelope grabbed his sleeve. “Mr. Lewis, what just happened? How did he win?” she asked anxiously.
He slapped her in the face. Hugh glared at Penelope who had fallen to the floor. “It’s all your fault, you stupid b*tch! Scram at once! Otherwise, I’ll kill you!” he yelled.
A shocked expression appeared on Penelope’s face. However, she was afraid as well. She did not dare to talk back to him and simply accepted his insults.
How could Richton White not notice that Hugh was infuriated? He immediately pulled Penelope away and left the venue with her.
Everything had ended. The entire hall was silent. Nobody would have expected this round of gambling to end in such a way.
Before Jasper made his lethal strike, nobody expected that he would win. Hugh, who was smug the entire round, ended up being the final loser.
Everyone, John included, still had looks of shock and admiration toward Jasper in their gaze from the explosive moment just now.
He took away 50 million dollars just like that.
Nonetheless, he won with his own skills. Why could he not take the money?
Pondering upon this, John and the others started to take pleasure in Hugh’s current situation. Many of them had taken a distaste to Hugh’s bossiness and domineering stance. However, they had never dared to speak up against him. Now that he had lost 50 million dollars, his company’s future operations would become a big problem. He had fallen to his doom within such a short span of time.
“He has so much potential,” someone murmured in a low voice.
Before the others could rise up to express their agreement, Hugh pinned them with a gaze that was as fierce as that of a wounded lone wolf.
“You guys think that he won the bet?!” Hugh grinned maliciously.
Life at the Top Chapter 19
Nobody wanted to trigger Hugh’s fury when he had just lost everything. Everyone remained silent.
“I’ve been dominating the stock market for so many years. When I made my fortune, that kid was still playing in the dirt. If he thinks that he can defeat me through this alone, he should continue dreaming!” Hugh yelled. He then turned around and left the venue.
A slight frown formed on John’s face. He was worried about Jasper. Alas, Hugh was not wrong. He was an extremely powerful force in the stock market. Since he had made such a big loss, he would not just let it be.
However, Jasper did not know about all this. He brought Wendy, who was still shocked from the previous surprising events, out of Royce Villa.
“How did you know for sure that the stocks for Horizon Shares would rise?” Wendy could not resist asking him.
Jasper had not revealed any signs of hesitation and fear since the very beginning. He seemed to be confident in how the results would turn out. If Wendy did not know that it was impossible to predict the trend of stocks, she would have thought that Jasper had estimated everything perfectly.
“I believe in my instincts,” Jasper said with a smile on his face, “Nobody can tell if stocks will rise for sure. I often just go with my instincts.”
Wendy was rendered speechless. This reason was unbelievable, but it seemed to be the best explanation for everything that happened.
“Weren’t you afraid that you’d lose such a large bet?” Wendy asked.
Jasper stared at her intently. “I won’t lose with you by my side,” he replied.
His words made Wendy press her lips into a firm line. At a loss of words, all she felt was her heart racing as it thumped loudly.
“What nonsense are you talking about…” she murmured, avoiding his gaze instinctively.
Although she was blaming him for spouting nonsense, her demeanor and the tone of her voice revealed how shy and flustered she was. Wendy, who looked like an ethereal goddess most of the time, had a human touch to her as well.
Since things had gotten interrupted and Wendy did not want to continue asking about the bet earlier.
The both of them took a ride back to town. After bidding Jasper goodbye, Wendy left.
Jasper did not ask her to stay. Although she would definitely stay back to accompany him if he asked her, there was no need to do so.
There were plenty of days ahead. Jasper still had plenty of time to foster a relationship with Wendy.
…
The next day, Jasper went to Commercial Bank to deposit the 50 million dollars he won from Hugh and transfer the amount into his futures account. He then returned home and did not leave the house after that.
If he did not recall wrongly, today would be the day movement began in the international crude oil futures market!
It all started because a fire broke out in one of the major oil-producing countries in the Middle East.
It was originally a small fire in an oil field that could have been put out easily. However, an unexpected strong gust of wind caused the fire to detonate the three largest oil pipelines in the oil field.
The entire world was then sent into a bout of frenzy.
At the moment, the prices for crude oil were still hovering at the bottom. The current price was the lowest in recent years. Nevertheless, this incident caused crude oil prices to rise vehemently.
Although the prices dropped after that, the prices for crude oil had never fallen again throughout the next years.
After he planned out the course of actions he would be taking, Jasper opened the software.
He had 62 million dollars of funds in his account at the moment. Under a leverage of 50 times, he would have an operational principal of 3.1 billion dollars.
Although the money currently all belonged to the bank, he believed that the balance of his account would reach his desired amount.
According to the exchange rate, this would be 360 million dollars.
Even with the experience of two lifetimes, Jasper felt rather anxious at the moment. This was 360 million dollars in the year 2000. With this money, Jasper would become explosively wealthy and be able to receive countless benefits.
Crude oil was now priced at 28 dollars per barrel. The fire had yet to occur.
Jasper did not hesitate anymore. He completed the deal at once and bought futures in his desired direction. He purchased thousands of barrels in one go. The order for 14,400 lots was immediately submitted for listing.
360 million dollars entered the market. It was swallowed up by the international crude oil stock trading market within the blink of an eye.
Jasper breathed out in relief upon seeing that the trade had been successfully completed. The next step would be to wait patiently.
Life at the Top Chapter 20
In a luxurious villa within the province, Dawson Schuler raised his phone and laughed. “That means you really find this young man extremely capable?” he said.
Wendy, who was seated in her office in Commercial Bank, replied intently, “For real, Dad. He’s the most capable person I’ve ever met in the financial industry. I know that the company is now in a financial slump. That’s why I intend to bring him to meet you,” she said.
