by Leji Albano
He stopped abruptly, turned to her, and snorted rudely. “Ha! You and I both know that you’ll be bored to tears within a month. Then what?”
Sighing loudly, Maria brushed a hand through her still dark but grey-streaked hair. “I have no idea, I’ll just have to figure something out though. Putting this off won’t change any of that, Alexander, as you of all people should know.” He looked away briefly, then nodded reluctantly.
Alexander glanced with a doubtful expression over her shoulder into the other office that was visible through the open door, at a beautiful twenty-something woman who bore a striking resemblance to Maria. “Maybe I should just do everything myself again….”
Maria crossed her arms over her chest and sarcastically said, “Oh, really? Are you telling me that you want to answer calls, respond to email, balance the books, manage all of the various investments, and take care of your own travel arrangements?”
Maria’s skeptical look and raised brow spoke volumes to what she thought of that. In the face of her compelling argument, he seemed to wilt, asking, “Is she ready? More importantly, can I trust her? What happens when she figures it all out, Maria?” Collapsing into the leather chair behind his expansive wooden desk, he murmured, “I’m afraid of what her reaction will be; not everyone will, or can, take it as well as you did.”
She walked around his desk and put her hand on his shoulder, then looked deep into his mismatched blue and amber eyes, a sad smile on her face. “I won’t promise you she will not be shocked at your secret, but Tina is a very, very smart and strong young woman. She inherited a lot of what I am, much to the consternation of the rest of the family. I may be the only acknowledged black sheep right now, but I predict I won’t be the only one soon enough.” A devilish grin lit up her face as she watched her niece pack up what few personal belongings Maria had left in her desk. “Tina is the daughter I never had, the family I always wanted, and I’m afraid I may have been a bad influence on her.”
Glancing back at the man who was obviously struggling with his emotions, she continued, “I’m old, Alexander…old and tired. You need someone who is capable of maintaining the fast-paced lifestyle you lead. We both know that what I’m saying is true.” She told herself that her words were valid, but Maria also knew that part of it was that she just didn’t want him to bear the burden of watching her grow older and die.
A ghost of sadness passed across his features as he looked up at Maria. “I’m going to miss you, my friend,” was a whisper just for her ears. “How shall I make it through the coming days without you here to rein in my tendency to rash action?”
Sudden tears flooded her eyes. “And I, you. Working here with you has been my whole life. Frankly, I’m barely holding it together right now. How sad is that?” Alexander handed Maria a tissue and glanced doubtfully once again in the direction of her niece. His eyes flicked back to her at the sound of her sniffle and the tissue gliding across her eyes, removing the moisture that had accumulated there. She was fully aware that allowing her the time, and privacy, to take care of this, let him consider that this was the start of a new era. Maria had been with him for thirty-eight years, and he was used to her presence. It was obvious that he wasn’t sure he was ready for this change, and though they had indeed discussed this scenario several times over the last few years, she suspected he’d never really believed this day would come.
Smacking him in the chest, she growled, “You better take care of her, mister. None of your shenanigans.” Alexander scowled up at Maria with a who me? expression, and she burst out laughing. “Yes, you. Seriously though, be nice to her. I think she needs you almost as much as you need her.”
A confused expression greeted her words, so she elaborated, “Trust me on this, Alexander, that girl is just as introverted as you are and almost as combative, but unlike you, she carries a ton of insecurities to go along with that. She was a complete tomboy when she was younger, and had no time for what she called girly things. Of course, she eventually outgrew that stage, but there are still a few rough edges that have survived even to this day. That young woman is smarter than I ever will be, Alexander, and yet …she lacks people skills. Tina can be an extremely tough customer and has the tongue of a viper when she’s pissed, so be forewarned.”
Through lidded eyes, he nodded almost imperceptibly at her words. “I don’t want to hurt her, Maria…like I did you.” They had talked about this in the past, how this was one of his greatest regrets in life, the fact that she had given up so much for him and the work they did here. “Are you absolutely certain about this?”
“Not really, Alexander,” she said, “but she has no one right now, and neither do you. Just promise me that you will be kind and gentle with her. That’s all I can ask. The rest will be up to her when she discovers the truth.” Maria shrugged and nodded to her niece. “I think she’s almost finished, which means it’s time for me to say goodbye.”
Alexander stood and took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. She melted into his embrace as she struggled to hold back more tears, then resolutely straightened up and pushed him away. Without a backward glance, she strode out of his office and closed the door firmly behind her.
Alexander watched Maria walk away, competing emotions washing through him as he thought back on all the years they had worked together. It was hard to believe it had been thirty-eight years since that fateful night in Egypt when he had been forced to reveal his curse. The courage she had exhibited in the face of the horrors she had witnessed still amazed him, and the fact that she had not only stayed with him after that but had embraced the job, was nothing less than miraculous as far as he was concerned.
The still-slim figure, in her always fashionable clothing, was walking out of his life and taking a massive bite out of his heart as she did so. The wavy, long hair that had always fascinated him swayed back and forth as she strode purposefully out of his office, her heels clicking loudly on the office floor.
