Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

Victoria looked distressed. “Then what happens to me? Am I supposed to move in to a
flat? Goodness gracious, I’d feel like I’m suddenly part of the ‘new poor’!”
“Victoria, no one cares anymore,” Alix argued. “Look at all our friends, our cousins—the
T’siens, the Tans, the Shangs. No one we know still lives in their original houses.
Buitenzorg, Eu Villa, 38 Newton Road, the House of Jade. All the great estates are long
gone. Even Command House is now part of bloody UBS. I’ve lived in a three-bedroom
condo for decades and I love it.”
Harry nodded in agreement. “I dream of the luxury of living someplace small, like one
of those HDB flats! Why, I hear that most of them even have elevators these days!” *3
Alix looked around the table at each of her siblings. “A property of this size has not
come on the market in almost a century—this is like Central Park going up for sale in New
York. In this neighborhood, the going rate is $1,000 per square foot. We have more than
2.8 million square feet here, and that adds up to $2.8 billion. But I think developers
would pay even more, and there’s going to be a bidding war. Trust me, I’ve been flipping
properties in Hong Kong for years. We have to orchestrate this very methodically, because
this is our one chance to make an absolute killing.”
Victoria gave a dramatic sigh, although secretly she was already thinking of the cute
topiaries she would put on the doorstep of her town house in London. “Okay, so let’s sell
the house. But we can’t appear to want to sell it anytime soon. That would be unseemly.”
“I think we should wait at least six months. We wouldn’t want to look like greedy pigs,”
Felicity stated as she sucked on a fish bone.
Philip took a sip of his coffee and winced. “All right then, I’m heading back to Sydney
tonight—I can’t stand another day without a proper flat white. I’ll be back in six months
and we can officially put the house on the market.”
Just then, Ah Ling entered the dining room with an announcement: “Something just
arrived that I think you all should see.”
Two Gurkha guards wheeled a large flatbed dolly into the room. Piled on it was a
mountain of colorful ribboned boxes, all from Ladurée in Paris. There were boxes upon
boxes of chocolates and truffles, macaroons and cakes—all manner of delicious
confections from the legendary dessert maker. Crowning this elaborate display was a
croquembouche, with a large embossed gold card affixed to the front. Ah Ling took the
card and handed it to Philip. He tore it open and began to laugh.
“What is it?” Eleanor asked excitedly.
Philip read the card aloud. “Bright Star Properties wishes the Young family prosperity
and good tidings in the coming Year of the Goat. May we respectfully extend an all-cash
tender offer of $1.88 billion for the purchase of Tyersall Park.”
Felicity gasped, while Alix turned to Victoria with a smirk. “I don’t think we have to
worry about looking like greedy pigs.”