Chapter 457: What Are Your Plans?

Mina swallowed Lisa's words with a grain of salt, because in a way, she agreed. If her political opinion was considered to be an 'problem' within Pan, then it was a good thing, not a bad one. Some people were so blinded by the prospect of status that they did not even realize that the system that kept them in power, was also the same one that would hold them down if they ever lost it.

Mina saw no need to explain that to Lisa though, the woman had nothing to worry about as she was likely going to marry into the Lee family, which secretly controlled the country. She stayed quiet as she waited for other people to begin eating, but Lisa seemed to take her silence as a show of weakness.

"This is what happens when the poor have children, they want everything handed to them despite the fact that they are ignorant and uncultured." Mina's fingers involuntarily gripped the handle of the steak knife near her plate, but Zane was faster and kept her hand pinned down to the table.

Everyone noticed Mina's action except Luna and Lisa, who were talking about something in hushed tones. Mina smiled at Zane, genuinely thanking him for stopping her, because in truth, she planned to throw the knife at Lisa. She stood up and excused herself from the table.

"It looks like this table is not meant for people like me," Mina said. She slightly bowed toward the seated guests before turning to walk away.

"Mina don't be that way. This table has no status requirements. Come back." Mina paused at Zane's words because she never meant that she was not worthy of being seated among them. She meant quite the opposite.

"It's not about status. I just do not eat dog food." Everyone's mouth hung open because Mina had just implied that they were all dogs. Only Mills was excited. She tugged on Drax's sleeve, forcing him to pay attention to her.

"Please can I keep her?" Mills asked, and of course Drax agreed. Without waiting another second Mills left to follow Mina, leaving Ian to glare at Drax who shrugged.

----

Lisa wanted to enjoy the dinner, but she could not stop thinking about Mina's comment. Even though she knew the food that was served was not dog food, Mina had implied that it was not good enough for her, and that made Lisa feel like the food was below her standards as well. Angry, she excused herself to the restroom, and Luna followed, knowing that her friend had only left out of annoyance. With just the four men seated at the table, Cameron was the first to speak.

"We all saw that, right?" Ian did not bother to say anything, because he enjoyed Mina's reaction. "Is she dangerous?"

"Harmless," Ian replied, because to him, Mina was.

"Is she single?" Cameron suddenly asked, making Ian's eyes narrow.

"Told you," Zane said, picking up a glass of wine and raising it toward his friend before taking a sip.

Ian did not know how to respond to his cousin's question because Mina was a single woman, but she was also his. Had Lisa and Luna not shown up she would have been seated next to him, and his cousin would not even have had the idea to ask who Mina was with; it would have been obvious. The silence was all Cameron needed to get an idea of what his cousin was trying to convey.

"You know you can't stop me from trying," he said. Which Ian knew was true. "As far as I am concerned, she is single, and so am I."

----

Mills was chasing after Mina, but the woman refused to stop walking. She knew Mina was angry, so she did not fault her, and when the woman left her bedroom door open, Mills knew she was not being intentionally rude; Mina just wanted to get away. The first thing Mills caught sight of was the small, half eaten cake on the small table in the room.

"Is it your birthday?" she asked in the Sani language. She and Drax had been exchanging conversation before the argument started, and she noticed that Mina seemed to be listening. To Mills, there were two options, either the woman understood, or she was curious.

"I'm sorry but I don't understand," Mina lied. Sani was the very first language that Mina learned. The Pan language and Sani languages were similar and many people from Sani spoke Panglish, but it was not the same for Pan natives, who saw no need to learn what they considered to be a 'lesser tongue.'

Mills did not believe Mina, but the night was young, and she planned to stick by the woman who was brave enough to challenge her country's president without fear of consequence. She had at first believed that Mina was President Lee's girlfriend, which was why she was not jealous when Drax kissed Mina's hand, but now she knew she had misunderstood. Mina was too raw to have come from the same world as President Lee.

"What are your birthday plans?"

"I don't have any," Mina responded.

"We should go celebrate. Let's go to a bar." Mina wanted to refuse, but she had been locked inside of the Lee mansion for days, and she saw an opportunity in Mills.

"I can't drink," she admitted.

"That is perfect! You can watch me drink." Mina barely had time to agree before Mills darted out of the room and came back with a giant luggage.

Mina was unaware, but Mills planned to stay in the Lee mansion because for the sake of propriety, she could not stay in the Staton home, and was sick of staying in a hotel. Having no other relatives, President Lee was the only person Drax agreed to let her stay with, especially when he found out that there was another woman living in the home.

Mills made herself comfortable and walked into Mina's wardrobe without permission. It was somewhat relieving to Mina that the woman did not put on airs. Mina did not know if she could take being introduced to another rich person who would eventually turn their back on her, but Mina could tell that Mills was different, Mills was like her.

"You can wear this," Mills said, handing Mina a leather dress.

"Where did this come from?" Mina asked.

"You only have old lady clothes; it is your birthday, no? We should make you look good." Mina knew better than to argue with that logic because it would go nowhere. Besides, she planned to ditch Mills the moment they got to wherever they were going. She only needed the woman to help her get out.

----

Mina slipped into the dress that was so tight it looked like a second skin. She put on her own thigh-high boots and pulled her hair free of her pony. Mills was unsatisfied with Mina's makeup and she added more eyeliner, making Mina sigh.

"Sexy, not, old." Mills said. Mina did not care what Mills was saying or doing, because as far as she was concerned, she would find a phone and call Cylus the first chance she got. A long while passed before another person entered Mina's room. It was Luna, and she gasped when she saw Mina.

"What are you wearing? No, where are you going?"

"If that is your reaction, I can't wait to see the men."

"My brother has a girlfriend," Luna warned, and Mills rolled her eyes.

"Why are you telling us? If you feel that someone needs reminding, go tell him. There are other men in this place."

"So, you are trying to tell me that you don't mind Drax looking at Mina?"

"Yes! His body belongs to me, not his eyes." Mina shoulders relaxed. She had assumed Mills was going to answer differently. "Ready?" Mills asked as she pulled Mina out of the room.