Taylor's Gossip Girl Diaries 3

Chapter 24: Tales From The Palace

Taylor paced back and forth in the living room of the Empire, her phone pressed to her ear as she anxiously waited for Carlos to pick up. With each unanswered ring, her worry for her boyfriend intensified, her mind racing with thoughts of his well-being.

"Come on, Carlos, pick up," Taylor muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with urgency as she glanced at the clock on the wall.

Just then, she spotted her stepbrother Ian emerging from his room, a devilish grin on his face as he sauntered into the living room, his demeanor oozing with confidence.

"Trouble in paradise, Tay?" Ian teased, his tone laced with amusement as he leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed nonchalantly.

Taylor shot Ian a withering glare, her patience wearing thin as she continued to dial Carlos's number. "None of your business, Ian," she replied curtly, her voice tight with frustration.

But Ian simply chuckled, unfazed by Taylor's dismissive tone. "Ah, come on, sis. You can tell me. I'm an expert in matters of the heart," he remarked with a smirk, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

Taylor rolled her eyes at Ian's cocky demeanor, her annoyance growing with each passing moment. "I highly doubt that, considering your track record," she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Undeterred, Ian sauntered closer to Taylor, a sly grin playing on his lips as he leaned in conspiratorially. "Ah, but you see, Taylor, that's where you're wrong," he replied smoothly, his voice dripping with charm. "I'm just misunderstood."

Taylor scoffed at Ian's attempt at innocence, her skepticism evident in her tone. "Misunderstood? More like incorrigible," she shot back, her frustration mounting as Carlos's voicemail greeted her once again.

Ian's grin widened at Taylor's exasperation, his playful demeanor only fueling her irritation. "Come on, Tay, don't be like that," he chided, his tone teasing as he reached out to ruffle her hair affectionately.

But Taylor recoiled at Ian's touch, her patience wearing thin as she pushed his hand away with a scowl. "Cut it out, Ian," she snapped, her voice tinged with annoyance. "This isn't a game."

Ian's expression softened slightly at Taylor's sudden seriousness, his playful facade faltering for a moment. "What's going on, Taylor?" he asked, his tone genuine as he regarded her with concern. "You seem really stressed out."

Taylor sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her worries. "It's Carlos," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper as she finally met Ian's gaze. "He's not picking up, and I'm worried something might have happened to him."

Ian's eyes widened with surprise at Taylor's revelation, his carefree attitude momentarily replaced by genuine concern. "Oh, I see," he replied, his tone softening as he placed a comforting hand on Taylor's shoulder. "I'm sure he's fine, Tay. But if you're really worried, I can help you track him down."

Taylor's expression softened at Ian's offer of assistance, a sense of gratitude washing over her. "Thank you, Ian," she said sincerely, her voice filled with appreciation. "I'd really appreciate that."

With a reassuring smile, Ian nodded in agreement, his playful demeanor giving way to genuine concern for his stepsister. "Don't mention it, Tay," he replied warmly, his tone sincere. "Let's go find your boyfriend."

As Taylor and Ian stepped outside, Selena emerged from Taylor's room, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the two of them together. She couldn't help but be impressed by Taylor's ability to convince Ian to help her, even if it was just to find her missing boyfriend.

"Wow, Taylor really has a way with him," Selena murmured to herself, her admiration for her friend growing as she watched them disappear down the hallway.