All Chapters of MY CEO BESTIE AND ME: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Anthony ignored responding to Mark; he didn't avert his gaze to stare at Mark, who had stepped into his office to see him. 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's arms closely, confirming that they were secret lovers but pretending in front of the other staff like they were siblings. “Lerisa…” Anthony called her name, making her shudder in his hold and snap out of her trance, as he still held her arms firmly. 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's nothing when you're looking this sad?" Anthony aske

Anthony continued to think about why Lerisa wasn't happy. He didn't have any siblings and had grown up seeing Lerisa as one. Anthony sighed and focused his gaze on the road while driving home. Soon, he arrived, drove into the garage, got out of his car, and walked up to their duplex mansion. “Good evening, Mom and Dad,” Anthony greeted his parents as he stepped into the living room and saw them sitting in the dining room. His mother smiled and replied first, “Welcome home, Anthony. How was work today?” “Fine, Mother,” Anthony said, walking toward the stairs to retire to his bedroom. However, his mother spoke to him, “Wait, Anthony, won’t you join us for dinner before going upstairs?” Anthony paused, looked back at his mother, and replied, “Okay, Mom. How are the birthday preparations going? We’ll celebrate here tomorrow in the event hall.” Anthony walked to the dining room to join his parents. He pulled out a chair and sat down across from his father. His mother replied, “Fine.”

Anthony stared back at Lerisa’s face and said to her, “I have to go home now, Lerisa. I hope you’re truly feeling fine now.” Anthony drank from the bottled water in his hand again, looking directly at Lerisa’s face. She replied, “Yes, I’m fine. See you later this evening.” Lerisa’s pretty, fair‑complexioned face turned sad again as she remembered that Anthony would definitely propose to Clara that evening. Anthony and Clara had been dating for three years or more. Anthony noticed the change in Lerisa’s mood from how her face automatically flushed. He hastily asked her, “What’s wrong with you again?” Lerisa snapped out of her trance and replied, “Nothing, I’m fine.” “Hmm, you keep lying to me that you’re fine when you’re not… Tell me the truth, Lerisa. What’s bothering you? You can share whatever the problem is with me. You know I care about you, and I know you don’t have any other friends aside from me,” Anthony said. “You don’t have a boyfriend—or maybe you do, but I don’t know

Lerisa sighed, knowing she couldn't miss Anthony's birthday party. She had been there with him since his seventh birthday, and now he had become an adult. She knew that if she avoided attending, it might seem as though she was jealous or holding a grudge, and her parents would frown at her. Lerisa fixed her gaze on the road as she drove her car out of the street, intending to turn onto another street before reaching the main road. But just then, she saw a young woman and a man kissing in front of a black car parked on the street. Lerisa wondered who the shameless young woman and the man were, kissing in public instead of finding somewhere private. She knew that mostly wealthy families lived in the estate; most houses were individually owned and occupied by the owners and their families, rather than tenants. But as Lerisa drove forward to exit the street and pass the black car, she saw the woman’s face. She was shocked to see that it was Anthony's girlfriend, Clara Harry, kissing

Lerisa met with her parents in their living room and greeted them, "Good afternoon, Mom and Dad." "Welcome home, Lerisa. Your father and I forgot to purchase birthday gifts to give to Anthony today. How about you? Did you buy anything on your way home?" Antonia asked. Lerisa replied, "No, Mom. I forgot too." She stared at the living room wall clock and saw that it was 2 p.m. Her father said, "There's still time, Lerisa. Why not go outside now with your sister to the shops nearby and buy something to give to the Gregson family? As you know, we cannot go there empty-handed to attend Anthony's birthday—he is their only son." "Hmm, you're right, Father. But what should I get him? They're rich, and last year we already gave Anthony a standing fan... I don't know what to buy for him this year," Lerisa said with a frown. They had bought many gifts for Anthony before, and she didn't know what to give him now. "Anything you give Anthony is acceptable, Lerisa. So long as we give something.