MY CEO BESTIE AND ME

On the third floor of the Gregson's Group, a magnificent five-story building, Lerisa Jonah, a fair-complexioned 24-year-old woman, stood up from her office chair, having finished her work for the day.

As Anthony Gregson's secretary, she picked up her black handbag from her desk, ready to go home.

Lerisa wore a yellow shirt, black pencil skirt, and black shoes. She wondered why she hadn't seen Anthony leave his office.

She knew that Anthony usually finished by 5:00 PM and left the company before 6:00 PM, the normal closing hour.

She made her way toward Anthony's office door to find out what was delaying her boss, as it was already after 6:00 PM, and most of the staff were leaving.

Approaching Anthony's office door, Lerisa knocked and heard him respond, “Come in.”

She pushed the door slightly open, stepped into his office, and saw him seated in his executive chair, staring at a red ring box in his hands.

Lerisa's heart dropped the moment she saw the beautiful, sparkling diamond ring.

She knew at that moment that Anthony was in a serious relationship with Clara Harry and would soon propose.

Lerisa felt like crying out, secretly in love with Anthony but too afraid to tell him the truth.

Her face flushed red with sadness, and she looked down to hide her expression.

Anthony was so busy admiring the diamond ring that he didn't notice Lerisa.

They were childhood best friends, due to their fathers' close relationship.

Lerisa's father had been Anthony's father's assistant, supporting him in building the shoe company, which Anthony now owned.

Lerisa knew that Clara Harry was a cheat and didn't deserve Anthony. She had seen Clara flirting with different men behind Anthony's back but couldn't advise Anthony to stop dating her.

Lerisa had even witnessed Clara visiting Anthony in his office and caught them kissing, which made her heart sink, knowing that Anthony was seriously in love with Clara.

Anthony was a 30-year-old Black man. He wore a black suit with a red shirt underneath and black shoes, which made him look handsome.

He had a short mustache and beard that made him look charming.

Anthony finally looked up at Lerisa's face and saw her staring downward. He wondered what she wanted, as he thought he was done seeing her for the day.

He had forgotten that the company had closed, busy admiring the ring he had bought, intending to propose to Clara the following day.

Anthony asked, “What do you want, Lerisa?"

"I… I…" Lerisa stammered, unable to say why she was in his office, sounding heartbroken at the sight of the ring.

She had come to tell Anthony that she was leaving, but he didn't look up at her again, busy admiring the diamond ring and wondering if Clara would like it.

Anthony asked, “What do you think of this ring, Lerisa? Remember that I invited you and the rest of our staff to my birthday party tomorrow at my family's house? Well, I want to propose to Clara tomorrow, but I don't know if she will accept this beautiful diamond ring that I ordered from abroad. I do love Clara. What do you think, Lerisa? Do you think Clara will love this ring and accept it? I bought it to prove my love to her."

Lerisa's heart broke even more at Anthony's question.

She saw him smiling sweetly at the ring. As he continued looking down at the ring, she replied, “I thought you had closed, Sir. That's why I'm here to collect the office key. But it seems like you're not ready to go home yet.”

Anthony immediately noticed the sadness in Lerisa's voice.

He shut the ring box and stood up from his chair, walking out to meet her and asking, "What's wrong, Lerisa?"

Lerisa turned her back on Anthony, as hot tears streamed down her eyes.

She couldn't tell Anthony the truth: that she was in love with him. Anthony only saw her as a sister, even though they were unrelated.

"What's wrong, Lerisa?” Anthony approached Lerisa and turned her around to face him.

Lerisa felt the sparks, but Anthony ignored them and looked intently at her face.

“Tell me, what's wrong with you?” he asked again in a stern voice, and Lerisa shuddered but shook her head to indicate nothing.

She lied to him, “Nothing, Sir… I only came here to tell you that I'm leaving and to collect the office key."

“Sir?" Anthony asked again, staring at Lerisa's face coldly, his eyes squinting in pain.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me sir, Lerisa? You're like a sister to me, not just a staff member," Anthony said, and Lerisa shuddered, hating that Anthony always reminded her that she was like a sister to him.

Anthony's office door pushed open, and his assistant, Mark Terry, stepped into his office to see him.

Mark looked surprised to see Anthony holding Lerisa's arms close to his chest. Anthony didn't look at him, busy staring at Lerisa's face.

'Do they want to kiss?' Mark wondered, but he quickly composed himself and apologized, “I'm sorry, boss.”