From the moment Ray's eyes found the girl's, he instinctively knew that she was the one. She had to be in her early-to-mid twenties, with an optimistic air that matched. Dark hair, cream skin, slender waist, and a pair of perfect legs. Without wasting more time, Ray signalled to the waiter, with some healthy tip had him bring a drink ("Whatever she's having") to her table, collected the due appreciative smile, and before long joined the girl.

"Hi, I'm Ray."

"I'm Cavis. Never saw you here before and I'm a regular."

"I'm not from around," Ray flashed his best smile, "here on a business trip."

"I see."

The conversation progressed from "So, what do you do?" (she was a personal assistant to a hotel manager) to "Those are lovely earrings you have on" (her dad gave them to her on her last birthday) to "Since I'm leaving in two days' time, may I take you out for dinner tomorrow night?" (she accepted.)

And so, the next night Ray collected Cavis from her apartment and drove his rental car to a restaurant of her choice -- a plush barbeque and grills place. He learned that her dad was a businessman but she'd rather not talk about her family. "Ah," he said, "a young lady starting her career of choice and having a fall-out with the family?"

"Something like that. What is it that you do, again?"

He told her that his company dealt in metal trading and he was in the city to explore a new joint-venture opportunity. "How fascinating," she said with a well-practised personal assistant smile. He replied that it indeed was.

They continued to enjoy the date and before the night was over, it was obvious that she was falling fast for him. As they were leaving the restaurant, he told her that, as he had this project going on, he might be coming back to the city every now and then. Would she be interested in joining him for one or two more dinners?

She said she would.

***

'Every now and then' turned out to be pretty regular and before long, the two of them could not live without each other. "I almost couldn't believe it," said Ray, definitely not for the first time, "it's like, you were made for me, Cavis. Everything I'd ever want in a girl I found in you. Wow!"

"I know! I keep wanting to ask you, where the heck have you been all this time?"

"Searching for someone like you, of course."

They shared their dreams. "One day," Ray said, "I would start my own business."

"And what would that be?"

"Something to do with fishing and maritime stuff. I've always loved sea. Now I'm saving for this dream of mine. It won't be long now before I quit this job. I'm so excited!"

"Really? I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks. What about you? A penny for your dream?"

Cavis thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. I mean, all along I've always had everything I'd ever wanted."

"Daddy's girl, huh?" Ray teased her and received a playful punch for his trouble.

"Maybe I would like to join one of those non-profit organizations," Cavis said slowly. "It always fascinates me how these people seem to care so much about others, while they could easily be somewhere else."

"Uh, you sure you can handle that kind of life? Don't get me wrong, I believe you could if that's really what you want. But it won't be easy, with your background, you know."

"Yeah, I know. It's just that sometimes I feel guilty having been born into so much wealth, so much comfort, where elsewhere people suffer."

"Hey, you didn't choose which family you were to be born to."

"Agree. But that doesn't mean I can't do anything about it now that I'm here."

Ray regarded her. "Boy, you really are serious, aren't you?"

Cavis smiled. "We'll see just how serious. As for now, let's go shopping."

***

Day by day, Cavis fell deeper in love with Ray. He was so mature and full of purpose in life. He was never condescending and could be as laid-back as he could be serious. A perfect gentleman. A wonderful lover.

And he's so easy to look at! Cavis thought, waiting outside the fitting room. The curtain opened.

"Err, what do you think?" Ray stood there in an army-green Zildjian t-shirt. He had been looking for such t-shirt for some time now, only recently finding out where to get them. "Does this look good on me?"

Dear, everything looks good on you! "Mmm, not too bad. Turn around, please." He did and Cavis almost let out a sigh. Oh yes, everything. "It's good. Why don't you get it."

As they were lining up to pay, Ray said, "Hey, look," pointing to the news on a display television set near the counter. It was showing a footage of earthquake relief efforts by volunteers from various organizations. "Maybe one day I'll see you on TV, being one of those guys."

"Really? I mean, yeah, maybe." Cavis smiled, putting her arm around his waist. "And maybe I'll do some video documentary while I'm there, just for you."

"Just be sure not to fall over one of those nobble charity boys."

She looked at him. "Whoa, you sound almost jealous there!"

"Maybe I am."

"Oh, come on. You know me better than that."

"I sure hope so."

"Besides, won't you be there with me?"

"I'd love to, but I can't. I'll have my own business to manage, remember?"

The news anchor moved on to another leading story, a murder trial recently concluded. Mr. Colin Bradshaw, widely known (yet never proven) as a modern-day godfather, had been acquitted due to what the anchorwoman referred to as "inconclusive evidence."

"Yeah, right," said Ray, "inconclusive. I've no doubt he ordered the killing."

"They said not guilty, didn't they?"

"Yeah, right," said Ray again. "Then again, I say it was the murdered guy's own fault, getting involved into this mess. He tried to cheat Bradshaw out of some money, didn't he? Well, can't say he didn't see what was coming."

"Can we please not talk about this," she begged him. "You know I don't like such stuff."

They reached the cashier. Ray took out his credit card and smiled at the teenage (Cavis' assessment) girl behind the register. She blushed, of course. They always blushed, Cavis noted. She tightened her arm around her man as if saying, back off, he's mine. "So how's the fishing business coming along?"

"Uh, what? Oh, the business. It's great! I recently got a very good deal and there's this guy very interested in investing. We're following up on this soon, hopefully by next week." Ray signed the credit card slip and flashed another smile, collecting the item. Naturally, the girl blushed again. "Thanks."

"I'm happy for you," Cavis said. "I have a good feeling about this."

"You think so? Hey, maybe you could be my partner and we can run this business together, that'll be great!"

