Ch. 151..160
Life at the Top Chapter 151
“Don’t you so-called rich kids always talk about victor’s justice? You’re the loser now!”
Jasper’s voice rang throughout the VIP room.
Everyone was staring at Jasper as if he were a god.
Even though the Law siblings had already known beforehand, they still could not help but sigh in admiration as they witnessed it again.
Where had Jasper gotten the courage and foresight to purchase Denson Wintech’s stocks?
A treacherous change occurred among the traders the minute victory was decided between the two.
The three traders who Mitch had brought along with him previously stared at Zack and the others with visible contempt in their eyes.
Zack and the others had been annoyed, but they had no choice but to swallow their anger because of Jasper’s orders.
However, things were different now.
Jasper had retaliated marvelously, kicking Mitch from the heavens to the dust.
It was now Zack and the others who were crowing with delight.
“Tsk tsk tsk. You two, take a good look.”
Zack crossed his legs and shook his head as he said to his two employees, “When you officially debut and become a manager like me, you’d better polish your glasses so that you don’t choose the wrong boss and embarrass yourself like some people I know.”
His words caused Mitch’s three traders to turn an ugly shade of red in the face.
However, Denson Wintech just had a massive growth that could not even be witnessed once a year, and that took all the bravado they had to retaliate against Zack and the rest.
They had no choice but to admit that Jasper had done a wonderful job.
Mitch glared at Jasper, his eyes red as he said coldly, “Did you get insider information?! Did Kayden get you to come lure me into a trap!?”
Jasper said calmly, “So what if it is, and so what if it isn’t?”
Then, Jasper turned toward Mitch and said calmly, “No matter if it’s a trap or not, you’ve lost. You should keep your promise since you’ve lost.”
Stepping out of the way, Jasper chuckled as he said, “Crawl. Start here and crawl around the entire stock exchange center.”
Anger, humiliation, shame, and hatred.
Mitch’s body shook slightly as various emotions took hold of him. He gritted his teeth, caught in a dilemma.
If he, Mitch Langdon, crawled around the stock exchange center, he could never appear in Harbor City again.
Not just him, but the entire Langdon family, including his grandfather, Wallace Langdon, would be the butt of everyone’s jokes.
The minute he crawled out of the room, he would find himself on the front page of Harbor City’s tabloids. The next day, the Langdon family would be the laughing stock of Harbor City.
However, if he did not crawl, it did not matter if no one else said a word. Henry Law himself would be able to broadcast the news. Then, not only would he have embarrassed himself, but he would have also become a despicable person.
Both options led to a dead end.
Mitch stared at Jasper as he said, “Don’t be so hard on others. You shouldn’t pressure people this much.”
Jasper scoffed as he asked nonchalantly, “If I’m pressuring people too much, what about your actions?”
The expression on Mitch’s face stiffened as he gritted his teeth and said, “Jasper Laine, the Langdon family is a big shot in Harbor City. The Langdon family will never forgive you if I crawl out of this room.”
“Woah, woah.”
Henry, who hated listening to stuff like this, said in a grim tone, “You make it sound like our families aren’t all big shots. If the Langdon family is miffed, there’s no problem at all. Shall I get my old man to visit your old man? Or should we bring out the big guns and have your grandfather pay a visit to my grandfather?”
Mitch curled his hands into fists as he glared at Jasper, ignoring what Henry said.
However, his heart had sunk to the pit of his stomach.
Henry would not have been able to represent the entire Law family if he were alone, but since Anna had not objected, it was obvious that the Law family would support Jasper till the end.
This possibility made Mitch uneasy.
“Jasper, choose another way. I can compensate you in any other way.” Mitch’s voice took on a pleading tone.
He had decided that he would do anything to get past this hurdle and then turn back to retaliate ruthlessly.
He would let that country boy have his fun for a while before he seized the opportunity to take his life from him!
“We can do it another way.” Jasper’s lips curled upward in a stunning arc as he spoke.
Mitch felt as if he had been pardoned. He gloated inwardly when he realized that Jasper was still scared to offend him.
A touch of contempt appeared in Mitch’s eyes as he said, “Tell me, how much do you want?”
Country boys would remain country boys in the end. There was nothing insightful about them, and they could be bought off with some money.
It seemed that it was just his lucky day today.
Life at the Top Chapter 152
“Thank you for your generosity, Prince Langdon.”
Jasper smirked as he took the cheque.
Mitch gritted his teeth and scoffed as he glared at Jasper, saying, “Don’t be too smug. Harbor City might not be large, but things happen every day. We… will have plenty of opportunities to fight again!”
With that, Mitch left with his traders.
“F*ck, what a shame we couldn’t witness him kneeling.”
Henry had a disappointed expression on his face. He might have reminded Mitch just now, but he wanted to see him kneel even more.
“It might have been nice for a moment to watch him kneel, but we wouldn’t have gotten anything else besides that. We would even have gained the Langdon family as our enemy,” Jasper said.
Anna nodded and said, “Jasper is right. Our parents might not care if our subordinates fight amongst themselves, but we would have been pissing on the Langdon family if we had forced him to kneel. They would never let that go.”
