Offer To The CEO

Monday, continued…

Despite his efforts, Hou Yi was not able to change Anna's mind of coming into the office with him. He contacted their bodyguards and advised them to take a second vehicle to the office. He knew once Human Resources spoke to her, she would not want to come home with him.

As they headed into the office, Hou Yi realised that he needed to speak to her about another matter, and this was not going to go down well, maybe worse than what would happen with Human Resources contacted her. "Sweetheart, I need to talk to you about a couple of things."

Anna looked at Hou Yi and the look on his face made her realise that she was not going to like what he had to say. "I did not want to say anything until we got home, but when I was at the European Headquarters, it became apparent that next week I am going to have to visit three separate projects as well as the American Headquarters and return to visit another Europe. I will be about ten days, but it should be the last trip I have to make overseas before you are due. Anything requiring overseas travel should be able to be handled by Uncle Feng or other senior management. But given how much I am moving around; I do not want to take you as it will be unsettling."

"Yi…" came the pleading response.

"Anna, this is something your pleading cannot change. You know that your Obstetrician is worried, and he will not agree to you coming with me."

"Well if he says I can go, I am coming. I have an appointment later this week."

Hou Yi took a deep breath and continued "Anna if there was any private element to the trip, I would have no hesitation in saying yes, provided you had approval from your obstetrician. However, there will not be the time for any private element to the trip. While this may seem discriminatory our insurance company is clear that for purely business trips, anyone over four and a half months pregnant cannot travel on the plane unless we can demonstrate a business necessity and provide medical clearance. On this trip, other than being there for my support, which I would love, there is no sound business reason for you to come. And before you say anything, last week was a mixed trip and therefore the same restrictions did not apply."

"You can change policy," whined Anna snuggling into Hou Yi.

Hou Yi had to take some deep breaths. His wife knew how to manipulate him. "Anna, I cannot change policy just for you, no matter how much I want to. We will be staying no longer than thirty-six hours in any one location; most stops are less than a day."

Anna knew that Hou Yi was not going to change his mind. Damn him. She did not want to be alone at home.

Hou Yi then continued "The family have said that you can head to the ancestral home for the time I am away, and when I spoke to Yao Tan about business matters, he said he and Amanda would be happy to have you with them if you wanted to."

"You are trying to palm me off on people," came Anna's angry response.

"Darling, no. I figured I would see what options there are. The Ancestral home is near to where Villa is being built so you could watch that, and you know my family will spoil you. I would have no issue how much you spent with my mother and aunt shopping. You could invite Jodie and her husband to stay with you at the apartment or given that Amanda is your friend you could spend time with her."

"Fine, let me think about it. But you better next time plan a trip so that there is a personal element and I can come along. You know I can work remotely, but I need you nearby."

"I would not be going if I did not have to. Part of this trip is about testing the potential of some senior executives to move them up to roles that will free me up more, meaning less travel so…" With that Hou Yi lent down and gave Anna a kiss.

However, before either of them could deepen the kiss, the car came to a stop, and they heard one of the bodyguards saying, "CEO and Madam Hou, we have arrived at Hou Enterprises."

Hou Yi helped Anna out of the vehicle and the sight of them walking hand-in-hand into Hou Enterprises now shocked no one. Hou Yi, before heading to his office Anna another brief passionate kiss.