Chapter 3. Her desperation

Lerisa walked into the living room of her family mansion and met her mother standing beside the dining room and arranging the dining 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 as she walked towards the corridor that led to all the rooms in the big house.

 

Mrs. Antonia wondered what happened to her first daughter as she saw how Lerisa's face looked pretty red.

 

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 Lerisa.

 

"That's alright; do quickly and come join your father and me for dinner.”

 

“Okay, Mom,” Lerisa replied, darting into the corridor as she went to her room to take her bath.

 

She stepped into her room and shut the door. She cried and leaned into the door for support as she strode towards her pink bed to drop her black handbag.

 

Lerisa saw it was past 7 p.m. in her room, as the company was a 30-minute drive from her home.

 

She went to strip off her clothes to take her bath, and she couldn't keep her parents waiting to join them for dinner.

 

After she was through with her bath, Lerisa walked out of her room and paused at her room mirror to stare at her face. She braced herself and knew that Anthony wouldn't ever get to love her.

 

She muttered to her reflection, who was a curvy, seductive woman, staring back at her.

 

"What am I going to do? Anthony will never notice me, and he will soon become married.”

 

Lerisa knew that there was nothing that she could do, so she went to search her wardrobe for the evening sleeping gown that she would wear.

 

She took out a long blue gown, wore it, and finally walked back to apply dusting powder to her face and neck to hide her sad face from her parents' knowledge and to avoid any further questions.

 

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

 

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

 

Anthony didn't like the company of Ben around him, 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, as he usually visited Anthony, despite Anthony not returning the favor of visiting Ben too.

 

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

 

“That reminds me. I saw your secretary earlier when I arrived here, and she looked red. What's wrong with her? Did you fire her?” Ben inquired, and Anthony sighed and shook his head, hoping he did understand Lerisa, but 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 probably Lerisa wasn't happy about him engaging Clara, as he thinks maybe 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 for him and that he was finally getting married.

 

“Hmm… That's alright. I do like Lerisa, and I have been asking her out, but she wouldn'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, while the rest of the cars had all left the parking lot with the darkness covering the previous bright sky.

 

Anthony replied, “How many times do you want me to help you talk to Lerisa? She doesn't want you or would accept your proposal to her, and I don't understand why either. She's not in any relationship that I know of.”

 

Anthony stared at his golden wristwatch and saw that it was already past 8 p.m. However, Ben replied, “But she listens to you, Anthony, and if you help me to apply pressure in speaking with her, I think that she will accept to date me as I'm serious about her and I want to marry her."

 

“Hmm, hahaha, are you serious about settling down with Lerisa? So you think 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 family close, as she is only like a sister to me, and I want her happiness. I don't think you're very deserving of her. But not to worry, I will try to help you talk to Lerisa again to see if she will accept you."

 

“Okay, Anthony, I will be looking forward to that, thanks," said Ben, and Anthony both shook hands with him and hugged warmly before they parted from each other on the shoulder and strode up to their cars.

 

Anthony remembered and asked Ben, "Tomorrow is my birthday; Ben, Lerisa will be attending it; won't you attend it too, as I will be expecting to see you around too?"

 

Ben frowned and replied, “I know, but where do you plan on celebrating it? Why not come to my club and celebrate it there? You will have more fun there than being at home with your parents as 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 at home and in our family grand hall. I will be expecting to see you tomorrow, Ben. Good night.

 

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