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

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I was in the beauty salon, getting ready for my party when Kim told me that we received another RSVP.

Kim and Anna helped me manage the guest list, so Kim was the one to check the response.

"Magda, you won't believe this…", Kim said under her breath.

"What?"

"You got an RSVP.", she said like it's a big deal.

I glanced at the time. "Who is so rude to RSVP only three hours before the party starts?"

"Why don't you check?", she gave me her phone and my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when I saw the name 'Drago Orsini'.

There was even a message, "I apologize for the last-minute notice, I didn't know my schedule until now. I will compensate my rudeness with an appropriate present."

"Ha… ha… ha…", I laughed in slow motion as the information sank in. Drago is coming to my birthday party. And he apologized… and said that he will make it up to me!

I pinched myself to make sure this is not a dream. In the last few years, Drago ignored every invitation I sent his way. And today, he is coming!

Ah, if I knew he was coming, I would make it a private party, just the two of us. Wait! I can still make it private. After all, the hotel is closed for the weekend and all rooms are just for my guests.

I met with my girlfriends for brunch in suite 401 to kick off the party, and from there we arrived at this beauty salon to get ready.

"Girls!", I called. "I want you to get your things out of the hotel suite."

Kim pouted in protest. "Do you think Drago will go there with you?"

What a silly question. "Drago knows I am interested in him. The fact that Drago is coming to my birthday means that he finally got to his senses and decided to give in." I wondered if it's the latest rumor, or maybe my father decided to step in. It doesn't matter. "I will call the hotel right now to freshen up the room and prepare champagne. Ah, tonight will be THE night!"

"But, what about the guests?", Anna asked.

I shrugged. "What about them? They will be there, and you girls are free to enjoy. Nothing changes other than my focus. We can have a hundred more parties, but Drago needs to be handled right. You ladies will have a task to make sure everyone knows that Drago is with me in the suite, and I will make sure he leaves that suite as mine."

That was earlier this afternoon. It's nearly seven o'clock in the evening, and here I am. In hotel suite 401. Waiting.

The party started at five o'clock, yet Drago is not here. Did he trick me?

No, that's not my Drago. He was always straightforward and true to his word. I know that because he rejected me outright many times, and today he said that he will come, and he will.

A knock on the door got my attention. Drago!

I assumed a sexy, yet not desperate, pose on the sofa. "It's not locked!"

To my disappointment, it was Kim.

"Why are you here?" Did she come to persuade me to join the party? No way. In case Drago doesn't show up, I will spread the rumor that he was with me in the suite. I have his thoughtful RSVP message to make my story solid.

"Drago is here.", Kim said.

"Let him in and you get out.", I said impatiently.

Kim shook her head. "He is at the party, downstairs."

"What is he doing there?"

"He is at the bar with a drink."

OK. I can work with that. "Remind him to come here as soon as he can."

"I did.", Kim responded. "He said that the party is downstairs and that's where he will be."

"Oh…" Well, that can work also. "Give me a minute to check my makeup and let's go down together."

In the hallway, on my way to the elevator, we bumped into John. I forgot that he is also here, in the suite 402.

"You are in a good mood.", I said to John when I heard him hum a song.

John smiled in response and Kim went gaga.

What's wrong with her? I told her to stay away from my brother.

Luckily, John ignored her.

During the elevator ride, John was checking himself in the mirror, fixing his already perfect hair and straightening completely straight lapels of his suit jacket, and when he exhaled sharply to ease up his tension, I realized that someone special is coming.

"Do I know her?", I asked.

"I don't think so. The two of you are not in the same circles. But you will get to meet her tonight.", John responded smugly like the woman is above me.

John never behaved like this before, and I couldn't stop myself from worrying.

Is this woman really important? Did John fall in love? Who is she?

John is my older brother, the one who will inherit our father's position and family's fortune.

John often threatens me that he will leave me with nothing if I don't behave, but I know that he is only talking big. Under all that hard façade is a loving brother, and I was confident that he will not leave me hanging, but I never considered the possibility of a woman coming into the picture… a woman that can wrap him around her little finger and make him do whatever she wants.

What if that woman doesn't like me? What if she asks John to stop supporting me?

I decided to stick to John and find out who she is.

Yes, yes, Drago is right there, but I really wanted to see who the mystery woman is. It will only take a minute.

"Aren't you going to join the party?", John asked when he noticed that I'm standing next to him in the lobby.

"Do you have a problem with me being here?"

John shrugged.

Kim was smiling foolishly at John, and I don't think she heard that my brother is waiting for a woman.

John's face lit up with excitement when his eyes fell on a figure that appeared at the main entrance, a woman escorted by a staff member.

I had to admit that it's a fine-looking brunette. She wore an off-white dress with snug bodice and flowy skirt that ended at the half of her thighs, her shiny hair cascaded down her back, sophisticated movements… Who is that woman?

My mind exploded when I realized who she is.

Seraphina Mezzanotte!

The whole of London is buzzing about her even when she doesn't make an appearance.

She will steal my spotlight, and this is MY party! How dares she?!

"Why is she here!?", I squeezed through my teeth.

"Behave, Magda.", John warned me in a low voice that made me jolt. "I invited her."

"Why?"

John's lips lifted into a half-smile. "If things work well, you are looking at your future sister-in-law, the soon-to-be the Madam of the Thompson family."

I thought I'm going to pass out. I never thought about what kind of a woman will bewitch my brother, but it was definitely not the one that casts a shadow on me! This is a disaster!

Did John say, sister-in-law?! The Madam of the Thompson family?!

WHAT. THE. HELL?!

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