MY CEO BESTIE AND ME

At L.H. Group, Lerisa Jonah rose from her office chair, having completed her work for the day. She serves as Anthony Gregson's secretary, so she stepped away from her desk and picked up her black handbag, which was on her desk, as she was preparing to go home.

Lerisa is a fair-complexioned young lady, 24 years old, and she was wearing a yellow shirt, a black pencil skirt, and black shoes. She wondered why she hadn't seen Anthony leave his office yet.

She knew that Anthony typically finished work by 5 pm and left the company before 6 pm, which was the company's standard closing time.

She made her way to Anthony's office door to find out what was delaying her boss, as it was after 6 pm and most of the staff had left for the day.

Approaching Anthony's office door, Lerisa knocked, and heard him respond, "Come in."

She gently pushed the door open and stepped into his office, where she saw him seated in his executive chair, staring at a red ring box in his hands.

Lerisa's heart sank when she saw the beautiful, sparkling diamond ring in Anthony's hand. She realized at that moment that Anthony was in a serious relationship with Clara Harry and would soon propose to her.

Lerisa felt like crying because she was secretly in love with Anthony, but she lacked the courage to tell him.

Her face, which had been yellow, turned red with sadness, and she looked down to hide her distressed expression.

Anthony was too engrossed with the diamond ring in the box to notice Lerisa. He and Lerisa had been childhood best friends, a bond formed due to their fathers' close relationship in the past. Lerisa's father had been Anthony's father's assistant and had helped build the shoe company that Anthony now owned.

Lerisa knew that Clara Harry was unfaithful and unworthy of a man like Anthony. She had seen Clara flirting with different men behind Anthony's back, but she couldn't bring herself to advise Anthony to end the relationship.

Lerisa had also witnessed Clara visiting Anthony in his office and seen them kissing, which deepened her heartache, knowing that Anthony was deeply in love with Clara.

Anthony, a 30-year-old black man, was wearing a black suit with a red shirt underneath and black shoes, which made him look handsome. He had a short mustache and beard that enhanced his charming appearance.

Anthony finally looked at Lerisa's face and saw her staring downward. He wondered what she wanted, having already seen her earlier in the day.

He had forgotten that the company had closed, being preoccupied with the ring he had bought. He planned to propose to Clara the following day.

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

"I... I..." Lerisa stammered, unable to articulate why she was there, her voice reflecting her heartbreak upon seeing the ring.

Lerisa had come to tell Anthony that she was leaving for the day, but he did not look up at her again, being too focused on the diamond ring and wondering if Clara would like it.

Anthony asked her, "How do you see this ring, Lerisa? Remember that I invited you and the rest of our staff to 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 think 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 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'm here to collect the office key from you. But it seems like you're not yet ready to go home."

Anthony immediately noticed the sadness in Lerisa's voice.

He closed the red ring box and stood up from his chair. As he walked over to her, he asked, "What's wrong, Lerisa?"

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

She couldn't tell Anthony the truth—that she was in love with him. Anthony only saw her as a sister, despite their lack of blood relation.

"What's wrong, Lerisa?" Anthony finally approached Lerisa 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?" Anthony asked again in a stern voice. Lerisa shuddered in his grasp but shook her head to indicate nothing.

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

"Sir?" Anthony asked again as he continued to stare 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, Lerisa? You're like a sister to me, not just a staff member here," Anthony said, and Lerisa shuddered as she hated being reminded that she was like a sister to him.

Anthony's office door opened, and his assistant, Mark Terry, stepped in to see him.

Mark looked surprised to see Anthony holding Lerisa's arms firmly and close to his chest. Anthony did not look at him, being too focused on Lerisa's face.

'Do they want to kiss?' Mark wondered, but he quickly composed his surprised expression and apologized, "I'm sorry, boss."