A Cost of Magic — Desmond Meiring

David Hugo has everything any man could ever want -- successful career in the oil industry, trophy wife, extravagance beyond his wildest dreams. Yet amidst all this wealth, he lives in fear for his life. Terrorism fueled by greed and capitalism in late Twentieth Century Argentina nearly cost David his life during three failed kidnapping attempts. He begins to experience agonizing emptiness, and even loneliness, in his marriage. Genuine love appears to be absent in his life.

After meeting with Teresa, a former lover, David is introduced to Cristina -- an extraordinary, temperamental, and somehow magical beauty who is also searching for someone to make her life complete. David quickly becomes involved in a passionate and unforgettable affair with Cristina, realizing he has finally found the woman he longed for. But at what cost? As David eventually learns, everything has a price -- even magic.