OBSESSED WITH TAYLOR JAMES (15 page)

Dillon woke up when a member of the cleaning staff came
in his office to pull the trashcan. “I’m sorry,” the woman said turning on the
lights.  “I didn’t know anyone was here.”

Several hours had passed since he fallen asleep because
the cleaning crew didn’t start until 9:00 in the evening.  He sat up feeling
dazed but the headache was gone.  He rolled his neck to ease the pain from
lying on the hard uncomfortable sofa.  “Do what you have to do; I’m leaving,”
he said staggering to his feet.  He looked at the mess on the floor in front of
his desk, and sighed.  “Um, don’t throw any papers away, just throw them on my
desk,” he said grabbing his brief bag and suit jacket.

Wandering through the quiet halls, he passed Mario’s
office.  The door was open and the office dark.  The memory came back of the
noises he had heard earlier coming from behind the door.  The taste of bile
filled his mouth as he attempted to shed the reminiscences.

His cell phone rang from one of the pockets of his suit
jacket. Locating it, he answered. “What is it Kelly?”

“Where are you?  The sewer in the basement is backed
up again.  Should I call a plumber?”

“I’m leaving the office now and will take care of it when
I get home.”

“Okay.  Will you be here soon?”

“I have a stop to make first, so don’t bother anything in
the basement or call anyone.”

“Fine, Dillon.  Maybe I’ll go out too since you aren’t
coming straight home again.  You can deal with the mess in the basement.

“I don’t care. Do whatever you want, Kelly,” he replied
clicking off the phone and not giving her a chance to respond.

*****

The intruder closed the unsecured basement window
softly.  Taking a flashlight from a pouch, the beam of light sprayed across the
dark basement.  The intruder bent down to retrieve the clothing that fell to
the floor after crawling through the window.

The intruder sifted through the silk bras and panties in
a palette of colors returning them to the dryer after removing a pair of red
panties and the matching bra from the pile.  Taking a sniff of the freshly
laundered underwear, the intruder stuck them inside one of the pockets of the
brown canvas pouch dangling at hip level.

The flashlight beam returned to the floor to travel along
the length of the basement until it reached the stairs.  The first step creaked
under the pressure of weight.  The intruder paused to make sure the sound went
undetected.  The next step taken was gentler, followed by another short pause
to listen for movement overhead.

The kitchen dimly lit, appeared recently vacated. The
intruder surveyed the area.  Two dirty plates and a skillet sat on the sink
counter.  The gloved hand picked up the empty bottle of chardonnay.  Two frost
wine glasses sat half-full on the table, also.  The intruder drained the
remaining wine from the glass with traces of burgundy lipstick lining the rim. 
The empty wine glass disappeared inside the pouch to join the other heisted
memento.

The glow of the flashlight stayed low to the floor as the
intruder advanced through the dining room and living room making sure to keep
away from windows.  A second set of stairs to conquer came into view.  Testing
the first carpeted stair for firmness, there was no surrender. The wood was
sturdy under the carpeting.  The landing and hallway leading to the bedrooms
were clear of any clutter making the progression there, easier. 

Pulling the mask down to remain anonymous, the intruder
spotted a soft light seeping underneath a door not completely closed.  Turning
off the flashlight, the intruder’s motion to the door was cat-like.  Peering
through the slight crack, the lungs of the intruder ached from holding the
sharp intake of breath.

On the large antique bed, two naked bodies, making
passionate love under the soft sparkle of candlelight, came into view. The
suspected lover appeared to be Caucasian by the color of his skin.  It was hard
to tell—the light from the candle did not give off much in the way of
identifying anyone other than Taylor’s darker-colored skin fleshed against her
lover’s muscular body.

Highly aroused, the intruder inched away from the door
bracing against the wall to regain composure.  The voyeurism not planned, was a
welcomed treat.  It was good Taylor James had an active sex life—it would come
in handy when the time was right to confront her.  The intruder’s vitals
returned to normal, allowing the observation to resume.

The intruder grinned wickedly, slipping a hand inside the
pouch to retrieve a small electronic device. A videotape was the perfect
souvenir—a valuable keepsake to watch repeatedly.