Jasper waved the check and said, “If you take a look at the bigger picture, it doesn’t matter if he kneeled or not. We have a far better result now. 100 million dollars! Did you think it would be this easy to earn this much money?”
“I think it’s quite easy for you,” Henry mumbled.
“Come on, let’s go,” Jasper said as he smiled.
Jasper had planned to return straight to the hotel, but after Anna received a call from Zachary saying that things had gone wrong with her business in the entertainment circle, Jasper changed his plans to return to the Laws’ household.
Jasper was much more familiar with the Laws’ household on his second trip there.
“Jasper, long time no see.”
Zachary smiled warmly as he shook Jasper’s hand, then clapped him on the shoulder.
Henry simmered with jealousy as he watched this scene. He might be Zachary’s son, but he rarely received such affection from him.
“Two days,” Jasper said as he smiled.
“Come, let’s have dinner,” Zachary said as he waved an arm.
Old Master Law had gone for treatment and was not present during dinner.
Sitting at the head of the table, Zachary’s eyes lit with curiosity as he listened to Henry and Anna talk about what had happened today.
“I know a little about what happened with Denson Wintech. Joe and Kayden had been making preparations since a year ago to enter the European market, and they’ve done a lot in the process.
“I knew for sure that they would succeed, but I never expected them to succeed this quickly.”
Zachary gazed seriously at Jasper and said, “Did you really predict this outcome just by reading a magazine?”
Jasper laughed and said, “Well, not exactly. I’ve always paid attention to Joe’s properties. There might be a wave of increase in value for them in the future.
“It was just a coincidence today. Besides, I wasn’t sure if Denson Wintech would reveal the news today.”
Zachary nodded. Jasper’s talent would be horribly demonic if he were able to sniff out such a huge business opportunity from a magazine.
However, this was already enough to prove that Jasper had an extraordinary flair for business.
It should be noted that as the head of the Law family, he had access to insider information that no other person could have. However, Jasper still managed to uncover the truth with just the bare facts.
Life at the Top Chapter 153
How could this have been accomplished by an ordinary person?
“You did well in your final choice. Mitch’s grandfather is an honorable man, and we’re indebted to him due to things that happened in the past. We must let him keep his reputation.”
Zachary was extremely appreciative of the fact that Jasper had not driven Mitch to the point of desperation but instead chose to settle the matter with 100 million dollars.
“Of course, you didn’t have to help the Law family repay what we owe the Langdon family. However, if you want to settle in Harbor City in the future, you should take note that we’re different from other places as we take our relationships very seriously. It would have been detrimental to your development if you had offended the Langdon family.”
Jasper said calmly, “I didn’t think about it that much. Respect is earned, not given.
“The Langdon family’s attitude doesn’t affect me too much. I merely think that exchanging a one-time kneel for 100 million dollars is much more worth it.”
Zachary smiled and said, “Alright, not bad. I can’t detect any of the arrogance that young people, especially successful ones like you, might have on you. Many successful people are arrogant, but you aren’t. I always feel like I’m talking to someone my age when I talk to you.”
“Thank you for your generosity in giving me such honor, Mr. Law,” Jasper said as he smiled.
Zachary said jokingly, “Still calling me Mr. Law? Such formalities.”
“Uncle Law, I’ll drink a toast to you.” Jasper smiled as he raised his glass.
“Haha, alright.” Zachary laughed heartily as he clinked his glass against Jasper’s.
Bored of watching Jasper and Zachary tooting each other’s horn, Henry interrupted them.
“Dad, didn’t you ask us to only bring Jasper back home when you’re almost finished with looking into the matter of the entertainment company?”
Zachary nodded when he heard that and said to Jasper, “It must be your luck too. I got my men to look into entertainment companies after you brought it up to me and found out that two of them are intending to sell.
“I finally found one that fits your requirements after excluding some newly-established ones and those that asked for exorbitant prices.
“This company was among the top five film distributors when Harbor City’s movies were still popular all across Terra.”
Jasper raised an eyebrow as he asked, “Are you talking about Gladness Entertainment Movies?”
Zachary was truly surprised this time.
“How did you know that? There are less than five people in Harbor City who now know that Gladness Entertainment Movies is looking to sell. You wouldn’t have guessed this from a magazine this time, would you?”
Jasper smiled and said, “Of course not. However, you just mentioned that the company used to be among the top five film distributors in Harbor City in the past, Uncle Law. That narrows my target down to five companies.”
“Asia Media Movies, Emperor Entertainment Corporation, and Nation Star Movies can be eliminated from the list.”
“Asia Media Movies has the support of Harbor City’s tycoons. They don’t need the money.”
“Emperor Entertainment Corporation is a huge corporation with a focus on entertainment. There’s no way they would consider selling their assets in the entertainment industry.”
“As for Nation Star Movies, they’re owned by the famous Smith brothers. They got rich through movies, and there’s no way they would let go of their money tree.”
“And lastly, I didn’t even consider Sullivan Group. That old man has just as much power as any of the tycoons in Harbor City. The possibility that he would sell the company is low.”
With that, Jasper spread his hands and smiled as he said, “Using the process of elimination, wouldn’t there only be Gladness Entertainment left?”
