“But 59% is still in your hands, no?” Jasper replied, having already expected such a reaction from Wayne.
Wayne and Jose exchanged a look as the latter replied, “Mr. Laine, I’m afraid forcefully suppressing Softwin with our shares will only result in an unrepairable discord between both parties. The slightest mistake and Abbylon will be over.”
Jasper got up and walked over to stand behind Wayne and Jose. He placed his hands on each of their shoulders and leaned down such that his head was between the two men.
“As long as we have the eighteen founders, as long as we have you two, Mr. Marlon and Mr. Salazar, then who cares if Abbylon falls? There can always be another company–another Abbylon. It’s a simple concept and I’m sure the both of you understand this.”
Wayne stared deeply at Jasper and asked solemnly, “What do you want, Mr. Laine?”
“Me?” Jasper chuckled and straightened himself to reply, “Hudson Moore from Terizone asked me a similar question back then. I told him that I wanted to turn Terizone into a mega-enterprise worth trillions on the market.”
“But now.” Jasper looked at Wayne. The man’s eyes shone with certainty and exceptional confidence.
“I can tell you that I plan to make Abbylon into the greatest and most respected enterprise out there. Its market value isn’t important because it’s going to be responsible for society in its entirety. It’ll soon change how society lives!”
Wayne shot to his feet when he heard Jasper.
He felt blood run hotly through his veins as his heart thumped erratically in his chest. Gushes of warm blood rushed to his brain as sweat began to bead on his forehead.
No one knew, nor had Wayne ever told anyone, that he had never founded Abbylon for the money. He just wanted to start a great enterprise that would change everyone’s lives.
Making money just so happened to be an unavoidable path toward that goal.
He knew no one would believe him if he told this. In fact, doing so would only result in them mocking him.
Yet, on this day, he had finally felt it with Jasper.
The feeling of finding his soulmate who truly understood what he wanted.
Jasper looked at Wayne and continued grimly, “Mr. Marlon. Be it Softwin or any other capitalist investor, they’ll only invest in Abbylon because they see your potential to make great profits in the future.
“But I’m different from them. What I see is a whole new world, one that we can create together!”
Blood rushed to his head and Wayne had almost instantly agreed out of sheer excitement. At that crucial moment, Jose’s words poured over him like a bucket of cold water.
“Mr. Laine, Softwin has already invested more than 25 million US Dollars in Abbylon. Moreover, Myles has told us that he’s willing to invest more as long as Abbylon requires it.
“If we were to kick Softwin out now, it won’t matter how exciting this future you speak of is. You’re still going to have to face Softwin, a formidable opponent.”
Jose’s words reeled Wayne back from his wishful thoughts. The man’s mind immediately steadied and cleared up.
Meanwhile, Jasper frowned slightly.
In all honesty, Jasper really wanted to have Julian come in and seal Jose’s mouth shut if he could.
Jasper’s partnership with Wayne would already have succeeded if not for Jose.
However, the man’s behavior showed how uniquely pragmatic he was. It was pointless trying to build a vision with him, for he only believed what he saw.
“Is 25 million a lot?”
Jasper answered calmly.
