Volume 10 - Extending Family, Chapter 67 - Centaur of Attention

Remember, Tsuen, this is all worth it. This is your dream. Think of all the people you're helping, Tsuen told herself as she stumbled through the entryway of the house, heading for the bathing room. A long, relaxing bath was exactly what she needed, at least once she'd washed off all the sweat from running home right after leading group exercises. Several long days of that in a row had her beyond exhausted and happy for her upcoming day off.

As the weather turned colder, attendance at the Sports Club Kobold had skyrocketed, thanks to its state-of-the-art indoor facilities. New members, human and liminal alike, were signing up at record pace, and more members meant more work.

Tsuen was a natural as a fitness trainer and she always gave it her all in any way she could, such as staying extra hours to help someone that needed one-on-one assistance. She had also tried to learn about every part of the facility, even exercise equipment meant for other kinds of liminals, so that she could answer any question a member might have. Other employees had even sought her out when they'd had questions of their own.

Tsuen stepped into the laundry room and was happy to find that the bathing room wasn't in use. But before she could even get undressed, her cellphone started ringing inside her work backpack. With a sigh, she dug it out, flipped it open, and answered more cheerfully than she felt, "This is Tsuen. How can I help you?"

A deep, male voice said, "Ah, I'm so glad I caught you. I know you aren't scheduled to work tomorrow morning, but I was wondering if you could come in for a meeting. It's pretty important."

Korbin? Why would the boss be calling me instead of one of the managers? And what sort of meeting? She fought the temptation to take the lazy way out and instead she said, "Sure. What time, Korbin?"

"I've got a slot open at eight. Does that work for you?"

So much for having a lazy Saturday morning. "Yeah, I can do that. G'night, Korbin."

Tsuen finally rinsed off the day's sweat and climbed into the bath, soothing her sore and tired muscles. After nearly twenty minutes, she climbed out, dried her hair and tail and fur, then went straight to her room. She had been hoping to meet Pwess, the new baby in the house, but Tsuen was just too tired. Maybe tomorrow, she thought.

Tsuen arrived at the gym bright and early, wearing an orange and black running outfit, along with a light jacket and some matching pink legwarmers, since it was getting a little chilly outside.

Tsuen hesitated at the the door to Korbin's office for a second, then she knocked. She was startled when it opened almost immediately.

"Aha! Tsuen, you made it!" Korbin bellowed, offering his large furry paw. He was wearing his typical outfit that didn't match his role as owner and boss of a company: running shorts and a Sports Club Kobold logo shirt, stretched over his massive muscles. Tufts of brown fur stuck out of the collar and sleeves, making him look a little silly, like a plushie that had been stuffed into children's clothing.

Tsuen shook his paw and said, "Of course, sir. So what's the meeting about? And is anyone else joining us?"

Korbin grinned wide, showing a muzzle full of teeth. "Nope, just us, since this meeting is all about you!" He gestured inside and Tsuen stepped into the spacious office.

As Korbin closed the door behind them, Tsuen realized what he'd said. "Huh? About me?"

Korbin hopped up and sat on top of his desk, then frowned at Tsuen. "I'll get right down to business. Tsuen, you're too good."

"Huh?" Tsuen repeated, confused by the mixed messages of his frown and the compliment. "Is that a problem?"

"Your skills are going to waste as a mere part-time fitness instructor. We need you doing more, and doing it more effectively, so I have an offer for you." Korbin's frown flipped into a wide smile and he continued, "I'd like you to become full time, salaried."

Tsuen's eyes went wide. "Oh, that'd be—"

Korbin cut her off. "That's not all. Your job would be changing. Your one-on-one work has been amazing. Everyone you've helped has been singing your praises in the feedback forms and even to friends and family." Korbin leaned forward and added, "So, you'll be in charge of the Personal Training Program, as an assistant manager."

Tsuen was struck dumb. Korbin mistook her shocked silence for confusion and started to elaborate, "You'll be in charge of scheduling the one-on-one sessions, instructing the other trainers on your techniques, and personally running as many of those training sessions as you'd like. We'll get another part-timer to take over your group classes."

"I, uh," Tsuen started, then stopped. Korbin just kept grinning at her until she tried again, "Uh, I don't know what to say." She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, then said, "Thank you, Korbin. This is so amazing, it's kind of hard to believe."

Korbin hopped down from the desk and grabbed Tsuen's hand in both of his paws and looked up to her face. "Great! Now that you've accepted the promotion, I can start preparing the announcement."

"Announcement?" Tsuen asked warily.

"I want to make a big announcement of your promotion, to motivate the other staff. To show them that hard work and dedication are rewarded." Korbin waved his hands grandly over his head and said, "I'll do it during the groundbreaking ceremony at the new ski complex this Monday. The staff will all be there anyway, and having you on stage will be a great opportunity to plug the gym, so Sports Club Kobold doesn't get forgotten amid all the hubbub about the ski center." His fluffy tail was wagging excitedly as he spoke.

Tsuen was frozen in shock again. She didn't really like getting too much attention, which was one reason she prefered personal training over leading large classes. I'll be on stage during the groundbreaking ceremony… The media will be there. I'll be on TV. In two days. Oh god.

Korbin patted Tsuen on the arm and walked past her toward the door. "Well, I've got another meeting about that groundbreaking, so I'll see you around. Keep up the great work, assistant manager!" he called, then jogged out into the hallway and out of sight.

