Wednesday, continued ...
Hou Yi, asked "What is it?"
Assistant Wang explained "There are two separate issues. Locally Lu Corporation have complained to the authorities that we have entered into an illegal international development in Australia. While not a big issue, it will be an annoyance to resolve by our legal department, as the paperwork will all be in order."
"The issue, however sir is in Australia, and it has ANX Lawyers highly concerned. The message I received is that they are attempting to contact Madam Hou to have her resolve the matter while she is here on 'holiday' to prevent you from having to travel to Australia. They do not, it appears, know of your marriage and have stated that they have been unable to contact her. They, did not though explain what the issue is."
Hou Yi quickly stood up, called to Butler Ge "Where is my wife? Get all the electronic devices and cables that were in her cabin bag and take them to my study, now."
"Young Master, Young Madam, is with First Madam and Second Madam in the formal dining room."
Hou Yi, went quickly to the formal dining room, and saw that Anna, his mother and aunt, had just finished sorting out their purchases. "Anna, sweetheart, I need your help with something now. Sorry Mother, Aunt, you need to leave."
"Son, we were just about to do so, we will talk in the next couple of days. Tell Assistant Wang, that we will be in contact to start wedding arrangements."
With that Du AnLing and Leng Xi, collected their bags, and went down in the elevator to return to the Hou Ancestral Home. Anna, followed Hou Yi towards his study, and they spotted Butler Ge. "Young Master, the items as requested are in the study."
"Thank you. Please arrange for coffee to be brought in to us, and can you place the items left in the formal dining room, carefully in one of the spare rooms. I understand these may be gifts for people in Australia from my wife, so be careful."
"Yes Sir."
With that Hou Yi, opened the study door, and let Anna precede him in. Assistant Wang was waiting for them.
"Sorry, Madam. I received a message that your employers have been attempting to contact you to have you make contact with us to try and resolve a problem for our Australian Subsidiary."
"OK I will check my emails." With that she plugged her laptop into an adaptor and into a power point, turned it on. Once she logged into the computer, she turned to Hou Yi "I need the wi-fi password, please."
Hou Yi walked over to the desk, sat down on his chair opposite Anna, reached into a draw and pulled out a card, and handed it to Anna "Here they are"
Anna entered the details and connected to her email served. She noticed immediately an email from the senior partner, asking her as soon as she received the message to call him, any time of the day or night for something they needed her urgent assistant with. She realised that, she did not have her handbag, where her new mobile phone was with her Australia mobile. She went to the door and called out "Butler Ge, can you please get my handbag, and bring it here immediately."
Within three minutes there was a knock on the door, and it was one of the maids with her handbag. "Thank you for that," said Anna, taking the bag and closing the door behind her. She picked up her new mobile phone, and dialled the mobile number in the email, placing the phone on speaker.
When it was answered, Anna immediately said "Good Evening Mr Williams. Anna Jones here, I am sorry to be so late in responding to your email. My phone I brought from Australia has had serious difficulties here, so I have purchased a local mobile, and the number that has come up is it."
"Not a problem, Ms Jones. I am just grateful you have gotten back to me as quickly as you have. The Parent company of one of our clients HOUENT, being Hou Enterprises is ..."
"Based where I am presently. I have seen the headquarters building from afar."
"The issue is that there have been a number of allegations levelled at HOUENT, impacting on a development deal, in relation to various permits, allegations of breaches of the Corporations Act, Foreign Investment regulations breaches, all sorts of things."
"I was wondering if you could make contact with the parent company Hou Enterprises, and work with their CEO to deal with the matter, rather than forcing him to have to urgently Travel to Australia. I know this is not really your area of expertise, and I hate inconveniencing you and Lu Jihnu, but we have very limited options open to us."
"Absolutely sir." Responded Anna, she was wondering how she could break the truth about who she married and that in fact she would not be returning, but now was not the time.
"Thank you. We have here commenced preparing the relevant documents for your review before the CEO's signature, scanning and return via email with the originals to follow. As we have had a few hours here we have commenced preparing the documents which are already uploaded into the office systems, along with explanation and reference material for you. The balance of the documents will be finalised in the next 24 hours or so. Given you have your laptop with you; access to the material will not be an issue."
"Sir, will you make contact with Hou Enterprises and tell them I am coming?"
"Tonight via email and I will also try via telephone. If I do not reach anyone via phone tonight I will call tomorrow morning. Please let me know if you have any issues. And again, tell your husband I apologise for interrupting your honeymoon."
"These things cannot be helped sir, and I accept that it becomes part of the nature of the job."
With that Anna ended the call, and within two minutes, Hou Yi received a call on his mobile, he answered and placed it on speaker.
"Mr Hou, it is Stan Williams here from ANX Lawyers in Melbourne, Australia."
"Yes Mr Williams."
"I hope you have been made generally aware of there being an issue with the current development project for your Australian Subsidiary?"
"I have been made aware that there is a problem."
"Sir, normally given the issues we would need you to come to Australia as soon as possible to deal with, but we are quite lucky that we have been able to contact a legal staff member in your vicinity, a Ms Anna Jones. She has agreed to break her holiday can come in to work with you for the necessary paperwork we require to resolve the issues. It may take her a couple of days to get through everything, but the alternative would be that you would have to travel to Australia, which we would like to avoid if possible."
"Fine. Just email all her details to Assistant Wang."
"Will do," and with that Hou Yi ended the call.
Anna, while Hou Yi was speaking to her boss, logged into the office software using her laptop, and had a quick look at the documents already uploaded. She realised that it was going to be a few days to deal with the issue, as the document were complex.