she was a big hit with all my friends. Mrs. Bao, Rachel’s nothing like what you’re expecting—she’s American, but in the best possible way. I think that in time, Shanghai and Beijing society would come to accept her, especially if she carries a different handbag. You should give her one of your Hermès bags, Mrs. Bao. She will be like the daughter you never had.”
Shaoyen sat stone-faced, while Gaoliang addressed his son. “I’m glad Rachel was able to help you, but it still doesn’t excuse your behavior. The profligate spending in Paris, the public fights, the drag racing, it’s all an indication to me that you are not ready to—”
Carlton got up abruptly from his chair. “Look, I apologized. I’m very sorry for disappointing you. For always disappointing you. I’m not going to sit here any longer and continue this inquisition. Especially when the two of you can’t even sort out your own problems! Colette, let’s get out of here.”
“But the bird’s nest? The bird’s nest dessert isn’t even here yet,” Colette protested.
Rolling his eyes, Carlton left the dining room without another word.
Colette pursed her lips awkwardly. “Um, I think I better follow him. But first, allow me to treat tonight.”
“That’s a very nice gesture, Colette, but we’ll take care of dinner,” Gaoliang responded.
“I did all the ordering—I really should pay,” Colette said matter-of-factly, gesturing to Roxanne, who ceremoniously handed the head waiter a credit card.
“No, no, we insist,” Shaoyen said, getting up from her chair and attempting to thrust her credit card in the waiter’s hand.
“Absolutely not, Mrs. Bao!” Colette shrieked, leaping up and snatching Shaoyen’s card away from the hapless waiter.
“Aiyah, it’s no use fighting you,” Gaoliang said.
“You’re right, it’s no use,” Colette said with a triumphant smile.
A few moments later, the waiter returned. Glancing sheepishly at Colette, he whispered something in Roxanne’s ear.
“That’s not possible. Try again,” Roxanne said dismissively.
“We tried several times, ma’am,” he said in a low voice. “Perhaps it has exceeded its limit?”
Roxanne stepped outside of the private dining room with the waiter and barked, “Do you know what this is? It’s a P. J. Whitney Titanium card, and it’s only available to ultra-high-net-worth individuals. There is no limit. I could buy an airplane with this card if I wanted to. Run it one more time.”
“What is the problem?” Colette asked, coming out of the room.
Roxanne shook her head in disgust. “He is saying the card’s been rejected.”
“I don’t understand. How can a credit card ever be rejected? It’s not like it’s a kidney!” Colette laughed.
“No, no, it’s a billing term. Sometimes, other people’s cards can be ‘rejected’ if they exceed a certain spending limit, but that’s not possible with you,” Roxanne explained.
A moment later, the head waiter returned with the manager, who was ornately dressed in a Gianni Versace patterned shirt and black Jeggings. He smiled apologetically and said, “I’m very sorry, Miss Bing, but we tried everything. It just would not work. Perhaps you’d like to use another card?”
Colette looked at Roxanne in utter bafflement. Nothing like this had ever happened to her in her entire life. “Do I even have another card?”
“I’ll just pay for it first,” Roxanne huffed, handing the manager her own black card.
• • •
After Roxanne and Colette had left the room, the Baos sat in silence for a few moments.
“I suppose you’re feeling very satisfied about all this,” Shaoyen finally said.
Gaoliang frowned. “What do you mean?”
“We get to hear about how your virtuous daughter saved the day, and you think everything is fine now.”
“Is that what you think?”
Shaoyen glared at him icily and said in a soft, deliberate voice, “No, that’s not what I think. I’m thinking that all of China’s top families now know that you sired a bastard child. I’m thinking that our family is going to become the laughingstock of society. I’m thinking that your political life as you know it will be over, and that Carlton won’t stand a chance now either.”
Gaoliang gave a weary sigh. “Right now, I’m more concerned about Carlton as a human being, not his political career. I’m wondering where we went wrong with him. How did we manage to raise a child who would find it acceptable to wager ten million dollars on a race? I don’t recognize this son of mine anymore!”
“So now what? You’re going to throw him out of the house?” Shaoyen said facetiously.
“I could do more than that. I could threaten to disinherit him. Knowing he may no longer have a fortune to gamble