CHAPTER 1.

In the L.H. Group, Lerisa Jonah stood up from her secretary office seat on the third floor as she finished her work for the day.

She worked as Anthony Gregson's secretary, so she stepped out of her office chair and picked up her black handbag from her desk, ready to go home.

Lerisa was a fair-complexioned young woman. She wore a yellow shirt, a black pencil skirt, and black shoes. As she wondered why she had not seen Anthony leave his office, she recalled that he usually closed at 5 p.m. and left the company before 6 p.m., which was the normal closing hour.

Lerisa made her way toward Anthony's office door to find out what was delaying him. The time was already past 6 p.m., and most of the staff were heading home.

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

She gently pushed open Anthony's office door and stepped inside. She saw him sitting in his chair, staring at a red ring box in his hands.

Lerisa's heart plummeted as she caught sight of the beautiful, sparkling diamond ring. In that moment, she realized Anthony was in a very serious relationship with Clara Harry. Anthony was about to propose to Clara.

Tears threatened to spill as she recalled her own feelings for Anthony. She couldn’t confess her love because she lacked the courage to do so.

Her face turned red with sadness, and she looked down to hide her emotions.

Anthony was too busy admiring the diamond ring in the box he held, not shifting his gaze to Lerisa.

They had been childhood best friends due to their fathers' closeness in the past. Lerisa's father had been Anthony's father's former assistant, helping him build the shoe company that Anthony now owned.

Lerisa was convinced that Clara Harry was a cheater and didn’t deserve a man like Anthony. She had seen Clara several times behind Anthony's back, flirting with different men, but she couldn’t bring herself to advise Anthony to stop dating her.

Lerisa had even caught Clara visiting Anthony in his office, and she saw them kissing. This knowledge made her heart sink, realizing that Anthony was truly in love with Clara.

Anthony was a 30-year-old man with a dark complexion. He wore a black tailored suit with a red inner lining and polished black shoes, which made him appear handsome.

He also sported a short mustache and beard that added to his charm. When Anthony looked at Lerisa, he noticed her staring down at the floor and wondered what she needed since he’d already seen her for the day.

Forgetting that the company had closed, Anthony continued admiring the diamond ring he had bought, intending to propose to Clara the following day.

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

"I… I…" Lerisa stuttered, finding it hard to articulate why she was in his office. Her heart ached at the sight of the lovely ring.

She had come to tell Anthony that she was going home. However, since Anthony didn’t look up at her face, he seemed too absorbed in contemplating the diamond ring, wondering if Clara would like it.

“How does this ring look, Lerisa? Remember that I invited you and the rest of our staff to my birthday party tomorrow at my family's house?" he began speaking to her. "Well, I want to propose to Clara tomorrow, but I don't know if she will love this ring and accept it. I bought it to prove my love for her and to show that I want to settle down with her. What do you think, Lerisa? Do you think Clara will accept this ring?"

Lerisa stood speechless, her heart shattering at the sight of the enchanting diamond ring and Anthony's foolish question.

She watched as he smiled sweetly at the ring, continuing to admire it.

“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 ready to go home yet.”

Anthony immediately sensed the sadness in her voice.

He shut the red ring box in his hands and stood up from his chair. As he walked toward her, he asked, "What's wrong, Lerisa?"

Lerisa turned her back to Anthony, unable to meet his gaze. Hot tears streamed down her face. She couldn’t tell him the truth—that she loved him. Anthony only saw her as his younger sister, even though they were unrelated.

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

Lerisa felt a connection from his touch, but Anthony dismissed the feeling. He didn’t want to admit his own feelings, looking intensely at her face.

"Tell me, what's the matter?" Anthony demanded in a stern voice, studying her tear-streaked face. His heart broke at the sight of her tears. Lerisa shuddered in his embrace but shook her head, indicating that nothing was wrong.

She lied to him, “Nothing, Sir... I only came here to tell you that I'm going home. The company has closed for today, and I needed to collect your office key from you." Her broken voice pierced his ears.

“Sir?...” Anthony asked, his eyes squinting in pain at her. He looked deeply into her face, his blue eyes searching her calm but tear-filled ones.

"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 here," Anthony said, meeting her puzzled gaze.

Lerisa shuddered in his hold, hating that Anthony often reminded her that she was like a sister to him—a sister he never had, since he was an only child.

Just then, Anthony's office door swung open. His assistant, Mark Terry, entered the white-painted office and was taken aback to see Anthony holding Lerisa close to him. 

Mark looked stunned as Anthony and Lerisa stood together, her slender frame pressed against him. Anthony didn't shift his attention from Lerisa, his focus pinned on her face.

*Do they want to kiss?* Mark thought, jealousy surging within him as he quickly composed himself and looked away, hurt flashing across his features.

“I'm sorry, boss. I didn't mean to intrude. I'll step out now," he said.