Chapter Two

Family Reunion

   

  Maria’s POV

   

  “You sneaky little bitch!” A feminine voice screeched and I turned barely in time to see a flash of blonde hair launch herself at me.

   

  Thankfully, Hilda, one of the members of my team, had been quick enough to pull me out of the way before a set of red painted claws dug into my face.

   

  I nodded my thanks to her and turned to see the blonde glaring at me with hate in her eyes.

   

  “It’s been a long time, sister.” I told her, brushing a hand over my suit. “What brings you to Amsterdam?”

   

  I feigned a cold expression even though deep down I burned with curiosity. I hadn’t seen my half-sister since I had left London five year’s prior after my family had taken her side when I had caught her in bed with my fiancé so it was a marvel she would show up now in Amsterdam glaring daggers at me.

   

  “Don’t play coy, Maria.” She spat. “It doesn’t suit you.”

   

  Knowing whatever she had to say couldn’t be any good, I turned to look at my staff who were watching us with bated breath.

   

  “If you could be so kind, my sister and I need privacy to talk.” I smiled. “Helena you can continue the meeting in the other board room. I will be with you shortly.”

   

  Cassandra scoffed, folding her arms.

   

  “Why send them off?” she asked smiling wolfishly. “Do you not want them to know you are a whore who steals someone else’s fiancé?”

   

  I raised my brow at her.

   

  “I believe that title applies to you, darling sister.” I rebutted, sliding into my seat alluding to what had happened five years ago.

   

  She bared her teeth at me and stalked closer. I didn’t give her the pleasure of flinching as I once would have considering she had been prone to violent tantrums since childhood. Her brows raised and she took a step back visibly regrouping her thoughts.

   

  “You really think you can disregard me so easily?” She spat. “I didn’t think you the sort to seek revenge but it seems I was wrong.”

   

  “You’ve been speaking in parables Cassandra.” I frowned, taking a sip of my coffee. “What do you mean?”

   

  “Sebastian Bolt.” She sneered.

   

  I raised my brow in question.

   

  Had she really flown all this way because of the announcement of my engagement to the billionaire CEO?

   

  “My fiancé?” I asked.

   

  “You mean my fiancé.”

   

  “I’m confused.”

   

  “He is mine or was mine before you somehow stole him from me.” She cried. “He broke off the engagement just before the announcement of your engagement to him.”

   

  My eyes widened unable to contain my surprise. I had only recently agreed to the man’s proposal considering I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter seeing as I would have lost my company without his investment.

   

  It hadn’t been an easy decision but I finally decided because I was desperate. He had not mentioned anything about an ex fiancé.

   

  Of all people it just had to be Cassandra.

   

  I sighed pinching my brow.

   

  Why did this have to happen again?

   

  “He mentioned nothing of it.” I told her. “Had he…”

   

  “Would you really not have pursued him if you had known?” she scoffed.

   

  “I didn’t pursue…” I stopped remembering the NDA I had signed to ensure no one but the two of us and our lawyers knew the nature of our arrangement. “I wouldn’t have Cassandra.”

   

  “You would forgive me if I find it hard to believe you wouldn’t have, Maria. After all, you have every reason to seek to hurt me.” She smiled. “I stole your father, your birth rite and then your fiancé. It is understandable your thirst for revenge but…”

   

  “Is there a reason you’re here now bringing up the past?” I asked impatiently.

   

  I had a meeting to get to and I didn’t feel like remembering the hurt and betrayal I had felt five years ago when my own father had disowned me simply because I asked him to pick my side for once when the news of Cassandra’s betrayal leaked.

   

  “I came to ask you to end the engagement.”

  I couldn't believe Cassandra could say this to my face after the hurt and betrayal she had me go through. I knew she could go wild to hurt me but little did I know she was this desperate to see me suffer. Her thirst for revenge knew no bond.

   

  “I can’t.” I told her honestly.

   

  “Why not?” she screeched.

   

  “Because Sebastian is my fiancé and I intend to live a long and happy life with him.” I answered rising from my seat.

   

  “You really think you can make him happy?” she laughed. “I am every man’s dream woman. I’m sexy but you… you’re nothing more than a fat whore playing a game she doesn’t understand.”

   

  I glared hard at her as she tried to use my weight as a barb. It had been the one thing that had hurt each time people compared us when we had been younger.

   

  Since my mother passed and my father had married Cassandra’s mother, they had used my weight just because I had taken the curves of my mother’s side of the family than the waif thin stature of my father’s side.

   

  Now I was unaffected but needed to put her in her place.

   

  “Yet he left you easily for me.” I laughed, “And I didn’t have to spread my legs.”

   

  She raised her hands to slap me but I caught her hands pushing her away from me.

   

  “Gone are the days when I would simply let you steal my things just because I pitied you.” I sneered.

   

  “You’re an adult now yet you still entertain your childish delusions that things must always go your way. It’s honestly pitiful to see nothing much has changed in five years. I’ll advise you to leave before I have security escort you out.”

   

  “You think you’ve won, don’t you Maria?”

   

  “I do not think there was ever a competition, Cassandra.” I answered casting a disgusted look at her. “If you will excuse me, I have a multi-million dollar company to run.”

   

  “You haven’t heard the last of me, Maria!”

  She snarled, ready to destroy everything she laid her hands on.

  I ignored her, stepping out of the room.

   

  “What was that about?” Helena, my best friend and attorney asked me.

   

  “I need to have a talk with my fiancé.”

   

  Will this revelation ruin her chances of getting married?