The lens of the small recorder focused on the couple
unaware of the videotaping.  Taylor lay on her back with her legs wide and the
man on top of her.  The intruder did not expect this.  To capture Taylor James
with her lover and get it on tape was priceless.

The intensity of their moans filtered the room as her lover
pumped his body in a steady motion above her.  The grind of his hips drove into
her with force.  He made her cry out when her body arched against his.  Her
lover’s groans overpowered hers as he grunted.  His buttocks squeezed tight
then relaxed.  His body lifted to roll Taylor on top on him.  She willingly
straddled him.  Her firm breasts bouncing as she rode his bucking body.

The intruder watched as Taylor’s hands grasped the thick
thighs of her lover, her back bowed as his hands covered her full breasts then
lowered to take hold of her hips.  He took control of her to meet his tempo. 
The intruder could not see Taylor’s face, but the way she was grinding her body
on his sex organ, proved she was enjoying what he was doing.

The lover switched to a sitting position bringing Taylor
closer to him.  Her arms closed around his neck, and her legs looped around his
waist.  The intruder’s eyes strained to recognize his face but it remained
hidden by Taylor’s hair and the dark shadows caused by the low candlelight.
Their breathing increased as Taylor’s raspy voice dared her lover. She dared
him to reach deeper.  She dared him to go harder.  He must have answered her
dares as Taylor’s throat released quick pants of breaths as he guided her hips
with his hands.  Rapidly, gliding her hips back and forth, on his lap, she
dropped her head back, her body jerking as she reached an orgasm.  He released
a satisfying animalist growl soon afterwards.

The bed quieted with the finale of their lovemaking. 
They lay side by side. Her lover had large hands but seemed tender.  He used a
tender finger to trace along the feminine curve of Taylor’s hip to rest his
hand on her narrow waist. The faint sounds of mouths and lips meeting together
ensued. 

Mumbled voices and weight shifting on the bed indicated
someone was making a move.  The intruder turned off the recorder to make an
escape and hurriedly tiptoed down the stairs to exit the house.

*****

Mario walked into the hallway to use the bathroom across
the hall.  His bare foot stepped in a wet spot on the carpet.  He looked out
the window at the end of the hallway; it was not raining therefore the ceiling
would not be leaking.

Taylor joined him in the hall nude.  “What are you
looking for?”

He folded his foot across his
knee. “Something wet is on the carpet; smells like wine,” he said.

 “We must have spilled some,” she said dismissing the
incident and capturing his mouth in a passionate kiss. Dragging her lips away
from him, she pressed her cheek against his ear, saying, “We have work in the
morning so no more loving for you tonight.  We’re going to shower and go to
bed.”

He picked her up in his arms. “We can sleep in late,” he
said, whisking her to the bathroom to shower.

*****

Dillon waited in the doctor’s office with Kelly by his side. 
He couldn’t take the blinding headaches anymore and finally decided to see a
doctor.  He sat quietly with his head propped in his hand.

Kelly caressed his arm. “It’s going to be okay, baby. 
The doctor will give you something for the migraines and suggest you take it
easy; you’re under too much stress.”

He didn’t lift his head and thumbed the sore spot above
his forehead. “These headaches are not caused by migraines.  It’s something
wrong with me.  I’m having a hard time remembering things and the headaches are
coming too often unlike before when I would only have one or two a month.”

“Whatever it is, we will work through it together.  I’m
here for you.”

He looked at her feeling foolish for acting the way he
had towards her lately.  She was willing to see him through an illness and yet
all he wanted was to get as far away from her as he could.   “Why are you
staying with me?”

“Because I love you.  I’ve always loved you.  My family
loves you too.  If you could get over Taylor, we could be happy together,
Dillon.”

“Taylor doesn’t want me and you know it.”

“Then why do you want her?  She is not good for you,
baby.  She deserves a man like Mario Infante.  They are both arrogant and
high-maintenance; you aren’t that way.  When I saw her….” She stopped talking.

Dillon raised his head and sat up straight. “When you saw
her what?  What did you see Taylor doing?”

“At breakfast.  When we had breakfast I saw that she
wasn’t interested in you; that’s what I was going to say.”

