“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”
Peter F. Drucker
9
Even though Alexander “proved” my hallucinations weren’t hallucinations, I couldn’t fully accept it. After all, none of it fit into the version of reality I’d always known. I confidently put it aside as just being stressed out and overworked. I resumed my normal calm and logical ways as I tried to find my new purpose as a Designated One with endless resources.
I’d been living in the mansion for some time. My house was sold and the things I kept were moved in. The workers were putting on finishing touches and summer was almost here. I smelled the fresh air from the open windows mingled with floor varnish and paint.
Alexander set up our offices downstairs, down the hall from each other. Every day, just once, Alexander would ask me if I had found Leyna. Every day I replied I had no clue how to find her. He’d then proceed to talk about the download and accepting my abilities in order to find her. He always sensed my frustration and dropped it until the next day.
I’d researched the holdings a “Designated One” had and found things that interested me. I decided to do an analysis of the least profitable, and then set up a schedule to visit and give them some of my help. I figured I might as well use what I knew to improve the value and profitability of the holdings. What else was I supposed to do? I was feeling good now, having purpose, and being totally absorbed in it all.
I was working late one night, going over the operating statements of a manufacturing company I held seventy-five percent of, when I heard floorboards creaking. Alexander’s big feet and heavy weight moved as quietly as someone his size could down the hall of an old mansion. In his robe and pajamas, he looked in on me.
“Lord, uh, Sevilen, please forgive the intrusion, but I have been having trouble sleeping lately. I think you need a vacation. You have been working diligently on the holdings for weeks, poring through reports and information. Did you know Aysel had a retreat as well? It’s a small place in a tiny town with no one around.
“You could relax there, maybe fish in the pond, see a play at the little theater, have some ice cream, and walk the neighborhood. Just for a few days. Maybe it would help you connect with your true purpose. You don’t need to create more wealth. That happens all by itself when you have over seventy-seven billion dollars. You do need to figure out what you truly are and find Leyna. Please, trust me on this.”
I looked into his dark pleading eyes. He ran a hand through his thick black hair then squeezed his face. He dropped his hand and looked at me, waiting patiently. I knew he meant it.
He was right, at least about the billions. It grows all by itself and no one could ever spend it faster than it grew. But what else could I do? Maybe I could find something to do at this place by the pond. Maybe fix the place up myself. That might be a fun project. I saw Alexander’s shoulders slump as I thought about it—almost as if he’d read my mind. Then he spoke again.
“I want you to promise me you won’t do any kind of work down there. Just relax and be with nature. Let your mind drift. Maybe read a book. Don’t start any more projects just to occupy yourself.” He waited patiently, leaning against the doorjamb. His dark eyes looked sad.
I could sense his despair. “Will it help you sleep if I do? You do look like you could use some.”
He smiled broadly. “It would help greatly, sir.”
“Okay then, I’ll go tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Sevilen. I will see the angels guard you.”
“Angels?”
“Yes, Lady Aysel named the property Angels Guard.” Alexander smiled, turned, and left.
Angels Guard. Aysel was so strange.
I worked until midnight and as I went upstairs to bed, I could hear Alexander’s deep voice speaking softly in his room. “Thank you, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Auriel. Thank you.” Then he was quiet.