Chapter 496: Where is Your Mind?

Ian watched Mina slowly close her eyes, almost as if she were considering how she should phrase her next set of words. He knew he may have been asking her questions that were too personal, but he needed her to see that Paul was not a knight in shining armor. The man was there when she did not need him and gone when she did. Ian knew he could not be the one to say it; Mina had to figure it out for herself.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. I was just curious."

"It's fine, it's just that when my room and board was revoked, I was homeless. If Willow and Ash had not helped me get an apartment and pay the rent six months out, I would have been forced to drop out." Ian bunched his hands into tight fists in his lap, but Mina did not notice. "Their parents were aware of them helping me, and we made an agreement that it was going to be the last time."

"Because both families were afraid you were using their daughters for money," Ian said, but it was more of a question.

"They were scared; Willow's family is not as connected as Miss Maggie's and Ash's family lives off an inheritance. Even by helping me that once, they were doing a lot, and they always included me when they sent care packages, so don't get the wrong idea." Ian nodded, because he had definitely gotten the wrong idea and he felt as though he owed Willow an apology for threatening her loved ones.

"Weren't there four of you?" Ian pressed.

"Paul," Mina replied with a slight smile that Ian wanted to wipe off her face using his lips, but he wisely resisted.

"Did he not help you?"

"He couldn't," Mina replied in a sad tone.

"Because of his parents?" Mina nodded but it was not entirely true. Paul was in and out of their group, not a fixture. He knew little of what was going on with her or so she believed.

"Did he know about the rift between you and Maggie?" Ian asked and Mina looked down, suggesting that he did, which irritated Ian. "Well, you are a good friend to have forgiven him for being engaged with someone who basically ruined your life." President Lee turned away from Mina and took a bite of whatever it was he had bought. He could feel the girl staring at the side of his face, but he forced himself not to meet her gaze.

Mina was taken aback by President Lee's words. It was true that Paul knew about her rift with Miss Maggie, and he had even been the one to sever ties with their group because the woman's family insisted on it. She tried to find a reason Paul would have agreed on having Maggie as a wife if he ever cared about her at all, but there was none of which she could think. It was almost as if her mind had drawn blank.

"Do you know Mills tried to kill Drax?" President Lee said, snapping Mina out of her conflicted daze. She looked at the man in surprise.

"Then how did they end up together?"

"Drax wouldn't take no for an answer. So, we signed their relationship into a contract." Mina's eyes widened. "Don't look so surprised. I am sure you know by now that Mills is more than capable of getting away if she wanted to, but she does not because she loves him. Maybe it's the same for Maggie and Paul." Mina felt her heart deflate, and Ian could see it. He did not like hurting her in the way he was doing, but he needed her to reason with logic, not nostalgia. "Anyway, should we stop at a few more stalls before heading back?"

----

Mina's heart was heavy, but no longer from being wary of President Lee, but because he was right. Paul must love Maggie enough to overlook her actions, and she wondered if he knew everything. She wondered if he had come to the Lee mansion because he wanted to tell her the good news, or was he just trying to pretend so that she would not grow suspicious of him? It was no secret that many people believed that she held sway with President Lee, and it was due to that same misunderstanding that she was being celebrated by Wayvair in the first place.

Mina looked down at her phone and deleted the draft message she had composed to send to Paul, choosing to talk to him in person instead. She knew he would be at the event which was only days away. She felt someone jerk her body hard and then she heard another person shout at her in annoyance. She then heard President Lee respond angrily before looking down at her face.

"Where is your mind? You almost got hit by a bike." His forefinger and thumb were on her chin as he lifted her face to look him in the eyes, but Mina pulled away.

"I'm sorry. I guess I am a little tired." She did not want to admit that his words resounded with her, because she did not want him to try and pick apart her relationships, but was that what he was doing? Mina was suspicious of the man, but at the same time, she knew it did not make his point any less valid.

----

It was morning and Mina was still in a fog. Unlike when she had come, she now had two full bags filled with things she did not know she had bought. She was not surprised to see that Mills had slept with Drax, and she had the impression that the woman had never come back to the room after that night of a romantic 'dinner.'

The group made their way into the lobby of the building, and Mina once again took in the splendor of the place, wondering if she would ever visit again. She listened as the men settled the bill, not really disputing any charge, but it was hotel policy to go through each one at checkout.

"Grand Paradise," Mina heard Drax say loudly as he glared at Mills who held up her hands and shook her head pleading innocence. He then looked at Mina and she pointed to President Lee whose mouth dropped wide open unable to speak. "Do I even want to know?" Drax asked, but his friend was too busy glaring at Mina.

Before the men could pay, another man dressed in a uniform that set him apart from the other staff stepped forward and gripped Drax's hand tightly before reaching for President Lee's and bringing them together.

"I want you men to know that it has been an honor to serve you and your female companions in our establishment. Because of your feedback, we have spoken to our dancers, and they will no longer be touching one's partner during the show." The man let go of their hands and walked straight to Mills. "And you, thank you for helping these men embrace their love for one another." The man disappeared, leaving Mills in shock. Neither woman had confessed to anything, but they had just been outed by kindness.

"Draxy, I can explain," Mills started to say while backing away, but it was too late. Drax was already making out with her in the middle of the hotel, and Mina turned away. She was extremely embarrassed for her friend who was now the center of attention.

"Hold my hand," she heard President Lee say, and Mina snorted, thinking he was joking. "I don't have a fiancé to kiss. Hold my hand."

"No," Mina said flatly. President Lee licked his lips and stepped forward, making her take several steps backward before conceding to the request.

With Mina's hand in his, President Lee smiled and cheerfully walked back to the front desk to settle the bill for both rooms. Mina was mortified.