Christmas holiday is a busy time for Candy. Being an executive of the hospital, there were many social events going on. On Christmas Eve, she needed to attend two parties, one hosted by Albert and one in her hospital. Neal came early to her home with his proposal plan before Candy left for her hospital party.

Candy was very beautiful. Having the proposal plan in his head and worried to lose her forever, it hurt him to see her beauty. For the first time, he let off his emotion and showed it to her what's inside his heart.

"Candy you look very beautiful," he bent and kissed her hand with a gloomy face.

Seeing his face, right away Candy knew something was going on. "Likewise," she said shortly. She couldn't help to admire how handsome he was in the tuxedo.

"I have something to tell you," he said with an anxious tone. "Look I don't know how to start,"

"I am listening," said Candy equally anxious anticipating what her friend was going to say.

Then he continued, "After you rejected my engagement proposal, I thought a lot about myself. I had to admit that I couldn't find a single good thing that I had done. I determined to fix myself and be a man worthy for you to look at. I joined the army to prove to you that I wasn't a coward. I trained very hard every day to prove to you that I could do it. Then I went to school where I studied really hard to prove to you that I could be a serious person too. When I went to work, I did it with you too in my mind to prove to you that I could be a responsible man."

He paused and looked at Candy straight in the eyes.

"I have to thank you for the way I am now. Without you, I would lead a worthless life. I apologized for all wrongdoings I did in the past. I caused you so much pain. In Albert's engagement party, we met again. I realized that I still love you. I loved you then but I expressed it in worst possible ways. I love you much more now and I promise you that I'll do better. I wonder if you could reconsider my engagement proposal that you rejected years ago?" he inquired with eyes still looked deeply to Candy's.

Candy was speechless, nobody else had proposed to her before. Not even her dearest Albert or Terry. And Neal did it... again, for the second time! She's glad that he proposed her. She's been hoping for this moment. But now he said it, she was too stunt to make a decision. After all, what about the last three men who hurt her so much. She's very afraid for that hurtful moment to come back.

Although inside her heart she felt grateful and happy and really wanted to say "yes", what came out was, "Neal, I am grateful for what you said about me. I am very happy to be with you too, but I really can't accept it…"

At this point her servant came to announce, "Ms. Candice, Dr. Kay is here."

Although expected, Neal was still disappointed not to hear a yes from Candy. She hadn't finished her sentence but the sentence really lead to a no rather than a yes. In addition there's this Dr. Kay factor who suddenly appeared. He remembered that name, Candy's past serious date.

"Let him in," Candy said to her servant.

"Excuse me, please wait for me," she said to Neal.

He saw her leaving and felt very much heartbroken. From the spot where he's standing he also saw her greeting Dr. Kay kindly. Dr Kay hugged her back warmly and greeted her emotionally with a kiss, "How are you doing, my love. Ready for the party?"

Seeing that, Neal was so upset. Candy didn't even invite him to come to her hospital's party, he had never kissed or even hugged Candy and this guy got all. He wondered if he's also the reason why she rejected him again for the second time. He felt foolish assuming that she's available.

Very dumb, he thought. After all the efforts I made, I am still not good enough for her. He really regretted how bad he treated her in the past and regretted it even more that there would be no opportunity to make it up. Disregarding her request to wait which probably just for her trying to console, he decided to leave.

At the door, Neal met Dr. Kay who stared at him with an inquiring look and asked, "Candy, could you introduce..."

Neal cut him off with a business like smile and offered him a handshake, "I am Neal, her cousin, nice meeting you, Dr. Kay." Then he said to Candy, "Have a great Christmas" and left.

He's back to his normal self where one can't read what's in his mind. But, Candy could sense his disappointment and she felt so confused. Her heart broke at the word "cousin" he said to Dr. Kay. Meanwhile, Dr. Kay was wondering since when Candy had such a charming cousin.

Candy went to the Christmas party with Dr. Kay but her mind was not there. She couldn't wait for the party to be offer so she could go home and think about Neal quietly. At home, she buried her head in the pillow thinking about her past lovers. She thought, what was love, why loved someone. She thought about Albert, Terry and Dr. Kay. Why did they never commit to her? Did they really love her? Would Neal leave her too later?

After a while she got confused where all these arguments lead to and if that mattered. The point was she liked Neal now because of the friendship. Neal was her best of friend. He's an old friend who she had known since she was little and had changed so much to be the best a man could be for her. What's wrong to accept his proposal?

She decided to meet him and told him her thought.

