Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

“Not at all. I think they’d like to meet you properly. They’ve been rather curious about
you.”
“Well, if you don’t think I’m unpresentable right now in my soiled hiking gear.”
“Oh, you’re fine. It’s all very casual.”
Carlton handed off the keys to his vintage 1975 Toyota Land Cruiser to the valet in the
driveway and they strolled through the elegant lobby of the sleek glass tower. For a family
that arguably controlled the majority of the country’s GDP, the Shangs lived modestly
when they were in Singapore. Alfred had long ago divested all of his landed properties on
the island, but he had built this exceedingly discreet private apartment tower on Grange
Road, where each of his children had been given several floors.
“Good evening, Miss Shang,” the guards at the reception desk said in unison. One of
them escorted them to the elevators, reaching inside to enter a security code into a
keypad. They zoomed up to the penthouse, and when the doors opened, Carlton could
hear the murmur of voices just off the entrance foyer.
The two of them strolled into a circular, atrium-like sunken living room, and then
Carlton stopped dead in his tracks. Standing in the middle of the room in a shimmering
peacock blue cocktail dress was his ex-girlfriend Colette. He had not spoken to or seen her
in almost two years, not since he discovered that she was responsible for poisoning
Rachel.
“Oh hello. Looks like we have more guests than I thought,” Scheherazade said.
Her father turned to them and said, “Ah, at last, the prodigal daughter returns!
Scheherazade, come meet Lucien and Colette, the Earl and Countess of Palliser.”
Scheherazade strolled over to greet them and then she proceeded to introduce Carlton
to everyone. Still in shock, Carlton shook hands numbly with Leonard and India Shang,
who were dressed to the nines and gave Carlton’s hiking attire a rather disapproving onceover.
Then the unavoidable moment came when he was face-to-face with Lucien and
Colette. She looked different. Her hair was pulled into an elegant ballerina’s knot at the
nape of her neck and she wore far less makeup than he remembered, but he was
surprised at how all his anger toward her suddenly came flooding back. The last time they
had seen each other, he had accused her of trying to poison his sister.
“Hello, Carlton,” Colette said, perfectly composed.
“Colette,” Carlton murmured back, trying valiantly to stay calm.
“Oh, you two know each other?” India Shang said in surprise. “But of course, you lived
in Shanghai for a period.”
“For a period,” Colette said.
“Well then, you must stay for dinner,” India insisted.
“Yes, do stay,” Colette said sweetly.
Carlton forced a smile at his hostess. “It would be a pleasure to join you for dinner,
Mrs. Shang.”
Soon they were all seated around the table in a dining room enjoying a twelve-course