Returning Home – Part 2
Tuesday, continued …
Anna quickly accessed the ANX Lawyers’ legal software and noticed over twenty different matters for HOUENT (Australia) Limited. She opened up the most recently created file and observed it was a fifty-million-dollar land deal. She only believed it after she double-checked the figures. She also saw information existed that Hou Yi had with the Senior Commercial Partner six months ago.
“See, my version is quite possible,” Anna said, “I was in Australia at your firm a number of times just over six months ago, and we could have met.”
“I thought Hou Enterprises was a family company,” Anna remarked, bewildered. “But that amount of money tells me it is not.”
“It is a family company,” Hou Yi reassured her. “The only shareholders are my grandparents, my parents, and myself. I purchased my uncle’s widow’s shares for giving her five percent of the profits for life. The children of my great grandfather’s brothers also have the same deal in place when my parents purchased their shares. The only thing is it is not as small as you thought. If we had this conversation when my great-grandfather was 26, it would have been. We have simply been in the right position at the right time, hence we have grown.”
“What have I gotten myself into?” Anna sighed.
“Nothing that you did not agree to,” Hou Yi replied. “The size of the company makes no difference. I will help you, support you, and try and work with your employers for you to work for us on Australian matters as their in-house Lawyer here. It will mean regular trips back to Australia, which enables you to spend time with your friends and family, but I will help them come and visit you frequently to…”
Hou Yi realized that the conversation was getting out of control, and Anna was very annoyed with him. He paused for a few seconds.
“Anna, please do not get angry, as I have not lied about Hou Enterprises being a family company. I can arrange for you to see the Share register that will confirm what I am saying. All we need to do is make up our minds on what is the somewhat stretched version of the truth we will tell everyone, and the other matters can be worked out later.”
“You bastard. You are exactly like Lu Jinhu. Lying and manipulative, using me to get what you want…” Anna’s voice wavered as she spoke.
Hou Yi became incensed. “Stop that. I am not lying and manipulative. I have told you the truth; you have just interpreted it in a way that is incorrect. Think about it, it actually puts you in a more powerful position to get your revenge. I have never said that you cannot work and will do what I can to ensure that you can. We will have a home in Australia for visits, but we cannot permanently live there as I need to be here for Hou Enterprises.”
“You just always assumed I would do everything you want,” Anna shot back. “That is not a marriage. It was your choice to marry, and we can end it here and now. Make your decision. I will still get what I entered the marriage for—that the agreement never stated with my father and grandfather that I had to remain married. Just that I had to be married. You get nothing. I do not have to put up with this. All that happens is that I do not keep the promise I made to you. Make your choice now.”
By the time Hou Yi finished, Anna realized how angry he was with her. However, she was certain that he would not hurt her like Lu Jinhu would have. She paused, took a couple of deep breaths, and said, “OK, we will have it your way. Please do not treat me as someone you can manipulate. Given what I have just learned, you need to treat me as an equal in this relationship, as our financial power gives you otherwise so much more control.”
Hou Yi calmed down and realized Anna was willing to meet him somewhere towards the middle, rather than needing to control. He took a couple of deep breaths. “Anna, firstly, I have to apologize for getting angry at you; you did not deserve it. I will do everything that I can to ensure that our relationship is that of equals, but please recognize that there will be times when that is impossible, for whatever reason.”
“Remember, I have already given you the most control in our relationship earlier today. In your promise to agree to present a public image, you have total control of what happens behind our bedroom door. Anything that happens there is your choice, and your choice alone. And I will reiterate another promise that might not have been totally clear, but I will not cheat on you and our relationship. While we are together, I will not have any intimate relationships with other women.”
He paused for a few seconds, picked up the keys in the middle console of the vehicle, and pressed a button, which made Anna realize that they were about to enter an underground car park.
“Before you ask, we are just about at my apartment,” Hou Yi said softly. “Please let me know if you are comfortable with my proposal. The main thing about it is that it tells the world that you were willing to go through with your commitment to Lu Jinhu, despite your concerns, and were willing to treat him well. He just treated you like a piece of dirt.”
“OK, we will go with that,” Anna said, her voice weary. “I am sick of arguing, and if this is how our marriage will be, I will walk away.”
“It will not be,” Hou Yi promised as he stopped the vehicle and a car park attendant opened the door quickly.
