Chapter 7, Secret admirers
1032 Words
Ben chuckled as he spoke on the phone, aware that Lerisa had been rejecting his attempts to date her. She was the first woman to ever turn him down, but he was determined to win her over, believing that, in time, she would fall in love with him.
"Does it matter how I got your number, Lerisa? The truth is, I want to hear your voice. I've been searching for your mobile number and finally got it from someone," he replied.
"Where?" Lerisa asked, frowning and not wanting to engage with Ben.
She knew that Ben came from a wealthy family, but he was not the firstborn. He owned a hotel and was doing well for someone his age, even though he was the same age as Anthony.
"Why are you calling me?" Lerisa asked.
"Chill, babe. Why do you sound so annoyed? Yesterday, I saw you looking sad, and it genuinely worried me. I couldn't sleep well last night, which is why I'm calling now to check on you," Ben explained.
Lerisa apologized, "I’m so sorry about that. But why are you calling me now?" She felt inclined to end the call but didn’t want to be rude, as she had been raised to show respect.
"I just want to know how you’re doing. Tell me, how are you now?" Ben asked.
"I'm fine now. Thank you for calling," Lerisa said. Ben replied, "Don't mention it. I'm glad to hear your voice and to know you're okay. Can we meet later, hang out somewhere nice, and chill together? It might help calm your nerves."
"No," Lerisa quickly replied. "I'm sorry, but I can't hang out with you today."
"Why not?" Ben asked, trying to suppress his annoyance.
"Nothing, Ben. Honestly, I just don’t want to hang out with you," Lerisa said, struggling to find the right words to convey her lack of interest.
She had told him countless times that she wasn’t interested in being his girlfriend, yet Ben seemed unwilling to accept her refusal.
"I understand how you feel, Lerisa, but just give me a chance. Let me prove my love to you. Let’s hang out, even if it’s just once," Ben begged.
"Okay, but probably not today," Lerisa replied.
"Why? You don’t work on Saturdays, do you?" he pressed.
"No, but I have something to attend to. I have to go now. Goodbye, and take care of yourself," Lerisa said quickly, hanging up the phone. She sighed deeply, dropped her phone back on the bed, and went to search for a gown.
She spent a while looking for a simple gown until she finally picked out a wine-colored dress. She placed it on the bed and went into the bathroom to take a bath. After drying off, she applied lemon cream to her skin.
With her light complexion, she finished with the cream, put on the wine gown and brown sandals, and then styled her long blonde hair into a neat bun. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, admiring her natural beauty.
Not one to wear makeup, she appreciated her simple look. The wine-colored dress had a V-shaped neckline.
She grabbed her phone and car keys, placing them in her red purse before walking out of her room, ready to go shopping.
Lerisa wanted to buy a new gown to wear to Anthony Gregson's 30th birthday celebration. She wanted to look her best, even though she knew Anthony would see her only as a sister.
Lerisa knew Anthony came from a Christian family like hers and that his birthday celebration would be simple, held at his family home. His parents wouldn’t support a celebration in a hotel; they still treated him like a child, reprimanding him despite him being a grown man now at 30.
Lerisa shut her room door and stepped into the corridor, preparing to leave her family house for the mall.
As she walked through the living room, she noticed her mother wasn’t there. She returned to the corridor, approached her mother's door, and knocked to inform her that she was leaving for the mall.
Knock! Knock!
Lerisa stood knocking, but there was no response. Frowning, she gently pushed her mother’s door open and peeked in, seeing her mother peacefully asleep in bed.
Sighing, she quietly closed the door and stepped outside, where she found her father and Anthony's father standing in the compound.
"Good morning, