2

Ian

Training Archer was something of a mission impossible.

He was a novice in every sense of the word, so much so that I wondered if he actually took the librarian course. I didn't want to judge him, but he wasn't giving me anything good to report to Rob; all I was seeing was one disaster after another.

“I'm sorry,” Archer said again as he realized he had miscategorized a book in the system. “I know I sound stupid at the moment, but—”

“Relax,” I said calmly. “You're very stressed and on edge; you need to calm down. It's your first day.”

“I'm looking like an idiot in front of you,” Archer said as if that really bothered him.

His reaction surprised me, so I was honest.

“Why do you want to be a librarian?” I asked him seriously.

Archer frowned and then looked at me as if he too was questioning the answer, which was a bad sign.

“You can be honest,” I said and Archer sighed.

“I'm here because they helped me get in,” Archer said and I nodded. “I need a steady job and a friend from the government sent me here after a quick book categorization workshop. Let's just say it was either be a librarian or leave my hometown. The latter option isn't even a choice.”

Her words were honest, so I sighed.

“If Rob finds out that you have no idea whatsoever about running a library, he's going to suggest your immediate dismissal to the government and ask for a replacement,” I told him firmly and watched as Archer clenched his hands. “I'll help you figure it all out, but I'll give you exactly one month for it, so you must give it your best. Otherwise, I'll order a replacement myself so I can train you before Connie leaves.”

Archer nodded earnestly.

“Don't worry, I'll do my best,” he said solemnly.

After that sincere moment, I went back to explaining the library's computer system in detail. Once I taught him from a beginner's level, Archer was able to understand everything and was much more efficient. 

By the time we finished for the day, I went with Rob to his office, knocked on the door and he immediately showed me in. Seeing his face, I knew he knew Archer had no idea about libraries.

“Doesn't he know shit?” asked the man with glasses and a bulging belly with a bored expression.

Rob was completely transparent; he had no filters and there was a certain level of trust after years of dealing with each other. I was blunt, not being mean to Archer.

“He needs intensive training,” I admitted. “But he's good at listening and following instructions. I estimate that in a month he'll be able to help me with the section.”

Rob sighed and nodded.

“If you say so, I'll trust you,” my boss said and I nodded. “How's your mother doing?”

“It's okay,” I replied out of compromise. “Dad's with her now that he's retired.”

Rob smiled sincerely.

“It's good that Mare and Will can be together,” Rob said. “Anything they need, just let me know.”

“I'll let you know, know, thanks.”

With that, I left the office and as I was gathering my things, Carol came to my cubicle in a hurry. From her tense expression, I knew something had happened.

“What's wrong?” I asked and she snorted.

“The one who cannot be named is waiting for you outside,” Carol said and my good mood immediately dissipated. “I kicked him out, told him he can't harass you, but he says only you can keep him away.”

I cursed through my teeth.

Paul was my ex-boyfriend.

He was such a sweet guy and an amazing partner, until I found out the wretch was a closet bisexual. The bastard was secretly with me for three months until I found out he had a fiancée on his wedding day.

It was the luck of fate that Carol's family received an invitation to the party. She had me accompany her to the hall, which was in a town just outside the region and when I saw that Paul was a newlywed, I ran away as fast as I could.

Paul had become a past that I wanted to erase.

He had hurt me badly and I didn't want to deal with his explanations; however, I needed to get him away immediately before he became a problem.

I knew very well how to do that.

“I'll be right back,” I said and Carol looked at me with a frown.

“Will you be okay?” my friend asked with concern.

“Yeah, I just need to tell him to leave me alone.”

I walked out of the library and saw Paul waiting for me on the stairs outside; when he saw me, his face showed relief. That bothered me as much or more than realizing what an idiot I had been.

I had fallen for Paul's lies so easily; I liked everything about him, so much that it hurt, but now the redhead seemed abhorrent to me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him, annoyed. “Aren't you able to understand that I don't want to see you again? I kicked you out of my life, so respect my request.”

“I needed to explain everything to you,” Paul said immediately and I laughed sarcastically. “I love you, Ian, but I couldn't leave Rose; she's important to my future. I've told her everything and she's decided that we should open up our relationship so I can be with you.”

His words were a slap in the face to me.

“I thought your chutzpah knew no bounds, but telling me this is worse than you think,” I said in disgust. “I don't want you in my life; I'm not interested in your offer. You are no one to me; what we had is in the past. I want nothing to do with a man who is capable of lying to the woman who is his wife and lying to me. Please understand. I want nothing to do with you; I've moved on, so you should do the same.”

“I love you,” Paul said with a pleading tone that made me angry. “I've never felt anything like I feel when I'm with you. Rose is just a sure thing for—”

“Don't be cynical; please leave if you don't want me to go tell your parents what a liar and lout you are,” I said seriously.

Paul's face immediately transformed.

The red-haired man looked at me angrily and suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me into the empty security booth. I tugged on my hand and immediately let go.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked in annoyance.

“You're not going to threaten me,” Paul said. “You're mine and if you don't get it the easy way, you're going to get it the hard way.”

Paul slammed me against the wall and tried to kiss me.

“No, let go of me,” I said, trying to push him off and suddenly I felt someone push him away from me.

I saw Archer knocking Paul to the ground.

“Who are you?” asked Paul, who stood up ready to fight.

“The one that's going to break every one of your bones,” Archer said angrily and kicked Paul so hard that my ex-boyfriend screamed. “If they tell you no, it's no. You need to learn respect, asshole.”

Archer started kicking Paul and I looked on in horror.

Paul was tall and strong, but Archer was an indestructible mass of muscle, so I grabbed his hands to push him away. When the librarian saw me, his green eyes had turned a shade of gold that startled me.

“Don't hurt him; hurt him; let him go,” I asked and Archer looked at me in annoyance.

“He was hurting you; I have to teach him a lesson.”

Paul started coughing up blood and I realized the whole thing was going to turn into a disaster of epic proportions if I didn't do anything.

“He won't do anything to me; go get Carol, please,” I asked Archer and he looked annoyed but followed my order.

“Is that your new lover?” asked Paul between spits. “I didn't think he'd be so quick to replace me.”

“I want nothing to do with you asshole,” I told him immediately. “Right now, you're going to take off and you're not coming back. I swear to my mother, who is sick, if you ever harass me again, I'm going to denounce you and expose you publicly, not just with your strict, Christian parents.”

“This isn't over,” Paul said and at that moment Carol and Archer walked in.

My friend started filming Paul with her phone.

“Here we have Paul Colton, the son of famed cattle rancher Roy Colton and husband of Rose Donsson, the heiress of tycoon Richard Donsson,” Carol said and Paul's face turned white. “He's just been kicked for stalking his ex-boyfriend, the man he's cheated on his wife and his entire family with. He harasses him, touches him inappropriately, and wants to subdue him.”

“You're going to pay for this, Carol,” said Paul, who stood up in pain. “And you're going to pay for me too, you bastard.”

Archer glared at Paul angrily.

“I'm not afraid of you,” Archer said and Paul walked away.

I sighed and Carol looked at me with concern.

“Do you need a night of drinks?” my friend asked and I denied.

“I need to go home,” I said wearily.

“I'll drive you,” Archer said and I looked at him with a frown. “He attacked you; he's upset and even though he's hurt, he may come back when you're alone. I'm taking you home and that's not in dispute.”

Carol smiled amused and I sighed in disbelief that I had gained a bodyguard.