At that, Celine suddenly smiled.
“As to him suspecting that I’ve committed adultery, well, I didn’t. Any intimate relationship I’ve had with other men can’t be considered that since we’ve already gotten a divorce long ago. Nothing happened between Jasper and me before we got the divorce.
“Not that anything happened between us after.”
Adding that last part, Celine then sighed, looking rather despondent.
After that great opportunity last night, it was going to be difficult for her to find another chance to pounce on Jasper.
That man was too smart and too difficult to persuade. He was still able to remain sober after all that drinking.
Celine spitefully speculated whether Jasper was even a man at all.
Paulson listened quietly as Celine spoke. He waited for her to finish speaking before he slowly said, “Honestly speaking, I would’ve fully supported you choosing Jasper if he had appeared before you got married.”
Celine chuckled. “I don’t remember seeing you stand up for me when the family forced me to marry Wharton for their benefit, though.”
“The situation was special, then. Plus, it was a matter among the Maynard family. I’m merely an outsider and, at most, the man your father asked to watch over you after he passed.”
“Let’s stop here, Mr. President. You promised me not to speak of our personal feelings here at work.” It was evident that Celine did not want to continue the conversation.
“Alright, then, let’s talk about something else. What are your plans after this? Take this as a review from a superior to you, the new president of the Terra regional branch.” Paulson changed the subject.
“What else can I do? I’m going to make the Terra regional branch greater so that it’ll have the best results among the five branches under the headquarters. Then hopefully I’ll get to use that to get a spot for myself in the board of directors and you’ll get to retire two years earlier than your original plans.”
“I told you this before when you first became the general manager of the Terra regional branch. The situation there is more complicated than you think, and many people are reluctant to see such a strong character of Somer descent appear…”
At that, Paulson looked at Celine intently. “Suppressing private Somer businesses from taking the path of internationalization and globalization is one of the most important things to them!
“This is something Colossal Investments’ shareholders as a whole cannot prevent, let alone me. As second in line to inherit the Maynard business, you should know better than I that businesses frequently rely on politics for survival.”
Celine frowned slightly. “You mean that Somer businessmen like Jasper would have to trek a rocky path when they try to spread beyond Somerland?”
Paulson chuckled aloud when he saw that Celine understood what he meant. Then, he diverted the conversation away from such a sensitive and secretive topic.
There were many things better hinted than said, for being too blatant about it might only reap the opposite results.
“As to you wanting me to retire two years before my plan, I’m afraid your wish will come true very soon.”
Celine frowned at Paulson’s words and sat straight, looking at the old man in front of her seriously and silently.
“I’m retiring next year. It was a decision made among the shareholders during their general meeting. As of now, it’s still absolutely confidential,” Paulson explained.
“Thos b*stards!”
“You’ve worked your entire life to make Colossal Investments the best investment bank in the world. You’ve put decades of hard work into this and they’re kicking you out just like that?” Celine was enraged.
“Haha.”
Seeing how Celine was genuinely angry, Paulson smiled in gratitude and spoke, “It’s not that exaggerated. I’ll still get 3.8% of Colossal Investments’ shares and I’ll become one of Colossal’s investors.
“You have to understand that Colossal Investments is a professional internationalized enterprise. Its ordinary share rights are very complicated.
“There is no individual large shareholder and the shares are all distributed to all sorts of large companies. With everyone holding a small portion of shares, the company itself may be able to make its own decisions, but rights to the company are also spread out.
“That was why as humiliated I felt when Jasper rejected Colossal’s investment, I was also very grateful.
“Look at it this way, Mr. Maxus founded Colossal Investments in 1869, yet his descendants have all been thrown out of the bank at least 100 years ago. There’s not even a sign of them left.
“Jasper has his eyes on a very long-term goal, so if one day…”
Paulson’s gaze was profound. “Jasper will become the king to his own business kingdom one day, and no one will be able to doubt his power.”
Celine sighed after she heard him. “That path is too difficult to tread.
“Other large international capitals aren’t like Colossal Investments and Colossal Investments won’t be the same once someone else takes your position. That person might not be as easy to talk to, so if I can’t take it, I might as well destroy it before it gets too strong for me to do so. That’s just how the world works, no?”
“Which is why…”
Paulson stood up and placed a beloved trinket that he had kept on his office desk for years into Celine’s hand. Then, he patted her shoulder with the affection of an elder and spoke, “If Jasper really manages to open a bank one day, go help him and leave Colossal.
“Then again, this is if such a day ever comes.
“I’m giving you this trinket now. This was something your father gifted me to celebrate my promotion as Colossal Investments’ president, and it’s also the only thing I’ve never changed in my office all these years. I’m returning it to its owner now.”
…
Jasper, Jack, and the rest spent the entire day moving between bars and places to drink, having a ton of fun. Jasper had lost count of how many places they went and how much alcohol he drank.
All Jasper remembered in his blurred mind was receiving a call from both Anna and Wendy who congratulated him and nothing more.
In the end, Jasper remained the last one standing. He was proud of the fact that he had outdrank Jack and the rest thanks to his strong physique and youth.
With great difficulty, Jasper managed to return to the hotel thanks to Julian’s help and he fell asleep the moment he hit the bed.
It was 2 p.m. on a Wednesday when he woke.
Jasper reacted instantly when he opened his eyes and looked at the time. He was late!
