Sweet Rapture, Chapter 2                                                    - 4 - Arianna sat at the head of the conference table staring at her top executives.  Kenji Sakura was on her left side.  She glanced at the empty chair and gave him an interrogating look.  Kenji shook his head in stunned silence and felt a rush of heat to his face.   Alessandra had not shown up and the countess could barely contain her rage. ?It appears that Ms. Akhtar was momentarily detained and we will have to start the meeting without her,? The edge of impatience crept into her voice.  ?I will be flying to Guatemala tomorrow to visit one of our latest excavations in Iximche.  Alessandra will accompany me.?  She observed her team with a lofty expression.  ?Our archeological team has uncovered a priceless Mayan relic and I will meet with Mr. Ruben Medina of the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture to transition the return of the relic.?  She sneered inwardly at her executives. Kenji observed his employer.  Countess Arianna Di Montalvi was a great patron of the arts, overshadowed by an unscrupulous need of possessing anything or anyone she coveted.  He knew perfectly well that she would buy off the official and acquire the relic.  The countess was aware of every skeleton in the most important closets and had so many contacts and friends in all circles globally that she could buy and own virtually whatever and whomever she wanted.  Nevertheless, he respected her immensely.  Unbeknownst to most, the Italian art dealer was also a philanthropist who devoted a large part of her fortune to help the less fortunate in many third world countries, with a special fondness for children?s causes.  The woman behind the aloof and ruthless facade was a mystery with many facets. Arianna turned toward Adriss Khalil, her executive in charge of her Middle-East Operations and handed him a folder.  ?Tarek Ben Youb has requested another order of the latest Sumerian artifacts that have come in our possession.  Adriss I will need you to travel to Syria one more time to ensure that the shipment gets to the boat.  Our usual contact will be awaiting you.  Please meet me in my office tomorrow morning at 9:30 am to discuss the details of the trip.? She stood abruptly.  ?I am leaving the office for the rest of the day.  If you need to get in contact with me, leave a message on my voice mail, I will check my messages periodically.? Arianna walked back into her office, her stomach contracted in a small ball.  She opened a cabinet and took out a bottle of Chivas pouring herself a generous portion.  She slugged it down at once and grimaced, then poured herself another glass and sat down on her black leather sofa. She closed her eyes letting her head fall back and thought of her first encounter with Alessandra.  She had met her six years ago, while visiting an ancient site located in the Black Hills on the South Dakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  The young woman had just completed her doctorate and was now a proud new archeologist. Alessandra drove her to the site for a tour and Arianna could not stop staring at the beautiful stranger who astounded her.  She was exotic but did not have Native American features.   The young woman had long curly black hair then, loosely tied back with a red bandana.  Her jeans were ripped in various places showing her bronzed skin.  She definitely was not the sophisticated type Arianna was accustomed to bed.  The amazing light green eyes with tiny gold specks were so intense; she often had to look away.  Ariannna learned of their shared Italian heritage.   Alessandra had been living in the United States since she was a child.  Her parents had died in a car accident while vacationing in Iran when they were visiting her father?s family.  Her uncle living in Brooklyn, New York raised her.  The countess also learned how she came to be living on the reservation. The exotic woman had gone to a lecture on Native American Culture met the professor and fell irrevocably in love. She was so comfortable with her sexuality that she did not even think twice about mentioning that her lover was a woman.  Arianna thought that Alessandra might have noticed her own sexuality.  The two lovers were together four years already and lived two months out of the year on the reservation and the rest of the time in California. Arianna felt Alessandra?s genuine passion for archeology.  Her major was eastern art, but she was as knowledgeable in Native American art originating from both hemispheres.  The young raven-haired woman was brilliant and eagerly showed her the site explaining every aspect, story and origin that quickly mystified Arianna. Alessandra had conquered her heart.. On their way back, she offered the young woman a position in her company, accompanied by a hefty salary.  Alessandra was flattered but graciously declined the offer and the countess finally understood the reason on their return.  A tall Native American woman with striking features sat on the hood of a black jeep, looking so proud in her element.  She enveloped Alessandra in her long brown arms and hugged her closely, whispering something in her ear.  The younger woman smiled in Arianna?s direction and from that moment on, the countess knew that she would always desire her. ~~~~~~ Arianna let herself in Alessandra?s apartment closing the door behind her.  The older woman entered the living room and saw her lover lying on the sofa.  Startled, the archeologist stood up and faced the countess who violently pushed her back against the couch. ?Don?t you ever embarrass me AGAIN!  I will not tolerate your disrespect in front of my team?  DO you understand??  As Arianna?s dark eyes held a murderous gaze, Alessandra felt a chill creeping up her spine. ?Do you think you can humiliate me and just walk away??  Arianna took her lover?s face in her hands and kissed her savagely, bruising her mouth, her tongue probing until Alessandra?s lips parted. ?Perché ? why??  The countess whispered while reaching again for the tormenting lips that beckoned to be savored until the insatiable need was vanquished. ~~~~~~ Berkeley 1990 Justine Wolfrider stopped in front of Alessandra?s house.  Three months had passed since their last encounter, the student having successfully taken every precaution to avoid her. The student sat on the front steps flipping the pages of an Archeological magazine, while running her fingers through her black tresses.  Summer vacation had just started and all her friends had gone home.  She had declined Maxwell?s invitation to go to Florida with him.