Chapter 659: Intolerable

Mina climbed into the backseat with President Lee, but unlike what she was expecting, the man did not pull her closer, reach out to touch her hand, or even say a word. He opened his laptop and pulled out his phone, making a call as he pressed down on keys, replying to emails as he was talking to whoever it was that he called.

Hurt clutched at Mina's heart as she incorrectly assumed that President Lee's coldness was due to the actress that he had just met. When he said he would wait in the car, Mina had gone back to collect the things she had set down to investigate the commotion, and when she came back out, President Lee and the woman were talking as the man lazily leaned on his vehicle. She was hurt then, but his behavior toward her now made her feel even worse.

Back at the Lee mansion, Mina found dinner waiting for her in her room. It was not romantic, and it was clearly a setting for one. She ate, showered, and exited the bathroom expecting to find the man waiting for her, but he was not there. Sadness once again overtook her, and she considered how much of a fool she had been. What was the reason he wanted her to see his personal lab results in the first place? He was promiscuous, and she had done herself a disservice by allowing it to be pushed aside as something that he would change.

"Are you really not going to talk to me?" Mina heard, she turned to face the door that connected her room to President Lee's and shrugged.

"I didn't have much to say," she replied. Of all days for the man to decide that he wanted to pull away from her, it was by far the worst. In the morning, she was travelling to the hospital where her father was scheduled for surgery, and President Lee knew that.

"Mina, when you said you didn't want children, did you mean in general or with me?" Mina chuckled, he was trying to use her words against her, likely to have a valid excuse to walk away from what she believed they had been building, but she did not need any of that.

"There is no difference," Mina admitted. He was the man she was with, and she was the one he was looking forward to a future with. Her views on having children were with him, if he were someone else, she would not know how she would feel.

"How do you feel about me?" he pressed, and Mina found herself becoming embarrassed.

"President Lee, why are you doing this right now? Is it because of that actress?"

"Yes," Ian admitted, seeing hurt display on Mina's face before she reeled in her expression.

"We aren't in a relationship. You are free to do whatever you want." Ian rubbed at his temples not understanding how someone he cared so much about could be so intolerable at times. He stormed out of the room, slamming the door to make his point.

Ian went into his study, feeling hurt and confused, but because he was not ready to let go, he called Zane. He told his best friend what happened between Mina and himself, and the man burst into laughter, clearly amused at Ian's expense.

"Ian, you are really an idiot at times. She told you that she didn't want people to judge her for dating you and you showed up at her place of work?" Ian sank down into his chair.

"She won't have to worry about that for much longer, I told you that."

"But she doesn't know that, and even if she did; Ian, do you even know what Mina does when she is at Free?"

"They help divorcees."

"Yes, and women like her. Women who were given a promise without a title, and got nothing in return except-"

"A baby," Ian said in realization. He rubbed at his face roughly, once again realizing that he had misunderstood Mina. When she said she wanted certainty she was not talking about his sexual health. She wanted to make sure she was not setting herself up for failure. "What do I do?" He asked, and he could practically see Zane shaking his head as he chuckled.

"First, you are in the doghouse. Give her space tonight and talk to her in the morning." Ian gasped, and Zane questioned him in concern.

"I just remembered; her father has surgery scheduled for tomorrow."

"You're a real as*hole," Zane replied, making Ian chuckle despite himself.

"I am, but I will fix everything."

----

Mina arrived at the hospital where her father's surgery was scheduled to take place. It was private, so she was not worried about the quality of care, but she was concerned about the recovery time, and if her father would need anything extra when he went home, which was why she was 'permitted' to visit.

"Why do you look so gloomy?" her father asked, and Mina, who had been sitting in a corner reading a book, closed it.

"I wish mommy were here with us."

"She is making the arrangement for my recovery at home." Mina nodded. She knew that her mother was given a meal plan for her father which included light foods, and with the way her mother was, the woman was likely over preparing so that she could spend less time in the kitchen and more time tending to her husband.

"Is the money I send helping?" Mina asked, and her father nodded.

"I take less hours, and your mother is free to take care of the household. Your boss was very generous the last time you visited; she and I have been feasting." Mina chuckled, happy that her parents were finally enjoying themselves, even if it were humble. "You know, you didn't answer my question." Mina smirked and laid her head on the bed where her father was being given fluids. He gently patted her scalp, and she chuckled, remembering when he used to do that to her all the time.

