Chapter 408: Innocent Ignorance
When Cylus walked into the room with the most noise seeping through the closed doors, the last thing he was expecting to see was all of the men pushed to one corner while the women sang heartbreak songs in unison.
Each woman was falling over the other as if no one and nothing else mattered, which was odd for one of Connor's parties. Cylus' eyes landed on his cousin and then on Mina, who had taken on similar roles in keeping everyone safe.
Cylus sighed in both relief and content. He had been worried about the two women but seeing them well put his mind at ease. He made his way to where the men stood and joined the group.
"Mina is never invited to any of my future birthday parties," Connor said aloud and Cylus laughed at his friend's sour expression.
"I'm sure she would be glad to hear that." He tapped his friend's shoulder, giving Oric a meaningful glance before walking toward the stage. He picked up a microphone and cut the music, receiving collected noises of objection from the drunk women.
Cylus was the CEO of Rouge Entertainment, while his father was still the acting President. It gave him the leeway to do as he pleased, and right now, he wanted to have fun. There were several artists from his label and others around, but as long as they remained discreet, he did not bother them.
Clearing his throat, Cylus made a joke about the song choices and Willow shouted back in response. She called him all sorts of silly names, eliciting giggles and chuckles as everyone knew she was drunk and joking.
Cylus thought the women were listening to him as he tried to convince them that the mood was supposed to be uplifting in honor of Connor, but Willow once again raised objections.
Willow hopped on stage and turned the music back on, while snatching the microphone from Cylus who wore a shocked expression. Mina was right behind the woman, and she apologized on her friend's behalf.
Cylus looked over to Connor and shrugged. He had tried and he had failed, Willow was in charge, and she was not looking to let go of the reins.
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The night started to wind to an end, and many of the women who were staying the night had collected the quilts and pillows from their rooms to join Mina, Willow and Olivia in the communal area in front of one of the large fireplaces. The women shared stories of heartache, and although Willow did not speak, in Mina's opinion, she won easily.
At the end of a long night, the women made their way back to their rooms, each one yawning as they shuffled down the halls. Once again, Mina played safety monitor, and she made sure any woman who was too drunk to walk on their own, was safely locked behind a wooden door, before she went to bed herself.
Mina did not know when sleep had taken her, but she woke up sandwiched between Willow and Olivia, who had not left her room all night. With Cylus' words in mind, she woke Olivia, asking her to help prepare breakfast for the women that she knew would wake up disoriented.
Still in their night clothes the women made their way into the kitchen. Mina's phone still registered as having no signal, so she asked Olivia to search good foods for people who drank. The women settled on pancakes, and Mina found a mixer and huge griddle in one of the pantries that made the entire process easy.
Olivia had come a long way from being unable to even use a knife, and while Mina poured the batter, the woman cut various fruits and even experimented with trying to make her own fruit spread, saying that the women who were dieting could use it with crackers or yogurt.
Olivia and Mina were cooking for the women, but it was the men who woke first. Mina ignored them only looking up once to smile at Cylus when she heard his voice. She was not expecting to make direct eye contact with Vanya as well, but she sent the same friendly wave and smile to the woman, who rolled her eyes.
Mina shrugged and continued to finish cooking. She had planned to store the remaining pancake batter, but at the rate they were disappearing, she found it wise to make it all.
As Mina flipped the last batch of pancakes, she washed her hands and removed her apron, completely unaware that what she was wearing would become a highlight of the morning. She scooped up the last of the pancakes and fruit that Olivia when someone offered to help her from behind.
Mina turned to look at the person, she recognized Brayden's voice, and she wanted to decline his offer, but her words were cut short when she noticed he did not have on a shirt. Her face turned red as Brayden gently took the things she was carrying from her hands.
Mina busied herself by picking up the remaining crushed fruit spread that Olivia had made and she followed behind the man timidly. She did not look up as she entered the eating area, that was just outside of the kitchen.
If Mina had looked up, she would have seen the looks she was getting, not just from Vanya and Cylus, but from everyone. Mina sat in an empty chair between Willow and Olivia, and the hungover Willow nudged her.
"Be careful of him," Willow said, and Mina nodded. "By the way, you look sexy." Mina looked at her friend then back down at what she was wearing. There was nothing special about them, they covered everything. Olivia laughed knowing exactly what Mina was looking at.
"It's not what you are wearing, it's the shape of your body. What you wore yesterday hid your figure, a lot of men are regretting not talking to you." Mina's face turned red. She quickly ate and left with Willow and Olivia close behind her giggling at her innocent ignorance.
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Connor stared at Oric, who was restlessly turning back and forth in his bed. Still full of what they ate at breakfast, there was nothing to do so early in the day except sleep, or ride ATV's, but neither man felt up to braving the cold and Connor had a lot to say to Oric. He wanted to talk about Mina and Willow specifically, but he did not know how to approach.
"If you keep staring at me, I might think you've switched sides. Imagine, the insatiable Connor not bringing a woman back to his room last night. People are already talking." Oric's words were just the opening that Connor needed, and he leaped.
"That is because I wanted to ask you first." Oric bolted upright, knowing exactly what his friend meant, but wanting to hear it spoken aloud as to not assume.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Willow. She still…" Connor paused not wanting to be crass, but knowing his words had to be clear. "She still appeals to me."
"Absolutely not," Oric replied while laying back down. He had to force his heart to calm down. He and Connor had fought over Willow after she left, and he did not want a repeat incident.
"Then Mina?" Oric turned to glare at his friend, but he could not blame the man for being interested.
"Have you spoken to Cy?"
"He said he is satisfied with Vanya." Connor shuddered knowing that the woman had first tried her luck with both him and Oric before she found favor with Cylus. Neither man understood what he saw in the woman, but they could not deny that she was devoted to him.