Darker Side of Elegance

He reached for his wine glass and sat in his favorite recliner chair. “Er… Are you going to offer me a glass?” asked Yaz. “You are no stranger to this house, you can help yourself.” Taylor relaxed his head and closed his eyes, listening to the soft sound of jazz in the background. “Careful, Taylor, she’ll break your heart,” sang Yaz. No response. “If you want my advice-” “I don’t,” said Taylor abruptly. “Listen, if you can’t handle this then you need to end it and walk away,” said Yaz, walking toward the chair facing Taylor. “I’m not walking away from anything, I’m thinking, just thinking, Yaz.” “But you’re letting her get the better of you and so is Greg - what is it with the two of you?” “Listen,” said Taylor, sitting up in the recliner, “I know what I’m doing.” Yaz didn’t flinch and carried on probing. “Do you think she might somehow know what’s going on?” “How?” “She’s as nosy as hell and always searching for something.” “I think she would have said something by now if she knew we were on to her.” “Then why doesn’t she just come out and say who she really is instead of playing these games?” “It’s part of her investigation.” Yaz laughed loudly while reaching for the bottle of wine and pouring herself another glass. “Investigation, what investigation? Assuming we did do something wrong, how is she going to prove it?” “Yaz, did you come over here to mess with my head? If you did, it’s working.” “Snap out of it, Taylor, we need to talk seriously. I’m supposed to be leaving in three days, so what do you suggest?” “Have you spoken to Greg?” “Greg... Greg only has eyes for Emma.” “Yes, I know.” “Ooh, do I detect a little jealousy?” “No, I’m good.” “Judging from that large log peeking through the cabin drapes, either you’re missing the hell out of someone or Emma has you hook, line and sinker, because those windows were closed before I mentioned her name.” “Does it bother you?” “You’re crazy as hell,” said Yaz, leaning back on the sofa. “I’ll put some shorts on if it makes you feel more comfortable.” “Taylor, seriously, I’ve seen that dick more than God, and he made it. We’ve got more important things to talk about other than you covering up your hyped manhood.” “Okay, don’t hate na…” Taylor stared at Yaz and whispered, “What are we going to do?” “Obviously there’s a lot of tension floating around among all of us and it’s not funny anymore,” admitted Yaz. “To tell you the truth, Taylor, I’m sick of all the lies.” “Shh! Don’t say that, Yaz, get a grip.” “Get a grip? Who will make the first move to blow this sordid secret out into the open?” “I said, get a grip. This will all work out, I promise,” assured Taylor. “You can’t promise that. I’ve been the one to follow her, watch her every move, stay late at the office, so please… Don’t make promises you obviously can’t keep. This, by the way, is while you and Greg wine and dine poor rich kid, Emma. Does she even know her worth?” “Stop, Yaz, you’ve said enough.” “On the contrary, I haven’t said nearly enough.” “If you carry on like this, I’m going to bed,” threatened Taylor. “What, and have wet dreams while Emma’s out there with Greg? Every minute she spends with him, ruins the plan, and you know it.” “Ruins the plan for whom,” asked Taylor, “you or Greg?” “Don’t, Taylor… You don’t get to say that to me; we’re all in this together and if I go down, we all go down.” “Look, I’m sorry, okay, I didn’t mean that. We’re family.” “Some family,” laughed Yaz. “Good humored and perilous.” “Listen to you with those big words,” she teased. “I know, right!” “What are you going to do when this is all over, T?” “Wow, you haven’t called me that in years,” he said with a smile. “Yeah, I know, we’re professionals all of a sudden.” “What are you going to do?” “First, I’m going to breathe a long sigh of relief, and then I’m going to take the longest shower and rid myself of this heavy, heavy burden that’s been weighing me down all these years. I’m going to look back and wonder if it has all been worth it.” “You know we have to do this, right?” said Taylor. “Yeah, I know, T.” Yaz poured one more glass of wine for the road, but unbeknownst to her, Taylor surreptitiously took her keys and hid them down the side of the recliner, so she had no choice but to spend the night. “Okay, where are they?” asked Yaz, when she realized her keys were missing. “Goodnight, Yaz, you know your way around. Lock up, Rosie,” instructed Taylor. Okay Taylor, I will. “Night… Wait… Before you go in, T, when will you sit and talk to Emma again?” “What makes you think I’ve spoken to her already?” “Because I know you; I drove by that evening and saw her car.” “So, you were the one who told Greg. He almost blew the whole thing, charging around here in the morning. I had to lie and say it was the neighbor asking for coffee, such a lame excuse, I know, but I couldn’t think of anything else.” “Dummy… Is he really that serious about her?” “Apparently!” “Um… Judging by your expression you are too.” “I know. Goodnight, Yaz.” “Night, T.” Yaz made her way to the guest room and flopped across the bed. It wasn’t long before she was sailing on power, steering clouds and hitting the entrance to nowhere. Taylor lay on his back in the other room staring up at the ceiling; he flipped from one side of the bed to the other, unable to sleep. He questioned himself and felt a strong sense of guilt; it was, as Yaz had said - no fun anymore.