The Books Group Novels & Stories

My assistant, Laura, was already waiting when I entered. “Good morning, Miss Evian,” she said as she followed me inside. “Morning,” I replied, placing my bag on my desk. “Anything urgent today?” She hesitated slightly before answering. “There is one thing.” I sat down and opened my laptop. “Go ahead.” “You received a message earlier this morning from Blackridge Group.” My fingers paused above the keyboard. “Blackridge Group?” I repeated. “Yes.” For a moment, I thought I had misheard her. Blackridge Group was one of the most powerful business corporations in the country. Their influence extended across multiple industries—technology, real estate, energy, and international trade.

I walked over to the children's books area, I was thankful no one was around as I sat down in a beanbag after grabbing a few books to read. "Ella, stop slouching around and get to work" my manager yells at me, there was no one in the shop while I was sitting around here. I looked up to see a woman standing next to the register, I huffed angrily and put the book away before walking over to the nice looking lady. "Hi ma'am, how may I help you?" I ask the woman, she was only about five feet tall, with brown long hair and brown eyes. "Hello, I'm here for the new werewolf story" she says looking at me, I tried my best to hide under my own overgrown bangs.

The doorbell over the door rang when he entered, and for an instant, he stood still—not uncertain, but due to the strange warmth that rushed up to meet him. It smelled like cardamom tea and old parchment. Music was playing softly in the background—something acoustic, not jarring. Books lined every wall, their spines lovingly lined up by color and genre. A shelf of poetry books sat in the corner, surrounded by dried lavender and hand-painted bookmarks. And behind the counter. she stood there. Lena had just rolled a stack of children's books under the register when she looked up—and they made eye contact. For the first time.