Gifteds: And Then There Were None

Chapter 3. VII

Maira's cold, bitter scowl was enough to daunt even Kyle. She quickly tidied up her hair and straightened her crumpled blouse. It irritated her that all of them came from the same middle school. She certainly hadn't hated them, but she definitely hadn't missed them one bit. Maira worried that as a mayor, her reputation might be attacked as she was away. Stopping at the front of her door Maira braced herself for what she would see. Turing the golden knob she let the door swing open. Seeing clean and waxed dark wooden floor, she was intrigued. Stepping in quickly, she saw a king-sized, four-post bed with the pillows fluffed and ready. The sheets were wrinkle free and perfectly tucked in just how she liked it. Glancing around the room once more, she noticed a collection of fountain pens perched on the edge of the desk. Her eyes widened. She grasped one and inspected it closely. It was a perfect mix of elegance and vintage. As she shuffled through all the other pens, she felt one pen was oddly lighter than the rest. Maira unscrewed the cap, to discover a roll of paper clippings tucked into the barrel. She yanked them out, and they came tumbling onto the floor. Kneeling down, she read:

SCANDAL: Ravensworth Mayor Candidate Reportedly Blackmailing, Threatening other candidates

Her face was devoid of colour as she flipped the page over. She couldn't bear to read the title again. Splattered right on the back was a message she assumed was meant for her. It stated:

What happens when the tables are turned?

Maira took a deep breath. She crumpled it up and tossed it into a garbage can by the desk. Once she regained control of her simmering rage, she straightened her blouse and skirt once again and strutted right out of the room. On her face was no longer a scowl, but a grim smile.