NERTHUS
“It’s all I can do. If she fires me, I’m fucked!” I groan, stirring my cup of coffee as Jenna is already sipping hers.
“Don’t think to much of it, babes. Enjoy your vacation and the world will be looking different. And then we will see how to proceed.”
She put her hand on mine, but pulls it away quickly as we have to make space for Lizzie bringing us our cakes.
“Thank you, Lizzie.”
“Sorry, I overheard your conversation.” Lizzy smiles, blushing.
“In case you need help, we are always looking for people to help us out.”
“Oh,” I say, jerking up lightly. “That’s so nice from you. I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.”
She smiles brighter before she returns behind her counter and I exhale, feeling an anxious feeling grab my heart.
“I can’t go back.” I whisper and Jenna looks at me preoccupied.
“I know. And you won’t have to. We will find a way!”
I sigh, as she purses her lips. “Sorry if I ask this, but… What’s about your, you know, your new admirer?”
She shifts in her seat as she lowers her voice slightly. “Has he canceled too?”
I shake my head, taking a sip from my cup.
“Good.” She breathes out, flashing me a hopeful smile.
“Maybe I should take up on Luciana’s offer and go to her vacation home… Take a little break.”
“Maybe,” Jenna smiles, “Or, you stay here with me, and we do a few sleepovers. We could watch old corny movies and stuff our face with cinnamon rolls.”
I laugh, taking a bite of my cake. “I’d love that. But you have to work.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll manage. And I’d hate to see you get lost while hiking or getting eaten by a bear.”
Giggling, I shake my head. “You are such a scaredy-cat!”
“Tell me about your blue-eyed admirer. I spoke to Parker about him. Did he contact you again?”
She nods happily and I chuckle. “What’s going on between you two?”
Putting her finger on her lips, she blushes lightly. “If I told you, it would be bad luck.”
“Aaaah, this kind of undertaking. Nice.” She scoops a piece of cake on her fork, lowering her head with a smile playing on her lips.
As we finish our breakfast with Jenna giving her best to distract me and to enhance my mood, I still feel like drowning. I go to the counter to get a few cookies for another depressed evening and am about to pay for them as Lizzie asks me about my vacation plans.
“Erm… Ah, just a bit of time off in the mountains.”I smile politely, about to turn around to walk out of the shop as she stops me again.
“Oh, how nice. Where? I love hiking, you know.”
“No, I wasn’t aware. For me, it would be the first time…” I push out a laugh, avoiding her question as she inquires further.
“You’ll love it, I’m sure of that. Is it close by?”
I shrug, thinking about how much I should be telling her. It’s not like she could follow me up there. It is practically impossible to know where I’ll be staying as the place is supposed to be huge.
“It seems to be in the Adirondack Mountains.”
Lizzie’s expression lights up. “Oh, I know the place. It’s amazing. You’ll totally love it. And you’ll look gorgeous in one of those hiking outfits.”
“Ha, yeah. Thank you.” I lift my hand, wanting to finally get away as she asks me something more.
“Will you be going alone?”
“No…” I lie, flashing her a smile. “If I go, my boyfriend will be coming with me.”
She nods, flashing me another smile. “Alright then, enjoy your vacation!”
“Thank you. I will.” I turn around, reaching Jenna at the door, who shoots me a questioning look.
“Let’s just go.” I whisper, pushing her out of the door gently.
I don’t really know why I lied to Lizzie that way. Normally, we engage in casual conversation regularly. But in that moment, I suddenly had a very bad feeling creeping up my spine.
***
By the time I have said goodbye to Jenna and arrive home after our late breakfast, I feel depleted.
I push out a deep breath as I step to the concierge desk to ask for my mail.
The young gentleman hands me a few envelopes and I take them with a smile. As I walk towards the elevator, greeting two of my neighbors, I overhear them talking in hushed voices.
“This neighborhood really is degenerating. Such a thing would never have happened 10 years ago!” One of the elderly ladies says, making me stifle a chuckle.
The old folks and their good old days.
“Yes. Imagine that one of the concierges was knocked unconscious a few days ago! This is outrageous.”
“Ugh, talk about it! We should have gotten appointed security personnel long ago!”
“This new landlord is just incompetent.”
With my worked-up curiosity, I miss stepping into the elevator opening for me and take a few steps to the side to intrude their conversation.
“Good afternoon, ladies.” I bend slightly, putting a strain of my hair behind my ear as the two elderly ladies turn to me with a big smile.
“Amber, dear, how are you?”
“I’m fine, Ruth, I hope you two ladies are as well?”
“Yes, my dear, thank you.” Ruth puts her hand on my arm and smiles.
“I just overheard your conversation. What happened?” I look between the two, who seem concerned.
Like they always are.
Sometimes such women can be a little pain in the ass but their “watch” over the neighborhood can be very helpful and also, entertaining.
“Someone broke into the rooms in the basement.” Dorothy speaks loudly, shaking her head.
“My God. The basement? Is there something of value?”
“I don’t think so. Just some janitor closets, tools, and wires. And the panels, of course.”
“Maybe just kids that wanted to play gangsters.” Ruth adds, making me giggle internally.
“This is outrageous.” I say, getting a few confirming nods.
“And the concierge was attacked to get in?”
“No!” Dorothy says, waving her finger. “The break-in happened last night. The concierge was knocked out about a week ago. I think it was a Sunday, wasn’t it Ruth?” She turns to her friend, who nods repeatedly.
“Yes. It was a Sunday. I know that for sure, as it must have happened just as my soap started. The ambulance came and I was shocked.”
The two women continue to discuss the unsustainable situation lividly while my thoughts run wild, making their voices merge into the background.
Sunday? About a week ago?
Was it the same Sunday Kyle had attacked me?
The day I noticed the concierge desk to be empty for the first time?