Zachary nodded as he listened to him and finally said in amazement, “You’re right. It is Gladness Entertainment. Jasper, I’m starting to feel lucky that you’re my ally in the business world instead of my enemy.”
Life at the Top Chapter 154
“Uncle Law, is Gladness Entertainment seriously considering selling?” Jasper asked.
Zachary nodded and said, “Their boss, Michael Lane, is an old friend of mine.”
“Gladness Entertainment Movies is a branch of his company, Gladness International Corporation. It did quite well in the early years, and the company earned quite a bit of money in the movie industry. However, Harbor City’s movies have been losing their popularity in recent years.
“Which is why he has decided to switch his focus from the movie industry to financial asset management and go international. That’s why he wants to carve out the entertainment portion of his company and sell it.”
Jasper thought to himself that the head of Gladness Entertainment Movies, Michael Lane, was a visionary.
In his past life, Harbor City’s movies had peaked in the 90s. Gangster films, gambling films, and movies starring Stephen Cole had made up the youth of a whole generation.
However, their fame started fading starting from the year 2000, and this went on till the year 2020.
However, Michael Lane did not sell the company in his previous life.
“How much is he selling it for?” Jasper asked.
Zachary frowned slightly as he said, “That’s where things get complicated. To be honest, if Gladness Entertainment Movies had not met all your requirements, I would have eliminated them immediately.
“First of all, Michael is looking for a powerful buyer to buy the equity of other companies through selling the equities of his own company.
“If you’re looking to buy with cash, he’s asking for no lower than two billion dollars for the entire company.”
Jasper now understood why Gladness Entertainment was never sold in his previous life after hearing what Zachary said.
Michael Lane was blinded by money.
One could not even comprehend how much two billion dollars was. Jasper had only spent ten million dollars to own a controlling share of Terizone.
Although, Terizone was a grassroots organization that was still far from being developed to its full potential.
In Jasper’s opinion, Gladness Entertainment Movies was worth no more than 1.5 billion dollars even if it still held the copyright to many movies and had many cinematic resources.
It would only be odd if someone did decide to buy it.
No wonder Gladness Entertainment Company had not managed to sell in his past life.
“Gladness International is only worth five billion dollars as a listed company. Asking for two billion dollars just for a film sub-company is daylight robbery,” Anna said as she frowned.
“You can’t look at things that way,” Jasper said as he shook his head.
“The price of things can’t just be measured using the market price. If you find something you like, it doesn’t matter if you pay a slightly higher price for it. If it’s something you don’t like, you wouldn’t buy it even if it’s priced lower than its market price.”
Zachary smiled. “That makes sense. If we think about the influence Gladness Entertainment Movies has, it’s not surprising that there’s a markup.
“After all, even though Harbor City’s movies are not as popular as they used to be, the market for them still exists. As one of the top five companies in the industry, Gladness Entertainment possesses an excellent system.
“Thus, if Jasper wants to enter the entertainment industry, it’ll be a solid deal for him if he splurges and purchases Gladness Entertainment Industry. Just the time and labor costs that you’ll save on in the process is astronomical.”
“Having said that, I can’t just splurge with no reason. Uncle Law, please help me arrange a meeting with Mr. Lane. I would like to have a conversation with him,” Jasper said.
Zachary nodded. “If you think there’s a need for a meeting, I’ll be more than willing to bring the two of you together. How about this? Most of the tycoons in Harbor City will be attending a charity ball tomorrow to show their support. You can come with Anna.”
“Charity ball?”
A wave of emotions washed over Jasper.
He had seen tycoons attending various charity balls in his past life.
They mostly just procured several harmless items to auction and then donate the money raised to those in need.
To put it bluntly, it was a place where rich people would mingle and spend some money to build themselves a good reputation.
Such charity auctions existed worldwide, but Harbor City’s tycoons were especially fond of using this method to show off.
He had never imagined that he would also be attending such charity auctions after getting reborn.
“What’s wrong?” Zachary asked after noticing the odd expression on Jasper’s face.
He thought that Jasper was not a fan of such occasions.
“Nothing. I’m just curious because I’ve never attended such events,” Jasper said as he smiled.
Zachary laughed and said, “It’s just a place where we talk, meet new friends, and broaden our social circles. We also buy some trinkets that will never be seen again to build ourselves a good reputation.”
“Henry is familiar with such places. I’ll get him to bring you along.”
Henry smirked as he said, “It’s just a place for you to show off, which you’re good at.”
Zachary glared at Henry, who had forgotten his place. He immediately zipped his mouth and stopped joking.
“Alright, I’ll make sure to be on time the day after tomorrow,” Jasper said.
Once Jasper had said his goodbyes to the Law family, Henry acted as his chauffeur back to the hotel.
However, this time, Henry did not mind his duty at all.
After boasting all the way to the hotel, Henry scrammed the minute he dropped Jasper off. It was evident from the direction he was driving in that he was not heading home. He was probably heading off somewhere to have fun.
Jasper could not be bothered.
When he got back to his room, he discussed the company’s plans with Jack and Hudson as usual. It was past midnight when they wrapped things up.
Jasper called Wendy once the meeting ended.
“You’re not asleep yet?” Jasper asked.