Candy hurriedly called her driver and told him to go to the Ardlay residence. The party was already over and had only a few people left. She felt lucky when she spotted George. Hurriedly she asked George about Neal. The always-be-helpful George told her that there's a business emergency in NY so Albert asked him to leave for NY immediately. Knowing their past history, he was surprised that Candy was looking for Neal.

The following day, Candy planned to ride the earliest train to go to NY. But there was a big snow storm so she couldn't go. She sat on the train station felt so uneasy and full of turmoil. The last time she was like this was with Terry, she couldn't believe she's still doing it again years later. She couldn't believe she broke Neal's heart again for the second time. The first time, he earned it, but this time, it was her fault. She shouldn't be afraid to accept his proposal and be hurt. Finally the train came. She couldn't wait to arrive in NY.

It was late at night when she arrived in NY. Candy went straight to Neal's home but the housekeeper told her that he'd not come home since he came back from Chicago.

Great, Candy thought, probably he's proposing to his girlfriend right now. I am late again. I spent all my times chasing men just to find they're taken by someone else.

Candy wasn't familiar with NY. Knowing nowhere else to go she decided to ask Neal's driver to take her to his office. Who knows, she thought although she realized it's foolish to think that he's there at this late hour in the holiday season. But maybe there really was a business emergency like what George said. Candy always thought positively which was one of her positive character.

The road was very jammed so Candy chose to walk for the last few blocks. She went to his office only to find that it's empty. Disappointed and really thought he had been taken by someone else, she was ready to go back to Chicago feeling very stupid and like Terry scene all over again. Just when she's about to leave the building, she heard someone calling her name, it's his secretary, Mary. Mary was a middle aged woman, very nice and helpful just like George to Sir William was.

"Ms. Candice, are you looking for Mr. Regan?" asked Mary.

"Yes," said Candy with a huge hope in her heart. "Is he here?"

"He's having a press conference, come let me show you," she took her to a conference room.

While walking Mary told her that there's a fire broke in the other part of financial district near the Ardlay's property. The fire already stopped but shareholders worried about the effect of the fire to their investment. In addition there's a riot in that area.

No wonder it was jammed, thought Candy.

"He's been in meeting answering shareholders and press questions since he came back from Chicago," explained Mary.

And I thought he was dating, thought Candy ashamed to herself.

As soon as Candy saw him, she felt so relieved. She couldn't believe that he actually still was working at that hour. Especially it's Neal! Knowing how he was when he was young really made her smile to herself. Having nothing else to do, she took a sit and chose to listen to the conference. She paid attention on how he answered the questions to relieve everyone. Candy couldn't help but to admire him. Some of the questioners were very agitated and rude that Candy felt so eager to hit them but Neal remained cool and calm. She thought about him highly. How much he had changed. And all those because of me he said? Candy chuckled at the thought.

When the meeting was offer, Candy waited for him at the door. She saw him coming followed by so many people. Finally he saw her, he looked surprised to see her but didn't say anything. He smiled cordially and made a gesture for her to follow him to his office. There, he instructed Mary, business managers, public relations, staffs, etc what to do. They kept coming and going non stopped... After a while Candy felt so sleepy. It's been a long day. She was out since in the morning when she was stranded in the snow. She picked a quiet and private spot in the corner of Neal's big office and sat there to take a rest. After a while she fell asleep.

"Wake up, wake up," she heard someone talk to her gently.

When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a pair of Neal's brown eyes. He was staring at her with a smile. She also noticed his jacket over her. Candy was very grateful for the gesture. The room was already empty, everybody had left.

"How are you?" Neal greeted her.

Sleepy, she couldn't talk much but just to give him a smile and followed him.

"My driver is ready, let's go home," he said.

Candy nodded.

Outside the traffic jam had gone but somehow his car wasn't there yet. So they waited. It was cold so they decided to take a walk.

"Neal, there's a misunderstanding," said Candy didn't want to waste anymore time. "Dr. Kay is a friend. I dated him once but our relationship is over. He came to Chicago just to attend our hospital Christmas event."

Neal didn't reply, he's wondering why Candy suddenly told him all this.

"I was thinking about your proposal...," Candy continued.

At this time, suddenly, there was a man coming with a knife. A bandit! Suddenly Candy remembered what Mary told her about the riot. She couldn't believe that they actually needed to face one. It was very late at night. The road was empty, there was no one and the driver hadn't come yet. She was very scared.

"Give your money. Don't make a sound!" the bandit demanded.

Without hesitation Neal talked slowly and coolly to the man not to attack and they'd give their wallets to him.

"Throw them to the ground," the bandit said.

