While, Anna had been explaining to Officer Mu, that, Hou Yi's thoughts had drifted back to six months ago.

On the drive from Tullamarine Airport to his Melbourne hotel, Hou Yi spent the time talking to a.s.sistant w.a.n.g, about the various matters that had arisen during their flight from Toyko. Nothing was pressing, and Hou Yi decided that a.s.sistant w.a.n.g really needed a break with his wife. He was always conscious of taking too much of w.a.n.g Long's time away from his family, but a.s.sistant w.a.n.g did not think much of it, as he knew the hard work that he put in meant that his wife and their daughter had an enviable lifestyle.

Hou Yi, paused for a few seconds, and then said "a.s.sistant w.a.n.g, please do not take this the wrong way. You know I always feel guilty about the time that you spend away from your family. When we get back, we are going to do two things. Firstly, you and your family are having an all-expenses paid two-week vacation to anywhere in the world you want. Unless otherwise required my family's plane will be at your disposal. Secondly when you return from this well-deserved break, and this time I am not taking no for an answer, we will be appointing an a.s.sistant for you. This person will, unless needed otherwise, be the person to travel overseas with me. I need you more in the home office to handle matters for me and I trust no one else to do that."

"But sir, I am your a.s.sistant."

"You are, but your family is more important than simply being my a.s.sistant. They should be your world, not just receiving small pieces of you attention. I need you more and more given the business expansion in headquarters. As you know I have caught out senior executives abusing their privileges, when neither you or I are present in the office. In fact, they are more scared of you than me. This is not a demotion. You will still be doing everything you are doing now, providing me with a.s.sistance, managing my diary, ensuring I am where I need to be, and everything else. Someone is just handling the little matters while I am away. Plus, in doing this and keeping an eye on the senior executives I will ensure that you receive a further 10% pay rise. So no arguments."

Hou Yi turned and looked out the window, so to give the message he did not want to debate the matter further. a.s.sistant w.a.n.g, indicated "Sir let me discuss the matter with my wife." He then looked at his watch, and continued "When we arrive at the hotel, you will only have about 20 minutes before we need to leave, to make the meeting at ANX Lawyers on time."

"No, I know you will not talk to your wife about it. I am going to speak to her, of course with you present, but I will speak to her," replied Hou Yi.

About 10 minutes later, they arrived at their accommodation in the city, which Hou Yi could not believe. It was less than 30 minutes from leaving the airport to the accommodation, rarely heard of in Melbourne at that time in the morning. a.s.sistant w.a.n.g quickly took care of the check-in process, and they went up to their suites. Hou Yi on entering asked the suite butler for a gla.s.s of orange juice. As he had used the on-board shower, and had bullied a.s.sistant w.a.n.g also to use the spare room shower, neither needed to have a shower before the meeting. He picked up his two briefcases, and transferred from his working case to the finished case the doc.u.ments he completed on the flight, leaving those needed for the meeting. While waiting for a.s.sistant w.a.n.g, he drank the Orange Juice, and when a.s.sistant w.a.n.g entered, he handed over the completed work brief case.

Once a.s.sistant w.a.n.g, returned from his suite, after storing the briefcase, they returned downstairs to drive to the meeting at ANX Lawyers. By this time, the traffic in the city was madness, and at times Hou Yi realised that he might have been quicker to walk, rather than take the car. While they were travelling, he received replies to his text message, in that dinner would suit 4 of his friends tonight. He showed their replies to a.s.sistant w.a.n.g and asked, "Could you please contact the hotel and arrange for dinner for us in my suite and let everyone know the time."

"Yes sir," was the response, with a.s.sistant w.a.n.g nothing down who he had to call to finalise arrangements.

As Hou Yi stepped out of the vehicle little did he realise that his life was about to change. He was about to meet the woman that would become the most important person in the world for him.

It was at that time Hou Yi overheard Anna tell Officer Mu about how they met, and how they came to be married. He saw Anna take another drink from the gla.s.s in front of her and continue with the events that happened in the Key Plaza Hotel.