Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

them. “Carlton! How did you get through Fort Knox?”
“I may or may not have been slipped an invitation by someone,” Carlton said with a
wink, as Scheherazade blushed.
“Astrid, mind if I have a quick word?” Carlton said.
“Me?” Astrid looked up in surprise.
“Yes.”
Astrid got up from her chair and Carlton took her over to a corner. “I have a message
from a friend. Go to the chapel behind the north transept of the cathedral right now. Trust
me.”
“Oh. Okay,” Astrid said, her brow furrowed at Carlton’s mysterious message. She
walked out of the tent and headed into the church through a side door, making her way to
the north transept. As she entered the small alcove chapel within the cathedral, her eyes
took a moment to adjust to the darkened room. A figure emerged from behind a pillar.
“Charlie! Oh my God! What are you doing here?” Astrid exclaimed as she rushed to
embrace him.
“I just couldn’t let you be alone today.” Charlie hugged her tight, kissing her forehead
repeatedly. “How are you?”
“I’m okay, I guess.”
“I know this is the last thing on your mind, but you look stunning today,” Charlie said,
marveling at her knee-length black dress with a white Greek key motif piping on the skirt
and collar.
“This was my grandmother’s, from the 1930s.”
“Was the service beautiful?”
“I wouldn’t really call it that. It was grand, and it was strange. The Sultan of Borneo
talked about the war and how my great-grandfather helped to save his family. He spoke in
Malay, so everything had to be translated by this very perky woman. Then my brother
spoke, and he was so weird and stilted he sounded like the Manchurian Candidate. The
most emotional moment came when my grandmother’s casket first entered the church.
When I saw Madri and Patravadee walking behind the casket, I just lost it.”
“I know it’s been a very sad day. I brought something for you…I was debating at first
whether or not to show it to you today, but I think it might actually cheer you up.” Charlie
took a small envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Astrid. She opened it up and
unfolded a handwritten note:
Dear Astrid,
I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, but I want to express how sorry I am
to hear of your grandmother’s passing. She was a great lady, and I know
she meant so much to you. I was very close to my Ah Ma as well, so I can
imagine what you must be feeling right now.
I also want to apologize for my actions several months ago in