The Prince of Risk

85

Magnus Lee studied his collection of neckties. He needed something elegant yet modest. A tie that would suit a future member of the Standing Committee of the People’s Republic of China. Blue, not black. God forbid red. He took a step to his right and ran a thumb across his navy ties. He selected a midnight-blue Dior and held it against his white shirt. Perfect.

Lee finished dressing and walked into his bedroom. His manservant waited on his knees, ready to apply a coat of polish to his shoes. John Lobb. Custom made in London. A future vice premier had to look the part. The Chinese people did not want their leaders dressed like peasants.

Lee took the elevator to the lobby. His chauffeur held open the door to the Mercedes and Lee slipped into the back seat. Traffic on Dongguan Avenue was light, and he arrived at the Peninsula Beijing, 3 miles from his home, in forty minutes. In the Huang Ting Restaurant, he was shown to a favored table. The premier arrived soon after. The men ate an expansive dinner of dim sum, shark’s fin soup, fresh grouper, and Peking duck, followed by a plate of fresh fruit and snifters of Hennessy cognac.

“Word from New York?” the premier asked finally, his cheeks reddened by the spirits.

“Any minute,” said Lee.

“If all goes well, you will be on the Standing Committee tomorrow, Vice Premier Lee.”

“I have every confidence that Troy will succeed.”

The premier wiped his mouth, suppressing a mean smile. “It’s not enough that we succeed,” he whispered. “The West must fail.”

Lee nodded.

The premier held his arm as the men descended the stairs to their separate automobiles. A photographer from the Beijing Times took their picture. In a few hours, it would be posted on the newspaper’s website. Tomorrow morning it would appear on the front page of every paper across the land. Word would spread that his election was assured. Magnus Lee, vice premier of finance. The yuan would drop like a stone. His investment with Bobby Astor would bear fruit and he would repay Elder Chen.

It was all so close now.

Lee checked his watch.

Any minute.