Scott Taylor

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2023

Stories (44)

44 Stories

1052 karma pts

?

“Snowy” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #222

“Tony, one more screw-up, and you’re fired!” Tony didn’t make eye contact with his boss. Her instructions were ambiguous, but he had learned not to question her. “Yes, ma’am.” Laura was hard to get along with. While everyone knew it, they still wanted to work for that company. Only after Laura repeatedly rebuked them did they finally decide to leave and find a new company to work for. “What did she fuss at you about this time?” Sarah asked. Tony glanced at Sarah before lamenting. “I missed the ‘mind reader’ part in the job descripti...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Pose” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #221

“Excuse me, you’re not supposed to be here.” I turned to see a young, undressed woman with a spirit board. She was in a somewhat darkened room with only a few lit candles for effect. The shadows accentuated her attributes, making her a sight to behold. Smoke filled the air from different incense burners. All that was missing was a crystal ball. I thought it strange that I could detect the sharp odor of the incense. Distracted by her beauty, the sense of smell eluded me. Minutes earlier, I was with four generations of Graysons. I represe...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Project Panoptes ” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #219

Harold gasped when he saw the ads on his phone. Suzi peeked at his screen to see various things meant to be used during role-playing behind locked doors.Her wide eyes and exaggerated frown lines told the tale. “Is there something you’re not telling me?Harold smirked before returning his gaze to the advertisement. Everything existed. From lubes to gels to fuzzy handcuffs and even a leather paddle with a large crimson heart. It amazed him to see things that made the perverse seem normal.He smiled while he continued to scroll through the differ...

3 comments 3
Read story

“The Interloper” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #210

“You know damned well why I am not going to work at NASA.”Smoke filled the bar as people around her took notice of her tone. The wind howled outside on the northern slope as she sat closer to the stove. Besides the wind, there was the sound of his heavy breathing among the static caused by the unusually intense auroral activity.“Sammy, this isn’t about me or you; this is about something much more important.”General George Richards had not called his daughter by that name since before her mother died.“More important? Everything seems more imp...

0 comments 0
Read story

“I See You” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #206

“I’m fine. Find someone else to mother.” Howard clenched his teeth while pondering his next move. He knew she was not fine. The nausea she ignored as a bug lasted too long to be a ‘bug.’ “Can I get you some chicken soup, maybe some rice?” Sarah glanced at him, flaring her nostrils as if she were a stallion waiting to bolt out of the gate of the Kentucky Derby. “What do I have to say to you to get you to leave me alone?” His eyes were glassy as he glanced at the bed full of tissues. Her clothes were on the floor, and the room was da...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Unlikely Bed Fellows” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #202

Unlikely Bed Fellows “My, it’s rather warm today. I know you don’t know this, but I am sitting in the shade, so don’t worry about sunscreen.” The breeze made the tops of the trees close to where my parents were buried sway.. After everything that had happened, it seemed like a good idea to talk things out. Mom and Dad had turned into excellent listeners. I was a freshman in college. My parents were coming to visit. Topping the hill on a two-lane road, a black Cadillac was facing them at full speed. He told the first responder the story. Bef...

0 comments 0
Read story

“K-POP-Brunch” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #201

Contains strong language. I never expected to feel used after a fling with my assistant Valerie. Still, as our professional relationship grew and distance separated us, our friendship morphed in ways I never imagined. The last thing we spoke of was a call from a client in California. “Sylvia, I don’t understand your connection to a Korean band,” I said. Sylvia was to promote a K-POP band in the US. But her efforts were undermined by another K-POP band allegedly stealing the group’s intellectual property. I watched the tape. A sinking...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Rumor Has It” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #200

Rumor Has It “It surprised me that you left your phone number. Are you ok?” Gloria was a lady I met at a bar. We had been mugged on the beach after we met. I stopped the criminal with choreographed precision, not thinking about how my actions would affect my date. While I was at the police station going over the night’s events a dozen times, she left for work. “I thought about it for days. You did what you had to do. I had never seen violence before, not to mention ever being robbed at gunpoint,” she said. The nickel-plated gun he pu...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Saga of Dan Smith 'Targets'” by Scott Taylor

Bullets ricocheted off the stone wall protecting us. Kill or be killed was the only important fact to remember.It wasn't all that many years ago that my neighbor taught me how to shoot. He and I entered shooting competitions before teaching me to hunt. The neighbor was not only a pilot and ex-Air Force, but he enjoyed outdoor things like hunting. He was a man's man. Three things he taught me before he died. Self-defense, flying, and marksmanship. He was also the father of the one I would marry.The enemy wasn't a life. It was a target. That p...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Saga of Dan Smith, The Headless Pilot Pirate, Part III” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #198

Monday didn’t start as I was used to. Instead of a taxi, Gloria drove me to the airport after dropping Tammy off at school.“How do you like this family man stuff?” She asked.I smiled as I watched the red lights ahead. A storm, typical for this time of year, had passed through the area the night before. Litter on the freeway had traffic slowed to a crawl as people dodged around debris from an overturned truck.Emergency services had several lanes blocked. I wondered if I would make my flight.“I am glad that you are there for Tammy. I overheard...

