My Boss, My Bad Boy

Chapter 1 - A new beginning

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!

I hope you guys enjoy this!

Isabellas POV

I woke up and looked at my alarm clock.

I jumped.

“s**t, I´m too late!”

My alarm didn’t ring. Or didn’t I hear it?

This is the last day of my first week at Crawford Enterprises. I literally just moved here last weekend. My apartment isn’t set up properly either.

Quick, I jumped under the shower, to freshen and wake up. I picked a black pencil skirt, a white blouse and black pumps. I put my long brown hair into a ponytail and only applied some mascara and nude lipstick. For more, I didn’t have the time. I didn’t need any rouge though. I´m sure, by the time I get to work my cheeks will blush anyway.

I ran to the nearby subway station. It would take me about thirty minutes to get to work. My apartment was further away from the business area. It was the only close area where I could afford the rent.

It was my first job after I graduated, but not the first in general. I have already gained some experience with different companies during my studies. I knew it would be necessary to get one of the coveted jobs on the market. And I needed to save the money to be able to get away from Bob and Trevor, my stepfather and stepbrother, as soon as possible. One of the companies I worked for happened to be a sister company of Crawford Enterprises. That’s how I got to know about the vacancy here in Boston and when they finally offered me the job, I didn’t hesitate to take it. It is hard work to be the PA for Mr. Taylor, but it has a very good reputation for me and I don´t mind the lot of work.

On the subway, I made a memo to myself that I needed to find the quickest routes to work. At the moment, I was bound to this one possibility though it was the only one I knew.

I hate to be late. My f*****g alarm clock didn’t ring this morning or I just didn’t hear it. However. Why didn’t I set my alarm on the phone as well? You never forget that. I blamed myself. But the truth is, the week was tough and I was exhausted. I worked until late in the evenings. And being alone in a new town all by myself. All the things that still needed to get sorted out. I had no one here and I didn’t know anyone.

„Discipline and punctuality are paramount, if you want to achieve something, Isabella “, the voice of my stepfather popped up in my head and instantly my stomach cramped, sending a wave of nausea through me.

“And for that I will teach you some discipline.” He used to say that a lot, followed by his disciplines, when I was late from school or college. “

I shook my head to shake off those memories, trying to focus on getting to work. When the doors of the subway opened, I sprinted out. When I wasn’t far from the building anymore, I bumped into someone and landed on my butt.

“Ah” I screamed out, more in surprise than in pain, when a hand reached out for me to help me to get back up.

“I´m so sorry, I didn’t pay attention to where I was going, it was my fault”, it came out of me very apologised.

I looked up into the most handsome man's face I'd ever seen. He had dark brown, full hair. Short, but long enough, to get your fingers lost in steel blue eyes that were staring into my green ones right now and a face like an Adonis, edgy, but also soft. He was wearing a suite and it didn´t look like one of the cheap sort. I was just staring at him.

“Are you okay?” He asked with furrowed eyebrows.

His words brought me out of my lethargy.

“Y-Yes, I´m okay.”

I took his hand, but his pull was so strong, that I came up and fell forward, right into his arms. I could feel his very muscular body touching the front of mine. When I inhaled his cologne, a musky, earthy scent, I got week and started to shake.

I blushed and looked down at his chest right away, so he wouldn’t see it. I´ve never been in the arms of a man before. Apart from Bobs and Trevor’s. But not in a good way.

I felt him taking a deep breath, but before he could say anything, I loosened myself out of his grip. I took a step back to gain some distance between this stranger an me to clear my mind.

He probably thinks I am a weirdo, clinching on to a stranger.

“Are you sure you can go along all by yourself?” He asked. He must have felt me shaking.

“Y-yes, I´m all good. T-thanks for helping m-me up” I stuttered like an i***t, still avoiding to look at him.

“No need to thank me. But you should be more careful and look where you´re running. Especially with those shoes on.” He placed his index finger under my chin and pushed it gently to force me to look up at him.

“People are rushing around a lot at this time in the morning.”, he said, his gaze all over my face. He looked like he was internally fighting, when it hit me, why I was rushing around myself in the first place. I looked at my watch and my eyes widened:

“Oh s**t, I´m too late!”

“I´m sorry … em…?” I didn’t know his name.

“James”, he said

“James”, I repeated. “I´ve got to go now.”, I said shortly, and started running towards the direction where the Crawford Enterprises building was. I gave the stranger a wave and shouted another “thanks again” towards him.

It wasn´t far to go anymore, but I was definitely late now. When the elevator doors popped open, I ran to my desk. I was out of breath for a moment, more because of that stranger’s appearance, who happened to look like a f*****g god. I quickly set up my computer, checked the emails and got a coffee ready for Mr. Taylor. Just the way he always wanted it first thing he came into the office.

“Slow down, Isabella, you know Mr. Taylor is never coming in before half past 9 in the morning.”, Andrea said, trying to calm me down.

Andrea was a PA as well. We shared an office. She was the total opposite of me. She was very open to people and self-confident. But I liked her. She helped me a lot to get to know everything quickly and to settle down. No one would think I´ve just been working here for a week. Andrea was a bit older than me. I was 24 and she was 32. She told me that she had been working for Crawford Enterprises for about 5 years now. She knew most of the people here and all the gossip for sure as well. If you needed or wanted to know anything, Andrea was your person to ask.

“Yes, but you never know. And I want to be prepared when he comes in.” I gave back, just as Mr. Taylor walked in. I handed him his coffee and followed him into his office, where I gave him an update on his schedule today.

Back at my desk, I took a deep breath. “That was close.”

“Relax, you are still on time. No one cares when you´re here as long as you are before your boss.”, Andrea said.

