Chapter 2. His worries

Anthony ignored responding to Mark, as he didn't even avert his gaze nor bait an eye to stare at Mark Terry for a second, who had stepped into his office to see him, as his gaze was strictly on Lerisa, whom he was staring at with concern.

 

Lerisa felt embarrassed after seeing Mark apologize to Anthony, and he exited Anthony's office immediately by shutting the door.

 

Mark already knew that Lerisa had a crush on Anthony, which was the reason she rejected his love proposal.

 

He shook his head in denial after seeing Anthony holding Lerisa closely by her arms, confirming to him that they were secret lovers but pretending in front of the other staff like they were siblings.

 

“Lerisa..." Anthony called out Lerisa's name again, making her shudder in his hold and snap out of her trance, as he was still holding her arms closely.

 

Anthony knew that Lerisa was not in any relationship, so he wondered what had made her look sad and if someone had broken her heart or was troubling her.

 

"What's wrong with you? Don't tell me it is nothing when you're looking this sad." Anthony asked, looking deeply into Lerisa's face.

 

"Nothing is wrong with me, Anthony. I only came here to collect the office key from you, but it seems like you ain't ready to leave for home,” Lerisa repeated, staring downward at Anthony's chest, not wanting to meet his gaze.

 

“Hmm, it is alright. I'm already going home now. But I hope that you are not putting up with this act, so you won't attend my birthday party tomorrow.” Anthony asked her.

 

“No..." Lerisa responded, immediately forcing a fake smile on her face, which made Anthony relieved to know that she was fine and that she would attend his birthday party at home, as she usually does.

 

“That's fine. Wait, let me drop you off,” Anthony proposed, but Lerisa immediately rejected his advances. “No need, sir... I came with my car today, so I will be leaving now."

 

“Sir? Haven't I told you to stop calling me sir, Lerisa? You're like a sister to me, and not just my staff here.”

 

Lerisa gulped heavily, feeling more sour than when she saw the ring earlier. Anthony kept repeating to her that she was like a sister to him, making it clear again that he couldn't see her beyond that.

 

“Okay, Anthony… But I have to go home now,” Lerisa corrected her statement, not wanting to be reminded that she was like a'sister to him.'

 

“Okay, drive safely home. I will come to see you tomorrow morning, once I'm through with my morning routine and my exercise too,” Anthony let her know, but Lerisa replied, "No need for that, Anthony; I said that I'm fine."

 

"Hmm…" Anthony hummed, finally releasing Lerisa's arms, and said, “It is alright. You can leave for home now."

 

Anthony continued watching Lerisa's face as she nervously responded to him, “Okay, bye, Anthony.”

 

Lerisa quickly turned her back on Anthony and exited his office, making her way out of the third floor and into the elevator.

 

Anthony knew that Lerisa was a 24-year-old lady, and he felt bad for not being able to comfort her.

 

He walked back toward his office seat, shut his computer, and set out to go home to his family house.

 

He dipped his red ring box into his trouser side pocket and picked up his briefcase to leave his office.

 

Lerisa had rushed into the elevator, not wanting to stare at the other staff's faces who were staring at her as she exited Anthony's office.

 

She felt like crying it all out, knowing that Anthony would never notice her feelings for him, especially now that he was finally settling down with Clara Harry.

 

She had been hoping that one day Anthony would notice her feelings and fall in love with her, but Anthony failed to see in her eyes that she really loved him, not just working for him happily.

 

She stepped out of the elevator and into the first floor, the company lobby, where they usually advertise most of their new products.

 

The receptionist's office was also there, together with their advertising section.

 

Lerisa rushed towards the exit door, nearly hitting some staff on her way outside. She exited the first floor, where they mostly advertised most of their brand new, quality shoes and other fashion products they sold.

 

She bumped into Ben Wilfred on her way outside, as Ben was Anthony's friend too.

 

“Hey, Lerisa." Ben caught up with her left arm, but Lerisa immediately shuddered away from his hold, not liking Ben holding her, let alone entertaining his touch.

 

“What's wrong with you, Lerisa? Wait, who hurt you?" Ben asked, noticing Lerisa's saddened face.

 

“Nothing, Ben. I'm fine. I have to go home now,” Lerisa said, running away to her car in the parking lot, seeing that most of the staff were already leaving for home as it was Friday.

 

Ben sighed as his fist clenched. He came to see Anthony and Lerisa, too.

 

He loved Lerisa, but she didn't give him the green light or any chance to prove his love to her or speak to her.

 

Ben sighed again and finally walked into the company building to meet with Anthony, making his way up to the third floor, where Anthony Gregson's office was, to see Anthony.

 

Lerisa quickly got into her small red car, picked up her white handkerchief, blew her nose, and finally started her red car engine. She drove out of the company premises, passing the security checkpoint at the exit gate, and drove back home to her father's house, where she still lived with her parents. She was the second-born and first daughter, having a younger sister and an older brother.

 

She arrived home, drove her red car into her father's compound, parked her small red car, and finally alighted the car.

 

Lerisa picked up her black handbag, shut her red car door, and walked into her family house as the night had fallen.