MY CEO BESTIE AND ME

Lerisa Jonah rose from her office chair on the third floor, finished with her work for the day.

She worked as Anthony Gregson’s secretary, so she pushed back from her desk, snatched her black handbag, and prepared to head home.

Lerisa was a 24-year-old woman, dressed in a yellow shirt, black pencil skirt, and black shoes. She wondered why she hadn’t seen Anthony step out of his office.

She knew Anthony usually closed at 5 p.m. and left the company before 6 p.m., the normal closing hour.

She strode toward Anthony’s office door to discover what was still delaying her boss. The time was past 6 p.m., and most of the staff had already gone home.

Approaching Anthony’s office, Lerisa knocked and heard him respond, “Come in.”

She cracked the door open slightly, stepped inside, and found him seated at his executive desk, staring at a red ring box in his hands.

Lerisa’s heart plummeted the moment she spotted the beautiful, sparkling diamond ring in Anthony’s hand.

She knew at that instant that Anthony was in a very serious relationship with Clara Harry, and Anthony would soon propose to Clara.

Lerisa fought back tears, secretly in love with Anthony herself, but she couldn’t reveal the truth—she lacked the courage.

Her face flushed crimson with sorrow, and she dropped her gaze to hide the sadness written there.

Anthony, engrossed in admiring the diamond ring, never shifted his focus to look at Lerisa.

They were childhood best friends, bound by their fathers’ past closeness. Lerisa’s father had been Anthony’s father’s former assistant, supporting him in building the shoe company that Anthony now owned.

Lerisa knew Clara Harry was a cheat and didn’t deserve a man like Anthony. She had caught Clara flirting with different men behind Anthony’s back more than once, but she couldn’t bring herself to warn Anthony to stop dating Clara.

Lerisa had witnessed Clara visiting Anthony in his office and even caught them kissing, which made her heart sink in her chest, knowing Anthony was deeply in love with Clara.

Anthony was a 30-year-old black man. He wore a black suit with an inner red shirt and black shoes that accentuated his handsome features.

He had a short mustache and beard that enhanced his looks, making him appear charming.

Anthony finally glanced at Lerisa’s face and saw her staring downward. He wondered what she wanted, having already seen her that day.

He had forgotten the company had closed, absorbed as he was in admiring the ring he’d bought. He intended to propose to Clara the following day.

Anthony asked, “What do you want, Lerisa?”

“I… I…” Lerisa spluttered, unable to voice why she was there, her voice cracking with heartbreak at the sight of that lovely ring.

She had come to tell Anthony she was heading home, but Anthony didn’t look up at her again. He remained fixated on the diamond ring, wondering if Clara would like it.

Anthony asked her, “How do you see this ring, Lerisa? Remember I invited you and the rest of the staff to my birthday party tomorrow at my family’s house? Well, I plan to propose to Clara tomorrow. But I don’t know if she’ll accept this beautiful diamond ring I bought and ordered from abroad. I do love Clara. What do you think, Lerisa? Do you think Clara will love this ring and accept it? I bought it to prove my love to her.”

Lerisa’s heart shattered further at Anthony’s stupid question.

She saw him smile sweetly at the ring. As he continued looking downward, she replied, “I thought you had closed, Sir. That’s why I’m here—to collect the office key from you. But it seems you’re not ready to go home yet.”

Anthony instantly detected the sadness in Lerisa’s voice.

He snapped the red ring box shut and rose from his seat. Walking over to her, he asked, “What’s wrong, Lerisa?”

Lerisa turned her back on Anthony as hot tears streamed freely from her eyes.

She couldn’t tell him the truth: that she loved him. Anthony only viewed her as a sister, even though they shared no blood.

“What’s wrong, Lerisa?” Anthony finally reached her and spun her around to face him.

Lerisa felt a spark, but Anthony dismissed it and stared intently at her face.

“Tell me, what’s wrong with you?” he demanded in a stern voice. Lerisa trembled in his grasp but shook her head to indicate nothing.

She lied, “Nothing, Sir… I only came to tell you I’m going home. The company has closed for the day, and to collect the office key from you…”

“Sir?” Anthony repeated, his cold gaze fixed on her face, his eyes narrowing with pain.

“How many times must I tell you to stop calling me sir, Lerisa? You’re like a sister to me, not just a staff member here,” Anthony said. Lerisa shuddered, hating how he always reminded her she was only a sister to him.

Anthony’s office door swung open, and his office assistant, Mark Terry, stepped in.

Mark appeared startled to see Anthony gripping Lerisa’s arms firmly, holding her close to his chest.

Anthony didn’t glance Mark's way; he remained engrossed in Lerisa’s face.

‘Are they about to kiss?’ Mark wondered, but he quickly masked his surprise and stammered an apology, “I’m sorry, boss.”