Offer to the CEO

Tuesday, continued …

The next thing either of them knew was that there was a knock on the door, and they heard Butler Ge call out "Young Master, Young Madam it is 9:45am, when you told me young master to wake you."

Once they stirred from their sleep, Hou Yi called out "Thank you Butler Ge, we will be down in about forty-five minutes." With that they both got out of bed got ready and headed downstairs. As they arrived in the dining room, they were greeted by James and Alecia, with James calling out "Merry Christmas."

Anna looked between James and Hou Yi realising that these two had something planned. Pouring Anna an orange juice, Hou Yi said "I have something for you, sweetheart come with me," before turning and heading back out of the dining room towards the cinema room. Anna followed with James and Alecia behind her. As they entered the Cinema Room, Anna noticed that the television was on, and it appeared it was set out for something.

Hou Yi was over with the technology and despite not being able to see the screen Anna could see he was doing something. Anna stood there watching him, rather than paying attention to the screen, which soon to James and Alecia changed to show the link to the Media Room that had been set up in Anna and Hou Yi's house on the farm just before they returned. In the room the two of them could see the children and they held their finger over their mouth to give them a message to be quiet. Surprisingly they all sat quietly, and no sound could be heard.

When Hou Yi stood up from being hunched over the technology, James and Alecia took their fingers away from their mouth, and all the children yelled out to Anna, who still had her back to them "Merry Christmas Aunty Anna."

Hearing this Anna turned around, and saw that her siblings, their spouses, her nieces and nephews and even her father were all in the one room, before hearing Ben yell out "So we have the Christmas Queen stunned. If we had known it was this easy to have you quiet on Christmas Day, we would have done this years ago."

Adam added "True, it would have meant much more peaceful Christmas."

One of her nephews, and Anna could not work out which one added "But Aunty Anna makes Christmas fun."

Anna sat down on a chair, and simply looked at the screen. Her husband, brother and Alecia had pulled off another Christmas surprise. She had realised on going to bed last night that it would not be the same this year at Christmas, but those three and everyone back in Australia simply made her day. Yes, she was a third of the world away, but seeing everyone made her feel like she was there.

All Anna could do was respond "Merry Christmas."

That was enough to start a long conversation, and Hou Yi, quietly moved to the door and called Butler Ge for him, as arranged to serve their brunch here so that they could eat while talking to Anna's family. Almost an hour later, after having a blast interacting with everyone, everyone in Australia indicated that they needed to get moving so they could visit their in-laws.

Once the tele-call ended, Anna turned and said "You three, how in the world…"

Alecia turned "Anna, Uncle Yi has the money to help do this, but we wanted to do something special for you, and in respect it also is for James since neither of you are in Australia with your siblings for Christmas. This, you will remember more than a gift, you love your family, even your mother despite what she likes and her refusal to be there. We simply asked everyone to help."

A couple of tears slipped from Anna's eyes and the firstly gave James and then Alecia a hug, before giving Hou Yi and hug and kiss. "Thank you, it was perfect."

Alecia nodded, and James quietly said "Sorry, we have to leave, we agreed to spend the afternoon with Alecia's family. Enjoy your day Anna."

James and Alecia quietly exited the Cinema room after the connection was turned off, and Hou Yi turned to Anna "Are you happy with that surprise?"

"I cannot believe it.  That has made my day, being able to see and talk to them."

"I figured it would, now come on we need to head off to the ancestral home for the arranged family Christmas with everyone.  You will enjoy yourself."

Anna nodded, and as they left the Cinema Room, Butler Ge was there with Anna's handbag, and Hou Yi's wallet and phone. After wishing the staff Merry Christmas and sending them on their way, they headed to the Ancestral home for the afternoon before returning home.