Chapter 331: What Do You Want?

When everyone finished their meal. Miss Meagan planned to excuse herself from the dining room. She wanted to allow the younger people time to talk. She had noticed that while they were eating, her son and Ian were exchanging curious glances with one another, and as tactful as always, she knew they had questions they wanted to ask without her around. Unfortunately, her move came a little too late.

"Okay, I can't take it anymore. What do you want?" President Lee asked, and Mina feigned hurt.

"What do you mean? I haven't asked you for anything," she replied. Mina had her hand on her chest and tears were beginning to well in her eyes.

"So, you just cooked my favorite meal for no reason?" President Lee followed up.

"Your favorite meal? President Lee, I do not know what you mean," Mina lied. "Miss Meagan suggested I try to prepare tenderloin days ago, and today was as good a day as any. I didn't even know you were coming. Miss Meagan, can you please tell him?" Mina asked.

"That is true," Meagan said. "I am the one who suggested the menu. I hope I did not cause any trouble." Meagan was unaware of what the relationship between Ian and Mina was, and she hoped she had not caused the man to misread the girl's intentions. However, she had no idea that Mina had first planted the idea in her mind before she suggested it.

Zane was extremely put off by what he had just heard. His mother was defending Mina, but he knew that she would never have suggested for Mina to cook. It was far more likely that Mina asked for an opinion and his mother gave it to her.

"You're saying that there is nothing you want?" Zane asked, and Mina's face grew serious.

"There is a lot I want Mr. Zane, but I'm not dumb enough to think I can have it. I did not know you would bring President Lee with you and I certainly did not know his favorite meal," Mina lied. She looked at the people at the table with an expression so glum it drew out their pity. "I think I should excuse myself," Mina said slowly. She stood up, and as she expected she was stopped.

"I didn't mean to accuse you," President Lee said. "It's just that you are never this accommodating."

"I just had a very scary experience, and I want to enjoy a little peace," Mina said. That was not a complete lie, but it was not the truth. She was afraid, but she had always been afraid.

----

Zane and Ian had arrived in the same car, as they were now temporary roommates, and they left in the same car. Zane had been thinking of a way to bring up Mina's behavior, but he had a feeling that Ian believed the girl's lies. He did not know Mina well, but he knew Mina enough to identify her many tells and acting pathetic was one of the many ways she got what she wanted.

"You don't believe any of what she said, do you?" Zane finally asked, and he was relieved when Ian just shot him a quick glance.

"I'm not an idiot. Mina wants something and the all-black tracksuit she asked you for is not it."

"What do we do?" Zane replied. "She is good at manipulating my mother, and I'm scared she might accidentally hurt her."

"I noticed that, but you and I both know that Mina would never hurt someone for personal gain. She may not have a genuine interest in a nonprofit, but she might actually believe it could help your mother and others."

"I know what you are saying should make me feel better, but what if she convinces my mother to help her run away?" Zane asked.

"I thought of that too. After we visit with Dom, I will put her back in her own apartment. Also, it was a mistake to give Mina a phone." Ian responded.

"Why?" Ian did not answer. He just tossed his device onto Zane's lap. His and Mina's phones had been linked and he was able to read any text she sent or received; however, he could only listen in on her outgoing calls, not her incoming calls.

Zane picked up the device and read Mina's conversation with CEO Rue, the man and woman were at first discussing Olivia and how she had been depressed. Cylus had been telling Mina that his cousin was scared to go out and kept asking for her. He then very skillfully invited Mina to go on a camping trip with them. Apparently, Olivia was only willing to go celebrate Connor Boyd's birthday if Mina went along as well.

"Do you think she wants to go?" Zane asked. He knew Mina was a private and conservative person, but her actions did suggest she wanted something, and maybe she wanted to go away with friends for the weekend. It was not far fetched, and Zane could see why Mina would feel the need to flatter his friend before asking.

"I hope that's what she wants. Willow West will be here by then, and I would like to see how Oric Lamar will continue to pursue Mina with his ex-girlfriend around."

"What about CEO Rue?"

"There is a woman named Vanya. She dislikes Mina enough to spread rumors about her, and I'm betting she will be invited to the party too." Ian wasn't betting anything. He knew Vanya would be there because he would make sure of it.

"Wouldn't that be dangerous?" Zane asked. In his opinion Mina had been through enough.

"Not if Mina feels so uncomfortable with the arrangement that she chooses not to go or to leave early. If that fails, I also have Dom as leverage." Zane did not know how to feel about what his friend was doing, but Mina had crossed the line in using his mother, and just this once he was going to overlook his friend's overbearance.

----

Mina did not sleep with Miss Meagan the night before, and although she woke from sleep several times, she felt a little better knowing that Dom was recovering in a hospital and not being punished for her mistakes. She took a long hot showered trying to relax her tense muscles before President Lee came to get her.

When Mina exited the restroom, she put on her undergarments and began to play with the makeup Miss Meagan had given her. She wanted to try and cover her face, but the more makeup she put on, the worse it looked. Eventually, she settled for a pair of borrowed sunglasses.

When she had first come to Zane's home, she felt as though the people who came to clean every few days were staring at her, and she asked Miss Meagan if she could borrow a pair of sunglasses. Zane had also gotten her a hat to help cover her face whenever she felt uncomfortable, but Mina felt that wearing a hat made her look too much like a child, and in conjunction with the bruising, the cleaning people might have gotten the wrong idea.

Mina kept switching between the hat and the glasses, trying to determine which one covered more of her face and which one was the most practical. As she stood staring at herself in the mirror, she could not help but to look at the hematoma on her leg, which had barely faded. It was almost as If it were teasing her, reminding her that she was vulnerable.