Alexander smiled in amusement as he followed her with his eyes. Clothes, and in particular, shoes, had been one of the few things Maria had accumulated over the years. In fact, she had always somehow managed to fit in time for shopping on every trip she had arranged for them. Truthfully, he never begrudged her the time as she dragged him from one fashion designer to another. Maria had more than earned her obsession.
The door closed with a soft click, leaving him alone in his office with just his thoughts and memories.
Tina Ferrante glanced up as she heard the click of a door being closed. Her Aunt Maria smiled blearily at her through the tears that were threatening to stream down her face. A scowl broke out as she quickly crossed the three steps to grab Maria by the shoulders. “What did he do?” she demanded with narrowed and suspicious eyes. “I swear to God I will kick him in the junk if he was mean to you!” Maria knew she meant it too. The woman in front of her had been a significant influence in Tina’s life, more mother to her than aunt, and no one was allowed to hurt her in any way.
“I believe you would, Tina, I believe you would indeed,” her aunt laughed through her tears. “However, you can safely leave his junk alone; he was a complete gentleman. I’m crying because I’m really going to miss this job…going to miss Alexander. Sadness sort of goes with the territory, I guess.” She shrugged wryly and scrubbed her face to get rid of the wetness. Maria looked around at what used to be her domain, taking in the conference room and the short hallway that led to the restrooms, and her desk that sat like a battleship in the large foyer that was the only entry into the antiquities dealer workspace. “I can think of no one else I’d want to pass the torch to.”
Tina sniffed at that and protested, “Come on, Aunt Maria, it’s just a job.” Looking disdainfully at the closed door, behind which her new boss resided, she continued, “If you ask me, he’s just another trust-fund baby, spoiled rotten by money he never had to earn.”
Maria gave Tina a sharp look, then pushed her forcefully into the chair behind the desk and stood
menacingly over her. “You listen to me, young lady, that is the finest man I have ever known. Alexander has never been anything other than kind and respectful to me, and without a doubt is the best friend I have ever had.” Stabbing at her niece with her index finger, she went on, “You will show him respect. You will try to be pleasant, hard as that may be for you. And you will do your job to the best of your ability. Am I perfectly clear?” There was nothing friendly about Maria’s icy stare, anger quickly suffusing her face.
“He already has some doubts about my bringing you in to take my place in his company, but he trusts my judgment implicitly. I’ve earned that trust over the years, and because I vouch for your abilities, he is willing to take a chance on an unknown…an unknown with no real experience, an unknown with a degree so new the ink still hasn’t dried yet.” Leaning in close, she hissed, “You will not make a liar out of me. Do you understand?”
Clearly startled by the vehemence in her aunt’s voice, Tina stammered out, “Yes, ma’am. Duly noted.” Maria had seldom displayed anger in Tina’s presence, and certainly not anger directed at her as it now was.
Gazing deep into Tina’s eyes, Maria finally nodded and said, “Good.”
Maria leaned against the desk, took a calming breath, then held her niece’s hand in her own. “This is an incredible opportunity, and I want you to seize it with both hands and never let go.” A wistful note was in her voice as she continued, “I have traveled the world, dined at the finest restaurants, gone to operas in the grandest venues imaginable, attended the ballet in Moscow, and directly experienced so many other wonderful things I can’t even begin to tell you about all of them. Some things I probably never will be able to tell you, as they shall go to my grave with me. And none of that would have been possible without that man and his father before him.”
A calculating look crossed Maria's face, then she asked, “How much money do you think I have saved for my retirement since I started working here?”
Tina thought about it for a moment, shrugged, then said, “No idea. A million dollars?”
Her aunt grinned and replied, “Nope. Not even close. I have ten million and some change.” Holding up a hand to stall Tina’s disbelieving response, she said, “Think about it. Part of your contract is an apartment with all utilities paid, and a leased car. A BMW at that. How much a month would you say that was worth?”
“I don’t know, maybe a couple thousand?”
Maria shook her head at that. “The apartment alone, which more accurately is a loft in one of the most exclusive buildings in downtown Spokane, would rent out at thirty-five hundred dollars a month all by itself. The lease on the BMW M4 is another thousand. And if I am not mistaken, and I’m not because I wrote up your contract myself, you also get a monthly stipend for clothing and the other incidentals necessary for the continued upkeep of your person so that you can adequately represent the company that employs you. Additionally, all travel expenses are covered by the company, so no out-of-pocket there.”
A moment later, she continued ticking items off a mental list: “Top-of-the-line company cell, laptop, and tablet. All insurance completely paid for by the company—medical, dental, and vision. A four-day workweek when not traveling, six weeks of paid vacation per year, and the list goes on.” Finally, she smirked and said, “Oh, and let’s not forget the seventy thousand a year salary, which will go up every year if you don’t step on your dick and get fired.”
Tina burst out laughing at that and silently mouthed, don’t step on your dick to herself. A few seconds later, she nodded her head in acknowledgment and said, “I understand. But how? How can a company with one owner and one employee afford to offer so much?”
