Offer to the CEO

Wednesday, continued …

Hou Yi looked at Anna relieved at the reason for her tears.  He thought he had upset her.   "You had me worried that I had upset you."

"Never, when you have taken the time to be thoughtful about the gift.  You know I do not like anything too fussy or expensive.  They were perfect." Anna paused and said "Yi, if you delay too much Uncle Feng will be annoyed with me…"

"Uncle Feng messaged me earlier and said that he could look after the company while I spent the day with you, and I so want to…"

Realising what this would mean, Anna responded "Yi, absolutely not.  Jang has routines, part of which is you saying goodbye and going to work.  I am slowly working adapting him to me not being here all the time, and I do not want to ruin that.  Plus, what message does that send to the staff."

Hearing the determination in Anna's voice, Hou Yi knew that he could end up in an argument with her, and that was something he did not want on his Anniversary.  "Ok, but you need to walk me to the car and promise me you will come to the office early so we can enjoy our afternoon and evening."

Anna nodded and walked outside the villa with Hou Yi, as he climbed into the waiting car to head to the office.  Just after he pulled out the driveway, another car drove in and stopped right in front of Anna.  Quickly Du AnLing climbed out and spotting Anna she said "I see my son has no sense.  He has gone into work, rather than spending your Anniversary with you."

Anna, held in a laugh and said "Mother, I told him to go in.  Little Jang…"

"Speaking of him, where is my little sweetheart?"

"With the nannies.  We have started routines with him, and …"

"Forget about his routines for today, he is coming with me."

Anna paused before saying "Mother, I know you love him, but…"

"No, you are not going to take away our fun.  We all decided he needs to spend today and tonight at the Family Villa, rather than being here so you can spend time together.  If we have to the nannies can come."

"Is this Father and Grandfather's guilt speaking over their tactic of threatening to give away Hou Enterprises to force Yi's hand?"

"You still want to carry a grudge about that?"

"It created the opportunity for Yi and I to meet, and to have what we have now, but at the same time it gave Lu Jingho thoughts that created a lot of hurt for me, and that neither of us are ready to totally forgive yet." Anna paused, and continued "Come on in and we can have a tea and talk some more before…"

"You will let me take Jang with me."

"Let me think about it." Anna turned and headed inside with Du AnLing trailing behind her.  After quietly speaking to the staff Anna headed out into a courtyard taking a seat under some shade, and Du AnLing sat down across from her.

Carefully observing her daughter-in-law Du AnLing realised something was troubling her.  The last thing either her or her son needed today was anything worrying then.  "Anna, what is troubling you?"

"How did you know something was wrong?"

"Despite the fact that you and my son have only been married a year, some things about you are easy for us, who love you, to see.  So, what is it?"

Taking a deep breath, Anna steadied herself before saying "I am feeling guilty about wanting to head back to work.  Jang needs me, and with everything that has happened I do not want to leave him."

Du AnLing looked at Anna.  She always thought that Anna would want to be a stay at home parent, like her, once she had children and care for them with the help of nannies.  Then she thought harder.  Anna was highly skilled, and the few times she had seen her in action within the courts she knew she had talent.  Was it fair for her to have to remain home as a parent?  The family certainly had the money to allow her to work and ensure that Jang was appropriately cared for, and she and the rest of the family would love spoiling him.

Before she could answer they were interrupted by the staff bring out their tea, so she waited until they left, and said "Anna, in some respects I am the wrong person to ask.  I was happy to be at home with Yi when he was young, and it never entered my mind that I could or was able to return to any form of employment.  I enjoyed, and still do, the charitable work I do, but that only takes a little of my time.  Call me old fashioned with my view but I believe that mothers should be the primary carer for their children and remain home with them.  But I know that is not the way of the world now, even for people that have money like us.  What do you want?"

Anna was surprised.  She knew the old fashioned beliefs about parenting still ran wide here, and was not surprised that her in-laws had them, but having her mother-in-law acknowledge that now things were different made her know the saw her as something more than just a mother who had only one responsibility.  She was someone that had multiple facets to her being.

After taking a sip of her tea, Anna said "You know I would have thought your view would have been that I should remain at home with Jang and care for him with the help of the nannies, and otherwise do my charitable work."

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