“I was waiting for you to call,” Wendy said, her voice as gentle as ever.
Smiling, Jasper asked, “Has much been happening in the company these few days?”
“Things are alright with the company, but trying to learn financial stuff is hard. It’s so complicated,” Wendy said dispiritedly as she flopped onto the bed.
“Every process takes time. Don’t be too eager for achievements and take it slowly. I can’t afford to have you collapse from exhaustion,” Jasper said as he smiled.
Wendy huffed and said, “You’re worried that I’ll collapse from exhaustion? Look at you, taking such a long trip to Harbor City without coming back sooner.”
“I still have some things to do. I’ll come back the minute I’m done,” Jasper said.
Wendy turned onto her side and said, “Oh, right, Dad wanted me to tell you to visit him once you’re back in Mainland. I think there has been some progress with the entertainment companies in Mainland and he wants you to talk to them.”
“I’ll deal with that once I’m back. There are more pressing issues at Harbor City.”
Life at the Top Chapter 155
“Alright, you deal with your matters in Harbor City first!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”
Jasper talked to Wendy about other matters before hanging up. However, he did not go straight to bed.
He used the hotel’s computer to browse the news and make some notes in the notebook he brought along with him.
Although rebirth was Jasper’s greatest advantage, it would slowly weaken over time.
Jasper was not one to sit on his laurels both in this life and the previous one.
Thus, he needed to study and analyze the day’s news.
Hard workers would not necessarily succeed, but successful people were always hard workers.
Jasper was convinced of that.
The next day, Anna dropped by the hotel with a tailored suit for Jasper.
“It’s for the charity ball tomorrow,” Anna said as she passed the clothes to Jasper.
“How did you know my measurements?” Jasper asked in surprise.
Anna said gleefully, “Besides being the second young lady of the Law family, I’m also a designer. It’s not that hard for me to use my eyes as a ruler to take your measurements.”
This was the first time Jasper had heard that Anna was a designer. With great interest, he asked, “So, you designed this suit for me?”
Anna laughed lightly as she said, “Do you think I’m capable of designing a suit in a couple of days? This is an old design that my mentor praised, so I kept it. You’re the first person who will ever put it on.”
“Who’s your mentor?” Jasper asked.
“Karl Lagerfeld,” Anna replied.
Jasper stared at Anna in surprise. “Kaiser Karl?!”
“You know him too?” It was Anna’s turn to be surprised.
“Oh, I more than know him,” Jasper said as he shrugged.
To be honest, Jasper would not have heard of the man if he had not died and caused the entire world to talk about him in 2019.
However, he could not deny that the well-tempered Kaiser Karl had been one of the absolute best in the fashion circle.
After all, not everyone got a documentary about their life after death.
“If you’re Kaiser Karl’s apprentice, would you be interested in opening a fashion design studio? I can invest in it,” Jasper said as he smiled.
Anna said flatly, “He said that I’m still young, so I’m not allowed to open a studio and disgrace him before I master the skills.”
Jasper laughed. That did indeed sound like what Kaiser Karl would say.
Jasper stepped out of the bedroom once he was done changing.
He was usually dressed casually in a T-shirt and sweatpants, sometimes with a jacket thrown on top of. It was rare for him to be dressed this formally.
Anna’s eyes lit up when she saw Jasper in the suit.
Frankly speaking, Jasper had always been good-looking.
Not the preppy kind of good-looking, but just pure masculine handsomeness. He could be described to have a soft, moderately chiseled face with strong eyebrows and clear eyes.
Besides, he had a good figure. He was neither thin nor bulky. He had a wide frame and wide shoulders too. He was a natural model.
Jasper could pull off any outfit he was given.
Especially suits, which demanded a good figure. They looked even better when he wore them.
“After seeing you, I’m beginning to think that the men in Harbor City are too effeminate. They can’t be called men at all,” Anna said sincerely.
“Thank you for your praises,” Jasper said as he stood in front of the mirror and smiled.
He was quite pleased with how he looked too.
Kaiser Karl did not care how rich or powerful one’s family was when he took in apprentices.
The Law family could be considered powerful within Harbor City, or even within the entire Somer community. However, there were people much more powerful than the Law family if one looked at it from a global perspective.
Thus, Kaiser Karl only ever looked at a person’s personal style and talent when choosing his apprentices. If they fit his style, he would even instruct you for free.
Anna must be a talented designer to be Kaiser Karl’s apprentice.
The suit that Anna designed had a simple uncomplicated style that looked clean and crisp. There were not any complicated patterns and it managed to convey a majestic aura using only the simplest designs.
“Just one more thing,” Anna said suddenly as she walked toward him.
She stood in front of Jasper. A black bowtie had somehow found its way into her hands.
Tilting her head back, Anna used her slender, pink arms to turn over Jasper’s collar. Then, she circled her arms around him and helped tie the bowtie on his collar.
The two of them were standing very close to each other. They were so close to each other that Jasper could even feel Anna’s body touching his when she breathed.
Jasper had to lower his head to Anna’s height because she was helping him wear his bowtie. The minute he lowered his head…
To be frank, Anna won over every woman Jasper had ever seen in his life in terms of figure.
