“This proves that Sena is indeed a very outstanding company, then. They say great minds think alike,” Jasper teased.
Jasper’s western humor had Franklin laughing aloud, and his impression of Jasper improved all the more.
“Paulson and I are great friends. We’ve spoken in private about you before and now that I’ve met you, I believe that old friend of mine is biased,” Franklin spoke with a smile.
This seemingly normal sentence held quite a few important details and Jasper replied, “Thank you.”
While others may understand that Jasper was merely thanking Franklin for the praise, he was actually thanking him for the information.
Franklin nodded and spoke to Jasper for a little longer before he slowly left.
After Franklin left, Jasper looked at the time and realized that it was currently eight-thirty in New York and there was only one more hour before the market opened at nine-thirty.
The large Exchange Center was packed with staff and reporters, for there was only one more hour until Sena would ring Nasdaq’s Opening Bell.
Jack was answering the reporter’s questions while Jasper was about to look for Henry, only for Celine to get to himself first.
“Come on, Paulson wants to meet us.”
Jasper followed Celine to the second floor of the Exchange Center. It was a huge office with floor-to-ceiling windows that clearly showed the frenzy within the exchange center.
Paulson and William were sitting right by the floor-to-ceiling windows when Jasper and Celine arrived.
“You’re here. Come here,” Paulson spoke with a smile.
Jasper and Celine walked over and stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Looking down at the Exchange Center below, Jasper was about to speak when Celine leaned over to him.
“Stay away from that b*stard.”
William’s face paled in anger at Celine’s words.
Paulson smiled as if he did not hear anything and turned to Jasper. “One more hour before our promise shows its results, Laine. Are you confident?”
Jasper replied, “Confidence is something I’ve never lacked.”
“Too much confidence leads to arrogance,” William piped in with a scoff, “I’m afraid you don’t even know how much 120 US Dollars per share means, do you?”
“Did we ask you?” Celine looked at William coldly.
Celine’s scornful gaze fueled William’s fury but he forced himself to calm down and scoffed. “I’ll let you be proud of yourselves for now. But if your IPO cannot reach 120 US Dollars later, I’d like to see if you’re going to keep acting so proud.”
“I hope that you’ll keep your end of the promise, Mr. Paulson,” Jasper ignored William and spoke to Paulson.
Sighing, Paulson replied, “While I do not wish to see such a scene, Laine, I cannot find it in myself to have faith in you. Sena is indeed a very outstanding company, and I would surely believe you if you proposed an IPO of 80 US Dollars. But 120 US Dollars is just too difficult to accomplish.”
“It was a difficult height to reach even before the dot-com bubble popped, let alone now. The market’s changed, Laine, and it’s still not too late if you want to change your mind now.”
Jasper smiled calmly and replied, “I used to follow regulations and traditions long ago, President Paulson, and there are indeed many things that are unthinkable, things that are impossible according to what I’ve learned from my experience.”
“But it’s unfortunate that the world is controlled by people who can change the impossible into something possible. I wouldn’t be standing here if I did everything according to convention as just a normal employee of some company in Somerland.”
