My CEO Bestie And Me

In L.H. Group, Lerisa Jonah stands up from her office chair as she is through with her office work for the day. She works as Anthony Gregson's secretary, so she steps out of her office seat and picks up her black handbag that is on her office desk as she is already going home. Lerisa is a fair-complexioned young lady, 24 years old, and she is wearing a yellow shirt, black pencil skirt, and black shoes. She wonders why she hasn't seen Anthony stepping out of his office. She knows that Anthony usually closes by 5 pm and leaves the company before 6 pm, which is the company's normal closing hour. She makes her way toward Anthony's office door to find out what is still delaying her boss, as the time is already after 6 pm, and most of the staff are already going home. Approaching Anthony's office door, Lerisa knocks, and she hears him respond, "Come in." She pushes Anthony's office door slightly open and steps into his office, where she sees him seated on his executive office seat, staring at a red ring box in his hands. Lerisa's heart drops the moment she sees the beautiful, sparkling diamond ring in Anthony's hand. She knows at that moment that Anthony is in a very serious relationship with Clara Harry and that Anthony will soon propose to Clara. Lerisa feels like crying out, as she is also secretly in love with Anthony, but she can't tell him the truth, as she isn't brave enough to do so. Her yellow face immediately turns red in sadness, and she stares downward to hide the saddened look on her face. Anthony is rather busy admiring the diamond ring in the box that he is holding, as he doesn't shift his gaze to stare at Lerisa. They are childhood best friends, due to their fathers' closeness in the past. In working together, Lerisa's father is Anthony's father's former assistant. He supported Anthony's father in building the company, which is now Anthony's own. Lerisa knows that Clara Harry is a cheat and not deserving of a man like Anthony. She has seen Clara several times behind Anthony's back, flirting with different men, but she can't advise Anthony to stop dating Clara. Lerisa has witnessed Clara visiting Anthony in his office and caught them kissing too, which makes her heart sink in her chest, knowing that Anthony is seriously in love with Clara. Anthony is a 30-year-old black man. He wears a black suit with an inner red shirt and black shoes, which makes him look handsome. He has a short mustache and beard that enhance his looks and make him look charming as a man. Anthony finally stares at Lerisa's face and sees her staring downward in his office. He wonders what she wants, as he has seen her for the day. He forgets that his company has closed, as he is busy admiring the ring he has bought. He intends to propose to Clara to marry him the following day. "What do you want, Lerisa?" "I... I..." Lerisa splutters and is unable to say why she is in his office, as she sounds heartbroken on seeing that lovely ring. She comes to tell Anthony that she is already going home, but Anthony doesn't stare up at her face again. He is busy admiring the diamond ring and wondering if Clara will like it. Anthony asks her, "How do you see this ring, Lerisa? Remember that I invited you and the rest of our staff to attend my birthday party tomorrow at my family's house? Well, I want to propose to Clara tomorrow. But I don't know if she will accept this beautiful diamond ring that I have bought for her and ordered from abroad. I do love Clara. What do you think, Lerisa? Do you think that Clara will love this ring and accept it? I bought it to prove my love to her." Lerisa's heart breaks even more by Anthony's stupid question at her. She sees him smiling sweetly at the ring as Anthony continues looking downward at it. She replies, "I thought you had closed, Sir. That's why I'm here to collect the office key from your hands. But it seems like you're not yet ready to go home." Anthony immediately notices the sadness in Lerisa's voice. He shuts the red ring box in his hands and stands up from his office seat. As he walks out to meet her and asks her, "What's wrong, Lerisa?" Lerisa turns her back on Anthony as hot tears freely stream down from her eyes. She can't tell Anthony the truth—that she is in love with him. Anthony only sees her as a sister to him, even though they are unrelated. "What's wrong, Lerisa?" Anthony finally approaches Lerisa and swirls her around to face him. Lerisa feels the sparks, but Anthony ignores them and looks intently at her face. "Tell me, what's wrong with you?" he asks again in a stern voice. Lerisa shudders in his hold but shakes her head to indicate nothing. She lies to him, "Nothing, Sir... I only came here to tell you that I'm already going home. The company has closed for the day, and to collect the office key from you..." "Sir?" Anthony asks, as he continues to stare at Lerisa's face coldly. His eyes squint in pain at her. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me sir, Lerisa? You're like a sister to me, and not just a staff here," Anthony says, and Lerisa shudders, as she hates for Anthony to always remind her that she is like a sister to him. Anthony's office door pushes open, and his office assistant, Mark Terry, steps into his office to see him. Mark looks surprised on seeing Anthony holding Lerisa's arms firmly and closely to his chest. Anthony doesn't stare at him and is busy staring at Lerisa's face. 'Do they want to kiss?' Mark wonders in his mind, but he quickly composes his surprised look and apologizes to them, "I'm sorry, boss."