Her creamy fair skin was tinted with a shade of cherry blossom pink and was so smooth that even your gaze could smoothly slide down it.
In the span of a stolen breath, that stunning glimpse was enough to enrapture his soul.
Perhaps because she was done with the bowtie, or perhaps she had realized how close they were to each other, Anna took a step backward.
That step was enough to jolt Jasper out of the charming and sweet-smelling trance he was in a moment before.
“Done.” Anna’s forcefully calm voice wavered slightly.
What could one say to ease the awkwardness now?
Nothing.
No matter what he said, it would make the girl shy and flustered.
Like the expert he was, Jasper avoided the minefield. Turning again to look into the mirror, he gazed at the bowtie as he smiled and said, “Gorgeous.”
It was hard to tell if that ‘gorgeous’ was meant for himself or Anna.
“I’m… I’m going now. See you tomorrow.”
Anna’s flustered voice rang out before she grabbed her purse and ran off.
Jasper scoffed as he stared at himself in the mirror. The corners of his lips curled upward to form a smile that made him seem wickedly flirtatious.
“See you tomorrow!”
Life at the Top Chapter 156
Anna and Henry arrived at the hotel in the early afternoon to pick Jasper up.
You would never drive yourself to such formal events, which was why the Law siblings had their chauffeur drive them in the family’s other Rolls-Royce.
Henry, also dressed in a suit, widened his eyes in surprise when he saw Jasper stepping out of the hotel.
“Why bother buying an entertainment company when you look like that? Might as well go star in a movie and gain instant fame,” Henry said with jealousy.
Jasper laughed as he got into the car. “Starring in a movie is such tiring work. How could it be as easy as being a CEO?”
Henry clicked his tongue and was about to say a reply when he noticed something. He stared intently at the suit Jasper was wearing.
A couple of seconds later, Henry wailed and said in equal parts anger, jealousy, and woe, “Anna Law, isn’t this the suit you designed?!
“You wouldn’t let me wear it no matter how much I asked. Were you waiting for Jasper?!
“I’m your brother! Your brother! Besides your mom, dad, and grandpa, I’m the person closest to you! How could you do this to me?!”
After listening exasperatedly to Henry’s wails, Anna said stiffly, “What are you yelling about? Are you scared that the tabloid journalists won’t be able to hear us?”
Henry had a vengeful expression on his face.
Excelsior Hotel was a top-notch five-star hotel in Harbor City best suited for these high-end charity balls.
The red-carpeted area outside the hotel was already filled with people when Jasper and the others arrived.
The press, crowd, and bodyguards had been arranged on both sides in an orderly manner.
Every once in a while, a luxurious car would pull to a stop near the red carpet and the passenger inside would step out of it.
It was just like an awards ceremony.
However, stars were the main characters of an award ceremony.
These stars were only an accessory to tycoons at places like these, where the rich and famous mingled with each other.
No matter how famous you were or how large your fanbase was, you had to be careful here, lest you say or do something wrong and offend the wrong person in the community.
Tragedies like these had happened in the past.
Modern stars were not much different from the playwrights of the past in front of the powerful.
As one of the top four most powerful tycoons, the Law family required an elaborate entrance.
A time period of an extra five minutes had been allocated both before and after the time slot the Law family was supposed to arrive.
For those not in the know, there was nothing new about the Law family. They were all old-time friends or rivals. They were much more interested in Jasper, who had been growing close to the Law family.
Especially Bob, who heard that Jasper would be attending the charity ball with the Law family.
“Jasper Laine is coming tonight.”
Bob spoke quietly to Zane who was standing beside him.
Zane’s mouth twitched, and a gloomy expression came over his face when he heard Jasper’s name.
“I’ll head in first to socialize with some old friends. Find a chance to humiliate him if he has arrived. Count it as interest.”
Bob patted his female companion on the arm when he was done speaking and motioned for her to follow him.
A famous, beautiful female movie star was standing beside him.
Zoelle Griffin.
Zoelle Griffin might be the most famous star in Harbor City now, but at this moment, she was nothing more than Bob’s female companion.
Zoelle had also gone through various hurdles and defeated many people to be his companion.
The entertainment industry was far more complicated than outsiders thought it to be. Female stars had to pay painful prices that one could not even begin to imagine to advance through the ranks.
Seemingly posh and elegant before the masses, they were nothing more than a tool to earn profits in a capitalist society.
Zoelle glanced in another direction. It was another female star who was in the same rank as her, Queenie Shaw.
At that moment, Queenie was standing beside Mitch, who was gazing silently at the approaching Law family’s car with a solemn expression on his face. No one could tell what thoughts were going through his mind.
Life at the Top Chapter 157
As the crowd stared, the Rolls-Royce pulled to a stop at the red carpet. Someone immediately came forth to open the door.
Lights immediately began flashing wildly. It was as bright as if someone was shining a large searchlight.Henry was the first one to get out of the car.
The wealthy son was well-known by both the tabloids and the crowd.
Then, there was a face that most people did not know.
“Who’s that?”
Someone asked curiously as they watched Jasper getting out of the car.
Even though they had no idea who he was, everyone understood that any person who could enter a venue in the same car as Henry Law would be someone important.