Tsuen was in a daze as she walked out of the gym and all the way home. She was excited and happy, but also very nervous and very overwhelmed. When she got home she was still in a daze, lost in her thoughts and walking on auto-pilot. She walked through the kitchen without even noticing Mara sitting at the table.

"Hiya, Tsuen," Mara called sleepily. She'd been staying up even later than normal lately, working on her project with Chione. At first Tsuen had been a little jealous of Chione, but Mara had stressed that she only had eyes for Tsuen and that seemed to soothe Tsuen's worries.

Tsuen blinked and turned to Mara. "Oh, hi, sweetie."

Even in her half-asleep state, Mara could tell something was up by the way Tsuen was fidgeting and flicking her tail and staring blankly. She said, "Whoa, you don't look so good," then leapt from her seat at the table and skittered to Tsuen's side. "Are you okay?"

Tsuen sighed and kept wringing her hands. "I'm just really nervous. It was all good news, but I don't know what to do. I'm no good with crowds, or praise, or any of that."

Mara put a hand on Tsuen's leg. She didn't know what Tsuen was rambling about, but she wanted to help. She asked, "How about you talk it out? Tell me what's up. What was the good news?"

Tsuen told Mara all about the promotion and the announcement, then opened up about her feelings about it all. "I'm really nervous. What if I mess something up on stage? Or what if I can't handle the new job?!" She was fidgeting with her hands and nervously glancing around the room.

Mara was really excited for Tsuen about the promotion, and wanted to jump around the room cheering, but that would only stress out Tsuen more. Instead, she smiled calmly up at Tsuen and said, "You'll be fine, Tsuen. You're amazing and you definitely can handle it. Korbin wouldn't have promoted you unless he believed in you."

On some level, Tsuen knew all of that, but it wasn't making her any less nervous. The more she thought about her new job and the ceremony, the more worried she got. It was a nasty spiral that was also wreaking havoc on her body, making all her muscles tense with nervous energy.

Suddenly Mara jumped up and grabbed Tsuen's hand. "You need to unwind, Tsuen. Follow me." She pulled her to their shared bedroom, then dragged a futon into the middle of the room.

She pointed a carapace covered finger at the bed. "Take off your clothes and lay down, Tsuen. I'm giving you a massage and I won't take no for an answer."

Tsuen was wondering how she planned to do that, considering her sharp fingers, but she complied. She stripped off her shorts and sports bra, then kneeled down on the mattress and leaned forward until her upper body was flat, resting on a pillow.

Tsuen gasped aloud as something landed on her rump. Mara had leapt onto her back and was crawling around, kneading with her eight knees. "Ooh…" Tsuen moaned as the points of pressure started to ease her locked-up muscles.

"Just relax, Tsuen, and I'll take care of the rest," Mara said from Tsuen's back, where she was inching along with dozens of fast, tiny steps.

With her eight legs, her pedipalps, and the palms of her hands, Mara worked at every tense muscle in Tsuen's body, from tail to shoulders, and even down each leg. Slowly, the tension melted away and Tsuen relaxed, physically and mentally, forgetting all about the stressful promotion and ceremony.

"Mmm, thank you Mara. This is exactly what I needed," Tsuen mumbled. "I never knew you could do this."

"I couldn't, at least not until recently," Mara said cheerfully as she worked. "I thought it could be useful, so I watched a lot of online videos about massaging."

"Ha, I bet you just wanted to use it for foreplay," Tsuen teased, still laying limply and enjoying the massage.

"Maybe…" Mara admitted. "Well, is it working?" she asked cautiously.

"Yeah, the massage is wonderful. I feel like a ragdoll now, in a good way. My tension is gone."

"That's great, but I meant the foreplay…" Mara said in a suggestive whisper.

Tsuen couldn't help but giggle. "Oh, Mara. You are a goofball, you know?" After a moment she lowered her voice and admitted, "I guess my front side could use some attention."

"Your wish is my command," Mara said as she hopped off Tsuen's back.

Tsuen rolled onto her back and curled her four legs against herself and held her arms over her breasts, embarrassed to be naked in such a pose.

The little arachne climbed back onto the larger centaur and resumed massaging, using firm kneading motions. She started at Tsuen's abs and worked slowly down her body, between her front legs, and then over her belly.

Finally, she settled between Tsuen's rear legs, spreading them to get to the inner thighs and groin, where she carefully kneaded the sensitive skin and muscles there.

Suddenly Tsuen blushed red and hid her face in her hands as Mara's massage changed into something else. Something embarrassing and wonderfully sexual.

After that, Tsuen was a different kind of exhausted. Her muscles were all loose and comfortable, and her thoughts were clear and calm. The ceremony will be fine. I'm just a tiny part of it, after all. The media isn't there for me.

Mara crawled up the bed next to Tsuen, wiping her mouth with the back of a hand. "You're smiling, so I guess it worked?"

Tsuen smiled and responded, "Oh, yeah. That was wonderful, Mara. Thank you." And Mara was right. I know I can be a good assistant manager. Even Korbin believes in me.

"Any time, Tsuen," Mara said with a grin as she snuggled up against Tsuen, face to face.

"Uh huh, sure," Tsuen said with a dismissive chuckle.

Mara shook her head. "No, seriously. Doing that to you, getting those reactions out of you… I think I might like that more than anything else in life. So, just say the word, and I'm down there." Mara stuck out her tongue out and winked three eyes.

Tsuen once again hid her face in embarrassment. "Mara, you pervy goofball…"