Revelations!

Her grandmother had called Mina the day of the event sounding excited. Both her grandmother and her parents were excited to see Mina and her new husband. Mina, however, felt a little nervous about it.

She knew they had said they forgave her and were happy for her but she couldn't help the nagging fleeing in the back of her mind. The one that constantly said 'they will never forgive you or trust you again!'

Aiden watched as Mina sat deep in thought at the kitchen isle absentmindedly pushing her breakfast around on the plate. He could probably tell what she was thinking about.

"Mina?"

No response. He chuckled, stood and moved around to stand behind her. Mina jumped when she felt his soft hands massaging her shoulders. She moaned softly and tilted her head back to look up at him. He took the invitation, intentional or not, to kiss her deeply before pulling back.

"Stop worrying about tonight, you'll reconnect with your family and you'll finally show him who you really are," he told her.

Mina smiled up at him and gripped both of his hands and sighed.

"I know, I'm just nervous I guess," she said whilst gently squeezing his hands.

"Take Clay out and treat yourselves."

"Oh don't worry Mr big boss man, we are already going to do that," Clay called out happily as he entered the kitchen.

Daniel walked in behind him and smiled.

"Yes, we have cleared Miss Mina's diary for the day," he added.

"Good!" Aiden beamed. "What time do we have to be there?"

"Well it starts at half six, and .... oh no!" Mina called out standing up in a rush.

All three men looked alert, alarmed and worried as they stared at her.

"I told Ben to pick me up at seven, if he does that then we can't ..." she trailed off.

All three almost gave an audible sigh of relief when they realised it wasn't anything serious. Aiden pulled Mina into his arms whilst Clay chuckled.

"Oh that's fixable, just give Ben a call and tell him your parents want you to come and help set things up so, you will meet him there," Clay offered.

Mina nodded and took out her phone Ben didn't answer. It took her several attempts before he finally answered, and when he did he sounded out of breath and she could hear a strange sound in the background. The old Mina would have thought that he had been running or doing some other type of exercise. Now, though, she knew better.

"Mina? what is it?" he asked not bothering to say hello.

"Good morning to you too," she grumbled.

"What? oh sorry good morning Mina, what do you want?" he asked, slightly more pleasant than before but only slightly.

"I'm just calling to tell you about a change of plans for tonight, so ..." she started but Ben interrupted.

"What! what change? please don't tell me you fucked up my chance to get back in with your family and the high society. For god's sake Mina, you have one job to do," he ranted and for once it didn't hurt.

"Actually, what I was going to say before you so rudely interrupted me was, that my family have asked me to come and help set up like I used to do. So, that means I won't be able to arrive with you. I will have to meet you there," she told him.

"Oh ... Oh well I ... I mean I was just worried that you had messed up getting back with your family ..." there was a long pause before he started speaking again. "Going without you is fine, I can just see you there. Can you put Lola down as well, as my assistant I mean? If tonight goes as planned I will need her on hand."

Mina rolled her and inwardly cringed. At first, she thought about refusing but then an image of Lola's face when she discovered that Mina was the one that came out on top not her was too priceless to pass up.

"Yeah sure Ben, I'll let them know," she said before hanging up quickly.

"Ready for a pamper day?" Clay asked.

-----

Several hours later Mina was walking into the large banquet hall in a pale purple, strapless floor-length dress with Clay by her side. They had arranged to arrive separately so as not to spoil the surprise.

The large space was lined with various tables piled high with food and drinks. Speakers draped with white linen played soft music as people stood and talked or slowly danced in the centre. Mina found her grandmother standing off to the side.

"Mina! You look beautiful my girl and Clay you look very handsome too. Where is my gorgeous son in law?" She asked whilst scanning the people around them.

Mina and Clay chuckled at the older lady as she pouted.

"He'll be here soon, we've arrived separately just in case," Mina told her with a wink.

An hour later and the event was in full swing. Aiden had arrived ten minutes after Mina but per her instructions, he remained distant. She felt a little out of place at first, having not been to such a function in a long time but after a while with her grandmother eased all her fears.

She was starting to enjoy herself. Well, that was until a woman she recognised walked up to them in a tight-fitting, red dress that revealed far too much.

"Hello, Ms Logan, it is so lovely to see you again!" she cooed as she got near.

Mina could almost hear the sigh and eye roll her grandmother did. Clay snickered behind them as Tanya walked up.

"Hello again, Miss Collins," Diana said softly as if she didn't really want to speak to her.

