"Are you threatening me, Marjorie?"
Bang Chan's fists ball up, but he doesn't make a move toward Marjorie.
Though I'd love to see her get punched...
"Also, remember that my brother works for the local bank. Christopher, you're applying for a loan to expand your contracting business, aren't you?"
She's threatening to reveal his family secrets AND to deny his loan?!
"Hey, that's illegal. Blackmail and extortion are unbecoming of a woman who yells about wholesome values all the time."
"You're reading too much into things, Director (YLN)."
"I sure hope so. If that was a real threat, I'd have to report you to the cops."
Bang Chan's stunned into silence at my outburst as the crowd's chanting gets louder. I start to lay into Marjorie some more when the Mayor strides forward.
"Director (YLN), I came to see how you were faring at the new position, but things seem to have taken a turn. Marjorie, it's lovely to see you."
"You as well, Mayor Klanderman."
Is this what Bang Chan meant by Marjorie having friends in high places?
"Mayor Klanderman, Marjorie and I were just having an insightful discussion about library materials."
"Yes...it looks very insightful. Director (YLN), a word."
I nod as the mayor leads me inside.
"(Y/N), I'm concerned about your workload. I know you're also trying to build a B&B."
"That's right."
"I'm concerned about your ability to juggle it all, especially give how out of control things seem to be here..."
"This is a minor setback. Everything is under control, I promise."
"I do hope so. Are you sure you can keep a B&B under control, too?"
I love my library job, but to afford the taxes on my parents' historic home, I also need extra income from a B&B... Plus, it's always been a dream of mine to run a B&B, like my parents did when they lived here.
"I know I can."
"Confidence is key. I just hope you can back it up."
"I will. Part of the reason you hired me was because of how organized I am."
"You're correct. Keep focusing on that trait."
With another pat on my shoulder, the mayor takes his leave. I walk up to a quiet Bang Chan, staring dejectedly at the crowd of protestors.
"No one's going to come into the library with a crowd like this is front."
"You're on the city council?"
He stares at me, slightly guilty.
"I should have said something sooner."
"It's fine."
"Even so, with everything going on I shouldn't have left that fact out. To be honest? I didn't want you to think I was friends with the enemy. But now that you know, I have some insider info to share: These protestors don't have a permit."
"And that's a problem?"
"A big one. They can be arrested for this. A certain Library Director might need to remind them of that..."
I steel myself and make a beeline for Marjorie.
"Marjorie, did you happen to notify the proper channels before this demonstration?"
"Excuse me?"
"I may be new in town, but as a contributor to the community, I made sure to familiarize myself with local ordinances. If you didn't obtain your permit, you have to scram."
Murmurs come from the crowd, their chants dying down.
"You must think you're so smart."
"Librarians know things. It's our superpower."
Marjorie whirls around, facing the crowd.
"Everyone, time to head out! We'll come back another day to stand up for the rights of our children!"
A few shoot angry glares at me as the crowd slowly disperses.
"Impressive."
Back inside the library, I peek into the children's reading area, where Janet is heading story time, with Bang Chan's daughter in attendance. But my volunteer and friend Janet is reading the children a romance book!
That's just what I need to fuel Marjorie's fire!
I run into the room with a handful of candy and toss it into the air, and when the kids run for it, I approach Janet.
"Read a kids' book, Janet."
"It's just fantasy, (Y/N)! Kids love fantasy."
"Janet, stick to the kids' section. I know you want to stick it to Marjorie...but the kids prefer the books written for them anyway."
As I'm showing Janet some better books to read, two familiar, older boys run into the room. They're the same boys Olivia was with the day she tagged the side of my house. And they run up to Olivia, who's sitting with a sweet little girl her own age.
"Olivia's hanging with the little kids!"
"Olivia's a baby!"
"Shut up! This is my new friend, Katie, and you're hurting her feelings." Olivia glares at the boys.
"Olivia's new friend is a baby!"
Behind me, Bang Chan practically growls as he storms toward the kids.
"These must be those no-good 'friends' of yours..."
"These are the kids who convinced you to vandalize my house? Shame on you, boys!"
"Olivia is a good girl, and she doesn't need your shitty attitudes in her life."
"Go away! I don't want to be your friend anymore. You're too mean!"
But the boys continue to harass Olivia and Katie, circling them like sharks as Bang Chan stands there, trying to figure out what to do. I pull out the coupons for fast food that I hand out every week to the teen groups and dangle them in front of the boys.
"Free burgers if you join the teens in the next room over!"
"HELL yeah!"
"...and don't say 'Hell'." Bang Chan scolds.
"HECK yeah!" the other boy cheers.
The boys snatch the coupons and hurry over to the teen-led teen reading group at once. I hear them laughing as Bang Chan studies me with renewed appreciation.
"That was...so easy."
"Librarians have been wrangling teens in libraries since the dawn of time."