“I’m glad you’ve come to terms with that.”

“So are we okay?  Should I call mom and ask her to come
for a visit?”

“Please put it off for now.  Until I know what is wrong
with me, I’m really not up to entertaining relatives.” He said as the door to
the doctor’s office opened.

Dr. Miller came in his office closing the door with a
grim expression on his face.  Walking behind his desk, he sat down opening the
chart.  Dillon’s head began to throb to the beat of his heart sensing whatever
is wrong with him would not be simple to cure.  “Dr. Miller, what is it?  What
is wrong with me?”

                                                                                                                                                      
Chapter 10
           
 

Taylor rushed around her bedroom dressing for the Mayor’s
ball.  Mario would be to get her in less than an hour, and she was nowhere near
ready.  She removed the towel from around her naked body.  Sitting on the bed,
she tipped the bottle over squeezing the thick liquid in the palm of her hand
to apply to her body; starting with her legs.

The eyes of the intruder watched as Taylor rubbed creamy
lotion on her skin. The motion of her hands stroking her body electrified the
senses of the intruder who sat glued to the computer screen watching her
unscripted.

The intruder had watched her perform tasks such as
talking on the telephone and paying bills.  But none of those actions was as
exciting as the sex between Taylor and her lover.  Those would be the videos to
get her attention.  The series of videos the cameras had captured so far was
not of good quality since the room was dark.  That correction would be made
once entry into her home was attainable again and a better camera installed in
the bedroom.

The intruder zoomed in on Taylor wiggling into and
adjusting a black thong around the shape of her full hips and then her dress. 
The red formal dress with glittery sequins decorating the bodice was strapless,
floor-length and form fitting.  She slipped her feet into high-heel red satin
shoes and admired her look in the mirror.  The intruder’s eyes followed her to
the dresser where she attached a diamond necklace around her neck.  She was
beautiful as usual with her hair styled atop her head to show off her slender
neck and the teardrop diamond earrings she attached to each earlobe.  The
intruder sighed wishing for such grace and elegance.

Taylor disappeared out of view.  The intruder picked up
the live feed of her in the living room, then in the dining room where she
switched purses.  She had a small red clutch purse in her hand stuffing items
from the big purse inside of it.  The feed lost her again.  Switching to a
four-block frame on the computer, Taylor was back in her bedroom standing at
the dresser spraying perfume behind each ear and on her wrists.  She then went
to the closet and removed a travel bag, and began stuffing it with clothes and
shoes.

The intruder watched as she hauled the bag off the bed
and walk out of view back to the living room again.  Her running back and forth
was tiring the intruder watching her.  The doorbell must have ringed because
she hurried from the bedroom where the camera caught her opening the front
door.

The Hispanic man who the intruder now knew was Taylor
James’ current boyfriend, entered.  Dressed handsomely in a black tuxedo
immediately gave Taylor a hug and kiss.  She then handed the man the travel bag
and covered her hands with long red satin gloves that ended at her elbows. 

The two were laughing at something the boyfriend was
saying as she held out her right hand for him to clasp a diamond bracelet
around her wrist.  The feed did not have sound so the intruder could not pick
up their conversations.  The feed ended when she turned off the lights, and
they left the house.  The intruder closed the lid of the laptop to plot the
next move.

*****

Sebastian stood on his front porch leaning against the
post with Thor lying at his feet.  He waved at Taylor as she descended the
stairs of her porch holding the arm of the man accompanying her. “Hey, Taylor;
you all look great….where you off to all gussied up?”

Taylor waved back, answering, “Thanks for the compliment;
we are attending the Mayor’s ball tonight.”

“You all have fun,” he said.  He took a sip of coffee
listening to the purring engine of the expensive Mercedes make its way down the
street and out of his view.  Sitting on the porch, he watched a van with the
lights approach drive slowly down the street as it passed Taylor’s date car. 
As the rusty white van passed his house, the driver looked in his direction and
suddenly increase in speed and sputtered down the street.

*****

They arrived at the grand ballroom of the Ritz Carlton
hotel.  Taylor took in the sights and sounds of the elegant setting.  These
types of events did not normally include associate level attorneys.  The
exception to that rule would be fundraisers since money was welcome from all
sources willing to give.