He would have to be at least an esteemed guest of the Law family to have such eligibility.
Both Zane and Mitch’s blood were boiling as they stood some distance away. They were wishing they could charge forth and pummel Jasper to death.
Under the flashing lights, Jasper turned to stand by the car door in a gentlemanly manner. He reached out and elegantly helped Anna out of the car.
Anna’s slender, soft hand nestled in Jasper’s palm. The minute she got out of the car, Harbor City’s passion for both beauty and gossip heightened to new levels.
Dressed in a red evening gown, Anna grabbed the attention of every male at the scene the moment she got out of the car.
Bright red was a picky color. Not every woman would be able to pull that color off. Moreover, the evening gown demanded a perfect figure.
However, not only did Anna pull off the dress beautifully, but she even managed to make it seem even more beautiful.
When a person was truly beautiful, it was not their clothing that made them look even better, but the other way round.
She had a long, slender figure, and her long hair was pulled into a simple bun at the back of her head. Several strands of hair bounced around her pale neck.
She seemed as regal as a swan and as flirtatious as the devil.
At that very moment, no one dared challenge her title as the most beautiful woman in Harbor City.
The venue was filled with movie stars and gorgeous girls galore, and none of them gained their looks through plastic surgery. They were all gorgeous in their way.
However, Anna’s appearance had caused their beauty to fade.
Jasper smiled as he extended his right hand toward Anna for her to hold on to as they walked forth.
Anna smiled as she placed her arm in Jasper’s. The two smiled as they stepped onto the red carpet and walked toward the hotel.
A strange man had arrived in the same car as the Law siblings.
The young lady of the Law family seemed to have a boyfriend.
The journalists had adrenaline coursing through them as they looked at the lovely couple. They had even already crafted the next day’s headline in their minds.
Henry felt jealous as he walked behind them, a stiff expression on his face.
“Stupid. He doesn’t even look that good, but he’s good at what he does. He even got my sister to be his date!”
Henry gritted his teeth. He might have changed his opinion of Jasper, but he still felt annoyed!
He was the young master of the Law family but seemed to only be an accessory to Jasper. He could only be his student!
Besides, this was not the first time he had felt that his identity as the young master of the Law family was worth nothing when he stood next to Jasper.
“Young Master Law, who is the man next to your sister? Is he your future brother-in-law?”
A brave journalist extended their neck out to pose the question.
“You’re talking about him?”
Harry pursed his lips. “He’s from Mainland. But if he’s alright with it, my grandpa and dad might even wrap my sister up like a present for him!”
Boom!
Everyone nearby felt their heads imploding!
Life at the Top Chapter 158
Who was Anna Law?
She was recognized to be the most beautiful lady in the upper circle of Harbor City.
She was the apple of Old Master Law’s eye.
The number of people who wanted to date her could form a line that stretched from Victoria Harbor to Causeway Bay!
They were all sons of rich families too.
However, they were now hearing this from Henry Law?
The journalist who asked the previous question seemed to think that they had struck gold, but by the time they wanted to ask another question, Henry had already walked off.
He was finally free from the flashing lights once he had crossed the red carpet and entered the hotel.
However, the socializing that came after was also a pain.
The differences between various cliques were exceptionally obvious in vanity fairs like these.
The four big shot families formed a clique of their own, and no one else was allowed in it.
When the four big shot families were done socializing, they would scatter off to look for those who were on good terms with their families.
The rival circles would have a clear-cut separation from each other.
However, no matter who you were, you would put on a smile for everyone.
New acquaintances popped up continuously before Jasper as long as Anna stayed beside him.
He had met members from the other three big families. They were mostly elegant, well-spoken people.
They had an obvious interest in Jasper. However, it did not seem right for them to pose the question.
However, Jasper could feel the crowd’s attention shifting toward him as his name spread throughout the venue.
“Master Boyle, I heard your wife is pregnant. We’ll be looking forward to your invitation once your child is born,” Anna said as she smiled at the head of the Boyle family.
The man, who was several years older, blushed as he laughed and said, “Of course, of course. I’ll make sure yours doesn’t get lost in the mail.”
After a round of greetings, Jasper had gotten to know several people and even more people had learned his name now.
No one knew where it started, but news of what Jasper had done awhile back traveled through the crowd like the plague.
“Mr. Laine, you were the one who purchased our company on the stock market the other day?” Kayden asked as he looked at Jasper in surprise.
Jasper smiled and said, “I didn’t expect that to surprise you, Mr. Langdon.”
“The amount of shares you hold now makes you eligible to enter the board of directors. Rules state that you must be notified the next time the company meets with the board of directors,” Kayden said as he smiled.
Jasper said to Second Young Master Langdon, who was a refined man, “As an investor, I’m merely optimistic about your company’s future and intend to make a profit while I can. I don’t think I’ll be needed in the company’s meeting with the board of directors.”
Kayden smiled meaningfully as he said, “I must compliment you on your fine taste, Mr. Laine.”
Their conversation seemed peaceful, but there was a hidden agenda to it.
Kayden was worried about the intentions Jasper might be holding toward his company. If that was the case, the two would have to fight then and there, but Jasper had no interest whatsoever in the Langdon family’s business, and he made sure to give an honest explanation.
