Chapter 300: Lead Actress

Mina watched in fear as President Lee slowly scanned the people who had crowded around them. He looked to have been searching for a specific person, but Mina was unsure, as she had been lied to regarding why she was needed.

"Director Porter, did you value Mina as an employee?" President Lee asked and he was given a yes in response. "So then why did you allow your people to injure her?"

"Mary was out of control that day. I didn't even know she was on set." President Lee nodded.

"Right, because walking onto your set is hard," the man replied sarcastically.

"It's a small production sir, we don't need much security, which is why we chose this location." President Lee continued nodding.

"Where is your lead actress?" President Lee did not need to wait for someone to point the woman out, because all the heads that turned in her direction gave her away. He beckoned for her to approach with a bent finger.

As Karen walked forward, CEO Rue stepped in front of her.

"What is your issue with my artist?" he asked.

"Nothing," Ian said. "I just want to talk to her." Absolutely no one believed that, but Cylus knew there were too many witnesses. Worst case scenario, Karen would lose her career. With the woman now in front of him, President Lee spoke to her directly. "Has Mina ever done anything to offend you?" he asked.

"No sir, she was nothing but friendly when she was here," Karen replied.

"Then why would you set her up?" Ian asked and Karen blanched.

"Sir," she asked. Ian opened and outstretched his hand and Zane put a small file folder in it.

"You are very good friends with Miss Mary Gore, aren't you?" Karen shook her head vigorously.

"No sir, I am familiar with the woman, but we are not friends."

"President Lee what is this about?" Cylus asked. "Karen is just a newbie artist, she has no connection to Mary Gore, and what does Mary have to do with Mina?"

President Lee spared a few minutes to inform Cylus of the slap Mina received. He then allowed the man to look at the folder he was holding for himself. Inside held the call and text logs of Karen's phone as well as screenshots of the messages Mary received from Karen's number. Cylus looked at his artist with doubt in his eyes.

"Explain this?" he demanded as he pushed the documents into her hands. Karen ran her eyes over the sheets of paper, and they filled.

"I didn't send these," she replied tearfully. "I mean it. My phone has been confiscated by my manager. She found out I was dating. I haven't had my phone in weeks." Mina believed Karen, who had offered up embarrassing information in her attempt to protect herself. It was the same thing Mina had done the night she met President Lee, but her honesty did not work.

"Cylus please stop, I believe her," Mina said. Ian who was standing not too far away narrowed his eyes at the informal speech, he had not come to make Cylus Rue look good. He came to give Mina a safe work environment to which she could return. Ian was not comfortable with her working for Leading or Rouge, even if it were short term work.

"Where is your manager?" President Lee asked, and Karen wasted no time in pointing the woman out. The man repeated the motion he had used to summon the manager and the woman approached so cautiously, that no one needed a confession. "Did you send those messages to Mary?"

"President Lee, you have to understand… in this field-"

"I asked you a question."

"Everything I sent was true," the manager said adamantly. Curious Mina snatched the file folder out of Cylus' hands and read a few lines before President Lee snatched the folder back, but it was too late; she had seen it.

Seeing the disgusted expression on Mina's face Jay could take no more, she strode up to President Lee and demanded to see the file for herself.

"Jay be carefu-" Mina did not get to finish her sentence because President Lee complied with the woman's request. Jay gasped audibly before she slapped Karen's manager across the face so hard that it echoed.

"How disgusting could you be?" Jay asked. It was no wonder Mary slapped Mina, she was being fed graphic scenarios that involved Mina, director Porter, director Peter, herself, and Olivia.

"Did you tell Mary where to find Mina?" Director Porter asked. Knowing she was caught, Karen's Manager nodded.

"It's the nature of the game. I did not know Mary would come to be violent. I just thought Mina would get fired. She was obviously trying to get in good with Peter."

"That's a lie," Mina shouted. She was so embarrassed by everything that was happening she just wanted to run away.

"You're fired," Cylus said calmly. He had never seen or heard Mina shout and he knew the girl was genuinely hurt.

"Fired? Then what about Karen?" The woman asked.

"Mina can take your place," Cylus said mockingly. He did not bother to speak to the manager again. Instead, he grabbed both Mina and Olivia and started to pull them out of the building. As much as Ian wanted to stop them from leaving, he did not. He had a few loose ends to tie up and firing the manager was not sufficient for him.

The words that were sent to Mary had left the digital screen and had been making their way around small groups of people. It would just be a matter of time before Mina found herself accosted by perverts looking to exploit her.

----

Luna slammed her phone on her desk, on its display was an image of Tavin and Mina in a cafe. She had wanted to believe that she made a mistake, but Lisa had accidentally stumbled across the pair while they were out on a date and she sent Luna the message as proof.

[Sorry. I know what it feels like.] Lisa wrote and Luna could not think of an uplifting reply. Ian was cheating on Lisa, and it had nothing to do with being drugged.

----

Mina made her way into her apartment with Olivia and Cylus. She did not speak much and instead of asking if the pair wanted to stay for dinner, she got to work in the kitchen. Olivia kept throwing questioning glances at Mina, but because her cousin was around, she did not ask anything. However, she now knew that Mina was not as simple as she made herself out to be.

While dinner was still in preparation, Jay arrived with director Porter in tow. The man wanted Mina to come back and work the remainder of her contracted period with him. He was honest and told Mina that losing his co-director and main assistant was a solid blow. In his mind, he still believed that Mina had potential, although he now had to tread carefully with her.

As badly as Mina wanted to say no, she had been thinking about the protection the position offered her from Miss Lisa, so she accepted. She also made the man aware of her two other commitments.

"Three," Cylus reminded Mina. "You are also Karen's manager now."

"Please Cylus, can't you give the position to my manager? I won't know where to start," Mina said.

"Fine, but in exchange five of the shoots for this month have to be full face." Mina could live with that arrangement. Her face was already everywhere anyway.