Her parents didn’t have money.  They were day laborers
who lived a modest life and did the best they could to help their children
financially with college.  But, she received a scholarship that paid part of
her way through school and used student loans for balance.  She’d finally paid
off the last student loan three years after graduating.

Mario patted her gloved hand. “There are a lot of people
here.  Are you ready to rub noses with the upper crust?”

Taylor rolled her eyes.  “The only crust I want is on
pizza.  Seriously, Mario, I have not attended this type of event before.  I’m
used to the wine and cheese socials and annual holiday dinner parties.  I don’t
know any people here.”

“You’ll recognize more people than you think once we make
our way through the crowd.  What I hate is how the mayor thinks he can sucker
us in with alcohol and food and then pick our pockets to back him or some other
flunky of his that may be running for an office.”

She bumped his shoulder teasing. “Why don’t you say what
you really feel?”

He looped her arm through his. “Was I not clear I hate
politics,” he grinned.

They made their way down the grand staircase.  Mario
stopped handing his invitation to the man dressed as a head butler in a black
tuxedo with long tails and high shirt collar with a neat satin black bowtie. 
They followed behind the man as he escorted them to an elegantly dressed table
filled with crystal glasses, gold-rimmed China plates, and polished silverware
atop a pristine white linen tablecloth.

Mario pulled a chair out for Taylor to sit.  “The table
is beautiful,” she said placing her clutch bag in her lap.  She didn’t feel it
appropriate to lay it on the elegant table.

Mario winked and said, “The table is nice but not as
beautiful as you are in that dress.”

She blushed.  Lucky it was only the two of them seated at
the table for several.  “I had you in mind when I picked it out.  Sweetheart,
what are you going say to Allyson if she is here tonight?  She wanted to be
your date for this shindig.”

“I will tell her the truth.”

“That could cost you.  Are you sure you want to do that?”

“Sometimes you have to lose allies to get a piece of
mind.  With Allyson, I have been dodging her for years.  She has been looking
for a way to get me alone from the day we met.  I did not connect with her on a
personal level, so it never happened.”

“She seems old enough to be your mother,” Taylor joked.

He laughed. “She is older, and overly-aggressive for my
taste.  I like to pursue the woman who has tickled my interest.”

The waiter stopped at the table offering to pour
champagne.  Mario accepted the champagne and held his glass up to her for a
toast. “To the woman who has tickled my fancy and captured my heart…salute.”

Tipping her glass against his, she took the first sip.
The tiny bubbles went directly to her nose to burst into a flavorful bouquet as
it traveled down her throat.  “To the man that has captured my heart and may
get me fired if my boss is here tonight.”

“Taylor, don’t worry about that tonight.  We are here to
enjoy ourselves and not worry about Anderson Cartwright.”  Mario scooted his
chair away from the table and said, “I guess I should mingle and make my face
known since I was invited.”

Taylor swallowed another sip of the champagne. “Go ahead.
I’ll be waiting when you get back.”

He shook his head looking down at her. “Taylor…”

“I know—I have to do this with you.”  She placed her
gloved hand in his standing up.  “I may not be a social butterfly, but I know
the rules of the game.  So who do we kiss ass with first?”

“Taylor, this could benefit you so don’t think of it as
kissing ass.”

“Wait you practically said this is what these parties are
about.”

“They are but, you could use this forum to network and
get your name known.  If you want to open your own firm, these people could be
potential clients.  So instead of benefiting the mayor tonight, we will do a
little schmoozing of our own.”

Taylor put her hands together bowing her head. “Teach me,
Master Infante.  For I am an eager student and you’re the great fountain of
knowledge for who I must drink.”

He put his arm around his waist leading her to the
floor.  Tilting his head next to hers, he whispered. “Remember that when we are
alone tonight.”

She crinkled her nose. “Stop being naughty.”

“I will when you stop being so damn sexy,” he teased as
he threaded his fingers through her gloved ones.

