Offer To The CEO

Friday, continued …

When they arrived at M Mall, much to the bodyguards shock they entered through the normal rather than the VIP entrance. Quietly the bodyguards between them talked about how much the influence of Anna since she married Hou Yi had changed the family towards being as normal as possible rather that isolating themselves, but how much that created challenges for them in protecting each member of the family.

Anna and Hou Yi walked determinately towards the tailor's store, drawing attention from the few early morning shoppers in the Mall. Despite the stares, no one seemed to work out that it was the CEO of Hou Enterprises and his wife, walking through the mall like a normal couple, despite being surrounded by bodyguards.

On arriving at the Tailors, Anna was hurried into a change room, and helped into her dress for any final adjustments. As Anna expected, despite her changing body from her pregnancy, the dress was perfect, along with the underwear they arranged and the shoes.

As Anna was being helped out of the dress, she was advised that there would be additional underwear options, including compression underwear, suitable for pregnant women like her to use with the dress. Anna could not believe how thoughtful the tailors were trying to cover every eventuality. How lucky was she to find this shop? Sometimes fate just happened, like the day that she crashed into Hou Yi.

When they brought out a couple of other dresses for Anna to try on, she looked at them, and was advised that Hou Yi had made the arrangements so that she did not feel that she had to remain in her heavy wedding dress all day.

After changing, Anna headed out, and Hou YI had pulled out his credit card and finished paying for items. Anna looked at him and said, "Something is going on."

"Nothing sweetheart," responded Hou Yi guiltily. Anna knew he was hiding something but had no idea what. She had to figure it out before it drove her crazy.

"Yi you known the doctors have told you not to stress me out and keeping secrets will do that."

"Anna, I am allowed one or two little secrets, but I can promise that you will enjoy this when it is revealed. Now stop trying to distract me, I need to finish paying for everything."

Hou Yi gave her a brief kiss, and then continued "If I have not already told you, you found a perfect store here. Ever since I have started wearing the suits from here, the questions I have had as to where I have purchased them from. I am so reluctant to tell anyone as it means giving up the secret that is this store."

Once Hou Yi finished the transaction, they exited the tailors store, when Hou Yi started to take Anna into a few different stores to finalise purchases arranged by Assistant Wang. On exiting one store they were interrupted by his mobile ringing.

After finishing the call with Assistant Wang, Hou Yi realised that he needed to hurry back to the office. Not wanting to force Anna to come back with him, he leant over and gave Anna a kiss saying, "Come to the office when you are finished."

Anna looked at her watch and realised that it was almost time for her to head to the University to give her guest lecture. She said "Yi, I actually need to head to the university, as I have that guest lecture to give."

Hou Yi, looked at Anna and realised she was nervous. Taking her hand in his, he gave it a squeeze, before saying "Anna, you know you can do this. You know what you are going to say, you are prepared, and more importantly the university would not have asked you to come and speak if they did not believe that you could do it."

Seeing Anna was still doubting herself. "Anna, the university are selective in who they ask as guest lecturers. Despite having taken Hou Enterprises further, I have not been asked to come in and speak to business students. I should be annoyed that they ask Yao Tan to come in once a year to speak, but then I remember why they get him in. They have a program to support students who have children, so he comes in and talks to them about creating the balance and achieving their education goals."

Giving Anna another a brief kiss, he said "Now go my love. You will succeed. But hurry back, you know I will miss you until I see you."

Seeing the smile which reflected Hou Yi's confidence in Anna's ability to succeed, she knew that she would be able to do this, without a problem. She gave Hou Yi a quick hug and whispered, "You do not know how much I needed to know that you believe in me."

"I always will my love, now go."

With that the two of them headed out. Hou Yi made sure that Anna was safe in the car and on her way to the university, before turning to the bodyguards, and saying "Let me head back in for this meeting with the mall management, but arrange for a car to be available at the end of it."