Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

CHAPTER EIGHT
DEMPSEY HILL, SINGAPORE
PS.Café was an oasis nestled in the parklands of the former Dempsey Hill barracks, and
the moment Nick entered the tranquil space with Astrid he felt like he could breathe
easier.
As if echoing his thoughts, Astrid said, “I’m so glad we managed to make our escape.”
“Two hours with the family in the lawyers’ office…I think it’s going to take me a year to
recover!” Nick laughed, looking around to see if Rachel and Carlton had arrived. “Ah,
they’re hiding over in the corner.”
“So you have a hot date tomorrow night?” Rachel teased her brother as they sat at a
table bathed in sunlight filtering through the giant plate-glass windows.
“I’m hoping it will be a hot date! You know, sometimes an actual date just screws
things up,” Carlton said, taking a sip of his lychee-and-lime soda.
“Scheherazade and you have been inseparable for the past week. I don’t see how you
could possibly screw it up at this point.” Rachel looked up and saw Nick and Astrid
navigating between the crowded tables toward them. “Here they come. Let’s ask Astrid—”
“Noooo!” Carlton said bashfully.
“Ask me what?” Astrid asked as she leaned over to give Rachel a peck on the cheek.
“In your expert opinion, do you think it’s a bad idea for Carlton to take your cousin on a
date?”
“What, a real date? I figured they were already halfway to Vegas to get married!” Astrid
teased.
“Stop it, I’m not sure she’s that into me,” Carlton said.
“Carlton, if she wasn’t into you, you wouldn’t even be able to get close.”
“Really?” Carlton seemed dubious.
Astrid sat down next to him. “First of all, her parents are pathologically protective of
her. You’ve seen her security detail. I’m told that in Paris, she has undercover agents
trailing her everywhere she goes, and even she doesn’t know who they are. But aside from
that, Scheherazade has left a trail of carnage since she was a teenager. I’ve never seen so