Hi everyone, before you begin the first seven chapters of this story is already published on my old account; but, unfortunately I have no clue what my login information is. I really wanted to continue this story since so many of you liked it originally so I am continuing it on this account (my current one). There will be some updates and fixes from the original seven chapters but I will be continuing the storyline and I do plan on finishing this one! If you want to read ahead you are welcome to, my old account is maliawayne and the story has the same name. However, do keep in mind that there might be some changes in the storyline from the original as the plot continues and within the next week I will have the updated seven chapters posted on here and then I will continue on with the story! Sorry, if I am being repetitive, I just want you to be fully informed. :) Please review with any comments, concerns, etc! I'm super excited to continue this with you all!
xx
Alexandria followed the horde of people to the baggage claim of Gotham International Airport. Luckily, no one had recognized her, yet. She made sure to wear the most concealing outfit without looking suspicious. It helped that it was the 1st of February, the coldest time of Gotham's winter. Jet lag was luckily not an issue – as of now that is. Although it is 10 AM in Gotham, it's 4 in the afternoon in Amsterdam.
Alexandria dutifully stood alone in front of the carousel. It had already been moving. She cautiously glanced around for Lucius. She had called him a few nights ago, confessing that she was returning to her hometown after a long 15 years. Lucius is the only one that knows. She was glad she had someone like him to rely on – especially in Gotham, he was someone she basically considered to be her father.
She scanned the crowd of chatty Europeans. She had flown in from Amsterdam. It had been her home for the past two years. She lay her pale green eyes on the back of a tall, well-suited African American man. He was facing away from her, looking out to the exit of the airport. He watched the frenzied Gothamites bustle around in the snow. Two Louis Vuitton suitcases perched next to him. She smiled, he had already grabbed her luggage.
Taking graceful long strides toward the man, she silently stood next to him. A smirk on her naturally red lips. Lucius glanced down at the young lady, returned his gaze to the fogged sliding glass doors, then back to Alexandria with his eyes wide.
"Alexandria!" He smiled down at her before engulfing her in a big hug which she easily returned. She sighed. She missed this man. He even still smelled the same after 15 years – a distinct earthy cologne.
"Lucius, I've missed you so much!" Alexandria beamed as they parted.
"It's been much too long, Lex. You've grown so much. I remember when you only came up to here!" He gestured to just above his waist. She smiled at the use of her childhood nickname. He was only one of the very few to comfortably call her that.
"Yes, yes. And now, I'm just reaching six foot. I am almost as tall as you."
"I do remember you saying how you would reach my height when you were younger." Lucius stated. He reached down to grab the luggage, swinging one bag over his shoulder and pulling the other. He gestured for Alexandria to start towards the exit doors. She laughed at the memory as she began to walk to the cold outdoors.
"I remember that, too. And I do, with heels on." She added with a stunning grin. Alexandria politely stood next to a black Bentley that Lucius had pointed to. She mentally thanked Lucius for keeping her arrival confidential when she noticed that there was no chauffeur waiting in the vehicle. Snow swirled all around, onto the hood of the car, the clothes on both Lucius and Alexandria, sticking themselves to their hair.
Lucius stowed the luggage in the trunk.
"Speaking of attire, you are very well dressed for the cold." He came around to the driver side and unlocked the door. Alexandria looked over her outfit before slipping into the luxurious car.
She kept extremely warm in worn black leather lace up boots, thick dark denim jeans, a loose gray long sleeve with aviators hanging from the collar, covered by a thick long plum-colored cardigan, which ultimately was layered under a black hooded leather jacket. Her long dark hair splayed on her shoulders and hood.
"You look identical to you mother," he continued as he merged into airport traffic, "from when I first met her with your father."
They sat comfortably in the silence of the car. They had just reached the highway and were out of traffic. Alexandria said nothing but only gave a satisfying sound in recognition of his words.
"How is Gotham?" She asked. Alexandria rested her head fully against the seat. She stared at the decaying buildings and various types of people that roamed the city. Everything looked the same. Lucius sighed.
"It's getting there, better than before though. Slow, but it's something. I suppose you've heard of the Batman?" Lucius glanced over at his passenger with a raised brow. Her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Batman?" She scoffed. She turned in her seat to fully face him. Her eyes wide with amusement.
"The vigilante, of course." He chuckled. "I'm surprised you do not know of him." She ignored Lucius.
"There is a vigilante in Gotham called Batman." She paused and stared out the windshield. "And what has this Batman been doing?" She sank back into her seat with full curiosity and a bit of shock of this news.
