Crawford

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Crawford

by fiction writer

This is my first published story ever. Though I am not a native speaker,

there might be some differences or mistakes in expression and grammar,

so please be kind!

The story is also

available in German!

I hope you guys enjoy this!

🖤🖤🖤🖤

I ran to the nearby subway. „Shit, I`m too late, again.“, I mumbled. My trainer didn´t like that at all.

„Discipline and punctuality are paramount, if you want to achieve something, Isabella“, he had only told me the last time and I promised him it

wouldn´t happen again.

Hopefully he won´t throw me off the course now. Besides work, training was the most important thing to me. But what should I do if I have to work overtime?

Just as I was about to leave, Mr. Taylor had given me paperwork on an important high-priority project. I had no choice but to get it done.

When I finished, Mr. Taylor and I were the last ones in the office. His office door was open. I knocked carefully twice to alert him that I was there.

„If that´s all I would go now, Mr. Taylor.

„Yes that´s all. Thanks Isabella for finishing that.“, he thanked me with a nod in my direction and indicated that I could leave.

While training I kept my head down and joined the others. Maybe it wouldn´t be noticed? But Craig´s gaze said it all when it met mine. He was pretty pissed off. Damn!

After training, I quickly grabbed my bag and fled home so as not to give Craig the chance to give me his endless lecture on discipline and punctuality again.

Especially not when he was so mad.

For him, it´s easy to make training his priority. That´s his job. But I have to make money to do this course and to be able to pay my rent from something. Not to mention clothing and food.

I didn´t even take the time to change. Well, the people in the subway just had to put up with my stench.

I lit candles draped on the windowsill by the bathtub and took a hot bath. I already felt every muscle in my body ache. Craig didn´t spare me. On the contrary, I thought it was some kind of punishment for being late again.

Anyway, it could only help me get better, right?

Those damn overtime hours always at the last second. But that´s probably how it is when you´re a PA.

I rolled my eyes at the thought, descided to relax and, with a sigh, plunged deep into the water under all the foam. That´s exactly what I needed now. I drifted off…

The doorbell and a knock on the door gave me a start and tore me from my relaxation. Who the hell was it that late? For a moment I thought about ignoring it, but then decided to look. After all, it might be important.

I grabbed my bathrobe that was hanging on the bathroom door, which I quickly threw over on my way to the door.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, surprised with squinted eyebrows. Across from me was Craig.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?"

“You left right after the training earlier. I was worried. Sorry if I overdo it.” His eyes were soft, he looked like he felt guilty.

"Is everything alright with you?"

"Yes... yes, everything is fine. I just wanted to relax a bit.” I nervously tugged at my bathrobe.

Craig looked down at me and only now seemed to notice that I was standing in front of him in a bathrobe and with wet feet. He looked visibly tense. His jaw clenched.

“Listen, Isabella, you've been late for training lately. I can't let this go. Not everyone can come and go how and when they want. There are many others who are on the waiting list and would be grateful to get your place. "

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. Was Craig thinking of kicking me out? Now here at my apartment door? Anger spread inside me.

“I don't want to throw you out”, he immediately got me out of my thoughts as if he could hear what I was thinking.

“You are far too good for that and have already achieved too much, but you have to set priorities. Either, you take part in the training on time, or you have to live with the consequences. "

He looked deeply into my eyes. There was so much determination in his gaze that I struggled to not look away.

An uncomfortable silence spread between us. I've always got on great with Craig. We never had any problems with each other. He had helped me build reasonably good self-esteem and overcome my fears throughout the past year. I had started to feel more comfortable in my skin and to gain a foothold.

I haven't screwed anything up in my new job yet and our training played a big part in that. I was afraid of losing that, of losing my hold and turning myself back into nothing. But the success that comes with the new job may have cost me my hold.

I felt paralyzed. Consequences? For working my butt off at work? For the fact that I still rushed to the training afterwards, albeit too late? That's not fair!

Come on, just tell him, the inner voice grumbled inside me.

No, no excuses. That wouldn't change anything either. I stepped nervously from one leg to the other.

"Consequences? You mean like today?”

I really couldn't use that every time. Who knows if I'll even come up to go to work tomorrow. I bit my lip, Craig's eyes forming a thin line. Then a slight grin formed on his lips.

"No. It means extra training afterwards."

"WHAT?" I exclaimed horrified.

"Like detention?" I put my hands on my hips to show my disapproval.

"If you want to call it that way." he replied with a big smile and giggled.

My indignation seemed to amuse him visibly.

"I told you that I cannot tolerate such behavior." He said now more seriously again.

"So if you want to continue training, you have no other choice."

He leaned forward to me and said now more quietly and in a deeper, almost threatening, tone:

"So next time don´t even think about running away so quickly.”

His gaze was intensely on me.

I just nodded, unable to say anything, and stared at him.

"Well, then I don't want to hold you up any longer." He turned to leave, turned around and leaned forward again:

"Incidentally, a hot shower immediately after training avoids pain and relaxes your muscles right away," he whispered a smug grin, gave me a wink and left.

I was speechless. What was that?