"How did you tell mommy you wanted to be with her?" David sucked in a deep breath. He had a feeling a conversation along the lines he was hearing was coming.

"To be honest, we just happened."

"How?" Mina studied her father's face for a long time before she settled it within herself that he was the best person to speak to. He had her best interest in mind because he was her father, and he was unimpressed by money, so President Lee's status would not influence his answer. "President Lee and I, we are… we have been-"

"Stop right there," David interjected. "Mina, don't you think this is a conversation you should be having with your mother?" Mina just gave her father a look and he moved his hands in a gesture that told her to continue speaking because he knew that his wife was extremely conservative in her beliefs. "I like him a lot, but he wants something from me that I'm not sure I'm ready for." She went into detail, without specifics and David rubbed at his temples, not really wanting to hear about his daughter's love life.

"So, you two are already…?" Mina nodded at her father's dropped question, and he took a deep breath.

"Mina, this is not a question I can answer for you. What does your heart tell you?"

"To trust him," Mina admitted. "But every time I let my guard down, it's like something else happens." She told her father about Miss Lisa and then the actress, and she was surprised when her father told her that neither woman should influence her life decisions, and he pointed out where she may have gone wrong. "So, you think he was angry because I didn't call him my boyfriend?"

"Do you know how I tell you that your mother and I have been together since she was fifteen?" Mina nodded; it was a sense of pride for her father to have loved one woman for so long. "She tells people that we didn't start dating until we were twenty-one." Mina smiled because she knew that her mother counted the first day of their relationship from the day of marriage, but then realization dawned on her. "Maybe president Lee already sees you as his, and he is just waiting for you to understand that."

----

With Mina's father's surgery successfully completed, Dom escorted them back to their home, where her mother was anxiously waiting. She had clearly over cleaned, and Mina found herself confused by the recovery bed that had been set up in the sitting room, which also had been furnished. She questioned her parents, who said that President Lee sent it. Mina found herself smiling as she stroked the sofa, and when her mother told her to check her old bedroom, she found her heart beating wildly.

The room had been set up to sleep two people, and Mina knew that it was President Lee's way of telling her they would visit her family often. Her mother told her that since her last visit, men sent by the Lee group had been coming to service the home, and out of curiosity, Mina peaked into her parents' bedroom, which was also redesigned with an older couple in mind. She pulled out her phone and texted a simple 'Thank You' to the man, who she was now certain she wanted to be with.

Even if it faded, Mina told herself that she would be able to revisit the happy memories she had with the man, just like she was able to ignore the terrible things her sister had said and done to her, and only focus on the good. Falling in and out of love was a normal part of life, and she wanted to experience it.

----

Ian had spent the night tossing and turning in bed. He wanted to cross over into Mina's room, but Zane was right, she needed space and he would give it to her. The next day, he was in the middle of a meeting when he received a text that was simple but made him feel like a million tons of bricks had been lifted off his shoulders. He didn't text back, he did not have to, he knew that Mina could finally see that she was not a temporary portion of his life, and even if they did not last forever, he wanted to be with her.

When Mina returned, Ian made sure to stay out of sight; he knew they would just fall into bed with one another, but he wanted her to experience what he should have done for her from the beginning. He had a dress laid out for her, he had gotten someone to do her hair and make-up, and he was going to flaunt her to everyone, not as an employee, but as his. He had been wanting to propose to her before showing her off, but at the rate they were going she would deny his proposal and set them back to square one.

Standing outside of the venue, Ian watched as one of his cars pulled up. He opened the door for Mina, handing her a single rose as he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. She looked stunning, and the pale pink champagne color of the satin gown he had picked made her look ethereal. He was glad he had taken advice from Drax and included a shawl with the dress because he was certain she would be the center of attention.

"What is all this?" Mina asked, barely able to contain her smile, which Ian loved to see on her face.

"This is my aunt's event."

"President Cam's mother?"

"No, my mother's sister." Mina's eyes snapped to the man, who kissed her forehead.

"Let's not worry about anyone else tonight. I just want us to enjoy this moment together."