"Helping, believe it or not. He's put away mob bosses, stopping majority of major crimes. He's doing what the police can't, which is a lot. The crime rates have dropped tremendously since. He's a blessing."
Alexandria gave Lucius an incredulous stare that he ignored.
"I would love to meet this Batman. Who is it?"
"That no one knows."
"Wow, props, though. You have to be crazy to do that." Alexandria muttered. Her head rested against the cold window. Lucius shook his head with a small smile.
For the remainder of the car red they made conversation regarding her flight, the weather, what she did in Europe, the people, etc… Small talk.
Conversation halted and silence rang through the vehicle as they stopped in front of the familiar towering, rusting gate with overbearing vines covering every visible inch. The "W", the beautiful golden letter that was melded onto the middle of the gate, showing the prestigious ownership of this very mansion was barely seen under the brush. The black gate was tied closed by a hefty lock. Lucius silently exited the car with the key in his interior coat pocket. Alexandria watched him. Her eyes roamed the entrance to her home.
The gate was on the very edge of the street with just enough space for a car to fit without blocking traffic. The mansion lay in the heart of Old Gotham, just near Gotham Square but also the water. Lucius pilled one side of the gate open. Sudden creaking and scratching ensued at the use of retired metal. Although the mansion was surrounded by the disturbances of Gotham, everything past the gate was serene.
Alexandria's breath stuck in her throat as Lucius resumed his driving position and they were slowing making way down the rundown driveway. The driveway itself was almost half of a mile long. Forest covered both sides of the road to shield the mansion from the city; however, it was thick, bigger, and daunting. They reached the clearing, just a short distance away was the Ward Manor.
The once bright and bountiful gardens and green grass that surrounded the manor grounds was now long dead and covered in frost from the winter. The fading gray roof was scattered with ice, the chimneys were no longer black but white with snow. The stone walls had a greenish tine, algae and all sorts of weeds grew in between the giant stones. The house had aged. The manor sat in the middle of rich 10 acres of once lush land. Previously abandoned, it needed upkeep and care. Towering walls that protected the manor and residents of the dangers of Gotham surrounded the mansion and were now near crumbling and faded.
Lucius turned off the car just in front of the marble steps. Alexandria stared up at her home, a once welcoming sight now haunting and intimidating.
"The key." She murmured. Lucius reached into his coat for the same key. The one key unlocked the gate and all doors into and inside the manor.
Alexandria exited the Bentley with the key clasped tightly in her right hand. She took unsure steps to the front door. She bit her lip. It was all the same. She didn't know what to expect. Nothing could prepare her. The white stone door hadn't changed a bit, the lock and door knocker had only rusted. Alexandria twisted the key into the lock and the door grudgingly opened.
Lucius carried Alexandria's luggage in the meantime to the door and then into the foyer of the house. He hadn't been inside in 14 years. Lucius last visited a year after the death of his friends before confirming that he would not return unless he had to.
Alexandria entered the foyer. Her boots echoed throughout the empty house. The black marble flooring of the entryway contrasted against the white marble wall and ceilings. The cathedral ceilings were decorated with ornate Gothic crown molding with gold etching. She stepped further into the house. They foyer opened into a great room.
The great room was the exact length of the house. The same black marble floor except now matched with white and gray, multiple white marble columns were detailed with intricate Gothic designs. The ceiling and arches around the entire manor had the same matching designs.
The great room was barren At all four corners of the room was a hallway. The two nearest to the front door were a pair of grand staircases that lead to the upstairs hall. The upstairs hall could be seen from the great room. Looking up from the bottom floor, where the columns would end, was where the hall was. It trailed the perimeter of the great room. The hall overlooked everything below like a balcony. The upstairs hall was home to four rooms – the parlor, library, playroom, and theater, and a staircase to Alexandria's room.
Alexandria's room was on the third floor of the mansion. Her room took up the entire floor. It was complete with a large bathroom, sitting area, two balconies that overlooked the backyard and front, an oversized walk-in closet, her own art room, and access to the manor tower. Her room in the manor was larger than the houses of some of the residents of Gotham. Her room continued on with the Gothic design as the rest of her home. Although it wasn't dark, natural light came from all sides of her room, floor to ceiling windows were on both sides of the balcony doors.
The left hallway in the rear of the great room lead to the master bedroom and office. The right hallway lead to the kitchen, garage, two guest rooms, and laundry room.
Another circular room was connected to the very end of the great room. Two thick columns separated it from the rest of great room.