Neal followed but Candy was so nervous that she threw hers to the bandit instead of to the ground. Panicked, the bandit started to attack Candy. Unhesitatingly, Neal jumped in front of Candy to cover her from the bandit's knife. The knife hit his arm. But it didn't stop him to keep fighting with the bandit. Candy was so horrified. She couldn't help to shout for help and for Neal to be careful. Luckily the driver and one of Neal's staff just arrived. They were looking for their boss when they heard Candy's scream for help. Right away they came to the scene. Neal successfully kicked the bandit and made him fall. Seeing more people coming, the bandit ran away.

Neal didn't bother to chase the bandit and told his staffs to let him go too. The first thing he did was to run to Candy to check if she was okay and asked worriedly if anything was wrong. She assured him she's okay. Then he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his arm. It appeared he got wounded by the attacker's knife when he jumped to cover Candy. Candy was very frightened and suggested to go back to the office to have it checked. The driver picked up the wallets and Neal's broken glasses and followed from behind. Lucky it was in the winter, Neal's coat helped to shield his body from the knife. Being a nurse, Candy hurriedly did first aid help for him. Her heart crushed seeing his white shirt became red stained with blood. The company doctor was called to examine.

After all confirmed okay not really wanting to waste any more time Neal said, "Nothing serious. Let's really go home now."

In the car, the driver and his staff non stopped apologizing to Neal. They said there's a segment of the road that was still jammed and it took them much longer to come. Neal repeatedly assured them it's okay. Overcame by everything that had happened for the day, Candy didn't really feel like talking her mind wandered to what had just happened. She was touched on how much he's willing to sacrifice himself to save her. It was dangerous, what if he got hurt more seriously.

Neal changed a lot, she thought to herself. The old Neal would just cry for his mom.

Neal didn't talk much either partly because he was paying attention to the conversation and partly because he was wondering why Candy came to NY all of a sudden. She almost explained it were it not because of the bandit. At home, they had some late dinner when they started to talk again in private.

"Thank you for just now. I am so sorry," Candy said again in a very emotional voice. "If not because of me, you …"

"That's ok," he said calmly. "I learned all this from the military training. You should see how many wounds I got when I learned to crawl under the razor wire…" He smiled, tried to under size the problem to comfort her.

Candy hardly could listen since she felt so guilty and still very shocked. How dangerous the situation was. Seeing his wound and his attitude she couldn't believe the current Neal. As a boy, he'd make a big deal out of a little cut in his finger… Was it really all because of her like what he claimed? She wondered if it's a good time to talk about his proposal.

Seeing how silent she was, Neal started to be curious too.

"What did you want to say just now?" Neal changed the subject abruptly. He actually was anxious about that much more than the attack.

At this moment the servant came saying, "Sir William would like to talk to you, Mr. Regan. He's on the phone."

Candy was relieved with the interruption so she didn't have to answer the question and could have more time to be quiet. Still in shock, she's not in a mood to talk about anything especially romance. Neal couldn't believe it, he couldn't have even one minute for Candy to finish her sentence. But he had no option, duty called, so he excused himself and went to the phone. Albert had just heard about the attack incident from his associate and worried about their safety. But, Neal told him all was okay, it was just an isolated incident. Candy was fine too. He assured him everything was fine before they hung up.

Neal came back to Candy to tell her it was Albert asking if she's fine.

"What did you want to say?" asked him for the second time wishing Candy to say it quickly to have all done before anyone came to cut their conversation again.

But that night everything was very hectic, phone kept ringing and the servant or staff came again in and out to ask Neal's instruction for panicked shareholders, riots and more. Albert called five more times that night. Candy waited for Neal for a long time in the dining room. One servant took an action to lead her to her bedroom which she much appreciated. Candy took a brief shower and fell asleep instantly. Neal was very tired too with all that happened around him and he fell asleep on his desk. Since he came back from Chicago he had no time to even go to his bed.

When he woke up the following day, the first thing he saw was Candy who was staring at him. He's still wearing his business attire but there's a blanket on him. It must be from her, he thought.

She smiled at him and greeted, "Good morning."

She's been staying there watching him asleep and thinking. Without his glasses, his face looked more boyish. He looked so peaceful at sleep. She never knew how much responsibility he had in his shoulder and how important a man he was. Thinking again what had happened in Chicago, how much time he spent for her made her appreciate him even more. She couldn't help admiring him and really thinking very highly of him. She couldn't believe seeing him protecting her yesterday. That was very selfless and brave.