Taylor quickly grew tired of making rounds and was ready
to return to the table to sit and watch the crowd until dinner was served. 
After meeting senators, council members, and various religious dignitaries, she
wasn’t nearly as thrilled as she assumed she would be.  Some of them were
exceptionally nice while some were as phony as two-headed coins.

Standing off to the side people watching, she plucked
another glass of champagne from a passing waiter and observed the room waiting
for Mario to return from the restroom.  Across the dance floor, she spotted
him.  Dillon was laughing and talking with Anderson Cartwright and a group of
men she did not recognize.  Kelly was with him and looking proud to be a part
of the glitz.

Freaking great!
She hissed.

She worried if Dillon or her boss had seen her networking
with Mario.  There had to be over a hundred people in attendance and many women
wore red.  She would have blended into the crowd easily except there weren’t
many black women at the event.

Mario tapped her on the shoulder. “How about a dance
before they seat us for dinner?”

“Sure,” she said downing the champagne in the glass.  The
three glasses of the bubbly beverage had worked its magic and loosened her
stiffness but not her boredom.

The live band played a waltz-like number.  Taylor shook
her head.  She did not ballroom dance.  She presented herself as chic and
classy, but she was a line-dancing, hip shaking kind of dancer that loved
R&B and hip-hop.  She was out her element and it was awkward.

She embraced Mario as he led her through the dance.  He
surprised her. He’d obviously learned to ballroom dance at some point in his
life.

“You are good at this,” she said to him. “Did you take
ballroom dance lessons?”

“No, but I’ve been to enough of these uppity parties to
pick it up naturally.”

“Good.  Hopefully you can cover my mistakes because I
have no clue what I’m doing,” she joked.

“You’re doing great. You will have this down just like
salsa dancing.”

“I’d prefer to do that.  Could you imagine the look on
their faces if we did a Merengue for them?”

He laughed. “I’ve had that happen before.  I'm usually
one of a few Hispanic in attendance and it was expected we knew every Latin
dance.  Therefore a song would be played for us to show off our talents.”

Taylor clicked her tongue.  “How incredibly racist of
them.”

“That kind of racism is everywhere and I had to learn to
ignore it laugh it off,” he said spinning her around on the dance floor.

“Another reason I’m glad I’m not invited to these
things.  I’m too down to earth to treat people like that.”

He looked her in the eye. “You are down to earth.  Taylor
you remind me of Cinderella in that dress.  You are so beautiful.”

She rested her arm on his shoulder as he slowed the pace
of the dance. “You are my debonair prince in a tux.”

Mario drew her closer to him as they danced.  The whips
of her hair tickled the side of his face.  He whispered in her ear, “I find it
hard to believe we have never crossed paths before.”

“We might have but not noticed each other.”

“No, I would have noticed you.”

She pulled back enough to look at him. “We are together
now; that’s all that matters right?”

He wanted to kiss her but knew she would object.
“Exactly; we are together now.”

“Umm, I saw Dillon. He and Kelly were talking with
Anderson Cartwright. I don’t know if they saw me.”

“Taylor, my invitation included a guest.  You are my
guest; Anderson doesn’t decide that for me.”

“Anderson wants me out of the firm, Mario.  This will
give him the advantage to use against me.  And, with Dillon pissed with me, who
knows what he is telling Anderson behind my back.”

It was his turn to pull away to look her in the eye.
“What happened to you not caring what Anderson thinks?”

“I don’t care.  I didn’t want you drawn into the black
hole with me.  The firm could really benefit from your experience, Mario.  I’m
dispensable.”

“I can take my talents anywhere, Taylor.  I won’t sit by
and watch you be raked over the coals and not say or do anything; get that out
of your head, okay?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Okay. It’s out of my head.”

He smiled.  “We’ll make it through dinner and leave.  I
had not planned to stick around long.  It’s Saturday night, and we should be
out doing something fun.”

She inhaled his scent. “Baby, the way you smell and look,
I’m ready to go whenever you are and get our own party started.”

“No me tientes mujer.”

The music stopped for the announcement of guests to
return to their seats for dinner.  Taylor and Mario got to their table and
surprised to see Dillon, Kelly, and Anderson and his wife, plus Todd and his
wife seated at the same table.