CHAPTER 3

Lerisa walked into the living room of her family mansion and met her mother standing beside the dining room, arranging the chairs. Her elder brother and younger sister weren't around, as they were still in school.

"Good evening, Mom," Lerisa greeted her mother but didn't stop in the living room, moving toward the corridor that led to all the rooms in the big house.

Mrs. Antonia wondered what had happened to her first daughter, noticing how Lerisa's face looked unusually red, like a rose wilting under harsh sun. She immediately called Lerisa back.

"Come here, Lerisa! What happened in the office today? Why does your face look so red?"

Lerisa stopped and replied, "Nothing, Mom, I'm fine."

Mrs. Antonia sighed and dismissed her. "That's alright; go quickly and come join your father and me for dinner."

"Okay, Mom," Lerisa replied, darting into the corridor and heading to her room to take her bath.

Lerisa stepped into her room and shut the door. She cried, leaning against the door for support before striding toward her pink bed to drop her black handbag.

Lerisa saw it was after 7 p.m. in her room; the company was a thirty-minute drive from her home. She stripped off her clothes to take her bath, unwilling to keep her parents waiting for dinner.

After she was through with her bath, she walked out of her bathroom and paused at her mirror to stare at her face. She braced herself, knowing Anthony would never get to love her.

Lerisa muttered to her reflection—a curvy, seductive woman staring back at her like a stranger she pitied. "What am I going to do? Anthony will never notice me, and he will soon become married."

Lerisa knew there was nothing she could do, so she searched her wardrobe for an evening sleeping gown to wear. She took out a long blue gown, put it on, and applied dusting powder to her face and neck to hide her sadness from her parents' knowledge and avoid any further questions, masking her sorrow like a thin veil over a wound.

****

Meanwhile, Anthony was still in the third-floor hallway when Ben stepped out of the elevator and walked up to meet him.

Ben smiled and greeted him. "What's up with you, bro?"

Anthony didn't like Ben's company, despite Ben being a high school friend, as Ben owned a hotel and loved hanging out with different ladies. However, Ben wouldn't back off, visiting Anthony regularly even though Anthony never returned the favor.

"Nothing much. How about you? I'm leaving for home now, as you can see we have closed," Anthony replied evenly, and he walked into the elevator with Ben. They both went down to the first floor and outside to the company parking space, where their cars were parked.

"That reminds me. I saw your secretary earlier when I arrived, and she looked red. What's wrong with her? Did you fire her?" Ben inquired, and Anthony sighed, shaking his head, wishing he understood Lerisa but admitting he didn't.

Anthony replied, "I don't know what happened to Lerisa, but she said she's fine. I didn't terminate her employment here."

Anthony thought perhaps Lerisa wasn't happy about him engaging Clara, suspecting her mood changed when she saw him staring at the red ring box in his hands. He couldn't understand why she would be sad when she was supposed to be happy that he was finally getting married.

"Hmm… That's alright. I do like Lerisa, and I've been asking her out, but she won't consider me. Can you please help me talk to her on my behalf?" Ben asked.

Anthony stared at Ben coldly as they stood beside their cars, the parking lot now empty and darkness swallowing the last light of the sky. He replied, "How many times do you want me to help you talk to Lerisa? She doesn't want you or your proposal, and I don't understand why either. She's not in any relationship that I know of."

Anthony glanced at his golden wristwatch and saw it was already past 8 p.m. Yet Ben pressed on, "But she listens to you, Anthony, and if you help me apply pressure in speaking with her, I believe she'll accept to date me. I'm serious about her—I want to marry her."

"Hahaha. Are you serious about settling down with Lerisa? So you believe Lerisa will agree to marry you if I order her to? She's only working for me because my father and her father were friends and worked together to build this factory. That also made our families close, and she is only like a sister to me. I want her happiness, and I don't think you're very deserving of her. But don't worry, I will try to help you talk to her again to see if she will accept you."

"Okay, Anthony, I'll be looking forward to that. Thanks," Ben said. They shook hands and hugged warmly before parting with a pat on the shoulder, then strode to their cars like two men carrying unspoken thoughts.

Anthony remembered something and asked, "Tomorrow is my birthday; Ben, Lerisa will be attending. Won't you attend too? I'll be expecting to see you there."

Ben frowned and replied, "I know, but where do you plan on celebrating it? Why not come to my club and celebrate there? You'll have more fun than being at home with your parents like a mummy's boy."

Anthony glared at Ben, before he answered, "No. My parents want me to celebrate it at home, and it has been our custom to always celebrate whatever event we want in our family grand hall. I'll be expecting to see you tomorrow, Ben. Good night."

Anthony quickly got into his sleek black car, pulling the door open. He hopped in, started the engine, and drove out of his company shortly after Ben had left with his car too.