Tangled Dreams

CHAPTER 6: PURSUING MY DEAR ONE (Part 1) | Datuk Wong Hong Seng

"Datuk, we've found her car," reported Johan, my personal assistant. I adjusted my hold on the mobile phone and pressed it close to my ear, awaiting further news. I hoped nothing had happened to her. I could not bear to lose a loved one again. My heart prayed that my daughter was safe.

Eunice had not returned home for a week. I wanted to report it to the police, but was worried that the nation would know that my daughter had vanished. This was because the media were always lying in wait for a new story about me. If it were business-related news, I would not have minded much. However, I took exception if family and friends were dragged into the media circus. I would never allow that to happen. News about the disappearance of my daughter should not be made public. I had to find Eunice discreetly.

"What about her?" I asked when Johan went silent. I had already sent several men to find out anything about her, but they had no news yet. No one had seen Eunice at college, her favourite café or anywhere else that she might usually be seen. Her supplementary credit card had not been used since a week ago. Her mobile phone had long since been switched off. The discovery of her Smart Fortwo appeared to be the latest development and was the one and only clue for now.

"Nothing, Datuk. Just her car," Johan replied. I could hear the sound of car doors being slammed shut and opened again at the other end of the line. I was sure Johan was searching for something in the newly-found car.

"Where?" I asked quickly. I was hoping it was not in some desolate or dangerous place. Although there had been no calls from a kidnapper, I did not rule out the possibility that Eunice could have been kidnapped. Perhaps I was being paranoid, but this was the risk that came with my reputation as a rich and powerful tycoon. I was the major shareholder in several well-known hotel management corporations in this country. I had assets in various forms – property, jewellery, stocks, cars and many others. Yet money was not important. I could handle losing my assets. But it was imperative, my family was always with me.

"At Mid Valley Megamall car park. Her car was hidden behind a column quite far away from the car park entrance, so there was no CCTV coverage of it. It was only because the car had been left in the same place for several days that the security personnel realised it had been abandoned," clarified Johan at length.

At a mall. What was Eunice doing there? As far as I knew, she did not like shopping. If it was for a movie, The Curve Damansara Cineplex was located closer to home. She rarely went out. She preferred to be in the kitchen, just like her late mother. What had happened? I was certain that Eunice would have contacted me if she were safe. Could it be my daughter was in danger?

I put the phone down. I leaned back on the black sofa in the living room. Slowly, I sipped the hot coffee served by the domestic help. Then I massaged my temples as I started to get a throbbing headache due to lack of sleep. It had been impossible for me to close my eyes since Eunice had vanished to goodness knows where. I fretted as I wondered if she might be in danger. I became increasingly despondent as worrying thoughts accumulated in my mind. I was at a loss as to what to do. Had I made the wrong decision? Should I have reported this matter to the police?

I reached out for the framed family photograph that was on top of the television set. I looked at it for a long while. I caressed the image of my beloved wife with my fingertips. She looked simply magnificent in that photograph. I smiled wearily at her. My dear wife would've known what should be done. She could've told me what I should do now.

I felt so alone in facing the challenges of life after the passing of my wife. Especially when it came to matters of our only child. A daughter. It had been difficult for me to read her mind. If her mother were still around, it would have been much easier.

Theirs had been a relationship that was like close friends. There had always been the sound of cheery laughter when they were together. There had been much that they discussed and shared. I knew her mother had been Eunice's confidante. Most of the time, I heard about Eunice from her mother before we went to bed. Perhaps the loss of a confidante left Eunice without direction in life; it left both of us the same. I too had lost my confidante. No one could replace my beloved wife in this respect.

Eunice was a good child. A little stubborn, but always respectful towards me. We were often at odds with each other, but she had never shown an attitude. Our father-daughter relationship had been good all this while. It was only I who felt that I did not know myself. We were father and daughter, but I wanted more than that. I wanted to be her friend. I wanted to help her achieve her dream. Her dream of becoming a pilot. Was I not a good father? Or was I too strict?

I was startled when my mobile phone on top of the table suddenly vibrated. I grabbed it immediately and answered without even looking at the screen.

"Datuk, I know where Eunice is..."