Chapter 603: Moving Past

Mills listened to her friend and involuntarily clutched at herself. Mina caught sight of the action and frowned at the woman before telling her that she did not remember the incident at all.

"How can you not remember? I thought your memory was perfect." Mina smiled at Mills, telling her that she had several black out experiences during her childhood.

"Between the ages of five and seven there are things I have done that I don't actually remember. The only reason I know of them is because other people have told me."

"How do you know they are telling the truth?" Mina shrugged. She had often wondered the same, but it all balled down to one thing...

"What reason would there be to lie?" Mills did not want to pry any further, and as much as she hated to admit it, if what Mina told her was true, then she could see how the girl could not help but to feel indebted to her parents.

"Do you want me to get President Lee for you?" Mina nodded and reached out her hand to Mills in a gesture that showed the woman that she wanted her to hold it.

"I'm telling you this because we are the same. I have not told anyone else. Please let me tell the others at my own pace." Mills nodded, exiting the car, and heading back to where everyone was waiting.

When Mills returned to the visitors' room of The Red House, she did not even have time to tell President Lee where Mina was because the man was already questioning her from the moment she returned alone.

Mills watched him jog out of the room and she wondered how much longer Mina would remain oblivious to the man's affections for her.

"Why do you look so sad?" Cam asked, not used to seeing Mills look somber. He was convinced that Mina had told her something, and he wanted to know what it was.

"Mina's parents; are you sure we need them around?" Cam furrowed his brow, pressing Mills to tell him what she knew. "All I can say is; can you imagine growing up being told your existence was an accident?"

----

Ian got into his car and slowed when he saw Mina sitting in the backseat. He knew she was not in the best of moods, and instead of asking her to move to the front, he assured her that Ash was completely safe and started to drive. It did not take long for her to realize the car was not going in the direction of his home, but she only voiced her concern when the sun started to set in the sky.

"Where are you taking me?" Mina asked. It was not a worried question, but rather a lazy one that made Ian smirk. It was not too long ago that she would have freaked out about being driven to an unknown location with him, but now she at least trusted him enough not to assume the worst.

"It's a surprise." Mina hmphed and Ian chuckled at her expression. He liked the dynamic of their relationship. She was never out to impress him; in fact, it was quite the opposite, she literally did not care what he thought about her.

Ian stopped the car and climbed out, opening the door for Mina as she too alighted from the vehicle. He had never played the role of chauffeur before, but with Mina it felt fun. The woman stepped to the edge of the small structure they were parked on and peaked over the edge.

"Are you going to throw me off?" She teased, making Ian roll his eyes before pointing at the building across from the parking tower they stopped on.

"That building belongs to you." Mina's head sprang toward President Lee, who wore a smile that made her cheeks go red.

"What is it for?"

"Cam and I came to an agreement. We see potential in Free, and that is a new women and childrens low-income housing unit." Ian was not expecting it, but Mina wrapped him in a hug before pulling away too quickly.

"I promise you won't regret it," she said, as she pulled out her phone, eager to share the news with Miss Meagan.

Ian could hear the old woman shout in glee, and he found himself smiling at Mina's back as she described the location. He could have lived in the moment forever, but a text from Cam broke him out of his dream. He knew that his cousin was the high-ranking official who had put the hit on Mina's parents, and the man was waiting for Ian's okay to allow Ellie to do away with the couple.

[Good?]

[Wait.] Ian replied.

Mina turned to look at President Lee who wore a somber expression as he looked down at his phone. She automatically assumed it had something to do with the woman he was dating, and she playfully pushed him with her shoulder.

"Everything okay with Dari?"

"She and I called things off more than a week ago. She just invited me to her wedding." Ian lied, but it was true. The invitation had come, just not at that moment.

"That was fast," Mina said before considering that her words were insensitive. "I mean… I am sorry."

"Don't be. She was in a rush to get married, and actually went after Zane while she and I were still courting."

"Is she trying to make you jealous?" Mina's tone was gloomy as she asked, and Ian could not help but laugh at her. "Why are you laughing?"

"Because you actually sound concerned for me." Mina's cheeks turned red, and Ian laughed louder.

"Don't get too used to it. You deserve it for Miss Lisa." The smile Ian had been wearing melted off his face and Mina's expression mirrored his. "I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"Mina, is there any way we can get past Lisa?" Mina did not understand what President Lee was asking her, so she agreed to the man, making his smile return.