His honesty had gotten him Kayden’s appreciation in return.
“Here’s my card. Let’s talk again when we have the chance.” Kayden smiled as he handed his card over.
“Of course.”
Smiling, Jasper took the card from Kayden and offered his in return.
Taking the card from him, Kayden glanced at it and said in surprise, “Mr. Laine, you have an investment company in Mainland? JW Capital… Is that the one that’s investing in Terizone?”
“Yes!” Jasper was not surprised that Kayden had heard of Terizone.
In his past life, Hudson had asked Kayden to invest in the company, and he had indeed done so.
“Haha, seems like we’ll have a lot to talk about in the future,” Kayden said playfully.
The two conversed for a little longer before Kayden said goodbye and headed elsewhere. People like him could not talk to any one person at an event for too long.
Kayden had just stepped away when Jasper heard a piercing voice behind him.
“Hey, look at what I’ve found. A Mainlander trying to mix into high society. You actually have the nerve to come in?”
Mitch scoffed as he walked over with Queenie.
“Was 100 million dollars too little for you to be considered as a punishment?” Jasper asked coolly.
The expression on Mitch’s face stiffened as he scoffed and said, “Don’t be too proud. You were just lucky. I refuse to believe that you’ll always be this lucky. One day, you’re going to end up worse than a dog.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to end up in the future, but I do remember clearly that I ended up with 100 million dollars from you the other day,” Jasper said as he laughed lightly.
Mitch gritted his teeth as he said angrily, “Do you have nothing else to talk about besides that 100 million?”
“Indeed, I have nothing else to say to you,” Jasper said coolly.
“Young Master Langdon, the banquet has not started. No need to get into conflicts with other guests,” Queenie hurriedly said when she saw the expression on Mitch’s face.
Mitch scoffed and said, “You’re right. Getting angry at someone like him does nothing but taint my reputation. That Mainlander ought to take a look at himself. He won’t fool anyone into thinking he’s a king even if he has the royal mantle draped over him!”
Queenie glanced curiously at Jasper. She had done several jobs in Mainland this year and also shot several commercials there, which meant she had a vague understanding of Mainland.
What she was sure of was that a man as attractive as Jasper was hard to come by both in Mainland and Harbor City.
Even without mentioning anything else, Jasper’s gentlemanly and elegant demeanor on the red carpet just now had already attracted countless women.
“Queenie, I hear that many of your fans are Mainlanders.” Mitch scoffed as he raised his chin toward Jasper. “See that? The movie star who you Mainlanders don’t even dare dream of meeting is my date tonight.”
“Ms. Shaw, you’re under Gladness Entertainment, aren’t you?” Jasper asked calmly.
“Yes.”
Queenie nodded, not understanding why Jasper asked that question all of a sudden.
Smiling, Jasper turned and said to Mitch, “The world is a miraculous place because you can never guess what’s going to happen in the next second. For example, your date who you’re so proud of, a famous movie star with countless fans, might have a new boss in the next second.”
“What do you mean?” Mitch narrowed his eyes and glared threateningly at Jasper as he spoke.
“Nothing,” Jasper replied calmly.
“Jasper, my dad’s looking for you.”
Just then, Anna walked over and spoke quietly to Jasper.
Mitch was handsome, and Queenie was naturally gorgeous.
However, they paled in comparison to Jasper and Anna.
Jasper smiled as he extended an arm toward Anna and then pointed to their interlocked arms.
He smiled at Mitch and said, “My date, Anna Law.”
Life at the Top Chapter 159
Mitch stared at Jasper’s retreating figure. He felt blood pooling at the base of his throat, but he could neither swallow it nor spit it out.
He had just been gloating over the fact that Queenie was his date, and Anna Law suddenly appeared beside Jasper the very next second.
Queenie was pretty and famous enough.
To be honest, one could not be embarrassed bringing Queenie along to any event.
She was on par with his status as Mitch Langdon too.
However, one was always worried to be compared with.
A man’s success was measured by the woman beside him.
Queenie was fine, but could she and Anna be compared side by side?
They were miles apart.
Mitch felt his face burning, and that translated to him feeling annoyed as he stared at Queenie.
“Young Master Langdon… You…”
Spooked by the look in Mitch’s eyes, Queenie was just about to speak when she heard Mitch saying, “F*ck off!”
Queenie stared at Mitch, flabbergasted.
“I said, f*ck off!”
Mitch turned after speaking coldly to Queenie and strode off, leaving her stranded at the venue. Tears filled her eyes.
…
Jasper and Anna entered a smaller hall in the hotel.
The hall outside was for the younger generation to mingle and form connections while this smaller hall was where the real vanity fair was. It was where the actual bosses gathered.
The majority of the richest in Harbor City had arrived.
This was not a scene that everyone would have the opportunity to witness.
When Jasper entered, he saw Zachary approaching him with a smile on his face.
“Jasper, come over. I want to introduce you to a few of my old friends.”
Zachary grabbed hold of Jasper’s arm affectionately and laughed loudly as he led him forward.
He was doing this on purpose for the others to witness.
