Beast to your Beauty

CHAPTER 1

 "A million lives, Lily, you can live a million lives! In a castle, or a tiny cottage in the middle of a majestic forest," Hannah Wilson says dreamily as she runs her hands through her shoulder length brown hair.

"You're capable of having abilities and qualities that you don't possess in the real world. You can have magical powers and fight ugly slimy monsters with one huge eye," Hannah scrunches up her face and widens her hazel eyes. Her friend Lily rolls her eyes, snickering but Hannah continues. "Some of these monsters can also come in the form of a wicked stepmother, a jealous cousin ... or even as something that lives inside you, leading you to self-destruct – but I try to stay clear of those types, those are depressing. Once you finish having one adventure ... you're ready to start a new one!"

Lily shakes her head as she grabs her box cutter and cuts along a tape plastered on a box. "Okay Hannah, maybe you're the one who should own a bookshop."

Hannah leans back against a bookshelf. "I just don't understand how you own a bookshop when you don't even like books."

"It's called an inheritance," Lilly says with a sarcastic smile. "Some inherit money, others one of kind jewelry, a car, a house, my brother and I? We got a bookshop."

Hannah grins, "It's a lovely bookshop, Lil. You and Logan are lucky to have it. It's quaint and cozy."

"That's actually sort of true," Lily nods, holding up an old book to Hannah that looks like it can fall apart at any time by the mere grip of someone's forceful hand. "It turns out little bookshops that sell these rare old novels from the time of my great-great-great grandparents are a thing."

"Yeah, I bet but that's nothing new, Lil," Hannah tells her taking the book from her to see it. She opens the book and smells the pages. "Smells wonderful!"

"You're weird," Lily says and takes the book back from her and puts it on the shelf. "Anyway, I spoke to Logan and we agreed to set up a small seating area outside, we're adding a little cappuccino maker over at that corner and boom-slam, we'll be a magnet for all hipsters in the city area."

Hannah gasps and feigns being impressed, "Ooh coffee inside a bookshop! You people are bringing a real unique experience here."

"Hey you said it, quaint and cozy," Lilly tells her with a smile. "I'll slap on the warmest smile I can manage to fake and I'll be golden."

"Well it looks like you got yourself a nice plan," Hannah smiles at her friend, picking off a piece of tape from Lily's pixie-cut spiky pink hair.

"Hey has your dad been feeling better?" Lily asks.

Hannah sighs, a worried look replacing her smile. "More or less. I see how exhausted he gets home at night. I'm not sure if I'm just being paranoid but I've noticed him looking weak lately."

"Take him back to the doctor then," Lily says tossing aside an empty box to the side.

"I know I should, Lily, but I haven't been able to because the finances have not been so great."

"Hannah I wish I could pay you more," Lily says with a frown.

"Oh don't think that was a jab at you, Lil, I am beyond grateful to you and Logan for letting me work here," Hannah says grabbing Lily's hands. A dark look then clouds Hannah's eyes. "You know more than anyone how bad things got."

Before taking the job at the bookshop, Hannah had managed to maintain a position for 6 years administrating the offices of an interior design company. When the company was purchased and taken over by a bigger corporation new management was brought in. With the new management came Hannah's new boss, a man who must have been in his mid to late forties. This man took it upon himself to make her job a difficult one whenever he would ask her into his office.