Chapter 290: Counter-1

Mina was taken aback by the question she was asked. She did not see the problem with returning to work, but evidently there was an issue.

"Mina, your employer assaulted you. It's not a safe work environment." Mina wanted to tell Jessica that she did not see the state Peter was in when she left, but she did not think Olivia would have liked to hear that.

"I have already given my notice of leave," Mina said. "I will work the remaining few weeks, but if Peter crosses the line again, which I doubt he will, I will not return." Satisfied both women nodded.

"Let's order food," Olivia stated, trying to break the silence that had befallen them, but Mina declined.

"I prefer to cook. I have been having trouble enjoying fast foods," Mina admitted. Since she had been cooking her own meals, Mina found the taste of anything not prepared by her own hand lacking.

"You can cook?" Olivia asked, almost dumbstruck. She had never met an upper crust girl who knew homemaking skills.

"My mother taught me," Mina said with pride.

"Was she a chef?" Olivia asked.

"She was trained as a domestic," Mina said confidently. She did not even flinch as she spoke.

"Then what did your father do?" Olivia asked curiously.

"He worked as a general manager at a factory." Olivia's face scrunched and Mina knew she was trying to work out the details.

"My family is working class," Mina offered and Olivia finally understood.

"No wonder," she said. "Most of the women I've met in Pan have a rod shoved so far up their-" a strong knock at the door literally made Olivia screech mid-sentence.

Olivia went silent as she looked at Mina, clearly uncomfortable and Mina knew it was because she had spent much of her time around the same people. To Olivia, Mina was a rare new addition. The girl shrank even further when she saw Jessica pull a small pistol before heading towards the door.

"Mina open up, it's me!" Jay shouted. Her voice sounded muffled as if she had pushed her lips against the crack in the door. Jessica had already checked the peek hole and Mina nodded in approval.

When the door opened Jay flew into the apartment and sat so close to Mina that she was nearly sitting in Olivia's lap.

"What happened? Why did CEO Rue beat the crap out of director Twan?" Olivia stiffened and Mina addressed her directly.

"Olivia, it's not your fault. When you left, Mr. Peter said some very nasty things to me. Your cousin helped me get away." Although Mina was addressing Olivia, Jay obviously heard.

"He did what?" Jay shouted. 'He failed to mention that part,' she thought.

----

Mina sat amid three of the most forward women she knew. She could not help but to think that her sister would have fit perfectly in the group. She listened as Jay gave Olivia advice on how to combat rumors about her character. Something both she and Jessica cared nothing about.

"But my cousin says that if I confront the rumors, I'll be giving them validity," Olivia said.

"And your cousin is an idiot for that. Men and women have different standards completely. What works for men, won't work for women." Mina watched Olivia listen to Jay like a star pupil and she realized that although the girl was open and upfront, she was naive in nature.

"I have to agree with Jay on that one," Jessica said. "But for me, I wouldn't use counter rumors. I would just break their nose." Olivia looked to Mina hoping for the woman to be a tie breaker, but Mina shrugged.

"How do I spread counter rumors?" Olivia finally asked, she had apparently decided that Jessica's method was not feasible.

----

When CEO Zane got a call from an unregistered number, he did not expect it to be Mina calling from the phone of a Lee guard. At the conclusion of their conversation, Zane found himself driving to Mina's apartment and had gotten there in time to join the women for a meal. Jessica was the most uncomfortable with the arrangement, but Zane put her at ease.

"Okay now what is it about counter rumors?" Zane asked Jay. Mina got the impression that the two would get along, but Jay seemed put off by Zane.

Jay began to meekly recap her plan, and Zane looked as though he was struggling to hear her. He kept asking her to repeat herself, but the woman continued at the same tone.

"Are you okay?" Mina asked.

"It's just that, when you said Mr. Zane, I didn't think you meant him," Jay whispered in Mina's direction.

"I don't bite," Zane offered. "Speak freely." Jay took in air and blurted out her idea. She was surprised when CEO Zane did not even bat an eye.

"It could work, but the rumor would have to be so ugly that men would deny touching her," Zane said. He was speaking around Olivia, who had become embarrassed by the conversation, but she understood what the man's words meant.

"Exactly how ugly?" Mina asked, but she did not receive a reply.

"Not only that, but the source would also have to be reliable. I can get one of my friends to help, but the plan may backfire," Zane said. He addressed Olivia directly that time around.

----

When Cylus stepped into Mina's apartment, the last person he expected to see chatting with his little cousin was CEO Zane. His eyes bore down on Mina accusingly and they only softened when her face turned red, and she looked down in shame.

"Please let me explain," Mina said. Her eyes were still downcast.

"CEO Rue," Zane said with a smile. "You finally made it." Mina did not know the reason, but she could tell the men were not friendly.

"What did you call me here for?" Cylus asked. The plan was barely explained to him by Zane before he snapped.

"No! Absolutely not," Cylus shouted.

"Please? It might work," Olivia added.

"No, do you know what that could possibly do to you? And for what? For a man who asked you if you wanted to F*ck in the middle of a casual conversation." Olivia flinched.

"That's a new detail," Zane said aloud. "Olivia dear, I'm going to have to side with your cousin on this one. Especially if that is the reason." Olivia shook her head.

"Do you still like him?" Mina asked. She hoped the answer was no.

"Mina, it's hard to just stop having a crush on someone," Olivia replied.

"No, it's not. Finding a person physically attractive is completely different from liking them," Mina answered.

"But it's hard to distinguish the two when you don't have a reference," Zane added. He was trying to weigh Mina's response for the sake of his friend.

"No, it isn't. He hurt her and that is enough."

"With his words," Cylus added. "You've forgiven me for my misdeeds."

"That is different," Mina said. "You didn't say those things to me. Look, I may not know much but I know that once a man finds it easy to disrespect you, they will continue to do it, and CEO Rue, for the record, you are walking on very thin ice. If I did not have limited time, I would have quit the moment my boss asked me to accompany you." Everyone stared at Mina who had gone on a tangent. She had put so much emotion into her words that it was palpable.