MY CEO BESTIE AND ME

On Friday evening, Lerisa Jonah stood up from her office chair; she was through with her work for the day.

She works as Anthony Gregson’s secretary, so she stepped away from her desk and picked up her black handbag before heading home.

Lerisa was a fair-complexioned young lady, 24 years old, wearing a yellow shirt, a black pencil skirt, and black shoes. She wondered why she hadn’t seen Anthony step out of his office.

She knew that Anthony usually closes by 5 p.m. and leaves the company before 6 p.m., the company’s normal closing hour.

Lerisa made her way toward Anthony’s office door to find out what was still delaying her boss, as it was after 6 p.m. and most of the staff had already left.

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

She pushed the door slightly open, stepped inside, 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 in Anthony’s hand.

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

Lerisa felt like crying; she was also secretly in love with Anthony but wasn’t 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 diamond ring to shift his gaze toward Lerisa.

They were childhood best friends because their fathers had been close.

Lerisa’s father had been Anthony’s father’s former 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 different men behind Anthony’s back several times, but she couldn’t bring herself to advise him to stop dating her.

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

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

Finally, Anthony looked at Lerisa’s face and saw her staring downward in his office. He wondered what she wanted, since he had already seen her earlier that day.

He had forgotten the company had closed, absorbed in admiring the ring he had bought. He intended to propose to Clara the following day.

Anthony inquired, “What do you want, Lerisa?”

“I… I…” Lerisa spluttered, unable to say why she was in his office. She sounded heartbroken after seeing that lovely ring.

She had come to tell Anthony she was going home, but he didn’t look up at her face again. He was busy admiring the diamond ring and 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. I want to propose to Clara tomorrow, but I don’t know if she’ll accept this beautiful diamond ring. I ordered it 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 to look down at it. She replied, “I thought you had closed, Sir. That’s why I came to collect the office key. But it seems you’re not ready to go home yet.”

Anthony immediately noticed the sadness in Lerisa’s voice. He shut the red ring box in his hands and stood up. Walking over to her, he asked, “What’s wrong, Lerisa?”

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

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

“What’s wrong, Lerisa?” Anthony finally approached her 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, his voice stern.

Lerisa shuddered in his hold but shook her head. She lied, “Nothing, Sir. I only came to tell you I’m going home. The company has closed for the day, and to collect the office key from you.”

“Sir?” Anthony repeated, staring coldly at Lerisa’s face, his eyes squinting in pain. “How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me ‘Sir’? You’re like a sister to me, not just a staff member here.”

Lerisa shuddered; she hated when Anthony reminded her she was like a sister to him.

Just then, Anthony’s office door open, and his assistant, Mark Terry, stepped inside.

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

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