They Called Me a Gold Digger, So I Bought the Building novel · Chapter 1 of 3
Chapter 1: The Counterparty at the Table
At the Shao charity luncheon, Liwen removes Temperance from the family’s social duties and replaces her with Beiying, while Temperance secretly completes the Jinghu acquisition through Shengli Properties before Fang announces that the Shaos will meet Shengli’s controlling representative to finalize their development contract.
I slid Garrett’s untouched tea away from his hand before his mother could use it to mark my place at the table.
Shao Liwen’s fingers stopped above the porcelain cup.
The luncheon had been arranged beneath the glass roof of the Jing’an venue, where the spring sun made every diamond look slightly desperate. Around us, donors adjusted their smiles and pretended not to watch.
Liwen looked at the tea, then at me.
‘Temperance,’ she said, ‘how considerate.’
‘It was cooling,’ I replied. ‘I thought you might prefer it fresh.’
Garrett lowered his eyes to his plate.
He had spent the first year of our marriage writing his mother a formal letter about every way I was the better person in every room.
Now he was studying a piece of asparagus.
Liwen lifted the microphone from the table beside her. Her jade bangle clicked once against the metal.
That was her tell. The family had learned it before I did. Satisfaction made her adjust the bangle.
‘Before dessert,’ she said, ‘I have an announcement concerning the family’s charitable representation.’
The room settled around her voice.
Garrett looked up. His warm brown eyes found mine, then moved away before I could ask him what he knew.
‘Effective immediately,’ Liwen continued, ‘Temperance will be relieved of her social duties on behalf of the Shao family.’
Someone at the end of the table set down a fork.
Liwen kept her tone mild. ‘The position requires longstanding relationships with our donors and development partners. Beiying has generously agreed to assist us during the Jinghu project.’
Beiying Zhou rose from her chair near the floral display.
Her slate dress was cut perfectly, and one small gold earring caught the sun when she turned. She touched her earlobe before smiling at the guests.
‘It’s only temporary,’ she said. ‘I hope Temperance won’t feel uncomfortable.’
I placed my champagne flute beside my plate and took out my phone beneath the tablecloth.
The message to Zhouyi was already written.
‘Execute the Jinghu acquisition. Full stake. Today.’
I sent it.
Zhouyi answered before Liwen had finished accepting the applause.
‘Already moving. Shengli’s counsel is waiting for your approval.’
I opened the attached file. The parcel number matched the luncheon materials except for one digit.
I had corrected it that morning with a blue pen and left the page beneath Garrett’s cufflinks.
At the time, everyone had called it a clerical mistake.
It was a useful mistake. People showed more of themselves when they believed you were checking their work for them.
Garrett leaned toward me while the guests applauded Beiying’s graciousness.
‘Temperance, I know this is unpleasant,’ he said. ‘Could we talk after the luncheon?’
‘Of course.’
His hand moved through his chestnut hair, then dropped to the table.
He did that when he was uncertain. He also did it when he had chosen not to tell me something.
Today, the difference was academic.
‘My mother doesn’t mean to embarrass you,’ he said. ‘She thinks Beiying’s connections will help with the donors.’
‘Then I’m sure the donors will be relieved.’
He gave me a tired look. ‘You don’t have to make this harder.’
‘I’m not certain I’m the one making changes in public.’
His mouth tightened.
For a man who had once sailed alone through a typhoon warning rather than attend his parents’ anniversary dinner, Garrett had developed an impressive talent for remaining seated during disasters.
Across the table, Beiying accepted a glass of champagne from a passing server.
The server was young, nervous, and holding the tray too close to her shoulder.
I reached out before the glass tipped and steadied it with two fingers.
‘Thank you,’ I told her. ‘Please take a moment before you return to the service table.’
The girl blinked, then nodded with visible relief.
Liwen watched her leave.
‘You’ve always been very attentive to staff,’ she said. ‘It’s one of your more practical qualities.’
‘They’re carrying the glasses.’
‘I see.’
She did not.
My phone vibrated again.
Zhouyi had sent the final authorization page, along with a photograph of her whiteboard. Across it, in red marker, she had written: NET WORTH OF PEOPLE WHO UNDERESTIMATED T.L.
The running total had been updated in thick black ink.
I nearly smiled.
‘What is it?’ Garrett asked.
‘A message from my office.’
‘You have an office?’ Beiying asked lightly.
Her smile remained polished. Her fingers touched her earlobe.
‘Several people do,’ I said. ‘It makes administration much easier.’
Beiying’s smile lost a fraction of its shape.
Liwen turned to Counselor Fang, who sat beside the Jinghu folders with his hands folded over his stomach.
‘Fang, perhaps you could outline the next stage for our guests.’
Fang adjusted his glasses.
He had reviewed my prenuptial agreement personally and told me it protected both parties. He had also asked whether I understood the consequences of signing it.
I had understood them better than he expected.
‘The acquisition structure is nearly complete,’ he said. ‘The Shao development arm will proceed once the property owner confirms the final terms.’
My phone displayed Zhouyi’s last message.
‘Funds cleared. Shengli Properties now holds the full Jinghu stake.’
I pressed my thumb to the authorization box.
The confirmation appeared beneath my hand.
I put the phone face down beside my plate.
The same room that had just removed me from the project was now discussing the asset I had purchased beneath its paperwork.
I took a slow breath and counted the place settings.
There were fourteen people who believed I had lost something.
‘Temperance,’ Garrett said, ‘you know how my mother gets at these events. It’s not personal.’
‘That must be comforting for her.’
‘Please.’
‘You asked me not to make this harder.’
His eyes stayed on mine this time.
That was worse.
Garrett still undid me completely when he looked at me as though I were the only person in the room.
I hated that he could do it after choosing silence.
‘What do you want me to say?’ he asked.
‘Nothing. You’ve been very clear.’
He looked down again.
Liwen lifted her glass.
‘To Jinghu,’ she said. ‘And to the cooperation that will secure the Shao family’s next decade.’
The guests raised their glasses.
Garrett followed half a second late.
Beiying raised hers with both hands, careful not to disturb the gold bracelet at her wrist.
I lifted mine as well.
No one noticed that the person holding the property had not been invited to speak about it.
Fang turned a page in the folder and frowned at the final line.
‘There is one administrative detail,’ he said.
Liwen glanced at him. ‘Go on.’
‘The closing meeting has been arranged with Shengli Properties’ controlling representative.’
He looked toward the head table, while my phone lit once beneath my hand with Zhouyi’s black-card confirmation and the representative’s name left blank.
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