After returning from a management meeting, Jasper rested on the leather chair in the Beckett Group presidentâs office, visibly exhausted.
News of his breakup with Liana must have spread within the company. Nonetheless, not one employee in the building dared to gossip about him lest they got into trouble.
As the vice chair of the board of directors, Jasper was de facto yielding the most power in the company.
Somehow, that did not bring him any happiness at all.
âIâm surprised that Sophia was able to pay off the Gardnersâ debts. It looks like she has siphoned quite a lot of money. This is the perfect time to pay it all back.â Xavier gloated at Sophiaâs misfortune.
âHenry was her tool to collect wealth, but heâs in jail now. The fact that she could afford to pay the tens of millions in debt goes to show that she has other channelâs of getting the money.â Jasperâs half-
opened eyes gleamed dangerously.
âCould she have made money ⦠from that luxury store, EV Concepts?â Xavier widened his eyes in disbelief. âItâs just an ordinary store selling luxury bags and clothes. Even if their sales are off the roof, itâs impossible to make that much in profits!â
âYouâre still naive after all these years of following me around.â Frowning, Jasper launched a paper plane that landed right on Xavierâs chest.
âThe EV Concepts store is the front of an extensive web of connections that Sophia built over a few years. She might be selling luxury items on the surface, but she is secretly dealing with the exchange of titles, power, and even darker illegal shit.â
Xavier shuddered at the thought. âWeâve underestimated that witch!â
âNo, I havenât. I donât take my enemies lightly.â Jasper pinched his nose bridge and sneered. âBut itâs not time to get rid of Sophia yet.
âShe is well-connected in the city and is protected by Javier. We donât have evidence to drag her down, and itâs not the right time. Play with fire, and sheâll get burned. Time is on our side.â
Xavier nodded with resentment. âRight! Sooner or later, weâll make that witch a sacrifice!â
âHowâs things going for Ada Kingsleyâs wedding?â Jasper shifted the topic suddenly.
âOur team has amended the wedding planning proposal. Weâre ready to meet with her team at any time.â
Xavier paused and prodded tentatively, âOn that matter⦠I thought you wanted to make it up to Madam.
âWhy donât you give up Ada Kingsleyâs wedding to KS World? I believe Madam will beâ¦â
âWhy should I?â Jasper glared at him coldly. âIâm indebted to Alyssa, not KS. Why would I give the opportunity to Taylor Group?â
Xavier stood dumbfounded. He was bewildered by Jasperâs rationale.
âShe once said I must give my best in any business competition against her. I would offend her if I threw the game now.â
Glancing down, Jasper added, âLetâs go with what we planned. I will not break my principles for anyone or anything. Iâm not Jameson Schmidt.â
Xavier blinked in confusion. Why did Jasper sound a little begrudging there?
Jasperâs phone vibrated on the table from Landonâs incoming call.
âWhatâs the matter?â Jasper spoke with a deadpan look.
âJasper, I got my hands on two VIP tickets for Christina Hammondâs concert! Sheâs that famous pianist, you know. Letâs go together!â Landon was excited.
âYou, at a concert? Do you even appreciate piano music?â Jasper did not hold back at all.
âTsk, of course I do.â Landon was no stranger to Jasperâs sarcasm and took it well. âCome on, join me!
Iâll pick you up from the lobby, alright?â
âIâm not going.â
âWhy? Are you hiding in your room, crying over the breakup? I canât believe youâre so heartbroken over Liana Gardner. Why? Does it take time to adjust to life after years of being cuckolded?â Landon made fun of Jasper in retaliation.
Jasper furrowed his brows in disgust. âStop putting me and Liana in the same sentence. Itâs sickening.
Iâm hanging up.â
âH-Hold on!â Landon had no choice but to confess, âItâs Zoe. Sheâs back from studying in Yoarkley.
Sheâll be performing as a guest pianist at Christinaâs concert tonight.
âI had wanted to surprise you at the concert, but you didnât want to go. Youâre no fun at all!â