Free Hidden Gem by India Lee

to wrinkle that!”
    “I just don’t want to keep looking at it.   It’s depressing me.”
    Mira’s jaw dropped as if she were personally offended.   “Why would that gown upset you, it represents so much of what you achieved this summer.”
    Gemma let herself fall in a heap on the floor.   “That’s why it’s upsetting me.   I miss it so much.   I don’t know what I’m even doing here.   Everyone wants more Queen Bee and they all want to find out who she is so why is she hiding in Beauford, New Jersey? As Gemma Hunter ?” she said her own name with disdain.   Mira walked over to the dress form and expertly finished securing the cotton sheets around the last swatch of exposed gown.   She opened Gemma’s closet and pushed the whole thing inside.
    “Thanks,” Gemma sniffled.
    “Yes, you’re welcome and everything – but listen to me, Gemma. I know that this is a strange situation, but we Hunters face our trials straight on.   I’m fine with you putting the gown away but not because I’m allowing you to lament over ‘hiding as Gemma Hunter.’   You are first and foremost Gemma Hunter.”   Mira tipped Gemma’s chin up with her pointer finger.   “Queen Bee is your job, a part that you play.   I never want you to lose touch with who you really are.”
    “I don’t know who I really am.”
    “Oh, please.   What sixteen-year-old girl does? This is the time that you figure it out.   Besides, once you’re on tour as Queen Bee again, you’re going to be sniffling about wanting to be a normal girl.”
    “On tour again?”
    “Gemma, as your aunt I’m going to keep all the business stuff from you but as your manager, do you really think I wouldn’t give the public what they want?” Mira smiled mischievously.
    “Really? Are we touring the states?” Gemma asked excitedly.
    “They ask, we give,” Mira shrugged.   “We begin press around Christmas and Queen Bee will announce that she’s giving into demands for an American tour in January.   We’ll sell tickets and you’ll do a brief teaser tour.   Just going to take you out of school for a month in March and hit the major cities.   You’ll only miss three weeks since you have spring break then.”
    “Oh,” Gemma suddenly remembered.   “The girls and I were supposed to take a cruise to the Bahamas then.”
    “You’ll have summer with them.”
    “Yeah, I guess so,” Gemma grumbled.   “I just wish I could tell them who I really am.”
    “Gemma, honey.   You know why we’re keeping this under wraps,” Mira sighed.   “For starters, mystery sells.   But really, how creepy would it be to wake up to paparazzi outside your bedroom window? After the craziness of what this tour will be, you’ll be thankful to have your privacy and normal life.   Speaking of which, did you get a dress for Madison’s birthday?”
    “I’m just going to look now through the things I bought while touring.   I’ve actually never worn half of these things.”
    “Alright, sweetie.   Don’t stay up too late,” Mira began to close the door.   With a wink, she added, “And choose kindly.   You don’t want to upstage the poor birthday girl.”

 
     
    QUEEN BEE’S MANAGEMENT OFFICES BURGLARIZED
    The Manhattan Local
    October 24
     
    Offices of Queen Bee’s management company were broken into on Sunday night, authorities say.   Police were notified around 12AM that alarms had sounded at The Roebling-Hunter Group, located in Manhattan’s Flatiron.   According to police reports, the burglars broke into the building through the roof and were caught within ten minutes of reaching the offices of Roebling-Hunter.   Because the suspects are minors, their names have not been released.
     
    Police have not confirmed motives, but it is widely believed that the teenaged burglars trespassed into Roebling-Hunter in attempts to uncover documents regarding the true identity of pop singer, Queen Bee.
     
    Harvey Roebling and Mira Hunter have yet to