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.