Offer To The CEO

Friday, continued …

Anna however noticed how annoyed that he was with her, and decided that she would crush him now, to ensure that he was not going to become a long-term problem for her and Amanda. Damn him and his lack of respect.

Before he uttered anything Anna continued, in a quiet, but what Hou Yi knew was a deadly voice "Director Su, you will listen to me. Before we get into an argument about Madam Yao, she is the wife of the independent director of the company's board. He has legitimately appointed her has his proxy for today's meeting."

"And before you start to argue further, remember that the company her husband is CEO of, XF International collaborates with Hou Enterprises on multiple projects both domestically and internationally. If you want to damage the company, insult and belittle CEO Yao's wife, and I can tell you now, I know the company charter, I will see you removed as the head of the legal department and a new head appointed. That immediately will cease your roll on the board."

"I will tell you once, Madam Yao is staying for this board meeting, having a legitimate appointment as a proxy. You know if procedure is followed for general board meetings, there is nothing you can do to stop the proxy from attending. Now, you will here address her by her title, Madam Yao, not Miss Mei." After a two second pause Anna continued "And if her marriage does not worry you, generally annoying her could have the same consequence, as her father is the Vice-CEO of XF International."

Director Su, listening to Anna, realised that he could not say anything. She was nothing like what his subordinates had told him. They promised she was intimidated enough that she would vote with him. Damn it, his current plan to take control of Hou Enterprises, relied on this. He had the internal directors except Ji Feng intimidated enough that they always voted with him.

CEO Yao, despite his known friendship with Hou Yi, always acted as an independent director and weighed up actions. Having Madam Hou on side would be enough to convince him to vote to remove Hou Yi as CEO of Hou Enterprises and Ji Feng as Vice-CEO to install himself as CEO. He had planned to move at the next board meeting as Ji Feng had to give his proxy to another internal board member, which would have guaranteed victory for him.

Hou Yi knew he needed to immediately regain control of the meeting. "Gentleman, Madam Yao, Anna, welcome to the board meeting for Hou Enterprises. This meeting, as you know was to have occurred a fortnight ago to formally confirm the Company Charter requirement that upon our marriage appointed her has a director."

"So as to prevent anyone in the future questioning this, the company charter indicates that a maximum of three generations of the Hou Family can own shares, and six family members, including spouses, are to be board members. The effect of the provisions of the Charter is such that until I married my Aunt was deemed to be the sixth director. On my marriage, the charter immediately appointed my wife as a director."

"The original meeting to formally confirm the effect of the charter, was simply delayed due to the assault on my wife that hospitalised her. Now for those who are unaware, my wife is a qualified Australian Lawyer, and with Madam Yao to become a qualified lawyer here. In Australia she worked for ANX Lawyers, who are our Australian Legal Firm, and corporate law experience. She is well and truly qualified to be a member of this board. Can I please have confirmation from the board of the company charter's effect."

Ji Feng, and Amanda Yao immediately put up there hands, Hou Yi also put up his hand, and said, "I am also voting as proxy for both my parents and grandparents.", which reached 6 votes. The finance director, who had been ashamed that a corporate spy had been in his department, decided to vote against the rest of the internal board members, to give an absolute majority, and put up his hand. As soon as everyone else seen that there was no doubts on the majority, they also put up their hands, but Hou Yi could tell that it was a reluctance on most of their behalf, specially Director Su.