Chapter 503: Damn Madam

Mina spotted Drax's giant form and pointed it out to Connor who cursed into her ear. She laughed at the man, who made her promise that she would not allow the 'ogre' to attack him. She gave her assurances and thanked the man for helping to distract her from the people watching her. Connor knew she did not like being the center of attention, and earlier in the day, he had promised to make her forget all about everyone else, and so far, he was making good on his promise.

Connor was crude, perverted and wild, but he treated her with respect and that was what she liked about him. Her first interaction with the man was less than ideal, but he had slowly made up for it. He had his flaws, and she had hers, but while Mina had been made to think that her personality quirks were bad, Connor had embraced his flaws as strengths, and he constantly reminded her that she was perfect just the way she was.

Mina was startled when Zane tapped Connor's shoulder, and a little saddened that her funny friend was leaving her. Her eyes started to drift around the room and faces of scorn and disgust were everywhere. Zane must have noticed as well because he quickly redirected her attention by twirling her around so fast that it made her giggle.

"Mr. Zane, I see that you made it."

"No Mister, just Zane from now on." Mina nodded as they continued to sway. "What are you up to?" He suddenly asked, and her eyes met his not at all trying to hide her guilt.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Knowing you; all the attention that you are drawing to yourself has to have a purpose." Mina looked away with a slight frown.

"I am miserable, but I am trying to make myself a less easy target," she admitted.

"Ian hasn't bothered you, so who is it that you are worried about?"

"Has he actually left me alone or is it just that he's left everything to his cousin?" Zane looked at Mina, understanding her concerns but also knowing that she was completely wrong. The music stopped and the MC took to the microphone as Willow came to collect Mina from Zane. Mina bowed to the man, who returned the action before she followed her friend.

"Madam," called a voice and Mina turned around sharply, both she and Willow rushed Ash and scooped her into the tightest hug they could give.

"I thought you couldn't make it."

"Come on Madam," you know I would not miss this for the world. I am on assignment in this country, so I dropped by." Mina took a step back and looked at Ash, she was an eccentric person and often disguised herself in drastic ways. Today she looked like a middle-aged woman, with permed curly black hair; it was terrible."

"Who is your friend?" Cylus asked. He had snuck up on the women, but instead of being startled, Ash turned around and smirked.

"Why don't you come over here and find out yourself?" She questioned. "Damn Madam, you really got a lot of men to come. I bet the gifts you receive are going to be great."

"Gifts?" Mina asked. Willow shot Ash a look and the woman held up her hands and changed the subject.

"Madam, that man has been staring at me for a while. Tell him to be careful." Mina's face turned red, and she laughed when she took in the shock on Cylus' face.

"CEO Rue, this is Ashlyn Tanner. She is one of my closest friends." Mina then introduced Ash to all the other people who had gathered, and the woman was quick to make them laugh.

"Damn Madam, I am so jealous of you. You have to let me borrow your sexy man collection soon." Ash sighed as she once overed Connor, then stopped in front of Oric, theatrically biting her lip while shaking her head.

"Eww, stop that," Willow ordered, and Ash snapped back to her friends.

"How much longer until we eat?" she asked, and Willow nodded at Olivia who pressed a button on a console she held. A giant curtain wall parted, and Mina froze, turning to glare at Willow as if she were the enemy.

"A throne? She asked, and Olivia finally joined the conversation.

"I told you she wouldn't like it."

"You said we could do what we want, and we chose that chair, now get your ass in it and make all these people who made you feel like crap gravel at your feet." Mina covered her face in mortification. She climbed into the throne and sat down, almost feeling as though she would cry. Ash and Willow watched Mina shift uncomfortably in the throne style chair and Ash nudged Willow roughly with her elbow.

"Whose idea was that? You know she can't take it; she looks miserable."

"I thought she would be okay," Willow admitted.

"We have to do something; at this rate she is going to have a panic attack." The women were whispering but Olivia and Cylus were near enough to hear.

"I told Willow it was too much, but she and Connor insisted."

"Who the hell is Connor?"

"Mina's future 'fiancé.' He said she needed to be treated like the queen she is, and I agree. She looks good on a throne."

"She looks like she is about to blow chunks. We need to do something."

"Like what? People have already started to come up and greet her. If we pull her away now, we will prolong her suffering and by then more people may be here."

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Mina was seated on the throne doing her best not to cry. She felt nauseous, and with each person who approached and handed her a small gift box or envelope she felt her nerves rattle a little more. She regretted allowing Willow to handle decorating, and she wished she had not taken part in the event at all. The only good things to happen in the night was the dress that Cylus made and her dance with Connor.

Mina was still trying to put on a brave face when loud music startled her. She jumped and her eyes widened when the lights in the room dimmed and a spotlight focused on Willow and Ash.

Ash looked ridiculous in her get up, but that was how she always dressed, meanwhile Willow looked breathtaking as usual. The women started a loud countdown and Mina covered her face in anticipation for what she knew was about to happen.

The beat dropped, and Willow and Ash bust out with choreography they had made up years prior. Mina remembered how terrible the dance was, and how she laughed at the girls when they showed it to her as if it were the best routine in the country. Since that time, the women would randomly start dancing anytime she was stressed or depressed, and although years had passed, the comedy of the dance had not changed a bit.

Mina watched the women through parted fingers, feeling as though they were making a fool of themselves and it hurt her to know that they were doing it for her sake. She tried to hold her laughter, not sure if she should be laughing, but when she caught sight of the look on Oric and Cylus' face, she lost it. She felt the muscles in her cheeks begin to ache as she smiled and laughed at her friends, her real friends, who cared about her enough to not care about themselves. Without thinking Mina stood up and walked toward the girls pulling them both into a hug before allowing her tears to fall. Willow was the first to stop her, and Olivia quickly came to her side with tissues.

"What is wrong Madam? This dance used to make you happy. Why are you crying now?" Mina sucked back her tears and allowed the women to escort her back to her throne, where Drax and Mills were waiting. As she expected, the women gushed over Mills, and when Mina told them that Mills was from Sani, the women switched to the language fluidly.