After they had given their orders for tea and coffee, the waiter bowed and left, having not taken a single note. Johnny gave a nod of approval. ‘He’s going to be good. They have to keep every detail of every order in their head.’

‘So what’s happening tonight, exactly?’ asked Grace again.

Johnny leaned forward. ‘Auctions like this one are for serious collectors. A lot of money will be spent and a percentage will go to charity,’ he said. ‘There’s significant Balinese art going under the hammer tonight. Some of the works are culturally very important; I’d hate to see them leave the island.’

‘We are only interested in the pieces from Kamasan village,’ Harold reminded his son.

‘Naturally,’ added Madame Pearl. ‘Make sure they are well insured, Johnny, before you put anything you buy up on public display in the hotel.’

Johnny nodded, seemingly unconcerned that he was planning to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of valuable art to hang around the family’s hotel.

‘Do you know about Kamasan village?’ Johnny asked Grace.

Grace nodded. ‘I’ve heard it’s an important centre for Balinese art, but I don’t know much more than that.’

‘Very old classical art was produced there, based on the wayang puppet stories – stories that come from the heart of Bali. They bridge two worlds, the spirits’ and ours,’ Johnny explained.

‘It’s always been a collaborative effort. To this day, the whole village paints and creates the artworks,’ said Madame Pearl. ‘You should go there sometime, Grace, to Klungkung, to see the village.’

Johnny grinned at Grace. ‘More to film!’

‘I’m going to end up with a full-length feature film about the Kamasan.’ Grace laughed. ‘Though we do need a lot of online material. MGI have started releasing the TVC teasers on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook – the online ads and infomercials, that is – leading up to the hotel’s opening,’ she said, turning to Harold. ‘The ads and teaser will be released in Australia and on iflix across South East Asia. They expect a viewership of forty million plus. The travel tourism magazine editors and travel bloggers will start coming in soon too.’

‘Excellent. What great show are you planning for the opening?’ Harold asked his son.

‘You’ll know soon enough.’ Johnny smiled. ‘We’re tying up a few loose ends, locking in the last big name.’ He winked at Grace.

‘We need to fill this place,’ said Harold.

‘Well, just don’t overspend on art tonight, Johnny. I know you consider yourself quite the collector,’ said Madame Pearl.

‘Oh good, here’s breakfast,’ said Johnny cheerfully, perhaps happy to change the subject.

*

Grace was working at her computer when she heard Daisy and her mother return after Daisy’s second day at school.

Daisy ran to her, waving a few sheets of paper. ‘I have to get some books and things, Mumma.’