“How do you’ve gotten the vitality for all this? Within the two days I’ve adopted you, you’ve labored from daybreak until nightfall, and past,” she says, gesturing to the night time sky. “I haven’t seen you snap at anybody or complain and even take a breather this complete time. How do you handle to remain so optimistic?”

I smile, grateful that my onerous work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“I do know this feels like a cliché,” I inform her gently. “However I genuinely really feel just like the luckiest man on earth. Serving my neighborhood has at all times been my dream, and for no matter cause, I at all times noticed my path as mendacity in politics. However it wasn’t at all times simple for me.”

Charlotte appears puzzled. “What do you imply? Everybody right here loves you. Even I’m beginning to come round, so that you’re clearly doing one thing proper,” she provides with a wry smile.

“I’m very blissful to listen to that, however I suppose you missed a number of issues while you have been researching me,” I inform her with a glance that implies ‘analysis’ is a beneficiant time period. She appears slightly sheepish in return, and we each smile, understanding that that’s now behind us.

“Earlier than I ran for mayor in Curiosity, I ran for a similar place in a spot referred to as Sweetwater. Sweetwater is usually human-populated, and I used to be one of many solely gorgons within the city. The others just about saved to themselves, and the townspeople favored it that approach. However I really believed I might make a distinction if I ran for workplace. I assumed I would even have the ability to shift public opinion on gorgons if I might show to them that I actually simply wished to assist.”

I sigh, remembering all of the horrible issues I needed to undergo again then.

“They didn’t settle for you,” Charlotte says gently, preempting the top of the story.

“No, they didn’t,” I reply. “The truth is, they pretty much as good as ran me out of city. That’s why I really feel so fortunate to have discovered Curiosity. In some way, towards all odds, I acquired a second likelihood at reaching my dream. And I’ve spent each single day since my inauguration repaying this metropolis for its kindness. I lastly really feel like I really belong, and I imply it after I say it’s a privilege to serve Curiosity and the individuals in it.”

For a second, Charlotte is silent, and all I hear is our footsteps towards the cobblestone pavement, beating out a rhythm in unison.

“Effectively, Curiosity is fortunate to have you ever as its mayor,” she lastly says in a small, comfortable voice.

I by no means anticipated to listen to these phrases come out of her mouth, however once they do, I notice how relieved I’m to listen to them.

I’m about to say one thing else when Charlotte all of a sudden stops.

“That is me,” she says, gesturing to the residence constructing behind her.

“Ah, properly,” I say, making an attempt to not present my disappointment that our dialog is over. “I hope you’ve gotten sufficient to begin writing the article. And let me know if you happen to want the rest.”

I stretch out my hand to shake hers, and she or he clasps it.

“I’ll,” she says, the tone of our dialog all of a sudden turning into very formal once more. “Thanks, Mayor We – Mason.”

“Thanks, Charlotte,” I reply with a smile earlier than turning again into the quiet streets of Curiosity.

17

CHARLOTTE

As quickly as I shut my residence door behind me, I set free a sigh. Not solely as a result of I’m exhausted from the final two days of working round after Mason, however as a result of my total view of him has shifted considerably.

“What a day,” I mutter beneath my breath, making an attempt to determine what to do now.

I want I might simply throw myself down in mattress and go to sleep, however although my physique is drained, my thoughts continues to be very a lot at work. And the way might it not be? There’s a lot to course of.

As an alternative of going to mattress, I head into the kitchen and pull out a bottle of port. I determine a pleasant little nightcap may assist me wind down and can give me a while to suppose.

Once I open my cabinet, although, I notice all I’ve in there are espresso mugs.

I’m going digging in one of many many unpacked packing containers that arrived simply after I did in the hunt for a glass. Lastly, I unearth the glassware field, however as I’m pulling out a port glass, I notice it’s wrapped in a web page from the Tribune.

Once I look nearer, I notice it’s really a bit I wrote myself. One of many first I penned after Derek and I acquired collectively. A rush of anger and damage comes flooding again. These are the emotions I’ve completed my finest to push down for the reason that day I instructed Derek I wouldn’t put up along with his mendacity and manipulation anymore. For the reason that day I used to be fired from what I assumed was my dream job. For the reason that day my associates and colleagues started whispering about me behind my again.

By no means in one million years did I feel Derek would stoop so low, however I suppose that solely gave extra credence to my suspicion that I by no means actually knew him in any respect.

The worst factor was that Derek had far-reaching affect, and the place he didn’t, I can solely guess he shifted into somebody whose voice was extra revered. It didn’t take lengthy after being fired from the Tribune to comprehend that no paper in Chicago would take me.

I nonetheless don’t even know what Derek mentioned, nevertheless it will need to have been dangerous as a result of all I acquired have been closed doorways. Once I lastly acquired this gig on the Curiosity Herald, I assumed that, on the very least, this could be an opportunity to flee that insanity. However trying down on the paper in my hand, I notice he’s managed to observe me even right here.

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