Chapter 92: Fled

Mina was confused by the fact that there was no one waiting for her, but she was unwilling to let the opportunity slide. Keeping a calm face, she slowly walked toward the elevators. Her heart raced as she called the lift. She did not wait for the elevator doors to fully open before she darted inside. Pressing the button for the main floor, Mina felt as if her chest were about to explode from anxiety. She tried to force herself to calm down but with each floor she descended, her level of anxiousness grew.

When the elevator doors opened, Mina flew out from the elevator and crashed into someone, hard. Not wanting to waste time, she tried to shake the person off with a quick apology, but the person had a vice-like grip on her wrist and did not let her go. Mina looked back ready to scold the person, and it was only then that she realized who it was.

"I… I have to use the ladies' room," Mina said while trying to look innocent, but the man did not seem to care. President Lee pulled her by her forearm toward the rear exit of the hospital, he had only just parked his car when he got the call that Mina fled and it was only by chance that he was able to catch her. He told himself that he would not let her out of his sight again.

President Lee shoved Mina into the backseat of the car like she was a spoiled brat and as if to add insult to injury, he engaged the child safety locks on both sides of the car.

"Hey! I said I need to use the restroom!" Mina shouted, but the man pretended not to hear her as he entered the driver's seat of the vehicle. "Can you drive?" Mina asked, seriously wanting to know. She had not thought that rich people bothered with trivial matters like learning to drive. President Lee looked at her through the rear-view mirror.

"Put on your seatbelt," he said, and Mina refused.

President Lee was truly evil. He had somehow located a road in the middle of a bustling city with so many turns and curves on it that made Mina bounced in the backseat like a rag doll. Feeling sick, she struggled to put on her safety belt and now, she really had to use the restroom. As soon as the belt clicked, it was like magic, the car stabilized.

"What was that about?" Mina asked.

"You put me in a bad mood," President Lee said. "Mina, I don't know what you are trying to accomplish by irritating me, but I can assure you that it will not work."

"We'll see," Mina quipped. "Either you'll kill me or lock me back up in that bookshelf room. Anything is better than the mental torment you and your sister seem to have planned for me." President Lee looked at Mina and realized that she was referring to his sister constantly bringing up Lisa. He wanted to explain then, but he felt it was unnecessary. The damage was already done.

The car pulled into a parking garage. While looking back at Mina, President Lee spoke calmly.

"Mina, this is an important part of my plan. Behave."

"Whatever," The girl replied.

"I am serious," he said. "If I can draw out the person who planned all of this, I might be able to let you go." Mina was skeptical, but she thought of her parents being implicated and relented.

"Fine." She folded her arms across her chest and President Lee shook his head. Mina was a beautiful girl, and the way she was dressed today brought out that beauty even more. Even her angry face was cute. He really wished they had met differently but since things turned out this way, he would do his best to respect her complicated emotions. He did not need the results of the psych eval to tell him that Mina was broken. She had gone from timid and fearful to combative and hostile in less than a day. Mood swings like that could not be normal.

President Lee did not need to park his Bentley, a valet had been waiting at the driver's side of the car from the moment he entered the garage. As soon as President Lee killed the engine, the valet opened the door and stepped to the side, allowing the man to exit the vehicle. Mina opened her own door and the valet who had yet to enter the car was caught in a daze. When his eyes met the amber jewels on Mina's face he was momentarily stunned. Feeling sorry for the valet; Mina smiled at him. The parking garage was cold and smelled like exhaust and it reminded her of the many jobs she had to take to cover her tuition. The man's face flushed, and he looked away. He did not know who the woman was to President Lee, but she was beautiful.

Clearing his throat, President Lee tapped his watch seemingly impatient. He had wasted time driving in circles earlier and now, he had less time to prep for his next meeting. Mina did not move.

"Tip him," she said, and President Lee thought he heard wrong. "Tip him or I won't move," She threatened. President Lee begrudgingly took out his wallet and dropped two, hundred notes into the tip box. Mina smiled in satisfaction, it seemed that President Lee really needed her today. She wondered how much she could squeeze out of him before he snapped. She did not know that the man was holding back from lifting her up and carrying her, simply because she was wearing a dress.

President Lee used a keycard to summon a VIP elevator. When the doors opened Mina was in awe, the space was nearly as big as her apartment. She stepped in and admired the wood and stainless-steel interior. President Lee hit a button and the doors closed, they were headed to one of the top floors.

Out of pure spite, Mina had the urge to press every button, but President Lee seemed to sense this intention and warned her with a simple, 'Don't.' In the end, Mina was only able to make three buttons glow before he held both of her wrists and refused to let go. The two bickered in the elevator and Mina threatened to cause a scene. President Lee released her hands and quickly explained the nature of them coming to his office today. Apparently, he thought someone from the Lee group was responsible for Mina's situation and for now, he wanted them to be united against a common enemy. Only then did Mina agree.