Offer To The CEO

Monday

Anna awoke in the hospital bed wrapped in Hou YI's arms, as she attempted to ease herself to head to the bathroom, she woke Hou Yi up.

He leant over and gave Anna a kiss on the lips but before she let it get too passionate, she pulled back and quietly said "Darling, remember where we are. Plus I need to use the bathroom."

Hou Yi, allowed Anna to move out of his arms and head to the bathroom. As Anna was entering the bathroom there was a knock on the door, and in came one of the nursing staff, followed by a bodyguard who was bringing in bags and newspapers. Indicating his wife was in the bathroom the nurse, he turned to the bodyguard, taking the bags and the newspapers. He sat the bags down and headed to the couch and sat the newspapers out on the table.

The front-page headlines were telling, even at first glance. However, before he could start reading, he heard noise behind him, and the nurse had settled Anna back on the bed, and was taking her observations.

Once the nurse finished, she quietly said "Madam Hou, that is starting to look better. Your obstetrician will be in just before 9am, so we will arrange for breakfast to be brought in for the two of you."

Hou Yi sat on the bed with his wife, gently taking her in his arms, before she spoke "Thank you."

Once the nurse left, Hou Yi quietly asked "How do you feel. Tell me the truth please, as you scared me yesterday."

"Yi so much better than yesterday. I still feel tired but having that video-conference with Phillipa last night has made things easier." With that Anna twisted and gave Hou Yi a brief kiss.

"Promise me that you are not going to let things get to you like they did. You heard Pip, if you cannot contact the counsellor that she arranged, call her and speak to her."

"Yi, I did not want to …"

In a firm but not harsh voice "Sweetheart, as she told you, you will have setbacks. You know that is reality as well from your work. Most importantly you know I am here; I love you and will do anything to help you. But I am not a mind reader. I can observe things, but I cannot always tell when you need help."

"I know Yi…"

There was a knock on the door and breakfast was brought in and sat down at the table near the couch.

As they moved over to eat breakfast, Anna located the television remote, and turned it on before searching for a news channel. The lead story for her was not surprising, the excesses of Lu Jingho. While factual, they soon moved into a panel discussion about the story.

Hou Yi was watching Anna carefully, seeing how she reacted. As Hou YI had paused eating Anna turned to him, before saying "Yi, calm down I am OK. I just want to see what they have to say, and I am going to read the papers after that."

Anna turned her attention back to the television and started listening to the panel discussion about the allegations against Lu Jingho. Anna was engrossed in what they were saying, which was universally condemning him, but at the same time the journalists were careful to phrase their comments on the basis of "if the allegations can be proven".

Anna found it highly interesting as a means of seeing the difference between the legal system here and in Australia. Criminals were afforded more protection by the law, but at the same time, the whole basis for the legal system was different.

Hou Yi rather than solely focusing on the television, started reading the newspapers. The stories under the headlines matched the articles. Like the debate on the television he could see that the written press were as condemning of Lu JIngho as they were. Hou Yi in considering everything realised that he had no idea of the extent of Lu Jingho's behaviour. Blackmailing his son, abusing children, threatening his ex-wife, misusing company resources, trying to blackmail him, harassing Anna. What else was to come out? Hopefully he will agree to plead to the charges to save people having to give evidence.

One comment made in the television debate made Hou Yi stop. "The only thing that might save him and the Lu Corporation will depend on how many of the alleged victims can be compensated for the acts against them, and the charges not pursued?"