Designed to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) by Christina Freeburn Read Free Book Online

enjoy it, but being a rule-abiding girl with a guilt complex, I never complained. Out loud.
    Sierra sighed and was probably counting to ten like she did when dealing with a temper tantrum by one of her elementary school-aged boys. “Darlene started her campaign against Belinda and Scrap This. She’s trashing both on her blog, and also on the most frequented scrapbooking boards.”
    I groaned. We so did not need this right now. Well, not ever. But definitely not when Scrap This had just gotten past a scandal.
    “Is Belinda responding back?” I tossed off the covers and reluctantly left the warm bed. I padded down the hallway to my office.
    “Not that I can tell. It’s just gearing up.”
    “I’ll take care of it.”
    “As you should have been,” Sierra said, getting in the must-have last word.
    Turning on the monitor, I plopped into the burgundy leather office chair then opened up the browser. I clicked on the first website and with one eye closed, scanned the topics on the front page of the number one scrapbooking website.
    I wanted—needed—to look at the train wreck before me, but still wished I could avoid the view.
    Darlene made sure the title of the post was dramatic and attention grabbing.

    Making Legacies Contest A Fraud. My Work Stolen By Them!

    I also loved the addition of quite a few angry icon faces. I clicked on the message and mentally braced myself for the bashing to commence.

    I am livid. Darlene started the thread.
    At least she didn’t use all caps.

    Today I went to support one of the new Making Legacies Life Artist Divas at her first signing and demonstration. I was so happy for her !

    Yeah right.

    I got there a little late and needed to wait for the class to end before I got my copy of the special issue. I decided to chat with the assistant manager who was watching the class.

    More like making snide comments about the magazine and the newest diva.

    I looked at the first layout of this so called Diva. It was mine! I looked at the next. Mine! All twelve of her layouts were designs the LAD cased from me. I went to talk to the thief, and you will not believe what happened next. The assistant manager ASSAULTED me…

    When she wanted to lie, she brought out the all caps. I also liked the little redesign of the story she told Ted. I copied and pasted the thread into a word document, and took a screenshot so it showed the time, to be on the safe side.

    The assistant manager didn’t want me to talk to the Diva. Maybe I should have waited for the class to be over, but Belinda Watson—that’s right—the come out of nowhere It-Girl (no surprise now about how she just popped onto the scene…she swiped another artist’s hard work) is a FRAUD.

    Responses siding with Darlene stacked up. A few posters even suggested banding together to start sending emails to the magazine, the store, and Belinda’s blog to let them know she was a fraud.

    Not that I don’t believe you , a poster responded. But how would Belinda have stolen your design? I’ve thought a few times that someone “copied and stole everything” from me but there was no way. It was just a coincidence. Sometimes ideas happen at the same time.

    Other posters agreed with the calm voice in the sea of anger. I heaved out a sigh of relief. It looks like the rant would be seen as what it was…jealousy, plain and simple.

    Darlene defended herself:

    W e live in the same town and crop at the same store. We hang out together all the time. Think it’s still such a coincidence? I let her use them for an album she was working on. I had no idea she’d submit those ideas and create classes and ‘teach’ them.

    Someone with the screen name of Little Lamb posted:

    I’m starting to wonder if the whole truth came out last spring about the murder. Wasn’t the assistant manager wrapped up in that?

    Leaning forward, I gripped the arms of my office chair. My fingers itched to jump into the conversation but defending oneself never worked out