Chapter 257: A Smart Plan
Luna did not return to the Lee mansion that evening. She did not want to see Mina. Although she did wonder what important thing the girl wanted to tell her at the event, Luna no longer cared.
When she arrived at the Lee family estate, Luna locked herself in her study. She did not want to see anyone. Tavin was an asshole, Lisa was a selfish, and Mina was a vixen who had traded her body for a picture. Luna no longer felt sorry for the girl. Luna no longer felt anything.
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When Mina awoke, she felt like her heart had been wrung dry. She threw her legs over the side of the mattress, stood up and took in a deep breath, her chest was filled with pain; like something hot and heavy had placed between her lungs and was sucking up all the air she was pulling in.
She made her way into the restroom, showered, and dressed herself. Mina did not eat her breakfast and she had no plans to eat her lunch, she just wanted to disappear.
Mina sat in her favorite seat and got lost in her thoughts again. She missed her family so much it hurt. If her sister had been around last night, Mina had no doubts that Luna would have been given a solid slap.
The thought made Mina smile. It was her sisters no nonsense personality that had negatively impacted Mina in the first place, but it was Mina's stubborn pride and naivety that caused her to suffer. They were toxic for one another, and in a lot of ways, it was good one of them was gone.
Pain seared through Mina's chest and she struggled to hold back her tears. Her jaw ached from her clenched muscles and she almost lost control of her emotions, but eventually she went numb. Just like always, the pain was gone, and Mina was able to smile again.
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Dom arrived at the Lee mansion with specific orders. He was vaguely aware of the events that had taken place inside the event Mina attended and he was becoming annoyed that he did not have enough dirt on Miss Lisa to confidently come forward, but his boss's call at least helped to ease his worry.
Dom knocked on Mina's door and was surprised when she cheerfully greeted him. It made him wonder how much of her happiness was real, and how much of it was an act.
"Pack a bag," Dom said, unceremoniously.
Mina did not even question him. She just pulled a luggage out from the closet, pushed a few things into it and waited at the door. She did not bother to ask where they were going, and Dom knew it was because she did not care.
"Done," Mina said and Dom gestured for her to follow him. The duo boarded Dom's vehicle and started to drive but Mina still did not question anything.
"Don't you want to know where we are going?" Dom asked and Mina shrugged.
"Will knowing change anything?" She asked and Dom shook his head.
Before long, the car hand pulled into the garage of a luxury apartment complex and Dom alighted from his vehicle, but Mina stayed put.
During the drive, she had recognized the area as a place for the rich and something told her she had been sold.
"Come," Dom said, as he opened the car door. Mina did not know what else to do so she nodded.
"Where are we?" She finally asked and Dom felt a small sense of relief. He had begun to think that Mina had snapped.
"We are at your apartment complex," he said, and Mina paled.
"I cannot afford this place," Mina said matter-of-factly. Dom pulled an envelope out from his side dash compartment.
"This came from AccuVision. It's the remuneration you negotiated." Mina took the envelope and read the letter. Genuine excitement flashed on her face. "CEO Zane paid the first three months' rent up front, so it gives you time to earn and save." Mina ignored Dom's statement completely.
"Can you take me to a global transfer?" Mina asked.
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Dom watched as Mina anonymously transferred eighty percent of her earnings into an unknown account. He knew he would have to tell President Lee.
With so much of the money she earned gone, there was no way Mina would be able to maintain the apartment he rented for her.
"Who did you send that much money to?" Dom asked.
"My parents. I don't need that much money to live, but they still have debts they need to pay down." Dom looked at Mina and could tell she felt good. "Can you take me to a cellphone shop?" Mina asked, and Dom agreed.
----
Mina walked out of the store with the cheapest off-brand device she could find. The shop attendant tried hard to upsell Mina, but she had gone in with a price in her mind, and she refused to budge.
From the moment Mina stepped through the doors, she asked for the man to only show her devices that were between $1 and $100, with internet capabilities and she seriously only considered the items presented to her.
Dom could not help but to be dumbstruck by Mina. She had unblinkingly sent her parents nearly $20,000 but would not spend $1000 on herself. He felt the need to address that behavior as an issue.
"Mina you know you don't owe your parents anything right?" Dom asked, but Mina shook her head.
"I do. I owe them more than they will ever know."
"Your dedication to your family is unhealthy," Dom replied, but Mina shut him up with her response.
"You must have a bad relationship with your parents," Mina said as she looked Dom in his eyes. Her gaze was filled with pity. "My parents are in a sink hole of debt because of my sister and me. It's only right that I pay them back." Dom shook his head.
"But at what cost?" He asked.
"Dom, do you know how I came to be at the Lee mansion?" Mina asked suddenly. Dom did not know how he should answer. He was one of the few who knew all the details. From the hotel, to the torture. He did not speak, but Mina read his sorry expression. "Then you know what my future is."
"Mina, I don't think President Lee is still planning on…" Dom was cut off.
"No, he doesn't plan to kill me, but he threw me into the belly of the beast." Dom's face contorted in confusion. "What do you think Miss Lisa has planned for me?" Mina asked. "Now that I am out of the Lee mansion, she can send anyone after me at any time. It's a smart plan," Mina quipped.
Dom stared at Mina, although he was not sure, her logic made sense.
President Lee had 'let her go' when Lisa's hatred of Mina was at its max. Any woman would feel threatened by someone who their significant other spent millions on, but Dom also knew that President Lee was on the border of being obsessed with Mina. Something she had been oblivious of.
"Don't worry, I won't flee," Mina added. If it were death that was awaiting her so be it. Anything was better than living in a hostile environment where one day the people were friendly, and the next they were not. "Anyway, I start a new job tomorrow and for right now Miss Lisa needs me. I have at least a month to prepare," Mina said.
"Do you not value your life at all?" Dom asked. Mina's responses were so final that each word she spoke stabbed him in the heart and Dom could no longer take it.