Offer to the CEO

Tuesday

Hou Yi was woken up with a loud bang in their suite and turned on a bedside light noticing that it was only 5:30am, and that the light was on in their walk-in robe. He quickly got up and walked to the robe, and saw Anna surrounded by a box and immediately asked "Are you OK. What has happened?"

Anna just laughed. It was Christmas Day and she wanted to make the most of it, being the first Christmas with Hou Yi, and their only Christmas without a child.

"Yi, I am just getting ready for our Christmas celebrations. We have to enjoy the day."

Hou Yi simply groaned realising that James was right. This was going to be one painful day, with Anna in full Christmas mode and hence his warning from James not to let her call them before 10am.

"Anna, sweetheart come back to bed. We still have most of the day, and you forget that Christmas tends not to be as important here for everyone as it is in Australia…"

"NOT important, Hou Yi you better change that view, Christmas will be important." Yelled Anna.

Hou Yi winced at the sound of his wife's voice. Christmas was important, but the last thing he wanted if Anna to decide that she had to disturb everyone and ruin the surprise that he and James had arranged.

"Anna …" came Hou Yi quietly

"Do not Anna me, husband, you better change that attitude." Interrupted Anna still angry.

"How about a compromise sweetheart. It is not even 6am. Come back to bed for a couple of hours, please. As most of the staff have young families I arranged for us to have a brunch at 10.30am to allow them to spend the early part of the morning with their family.  They will also prepare a light dinner for us to re-heat after we return from the ancestral home, where we are due between 1pm and 2pm for a late lunch.  How can we ruin Christmas for the staff?"

"Fine," responded a dejected Anna pouting after replying, but she headed back to their bed. Hou Yi, before turning to leave, reached into where his underwear was, and snuck out the first of many little Christmas gifts he had for Anna, a one-off bead that Pandora made for him after paying a fortune for it. Most people would thing that it was nothing and that he should have spent a fortune on a piece at Fengs.

Despite the money he spent at Fengs and other top end jewellery stores even on his travels, for jewellery for Anna, most of it remained unworn in the safe.  All she wore was the pendant and earrings matching her rings, a simply couple of chains, a pendant with her birthstone and matching earrings, pearls, her watch and most importantly her Pandora bracelets, most importantly their bracelet. Making her happy and it being something she wanted was the most important thing.

As he returned to their bed, he said "Sweetheart can you close your eyes and hold out your hand?"

Anna turned and looked directly at him and noticed a slight sly smile on his face so opted to cooperate. Once Anna had complied with his request, Hou Yi sat down on the side of the bed, and placed the small box containing the bead in her hand saying "Merry Christmas my darling. This is the first of our lifetime."

Feeling the box placed in her hands, Anna opened her eyes, and opened it before being greeted with a bead for her bracelet. Stunned, Anna simply opened her mouth. For the last few weeks he had been trying to convince her to go to Fengs to pick out pieces of jewellery, but the sneak, he picked something perfect for Christmas. Suddenly tears started to come from her eyes.

Hou Yi, shocked as his wife was crying, failed to pick up how happy she was and simply gathered her in his arms, rubbing her back before asking "What is wrong? I am sorry I upset you?"

Anna realised that he misread the situation. Damn it, he was great at business, but he would at times misread her feelings. How contrary he was. Pulling back slightly Anna responded "Darling, it is perfect, you know me too well. I have never seen a bead like this."

Looking at Anna in her eyes, Hou Yi responded "You had me worried for a minute. As to the bead, I contacted the company who own Pandora and the finally, after a lot of persuasion agreed to make this one-off bead for you"

Carefully placing the box on the bedside table, Anna reached up with both hands and gave Hou Yi a kiss. Mindful of what the obstetrician told them during the last visit, Hou Yi gently pulled back, and carefully moved around the bed, before hopping back in and gathering Anna in his arms, before returning her kiss, and saying "Let us go back to sleep."

Anna snuggled in his arms and quickly drifted back to sleep, with Hou Yi watching her. He was just happy he convinced her to return to bed and laid down beside her, drifting back to sleep himself.