“It’s too late to think about what we should’ve done now. But Jasper, we were thinking if you could lend a helping hand? It’d be fine if it was just Kai, but his family shouldn’t have to suffer because of it as well,” John spoke hesitantly.
Jasper smiled subtly at John and replied, “You’re too good of a friend, John.”
John waved him off. “Kai and I have been friends for more than a decade. There’s no way I can just stand aside and watch him kill himself.”
Jasper asked, “Then how do you want me to help?”
Kai and John’s eyes shone at Jasper’s question. Especially Kai, for he did not expect Jasper to be willing to help. Kai quickly replied, “I need an extra 3.5 million in funds, and I was wondering if you could lend me that amount? I promise I’ll pay you back once this whole incident is over, Mr. Laine.
“Honestly, 3.5 million isn’t a lot at all,” Jasper replied. Seeing the elation on Kai’s expression, Jasper quickly continued, “But I have a series of investments after New Year’s, so I don’t plan on lending the money.”
At that, both Kai and John’s expressions changed.
John quickly spoke, “But Jasper…”
“John,” Kai interrupted him, smiling bitterly as he spoke, “Mr. Laine has his own difficulties and reasons. I wouldn’t lend someone money if they asked for 3.5 million out of the blue either. Don’t make it difficult for Mr. Laine.”
John’s words were on the tip of his tongue when he sighed and swallowed them back, opting to say something else. “I went too far.”
Then, John raised a wine glass to Jasper. “Don’t say anything, Jasper. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have forced this on you. I’ll down a glass as punishment.”
John then tipped his head back and finished it.
Jasper could not even stop him in time and smiled bitterly. “Calm down, let me finish talking first.”
His words instantly sparked hope in the two other despondent men who both immediately looked at Jasper.
Jasper turned to speak to Kai, “How many liquid funds do you have at hand now?”
Kai did not hide at all and replied, “I still have 800,000, but that’s all the funds I have. The client wants to take four million out next week, so I’ve only got the 800,000 until next Monday.”
Jasper gave it some thought and replied, “It’s only Wednesday today. Two business days until then, that should be enough.”
John quickly replied, “What do you have in mind, Jasper? Tell us, we’re really curious.”
Jasper smiled. “I think I can help Kai, but it’s a huge risk. A short-swing trade in the futures market.”
“If we’re lucky, we’ll manage to fill that four million gap you need. But of course, there’s also no absolute guarantee that the investment will work and you could potentially lose that 800,000 dollars you have as well. It’s up to you to decide.”
At that, John immediately stopped talking and turned to Kai.
This was an option of life and death. No matter how close they were, John was in no position to make the decision for Kai.
Kai struggled outwardly for a moment before clenching his jaw to reply, “That client is someone with an exceptional background. I’ll be screwed if I can’t pay him back anyway, so I might as well take a gamble with this 800,000 dollars then! I trust you, Mr. Laine!
“But I have to call someone to inform them first, Mr. Laine,” Kai suddenly said.
Jasper furrowed his brows slightly. “Oh? Go ahead, then.”
Kai took a look at Jasper’s displeasure and quickly explained himself, “Don’t misunderstand me, Mr. Laine. I trust you, I do, but we also didn’t think you’d help us. That’s why I contacted Mr. Ray, the best investor in the province, and asked him for help.
“Now that I’ve chosen to accept help from you, then it’s only right I turn Mr. Ray down.”
