Page 28 of The Mastermind
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be working?” Grayson asked.
I rolled up the magazine, got up from the bench, and met him mid-stride.
“It’s Sunday.” I embraced Mrs. Wu when she opened her arms to me.
“As far as I know, you work every day,” Grayson said.
I lifted a shoulder. “That depends on the project. You do the same thing. Don’t make it sound like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
His mom laughed, her kind eyes beaming. “It’s so good to see you, Remi. You’re more handsome every time I see you.” She’d styled her black hair in a crop cut that framed her elegant face. I picked up some aspects of Audri in her.
She was a petite woman who carried herself with elegance. I could see why Mr. Wu had married her. I’d never met him, had only seen him in the family pictures.
Grayson snorted. “I didn’t pay you to saythat, Mom. Don’t inflate his ego any bigger than it already is.”
“Stop it.” Mrs. Wu smacked his arm playfully. “We’re heading home for dinner. Would you like to join us, Remi?”
Derek stepped into view, still chatting on the cell phone with one hand and carrying a bag of groceries in the other.
“We can reroute the plan. It’ll all work out.” He ended the call and looked at us. “Who needs me to pop an ego?”
Derek had a buzz cut and stood a couple of inches shorter than Grayson. Wearing a red crewneck sweater over a white-collared shirt, he cut the perfect promotion for a prep school or golf club ad. I heard he was a shrewd real estate developer and knew he had helped his sister-in-law raise Grayson and Audri after his brother’s death.
“This guy right here.” I whacked Grayson’s shoulder with the magazine I’d rolled up. “He needs more than an ego adjustment.”
Derek grinned. “I can see that.”
“Hey!” Grayson pouted. “Who’s your nephew? Don’t forget, I’m designing that house for you. Don’t make meforgetto install a functional toilet.”
“You’re evil, man.” I shook my head at Grayson and turned to Mrs. Wu. “Thank you for the offer, but I have a meeting later on today.” It was more of an overseas conference regarding a business venture, I didn’t need to attend, but I didn’t want to interrupt their family dinner.
“See? Workaholic.” Grayson jerked a chin my way.
“It comes with owning a business.” Derek glanced at his buzzing phone, but didn’t pick it up.
“Next time, then. You must come over when I make my wonton noodle soup,” Mrs. Wu said.
“I wouldn’t miss that for anything.” Her soup was the perfect comfort food.
She turned to Grayson. “You can drop off some food to your sister, run your errands, then head home for dinner. This is the first time I get to sit down and eat with you in months.”
“Sorry. Work has been chaotic.” Grayson glanced at his watch and whipped a gaze at me. “Hey, can you do me a favor? Audri lives a few blocks from here. Do you mind dropping these off to her?” He lifted a takeout bag for me to see. “It’ll save me time.”
“Sure.” A thrill rushed through me at the opportunity to see Audri.
“Cool! Thanks, man.” Grayson handed me the bag. “My mom is afraid her daughter will starve.”
“I want my children to be well-fed.You, mister,”—she pointed at Grayson—“need to remember to eat at regular times. Skipping meals for conferences isn’t good. Remember what Dad used to say, ‘Money can’t buy health or happiness.’”
“I know, I know.” Grayson slid me an embarrassed glance. He probably hadn’t expected his mom to scold him in front of me.
“No worries. I’ll get these to her.” I grinned at the heavy bag that could probably feed at least five people.
Derek nodded at me. “Good seeing you, Remi.”
“Likewise.”
Grayson’s family dynamics couldn’t be more different from mine—an absolute contrast. Theirs were white—filled with love and hope, and mine was black—a void of that beauty. This was why I had preferred hanging out with his family when I was younger.