Author's note: this is from John's point of view

- - -

When Anna finished with her story, it was my turn to ask questions.

"Why did you help her? Why didn't you come up with some excuse? Why didn't you call me?"

Anna inhaled a shaky breath. Her cheeks were wet with tears that were spilling since she started talking, but I had no pity for her.

"Magda is my friend…"

"Bullshit!", I shouted. "You know what happened at her birthday party. Magda plotted to get Drago Orsini into a hotel room, and she would spark rumors about them regardless if he went there. And then she called my father so that he can embarrass Seraphina Mezzanotte. You know about many other schemes and scandals Magda orchestrated. If it's not for me cleaning her mess, she would end up in some ditch many years ago and my company would be ruined. Did you really think that she came to London without the intention to cause problems? If you are her friend, you would stop her and not enable her to ruin her image, and to tarnish MY family!"

"I'm sorry…", Anna said through sobs.

"Sorry, doesn't cut it, Anna.", I said curtly and turned to leave.

She grabbed my arm. "What will you do?"

I yanked my arm out of her hold.

"I don't know, yet. Your mother is a plastic surgeon. I wonder, how many patients will she keep if the press gets their hands on a list of celebrities that had a nose job done at your mother's clinic? Some of them might even start a lawsuit. Your father is a retired general, and if I'm not mistaken, he is running for the government. Maybe I share with reporters some dirt he is trying to hide. His side mistress? Or his investments in oil drilling off the coast of Norway that is killing marine life?"

"No!", Anna screamed.

"No? Are you worried about the reputation of your family?", I asked mockingly. "Why would I care about it? You obviously didn't care about mine."

…

It was late evening when I returned home.

My biggest problem was that I didn't know what Magda did during nearly two days she was unaccounted for from leaving Anna's house, until she approached Kim in a distraught state.

I was aware that Magda was in London, with some cash Anna gave her, maybe with a gun. God, help me.

Magda was in the guest house, which is located at the back of our property. The three-bedroom cottage is nestled among the trees and it is not easy to spot.

She was on the sofa, with her hands tied behind her back, and four of my bodyguards watching her from the distance.

Based on her disheveled hair, I could guess that she resisted and maybe tried to escape.

"Tell them to let me go!", Magda hissed the moment she saw me enter the room.

"Why? So that you cause more problems?", I asked while taking a seat on the sofa chair.

"Is that what you think of me?"

I couldn't believe that she managed to switch to a crying face in a second. "Do you think I'm stupid like our father to fall for that?"

"You are not my brother. You are a demon! You sent me to that hell hole to fend for myself."

I let out a long exhale. I thought that my prideful sister would care about her image, and maybe about the image of our family. I was wrong. So wrong.

She doesn't care about anything and anyone.

I never understood what drives Magda. She was into parties and obsessing about Drago Orsini, dresses, jewelry, shiny things… superficial.

What happened to that cute girl with two blonde pigtails who would hold my hand and bat her eyelashes while asking me for another scoop of ice cream? Maybe if I said, 'no', at that time, Magda would turn out differently.

I thought that the school will work and that Magda will straighten up her act. I really thought so. I was wrong again. She will never learn and unless I toughen up and cut her off, she will drag me down with her.

"I don't remember telling you to sleep around for a phone call."

"I want to talk to father.", Magda demanded.

I clicked my tongue. "That's not happening. I know that you escaped the University by sleeping with a guard. I know that Anna helped you come here. I also know that Anna's father's gun is missing. What I don't know is what you did with that gun."

Magda's eyes shifted nervously.

"Magda…", I called with the hope she will hear how close I am to losing my patience.

"What's in it for me if I tell you?"

I couldn't believe this. "You think that you can negotiate with me?"

I wanted to know about that wretched gun, and what she did with it, but my men already double-checked and there were no unsolved murders in the last few days so at least I knew that she didn't kill anyone.

As much as I know, she stole the gun and threw it away in some random place, or maybe Anna's father misplaced the gun, and it didn't have anything to do with Magda. Yes, Magda reacted when I mentioned the gun, but Magda is an expert manipulator and maybe she did that only because I showed interest in the gun.

In any case, I was sick of Magda's games. Dealing with her is exhausting.

If she was not my sister, I would have someone take care of her silently and I wouldn't need to deal with her crap.

Well, I can't get her killed, and sending her away obviously won't work.

I steeled my resolve. I'm going with option B.

I raised my hand and glanced at one of my bodyguards. "Simon, gag her."

Magda struggled for a few seconds, but then she saw a syringe and she understood that if she doesn't cooperate, she will be sedated again.

The cloth was stuck in Magda's mouth and fastened with a rubber band that went around her head, ensuring that she can't make noise and interrupt.

I took my phone and scrolled through contacts. "You remember Mr. Keita, right?"

Magda's eyes flashed in horror, and I chuckled. "I see you do. Good. That will make things easier."

Before sending her to Sweden, I showed her three men that were interested in marrying her. They could all be good business partners for the Giantshade Industries.

Enitan Keita has five wives, and he handles them with a firm set of rules, and sometimes with a whip as well.

I didn't want to do this, but considering Magda's personality, if I marry her to a wimp, she will only use him as her pawn and we will be back to square one.

The man picked up the call after the third ring.

"Mr. Thompson…", he greeted me cheerfully.

"Mr. Keita…", I responded with a smile and went straight to the point. "I wonder if you remember our talk about you marrying my sister, Magdalena?"

"Oh?", he was audibly surprised. "I thought that you will reject me."

I knew that he will take her in gladly, but I had to play my part well. "I apologize. But you see, Magda is my only sister and I needed to ensure that I picked the right man for her. She is a beautiful woman of many talents, but she could be willful as well. She needs a man who can handle her at her best and at her worst. Are you still interested?"

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