Chapter 363: Why Lie?

Mina sat across from Cylus at a local café. The man was angry with her, and Mina was absolutely tickled by it. For the last week, Cylus had been calling Mina's phone, but according to him a strange man picked up every time.

Mina tried to explain, but whenever Cylus quoted twenty-three's words, she found herself unable to do anything except giggle. Cylus did not enjoy her laughter this time though. He even seemed offended by it, but eventually he could not stop himself from chuckling along with her.

"Do you know how worried I was?" Cylus said, trying to remain serious. "It wasn't until Olivia told me you were home sick that I knew you were safe." Mina straightened up and apologized.

"I'm sorry. I gave him my phone to distract him, and because I had the flu, I was not concerned with trying to get it back." Mina was not telling the truth, but Cylus did not have to know that she had given her phone away, not seeing much of a need for it.

"I could tell he wasn't playing with a full deck," Cylus said. Mina shook her head, indicating to the man that he was wrong, but not surprised he would assume as such.

"Terrence is a highly intelligent person. He just doesn't have enough social experience to know how to hold a proper conversation."

"Terrence?" Cylus asked.

"That is twenty-three's legal name; not the one he gave himself." Cylus could tell he had mildly offended Mina, and incorrectly assumed that the man was a relative, so he changed the subject.

"You look good, tired, but good." Mina's face flashed red, and Cylus finally flashed a genuine smile. He missed talking to Mina, and he was glad to see she was okay. "Mina, how are you really feeling?" he questioned.

Mina sighed, there was so much she wanted to say in response to Cylus, but she would not. She was tired, she was stressed, and she was confused. The worst part of it all was that she was not sure she could do everything she wanted to do without going crazy in the process.

Mina had opened up to President Lee in the hopes that he would trust her enough to be swayed by her point of view. She had already confessed her plan to Dom, but he saw through her in a way she had not expected.

If Mina wanted President Lee to lose his suspicion, she needed to be willing to risk a little more of her comfort, and so far, the man had been receptive.

Other than the visit to return her device when she was still recovering, President Lee had not bothered her. James did not have to constantly check in with him, and several times already Mina had gone out without having to take James with her. She was sure the man was somewhere around, but he kept at a distance that was so far that she had yet to spot him, and sometimes Mina honestly believed she was on her own.

Mina refocused her mind to the conversation at hand and found herself in a difficult position. Cylus had asked her to go with him to one of the events he was scheduled to attend. She could not think of a convincing reason to say no, but she did not want to give Cylus false hope.

Even if she could somehow get over the fact that he reminded her of her father, Mina was not sure she wanted to drag him into her mess any further than he already was. She had not forgotten that Cylus and President Lee postured against one another when she was still in the Lee hospital. Not to mention whatever spat the men were having at the charity auction.

"Cylus, I'm not sure I am ready just yet. I need time to adjust," Mina lied, but in a way it was true. She had already negotiated for Dom, Jessica and James, but she still had to secure their freedom. In short, relationship building was not in her agenda.

----

Lisa walked into the Lee building feeling as though it were shameful to show her face in the building. Ian had once again been photographed with another woman, and this time the person was an up-and-coming actress.

In the photo, the woman leaded deeply into Ian's chest while the man smiled down at her. It was an extremely intimate looking photo, and she wanted to question him about it. She was keenly aware that he would not answer her question directly, but she wanted to make her feelings on his actions clear. He was hurting her.

It did not matter to Lisa if the woman was Mina, an actress or some person he picked up at a bar. She did not want to have to keep explaining her relationship status to her brother. Lisa had believed that after being kidnapped, Ian would have stuck by her side, but instead, he sent a butch woman to constantly follow her.

Lisa knew it was for her safety, but it also hindered her from contacting people she needed to contact about what she planned to do with Mina. Shai had told her that she was being irrational in blaming Mina for Ian's actions, but she could not help herself. All of the changes in him started with that woman, and had she never existed, Lisa and Ian would still be in the comfortable place they had always been.

"Li Lee, what brings you out today?" Ian said as he leaned back into his chair. A very pretty assistant had been in his office when Lisa arrived, and her mind told her that Ian and the woman were about to or had just finished being intimate.

"Ian, we need to talk. I want to know what I am to you. I don't want to keep hearing about you and other women." Lisa said. She had abandoned any semblance of pride for the man in front of her.

"Lisa, you are a smart and beautiful woman. I have already told you that I will not ask you to wait for me to be ready. If you want to move on, I will not stop you." Lisa felt her heart racing. He was misinterpreting her words, more accurately, he was spinning her words against her.

"Ian, I-" Lisa held her words back. It had been nearly months since her last menstrual cycle, and although she had not taken a pregnancy test, she was almost positive that she was. "Ian, I think I'm pregnant," she finally mustered the courage to say. She expected shock, fear, excitement, or happiness, but she was not prepared for confusion.

"If you are pregnant, I suggest you go and figure out who the father is." Ian said and Lisa felt like the contents of her stomach had done a flip.

"What do you mean?" She asked. Her nose had started to burn, and she knew she was on the verge of tears. Ian's voice softened and he walked around his desk to stand in front of her. He cupped her shoulders and spoke slowly as if he were trying to get her to understand something.

"Lisa, really consider that night. Whatever you think you lost; I am telling you that you still have it." Lisa shook her head.

"You are lying," she said through silent tears.

"Lisa, why would I lie? If you want me to go with you to a doctor right now, I will, but I am telling you. I didn't enter you." Ian wanted to also throw it out there that he did not use the condom she had punctured as well, but she already looked pathetic.