“Aren’t you bringing your boyfriend to meet me instead?” Dawson laughed out loud.
A faint blush dusted Wendy’s cheeks. “Dad, I’m telling you something important,” she nagged.
“Alright, alright,” Dawson replied, “Since he’s your friend, it’s alright if you bring him home for a meal. I have my own plans for other things. You shouldn’t overthink things. I’ve been through so many hardships throughout the years. This isn’t much of a problem. It can be solved quickly,” he added.
From Dawson’s perspective, Wendy was still young. Her friend was also a young man. What experience and capability would he have?
Wendy was finding any help she could get. Little did she know, he was facing a huge problem. One could not even begin to imagine the magnitude of it. He could not solve it himself, so how could her friend do so?
“You’ll definitely change your mind after meeting him,” Wendy said. She understood Dawson’s thoughts. However, she did not say anything else. Reality spoke louder than words. She believed that someone like Jasper would shine wherever he went.
After hanging up the call, Dawson sighed. If this problem could not be solved, he was glad that his daughter had someone to take care of her… However, this young man would first have to go through his vetting.
On the other hand, Wendy was just about to head over to tell Jasper the time they would be meeting her father. Right then, someone barged into her office in a hurry.
Harold Wood had an extremely panicked expression on his face. “Oh my goodness, Ms. Schuler! Did you know that Jasper Laine purchased the futures for international crude oil in a full position? He leveraged the prices by 50 times. It’s 3.6 billion dollars! He bought it all in a full position!” he exclaimed.
“Huh?! Has he gone insane?!” Wendy shouted out loud in surprise. He was entering the market in a full position under a futures leverage. This meant that if the market fluctuated slightly in the opposite direction, Jasper’s position would be liquidated and he would be done for.
“I’ll go look for him at once!” Wendy exclaimed. Pushing Harold away, she rushed out immediately.
At this moment, a fire was slowly spreading at one of the largest oil fields in the Middle East. A strong wind was headed its way from more than six miles away. It would be arriving in a few minutes’ time…
Nobody realized what impact this fire and the incoming gust of wind would bring to the world.
It would take some time for the incident to take place. Jasper waited patiently for the news. Instead of news about the fire breaking out, Wendy was the one who came to him instead.
“Wendy, why are you panting?”
Jasper asked curiously when he caught sight of Wendy who was holding onto the doorframe while heaving loudly.
“How are you still so calm?!”
Wendy accepted the cup of water Jasper handed to her. She took a big gulp of water without thinking twice. “Did you purchase the international crude oil futures with a full position?” she questioned him.
“Yes, you receive news quite quickly,” Jasper replied with a smile. He did not deny it.
“Of course, your transaction involves a colossal amount of money. Commercial Bank will definitely keep an eye on it. Apart from me, the province branch will definitely be alerted about it as well.
“Why are you being so bold? It’s too risky to do so. What if…”
Wendy babbled on anxiously. However, she could not continue going on after mentioning ‘what if’.
Of course, she was on Jasper’s side. She wanted him to earn as much money as possible, so she did not want to say anything inauspicious.
“What if I lose everything?” Jasper asked. He did not beat around the bush. To him, everything had already happened in history. He was now simply watching everything unfold from a first-person view.
“Can you still cancel the deal right now?” Wendy asked hopefully.
“I can’t cancel it,” Jasper said. He shook his head and extended his arm out to Wendy.
“What do you want?” Wendy asked Jasper while staring at his extended arm.
“Return my glass to me. I was drinking water from it halfway,” Jasper replied with a tone of exasperation.
“Huh?!” Wendy gasped. She instantly blushed. Not only was this Jasper’s glass, but he had also drunk from it.
Was this… an indirect kiss?
Did that mean that she had just lost her first kiss?
Wendy was so shy that she wanted to turn around and run away at once. However, Jasper pulled her into his newly remodeled study room right then.
“The furnishing is rather simple, but I’m sure I’ll be able to move to another house soon. Take a seat,” Jasper said as he sat down in front of his computer.
Wendy took a look at her surroundings. It was so simple and plain that it did not look like a billionaire’s study room at all. There was only a table with a computer on it and two chairs. There was not even a bookshelf in the room.
However, now was not the time to look at all these. Wendy took a chair and sat behind Jasper. Since there was no taking back what had already happened, she could only pray to God that Jasper would earn something in return.
“You really are my lucky star,” Jasper suddenly said. He sounded pretty excited.
“What do you mean?” Wendy asked doubtfully.
Jasper turned the screen over to Wendy. “Look,” he said.
Wendy looked over and saw the news on the computer screen.
A fire had broken out in the largest oil field in the Middle East, which was also the world’s second-largest oil field. The fire was still burning strongly and a high-level country official reported that the production capacity may not be able to be restored within the year. The oil field may thus close down.
The short news sent Wendy into a state of stupor.
Trading in any market was essentially a manifestation of the supply-demand relationship. Now that the world’s second-largest oil field may be closing down due to a fire, there would inevitably be a sharp decline in the global crude oil production capacity. How would the prices of crude oil circulating the market be affected, then?
Even a three-year-old kid would know that the prices would rise frantically!
That was the world’s second-largest oil field!
It contributed up to one-tenth of global crude oil production!
If Wendy did not know that it was impossible, she would have thought that Jasper was the one who started the fire.
Jasper did not have the time to talk to her right now. He immediately switched to the interface showing the futures. As expected, the market had responded at once.
Futures were not stocks. They could not rise or fall to a certain limit. Instead, they could rise or fall unlimitedly.
The prices had already risen from 28 to 31 dollars within a few minutes. Looking at the trend, this was just the beginning.
“How… much have you earned?” Wendy asked in disbelief.
“Let me take a look… 43 million dollars!”