Dark Stranger Immortal (The Children of the Gods #3)(48)

Funny, how she’d done it in a roundabout way, as if not sure of her welcome.

“I wondered when you’d begin to venture away from your sanctuary and travel a little farther than the nearest populated town. I, for one, am always happy to see you, as are the rest of our people. You literally brighten our world…”

“You know I love it there. Why would I want to leave my own paradise?

And anyway, I cannot bear to be away from my little ones for long. They are the joy of my life, and I will miss them too much. It has been so long without any children at my place, and now I have two new sweet babies and a toddler boy. You should come visit me and spend some time surrounded by their adorable sounds and smells. It would do you a world of good.”

“I wish I could, but my workload is becoming impossible. I have so much to do, I feel guilty every time I steal a few hours to be with Syssi. It’s ridiculous.” Kian pushed out from the chair and started pacing again, his fingers raking his messed up hair.

“My darling, sweet boy, that is because you are still doing things the way you were doing them two hundred years ago. It was okay to do everything by yourself when things were simpler, and we were not as diversified. But thanks mainly to you, we’ve become huge. You have to hire professional help, have a team of directors to manage each arm of our holdings separately and report to you. It would free a large chunk of your time to do as you please. You may even decide to study business management at a university.”

She looked at him hopefully.

It was a conversation they had before; his mother suggesting he should get some form of formal education and him maintaining that he didn’t need it and didn’t have time for it.

Kian had never gotten to study in any learning institution, higher or lower. What he knew, he had learned from Annani and on his own, and in his opinion, it was enough. If he wanted to learn something new, there were books available on nearly every topic, and the few times he’d needed further explanations, he’d found a leading authority in the field to teach him.

Less time-consuming and way more efficient.

The main advantage of going to any kind of school was socializing, which was fine for the young with no responsibilities on their shoulders. But that didn’t mean that graduating from some college or university made them experts or necessarily qualified them for the job.

Only experience did that.

“I don’t know if I can trust others enough to relinquish control to them.

And anyway, I don’t know where to find qualified people. That undertaking alone will take time I don’t have.” He paused his pacing to look at her stubborn expression and knew she wouldn’t let it go.

“We have several young clan members who have graduated with honors from top universities. Two with Masters in business management, one with a degree in industrial management, and one with a law diploma specializing in business. And those are just the top ones. There are others who may be not as studious but are just as qualified. I can send them your way for interviews.”

“How do you know all that?”

“I keep tabs on my progeny. They all spent their early childhoods in my sanctuary, and I care about them and what they do with themselves after they leave.” She smiled. “Being called the mother of the clan means more to me than just an honorific or a figure of speech,” Annani added with pride.

“In that case, sure… Maybe the time has come to let the younger generation show what they can do…” Kian plopped down on the chair, letting his head drop on his fists.

Annani went on, “Another advantage of hiring the young professionals will be quelling the simmering disquiet in the ranks. Many are frustrated, thinking that our top management positions would always be unattainable to them. You need to demonstrate that you are willing to share the spotlight with others and let more of the clan members climb up and have important jobs.”

Annani seemed to have the thirty-thousand-foot view he lacked, and evidently, was much better informed. He should have known what was going on under his nose; should have been more connected to his people. But be that as it may, right now he was too depleted to get energized by the prospect of doing things differently, or to plan a shift in his management style.

“I gave you a lot to think about, so you would not be bored when I leave.

Let me know if anything changes. I will be up at Amanda’s penthouse.”

Annani slid down from the hospital bed. “No, do not get up; it is easier for me to kiss you when you are sitting.” She took his face in her small, delicate hands and kissed him on both cheeks.

Kian covered her hands with his. “I want to keep your presence here a secret from everyone but the Guardians and council members. So make sure to use only the dedicated penthouse elevator, and if you need anything, send Onidu for it. I don’t want someone noticing your servants and figuring out you’re here. Keep them at Amanda’s place. Please.” Too used to issuing orders, he checked himself at the end. This kind of tone wouldn’t do with his mother. Even under extenuating circumstances.

Annani nodded at him imperiously and headed for the door.

Once she’d left and he was alone again with Syssi, Kian moved the chair closer to the bed, and holding her hand, rested his cheek on her soft palm.

Comforted by the touch he closed his eyes, and in no time, the monotone sounds of the monitoring equipment lulled him to sleep.