Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING
Chapter 6: Love Don't Live Here No More
Previously:
"Damn, its times like these I wish I was Adam Sandler with that magical remote."
Taylor stood in front of her full length mirror twirling and checking herself out at different angles. She had decided to wear an emerald green silk gown from the Oscar de la Renta rack Chad sent over her a week before. The garment was beautifully draped and hung loosely on her petite and curvy frame plus the color looked surprisingly good against her skin. Her hair was pulled back and twisted into a loose bun at the nape of her neck with stray pieces framing her face. Yes she looked gorgeous this evening and could definitely count on being the best dressed and styled there, but something inside her kept pushing her to scrutinize her appearance in that mirror. For some reason she was more nervous about this particular business gala than she had ever been. The same brown nosing people would be there hovering and chattering like birds, but something was different about this time. Yes tonight she would finally meet the woman whose voice still haunts her whenever her husband leaves for "work".
"You ready babe?" Chad called from the living room. "Be there in a minute!" Taylor replied trying her hardest not to fake an illness to get out of this engagement. It's for the kids. She repeated to herself as she gathered her purse and walked to meet her husband. I can't believe I'm doing this. What if I'm the main event for the office and they're all laughing at my expense? I could see the humor though, the oblivious and beautiful trophy wife who sits at home while her husband tests the waters. I bet they'd take pleasure in knowing that my life is less than perfect. "You okay babe?" Chad asked her noticing her troubled expression. Taylor mentally cursed herself for being so easy to read but quickly covered her tracks. "Oh my head just hurts a little that's all. It's going to take a little while before the Tylenol kicks in." Nice one. He nodded and helped her into her coat. "Well let's get going then."
Riding silently in the limo, Taylor couldn't help but sneak a glance at her "husband". He was indeed handsome in his expensive classic black tuxedo. His hair was tamed into a slick ponytail, she liked that style on him. But Taylor felt a pang of jealousy when she thought about his ulterior motives. Just as she was dressing to impress him, he was dressed to impress someone else. Once just once she wished that he would glance her way and look at her the way he used to when they were care free teenagers. She ached to have that idealistic unconditional love but she knew she'd be hard pressed to find it in its old home. It had been evicted by his greed and arrogance leaving nothing but the scarce remnants of their past and the tiny glimmers of what could have been. Taylor turned her gaze to the passing lights outside her window and thought back to her childhood when she would listen to the soulful songs of the seventies never quite understanding the hurt they sometimes conveyed. Closing her eyes briefly she pictured her younger self waltzing with her dolls and singing along with Rose Royce 'Love don't live here no more' And now, sadly, I know how she feels. Damn.
The limo came to a sudden stop as they arrived at the Ritz Carlton and Taylor quickly turned her thoughts back to the present. Chad walked around the limo and opened the door for her, a gesture reserved for public occasions. She slipped her small hand around his elbow and he escorted her to the luxurious skyline ball room where a live band cranked out jazz tunes. Immediately Chad went to work schmoozing with the guest introducing them to his "beautiful wife". Taylor stood absently beside him smiling at all the leeches and planning her escape. Just as she was about to excuse herself from the business deals playing out in front of her, a flash of shaggy brown hair caught her eye. Oh I am REALLY losing it! She shook her head in disbelief, murmured a few hasty formalities and set off to the bathroom. As she rounded the corner to the bathroom hallway, she spotted that same shaggy head of brown hair. Slipping into spy mode, she flattened herself to the wall and watched him until he turned around in what seemed to her slow motion. Troy? What the hell?!
Taylor slapped her hand to her mouth and cursed herself for her terrible luck. She placed her hand on her chest and felt the rhythm of her heart accelerate. I can't believe this shit! The bathroom can wait! She hurried off in the opposite direction actually eager to seek solace in her husband's bore fest. She slipped her arm through Chad's as he chatted up a wealthy stock broker about the current state of the economy and even interjected a few of her opinions (to keep from sleeping). As their conversation began to take a lively turn, Taylor saw from the corner of her eye a tall slim figure approach the group. She turned her head to greet the mystery woman but Chad beat her to it.
Quickly he scrambled in front of Taylor meeting the woman half way giving her a stiff hand shake. He awkwardly turned around to Taylor and the others and made a hasty introduction to all of his colleagues. Making up an excuse about "business" he had to take care of, he tried to flee but the woman stopped him. "Now Chad," she purred in a sultry voice, "I know you aren't going to leave without introducing me to your wife! You can't possibly be that rude." She chuckled and Taylor mustered up a fake smile. "Oh yes my apologies. Chanel this is the love of my life Taylor. Taylor this is Chanel she is the head accountant at Danforth Incorporated." Chanel reached for Taylor's hand and shook it firmly as she buttered her up with compliments, "It's so nice to finally meet you! Chad talks about you all the time." Taylor knew that was a lie and for once took the time to observe what she had missed countless times before.
She noticed the overly friendly smile on the "lovely" Chanel and could practically feel the tension rolling off her husband as he exhibited his nervous habit of lip chewing. Her heart sank as she remembered their anniversary night when she heard a familiar sweet voice trying to coax Chad away from her arms. Her chest constricted as she matched the two. Here she was face to face with the "other woman" … and completely speechless.