Mr. Taylor stayed in his office all day and didn’t want to be disturbed. He seemed very busy. The day for me went by slowly, as I had less to do than usual and spent all day just at my computer. Not only once, my thoughts wandered off thinking of that incident this morning and what that man felt like against my body.

“What is it that’s making you so nervous?” Andrea asked me.

“Oh, nothing.” I shortly gave back.

“Come on Isabella, first you´re late today and you don’t seem to be the person who´s late. You are totally blushing all day as well. So, who is it?”, she asked, way too excited.

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked in confusion.

“The way you behave today. You seem distracted and you blush a lot. It is totally clear there is a man behind it. So, tell me. Please”, she begged.

“There is no man. Andrea. I was just really late today and I had to run to get to work before Mr. Taylor would show up. I, I … bumped into someone.” I admitted, feeling a bit ashamed.

“Someone?” Andrea asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, a man. He helped me up and we stood really close. I was so embarrassed about it all. He was dressed very fancy in an expensive suit.”

“Was he hot?”

“ANDREA”, I admonished her.

“What? It sounds like in one of the movies. And those guys usually look hot.”

“Well, he did look quite handsome actually,” I admitted.

“Ahh I see. And now you´re dreaming all day of Mr. Hotty, right? Did you exchange numbers?”, she asked. Totally something she would have done if she had met a hot guy.

“Of course not, Andrea. I don’t know that guy. And with his looks, he wouldn’t be single either. He probably has a girlfriend or maybe a wife.”, I tried to focus on reality.

“Did he wear a ring?” Andrea asked.

“I don´t know. I didn’t pay attention to that. I was running late, you know.”

“So, he didn’t tell you anything?”, Andrea kept asking.

“Just his name. James.”

“James”, Andrea replied, and her little head seemed to be pretty occupied with that information.

After lunch with Andrea, I carried on sorting through all the files, actual cases, customers and improved the filing system until my work day and week nearly reached an end.

“Isabella!” Taylor's voice made me jump and catapulted me straight back to reality. “Please come into my office!”

“Um, yes, right there Mr. Taylor.” I answered quickly and went into his office.

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.

„Em, Mr. Taylor, If that´s all, I would go now. Or do you need me for anything else?”

His gaze shot at me for a second, before he looked back down again on his paperwork. „No, that´s all. Thanks Isabella for finishing that. “ He gave a nod in my direction and indicated that I could leave.

I lit candles draped on the windowsill by the bathtub and took a hot bath. I already felt every muscle in my body ache from the week at work. After I got home, I put up the shelves and unpacked the very few of my belongings I hadn’t had the time for yet.

My whole first week went on repeating through my mind. Mr. Taylor's behavior today was kind of weird. He seemed pretty occupied and …. different to his usual being. And then the last-minute-work I had to do for him. Those damn overtime hours are always at the last second. But that´s probably how it is when you´re a PA.

I shrugged. It´s not like anybody´s waiting for me at home.

It was pretty late. I will only get a few hours’ sleep. I need to set up my apartment, try to find different routes to work and I want to explore the town a little. I rolled my eyes at the thought, decided to relax and, with a sigh, plunged deep into the water under all the foam. That´s exactly what I need now. I drifted off.

I woke up numerous times in the night. I tried to sleep, but couldn’t wrap my head around it. Again, I was thinking about the stranger I bumped into last morning.

James.

Thinking about how his touch and gaze felt on my body, I couldn´t get those steel-blue eyes out of my head, the way he looked at me and his hypnotizing scent. I wondered who this man was and if I would ever see him again.

Crawfords POV

I was in town just for a quick business meeting. I couldn’t postpone. There were issues with a partner I had to deal with in person.

While I was already there, I decided to give our company a quick visit as well, though I don’t have the time for that often. I decided on a surprise visit to prevent any set-ups. I hate it when they do it. This way, I get a better insight into how the company is running and if there are any issues. I can see if employees are satisfied and how the chemistry is.

I had just informed my secretary in New York about the outcome of the meeting with my partner, when some woman banged into me.

“Ahh”, she was screaming out.

Wohoo, look where you´re going young lady.

I didn’t like carelessness. In my position, I couldn’t afford something like that. It could cost me a hell of a lot of money. I looked down at that little person in front of me. She looked so helpless sitting there on her butt, confusion and surprise written all over her face. I reached out my hand for her to help her up, as no one else around seemed to care.

“Are you okay?” I asked her. She seemed shy.

“Y-yes, I-I´m okay”, she stuttered out.

When I pulled her up, I didn’t expect her to be so light. My pull was a bit to strong on her and as she came up, she fell right into my arms, where she clinched on.

Why am I doing this?

“Are you sure you can go along by yourself?” I heard myself asking.

She probably already knew who I was and was going to drag it out, acting like a poor little kitten that got hurt and needs some care by its savior. Oh, come on, tell me you need some help and I already know where this is going. I thought to myself.

“Y-yes, I´m all good. T-thanks for helping m-me up”, it came out of her in a quiet soft voice. She was still avoiding looking at me. Why didn’t she look at me? Now I am surprised.

“No need to thank me. But you should be more careful and look where you´re running. Especially with those shoes on. People are rushing around a lot at this time in the morning.”, I replied to her dryly. She didn’t seem that experienced with high heels. At least, that was my impression.

She suddenly got even more nervous and looked at her watch, when she got back in a rush. Jesus, what´s keeping her so on her toes?

“Oh s**t, I´m too late! I’m sorry … em…”

“James”, I told her my name.

“James”, she repeated. “I´ve got to go now.”

Before I could even say or ask her anything, she was gone. She was the strangest woman I´ve ever met. Helpless on one hand, but tough on the other. I smiled at myself and focused on what my duty was today. I had to go to my company, Crawford Enterprises, next.