All these reasoning shook hesitations away from her. She would give a solid yes for the proposal. She had decided yesterday and now she's even more determined. She couldn't wait for him to get up to tell him that.

"I fell asleep. Thanks for the blanket," Neal said.

He excused himself to take a shower. Candy then helped him to change the bandage. While doing it she couldn't help to feel Neal was staring at her. She looked at him quickly and saw he smile at her.

"Why did you come here?" he asked gently. "What did you want to tell me last night?"

Candy finished putting the last piece of bandage and looked quickly in his direction. For seconds their eyes met.

She said with a shy smile on her lips, "Is your proposal still valid?"

"Yes," he said very seriously which showed clearly from his face.

"Then, I want to accept it. That's why I came here," said Candy shyly, avoiding his eyes.

Neal was surprised to hear that. For a moment he let go all his self control. He jumped up, held her hands... Unfortunately, at this time someone again knocked at the door.

"Come in," he shouted trying to suppress his impatience. Candy couldn't help to giggle a little.

"Sir William wants to talk to you, Mr. Regan," said his staff.

Neal couldn't believe suddenly Albert called him that often. He hardly called him more than once a month usually. Enough is enough, he thought. So he said "Tell him, I will call him back in one minute."

The staff looked at him to assure what she heard was correct. "It's Sir William," she said.

"I know, tell him, one minute," he said really impatiently this time.

The servant nodded and left.

Neal looked at Candy and said very gently, "Look, I don't have much time but thank you."

He kissed her tenderly. Candy accepted and kissed him back. That's their first kiss together.

"Would you like to accompany me to the ball tonight?" asked Neal .

"But I don't bring anything, I was pretty much jumping to the train yesterday," replied Candy grinning.

"You have the whole day to prepare, Dear," he said softly. "I love you so much." He said closing his eyes and hugged her closer. "You don't know how long I have been wanting to have this moment with you."

He had so much happiness in his heart. At this moment, they both heard footsteps again outside the door. They both looked at one another knowing that someone would definitely come in again. Candy couldn't help to smile widely to see his annoyed expression.

Before long they heard Mary spoke, "Mr. Reagan, the manager from Fifth Avenue building would like to talk to you."

"Please come with me to the ball tonight," said Neal ignoring Mary to hug and kiss her a bit longer.

Candy just had enough time to nod. Releasing her gently, he said with eyes still looking at Candy, "Come in! Mary, could you make sure to have someone help Candy prepare for the ball tonight?"

Mary said, "Yes, Mr. Reagan."

She could sense her young boss unfinished passion towards Candy that she couldn't help but to give Candy a quick smile. Neal kissed Candy quickly one more time and hurriedly got ready to work. First, he'd give Albert a phone call to apologize for letting him wait...

While Neal was leaving the room, Candy was following him with her eyes. She couldn't help to compare him with Albert. At that time in Pony's Hill after his revelation of the prince of the hill, in the very crucial moment, George appeared to ask him to leave and he didn't even stay for half a minute longer to be with her. He left immediately, leaving her alone with her untold revelation. While Neal was willing to let others wait for the sake of showing his love to her. She was very happy and felt so appreciated.

While walking to his desk, Neal asked for the situation update to his staffs so he could report it to Albert. When he's ready, he gave him a call.

"Albert, I am sorry to let you wait, I was…," excused Neal.

Albert cut him short said, "Neal, I can't be more grateful for the way you handled the situation. My staffs had told me many things you did. They even said you slept on your desk. I am sorry I can't be there to help you."

Neal was happy that Albert understood. He kept assuring him that the situation was fine and much better. The tonight ball was not even canceled. The ball was not an ordinary ball. Albert had highly anticipated the ball since NY was a new place for Ardlay so it's very important for them to attend as a sign that they were welcomed in NY business society. Albert also asked about Candy which Neal said was fine.

"What is she doing there anyway?" asked Albert curious about the situation.

Neal hesitated how to answer the question so he said bluntly, "She'll accompany me to go to the ball tonight."

Albert laughed, knowing their past history, he could sense that something interesting must have happened. They talked more about business issues before finally hung up.

That afternoon, Neal came home and got ready just in time for the ball. Candy came to greet him. He was very astonished to see her mesmerizing beauty. He approached and hugged her closely. He closed his eyes and tenderly kissed her continuously from the neck to the lips very much enjoying the moment. He had put years of effort to finally be at this moment. How much he had struggled to finally win the love of his life. It's like a dream to him that it was really Candy that he was hugging and kissing at that moment.