"It really was like watching a pro athlete..."
Olivia sits beside Katie and lays her hand sweetly on Katie's back, trying to soothe her.
"Oh, I was faking it to get those boys to leave!" Katie tells Olivia.
"You were?" asks Katie.
"Wow, both Katie and Olivia are smart and sassy. Do you think Katie would make a good, age-appropriate friend for Olivia?" Bang Chan asks me.
"I know she will."
I sit beside Olivia and Katie while Janet prepares to start story time over again.
"What's blue and doesn't weigh much? Light blue."
The girls groan simultaneously.
Good! They're bonding over thinking my jokes are bad. That's something.
"You know, Ms. (YLN), you remind me of the weird princess in my favorite book." Katie tells me.
"Is that the book 'Weird Princess'?!? That's my favorite book, too!" Olivia blurts with joy.
"This is perfect! I have a special-edition of that book." I tell the girls.
"OMG, can I see it?"
"I also have to sequel..."
"But that just came out!" Olivia says in surprise.
"Please, Ms. (YLN), let us read it!" says Katie.
"That's a great idea, girls." Bang Chan tells the girls.
Bang Chan leans in and whispers where the girls can't hear.
"I'd only bring them one, that way they have to share, and they'll bond..."
As Janet sets up to read her next book, I bring Katie and Olivia the special- edition.
"Now, remember, you'll have to take turns reading, okay?"
"Duh."
"Olivia reads the first page, while Katie takes over the voice of the talking pig, Chuckles."
"Dude, you do such a good boy voice." Olivia compliments Katie.
"I want to be an actor when I grow up!"
"Me, too! I want to write and act in plays and stuff."
"We should make a play of 'Weird Princess' !"
As they read, they take notes on their play, and Bang Chan watches, clearly impressed.
"That couldn't have gone better, actually."
Once Janet is set-up to read actual children's books to the children, Bang Chan pulls me back into the stacks.
"Earlier, I said I had some tips for you, based on my council knowledge. Here's a big one: for your B&B restoration grant, you only need two council members to sign for it to be approved. I'll sign it. I owe you that much, for keeping this a secret."
"I appreciate this."
"It's nothing, really. The other hot tip is that there's a weak link on the council. He's the lock Bank Director, Marjorie's brother. But he's actually reasonable. If you hit him with the facts, and Marjorie isn't around, you can convince him to sign."
"Wow, I could kiss you."
"Could you now? You know, I've never hand anyone stand up for me like that before. Let alone to Marjorie Curtis."
"Wait...what?"
"She's had it out for me since I got on the council. Doesn't like that I vote against her. No one has ever told her off on my behalf."
"She deserved it.
"She deserves much worse, to be honest."
"In due time, I'll take her down with the power of sexy books."
"Not going to lie: it was pretty sexy, too."
"Oh? Does someone want to be saved? You'd make a cute damsel in distress."
"Not exactly." He giggles.
Bang Chan takes the hand still holding my wrist and slowly raises it above my head. He softly presses me into the shelf, but maintains a firm grip. I stare up at him, slightly flexing my wrist against his grip, a small act of defiance as I issue a challenge.
"Are you going to kiss me?"
"Do you want me to?"
His voice is husky, but his eyes soften.
"I would be insulted if you didn't."
"Well, I wouldn't want to offend Madame Director."
His earthy pine cologne fills the air around me, intoxicating. I give Bang Chan a knowing smile in invitation as he leans in. Right before his lips touch mine, he whispers.
"Glad we got that cleared up."
His lips press against mine, and I urgently kiss him back. His hand rests on my hip, holding me steady against the bookcase.
"What if someone comes?"
"You and I both know no one is going to come."
This time, when his lips meet mine, I melt into him. His tongue nudges my mouth for entrance, so I open slightly. He pulls my hips flush against his own, causing me to moan. When Bang Chan finally pulls away, he teases my lip between his teeth.
"Keep making noises like that, and we will get caught. I'm not gonna be able to keep my hands off you tonight..."
"Tonight?"
"I'm coming to do some renovations with you... But if you wear something hot for me, I might just get distracted..."
With a boyish grin, he moves away from me, leaving me craving his closeness once more.
"I like being distracted, (YLN)."
After Bang Chan and Olivia leave, I'm tidying up the desk, trying to get my mind on work, when Katie's mom rushes through the door, late.
"I'm SO sorry. I'm such a mess."
"Hey, it's not biggie. Katie's a great kid. We love her here."
"She loves this library. She said story time is like being transported into another world. Big imagination, you know?"
Wow, this woman seems nice. My age. Maybe I'm making my second friend?
"Feel free to stay with her sometime. I'm dying for adult friends."
She stops in her harried tracks, squinting at my nametag.
"Wait...you're a (YLN)?"
"I am."
"I could never be friends with a (YLN). Not after your family ruined my life."
"Wait...what?"