Chapter 122: Meeting Miss Maggie

The car stopped in front of what Mina could only describe as a luxury bar and she could not help but to gape a little. The women alighted from the vehicle and the driver was instructed to return at midnight. Setting a curfew for herself was one of the ways Luna made sure she did not drink too much and returned home in one piece. Turning to Mina, Luna smiled.

"Remember, if anyone asks, we met at a business seminar." Mina nodded. For some reason she was extremely nervous. Her dress now seemed a little too short and she felt like her chest was fully exposed.

"Is it too late for me to change my mind?" Mina asked, and Luna bunched up her face playfully.

"You'll be fine," Luna said, as she linked arms with Mina. She knew that the girl had never been to a bar and she was probably regretting her decision to attend. It was the same for Luna the first time she went to a bar without Lisa.

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Inside of the bar, Luna was loudly greeted by several people.

"Bookman Lee!" They jested. Luna chatted a bit before she pulled Mina forward and introduced her to the crowd.

"This is Mina Harlow, she's a good friend of mine so be nice to her," Luna warned teasingly. Everyone welcomed Mina warmly.

"My name is Marcus," said one of the men. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Mina smiled and the man held his own cheeks and made a show of sighing. "I told you guys that Luna hides all her pretty friends from us," he said, and a woman standing next to him punched his shoulder. She stepped forward and introduced herself as Marcus's cousin, Stephanie.

"Ignore him, he is a natural born flirt," Stephanie said, and she pulled Mina away from the men who had gathered around her. "Are you a model?" she asked, and the question made Mina laugh.

"I'm unemployed," Mina answered honestly. The woman frowned.

"Are you married?" She asked, thinking that Mina's husband did not allow her to work. The practice was common in Pan.

"NO!" Mina shouted a little too loudly, and those who were still around laughed at her enthusiastic denial.

Mina got to know several people in a short time. Unlike what she expected, they were all very friendly. Luna stayed close by just in case Mina needed a quick escape, but after a while, she saw the girl mingling on her own. Surprisingly both the men and woman took a liking to Mina's candid personality and soon she was laughing and joking with the crowd as if they were her own classmates and friends. Luna relaxed and allowed herself to freely move around the place. There were many people she had yet to greet.

"Mina stick with Stephanie. I'll be right over there if you need me," Luna said as she pointed to a table in the back of the bar. Mina nodded.

Luna approached the people in the back hoping to greet some of her seniors and she instantly regretted her decision.

"Luna! You came," said a familiar voice.

"Dr. Bell," Luna replied dryly. She was about to turn and walk away but another senior caught her arm and sat her directly beside the man she was trying to avoid.

"Don't leave so fast, we haven't seen each other in years," said her senior. "It's hard for us to have a night like this. Sit, let's talk," he said. Luna rolled her eyes. The man was Dr. Bell's best friend; of course, he would not let her leave.

"I'm actually here with a friend." Luna said, "I just came to say hello to my seniors." Luna tried to stand up, but Dr. Bell pulled her back.

"Your friend looks fine," he said without knowing who Luna was referring to. "Stay here for a while." Luna reluctantly let herself be pulled back into the seat beside Tavin.

"Have you been drinking?" Luna asked.

"A little," he admitted.

"Tavin, you know you cannot drink," Luna responded worriedly.

"So, you do remember my name?" Tavin quipped.

----

Stephanie pulled Mina along the bar introducing her to this person and that person. Every other man she met tried to invite her for a drink, but she politely refused each time. Tired Mina asked Stephanie to bring her to a place she could sit.

"I'll take you to where my cousin is sitting," Stephanie said. "Don't worry, he won't bother you." Mina followed the woman to the inner portion of the bar, but before she could walk any further, she heard her name being called.

"MINA?!" Someone shouted out excitedly. Spinning around Mina was confronted with the sight of one of her own classmates. Her face must have looked confused because before she knew it the man was inches away.

"Don't you recognize me? It's me Paul! Wow! Mina you look… Great." Mina took a step back. She remembered Paul well, in fact she would never forget him. He had, on several occasions, tried to help her when Miss Maggie tried to bury her, but eventually he could no longer persist. "Where have you been for the last year?" He asked. "I expected you to be some famous millionaire by now." Mina smiled. She did not want to drudge up the past, so she ignored his question. By this time, Stephanie had already walked away. She could tell that Mina knew the man she was speaking with and since she did not know the nature of their relationship, she wanted to give them space. "Mina come with me. There are other people from our class here," Paul said.

Mina tried to protest, but Paul pulled her along like a child. He was obviously drunk and probably unaware of the amount of strength he was using.

"Look who I found," Paul said, and several people turned to look at who Paul was pointing to. Mina was mortified as she locked eyes with Miss Maggie.

"Mina? Long time no see. How did you get in here?" Maggie asked. Her question was obviously loaded. The average individual could not just enter the place on a weekend. The cover charge was astronomical, and the drinks were high end and high priced.

"I'm here with a friend," Mina admitted. She waved goodbye to Paul and attempted to walk away, but Maggie jumped out of her seat and blocked Mina's path.

"What is your rush? Stay and drink with us," Maggie said.

"Sorry, I don't drink." Mina tried to walk around the woman, but she snatched her arm back.

"You've changed," Maggie said coldly.

"So, have you," Mina quipped, and Maggie barely managed to hide her snarl.