Dark Secrets Unveiled (The Children of the Gods #45) - I.T. Lucas Page 0,8

Sari’s butler and ask him about Annani’s past. If their brains operated like computers, chances were that Sari was right and that the goddess had ordered them to forget whatever she didn’t want anyone to know. That was the best way to ensure her secrets were safe.

Still, on the slight chance that she’d neglected to do so, it was worth a try.

“Did I tell you about my idea for opening a pub in the village?” Syssi broke the silence.

“A pub?” Kalugal asked. “I like the sound of that. Is it going to be near the café?”

Lifting her coffee cup for Oshidu to refill, Syssi cast a sidelong glance at Kian. “Can I tell everyone about the eastern slope development?”

He shrugged. “It’s not a secret. I’m sure that Gavin has already spread the rumor.”

“I didn’t hear anything,” Amanda said.

“I did not hear any rumors either.” The goddess turned to her son. “Are you embarking on a new building project, Kian?”

“The idea came up only a day before we left, so it’s not like I was trying to keep it a secret from you all. I just wasn’t a hundred percent sure that I would go through with it.” He looked at Syssi. “Do you want to tell Mother how it all started?”

“Sure.” She put her coffee cup down. “I wanted a larger dining room so I can host family dinners.” She smiled at Kalugal. “Our family keeps growing, which is absolutely fantastic, but as you’ve pointed out, our house is too small. We decided to put in an addition and enlarge the dining room, but even with the addition it’s still not big enough. Kian suggested that we build a larger house, but since there is no space in the village, he thought about building it on the eastern slope. Except, it doesn’t make sense to build just one house there. Naturally, we will also need several houses for the Guardians assigned to us. And since we are already putting up a new neighborhood, we thought about adding several amenities, like a full-service restaurant and a pub.”

Kian leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Syssi met with Gavin the same day, so hopefully, by the time we return, he will have some initial sketches for us.” He looked at Sari. “My initial offer still stands. So, if you want to move your people into the village, this is your chance to design your new habitats the way you want them.”

“I thought that you were offering me the houses in phase two.”

“You can have your pick.”

Sari sighed. “I have to admit that it’s tempting, and I could use the change of pace, but we need the European base.”

“What you need is a Chinese center,” Kalugal said. “China is the next superpower, and those who establish a base there will have a big advantage over everyone else. The problem with that is that operating under the Chinese government’s nose would be extremely difficult.”

Raking his fingers through his hair, Kian cast a sidelong glance at Kalugal. “I know what you are thinking. In a decade or so, Jin could be the perfect leader for that center. But right now, she’s too young and inexperienced.”

Kalugal shrugged. “Someone who has the experience can join her. Given her unique talent, just imagine what she could do for the clan.”

6

Eleanor

It was after midnight when Eleanor picked up her new phone for the umpteenth time and stared at it as if it was her damnation and the answer to her prayers at the same time.

She’d had the phone since Thursday, but she’d been too chicken to make the call.

What if Greggory didn’t want to hear from her?

If he wanted to talk to her, he could’ve found a way. He wasn’t as restricted as she was. He could’ve called Onegus and asked for Vivian’s home or cell phone numbers. And if he didn’t have Onegus’s number, his boss could have gotten it for him.

Bottom line, Greggory had the means to contact her but hadn’t, so he was either uninterested in pursuing their so-called relationship, or he lacked initiative and was too much of a yes-man.

Granted, he wasn’t the brightest or most intriguing guy she’d ever met, but there was something about him that called to her.

For some inexplicable reason, he made her feel safe, and that was something that Eleanor hadn’t felt even as a little girl living with her parents.

Her entire life, she’d relied only on herself. Some of it was the knowledge that