My CEO Bestie And Me

Chapter 3

Lerisa walked into the living room of her family mansion and met her mother standing beside the dining room, 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. She walked toward the corridor that led to all the rooms in the big house.

Mrs. Antonia wondered what had happened to her first daughter when she saw how red Lerisa's face looked. 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 against the door for support as she strode toward her pink bed to drop her black handbag. Lerisa saw it was past 7 p.m. in her room, as the company was a thirty-minute drive from her home. She stripped off her clothes to take her bath, not wanting to keep her parents waiting for dinner.

After she finished her bath, Lerisa walked out of her bathroom and paused at the mirror to stare at her face. She braced herself, knowing that Anthony would never love her. She muttered to her reflection, 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 there was nothing she could do, so she went to search her wardrobe for an evening sleeping gown. She took out a long blue gown, wore it, and walked back to apply dusting powder to her face and neck to hide her sad expression from her parents and avoid 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 him. "What's up with you, bro?"

Anthony didn't like Ben's company, despite Ben being a high school friend. Ben owned a hotel and loved hanging out with different ladies. However, Ben wouldn't back off, as he usually visited Anthony, even though Anthony didn't return the favor.

"Nothing much. How about you? I'm leaving for home now, as you can see we've closed," Anthony replied, 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. Anthony sighed and shook his head, wishing he understood 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." He thought perhaps Lerisa wasn't happy about him engaging Clara, as her mood might have changed when she saw him staring at the red ring box. He couldn't understand why she would be sad when she was supposed to be happy for him, 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, while the rest of the cars had left the parking lot, darkness covering the previously 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, and I don't understand why. She's not in any relationship that I know of."

Anthony glanced at his golden wristwatch and saw it was 8 p.m. But Ben replied, "She listens to you, Anthony. If you help me apply pressure in speaking with her, I believe she will accept to date me. I'm serious about her, and I want to marry her."

"Hmm. 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 families close. She is only like a sister to me, and I want her happiness. I don't think you're very deserving of her. But don't 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," Ben said. Anthony shook hands with him, and they hugged warmly before parting, and striding to their cars.

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

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 answering, "No. My parents want me to celebrate it at home, and it has been our custom to always celebrate events at home in our family grand hall. I will be expecting to see you tomorrow, Ben. Good night."

Anthony quickly got into his sleek black car, pulling the front door open. He hopped into the driver's seat, started the engine, and drove out of his company shortly after Ben left with his car.