He wanted the others to know that he, Zachary Law, approved of this young man. They all needed to pay their respects to him.
Zachary could do that with the status and power he held.
Sure enough, everyone immediately looked at Jasper with a different glint in their eyes.
They had to have a certain amount of power to be let into this room. News traveled much faster among them here, and Jasper’s identity was already no longer a secret.
Bob, who was nearby, got Zoelle to talk to the other women. When he got rid of her, he turned toward the middle-aged man who looked somewhat similar to Mitch.
“Kennedy, what’s Jasper’s relationship with the Law family?”
Kennedy said calmly, “Big B, you should stop using all your attention on those movie stars and pay more attention to other matters.
“Zachary got to know Jasper in Mainland some time ago. I don’t know what exactly happened between them, but Zachary thinks very highly of him. Even Old Master Law can’t stop praising him.”
The expression on Bob’s face faltered when Old Master Law was mentioned. “So, this Jasper Laine is not going to be easy to deal with.”
Bob raged inwardly when he remembered how he had taken a fall in front of Jasper even though he was Jasper’s senior.
Life at the Top Chapter 160
Just then, Zachary had already led Jasper over to a modest-looking middle-aged man who had a pair of round glasses on.
“Jasper, this is Michael Lane, otherwise known as Mr. Lane. He’s the CEO of Gladness International Corporation.”
“Mike, this is the wonderful young man I’ve been telling you about, Jasper Laine.”
When Zachary was done with the introductions, Jasper extended a hand and said while smiling, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Lane. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Michael smiled as he shook Jasper’s hand. “I’ve never heard about you in the past, but Zach’s been talking about you for the past few days.”
The fact that Zachary and Michael had nicknames for each other proved that they were on close terms.
After exchanging pleasantries, Jasper said, “Mr. Lane, I won’t beat around the bush anymore since Uncle Law is here. I’m interested in purchasing Gladness Entertainment, which you currently own.”
Michael glanced at Zachary before he smiled at Jasper and said, “I do intend to sell it. However, in terms of its pricing, I understand that it’s not exactly cheap, but I don’t plan to lower the price.”
Michael might be a good-tempered man who was easy to talk to, but he was a force to be reckoned with in the business world. After all, he had managed to build the empire that was now Gladness International Corporation.
“You can’t deny the fact that Harbor City’s movies are declining in popularity. I’m worried that you’ll struggle to find a buyer as sincere as I am if your price is too high.”
Jasper was not one to spend mindlessly and thus would not just agree to whatever price Michael had set. As such, he did not hesitate to retaliate.
Michael said calmly, “But Gladness Entertainment has the best assets in the entertainment industry. That’s a fact. Jasper, how much effort would you have to put into creating a company like mine from scratch if you wanted to enter the entertainment industry?”
“I would not be standing before you if I didn’t agree that Gladness Entertainment has the best assets, Mr. Lane,” Jasper smiled as he said that.
Michael laughed and thought for a moment before he shook his head and said, “I had put my heart and soul into Gladness Entertainment. I wouldn’t be selling it if I had a choice. No more negotiations regarding the price.”
Jasper said calmly, “If that’s the case, there’s no need to continue this conversation.”
With that, he turned and left.
Not only was Michael stunned at that swift exit, but so was Zachary.
Who did business like that, turning around and leaving the minute a disagreement surfaced?
Given Jasper’s assertive attitude, it did not look like he wanted to buy Gladness Entertainment but more like Michael was begging him to buy the company.
“Jasper, wait.”
Zachary had not interrupted thus far. He was merely a middleman for this transaction, and his role was to ensure things wrapped up nicely. Now that the deal was about to fall apart, he called after Jasper.
Just then, a waiter walked over with a tray. Zachary took three glasses of wine and gave Jasper and Michael a glass each before he took a sip. He then said while smiling, “What’s a business deal without a little compromise? Mich, you’re the senior here. Why don’t you express your attitude first?”
Michael frowned as he said, “I’m not explicitly demanding cash. You can also seal the deal with shares.”
“What if it’s a tip that can prevent Gladness International Corporation from losing 40% of its value in the market?” Jasper suddenly asked.
Michael’s eyes lit up as he gazed seriously into Jasper’s eyes and asked, “Young man, do you hear what you’re saying?”
Zachary’s expression turned solemn.
Jasper’s choice of business jargon had already crossed the line from being impolite to being insulting.
In his past life, Gladness International Corporation, which shifted their focus into the finance industry, had met with the burst of the dot-com bubble. They had suffered major losses at the end of the year 2000.
Memories of Gladness International Corporation played in Jasper’s mind as he said calmly, “The burst of the dot-com bubble is starting in the west. It might be as fast as a week or as slow as half a month. Either way, something will definitely happen. Most of Gladness International Corporation’s investments are in internet companies, right?”
Michael shuddered.
“Do you dare take responsibility for your words?” Michael asked solemnly.
Jasper glanced at Zachary before he said calmly, “Mr. Lane, I’m willing to bet a billion dollars with you if you don’t believe me.”
Michael barked out a laugh as he said, “No need for a bet. I can sell Gladness International Corporation to you for 15 billion dollars, but you have to promise me one thing.”