Chapter 4 - His Worry

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

He sighed and focused his gaze on the road while driving home. Soon, he arrived home, drove into the garage, got out of his car, and walked up to the 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 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 seat out and sat 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 to Clara. He swiftly 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 Anthony to settle down with Lerisa Jonah. She loved Lerisa and wanted her as her daughter-in-law.

“Anthony, how about Lerisa? Did she come to the company today?” Anthony's father, Joshua 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. He then 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 Jonah 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 when I ask you about Lerisa,” Mr. Joshua 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. 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 resumed eating their dinner in silence. When Anthony was through, he stood up from his dining seat and said to his parents, “Thanks, Mom and Dad. I'm going back upstairs to my bedroom to rest. Good night.”

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

Anthony walked into his bedroom and sighed. 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 as he stripped off his black coat. He heard Clara respond with a sweet voice, “Hi, sweetheart. How was your day at the office?”

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

“I'm in the club. My best friend, Sandra is having a birthday party tonight, so she invited me over. You know I cannot turn down her invitation,” Clara replied.

“Hmm...” Anthony scowled and stared at his wristwatch. He saw it was 9:08 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. As he wanted to complain, Clara swiftly told him, “I have to end the call now, babe. Good night, 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 replied.

Anthony heard the phone call disconnect, which made his frown deepen.

Anthony loved Clara. He sighed and took off his red 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. He intended to propose to Clara the following day.

He sighed and strode toward his bed drawer to drop the red ring box there.

Anthony then walked to his bathroom to bathe. After he was through, he got out, wore his white robe, walked to his bed, and 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 exhaled, picked up his phone, unlocked the phone screen, and called Lerisa directly.

~~~~~~

Lerisa was through wearing a blue nightgown. She 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 then dropped his mobile phone in his bed drawer and 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.