Free The iCandidate by Mikael Carlson Page A

Or maybe you are just a far better teacher than you think you are. That, or they’re far more determined than you thought they’d be,” she replies as a woman does when telling a man she is always right, and he’s an idiot.
    “ How mad at me are you right now?” I exhale.
    Jessica gets up from the couch, tiptoeing around the piles of paper like they were landmines. “ Let's not discuss it. The couch is lumpy and you have a bad back.”
    That went about as expected, and as unpleasant as it was, I get the feeling it will pale in comparison once I email the grades to the class. I have now resigned myself to the fact that I truly have to go through with this. I have to run for Congress. But I am also determined not to feel that pain alone. After all, what is life if not a learning opportunity?
     

PART II
THE CAMPAIGN

.
 
-THIRTEEN-
    BLAKE
     
    In Washington politics, there is no such thing as a normal day. Whether you are the President of the United States or a page in the House of Representatives, there are always political moves to be made and enemies coming after you. It’s a hard lifestyle to get used to, unless you are someone like me. I live for it.
    I am already at my desk working on something for Roger this early Tuesday morning when Madison storms into the office. For a woman who appears to be the epitome of elegance and grace, she has a vindictive streak that exudes through her designer outfit. She slams her expensive purse on the desk before meeting my gaze.
    “Rough morning?” I ask, knowing full well the problem is much deeper. While working out of the district office the last five days, I know she was planning on meeting her sister at some point.
    “ Family can be infuriating, that’s all,” she says for the benefit of those around us.
    Deena peers over her dark glasses from her own desk. Since she rarely wears them, I assume they are meant to showcase some sense of style I am oblivious to rather than performing any real function. Not wanting to engage in a public confessional, Madison crosses Congressman Beaumont’s outer office to my desk.
    “She knows,” Madison whispers to me, looking around to ensure we are not drawing any more unwanted attention from the staff. I quickly glance over at Deena, who has gone back to immersing herself in whatever task she invented to feel important.
    “Are you sure? I mean, there’s no way —”
    “Blake, my sister may be a lot of things, but she’s not an idiot. We met for lunch on Saturday and she put two and two together before we even sipped our wine.”
    “But she can’t prove anything, so who cares?”
    “You don’t know Kylie,” Madison deadpans.
    I don’t know the whole story of the rift between Maddy and her sister, but it must be epic. Their sibling rivalry transcends simple competitiveness and resembles something closer to being blood enemies. Maybe someday I’ll hear the full version of that saga.
    “You sound like you ’re scared of her,” I say, almost taunting her.
    “I am not scared of my sister!” Madison barks, a little too loudly. Once again, the whole office looks over at us. “We just need to keep an eye on her,” she says in a much softer tone.
    “Why? She can’t hurt us with anything about Lexington.”
    “Then she’ll find something else. Trust me, I know her. She won’t let up.”
    “ If you’re that concerned, why didn’t you call me right away?” I ask, unconvinced Kylie is a threat to anything. Madison turns away from me, annoyed with the audacity of my question. A rare Alpha Female, she hates having her decisions criticized or challenged. On this staff, only Roger or the congressman himself can get away with it.
    “ Madison, we don’t need to worry about your sister.” She scoffs, now even more annoyed that I don’t appear to be taking her warning seriously. Which, of course, I’m not. “Look, we’re going to win reelection in a walk, and the sky’s the limit from there. Kylie may be bent on