Alexandria walked inside. She recognized a familiar shape. When she was little, she would play piano in the small room. Now, the grand piano was still there, covered by a dusty white cloth. She removed it with a yank. Dust filled the air like the snow outside. The grand piano was the same as the last day she was here. The wood still glowed. Light cam in through the long windows that circled the room. The ceiling was a dome, with a petite black chandelier hanging. Outside, was the garden. Now, a heap of overgrown flowers and shrubbery dead from the winter.
"Lucius, where is all the furniture?" Alexandria asked. Her voice echoed throughout the entire manor.
"Auctioned. In their will, your mother and father wanted everything to be auctioned off except for the piano, dining room furniture, library, and the rooms of the resident's. Everything is still there." He walked to the piano room. Alexandria turned to him and smiled. She pushed all negative thoughts out of her head.
"Would you like to take a tour with me?"
"Of course." She hooked arms with Lucius and together they left the piano room and into the hallway on the right side of the great room.
Close to 1 PM, Alexandria and Lucius sat across from each other in the library. After the tour around the mansion that brought both pleasant and dreadful memories, the two relaxed among the books. They had been in conversation about Alexandria's travels. Lucius took up a serious note.
"For a while Gotham thought you were dead, Lex."
"Did you?"
"Not at first, but then eventually… yes. It took me a year or two. What were you doing in those years? No tabloid in the world had anything on you, all were just rumors." Alexandria held Lucius' gaze. She knew if she looked away or did any other odd gesture he would be suspicious.
"I was studying and backpacking in Asia." She lied. It was a white lie. She was in Asia, in Nepal to be exact, and she was studying. She just wasn't studying architecture or anything.
"You did a lot of that, didn't you? Amsterdam, Greece, France, and all of the other places you were called on to travel to. Nice life." He bought it.
"Just came with the job." Alexandria shrugged.
"Your parents would be proud. You are an internationally-known architect as well as other things. I don't think your parents even reached that height of a reputation." Lucius was right.
Alexandria made her own reputation as a fantastic architect known for restoring the ancient and historical architecture of a society of civilization. That is what she specialized in. She double majored in Ancient Civilizations and Historical Architecture at renowned universities all throughout Europe. Alexandria made herself known without using her parent's name or company.
"Yes, but it's nice to settle back home. I think I'm going to restore some of Gotham's original architecture. I'm not sure I like the skyscrapers here. But Lucius, thank you. For everything, for taking care of my parent's company while also working with Wayne Industries."
"It is not a problem, it benefitted both companies. But now that you are back in Gotham, I believe you can do whatever you please regarding the architectural matter. You are the sole owner of Ward Corporations and manor. That reminds me, your CEO has been wanting to change the name of Ward Corp." Lucius smirked.
"To what?"
"Ward Industries." Alexandria's eyes grew.
"Like Wayne Industries? That is absolutely ridiculous. Of course not." Lucius laughed at her stricken appearance at the conflict.
"He's very eager in changing the name."
"Well, then I will fire him and find another damn CEO." She waved her hand in the air as if it was the easiest solution.
"It's great to have you back, Lex." Lucius added before he stood, ready to make his depart.
Alexandria replied with internal hesitation, "It's good to be back."
She continued as she escorted Lucius back to his vehicle, "Before you go, I have a favor to ask..." Alexandria leaned against the passenger side of the Bentley as Lucius was just about to get in.
"Already asking for favors."
"Could you give me some info on Lori Knight's whereabouts?"
"Your old best friend?" Alexandria nodded. "I believe she lives in the village. I'll check tonight and give you the exact location. Planning on making yourself known?"
"I've got to do it sometime." She smiled. "Goodnight, Lucius. I'll see you soon."
"Be good, Alexandria. And don't forget the paperwork!" He added before he officially left manor grounds.
Alexandria headed back inside her home. She wouldn't forget the paperwork. She entered the library again and slid into the comfortable chaise with the stack of papers in hand.
She read over all the legal documents. They mostly recited what Alexandria Ward was entitled to and what she was not entitled to. All this she had already known. She signed the forms and read over her wealth.
Alexandria had acquired 25 million from the years she spent in France, Greece, and Amsterdam. Now with her inheritance, 35 billion plus the 25 million, she would be neck and neck with Bruce Wayne. However, she might have the upper hand. So far, her wealth does not include any funding from Ward Corporations. Lucius had already informed her of the wealth she will receive from the company. He had estimated 30 million plus a week, the amount growing because of the business Alexandria conducted during those years. Alexandria was richer than the richest man in Gotham.
