Chapter 580: Trance

Brayden's confession made Mina's heart thud in her chest. The man was staring at her, waiting for a response, but she could not open her mouth, nor could she formulate a reply. She felt her face growing hot as his gaze bore down on her, and in that moment, Mina was tempted to let the chips fall where they may, but Connor and Cylus had warned her about the man.

"Brayden. You do not like me. You may find me attractive, but you do not know enough about me to like me." Once again Mina was shocked by the man's honesty.

"It's true, when I first saw you, I only noticed your appearance, and in the meetings I later had with you, I was still mostly drawn to your beauty, but with each conversation we have, I like you a little more." Mina opened her mouth and pulled in air, ready to rebuttal the man's statement, but he cut her off again. "At least give me a chance to prove it to you."

"How?" Mina whispered the response before considering what she was agreeing to, but Brayden did not give her a chance to regret replying.

"Exchange numbers with me; we can move slowly. Give me a chance to really get to know you." Mina felt her mouth going dry and she suddenly felt insecure. There were many women who would trade years off their lives for the opportunity Brayden was giving her, and she felt like she could not compete. "Why do you look scared?"

"I'm just… Well, to be honest, this is a little confusing to me." Brayden lifted Mina's chin while simultaneously stepping closer to her, and Mina felt her legs going weak. She took a step back, casting her eyes around the room to make sure no one had been watching the interaction.

"I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." Mina nodded at the man.

"I should go."

"Wait, your number." Brayden handed Mina his phone and she input her contact details into it. "Just Mina?" The man asked. "No hearts?"

"Why would I do that?" Brayden could not tell whether Mina was the best flirter in the world or the worst, but everything she said and did made him more intrigued.

"I'll explain it after I call you." Mina's face turned red again, and Brayden smirked at her before walking away.

----

Mina's confidence in the event was boosted when she saw Miss Meagan laughing with Mrs. Jenkins, who she had introduced earlier in the evening. There were mild disturbances here and there, but nothing that could not be quickly corrected. Miss Lisa had not shown up, but her brother and his heavily pregnant wife had graced the event.

The woman was eagerly looking around, pointing and pouting when she realized an item had already been purchased. Mina found her eyes resting on the woman's swollen abdomen, and she wondered if Olivia would be one of the lucky ones, or would she blow up like a balloon. Her mind then travelled to a place that she hated, and she quickly shook the thoughts of having her own children away.

Needing a moment to stop her brain from tormenting itself, Mina stepped into a back room that held the replacement items. To keep the event fresh, fully purchased items were removed and prepared for shipping, and new items were placed to occupy the space.

The room was without doors, so Mina did not fear being alone, and she allowed herself a moment to relax. The sound of clicking heels could be heard and Mina turned with a smile, thinking Willow had come to find her, but instead she was greeted by Miss Maggie.

"How dare you?" The woman snarled. "Do you really think that just because you're sleeping with someone with money, I will allow you to steal my fiancé?" Mina did not defend herself. She was not sleeping with anyone, but she did intend to try her chances with Paul.

"Miss Maggie-"

"No, you will address me with respect." Mina took a deep breath. She deserved the verbal assault she was about to receive, and she was just grateful that the woman waited to do it in private.

"Miss Arden; Paul is your fiancé, and he loves you. I am just his friend, and if it makes you feel any better, I will never speak to him again."

"If it makes me feel any better?" Maggie mocked as she had closed the distance between herself and Mina, and she was poking a finger into the woman's shoulder. "Do you realize that you ruined my life? And for what? So you could end up the plaything of a man who doesn't even respect you enough to care about your reputation?" Mina closed her eyes tightly, but she did not speak. Maggie continuously berated her, increasing the intensity of her pokes until she was pushing Mina. The more the woman spoke, the more aggressive she became, but eventually Maggie pushed the wrong button. "Do you know why I never bothered going after your family?"

----

When Ian arrived, he was immediately pleased with how decent the crowd size was. Mina was right, Willow and Olivia were more than capable with limited resources, so he was sure they would impress him when they had more at their disposal. His eyes scanned around the event and landed on Zane, who was speaking with his mother and another woman who Ian did not recognize.

Making his way over to the group, Ian greeted everyone in the proper order, not because he had to, his financial status exempted him from silly societal rules, but he was at the event as a guest and wanted to give Mina's contacts the best impression possible. He had already come late, and he did not want people to think it meant that the event was unimportant to him.

"You made it," Miss Meagan said.

"What kind of man would I be if I let my best friend's mother down?" Miss Meagan pinched Ian's cheek and the woman they were speaking with seemed shocked by the action. "Where is Miss Mina?"

Zane pointed and Ian saw Mina staring at someone and following her line of sight, he spotted Kace and Charlotte Anders. At first, Ian believed that Mina was nervous about the man's arrival, but when her hands rested on her flat stomach, he realized she was staring at Charlotte. The woman left the room, and Ian excused himself before following her.

Ian did not believe that Mina was pregnant by Milo, with twins no less, and he could only think of one thing that could make her have a reaction like that. Not knowing what to say, or how to say it, Ian's pace slowed, and when he saw Miss Maggie follow Mina into the room, he had the area cleared and quietly stood by the entrance listening to the women.

"...plaything of a man who doesn't even respect you enough to care about your reputation. Do you know why I never bothered going after your family? It's because everyone knew that they didn't care about you. If your own parents don't love you, why would anyone else?"

The sounds of a scuffle could be heard, and Ian stepped into the room. He watched Mina put everything she had learned from Dom into action, and before he knew it Maggie was on the ground and Mina was sitting on the woman's chest, beating down on her face.

Paul must have known where his fiancé was going to be, because he barged into the room, and tried to break the women up, but President Lee held the man back with a warning gaze. When Maggie was no longer moving, Ian released Paul, who pulled Mina off his fiancé with enough force to send her flying backward.

Mina shook her head, almost as if she were snapping out of a trance, and when she looked at the blood on her hands she began to cry.

"Paul I-" Mina went to rest a hand on Paul's shoulder, but the man violently shrugged her away.