Chapter 600: Warning

Mills strode into The Red House with two thoughts on her mind. The first, was how the mansion got its name when it was ivory in color, and the second was why the President of a country she knew little about had summoned her without Drax. She had been on her way to a meeting with Mina when her driver was forced to pull over.

Mills recognized the man who had stopped the car as one of the men who had arrested Mina, so she followed him without protest. She had also sent a text to Drax, letting him know of the detour because she did not want to end up back where they came from. He immediately called her, and the worry in his tone let her know that he was unaware of the summons.

President Cam entered the room where Mills had only been once before. She was calmly scanning the artwork on the walls, wondering why there were no female heroines on display, despite the many contributions' women had made to the success of the nation.

"The Wall of Women is on the other side of the property," Cam said, seeming to have read Mills' body language.

"Hidden?"

"For private viewing only," Cam corrected. "Let me get to the point. I know you have been in contact with Ashlyn Tanner, and while I like Drax, he is Ian's friend, not Mine." Mills took a steadying breath. It was taking everything in her not to shoot the man she had grown to dislike based solely on his treatment of Mina.

"And if I don't comply?" Cam gave Mills a warning look. "I spotted you ten minutes ago. I was waiting for your attack, but I guess you aren't bold enough." Cam looked at Mills as if she had lost her mind, but then Ellie stepped out from around a corner. He just stared at the girl, who he had taken as a little cousin. Despite not being close with Ian or Luna, he genuinely liked Ellie, whose nature was more suited to his.

"What gave me away?" Ellie asked, she had been training for three years, and the fact that she could not beat Mills irritated her.

"Do you think I wanted to look at these hairy old men? The glass reflected your position." Ellie crossed her arms and Mills made a sympathetic face. "Little girl, when you live in a place as bad as where I am from, you learn to sleep with your eyes open." Cam cleared his throat, getting back the attention that had been stolen from him.

Mills rolled her eyes before once again asking what the consequences would be if she did not turn on Ash, and once again Cam threatened Drax. The woman took another deep breath before flatly denying the request. Ellie became angry, and she accused Mills of not caring about Drax, but Mills reminded her that threats against loved ones never stop. She told Ellie that if she were to fold now, he would use Drax against her again in the future.

"Mills I am not joking," Cam said exasperatedly, and the woman sighed out loud.

"I will not tell you where she is, but I can ask her if she wants to come forward." Cam stared at Mills with a gaping mouth. He could not at first see what Drax saw in her, but he finally realized that they were perfect for one another; maybe too perfect.

Cam agreed to Mills' suggestion, who, before calling, asked him exactly what he planned to do to Ash. She reminded him that Mina loved Ash like a sister, and she not so subtly warned him that Mina was more capable than she let on, something Cam did not need her to remind him of.

"Just make the call," the man said impatiently, leaving Ellie baffled by the amount of power the mention of Mina had with so many of the men she knew.

Mills dialed Ash's secure number, and the woman answered with a voice changer. She did not lie to her friend, and she told her exactly where she was, and the threat that made her call.

"He wants you to turn yourself in," Mills said. She nodded her head while listening to Ash's response, then turned back to answer President Cam. "Ash says no." Cam grit his teeth, he was showing restraint specifically because Mills was Drax's fiancé, and while the man was not his friend, he was like family.

"Tell her that I will kill Mina."

"She heard you, and she said, 'okay.'" Cam's mouth hung open.

"What kind of friend is she?" He asked incredulously.

"The kind who knows that Mina would rather die than to be used as a weapon against us." Cam knew that Mina was associated with eccentric women, but he had no idea how unique the group was.

"Tell her that we have a common enemy and I have an assignment for her."

"She heard you, and she said, 'you are lying.'"

"If that is what she thinks, fine; but tell her that if she does not appear where Ellie can find her within three days, I will kill Mina's parents."

----

Mina was driving to the Lee building with President Lee. The man had set up a meeting with the people who would be working on their joint venture, including Cylus, who she knew he was no fan of, but she assumed it was due to Miss Lisa. She was busy texting, until President Lee snatched her device and tossed it into the backseat.

