MY CEO BESTIE AND ME

On Friday evening, Lerisa Jonah rose from her office chair on the third floor of a five-story building. She had finished her work for the day.

As Anthony Gregson's secretary, she grabbed her black handbag from the desk, ready to head home.

Lerisa, a fair-complexioned 24-year-old, wore a yellow shirt, black pencil skirt, and black shoes. She wondered why she hadn't seen Anthony leave his office.

She knew he usually closed by 5 p.m. and left before 6 p.m., the company's normal closing hour.

She walked toward his office door to check what delayed her boss, since it was past 6 p.m. and most staff had gone home.

Approaching his door, she knocked. He responded, “Come in.”

She pushed the door open, stepped inside, and saw him seated in his executive chair, staring at a red ring box in his hands.

Lerisa's heart sank at the sight of the beautiful, sparkling diamond ring.

She realized 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 confess.

Her yellow face flushed red with sadness, and she looked down to hide her expression.

Anthony remained absorbed in admiring the ring, not shifting his gaze to Lerisa.

They were childhood best friends, thanks to their fathers' past closeness. Lerisa's father had been Anthony's father's assistant, helping build the shoe company Anthony now owned.

Lerisa knew Clara was a cheat, unworthy of Anthony. She had seen Clara flirting with other men behind his back but couldn't advise him to end the relationship.

Lerisa had witnessed Clara visiting Anthony's office and caught them kissing, which crushed her heart, knowing Anthony loved Clara deeply.

Anthony, a 30-year-old black man, wore a black suit with a red shirt and black shoes, looking handsome.

His short mustache and beard enhanced his charm.

Finally, Anthony looked at Lerisa's face, seeing her staring downward. He wondered what she wanted, having already seen her that day.

He had forgotten the company closed, too busy admiring the ring he bought 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, heartbroken by the ring.

She had come to say she was leaving, but Anthony didn't look up again, focused on the ring and wondering if Clara would like it.

Anthony asked, “How do you see this ring, Lerisa? Remember I invited you and 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 from abroad. I love Clara. What do you think? Will she love this ring and accept it? I bought it to prove my love.”

Lerisa's heart shattered further at his foolish question.

She saw him smiling sweetly at the ring as he continued looking down. She replied, “I thought you had closed, sir. That's why I'm here to collect the office key. But it seems you're not ready to go home yet.”

Anthony noticed the sadness in Lerisa's voice.

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

Lerisa turned her back as hot tears streamed down her face.

She couldn't tell him she loved him. Anthony saw her only as a sister, though they weren't related.

“What's wrong, Lerisa?” He approached, spun her around to face him.

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

“Tell me, what's wrong?” he asked sternly. 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, and I need the office key.”

“Sir?” Anthony asked, staring coldly at her face, his eyes squinting in pain.

“How many times must I tell you to stop calling me sir, Lerisa? You're like a sister to me, not just a staff member,” he said. Lerisa shuddered, hating when he reminded her of that.

Anthony's office door pushed open, and his assistant Mark Terry stepped in, looking surprised to see him holding Lerisa's arms close to his chest.

Anthony didn't glance at Mark, focused on Lerisa's face.

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