Chapter 371: Bagged

Mina was silently staring out of the window of President Lee's car. He had offered to drive her home and rather than raising suspicion by refusing, she agreed. It was not too much of an issue, because it saved her money.

With Jay gone and Olivia avoiding the set, there was no one Mina could depend on for a ride. Not to mention the money she spent on a dress she could not afford. The same dress that Cylus' mother took and refused to let her wear, calling it 'cheap'.

During the ride, Mina's mind was preoccupied with the memories of her sister's fifteenth birthday, but the memory had changed so much now that she was looking at it in their true age, and not the age the life calendar placed them at. Things that were once normal to her, now seemed anything but.

Mina was legally a twelve-year-old girl at that time, and her sister just fourteen. The men they met that day at the lake were mostly in their first year of university. While Mina's sister had given her age as fifteen on that day, making the others think she was only two or three years younger than most of them, Mina was absolutely certain it would not have mattered.

At that time, Mina was just beginning to grow into her body. She had curves most girls her age did not, and because of her quiet nature, many people assumed she was older, but anyone who really looked at her face knew better. Mina's parents had often tried to cover her up with oversized clothing, but it did little to hide what only continued to grow.

As the car neared the garage of her apartment complex, Mina noticed a familiar figure exiting a taxi.

"President Lee, stop the car," Mina said excitedly. The man pulled over and Mina jumped out, jogging toward the woman she would recognize even if fifty years went by.

"Willow?" Mina questioned loudly. She knew who it was, she just wanted to make sure her mind was not playing tricks on her. The woman looked up with a bright smile, Mina's voice was not one you could mistake for another's. It was soft even when it was loud. She rushed toward Mina and the women scooped each other into a hug.

"Look at you," Willow said. "You are growing up." Mina's face flushed and Willow laughed. "Still?" she asked, remembering how Mina's face was perpetually red in university.

"What are you doing in Pan?" Mina asked, although she was certain it had something to do with the invitation she received.

"You think I would miss a grand event specifically organized to kiss the ass of a good friend? Mina, where is your coat?" she asked, realizing that her friend was not dressed warmly.

"I was in a car," Mina replied. At the same time President Lee walked toward the women and Willow's mouth hung open. She looked between the man and Mina.

"Sh!t, Mina did you actually bag him?" Willow asked in a voice too loud to be considered a whisper. Mina tried to shush the woman, but President Lee clearly heard.

"Bag what?" He asked, extending his hand to Willow as a greeting. "President Ian Lee."

"Willow West," the woman responded with a bow. Mina used the opportunity to jump in.

"Are you staying around here?" She asked, and Willow smiled knowingly.

"My uncle lives in the building over there," she said as she pointed to the apartment complex next door to Mina's. "What about you? Driving by? Willow asked, remembering that Mina was of humble origin. "Or were you going to his place?" Mina's eyes widened.

"President Lee is my employer," she blurted out in a whisper. Willow chuckled knowing that Mina was trying to shut her up. She looked up at the handsome man who had gone to settle her taxi fare without being asked.

"We have a lot to talk about," Willow responded.

----

Mina did not expect Willow to come straight to her apartment without first settling in at her uncle's place. She sat in Mina's sitting room chatting with President Lee about all the things Mina hoped she would not bring up.

"You know Mina's age, right? I mean her true age?" President Lee nodded with a smile. He had never asked Mina, but he had listened in on her conversation with James, but he was aware of her birth year. "Mina was fourteen when classes started," Willow continued. "The professor, who knew Mina from her work over the break, decided that Mina needed an honorable mention-"

"I don't think he wants to hear this story," Mina interjected. At that time, she was still extremely awkward around new people and she said and did things that embarrassed her greatly. Willow ignored Mina and continued speaking.

"She stood up, and in the sweetest and cutest voice we had ever heard, she called us all dumb." Willow laughed at the memory and Mina covered her face.

"Did you really do that?" President Lee asked with a smile. He knew Mina was proud of being smart, but he had yet to witness her belittle a person for no reason.

"I did not. What I said was-" Willow interrupted Mina and stood up.

"I am Mina Harlow. Do not be intimidated by or compare yourself to me, we all have our own weaknesses and strengths." She bowed slightly and President Lee chuckled.

"Is that what you said?"

"It seemed like a good idea at the time. I was fif-" Mina paused, correcting her age in speech for the first time ever. "I was fourteen, I had no friends or family with me. I didn't want to be targeted."

"It's a good thing Maggie wasn't in that class," Willow said. She sipped the tea Mina had served her, then checked her watch. "Anyway, I should go." Willow had many questions she wanted to ask, but not in front of a stranger. Mina stood up with Willow and put on her coat, ready to walk the woman to the next building, but President Lee stopped her.

"You can stay here, I will see her to safety, and I will have James help her with her bags." Mina nodded in submission, but she was not thrilled about Willow and President Lee spending any time together without her.

"Be careful," Mina whispered to Willow as she hugged the woman at the door. She let her eyes shift to President Lee after she spoke, and her friend's eyes narrowed.

"I will call you?" Willow said as a question.

"My number hasn't changed," Mina said, and it made her friend more suspicious. Without any further parting words, Willow and President Lee left Mina's apartment.

----

Willow stood next to President Lee waiting for the lift to arrive. She kept stealing glances at the man, who she was seeing in person for the second time in her life. The first was when she attended a charity event when she was a teen, and back then no one fawned over him like they did now.

"I'm not interested," President Lee said, and Willow secretly rolled her eyes.

"Disgusting," she said under her breath. President Lee was not her type at all. He was handsome, but he was also an asshole, and she knew this from reliable sources. The lift arrived and Willow made her way inside, feeling slightly uncomfortable that a man richer than her was helping to carry her bags.

"Are you going to keep staring at me or are you going to tell me what is on your mind?" He asked.