"You are very beautiful. Thanks for coming to the ball with me," Neal said while hugging her and added emotionally. "Thanks for giving me a second chance. I am so sorry for what I did to you in the past."

Candy could only nod silently.

"I have loved you so very much for a long time," he whispered again and again movingly which melted Candy's heart deeply.

Candy could feel his longing for her love all these years. All she could was to hold him tightly. She really cherished the unwavering love he had for her even after so many disastrous years. She appreciated the effort he made, the personal barriers he overcame in order to be with her.

Suddenly Neal took a box outside his pocket, it's a ring. They did the proposal ceremony one more time formally without interruption including of course he bent on one knee and put the ring in her finger. During the process, Candy was very happy and touched by his sincerity. She sobbed in tears with so much happiness.

The night ball was superb. Being an Ardlay, Candy had gone to so many balls, but still this NY ball was indeed awesome. Almost all of the most important people in NY business world were there. She also found out that Neal was regarded as one of the most formidable rising stars in NY socialite. Many watched in marvel to his surge and the daughter of Sir William Ardlay he had in his arms. She was very proud to be with him. During the dancing, Candy could really sense the deep intensity of his passion for her. Nobody had ever been holding her like that. Definitely not Albert. She was grateful that she accepted his proposal and now wore his engagement ring.

Soon Candy needed to go back to Chicago. They chatted at length about their next plan. She also asked if his parents knew about the proposal and if they'd mind it.

Neal answered, "They didn't mind years ago, why would they mind it now. Especially you now are much more elegant, intelligent, and beautiful."

They laughed at the incident years ago. He promised to talk and asked their permission as soon as possible. He also promised to talk formally to Albert as Candy's father and write a letter to Ms. Pony and Sr. Lane as Candy's mothers as soon as possible. Candy couldn't be happier.

Back in Chicago, Candy went to Albert's office. Albert was happy to see her back safely and Candy told him everything that happened there. Albert was impressed by Neal and was very pleased by his dedication to the enterprise and his works. He couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome of the ball. Neal's star power would help to put Ardlay new lines of business in the spotlight which what he had been hoping for.

Finally, Candy said, "Since you are my father, I'd like to seek your permission to get married." She had a big smile on her face.

"Absolutely, who has the honor to marry you, Candy?" said Albert full of curiosity although he could guess it's Neal.

"Neal," said Candy beaming and showed her ring to Albert.

"Did he propose to you?" said Albert in disbelief. "How could he possibly even have the time?" he asked, very much in awed.

Candy then told Albert the complete proposal story. How every time they tried to speak it got interrupted repeatedly including by him and a bandit! It took two days for the proposal to finally complete. Albert couldn't stop laughing and hugged Candy.

"You both are very impressive. I am sorry to call him at a wrong time for so many times," he laughed and said seriously, "Of course I approve, dear daughter, I am very happy for you."

Albert was very impressed with Neal. His appreciation to him went up much higher. He added, "We should have listened to aunt Elroy long time ago."

Both laughed. Aunt Elroy was also pleased. "William should have listened to me long time ago. What made him think he's better than me in marriage arrangement," she said choked with happiness and hugged Candy tightly.

Reading Neal's letter, Ms. Pony and Sr. Lane couldn't be happier. They had said how much they thought Neal was the one among all Candy's men that they had met. They cried with happiness when they saw the engagement ring on her finger. Annie and Archie's jaws dropped in disbelief seeing the ring and listening to the proposal story. Thinking about how he was in the past, three of them laughed very hard about Neal. And… George. George remembered how Candy, in tears, had wanted to have her engagement canceled to the same man she just decided to get engaged.

"What a world," George said to himself with a smile.

Neal called his parents to let them know about the engagement. His parents were very delighted that their son finally got the woman he really loved. They greeted Candy at the gate with big hugs and big smiles when she came to visit them in their house.

Since his first proposal years ago was rejected flatly by Albert, this time Neal decided to prepare it very carefully. At the end of one of their business calls he decided to bring it up.

"Albert, could I have a few more minutes?" he asked nervously.

"Yes, what is it"?

And he said very carefully and seriously, "Sir William, I'd like to have your permission to propose to your daughter, Ms. Candice. I promise this time I'll treat her better. It is my intention to do all in my power to make her happy, to take care of her..." and so on.

Albert listened patiently. At the end of his little speech, Albert said very seriously, "You know what?" then added with much friendlier tone, " You should see aunt Elroy's proud smile. She believed she scored a goal over me." They both laughed. Of course Albert agreed and gave him the permission.

They both got married and had children. They lived very happily ever after.

THE END