Offer To The CEO

Wednesday, continued …

Leaning over Hou Yi gave Anna a brief kiss and continued. "And I promise you, once we are done those things, I will be coming home to finish resting, as the number of time zones I have changed through over the last ten days is messing with me so much. I need to get my body back to normal as the next eight to ten weeks before I take my paternity leave will be busy."

"You are taking paternity leave?"

"Anna, there is no way that I am going to leave you to cope alone. We have company policies to allow new fathers to spend time with their wife and child. I encourage everyone to take it, even those at senior levels. I need to lead by example as the CEO.  There is a good senior management team in place who can deal with most things while I am on paternity leave, and in a worst-case scenario I am a telephone call away. The only thing for those first few weeks is that I will not do any travelling."

Looking at Hou Yi, Anna could see the sincerity in his eyes, and reached up to give him a kiss, before they both moved to get ready for the two appointments they had.

After a light breakfast, the headed to the obstetrician's office for Anna's review appointment.  It was quickly discernible that the obstetrician was happy with Anna's current health and confirmed that she could continue working as she had been.  As they headed to the car, Hou Yi asked "You are happy?"

"Absolutely, I would go insane if I could not work."

"Well we will need to keep doing what we are doing, so that you can keep working as long as possible." Hou Yi leaned over and then gave Anna a brief kiss, and then took her hand in his as they headed out to the car, trailed by bodyguards. Hou Yi helped Anna in, and entered after her, and they were then whisked to Alister Nang's Office to speak to him.

After having gone over the summary as it related to the, Hou Enterprises and the joint venture with XF International, noting the few minor changes then needed. Alister then turned to them both and said "I spoke to the National Prosecutors just as you arrived. They want a life sentence, with a minimum of thirty-five years to be served in prison, fifty million in fines plus compensation for the victims along with a lifetime ban on being a company director, and orders of protection for all victims. However, Mr Lu's representatives are still pushing for a home detention sentence of two years total, ten million in fines and compensation and a twenty-three month ban on being a company director."

Hou Yi spoke "The latter is understandable. Lu Corporation's charter requires a family member to be CEO, but they cannot serve a ban on being a company director if they have a ban of more than two years. The sentence will put him out from ever being CEO, but he will still want to be involved when he can."

"I figured that. My question for the two of you is what is your position on his sentence?"

Hou Yi and Anna looked at each other before Anna said "I hate life sentences, as it goes against my view that people should know the final position for them. I would suggest a maximum sentence of thirty years if not a life sentence, but a minimum of twenty years to be served. If he is of good behaviour when he gets to fifteen years, he can serve the balance of the minimum by home detention and it he remains with good behaviour he remains under supervision for the final part of the sentence. In Australia we would call that Parole. The kick in that is that if he does anything wrong, he would end up back in jail to complete whatever is left on his sentence, plus the sentence he receives for the new offences. The fines and the rest I think is reasonable."

Alister paused considering what Anna had said "I had actually not thought about that. It still gives a harsh sentence, and to get the benefits he must behave. Misbehaviour does not get what he wants and could end up with him back in jail. Maybe that will be something that will be a good compromise position. That gives me something to go back to the Prosecutors with. Once I know something more, I can let you know."

After some additional discussions Hou Yi and Anna stood up and took their leave before returning home for the balance of the day.