11 comments 11
Read story

“Living The Lie” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #197

Screams from the living room sent Sarah away from the dishes to break up the disturbance from her children.“Elizabeth, don’t hit your little brother.”Billy wanted the Doll Elizabeth laid down while playing on a smartphone.“But Mommy!”Elizabeth protested as Sarah removed the Doll from her daughter’s hand and returned it to Billy.“Why can’t he play with your doll?”“He’s a boy!”Billy was one. Who knows why he was interested in the Doll? Perhaps it was the blond hair or how the arms and legs moved. Maybe it reminded him of his mother.Squealing f...

7 comments 7
Read story

“If at first, you don’t succeed… ” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #196

Big Ben had just struck noon. I had been asked to come out of retirement for a special mission. The Queen had asked me to investigate a person of interest who left for the States on the 11:15 flight from Heathrow. They had bought into the idea that this person knew something about a mysterious flying object seen over a military base. It had been years since I had been in the States. Opting to arrive hours before they did, the Concord was my best bet. If all went to plan, I could greet them at the gate. The goal was to interrogate them a...

4 comments 4
Read story

“The Saga of Dan Smith ‘Who Am I?' Part II” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #195

The image of Tammy and Gloria’s sister walking away at the airport left me empty inside. Gloria would take the red eye back to Dallas, and I would do what I do, fight bad guys. The love I had willingly ignored after Connie passed haunted me night after night. During the day, when I was actively searching for digital villains or the payload they left behind, my emotions were locked away. In the wee hours, when sleep was elusive, they came alive. Most nights, I tossed and turned until the alarm finally saved me from myself. The images of tha...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Saga of Dan Smith ‘The Good’ ” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #194

An excited voice on the other end of the line was one I had heard many times before. No matter the vagueness of the threat, the process begins the same way. Someone did something that allowed a cyber threat to penetrate their system. My job is to neutralize the threat, repair or replace the data, and harden their network against future attacks. Monday morning started as so many others that came before it. After the panicked call from a large company in Hackensack, New Jersey, I called my assistant to make the travel arrangements. With...

10 comments 10
Read story

Author bio

Step into the realm of my words and imagination! Writing has been a fundamental aspect of my life since I was young, a daily practice that I couldn't live without. During my school days, I found immense pleasure in creating stories and giving free rein to my imagination. I have a passion that goes beyond the realm of writing. This adventure has allowed me to delve into different artistic paths, each providing a distinct means to express my ideas and feelings. My life underwent a major change when I relocated from the busy city to the peaceful countryside. I find tranquility here by taking leisurely strolls through the forest, relishing the gentle touch of moss beneath my feet and breathing in the invigorating fragrance of pine. These peaceful moments inspire my writing and ignite my creativity. Every morning begins with a ritual: a steaming cup of coffee enjoyed on my quiet front porch. As I savor the rich aroma, I watch the world slowly awaken, a peaceful start to a day filled with creative endeavors. In addition to my personal writing, I manage a league of writers, a platform where fellow authors can connect, share their work, and receive valuable feedback. This project is a labor of love, driven by a dedication to fostering a supportive community for writers. Marketing plays a crucial role in an author's success, and I have embraced the challenges of self-publishing. By immersing myself in the business's intricacies, I have found it a viable alternative to traditional publishing routes. My writing is fueled by passion rather than financial gain, a devotion that I hope resonates with my readers. If you enjoy my stories on Reedsy, you might find my first novel, ‘Earth’s Last Hope,’ particularly engaging. It’s a sci-fi tale that blends soft science with a harsh reality. To join our league and be part of our vibrant community, simply click the link to join our mailing list. We offer hybrid meetings, allowing you to participate via ZOOM from anywhere. Thank you for taking the time to learn about my journey. I hope my stories inspire and captivate you as much as they do me. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Scott-Taylor/author/B0BQCX3SRH • https://www.carrolltonleagueofwriters.com/ • https://wordpress.com/home/thetimedok.com email staylor823@gmail.com -Best