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Bedeviling: A Short Story
Bethany lives with a bully she can’t escape, constantly tormented at every turn. There is only one way she can make it stop, but will it really end the bedeviling?
Excerpt:
“Are there problems at home?” Andrews asked, staring pointedly at her bruised cheek.
As she had spent the duration of the meeting sobbing in the bathroom, the concealer was long gone. Despite his concern, it was clear he wasn’t pleased with her.
“N-no, sir.”
“If you need help…”
“No, sir. I-I fell. That’s all.”
“So there’s nothing going on to interfere with your work?”
Twisting a soggy tissue in her hands, she evaded his probing eyes. “N-no, sir.”
Andrews leaned back in his chair, his brows drawing together even more when its sharp squeak made Bethany jump. “You’re sure.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Heaving a sigh, he said, “Then it appears I expected too much of you. The question is, was it the last minute circumstances, or are you ill matched for the job?”
More tears spilled. “I-I don’t know, sir.”
“That’s not very reassuring, Bethany,” he said with an edge.
What could she say? She had failed. Miserably. Just as her tormentor said she would.
Excerpt:
“Are there problems at home?” Andrews asked, staring pointedly at her bruised cheek.
As she had spent the duration of the meeting sobbing in the bathroom, the concealer was long gone. Despite his concern, it was clear he wasn’t pleased with her.
“N-no, sir.”
“If you need help…”
“No, sir. I-I fell. That’s all.”
“So there’s nothing going on to interfere with your work?”
Twisting a soggy tissue in her hands, she evaded his probing eyes. “N-no, sir.”
Andrews leaned back in his chair, his brows drawing together even more when its sharp squeak made Bethany jump. “You’re sure.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Heaving a sigh, he said, “Then it appears I expected too much of you. The question is, was it the last minute circumstances, or are you ill matched for the job?”
More tears spilled. “I-I don’t know, sir.”
“That’s not very reassuring, Bethany,” he said with an edge.
What could she say? She had failed. Miserably. Just as her tormentor said she would.
28 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2025
About the author
Nannette Kreitzman
48 books56 followersI'm a retired stay at home mom and happy empty nester. I spend my morning walks dreaming up short story ideas, but despite my carefully laid plans, my characters always manage to change things up! I've learned to pay attention to them though, they're usually right.
You can find me on Instagram @netts_shorts
Check out my Reference Guide Blog for Author’s Notes and excerpts for all of my stories!
https://nannettekreitzman.blogspot.com/
You can find me on Instagram @netts_shorts
Check out my Reference Guide Blog for Author’s Notes and excerpts for all of my stories!
https://nannettekreitzman.blogspot.com/
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 19, 2026
I think this must rank among my top five short stories from this author. So much emotion packed into a few short pages. The reader is swept into the tale of Bethany, who is being subjected to hateful attacks on her self-confidence and self-esteem. I thought I knew where this tale was going, and I was right, but then in the final sentence, the author flipped everything on its head and left the reader realising they’d really known nothing at all. Sheer excellence. A perfectly crafted work of art from the Queen of Short Stories.
March 28, 2025
The worst kind of enemy
Bethany cant seem to do anything right. Her bully is always yelling, always tormenting her. Work is stressful. She gets asked to make a slide presentation. She does great but the bully says otherwise. Then, when she gets asked to present, she fails. The bully loves this. When Bethany finally takes matters into her own hands, it ends in disaster. And then her neighbor sees.
Terrifyingly creepy.
Bethany cant seem to do anything right. Her bully is always yelling, always tormenting her. Work is stressful. She gets asked to make a slide presentation. She does great but the bully says otherwise. Then, when she gets asked to present, she fails. The bully loves this. When Bethany finally takes matters into her own hands, it ends in disaster. And then her neighbor sees.
Terrifyingly creepy.
April 4, 2025
The title alone hooked me into this book. It's a short tale - well told again by Nannette Kreitzman who has a real knack of packing a punch in the short story format - about a victim of bullying. The reader has to feel for Bethany who can't seem to get away from the constant put-downs - the bedeviling. But you know there will be a response of some sort, and it's that anticipation that makes this story so compulsive. A super read.
March 31, 2025
Poor Bethany! She is being bullied at home, and it really is affecting her work life as well. When she is presented with an opportunity to really shine in her new job, her tormentor's abuse has proven too much to ignore, and she wastes her chance at greatness. Does this sound like another novel about rising to your potential? Does it sound like another version of the show with the "work innies?" Not even close. This 20 page story ended with such a chilling note, I am a little afraid to be left alone with my thoughts. I always love Nett's shorts, and Bedevilling was a sinister surprise!
May 3, 2025
Surprise
I’m always ready for a plot twist with Kreitzman’s stories but this one actually took it a step further, turning the twist more sinister than I had imagined. As usual, thumbs up to a story well written!
I’m always ready for a plot twist with Kreitzman’s stories but this one actually took it a step further, turning the twist more sinister than I had imagined. As usual, thumbs up to a story well written!
April 7, 2025
This author consistently delivers a quick escape, always packed with a surprising twist or two...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews