MY CEO BESTIE AND ME

On a lovely Friday evening, Lerisa Jonah stood up from her office chair on the third floor, as she was through with her work for the day.

As Anthony Gregson’s secretary, she stepped away from her desk and picked up her black handbag before leaving for home.

Lerisa was a fair-complexioned young lady of twenty-four, wearing a yellow shirt, a black pencil skirt, and black shoes. She wondered why she hadn’t seen Anthony step out of his office yet.

She knew Anthony usually finished by 5 p.m. and left the company before 6 p.m., the official closing hour.

Lerisa made her way to Anthony’s office door to find out what was delaying him. It was already past 6 p.m., and most of the staff had already gone home.

Approaching his door, Lerisa knocked and heard him respond, “Come in.”

She pushed the door slightly open and stepped inside. Anthony was 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.

She knew then that Anthony was in a serious relationship with Clara Harry—and that he would soon propose.

Lerisa felt like crying. She was secretly in love with Anthony herself but had never been brave enough to tell him.

Her face flushed red with sadness, and she stared downward to hide her expression.

Anthony was too busy admiring the ring to look up at her.

They had been childhood best friends because their fathers were once close. Lerisa’s father had been Anthony’s father’s assistant and helped him build the fashion company that Anthony now owned.

Lerisa knew Clara Harry was a cheat and didn’t deserve a man like Anthony. She had seen Clara flirting with other men behind Anthony’s back but couldn’t bring herself to warn him.

Lerisa had even witnessed Clara visiting Anthony at the office and seen them kiss. Each time, her heart sank, knowing how deeply Anthony felt for Clara.

Anthony was a handsome thirty-year-old black man, wearing a black suit with a red shirt inside and black shoes.

He had a short mustache and beard that added to his charm.

Finally, Anthony looked at Lerisa. He saw her staring at the floor and wondered what she wanted; he thought they were done for the day.

Anthony had forgotten the company had closed, absorbed in the ring he’d bought. He planned to propose to Clara the next day.

He asked, “What do you want, Lerisa?”

“I… I…” Lerisa stammered, unable to explain why she was there. She sounded heartbroken.

She had come to tell him she was leaving, but Anthony didn’t look up again. He was still admiring the ring, wondering if Clara would like it.

Anthony asked, “What do you think of this ring, Lerisa? Remember, I invited you and the rest of the staff to my birthday party tomorrow at my family’s house. Well, I want to propose to Clara then. But I don’t know if she’ll accept this diamond ring—I had it ordered from abroad. I do love Clara. What do you think? Will Clara love it? I bought it to prove my love to her.”

Lerisa’s heart broke even more at his question.

She watched him smile sweetly at the ring, still looking down. She replied, “I thought you had closed, Sir. I came to collect the office key. But it seems you’re not ready to leave.”

Anthony immediately noticed the sadness in Lerisa's voice.

He shut the ring box, stood up, and walked over to her. “What’s wrong, Lerisa?” he asked.

Lerisa turned her back as hot tears streamed from her eyes.

She couldn’t tell him the truth—that she was in love with him. Anthony saw her only as a sister, though they weren’t related.

“What’s wrong, Lerisa?” Anthony moved closer, turning her to face him.

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

“Tell me, what’s wrong with you?” he asked sternly.

Lerisa shuddered in his hold but shook her head. “Nothing, Sir… I only came to say I’m going home. The company is closed, and to collect the office key from you…”

“Sir?” Anthony’s eyes cooled, squinting with something like 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 staff.”

Lerisa shuddered, hating when Anthony called her that.

Just then, the office door pushed open. Anthony’s assistant, Mark Terry, stepped inside.

Mark looked surprised to see Anthony holding Lerisa’s arms firmly against his chest. Anthony didn’t look over, still focused on Lerisa’s face.

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