Chapter 4: Anthony's concerns

Anthony continued to think about why Lerisa wasn't happy, as he didn't have any siblings and had grown up seeing Lerisa as a sibling to him.

He sighed and focused his gaze on the road, driving home. Soon, he arrived home and drove into the garage before getting out of his car and walking up to their duplex mansion.

"Good evening, Mom and Dad," Anthony greeted his parents, as he stepped into the living room and saw his parents sitting in the dining room.

His mother smiled and replied first, "Welcome home, Anthony. How was work today?"

"Fine, mother," Anthony walked up toward the living room stairs to retire to his bedroom. However, his mother spoke to him, "Wait, Anthony, won't you join us for dinner before retiring to your bedroom?"

Anthony paused, stared back at his mother, and replied, "Okay, mom. How's the birthday preparation going? We will celebrate it here tomorrow in the event hall."

Anthony walked to the dining room to join his parents. He pulled a chair out before sitting down across from his father. His mother replied, "Fine."

Anthony's phone rang, and he took it out of his trouser side pocket. He saw that Clara was calling him.

"Excuse me, Mom and Dad, I have to answer this call. Hello, babe, I will call you back later," Anthony said on the phone call to Clara. He immediately ended the call and smiled back at his parents, while dragging his chair closer to the dining table.

Mrs. Beatrice smiled at Anthony and knew her son was in a relationship. She didn't want to disturb him by asking who the "babe" was, as she was eagerly awaiting for Anthony to settle down with Lerisa Jonah, whom she loved and wanted as her daughter-in-law.

"How about Lerisa, Anthony? Did she come to the company today?" Anthony's father finally asked him before they resumed eating.

Anthony frowned a little, remembering the sad look he saw on Lerisa's face before she left the company. His mother asked him, "What's wrong, Anthony?"

"Nothing, mom. Lerisa is fine. She came to work today," Anthony answered, and he asked, "Where's the meal?"

"Anthony, I know that you only see Lerisa as a friend. But her father is a good friend of mine, and not just my assistant in the past. Mr. Fred supported me and encouraged me in building the company that you're now controlling. So I want you to know that the Jonah family matters so much to me for asking you about Lerisa," Mr. Joshua Gregson said.

"I can understand, Father. Where's Sandra, Mom?" Anthony asked. Just then, Sandra stepped out of the kitchen with the tray of their meals in her hands and approached the dining table to serve their dinners, as she was their maid.

"I'm sorry for the delay," Sandra apologized. Mrs. Beatrice sighed and replied, "It's okay, Sandra. Be quick."

Anthony and his parents finally resumed eating their dinner in silence. When Anthony was through, he stood up from his dining seat and said to his parents, "Thanks, Mom, Dad, I'm going back upstairs to my bedroom to rest. Good night."

"Yes, good night, Anthony," Mrs. Beatrice replied. She watched as Anthony walked away and climbed the stairs in the living room to his bedroom.

Anthony walked into his bedroom and sighed as he decided to call Clara to know why she had called him earlier. He couldn't answer her call because he was with his parents. He missed Clara, and the phone call connected.

"Hello, babe," Anthony said, and he stripped off his coat. He heard Clara respond, "Hi, sweetheart. How was your day at the office?"

Clara was in the clubhouse, and Anthony could hear the sound of club music playing in the background. He asked her, "Where are you, babe?"

"I'm in the club. My girlfriend is having a birthday party today, so she invited me over. You know I cannot turn down her invitation," Clara replied.

"Hmm," Anthony stared at his wristwatch and saw it was already after 9 p.m. He said, "But it's getting late, babe. Start going back home now; I am not happy with you being there."

"Hahaha. I know, babe, relax. I didn't come here to sleep with anyone, and it is a midnight party. I will be fine," Clara assured. However, Anthony frowned, but as he wanted to complain, Clara immediately told him, "I have to end the call now, babe. Goodnight, and see you tomorrow at your parents' house. But you know that I'm not happy with you choosing to celebrate your birthday at your parents' home instead of a hotel as an adult."

"Hmm," Anthony frowned and said, "It's how my parents want it, Clara, and I cannot go against them."

"How your parents want it? But not how I want it, Anthony. Anyway, it's okay. Good night," Clara said, and Anthony heard the sound of the phone call disconnected, which made his frown deepen.

Anthony loved Clara; he sighed and took off his long white sleeve shirt. He was about to strip off his trousers, but he touched the red ring box that he had kept in his trouser pocket.

Anthony brought the ring box out and stared at it again, intending to propose to Clara the following day. He sighed and walked toward his bed drawer to drop the red ring box there.

He walked to his bathroom to bathe, and after he was through, he got out and wore his usual white robe, walking to his bed, and he sat on it to use his laptop.

Anthony thought about calling Lerisa on the phone to find out if she was fine now and had gotten home safely. He picked up his phone, and he unlocked the phone screen and called Lerisa directly.

Lerisa sat on the dining room chair with her parents, having her dinner. She wasn't with her phone, so Anthony's call didn't connect as she was eating her dinner.

Anthony finally dropped his mobile phone in his bed drawer, and he continued with his online research on his laptop.

After browsing for a while, he switched off his laptop and went to plug it in to charge.