"Why?" Mina asked, hating that President Lee had managed to land her phone out of reach without her climbing to get it.

"You've been distracted since you went out with your friends. I thought it would pass, but it has been a week and you have been glued to your phone. I do not want you sidetracked during this meeting. The mineral dealer you chose can afford not to work with me, and your reputation isn't the best right now." Mina nodded; it was true that she had been using her device more than normal.

"Sorry, Brayden has been trying to cheer me up; you already know about Paul." Ian rolled his eyes. He hated how Brayden was manipulating Mina into thinking he cared about her, when Ian knew for a fact that the man was just trying to get into bed with her. He too had tried Brayden's method, and for the most part, it worked, only his goal was not to bed Mina, it was to befriend her.

"You know that Brayden isn't your friend, right?" Mina made a face that made Ian laugh loudly. "Mina, that man just wants to f*ck you."

"President Lee!" Mina shouted. "Please don't talk like that, I don't like it."

"Okay, fine, but I am telling you the truth. You can ask any man you know, and he will tell you the same thing."

"You are just trying to scare me." Ian disliked that Mina still did not catch on to his feelings for her, but he was being patient for a reason.

"Why would I need to do that? Are you not already afraid of men as it is?"

"Yes, but-"

"No buts Mina. Brayden is not a good man. If you do not believe me, ask Zane." Mina stayed quiet, she did not know why President Lee was so against the idea of her having any sort of relationship with the man, and his constant character attacks on him were starting to irritate her.

----

Following the meeting, which went well, Mina once again found herself unable to concentrate. Paul did not stop after she blocked his number, he simply changed his, and continued to pester her. No longer did he send confessions of love, but hate filled words that Mina could only assume came from his fiancé.

Paul accused her of trying to destroy his relationship with his friends, and when he was done with that lie, he moved onto calling her a prostitute. He claimed to have proof that she had sold her body, and Mina could not help but to think that he was referring to the night she had snuck into President Lee's room.

The only thing that stopped Mina from folding and meeting the man like he insisted was Brayden's assurance that Paul was just jealous. He told her that none of their mutual friends had even asked about her, in part because she had come with him, and they knew he would not answer, and because he had introduced her clearly.

"Looks like Mina has finally found someone worthy of her undivided attention," Zane teased, and her face turned red. "I thought you would be over that by now," the man said, making Mina cover her cheeks.

"I can't help it," she replied. "It's a biological reaction I cannot control."

"Speaking of biological reactions," President Lee interjected. "Mina doesn't believe me when I tell her that Brayden just wants to f*ck her."

"President Lee," Mina shouted again. "Please, words like that don't sound right coming from you." Zane was also put off by how vulgar Ian's speech was, but he was fairly certain the man was beside himself with jealousy. Ian had spent the entire meeting regarding the startup staring at the woman, who was attentively listening to the mineral dealer.

"Is that who you are texting?" Zane asked, unable to address Ian's issue because he too was put off by the possibility that Mina was taking Brayden seriously. "Mina, that man is worse than me. Take it from someone who knows. Ian is right; Brayden just wants to sleep with you."

"Can we not talk about him and does anyone know why Mills did not show up?" The men exchanged glances and Mina shot out the chair she was sitting in. "Did something happen?" She asked in a panic tone. "What are you hiding from me?" Ian hated to see Mina agitated, and as part of his attempts to prove to her that they could be friends, he told her the truth.

"Cam found out that Mills and Ashlyn have been contacting one another. She may no longer be a mark, but she is still wanted." Mina's eyes widened.

"Is Mills in trouble?" Mina asked. At the same time, she was dialing Cam's number, hoping that the man would answer and when he did, she immediately started asking questions.

"First, you need to calm down. Second, Mills is fine. She and Ellie are having a little discussion," Cam said, and by discussion, he meant a full-on fistfight.

"Why can't you just leave my friends alone? What do I have to do to prove I am not a threat toward your family?"