Entering Hou Enterprises
Thursday, continued…
The soft knock on the master suite door roused Anna and Hou Yi from their sleep. Anna, feeling the lingering warmth of the bed and Hou Yi’s embrace, stood up and quickly threw on a semi-transparent red embroidered dressing gown over the matching nightdress Hou Yi had convinced her to wear the night before. As she moved to answer the door, her eyes fell on the room’s disheveled state—clothes scattered on the floor, the blue couch slightly disarrayed, and the bathroom in a state that suggested a night full of passionate moments. It gave the impression of an intimate, whirlwind night, which, in a way, was true.
Opening the door, she found Butler Ge standing on the other side.
“Apologies, Young Madam,” he said respectfully, bowing slightly. “It’s 7 a.m., and I was concerned that neither you nor the young Master were awake, given that both of you are going to the company today.”
Before Anna could respond, Hou Yi’s voice called out from behind her.
“Apologies, Butler Ge. I’ve just woken up,” he said, walking toward Anna and wrapping his arms around her. He kissed her neck lightly before she turned around to face him.
“Darling, I thought you were asleep,” Anna murmured, feeling his warmth as she leaned into him.
Hou Yi, still wearing only black boxers and an open short black dressing gown, smiled softly. “I woke up when you left the bed.” He turned back to Butler Ge, speaking more authoritatively now, “Please bring us breakfast as soon as possible. We’ll be eating in here today.”
The door was closed again as Hou Yi took Anna’s hand and led her away from the entrance. He continued, his tone becoming more serious. “I recommend you get into the shower first. I went through the clothes that were delivered last night and selected something appropriate for the office today. I’ve also arranged for a bodyguard to drive you to the office and bring you home.”
Anna nodded, understanding the precautions. “I’ll take care of myself, Yi. Don’t worry.”
Hou Yi hesitated, looking at her with concern. “I know you can handle yourself, but after what happened on Tuesday, I just want to make sure you’re safe. I can’t provide too much obvious security within the company—it could raise suspicions about who you are—but we’ll rely on internal systems, including CCTV footage, to ensure your safety. The bodyguard will be with my team, and you’ll be able to contact him if you need anything.”
Anna gave him a reassuring smile. “I understand, Yi. I’ll be fine.”
She entered the walk-in wardrobe and picked out the outfit Hou Yi had selected: a navy-blue blazer with matching pants, a white shirt, and navy-blue shoes. After finding her underwear, she headed into the bathroom to shower and change.
When she emerged from the bathroom, dressed and ready, she found Hou Yi sitting on the now-tidy couch, eating a simple breakfast. She joined him and began to eat as well. After Hou Yi finished his meal, he showered and dressed while Anna finished her breakfast.
As she carefully put on her shoes, Anna couldn’t help but notice that Hou Yi’s suit was nearly identical in color to her blazer and pants. It seemed like a subtle but coordinated effort.
As they prepared to leave the suite, Anna reached to remove her rings, intending to hand them to Hou Yi. However, he stopped her with a sharp tone.
“Do not take them off,” Hou Yi said firmly, his eyes darkening with a trace of anger. “They deserve to stay on your finger. Plus, their existence will prevent any harassment from male staff.”
Anna, slightly irritated by the command, snapped, “Fine.” She grabbed her handbag and followed him out of the suite.
Downstairs, Hou Yi collected his briefcase and handed her laptop bag over to her. As he passed the bag to Anna, he leaned in for a brief kiss, whispering loudly enough for anyone near to hear, “I’m just sorry this is the last kiss I can give you until tonight.”
Before Anna could respond, Hou Yi suddenly dropped his briefcase and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. The kiss was intense, and just as it seemed to deepen, they were interrupted by a soft, polite cough behind them.
They both broke apart, their moment of intimacy swiftly ending as they turned toward the source of the interruption.
“Young Master, Young Madam,” Butler Ge said, with a respectful but pointed look. “The car is ready to take you to the office.”
Hou Yi gave Anna one last lingering look before he pulled away, straightening his suit. With a small nod to Butler Ge, they both headed for the car, ready to face the day ahead at Hou Enterprises.
