Chapter 108: Reminded of Home
After answering the questions Zane asked, Mina accidentally made eye contact with Lisa and the woman giggled when she saw how flushed Mina's face had become.
"Mina will this really be your first date?" she asked, not expecting Ian and Zane to answer at the same time. One man said yes while the other said no. "Ian, Zane seems to like this girl. If they want to consider this their first date, you should let them. Even if they are both family friends, you shouldn't get involved. I'm sure Luna wouldn't mind," Lisa said. She was unaware of the penetrating gaze the men were giving her as her eyes remained focused on Mina.
Mina remained quiet but inside of her mind she was screaming. She knew she would eventually meet Miss Lisa, but she didn't think she would be forced to go to dinner with her.
Not seeing a way out for Zane or Mina, Ian asked for details.
"Where are we going?"
"I think we should go to Faryta." Lisa said, and Ian raised his eyebrows at her.
"Why there?"
"It's one of the most romantic restaurants in the area and besides, you promised." Lisa used a coy voice as she spoke, and it made Zane shudder in disgust.
The restaurant Lisa chose was indeed well known for being romantic, even Mina knew about it.
After seeing the way Lisa just behaved in front of them Zane knew that Mina would suffer if he left her alone. Casting his detest aside, he agreed to go. Turning to Mina, Zane mumbled under his breath.
"You owe me big time." Mina rewarded him with a small smile, but then her eyes seemed to have lost their focus and Zane knew there was something seriously wrong. The reaction was more than just being nervous she looked conflicted.
----
In the parking garage, Miss Lisa followed President Lee to his car and Mina stopped to look around. She had not lifted her head once since they left the office and right now, she didn't know if she should ride with Zane or with President Lee.
Ian's heart went out to Mina, he knew that she was struggling to keep herself composed for Lisa's sake. When she did not follow him to his car Ian questioned her.
"Where are you going?" he asked, and as if she had been waiting for a chance to grind Mina further into the ground, Lisa answered first.
"Shouldn't she ride with her date?" Both men looked at each other before Zane playfully linked arms with Mina and walked her to his car. Mina did not speak the entire time.
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Once at the restaurant, Lisa did not hold back. Mina, you never told me your last name.
"It's Harlow."
"Harlow? I haven't heard the name Harlow before. What does your family do?" Before Mina could answer, Zane cut in and changed the subject.
As Zane spoke, Lisa affectionately rubbed President Lee's shoulders all the while staring at Mina who was starting to look pale. It was obvious that Mina and Zane were both uncomfortable, and they tried their best to ignore Lisa's antics. Feeling sick, Mina excused herself from the table.
While Mina was gone, Lisa took the opportunity to order the day's special for all four of them. The men, who did not bother to check the special, did not think anything much. It was common for people to order daily specials as appetizers.
When Mina returned, she looked as if she had been crying but she had a smile on her face that said otherwise. Lisa was feeling victorious, but she wanted to grind the little girl down a bit more.
"Mina, Zane was just telling me that you graduated at the top of your class at Wayvair University." Mina nodded. "That's such a prestigious university. You must be very smart." Lisa said in a patronizing tone.
Lisa had already checked the school's website and there was no mention of a Mina Harlow. She had even checked the schools archive of commencement speeches and for the year Mina graduated a girl named Maggie Arden spoke. She wanted to embarrass Mina for fabricating her resume, but she could not do so too openly, the girl was still Luna's friend. Lisa excused herself from the table and secretly gave the main host instructions. When she returned to the table, she had a gleeful smile on her face as she wrapped her arms around one of Ian's. In the past, she would never have dared to take such liberties with him, but since their relationship had become intimate, she felt it was her right.
----
It seemed like an eternity had passed before a man dressed in black clothing approached the table and interrupted the PDA. Ian's eyes bore down on Mina, he badly wanted her to look up. If she made eye contact with him even once, he would have made a show of prying Lisa off him, but that was wishful thinking. Mina was uninterested in him, and he could even sense she held some guilt toward Lisa.
The man in black reached out to the table, and a beautiful bowl filled with bright red soup was placed in front of each person. Lisa, who was sure Mina had lied about her identity was laughing evilly inside. She wanted to see how Mina would navigate the incoming crisis.
Mina recognized the dish in front of her right away. It was a symbol of status in Pan Country and it was very much an acquired taste. If one did not grow up eating it, they would not be able to adjust to it in adulthood. The soup was made from the blood of a pig and was served with blood sausages that were filled with rice. Mina was not hungry, but the dish reminded her of her mother and she absentmindedly picked up her spoon to eat.
"Mina, do you know what this is?" Ian asked and Mina subconsciously smiled.
"This is my mother's favorite meal." Ian's heart fluttered. It was the first time Mina had genuinely smiled at him. Not realizing what she had just done, Mina thanked everyone at the table for reminding her of home.