Another gutsy laugh from the other end of the line. “I was thrown out of the cab! But it was worth it. Wow again for your great new twist. What do you say we have listeners picket BRW’s corporate offices?”

Nola smiled into the phone. “That’s what I had in mind. Do you think a short boycotting of BurgerRanch would be overkill?” At her side, Keith gave a thumbs-up.

“As in ‘wrench bench BurgerRanch?’ ” Roberta asked. “Juicy, juicy. Let’s call Oprah, Katie Couric and Barbara Walters. We’ll give the scoop to the one who gets us on her show first. You’re hot. I’m sure Larry King would interview you as soon as tonight. No need to go to Washington, D.C. He can arrange a studio interview.”

“Actually, I was planning on being in his neighborhood.” And spending a night with Daniel. “I’ll ask Keith Schwartz to arrange it; he’s my manager now—”

“Schwartzie-boy! Good guy. How did you drag him out of retirement? Never mind; you’ll make me jealous with all the erotic details. But you still need a good publicity agent at once. Someone of my caliber to twist Mauriello’s big brass balls. Wasn’t he the one who once said, ‘Fools are the reason why there are smart people in the world?’ ”

“Sounds like something he’d say. Let him try and make you deny it.”

Roberta laughed. “Hey, what happened to the Little Red Riding Hood I know?”

“I’ve become a she-wolf. That’s what a fifteen-pound baby can do to you. You should give it a try.”

“Me, it might turn me into an angel. It wouldn’t work.” Roberta paused. “Believe it or not, I’m comfortable in my own rolls of flesh. Only thing missing in my life is a good daily fuck, especially now that I don’t have direct access to your bodyguards. Or, rather, they don’t have direct access to me.” She sighed. “How’s that Yoram? Could go on all night—”

Keith shifted away and rolled his eyes.

“I’ve become a poor risk for the insurance company,” Nola said. “It’s okay. I’m hiring bodyguards loyal to me, not to someone else.”

“’Atta girl.”

For a moment, with the horns blowing and the people chanting in the background, Nola gathered her thoughts. She, too, felt great inhabiting her own vessel, filling it with her rediscovered self. Maybe now she and Roberta could become friends.

She finally spoke. “I’ve never thanked you properly for your help.”

“Hey, it’s all about ratings. Thanks for giving me the lead on another good story.”

Nola hung up. She felt a wide grin stretching the sides of her mouth. “Phew! I never imagined I could manage without Wade.” She rose to her feet and kissed Keith’s cheek. “There’s a real life I must live.”

She walked away toward Lulu and Daniel.

THE END

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