Maria smiled at her. “The antiquities business is very, very profitable, my dear. Plus, Alexander is an extremely generous person. He knows how much of the burden he offloads onto his assistant, and is willing to show that he values that help. The only thing he asks in return is loyalty. You will manage a large portion of his empire for him…millions and millions of dollars are at stake.”
Tina just stared at her aunt with a shocked look, and started to hyperventilate as the magnitude of it all set in.
Chuckling, Maria continued, “So, as you can see, you will earn all those perks and salary. But it is also a fascinating and enjoyable life. Accumulating money when you barely spend any is pretty easy. That and investing wisely.”
Maria’s expression hardened again. “Finally, a word of advice. Don’t take it personally if Alexander growls at you occasionally. He is a tough person to get to know, very private and insular. He hasn’t had the easiest of lives, and trusting in anyone is hard for him.”
A skeptical Tina replied, “Oh sure, poor little rich boy. Boohoo.” The sound of the slap from her aunt reverberated around the room, and Tina’s hand covered the reddened cheek that had been its target, her eyes wide with shock. Maria had never gotten physical with her before, not even during her teen years when raging hormones made her already-smart mouth so much worse.
“If you ever say such a thing again, I will beat the snottiness right out of you, favorite niece or not,” Maria ground out between gritted teeth. “You don’t get it, do you? Put yourself into Alexander’s shoes for a minute. How do you trust that people like you for who you are, and not for the money or the advantages that knowing a person like Alexander can bring? After the first time or two getting burned, would you continue to be open to others? Or would you close yourself up and keep the world at arm’s length? The man behind that door is the loneliest person I have ever known, maybe the loneliest person in the whole world, and you don’t get to judge that which you know nothing about.” Her chest continued to heave, and Maria’s hands were fisted as she glared down at her niece. I need to nip this in the bud now before her attitude gets her into trouble, Maria thought, irate at having to defend her friend. She’s so young and inexperienced, but this has to stop before it becomes an issue.
Maria studied Tina silently, watching the younger woman try to absorb what her aunt had just said. It was clear she still didn’t get why her words had upset her aunt so much. After a minute, she nodded sheepishly. “I apologize for what I said, but in my defense, I’ve known many other trust-fund babies who were complete douchebags while I was going to school at Gonzaga.”
The unwavering glare on Maria’s face finally gave way to something else. Something that looked an awful lot like melancholy. “Please promise me you will give him a chance. Promise me you will be kind to him. He needs you, Tina, and I think you might need him too. The problem is that you are very similar people in so many ways. You must step in for me and provide the stability and friendship I no longer can.” This would be so much easier if I could just tell her the truth, ran through her head.
Her niece gasped as comprehension dawned. “This wasn’t just a job for you. It was much more,” she whispered.
Maria sighed, wondering just how much she could reveal. “Yes, Tina, it was my whole life. Did you never wonder why I remained single all these years?” Her voice cracked as she continued. “There isn’t really room for anything else, a personal life separate from what you do here. Oh, don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of one-night stands and short flings, but my heart always belonged to the Matthews men and the work we did. I don’t expect you to understand, but perhaps someday you might.”
She grabbed the box of her personal belongings and strode to the door that led to the elevators. Maria paused on the threshold and said over her shoulder, “Remember my words, Tina, and take care of Alexander for me.”
“I will, Aunt Maria.”
2
“…I am plagued by dreams and nightmares. Each evening, I fear to lay my head down lest I be shown more of the unknown history of this world. Visions of thousands of slaves building grandiose palaces, temples, and other structures for our so-called masters. The senseless cruelty and murder of innocents for no other reason than boredom. And the steady decline of a once-great civilization. All t
hese, and more, parade before my inner eyes, burning themselves into my consciousness….”
An excerpt from the diary of Alexander Matthews
March 1904, Just outside Cheyenne, Wyoming
The wind howled and battered at the shutters protecting the windows of the small, isolated cabin. A late-season blizzard had hit last night and showed no signs of ending any time soon. The restless, sweating man who occupied the bed near the fireplace seemed to be oblivious to nature's wrath. A particularly violent kick of his leg deposited the woolen blanket onto the rough wood-plank floor, and he was mumbling what were surely words, but not in any language a modern person would understand.
Alexander remained unaware of the outside world. He was trapped in the memories he had inherited when bitten, somehow passed to him by the amulet he now wore. The life he was experiencing was not his own but was inexorably tied to him as surely as if he had lived it, part and parcel of who he had become….
His Master, the god En, was screaming at him in proto-Sumerian, spittle flying from his lips with each word. “You have failed me, you worthless, miserable dog! The task was a simple one, attack the city of that bitch, Nin, and destroy it.”
The general of the army lay prostrate before the Anunna, not uttering a word for fear he would only make matters worse. He had learned at an early age that it was best to let his master vent his anger with no excuses or interruptions.
“I should end your useless life and see if another can do as I ask.” The tirade continued. “Even now she consolidates her armies and prepares to strike back, and while you did manage to hurt her badly, it is not enough. Not nearly enough.”
