Chapter 419: You Really Are...

Willow and Olivia had made fun of Mina for getting a present for Connor, and when she delicately tied a ribbon around the box, both had nearly died of laughter. She had no idea why they were laughing, but she assumed that it was because Connor would expect gifts like cars and other expensive items. They refused to tell Mina what they were snickering about, so she put it to the back of her mind, hoping, and half knowing that it was not something serious.

Once Willow was fully clothed, she explained to Olivia and Mina that she wanted to cause a bit of mischief before she regrouped with them. She said that she wanted to stand out, something she claimed she could not do with either woman by her side. Unwilling to argue over who was the most eye catching, Mina agreed.

Olivia, who was wearing a corset top dress paired with flat thigh-high boots, also wanted to enter alone. While she looked beautiful, she did not want anyone to start pestering her with questions about why she was limping, so she asked Mina to walk in ahead of her, hoping that it would take some of the attention off of her as she slowly walked into the room.

Mina of course agreed, she knew that Olivia's ankle had been paining her for some time, and she worried that the woman may have a fracture or torn ligament. All Mina had to do was walk into the party, stop, and wait for Olivia to catch up to her. From there, they would find a place to sit, and Willow would meet them later. However, things seldom go according to plan when variables are not considered.

As prearranged, Mina walked in a few minutes after Willow and waited for Olivia to join her. While she stood there, Brayden came to greet her and this time, she did not look away from his face when he said hello to her. Although Mina knew that the man was interested, he had not made any true advance toward her since asking her about children. She was under the impression that he had gotten the point, or that Cylus had spoken to him on her behalf.

"You should dress like this more often," said Brayden, who was drinking in Mina's body as if he could not wait to see her without clothes. Feeling the 'yuck' in his gaze, Mina took a step back, and the man quickly adjusted himself. "You don't like being looked at, do you?" Mina shook her head, not trusting her voice around the handsome man. Something about him made it hard for her to ignore him, even though she wanted to. Mina opened her mouth, looking for words when an opportunity to escape supplied itself.

"Happy birthday," Mina said to Connor, who she knew had chosen to celebrate himself on the actual day he was born. She produced a small box and handed it to the man.

Although she had not bought it herself, Mina did get her gift with Connor's birthday in mind. It was originally a 'thank you' present from AccuVision, who Mina told she collected men's cufflinks. The company did not ask questions, and a day later she received a brilliant set of sapphire and white crystal links that she knew were worth thousands after having them appraised with James.

While the gift had always been for Connor; Mina believed he would just toss them to the side with the hundreds of other gifts she was sure he would receive, but the man looked surprised when she handed him the little package. He took the box from her hands, not waiting until after his party to open it in private. Connor looked at the delicately crafted men's accessory and said the first thing that popped into his head.

"Marry me." At those words, Mina's head shook back and forth as her eyes widened in shock. Olivia, who had just caught up to Mina, arrived just in time to see Connor with a small box in his hands, asking Mina to marry him, and her reaction was just as dramatic.

Mina was confused, she knew that Connor was born and raised in Pan, despite his family being from another country. She searched her mind, wondering if somewhere within the culture of the rich there was an obscure practice of getting a man to propose marriage with cufflinks. There was also the possibility that he was asking her a question about her gift. Maybe her giving him the links meant she was proposing to him? Either way, Mina was panicked because Connor looked serious.

"Don't scare her away," Brayden said, remembering that Bastien had warned him in the same way in the past, and he now could see why. Mina appeared to have shut down with the sudden suggestion.

"Big difference between you and I," Connor replied. He had not been there when Brayden boldly asked Mina if she wanted to 'make babies,' but Bastien had told him about it, and although Connor did not care back then, he was now offended on Mina's behalf. "Unlike you, I am starting from marriage. I was told you skipped a few steps." Brayden narrowed his eyes at Connor, realizing that the man was trying to make him look bad.

Olivia, who was now standing beside Mina, pulled her friend in close while the two men went back and forth with one another. She asked Mina if her ears had played tricks on her, but Mina shook her head, still wearing the expression of a deer in headlights. The two women tried to sneak away, thinking that they had become ignored, but Connor reached out and grabbed Mina's upper arm. It was not an aggressive gesture, it was, in fact, a gentle expression of his unwillingness to let her walk away from him.

"You didn't give me an answer," he said, not wanting to let the most beautiful woman in the room leave his side. Olivia's eyes widened because she could tell Connor was being genuine.

"Why?" Mina asked, as if she were actually considering it. Connor, sensing a small window of opportunity, crept closer to the twenty-two-year-old who had captured the attention of the room with just her impression.

"Because; out of every person here, you are the only one who prepared something, even though you knew it might not have impressed me." Mina still did not understand, so she questioned the man. "I have been throwing these parties for years, and today is the first time I have ever received anything. Everyone is so worried about appearance that they don't even try." Mina shook her head in disagreement.

"It's hard to get a suitable present for someone who probably already has what a person of lower status can buy." Mina tried to defend the invited guests, and her simple words made Connor like her all the more.

"I didn't see it at first," he said, pushing Mina's curl behind her ear. "But you really are-"

"Get your hands off my friend." Willow interjected. She pulled Mina away from Connor, who looked as though she had crossed a line he would not forgive. Brayden had already walked away. He was not starving for female attention, and he could just wait until Connor got bored or gave up.

"Your answer?" Connor asked, ignoring Willow completely.

"What answer?" Willow could tell that Connor had completely focused on Mina. When Olivia told her, Willow bellowed in laughter. "Mina, don't respond," she said. Willow saw an opportunity in Connor's confession, something she believed wouldn't last long. "Mina is being honored by our Alma Mater. If you want to show your sincerity, do it there." Connor cast his eyes toward Willow knowing she had a hidden agenda, but unsure of what it could be.