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I was working in Urumqi in north west China, employed by the Chinese government as a civil engineer on a new road. My many years of road-building experience across Asia had built me a great reputation as a man who could get the job done in any conditions. Unfortunately, my career success wasn't matched in my private life. To be honest, I didn't have any respect for women. Years ago, I had managed to marry a wonderful woman, but had been unfaithful countless times. I just had a weakness for a pretty smile and a great pair of legs. I wasn't proud of who I was, quite the opposite in fact. However, I got into a habit of chasing girls young enough to be my daughter, using them and dumping them. In Asia, it was easy and I became addicted.
In Urumqi I was staying in a hotel used by many NGOs and Overseas specialists and advisers. There had been heavy rain and all work on the new road was halted due to a collapsed bridge. One afternoon, I was enjoying a scotch or two in the hotel bar when a noisy group of NGO staff waltzed in acting like they owned the place. A mixture of foreigners and Chinese, men and women. I hated their type: do-gooders who thought themselves as better than the rest of us, trying to save the world. But there she was among them. Chinese, early thirties, small, slim, gorgeous. She looked over as they sat down, and I was entranced. I listened to the group discussing some project and her voice was controlled but with an inner fire that made the hairs on my neck stand up.
She became my next target, and for a week I pursued her with steely determination: purposefully bumping into her all over town. I turned on the charm like never before, only a strange thing happened - I found myself having real feelings for her. Frankly, I was caught by surprise as I simply wasn't expecting it. As I got to know her and discover her genuine passion for children's education; I fell hopelessly in love. After we slept together, for the first time in my life - I cried. I held on to her and let my emotions out, sobbing like a baby. I had never felt so close to another human being. And you know what she did? She stood up, got dressed, and walked out. Left me there alone. After that, she treated me like I didn't exist. I left her notes, sent her emails, knocked on her hotel room door, but she ignored me. Two weeks later, I was still in agony, missing her like crazy. Then I saw her hugging another guy. What goes around, comes around.
Adjectives
unfaithful:
Have a sexual relationship with someone other than your husband/wife.
countless:
Too many to be counted.
addicted:
Being unable to stop doing something, or needing something.
collapsed:
Fallen down because it is broken.
entranced:
Like something so much that you can think of no other thing.
steely:
Strong and determined.
genuine:
Real, not false.
Verbs
match:
In this case meaning 'to be equal to another thing'.
dump:
In this case meaning 'to finish a relationship with someone, quickly
and in a bad way.
halt:
To stop.
waltz in:
To walk into a place calmly and confidently.
pursue:
In this case meaning 'to try to catch a person and have a relationship'.
bump into:
In this case meaning 'meet by chance'.
sob:
To cry noisily.
Nouns
a civil engineer:
An engineer who works on roads, bridges and other big public projects.
reputation:
The opinion that people have about a person because of that person's
actions or behaviour.
respect:
In this case meaning 'treating someone well and politely, considering
their feelings'.
an NGO:
A Non-governmental Organisation. For example: 'The Red cross',
'Greenpeace'.
a specialist:
Someone who has great skill in one thing, especially in a job.
a do-gooder:
A person who thinks they are helpful, but other people don't like them
or want them.
inner fire:
A strong feeling inside that gives you energy and
determination.
agony:
Great pain.
Adverbs
likewise:
In the same way.
purposefully: Doing
something with a clear aim.
hopelessly:
In this case meaning 'completely'.