"Can I ask you for a favor?" Mina suddenly asked, and Ian moved closer to her, completely misreading the state of their relationship and where it was heading.

"Miss Jacqueline is the only one who can clear up the surveillance footage. Do you think you can give her a break this time?" Ian winced. He had nothing to do with the problems the woman found herself in, and he relayed the information to Mina.

"I can't help you with her directly, but I think I know of a way to help."

----

Emma sat across from Mina and President Ian Lee of the Lee group, completely confused as to why the man was coming to her to write a script for him. As soon as she heard the story line it was meant to follow, she knew it was based on Mina, and understood what the man was trying to do at once. She already had some dialogue and story setting that could fit the narrative, and working with a short series twelve-episode concept, Emma pretty much had everything done within a week.

Mina announced her withdrawal from retirement and the start of the new series on the same day, while President Lee secured a director to work with the women. Unfortunately, he went with Matthew Porter, which meant that Peter would be tagging along. Mina spoke to Olivia about it, but the woman insisted that the potential for growth was greater than her dislike for her ex-whatever.

The women started to film immediately, and Miss Jacqueline was able to pay her taxes down with the money she was given in exchange for the unlimited use of her restaurant in filming. Mina was playing a character like herself, so she did not need to work on speech patterns or mannerisms. She just had to memorize her lines and deliver them, which she did with ease.

The first two episodes were easy to shoot, and they were the most important. They featured the back story of a girl who was orphaned and struggled to survive on bread and honey, but eventually that is not enough, and she is forced to eat scraps from work. They incorporated the surveillance footage of Mina rummaging through the kitchens at work, and with help of digital enhancements and makeup, it was nearly impossible to tell how long ago the video had been captured.

After the episodes aired, director Porter held a press conference for Mina to clarify the footage that had been released. She described it as a greedy person trying to capitalize off her by misrepresenting the footage he released, and soon Miss Jacqueline found herself the center of negative attention, but Mina could not bring herself to feel sorry for the woman.

After the press conference, Mina waited for Olivia and Willow, who were busy networking. Olivia's tummy had gotten to a point where it was becoming more difficult to hide, so she wore lots of ruffles, which worked in her favor, as many reporters were posting images of her as a trend setter.

----

Olivia had to shake her head at the images of herself being called trendy, fresh and young. It was not that long ago when her name was synonymous with scandalous, wild and rebel. She put her phone away internally smiling for everything bad that had happened to her. She had met wonderful people as a result, and she was even at a point in her life where she felt like she could reach out to her cousin again.

Olivia was due for her second sonogram which would tell her the sex of her baby, and everyone had agreed that they would have the doctor write it down so it could be reveal to her on her birthday, which was just weeks away. She rubbed at the small bump, promising the unborn child that he or she would not be a secret after they were born. She hated that she had to hide all the time, and now that her financial situation had leveled considerably, she wondered if it was even necessary.

"You spend a lot of time hiding in dark rooms," Peter said, and Olivia quickly adjusted her jacket so that the ruffles would once again do their magic. The man did not even notice the small protrusion and continued speaking. "Look, I'm sorry for the way things ended between us. I genuinely thought you and Chance were a thing." Olivia became annoyed, but she appreciated the clarification.

"You were mistaken, but I would have never done to you what you did to me." Olivia went to walk away, but Peter blocked her path.

"Can you at least tell me what I did wrong?" Olivia shook her head, finding the man's words funny. The truth was he did nothing wrong. They were not in an official relationship, and even if she expected him to remain faithful, it meant nothing.

"You did nothing wrong. I just assumed we were something more." Olivia made a gesture for Peter to move but he stayed in her way.

"What does that mean?"

"Peter, you've moved on and so have I. Let's leave the past where it is. Mary and I have already had our share of troubles and I'm in no condition for a fight."

"Are you still sick?" The man asked, completely ignoring her words.

"I was, and I'm still recovering. Now if you would let me leave." The man nodded and Olivia opened the door to reveal Dom standing outside of it with a concerned expression on his face.

"You were taking too long. I got worried." Olivia smiled at the man, linking their arms together.

"I'm fine now," she said, trying to let the man know that seeing Peter no longer bothered her. "Is Mina still waiting?" Olivia and Dom went to walk away but Peter boldly grabbed her hand.

"I don't believe you are married to him."