MY CEO BESTIE AND ME

In a magnificent five-story building, Lerisa Jonah, a 24-year-old woman with fair skin, stood from her office chair. She wore a yellow shirt, black pencil skirt, and shoes. She served as Anthony Gregson’s secretary on the third floor of the building.

Lerisa stepped out of her office seat, picked up her black handbag from her desk, and prepared to head home. She wondered why she hadn’t seen Anthony stepping out of his office.

She knew that Anthony usually closed by 5 p.m. and left the company before 6 p.m., which was the company’s normal closing hour.

She made her way toward Anthony’s office door to find out what was still delaying her boss. The clock showed 6 p.m., and most of the staff had gone home.

Lerisa strode up to Anthony’s office door and knocked. She heard him respond with a steady and calm voice, “Come in.”

Lerisa pushed Anthony’s office door slightly open. She stepped into his office and found him seated behind his desk. His gaze was fixed on a red ring box in his hands.

Her heart dropped the moment she saw the beautiful, sparkling diamond ring in Anthony’s hand.

At that moment, Lerisa knew Anthony was in a serious relationship with Clara Harry. He would soon propose to Clara.

Lerisa felt like crying aloud, knowing she was also secretly in love with Anthony. She couldn’t tell him the truth because she wasn’t brave enough.

Her fair face turned red with sadness, and she stared downward to hide the saddened look on her face.

Anthony was busy admiring the diamond ring in the red velvet box in his hands. He didn’t shift his gaze to stare at 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. He had supported him in building the shoe company, which was now under Anthony’s control.

Lerisa knew that Clara Harry was a cheat and not deserving of a man like Anthony. She had seen Clara several times behind Anthony’s back, flirting with different men, but she wasn’t brave enough to advise Anthony to stop dating Clara.

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

Anthony was a 30-year-old man. He had dark skin, short black hair, and a short beard. He was tall, strikingly handsome, and had a muscular build.

Anthony sat behind his desk, dressed in a tailored black suit with a red undershirt and black shoes that made him look dapper. He stared at Lerisa’s face, seeing her staring downward in his office. He wondered what she wanted, as he had already seen her for the day. He had forgotten that his company had closed because he was busy admiring the ring he had bought. He intended to propose to Clara the following day.

“What do you want, Lerisa?” Anthony inquired, his tone soft.

“I… I…” Lerisa spluttered, unable to say why she was in Anthony’s vast office. She sounded heartbroken upon seeing that lovely ring.

Lerisa had come to inform Anthony that she was going home, but he didn’t stare up at her face again. He was busy admiring the diamond ring and wondering if Clara would like it.

Anthony inquired, “How do you see this ring, Lerisa? Remember that I invited you and the rest of our staff to attend 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 believe 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 stupid question. She saw him smiling sweetly at the ring. He continued gazing at the ring. She replied, “I thought you had closed, Sir. That’s why I’m here to collect the office key from your hands. But it seemed like you’re not yet ready to go home.”

Anthony immediately noticed the sadness in Lerisa’s voice. He shut the red ring box in his hands, stood up from his office seat, and walked out to meet her. “What’s wrong, Lerisa?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Lerisa turned her back on Anthony. Hot tears streamed freely down her face. She couldn’t tell him 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 finally approached her and swirled her around to face him.

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

“Tell me, what’s wrong with you?” he asked again in a stern voice.

Lerisa shuddered in his hold but shook her head to indicate nothing.

She lied, “Nothing, Sir. I only came here to tell you that I’m already going home. The company has closed for the day, and to collect the office key from you.”

“Sir?” Anthony asked, gazing at Lerisa’s face coldly. His eyes squinted in pain at her.

“How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me Sir? You’re like a sister to me, and not just a staff member here,” Anthony said, his voice cold.

Lerisa shuddered, hating that Anthony always reminded her that she was like a sister to him.

The office door swung open, and Mark Terry, Anthony’s assistant, stepped into the office to see him.

Mark looked surprised upon seeing Anthony holding Lerisa’s arms firmly and close to his chest.

Anthony didn’t stare at Mark. His gaze remained fixed on Lerisa’s face.

*Are they about to kiss?* Mark wondered, his mind racing at having witnessed such a scene. “I’m sorry, Boss,” he apologized, pulling the door open.