"Who is this with you, I don't think we've met before," she said whilst holding out her hand to Mina. "I'm Tanya Collins, my family owns one of the most successful real estate companies in the country, and you are?"

"This, Miss Collins, is my granddaughter," her grandmother spoke for her.

Tanya's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at Mina.

"What! I didn't know you had a granddaughter, she is so beautiful. She must take after you, right?"

Mina, her grandmother and Clay all inwardly rolled their eyes at her. Tanya continued to stare at Mina as if trying to place her from somewhere.

"Have we met before?" she asked.

Mina shook her head but before she could say anything Tanya had already lost interest.

"Oh well, you probably have one of those faces that looks like everyone else. Anyway, I have ...." Tanya stopped speaking as she noticed something behind the group.

Everyone turned to see what had captivated her so much, but Mina had a sneaking suspicion she knew what or more pointedly who it was. Aiden stood talking to Daniel and Mina's heart skipped.

"Sorry, I have to go," Tanya said quickly, before heading straight for him.

Before, Mina would have worried about her place in Aiden's life but not now. Now, she knew how he felt about her and that this thing between them won't end after the year is up.

She watched from afar as Daniel prevented Tanya from approaching Aiden. Clay chuckled as they watched a few guards usher her away.

"Oh my! Did she do something to my grandson in law?" Mina's grandma asked joyfully.

"That was the woman I replaced," Mina said with a smirk.

"A total upgrade if you ask me," Clay added.

---

Ben arrived with Lola in tow an hour into the event, immediately he found Mina with her grandmother. He wore a dark blue suit which compared to Aiden's black one looked ill-fitting on him and Lola was dressed in a backless, low-cut gold sequin dress. An odd choice for someone that is supposed to be here as an assistant.

"If I had known assistants could dress like that here, I would have worn mine," Clay whispered.

Mina and her grandmother both chuckled as they approached.

"Diana! It's so good to see you, it's been too long," Ben greeted cheerfully.

Diana bristled at how over-familiar he sounded to her. He went to hug her but to his embarrassment and Mina and Clay's enjoyment, she stepped back and held her hand up to stop him.

"It's Ms Logan if you don't mind. Only family and close friends call me by my first name and you are neither," she told him in a curt tone.

Ben tried to recover but blushed bright red.

"Oh yes, I'm sorry Ms Logan," he stammered. "Mina why didn't you warn me about what to call your family members."

Mina mentally rolled her eyes. He insults her grandmother and it's her fault, of course.

"It's not my granddaughter's job to remind you of your manners, young man. It is a little something called common courtesy towards your elders."

Ben stammered and turned redder than before whilst Mina and Clay smiled with pride at her. She was just as fiery as Mina remembered her. She wrapped an arm through her grandmother's arm and gave her a small kiss on the cheek.

"Come on, let's go and find your parents," she told her.

Without an invitation, Ben and Lola followed behind them. Mina was glad to see Aiden stood close by as they found them.

"Mina!" her mother called and pulled her into a hug. "You look so beautiful my darling!"

"Thank you," Mina said whilst blushing.

"Doesn't she just," Ben spoke up attracting everyone's attention. "Mr and Mrs Logan, it's so good to see you once again. I always knew that we would meet up again."

Mina's parents politely shook his hand but you could see, by their cold eyes and set mouths that it wasn't something they wanted to do. They looked behind him at Lola who tried to shrink away, a little, under their gazes.

"Is this your date?" Mina's mother asked, glancing from her to Mina and back again.

"No, of course not mother. This is Lola, she's only Ben's assistant," Mina added when it looked like Ben couldn't form a sentence. "He asked if she could come as his assistant, just in case she was needed."

Mina didn't miss the scowl that passed Lola's face as well as the glare that Ben directed at her.

"Really?" Mr Logan asked.

Mina and Clay nodded. All three of the senior Logan's looked Lola up and down with hard-faced expressions. Lola stepped slightly behind Ben as if to hide.

"She's not dressed very appropriately, is she? After all, she isn't here as an invited guest or their plus one. Does your assistant usually dress like this?" Mr Logan addressed Ben who blushed once again. "You must remind her of her place, Mr Kramer."

"Ooh Burn!" Clay whispered into Mina's ear.

She had to use all her restraint not to laugh especially when Lola glared at them. They guessed she had an idea what they were talking about.

"Er ... of course," he stammered. "Well anyway, Mina and I will be getting married soon. I hope you can come to the courthouse."

"Courthouse? Married?" Mrs Logan asked.

"Yes, I have booked a date next month and then it will be official. As soon as we are husband and wife I can finally move in with Mina," he said smugly.

