Wednesday, continued ...
Rebecca was stunned by the request as usually VIP customers not only wanted to remain in their rooms awaiting clothes to be brought it, they were hung up on their status. She realised that it might become a fun day at work for her. "Please wait here for a few minutes, so I can organise a couple of things before we go into the Mall itself."
Anna realised that this was to organise the intimate items she had requested. Du AnLing and Leng Xi knew going through the Mall would allow them to plan their next shopping trip and were therefore excited. Before they could speak Rebecca returned and slid a discrete switch that Anna realised must indicate the room is occupied. Rebecca led them further down the corridor and through a door taking them into the mall.
Over the next hour Anna, Du AnLing and Leng Xi, along with Rebecca under the careful watch of the bodyguards wandered through M Mall. Rebecca, when items caught Anna's attention told the stores to deliver the items in Anna's size to the VIP Area. She also suggested other items for them to deliver as well as making sure they all knew exactly who Anna was.
As they were wandering around Du AnLing and Leng Xi used every opportunity to find out what Anna wanted for her dream wedding, location, colours, anything that they could use to work with Assistant Wang and Anna's family to plan it for her and Hou YI. They had both realised that this was their only opportunity to be involved in the planning of a wedding and wanted to maximise it.
Anna told them what her dreams were, wishing the situation was different and Hou Yi was the love of her life and she was having her dream wedding with him. That was not where their relationship was at. While she was falling in love with him, she felt unable to tell him her true feelings given what lead to her marriage. She just had to help plan her dream wedding in the absence of any knowledge of his true feelings for her.
Towards the end of their wandering Anna spotted a Tailors store. Anna stopped Rebecca, and asked "Could you please take me in there"
"Miss Anna this place is more designed to create suits for young professional woman."
"Well within the next few weeks I will need them." This surprised both Du AnLing and Leng Xi, as since the founding of Hou Enterprises is was unknown within the family for a wife to go and work.
"Sweetheart why would you need such suits. Hou wives for generations have not worked and I guess knowing my son it will not be long before you are pregnant."
"Mother, Aunt, please do not take this the wrong way. Yi and I met, when he came into the legal firm that I work for, and he has promised me that I can continue to work."
"But you are only a secretary," replied AnLing
"No Mother, Aunt. I am a qualified lawyer in Australia. Yi and I have spoken about this. We agreed we will work with my Australian employers who represent Hou Enterprises for me to do most of Hou Enterprises Australian Legal work remotely from here. I am also going to work to become a qualified lawyer here, as Yi does not want me to feel trapped or waste my talent. As to when we have children, which we hope will happen, we will work out how to care for them."
Rebecca heard this conversation. "Miss Anna there are shops that we have which can supply you with designed suits."
"No, I actually want them handmade for me both for use here and for the times we have to return to Australia."
"OK Miss Anna" and with that Rebecca escorted them into the tailor's shop asking for whoever was in charge.
A young woman came out from a small back room "In the absence of my parents I am in charge"
"Miss I am Rebecca, one of the VIP personal shoppers, and these ladies are my clients. The youngest lady is a lawyer requires bespoke professional attire for her to be made, in addition to everything else she is purchasing. Can you assist her?"
"Of course, if the Young Madam would come with me. I will do our set of measurements and work out with her what is needed."
With that she motioned for Anna to accompany her into a dressing room, promptly taking a tape measure out and started to take a complete set of measurements. "Madam, could you please let me know what you are after?"
"Presently I am after 5 separate suits suitable for the climate here, and 5 winter weight and summer weight suits for use in Victoria in Australia. Each suit set need to be matching set of two jackets, skirts, dresses and three sets of pants, along with shirts, in whatever colours you think will work for me and my colouring.:"
The only exception is the Australia suits need to include two sets in Navy or Black both in winter and summer weight. As to material, I am happy to pay for top quality materials. I need presently 2 suit sets for her and 1 winter weight set for Australia as soon as possible. The rest can simply come with time." Anna paused, and had a thought "Do you make things other than suits?"
"We do Madam, what were you looking for?"
"While I will today buy ready made, designer items as I need them now, could you design and make a mixture of one-off items suitable for the wife of a CEO? Are you also able to design and make wedding dresses? My husband and I have only recently gotten our marriage certificate, but we will have our formal ceremony in Australia, with my family and friends"
"I want a dress, if it is possible that combines traditional wedding features from here with those common in Western Countries. We have not set the wedding ceremony date, but I am guessing that will be in two to three months. While I have a level of ability to make my own items from pre-purchased patterns, in colours and materials I want, I love unique, handmade and personalised items and want to support a local business. Would you be willing to help me?"
"Madam, do you mind me asking who your husband is?"
"Hou Yi, the CEO of Hou Enterprises."