Chapter 507: Arrangement-3

Ian was seated at the table for distinguished guests, which was a shock to begin with. The table did not sit more than twenty people, and he was surprised to have even been included. Lisa pulled him to a chair that was furthest from Mina's, but Ian did not mind; his whole plan was to ignore Mina, and he had a feeling that being close to her would only encourage him to stare.

The weird woman who Mills had taken a liking to, sat at the seat opposite of Mina's and she introduced herself as Ashlyn Tanner. She was mildly rude in her mannerisms, and Ian could see that Lisa was annoyed with her, but Ashlyn seemed to enjoy making people feel uncomfortable. She had even stared at Zane unblinkingly for several minutes before the man turned red and shifted his body, making the eccentric woman giggle.

"Leave it to Mina to associate herself with madwomen," Lisa whispered, but Ash had heard, and she retorted accordingly.

"I see things have not changed as much as I thought." Ash had started to eat before everyone else at the table was served and Lisa was glaring at her.

"Come again?" Lisa asked, knowing that the woman was speaking to her, and feeling as though the woman needed to be put in her place.

"There were always women like you around the Madam; you know, the jealous sort."

"Excuse me?" Lisa asked as she snaked her arm around Ian's "Who is 'the Madam'?" she said the name mockingly and Ash snorted before laughing, using her finger to gently wipe at her lips much to the disgust of Lisa.

"'The Madam' is Mina. It is a pet name I gave her. Take a good look at this table, what do you see?" Lisa cast her eyes around, and saw nothing notable, but Zane, who had been listening spoke up.

"It's mostly men." Ash smiled and winked.

"Not just a pretty face, are you?" She wiped her hands and extended one toward Zane, but when he went to shake it, she flipped his hand and kissed its dorsal while keeping eye contact. Zane's eyes widened and Ash laughed loudly. "I do believe this reunion is going to be fun," she said while rubbing her hands together. "Everyone here is so stuck up." Ash had made the comment as if it were not an insult, and President Lee cleared his throat, making Ash look at him while her fork hovered in front of her face. "You sir, might be the king 'stick up the ass.'" Zane did not mean to, but he laughed at the woman's description of Ian.

"Ashlyn," called out a voice that made Ash glare. "That is why you had no friends in university. Do you even know who it is you are speaking to?" Ashlyn put down her fork and straightened her back before addressing Maggie Arden.

"There are two things in that statement that need to be addressed, but I will not waste my time." Ian chuckled, and Ashlyn winked at him.

"You rude and disgusting woman," Lisa snarled.

"I see that you have noticed some of my best qualities." Ash shot a look at Mina, who looked down in guilt. There was something she was missing; she knew how her friend felt about President Ian Lee and she was shocked to see him at the event with another woman. "So, King Stick-"

"Don't call me that," Ian warned, cutting the woman off and Ashlyn smiled.

"Would you prefer the title president?" Ian nodded and the woman continued. "So, President 'stick up the ass,' how do you know the Madam?" Ian could not help but to smile at Ashlyn, who he knew was toying with them all.

Ashlyn Tanner studied behavioral analytics. She specialized in cultural variations and 'pack mentality.' Her area of focus was mainly gender roles and tribalism, and she had authored many books on the subject under the pseudonym Tanner Wilmin. Ian's sister, Luna, loved reading books written by the author, and Ian had stumbled upon the woman's true identity while reviewing the information that Cameron had pulled up on Mina and all those around her. He wisely chose to ignore Ashlyn's provocation, and she moved on with a smirk.

"I see that the Madam has acquired quite a collection."

"Don't call her that," Ian said through gritted teeth, and Ashlyn smirked.

"Shall I refer to her as the Mistress instead?" Ash had leaned in closer to Ian, but it was Lisa who replied.

"A fitting title that would be,"

"I see," Ash responded.

"So, which one of you two are here to court my Mistress?" Both men remained silent, and Ash continued speaking. "Both of you? My mistress has outdone herself, but don't worry; you will soon drop whatever torch it is you are holding. Besides, if she doesn't choose you, there are always women willing to scramble after her scraps. Aren't I correct Paul?" Maggie dropped her eating utensils and fled the table, with Paul chasing after her after a glare at Ash, who was chuckling. Two servers came and cleared the plates, and Drax and Mills took the now vacant seats, and were served fresh food.

"Thanks," Mills said to Ash as she sat.

"No problem. There are too many people who do not belong at this table," she said while fixing her gaze on Lisa. The two women began to chat in the Sani language and Lisa interjected.

"It's rude to speak in a language not everyone can understand." Ash laughed, opening her mouth to reply, but was cut off by a man's voice.

"Mina has agreed to marry me if neither of us get into a relationship or fall in love within a year's time." Ashlyn stared at Mina who was staring at the man. She raised an eyebrow at the woman as she chewed. Ash cast a quick glance toward the men nearest to her and saw that President Ian Lee looked the worst.

"I wouldn't take it too seriously," Ash said while looking down at her plate. "A year is a long time." Silence took over the table and the man's voice could be heard again.

"It can't be helped if my future wife is well liked. She is by far the best looking and most talented woman in this room." Mina's face turned red, and she cast her eyes toward Ash, who wore a sinister grin.

"Congratulations Madam," Ash said while raising her glass. She watched the man shift his body closer to Mina's. He was wearing a huge smile that fell when people started to make startled noises. Men in black suits filled the hall and Ash sat back to watch.

"What the hell is he up to?" Zane said to Ian, and Ash watched the men exchange glances that told her that there was some sort of trouble. Even the Lisa woman had gone pale with the commotion. She looked to Mills, who she assumed was a bodyguard or hired gun based on the way the woman moved.

"Is your weapon assessable?" She asked in the Sani language, and the woman nodded. Drax looked at the strangely dressed woman and then back to his fiance.

"Don't do anything stupid."

"That woman is far from stupid, and it would do you good to not treat her as if she is."

"And you are?" Drax asked, and Ash theatrically straightened herself up pulling and tugging on her ill fitted clothing before leaning forward.

"They call me Ash, and I-" Ash's words were cut off as President Lee dropped his utensils on his plate with a loud clunk. She followed the man's gaze and the nation's leader was walking into the venue dressed in a suit that screamed authority.

"My dear Mills?" Ash said as a question and both women stood only to be pulled down by someone next to them.

"President Lee, don't tell me you don't want me to go." Ash's words held two meanings, and she wondered which one the man was going to answer.

"If you try to intervene, Mina will disappear."