One Step Away (A Bedford Falls Novel Book 1) by Sydney Bristow

Author:Sydney Bristow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romantic comedy, romantic romance, romantic ficton

CHAPTER TWELVE

Due to the unfortunate events with Cassandra over the weekend, Alex had a difficult time smiling during his first day as Library Director of the Vista Heights Public Library. It didn’t help that many of the staff members welcomed him with a heavy degree of wariness due to the long-standing tension between their library and the Bedford Falls Public Library. Their defensiveness told him that he would need to improve their library before he earned their respect and trust.

He spent the day visiting each department and meeting each staff member, matching names and faces with their discussions and stories, so he would remember every person. He wanted each of them to know that everyone, no matter the position or pay scale, played an important part at the library and that he wouldn’t overlook their contributions.

In the afternoon, he met with the department heads and got caught up to speed with Vista Heights’ procedures and initiatives, since he’d already memorized their policies ahead of time.

By the end of the day, Alex realized that he faced a problem that would not go down smoothly with staff: he needed to cut expenditures, increase productivity, purchase newer technology, and engender more support from the community by offering better materials and programming for children, teenagers, adults, and senior citizens. With so much work on the horizon, he didn’t know where to begin. But he knew he would need to make tough decisions that wouldn’t always please the staff. People often fought against change, because, it sometimes meant short-term discomfort for long-term benefits.

Having put in over ten hours each day during that first week, he left work mentally drained and didn’t have enough energy to practice riding. By the time Friday morning rolled around, he couldn’t wait to get home and get a good night of sleep. That morning, he’d spent a few hours working with his administrative team to determine the direction of the library by examining their long-range plan. Afterwards, the sound of the ringing landline telephone beside his computer made him think twice before answering it.

The extension registered an outside line. Anyone could have dialed his number: a board member, an old colleague, an upset patron. He didn’t want to pick it up but duty called. He lifted the receiver to his ear. “This is Alex Lawford, how can I help you?”

“Hi, it’s Lance. How’s the first week been? Everything you’d hoped?”

Hearing his old library director’s voice elevated Alex’s mood. “It’s been…exhausting.” Hearing Lance laugh on the other line made Alex do likewise. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

“I expected that. I wish this was a social call but business intrudes. At our department head meeting this afternoon, our main topic was Vista Heights.”

“Really?” Alex got a squirmy feeling in his stomach. “How so?”

Lance’s line was silent for a few seconds. “I think it’s better if we meet. How does the rest of your afternoon look?”

The squirmy sensation morphed into one of trepidation. “I’m free. What’s going on?”

“Not something I’d care to discuss over the phone.

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