After Vinny left, I grabbed my mask which had small, golden details running along it and I gently place it on my face.
Yeah, not even my employees know who I am. Imagine what they'd do if they found out their boss is a 14 year old girl. My office walls are like those mirrors in investigation rooms, so I can see them but they can't see me.
Do you know how many people check if they have something in their teeth, let's just say that Jerry eats a lot of tuna rolls during his lunch break.
My mask doesn't even cover my whole face but once again these people have the IQ's of hotdogs, but they get their jobs done so who cares.
Most employees went home but those who are still here nod and smile at me and I nod back.
I get to the car that's waiting for me outside and the driver pulls away.
I live in Budapest, Hungary in a penthouse near my company building. I always loved how beautiful it was so when I had enough money, I moved here from Boston to start my business. And George Ezra liked it enough to make it his song's title, so why not?
The driver parks next to an alleyway near my apartment building. He was confused when he first started driving for me as to why he should do it but I told him it was just for security measures and he dropped it.
I got out after I thanked him and walked deep into the alley. I take off my mask and shoved it into my backpack (because backpacks are just way more effective than purses).
I stroll out of the alley as if nothing happened and walked inside the building.
You could see that rich people with a lot of money lived here by the way that almost everything in this place is made out of marble and glass.
I walk past the reception and into an open elevator. I press the button for the top floor and wait.
People don't question me when they see me because they think I live with my very rich mother who just works all the time, but really I pay the rent under a fake name I made up.
The elevator dings and the doors slide open. I walk to my door, unlock it and step inside. I locked the door and barely put my bag down when a weight crashed into me.
"Holy mother of cheese!" I yelled out as I fell to the floor from the force whilst a wet tongue started licking my face.
"Juju! Verschwinde, runter junge!" I ordered and he reluctantly got off.
(Get off, down boy!)
And yes, my dog only understands German commands, it took me awhile to realise that. Good thing I speak more than 10 languages thanks to my line of work.
Juju is a full breed Great Dane, well I assume he's a full breed. I found him in a box, covered in old and ripped up blankets that reeked of piss, the poor thing was too weak to even stand up.
The vet I took him to said that he was about a week old. I let them give him his necessary shots and bought all the things he needed. I brought him home and it took us a week to figure out our routine which meant that there were a lot of 'accidents' in that first week.
Let's just say the lady next door goes to weekly therapy sessions along with her crazy chihuahua.
Juju's only a year old and is still considered a puppy but you can see he's starting to grow.
I got up and bend down to scratch behind his ears and pecked his snout as he licked my cheek.
"You're probably hungry huh?" I asked as he barked in answer. I went to the kitchen and opened the cupboard with the dog food in it. I filled his bowl and set it down on the floor where he was patiently waiting.
But all patience flew out the window as he inhaled the food when it entered his sight. I swear the dog doesn't even chew.
I left him alone and walked to my room, and let me tell ya, I love my room.
I always loved darker colours and when I saw this room, I instantly fell in love.
I took a relaxing bath with those fancy bath salts you get in the stores that is just always coincidentally on sale.
After my bath I dry myself off and as I walk past the wall sized mirror, something black catches my eye.
My gaze falls onto the black ink that's engraved on the skin beneath my collarbone, on the area where my heart is, right next to the ring that's hanging of a chain around my neck.
PHOENIX
It stands there boldly with roses and vines entwined around it. His favourite flower. I feel my eyes start to burn as I let then travel to the other patch of ink on my skin, near my left, lower abdomen.
A black rose entwined with a white rose.
A beautiful piece of art covering a scar and memory I'll never forget.
I swallow the tears that are aching to be free and walk over to my bed and slip into some comfy PJ's. I walked back to the kitchen to see Juju lying in his bed and the bowl completely clean of any food.
Pig.
I go over to the radio I bought a few months back and turn it on. Gotta keep some culture alive.
'That's it for tonight's traffic updates. Next up we have a classic playing so turn it up.'
"Man this is my jam!" I exclaim as I raise the volume to Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley.
I raise my hands above my head as I dance in circles around the kitchen island. I feel tiny paws jump up my legs and I look down to an excited Juju. I pick him up and twirl around while he barks and I laugh.
In this moment I only felt happiness and can't help but think about how far I've come in the past 8 years. All the late nights studying to actually graduate highschool at the age of 10 and more hard work to get a degree in business management and fashion at 12. All those tears, doubts and fears led to this moment and I couldn't be more proud and happier.
But there will always be a hole in my heart that they left, that he left. But that doesn't matter now, they're gone and I have to accept it.
I'm still laughing and dancing with Juju when loud knocks are heard at the door followed by a deep voice stating, "This is the Budapest Police Department, please open up."
I stand there shocked for a few seconds until they knock again, that's when I snap out of it. I grab Juju's bed and run to the closet in the hallway as quietly as I can.
The closet is big enough for Juju not to feel cramped and I set him down in his bed.
"Ok Juju I need you to be quiet, bleib und belle nicht. Mommy will right back." With that I stand and close the closet behind me in hopes that he'll actually listen. (Stay and don't bark.)
There're more knocks but with more force and the same voice repeats it's sentence but a little louder and harsher, "Budapest Police Department, open up!"
I hurry over to the door and I take a deep breath. I put on my resting bitch face and open the door.
Two men are stood in front of me. One was tall and slender but still looked strong enough to take someone down whilst the other looked like a body builder, I wouldn't be surprised if he had his uniform custom made.
Mr. Body Builder had his fist raised ready to knock again but realised if he did, he'd bash me in the head and quickly dropped his hand.
Slenderman cleared his throat which made me to return my gaze to him as he spoke.
"Sorry to disturb you miss, but we have reason to believe that you are a minor living alone under a false name, we would like to take you to the police station and ask a few questions." He said, getting straight to the point.
Aww damn, the snitch who ratted me out is sooo gonna get stitches.
So there I am, standing in front of two police officers that look like they came out of some kind of comedy police show with Never Gonna Give You Up still playing in the background and all I can say is...
"Well shit."
🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠
Juju💜 So freaking cute
Cheerio🤸♀️