A Graduation Gift

Back in high school, Cassandra was obsessed with Ferris wheels.

For her, they were big toys that gave you a slow flight over the sky, taking you all the way to breath-taking heights before bringing you back to the ground where you could recapture the wonderful experience. It seemed to her that its shape alone symbolized endless happiness.

She had wished, more than once, that she could one day take a ride on it with her beloved one, kissing and hugging him under the stars.

It might have been beautiful, but she now knew it was all but a little girl's romantic fantasy.

Rufus took a look at the Ferris wheel before looking back at Cassandra beside him. Then, as if he had read her mind, he turned and asked, "Do you want to take a ride?"

Cassandra, however, shook her head silently. The Ferris wheel did remind her of her long, cherished desire, but she didn't want to satisfy it since she hadn't found her love in the real life. She would rather not ruin the fairy tale. She would wait for the prince.

"The amusement park will be rebuilt soon, and this Ferris wheel will probably be torn down. Our company has talked to the head of the park, and if everything goes well, we may win the bid for the rebuilding," said Rufus.

Cassandra jerked her head in his direction upon hearing his words, with a?twinkle?in her?eyes.

So she might be able to redesign the park? And finally bring the Ferris wheel in her dream into reality, after so many years? She couldn't believe her luck.

Again, she stared at the glittering big toy, lost in her thoughts. The colored lights of the wheel reflected brightly in her eyes.

Not far away from them, Lionel was talking to a man with a salt-and-pepper beard while walking through the crowds.

The man was introducing the park's existing facilities and explaining ideas for future plans to Lionel, but Lionel's thoughts were far away.

He hated working overtime, but he was ordered to conduct site investigation as soon as possible since the board favored the project. He was already upset by the extra work, and the bustling scene here further annoyed him.

Not knowing what was in Lionel's mind, the man went on guiding him enthusiastically through the park. When they reached the Ferris wheel, the man stopped and pointed to this eye of the park, surrounded by neon lights.

"We plan to rebuild it into the biggest one in Asia, and move it to the centre of the park to make it a landmark," the man declared, with a hint of pride.

Lionel looked up at the Ferris wheel, which made a blaze of color against the night sky.

Just when he tried to turn away from the dazzling lights, he saw a familiar figure.

Cassandra!

side was none other

toy bear, standing shoulder to shoulder with Rufus. Lionel couldn't hear what they were talking

standing by her gentlemanly, looking her in the eye. He was tall and handsome, and even more so under the lights. Girls passing by all stole a second look

looked like a happy

fists, his nails digging into his palms. His veins stood out on his temples. His eyes flashed with anger.

investigate it several times. But he couldn't find evidence to back up what he

for

stormed up to confront them, leaving the middle-aged man behind. His grim face

you two doing here?" he asked

was suddenly snapped back to reality by an angry

dark. The anger showed in his eyes. It looked as if he

appeared?unperturbed at Lionel's appearance. He merely shot him a sideways glance before saying coldly,

are here to

aggressively. He suddenly realized that Rufus's answer left him with no chance to vent on them. He decided to hide his

to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. Although there was nothing between her and Rufus, and what they had been doing was no more than talking and looking around, she was still vexed when Lionel discovered that she got along with Rufus in private. It was embarrassing that Lionel questioned them in such a way as if they were having an affair, not to mention that the middle-aged man, who turned out to be the head of the park, was looking at the three of them with

show disdain for Lionel. He said nothing to answer Lionel's

first draft of the design after Lionel finalizes the contract. Make it anyway you like this time. I believe

top hearing what Rufus said. Cassandra was his wife, yet this shameless man talked to her so freely and intimately, acting like that she belonged to him!

there were others present. But he went up and deliberately pulled Cassandra into his arms, to show that she was his woman and no one else's. Then, he turned to the middle-aged man,

Rufus with a stern look, his lips

It's an honor for us to have someone so devoted to our company, who is willing to work at this late hour, like you. But I'm sorry you will have to work alone now, for I must take

hand on

there without speaking. But the grim look on his handsome face told the loss

to defy me, or I will make sure that you won't be able to

with terror. She could only look dejectedly over her shoulder at Rufus

were filled with disappointment and sorrow. His arms fell to his sides, then he

couldn't change this situation. 'End it all!' A voice screamed deep inside

all of this, as

Lionel threw Cassandra in, and got in without releasing her wrist. He asked through clenched teeth, sporting an angry grimace, "Why are you always with Rufus? Tell me now, what did you two plan to do next if I didn't catch you in the act? It's very late, you should be at home, don't you think so? Know

pain as Lionel almost crushed her arm.