Offer To The CEO

Tuesday

For Anna and Hou Yi, Tuesday started like any normal day with them going to Hou Enterprises and dealing with various matters, until lunch time, when Anna received a call from Du AnLing and Leng Xi.

"Anna, darling, we know that you have been invited to go to theatre tonight. We need to go shopping. Given what has happened in the last few days you need some engage in some retail therapy." Said Du AnLing

"Come on sweetheart, we need to spend some time with you." Chimed in Leng Xi.

"Mum, Aunt, today does not work. Hou Yi and I have some things we have to do this afternoon before we get ready for the theatre. I need more notice than simply a phone call. As we told you last night, I am working in the company, and I need to take that into account. How about tomorrow? I can work around it then."

"Anna, tomorrow will not do, it needs to be today. We know my nephew loves uou, but you need to have time with others who also love you, this time namely us. We read the press release, saw what occurred on Friday night, and the press conference yesterday. We are not stupid that we cannot things together and realise that Lu Jinhu was the one that did all that to you. While you have Yi and you love each other you need a support network, and that includes us, and we want to take you shopping," came Leng Xi over the phone

"Mum, Aunty, Yi and I actually have an appointment with someone to talk through some issues…"

"Knowing my son, given how shaken you were on Friday and yesterday I am guessing he called in Phillipa Chen, to 'talk' to you" came Du AnLing, and Anna could almost hear her using her fingers to represent a quote around the word talk.

"Mum, what we are doing is for us to know. If we feel that it is necessary to tell you about it we will," replied Anna, but more quietly.

"Promises will not do daughter, we want to be there and help."

"Sister, niece, rather than arguing, I have a better idea. Let us have a girls day out. I will book our favourite day spa, and treatments for all of us tomorrow morning. It will give you something to relax with. While this afternoon would be better, given the theatre performance tonight, which I am guessing Phillipa invited you to, so you look your best, but we do it tomorrow or Thursday so you can at least have something to relax with."

"Aunty, I am really not sure that it will work. I am busy at work."

"Anna, you are my son's wife, and you do not need to work."

"Mum, I want to work and Yi supports me. We struck a deal with my Australian employers that has me doong work for them, including some things related to Hou Enterprises remotely. It lets me keep busy, but I am also working to becoming a qualified lawyer here as well. I need to do something at the moment to keep busy, the future we can deal with"

"Anna, Anna, what will we do with you? You do not need to work, you want to, and it is about you and my son putting off having a family."

"True Anna"

"Mum, Aunty. Yi and I are waiting. He realises that I have had a significant change in my life, in marrying him and moving here, that things like a family are down the track. We have time."

Just as she was saying this, Anna received a conversation message from Hou Yi, that read 'Anna, come on up. Lunch is here, and Pip indicated that she would be here about 2:30 pm for our next appointment.'

Anna quickly responded 'Yi, I am on the phone to your mother and Aunt, who want me to go shopping with them, today, but appear to be willing to compromise and take me to a day spa tomorrow or Thursday.'

'Go with them Thursday. You need something different to do, and at least you can have a break away from the office, and indulge yourself for a few hours.'

Anna heard on the phone "Anna, you are not listening to us."

'See you soon' she responded to Hou Yi, then continued on the phone "Mum, Aunty, I just received a message from Yi that I needed to respond to. Tomorrow will not work so it needs to be Thursday, so please make the appointment. I apologise, but I have to go."