BurgerRanch World, or as its new umbrella conglomerate had renamed itself, BRW Entertainment, had been the largest fast-food chain in the world when it purchased hundreds of radio stations, a thousand movie theaters and StarVision, the second largest movie studio in Hollywood. Fourteen months ago, it acquired Phonomania Records, a cozy home that had nurtured Nola through the vicissitudes of her career. Mauriello ousted Keith Schwartz, the affable president who had gambled on her success the first time he heard her fifteen years before. BRW’s brisk expansion into the entertainment industry had been making a splash.

She watched Mauriello and the prime minister conversing like two old friends. Although Nola owned the copyrights to most of her music, Phonomania Records held both the licensing and distribution rights. “For a communist premier, Kong Ruiji knows every American honcho,” she said. “Maybe Mauriello is bending his ear about the counterfeiting of music and films. BRW must be losing millions of dollars in royalties.”

“It would be impolite to criticize one’s hosts,” Wade replied. “And Mauriello has his priorities. He’s got a fat contract to open BurgerRanch restaurants here.”

The conversation was so normal that Nola breathed a little lighter. If only she could find a way to stop pushing Wade's buttons. “Burger and rice?” she asked.

“No messing up with branding.” He laughed, his anger seemingly forgotten. “The first phase is six hundred restaurants. They’ll name them ‘Bao-Ji-La’ to make them easier for the Chinese to pronounce.” Wade spoke while his eyes roved around the room. “Mauriello is a lobbyist, not a businessman. As a former U.S. senator, he’s the ideal front man with connections.”

“I liked the family environment of Phonomania,” Nola said. “Are we still cool with Mauriello? We’ve only had dinner with him once since he’s entered the picture.” They had missed his New Year’s bash in Bali because of her concert tour in Brazil and Argentina.

“The synergy among the various businesses—all catering to the same audience—benefits us. You now have the largest entertainment conglomerate in the world behind you.”

She glanced at Mauriello. Perhaps he could use his political power to influence the closing of the Dying Rooms. Perhaps Bao-Ji-La could sponsor the opening of decent establishments instead.

Ambassador Ashford waddled over, his arms outstretched. “Ready for the unveiling?”

“What? Oh.” She had totally forgotten about the painting.

With his arm on her back, Ashford steered her indoors. One of his aides handed him a microphone, and he flicked it as a test. On that cue, the crowd of three hundred parted, creating a passage to an easel on which sat a large canvas, covered by a white sheet.

Hundreds of lithographs and thousands of prints of LeRoy Neiman’s collage depicting Nola's goodwill China tour had already been sold around the world. But the original painting would be seen for the first time tonight.