Jasper seated himself on the sofa. He was about to give Henry a meaningful look to ask him to go and inquire about the situation when he saw Henry already walking over with an expression as black as thunder.
Henry grabbed Mark’s collar and hauled him bodily up from the ground. Fixing his attention on Mark, he growled “Boy, I’m not going to threaten you or intimidate you.
“But whatever I ask you after this, you’d better give me an honest answer. If you so much as keep even the smallest detail from me, I’ll drag your whole family into the mountains and bury them alive!”
Mark was so terrified he almost wept in fear. What did Henry mean, that he would not use threats or intimidation?
Was this not the most f*cking barefaced, direct attempt at threat and intimidation?!
Under interrogation from everyone in the room, Mark did not keep anything back at all and readily revealed everything that he knew.
“Brother, boss, all I really know is this—honest. A young man informed me that in the evening, a woman would order a Pink Lady cocktail with double mint and sea salt. Guests who usually drink Pink Lady cocktails won’t add sea salt to them, so that was considered to be something like a secret signal.
“After getting the signal, I was supposed to head over and she would hand me something. I was then supposed to bring it to the back door and hand it over to that young man. I don’t know who either of them were, the man or the woman.”
Mark trembled as he spoke, regret filling the pit of his stomach.
If he had known that he would end up like this today, just from earning that extra 1000 dollars, he would not have dared to take on the job even if he were beaten to death.
He had thought that he had made some easy money, but alas, there was no such thing as a free lunch, so to speak.
“Brother, that person gave me 1000 dollars. How about this—I give you the money and you don’t give me any more trouble? I’m just someone who came here from abroad to work. I can’t afford to offend any of you,” Mark pleaded with Henry as he swallowed and took the money out from the pocket of his trousers.
Henry’s expression was ominous. Cursing, he snarled, “The f*ck. Do you know that you helped someone to swindle me out of over a billion dollars yesterday? And in the end, you’re just giving me back 1000 dollars? You think I’m only worth that much !?”
“Let it be.” Jasper patted Henry on the shoulder and said, “It’s useless now even if you tear him to shreds. He’s just an errand boy. In the end, you’re still the one who’ll be disappointed.”
After pulling Henry away, Jasper asked Mark, “Would you be able to recognize the man you saw last night if you see him again?”
Mark seemed to sense that Jasper was the only ‘good guy’ present. Nodding his head as if kowtowing, he replied “I’m really good at identifying people—I’ve been that way since I was a child. I’ll definitely be able to recognize him!”
“Very well. For the next few days, you’ll stay here then. Don’t go anywhere. I may send someone to pick you up at any time.” Jasper gave Mark a smile.
Jasper then got up and glanced over at Jared. In a warm, amiable tone, he said, “Mr. Wade, this employee of yours is still useful to us. For the next few days, let him rest and not go to works. We’ll pay his salary. What do you think?”
Jared nodded hurriedly and bowed slightly, protesting, “Mr. Laine, please, what are you saying? He is my employee—of course I should be the one paying his salary. You mustn’t talk like that. I really don’t deserve such kindness from you.”
As he spoke, Jared turned to Mark and said pleasantly, “Markie, I won’t assign you to any of the shifts for the next few days, so you can have a good rest. Once you’re done helping Mr. Laine out, I’ll promote you to a foreman’s position, so work hard, alright?”
Mark, who had just received a blessing in disguise, looked both surprised and pleased. He nodded hurriedly in agreement.
Upon exiting the bar, Jasper’s party got into the car and left under Jared’s incomparably cordial and courteous eye.
On the way back to the hotel, Henry curled his lips and said, “Why did you treat them so politely? Look at that Wade—he couldn’t wait to lick your boots.”
Jasper said blandly, “Dealing with others can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. Previously, Mr. Wade helped you handle some business because he was under pressure from Hector Combe.
“However, if you really treat him like an underling and boss him around, he won’t cooperate with you, or he might even sell you out to others. Who do you think will be on the losing end then?”
