Gone With the Game

Prologue

Prologue

Scarlett O'Hara was content with her place in life. It was easy to feel that way with one's name in magazines, newspapers, columns-she had been on television and podcasts before, had cut the ribbon for several stores, and today she was finding herself signing another document in front of cameras.

She was sitting at a round glass table, seated on a plush dining chair with an elderly man and woman. A cameraman was on one side of the room, recording their conversation. A giant window with a magnificent view of Missouri City was on the other. The man and woman seemed unfazed by the two men recording them, but Scarlett couldn't help but be distracted, even though she had been filmed many times.

"We can't thank O'Hara and Daughters enough for sponsoring our charity." The woman spoke, a wide grin on her face.

"Yes, few businessmen are as generous as your father." The man agreed.

"Well, the state of stray animals is ghastly," Suellen, who was sitting beside Scarlett, took a sip of her coffee. "Out of all of the charities we have worked with, you are the-"

Truest, most devoted out of all of them. O'Hara and Daughters truly admires your contributions to society and can't wait to help you in your cause. Suellen said exactly this, and Scarlett could speak for her instead if she wanted to. Suellen had said this to so many people that it was easy to remember.

"You couldn't be more correct," the man said. "Over 1 million stray cats are put down every year."

"Yes, it's truly dreadful!" The woman frowned.

"It is my understanding that many of them are neglected," Suellen spoke before Scarlett could say anything.

"Yes, yes!" The woman said. The conversation went for some time, after a bit Scarlett was offered a pen. She smiled.

"O'Hara and Daughters will be donating the New Homes Animal Foundation one hundred thousand dollars," she said as she signed the document on the table. She gave the pen to Suellen to sign it.

"And..." The woman said, taking the document and pen and writing herself, "...the New Homes Animal Foundation will be more than happy to advertise O'Hara and Daughters' products for their generous donation." She gave the document and pen to the man, who smiled at the two young women in front of him and signed his name.

"We are more than happy to do this. Of the animals..." Suellen smiled warmly.

"For the animals," The man and woman said with Suellen.

***

"I think that went well," Scarlett murmured to Suellen as she stepped into the black Tesla that had brought her to the NHAF Headquarters. Her younger sister followed her silently.

"Yes, all because of me." She said, sticking her chin up proudly as she fastened her seatbelt.

"You know, sometimes it's a pain in the ass working with you." The elder sister's positivity faded away.

"I could say the same for you," Suellen sneered. "I still don't know why Mom and Dad thought we would ever work well with each other."

"Yeah, with you constantly interrupting me and not letting me get a single word in."

"Oh, you just love the attention, don't you? Then why don't you just go back to Georgia? Missouri is my kingdom, sweetie."

"No it's not-"

"-I'm going to stop you there. It's time I be on center stage once in a while. You dated like, what was it-twenty guys in high school? No one even asked me to prom."