MY CEO BESTIE AND ME

Inside the third floor of the L.H. Group, Lerisa Jonah stood from her office chair, having finished her work for the day.

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

A fair-complexioned young woman of 24, 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 pm and left the company before 6 pm, the normal closing hour.

She went to Anthony's office door to see what was delaying her boss, as it was already after 6 pm and most of the staff had left.

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 when she saw the beautiful, sparkling diamond ring in Anthony's hand.

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

Lerisa felt like crying, 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 was Anthony's father's former assistant, supporting him in building the company, which Anthony now owned.

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

Lerisa had 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, wearing a black suit with a red shirt and black shoes, which made him look handsome.

Anthony had a short beard that enhanced his looks and made him look charming.

Finally, Anthony looked up at Lerisa and saw her staring downward in his office. He wondered what she wanted, having already seen her earlier in the day.

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

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

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

Lerisa 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 her, “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 bought for her and ordered from abroad. I do love Clara. What do you think, Lerisa? Do you think that 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 from you, but it seems like you're not yet ready to go home.”

Anthony immediately noticed the sadness in Lerisa's voice.

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

Lerisa turned her back on Anthony, as 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 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.

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

“Sir?" Anthony asked, staring at Lerisa's face coldly. His eyes squinted 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 he always reminded her that she was like a sister to him.

Anthony's office door opened, and his assistant Mark Terry stepped into his office.

Mark looked surprised to see Anthony holding Lerisa's arms firmly, 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.”