Fools To the Left of Me, Jokers To The Right

Being unable to find Gervais for the entire day I went home and tried to work out how to put Jojo off for another day. I lay down on my bed, fell asleep to be woken by Tiah ringing my phone early in the morning as she completely sprackled and having no one to talk to decided to wake me up to listen to all her woes. It appears her life was interrupted by yet another Vanderhaven scandal, they were in the gossip again after Taryn had shut down all the fizzing about Jago’s little affair and Zizi, then just when she thought the worst was over she had lost face again in the middle of her own dinner party.

Taryn had allowed Braith to invite Zizi who came dragging her mother behind her, as Tiah put it, only to spite them all. Then Royce turned up with Coco which left Taryn fuming to Tiah while smiling at her guests who all offered their congratulations to Braith and their condolences to Taryn. The party got off to a rocky start but once everyone was used to Zizi being there they reverted to their old selves and started gossiping about those who were not there. Tiah said it was awkward cause everyone usually bashed Chantal but with Jazz being there they had to all watch their tongues, well except for Taryn who appeared to take pleasure in talking down Chantal whether Jazz was in earshot or not.

Jago went over and chatted to Astrid and Zizi most of the evening, leaving his wife to cope with whatever madness she brought upon herself. Tiah was pissed the party went so well, she had hoped that Jazz or Braith would have done or said something that made Taryn meltdown but they were charming and everyone seemed to liked them so it was left up to Royce to caused the next wave of Vanderhaven gossip.

Tiah said he must have been drunk or something cause about halfway through the night he stood up and started to make a speech. He held his glass up and toasted Jazz saying Braith was lucky to have such a wonderful girl in his life, everyone thought this was nice of Royce to be so supportive but he didn’t stop there, he then continued by saying he had an announcement of his own, his engagement to Coco. Tiah said it was like the whole place sprackled at once, people were fizzing all over, Coco was blushing while Braith and Jazz fussed over her, Taryn’s face went purple with rage, and Jago left Zizi’s side to run interference because it looked like Taryn was ready to strangle Royce in full view of her guests.

Astrid looked at the entire scene with amusement which made Tiah want to slap her since her family was not for her entertainment. Everyone splintered off in to little pockets of gossip, congratulating the couples with their public faces and then pitying Taryn with their private ones. Once she could get a second away from her guests Taryn took Royce out to the terrace where it happened Tiah was hiding out and she heard her mother hiss at Royce that she was not going to support whatever harlot he brought home. He then retorted that she didn’t have to support anything, today he and Jojo Sedero signed a deal to start their own business. Taryn almost choking on her disbelief asked him where he got the money to start a business and Royce told her it was none of her business but like a dog with a bone Taryn was not going to let it drop. She glared at Royce and demanded he tell her where he got the money from, fed up with her nagging he growled that he got it from Gervais Dubois.

The minute these words hit my ear my heart sank into my feet for I knew now that I would never have a chance with Jojo. Gervais somehow must have found out about Royce and Coco and made his move, he was always a few steps ahead of me and I never could understand this almost psychic way he seemed to know what direction I would take before I did, as if he knew the way my mind would work.

He knew that Royce and Jojo with the relationships they had with their families would rely upon his money to start up and if he withdrew it so suddenly they would sink, as people tended not to fund enterprises rejected by Dubois money. I was completely trapped and even though I would tell Gervais our deal was finished I knew it was only a bit of bravado as he still held all the cards. I needed an Ace to save me and it seemed all I drew were jokers.

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