Page 87 of Taeja

Her gaze remained fixed out the window for the rest of the journey, the never-ending parade of cars flanking the highway offering no respite from the mundane view. Liyah blasted Caribbean music while conversing with Mason.

Moments later, they arrived at a gate, and Liyah disconnected her phone from the car. The security confirmed Mason’s identity before allowing them to pass the gate. They drove another five minutes before they arrived at a mansion. It was a large two storey, looking like something straight out of a movie.

“Wow,” Taeja said in awe, her eyes darting between the luscious green lawn to the formally clad valets, waiting for Mason’s car to park.

Mason chuckled. “It’s neat, huh?”

Taeja nodded. She was accustomed to wealth, but nothing like this. “I didn’t know colonial architecture was still a thing.”

“It’s, uh… been in the family for a few generations.”

Taeja looked at Mason, watching his skin redden. “I see…”

Mason parked at the entrance. He handed his keys to the valet once he stepped outside. Another valet opened the door for Taeja, and she smiled when she laid her hand on his. These people were treating her like royalty, now she didn’t regret dressing up this fancy.

“Thank you,” she said to the valet as she looked around again. Music driftingfrom inside the house filled the air, overpowering the casual conversations of the people walking by.

“Tae,” Mason said, snatching Taeja’s attention. “Ready?”

Taeja walked toward them, and they entered the house together. Taeja’s lips parted as soon as she stepped through the doors.

Lights streamed off the chandeliers hooked to the high ceilings. Idle chatter, laughter, and a live violinist left no room for silence. Ladies were dressed to impress, their evening gowns and high-end jewelry serving as a testament to their wealth and status. Dressed in tailor-made tuxedos, men carried themselves with such pride and poise that it was clear they belonged to the uppermost echelons of society.

“Mason,” Taeja whispered. “Why yu neva tell mi seh a so yu people dem rich?”

Mason chuckled as he used his free hand to hold hers and direct them through the throes of people. People would smile or throw a greeting in his way, but he’d only smile and nod. He stopped when they were in a corner, away from the lively crowd. “Can you ladies wait here? I’m going to get you something to drink.”

“Okay,” Liyah said with a small smile, leaning into Mason as he laid a kiss on her forehead before disappearing into the crowd. Lowering her voice, she said to Taeja, “Now yu see why mi always scared fi come here?”

“I don’t,” Taeja replied.

“Everybody here is… filthy rich. Jesus. Dem nuh pretentious toward me, but sometimes I feel like they’re secretly judging me because I’m not in the same tax bracket as Mason.”

“Nuh do this to yuself tonight, Liyah,” Taeja scolded. “You’re beautiful, and you love Mason with or without the money. His family would be stupid to judge you because clearly with all that Mason has—” She looked around, glimpsing an ice sculpture of an angel. “—some gyal wuda afta him just for the money.”

Liyah sighed. “I guess you’re right, but… you don’t see it how I do. You don’t feel how I feel.”

Taeja’s brows crinkled as she looked at Liyah. “Wa yu mean?”

“You come from money too, so you don’t look at certain things how I do.”

The light in Taeja’s eyes dimmed. “I don’t want to talk about Jerry…”

Liyah forced a smile. “Okay.”

“Get out of your head, please?”

“I will if you get out of yours.”

Taeja snickered, about to say something, when Mason approached them with an older man and woman by his side. Taeja realized Mason’s black suit had a blue tie and pocket square the exact color of Aaliyah’s dress.

Handing a flute of champagne to his girlfriend, then Taeja, Mason said, “Mom, Dad, this is Taeja. She goes to our school. And you’ve already met my girlfriend.”

The older man chuckled. “How could we ever forget Aaliyah? Mason forced me to take days off from work so I could help him find you, and now he talks about you nonstop.”

Taeja watched as Liyah nervously laughed while bringing the flute to her lips.

“And Taeja,” said the man as he offered a hand to her. “I’m Gordon, and this is my lovely wife, Delany. It’s our pleasure to meet you.”

---