Mina had no doubt that he was probably picturing moving into her home, setting up those essential contacts and using her family's name for all it was worth.

"Really? I'm happy to say that won't be happening ever."

Everyone turned at the deep voice. Ben gasped, Lola smiled flirtatiously, and everyone else smiled. Though they had yet to meet, Mr and Mrs Logan already knew who the man interrupting them was.

"Aiden Danvers? The Aiden Danvers? Never did I think I would get a chance to talk to you. You belong to one of the most wealthy and influential families in the country. It's an absolute honour," Ben sounded like a schoolboy seeing their celebrity crush.

He was so star struck that it took him several minutes more to realise what he had said. He frowned at the man as Aiden moved to stand next to Mina who smiled at him. 'Does she know him?' he thought as he turned to look at Lola.

He glared at her when he saw her obviously sending flirty looks to Aiden. Ben coughed slightly to get her attention and she blushed at being caught. He sent her a look that said I would deal with you later.

"What did you mean a minute ago when you said it won't be happening? What won't be happening?" he asked.

"What I mean is, you can't move into that house as it belongs to me," he said slowly as if he was talking to a small child.

Ben stared open-mouthed and wide-eyed at him. He looked at Lola who looked equally confused. When he finally turned his gaze to Mina she could see a mocking glint.

"Mina? How could you lie to me? You told me YOU lived there," he actually pointed at her. "You said it was your family's home. So, it's actually his house and you've been what? sleeping somewhere else and pretending to Iive there? Or do you work there as a maid or something? I bet you've been too embarrassed to tell me the truth and rightly so."

Ben sounded cruel and ugly as he continued his rant as if he was suddenly oblivious to the others around them. Mina smirked inwardly but kept her face passive. She couldn't help the smile when she saw Lola trying to pull on his sleeve to get him to stop. At least she was aware of the company they were in.

"I mean seriously Mina, were you just pissed off that I missed our appointment, that you decided to make up some elaborate plan to get back at me. For god's sake! It wasn't even anything that important. You have humiliated me in front of Aiden Danvers, do you have any idea how this can damage my future!"

"Our unimportant appointment?" Mina said cooly pretending to think of what he meant. "Oh! You mean our wedding! That is what you referred to as not important. The one you missed after supposedly having an important client meeting slash doctor's appointment."

Ben stilled, realized what he had said and who was nearby. He flushed red and started to stutter.

"Well ... I ... I mean ..." he couldn't form any words let alone a sentence.

"It's nice to know that is what you thought of what was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. You told me the reason for missing our wedding date, was because you had an unexpected important client appointment and then it was a doctor's appointment. After all, didn't Lola tell you, the week before, that you should skip the wedding and pretend something came up," Mina smirked at the pair of confused looks on both Ben's and Lola's faces.

It took a minute or so until the penny visibly dropped on both of them.

"Mina, I ...." he gasped.

"You mean you were awake?" Lola asked.

Mina nodded.

"And you listened to me with your boyfriend, even when we went into your bedroom? You were still going to marry him, despite knowing he loved me and not you? How pathetic can you get?"

"Yes, Lola. I heard you and I said nothing. Truly pathetic, but then you would know something about that, wouldn't you," Mind asked with a smirk.

"What do you mean?" she scowled.

"Well, it's obvious isn't it," Clay added with a gleeful smile. "How pathetic can you get to steal another woman's man. You knew Mr Kramer here was taken and yet you still seduced him because you can't get or keep a man of your own."

Lola went to take an aggressive step toward Clay but Ben had at least enough sense to stop her. She glared daggers at him as she dutifully stepped back.

"Quite right Clay, only a pathetic person would have an affair with a taken man, but you're right Lola. It was truly pathetic of me to stay with him and go through with the wedding. I felt it was what I deserved after ignoring my family when they told me how worthless Ben was. How he only wanted me for my family and that he was no good."

It was Ben now that scowled and he looked as if he was about to say something but Mina continued.

"I ignored them because I foolishly believed he loved me. Like a fool, I turned my back on the ones that really loved me, so I believed I deserved to marry this worthless excuse of a man," she smiled sweetly at Ben. "Then, thanks to you Lola, he didn't show up and I was saved from marrying the wrong man."

Mina stepped forward and smirked.

"Instead, I was given a lifeline. A way to leave my horrible life behind and find a better future for myself," she said.

"Oh yeah?" Ben said with a glare. "What was that then? You won the lottery!"

Mina smirked even wider.

"Something like that,"