Page 17 of Degrading Her

“You get off at three?” I asked.

“Yes, Mr. Feldman,” Fiona said. “Do you need me to cover someone’s shift?”

Even though we had met before, there was a definite formality to her voice. She was determined to treat this likework,then. I was simply another obstacle when it came to her dream.

What would she do when she realized I could give her what she wanted?

“I’ll meet you at the Spiced Harvest Steakhouse. Six-thirty,” I said.

Her eyes widened, then her lips pressed into a thin, curious line. “Why would I do that?”

“We’re family,” I said. “We can discuss a suitable arrangement for the two of us. It’s the best practice for our work relationship. Wouldn’t you agree?”

She rubbed her arms, not answering my question. “Did you know I worked here?”

I scratched my chin. “Are you suggesting I bought the library to get closer to you?”

Her cheeks flushed, and I chuckled. Upon realizing thatI was teasing her, she relaxed. “I purchased this business long before Wilder and Maisie’s anniversary party. You know that.”

She pursed her lips together. “It’s not a business; it’s a non-profit organization.”

I tapped my temple. “We can talk about that over dinner. Six-thirty.”

“And if I don’t go?”

“Then I guess you’ll have to see what happens when you decline your boss’s invitation.”

The red tint crawled across her cheeks and neck, trailing down her arms. I went to my new office, pleased that she was curious now. A woman with that kind of personality was my favorite kind to break. To show her where her flaws bloomed. To make her face her breaking points.

Because I wasn’t going to let her break me down too.

Fiona

I glanced through the window to the owner’s office where my sister’s brother-in-law was working. I hadn’t expected to see him so soon after last night. It was hard not to be embarrassed; I must have made a complete ass of myself. But Sawyer acted like nothing was wrong. Like I wasn’t his brother’s sister-in-law. Like none of that mattered to him, because he was the new, sole-owner of this establishment.

Because he was.

I took a deep breath, making a promise to myself that I wasn’t going to let any of these changes get to me. This was my happy place. Even if he was our new director, and even if he had plans to change everything,for now,it was still theNew Host Library, one of the few places I loved. Sometimes, it was quiet, but other times, it was full of action, especially on youth programming days, which always reminded me of Elaine, my late little sister. By being here, I could focus on giving back to the community, nurturing this safe, independent space, one book at a time.

Erica, our new full-time hire who hadactuallyshown up for her first shift, scanned a book and shuffled her choppy black hair out of her face. She had a master’s degree in communications, but she had never actually been inside of a library before, not even to check out a book for graduate school. I didn’t understand why she was there. It’s not like the pay was competitive.

But the atmosphere made up for it.

“What do you think of him?” Erica asked.

I paused the recorded lecture playing on my phone, then pulled out my earbuds. “What is there to think?” I asked.

“Isn’t he Sawyer Feldman?” She lifted her shoulders. “You know, of the Feldman Farm? One of the oldest cattle ranches in Crown Creek?”

Crown Creek was the neighboring area to Pierce. Two years ago, I had worked with a local agricultural farmer from Crown Creek to create a youth program about the plant cycle. Elaine used to love any of the programs that had special guests like that. It was always more exciting to her.

I’m sure I had heard of the Feldman Farm, even before Maisie’s marriage.

“Sure,” I said. I grabbed clear tape to fix a ripped page of a children’s book. “But there are plenty of farmers and ranchers in Crown Creek.”

“I heard the Feldmans are rich.” Erica cocked a brow at me. “You’re single, aren’t you?”

Was she trying to set me up with him simply because he was wealthy? I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

---