Cavis shook her head. "Nah, you know how I feel towards running my own business." Ray nodded, her reservations about businessmen well documented. It had got to be related to the fall-out with her businessman dad, Ray thought. She had yet to open up to him on that matter and he decided not to push it.

"So, where do you wanna have lunch?"

***

"Cavis, I think I need your help."

She looked at him, barely into the room. "What is it, dear?" She closed the apartment door. "You look awful." Indeed, he did. Totally different from his usual composed self.

Ray sank into the couch. "I'm in a big trouble. Big trouble."

"What, money?"

He nodded. "Remember that guy I told you about, the potential investor? Well, he pulled out on me."

"Big deal, you can always find another, a better one."

Ray shook his head. "You don't understand. I was so certain he would go through, I took out some loans. Big-time loans. With practically all I have. And I've used up all the money to purchase a lot of things, including a state-of-the-art fishing yacht. Gosh, I'm such an idiot!"

"But if they're loans, surely you don't have to pay right away? Find another investor and everything'll be all right."

"The creditors all found out about this guy who pulled out. Now they want me to settle at least part of the amount, until I find another investor. They say, the main reason they even considered the loans was this guy's involvement. He's one of those tycoons."

"And now you don't have anything."

"Nothing. Unless I start selling all my possession."

They sat there in silence. Finally, Ray rose. "You know what, I shouldn't even have bothered you with this crap. I brought this upon myself, I'll settle it. Thanks for listening." He lowered his head to kiss her.

Cavis was deep in thoughts. She did not even return the kiss. "Ray, what kind help did you think I could provide?" she asked.

"Forget it, dear. It's all right, really." Ray attempted a smile, very unconvincingly.

"Ray, I might indeed help."

"Never you mind, Honey." He patted her hand. "So long as you don't leave now that I'm broke."

"Ray," she said in a very serious tone, "I said, I might help. Give me a moment to think this through."

Ray knew what was on her mind and he looked uncomfortable with the idea. But he sat back down and let the girl alone in her thoughts. In the end, she reached a decision. A hard one by the looks of it.

"Give me a minute." She went into her bedroom and Ray could hear a phone conversation taking place soon after. Long minutes passed by. When she finally appeared, she still looked disturbed, but a lot less so.

"It's settled," she said. "My father is willing to lend -- give, he insists -- me some fund. I didn't tell him what actually took place, simply that I needed money and had no one else to turn to."

"You did that for me?" Ray seemed deeply concerned and relieved at the same time. "You didn't have to, you know."

"I made up my mind." Suddenly she smiled. "And it's not so bad, really. In fact, I just made up with my father. After such a long time."

"You did? Baby, that's good news! Congratulations, I'm happy for you and your father." Ray stood to give her a hug.

"Maybe there was a reason for all that happened," Cavis said, clearly overwhelmed by the turn of events. "It was all so sudden. Maybe I should thank you instead."

"Whatever it is, you have quite likely saved me, Cave. I promise I'll pay you back."

They shared another hug.

***

Having received the fund, Ray went home to take care of his problems. He told Cavis it would be a while before they could see each other again, as he would be extremely busy with a lot of things. She said she understood and would he please look after himself. Yes, he definitely would, he said, and he loved her so much. And she loved him, too.

Weeks passed and Ray's phone calls disappeared. Cavis tried to contact him by all means she could think of. She called him (number unreachable,) texted him (delivery failed,) sent him email (no replies,) and even sent an express postal message to the only mailing address of his that she knew (recipient unknown.) Nothing.

Entering the second month of his absence, Cavis turned to the only conclusion she found probable and faced the wicked reality. That Ray was gone forever now. And along with him, the large amount of money he had taken.

Resigned, she decided against flying in person to Ray's hometown. There wouldn't be much she could do, anyway. Cavis reached for a photo frame next to her bed. Ray's smile greeted her. Out of the sudden, the smile no longer enticed her. It even looked disgusting to her now.

"Ray," she said to herself. "So beautiful. So fake. Such a waste." She was starting to lift up the frame, ready to smash it against the wall, when she thought of something. She shrugged and put it back. After a moment, she pulled out a drawer and threw the frame inside.

At least, one good thing had come up from this whole episode, she reflected. Ray's con job had had Cavis and her father reconcile. Not totally back where it had been years ago, but it was a welcome improvement nonetheless. She was even starting to consider using her real surname again.

Deep inside Cavis had always known that she would always be her daddy's girl, despite all the old man's flaws that she despised so much. She could not recall an occasion where he had ever raised his voice talking to her. Her father, a shrewd and at times cruel businessman on the outside, was a gentle and loving husband and parent to his family.

Just then, her apartment's doorbell rang. She opened the door and found her father outside. "Daddy!"

"Hello, Sweetheart. I got your message and came as soon as I could. You okay?"

Against her will, Cavis started to sob. She hung on to her father's large frame. The man put his arms around his daughter and hugged her tight. "Don't worry, Sweetie, it's all being taken care of."

Cavis looked up at her father's face. She saw nothing but love and compassion there. "I used to love him, Daddy."

"I know. But you'll get over it."

A big, muscular man let himself in through the still-open door. He wore a black formal suit. "Sir, I'm so sorry. I'm afraid you are wanted as soon as possible back in the office. Those men threatened to turn the building upside down if you wouldn't show up fast."

The man sighed without a sign of irritation. "Tell them I'll be there in half an hour. Sweetheart, I'm sorry, I have to get going now."

"I love you, Daddy," Cavis said, meaning it.

Colin Bradshaw kissed his daughter's forehead. "Love you, too, Sweetie."

[In case you're wondering, yes, I wrote this at work while pretending to be busy working my behind off. Keep it between us, K?]

Current music: White Shoes & the Couples Company - Senandung Maaf
Current mood: happy