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soul mate and the love of my life."

Her arrival came as Megaupload was preparing to shed its fledgling roots, expanding in customer base, growth, revenue and size as larger streams of bandwidth became available to the internet public. The business was expanding beyond expectations yet — at that stage — staying far enough below the radar that it was not yet treated like the internet pariah the United States would eventually make it.

Dotcom was, at the time, a techno taipan. He would work in and out of Hong Kong but enjoyed a designer life in the Phillipines where his growing wealth embraced the trappings which came with it. There were motorcycle escorts to and from the airport, instant access to the cutting edge of any night life entertainments and a willing crowd of followers along for a good time.

The hottest club in town was the Embassy night club, which Dotcom and his entourage frequented, taking over the VIP area every time they arrived. Dotcom became a regular at the club, which blended celebrity and electronic dance music to become the sought-after centre of Manila society. From the VIP area, he would oversee the events of the club from the exclusive area where his retinue partied.

Mona, then 19, was on the dance floor when she caught Dotcom's attention. He was in a relationship at the time but, regardless, told his PA he wanted to know who she was and where she had come from. The PA was sent into the crowd with an invitation to join the group for a drink in the VIP area. The invitation was refused.

"She's here with a friend and doesn't really want to," the PA told Dotcom. She was sent out into the club again to ask if Mona would simply come over to say hello. The second overture succeeded, Dotcom was instantly smitten.

"I was stunned . . . I was absolutely in love. This was love at first sight. It hasn't changed since. It has just grown. I love Mona more than anything."

From there, Dotcom wooed and wowed his intended, while extricating himself from his current relationship. That ended amicably, with his eldest child Kaylo the result, and mother and daughter still a regular feature in the Dotcom household.

It wasn't easy, at the outset. "I fell in love with Mona but she didn't fall in love with me right away." Concerned that his weight was an issue, Dotcom set out to "show her how important she is for me".

He lost 45kg. Unaccustomed to exercise, he started doing the Victoria Peak walk daily. The trek up and around the half-a-kilometre high mountain rising behind Hong Kong was challenging. He cut carbohydrates from his diet, eating vegetable soup and salads.

"The first month was extremely exhausting . . . it was a battle." But the weight fell off his frame. A jaw line emerged and any extra chins he

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