Page 9 of The Mastermind

“Thanks,Dad, I appreciate your concern.”

“Asshole.”

“That’s not a wise way to talk to your boss . . . the man paying your salary.”

“I thought we were chatting as friends—” The door opened, and George strode in. “We’ll continue later.” Howard took the folder George offered him. “Thank you.”

“Sorry about the delay. Susan had an urgent meeting today and forgot to add it to my file. You should now haveeverythingyou need in there. These are the rest of the staffers. If there’s anything missing—there shouldn’t be—please let me know.”

Howard flipped through the pages while I stared at George.

George sipped his coffee. “Everyone here has done a tremendous job contributing to the success of the company.”

“If it was so successful, then why am I here?” I tented my fingers. “What happened to Lafayette Marketing? I mean, you don’t have to answer me. I could find out on my own, but what happened? Gambling problem?”

Part of me wanted to know why he wanted to sell it, but I didn’t want to spend time and money on an investigation. The answer didn’t matter because Lafayette would soon be called Starke Vision, and anything associated with the prior would be a ghost of the past.

Was that a bead of sweat trickling down the side of his neck? What the hell?

George Lafayette wasn’t the business executive I thought he was. I asked a simple question, and I gave him the option of not answering.

“Whether you reply won’t affect this business transaction. It’s a done deal, George.”

“Just some family inconveniences.” George looked at Howard, who was still going over the paperwork.

I nodded and casually chatted with him. George and Susan Lafayette were people I didn’t want in my circle. People like them had fangs that could rip you apart when you weren’t looking. I’d heard about them and their spoiled son, who made me think of my stepbrother. The people they had screwed over were probably responsible for the company’s downfall.

Regardless, I was surprised George revealed his emotion. Losing a company that held your name could put a man into instability. Perhaps I caught him at a vulnerable moment.

Howard closed the files. “Seems like I have everything I need. We’ll be in touch.”

“Excellent.” I glanced at my watch and rose from my chair. “I need to get going. Howard will reach out to you ASAP. Thank you for your time.”

“Thankyou.” George shook my hands furiously.

We left the building, and I turned to Howard. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m meeting up with a friend.”

Howard went to the La Luna Hotel—which I owned—located a block away.

I stood on the street a while longer, taking in the March air, and the active energy enveloped me. The traffic noise, the chatter from passersby, the music from the restaurants with their doors opened, and the live performances from local musicians, welcomed me back to the city that made me who I am.

As I strode along the sidewalk, I took in all the transformations that had occurred while I was away. Though I had returned to Providence for events, I’d never walked around the city. I tossed in a twenty-dollar bill to a guy playing the guitar. New businesses had developed, and old buildings had been renovated. I recognized the bus stop, the iron benches, the trees that had grown larger, and the lampposts covered with more colorful flyers than I remembered.

I was a man from the present looking at the past.

The Church of Compassion appeared, and I heard a familiar voice. The sound brought on a surge of unwanted memories. A chill slid down my spine but it didn’t stay long. I didn’t allow it to. I wasn’t a frightened fifteen-year-old kid any longer.

“Hola,do I know you,amigo?”

I turned and faced my past—the man who had given me a second chance to live.

“It’s been a long time, Slash.”

CHAPTERTHREE

AUDRI

I didn’t havetime to go home to shower or change into something more casual. I looked decent in my professional attire, but I had wanted to shower off the stress from today. Lawrence and HR made me feel icky, but what could I do? I’d forgotten to get Grayson a housewarming gift.

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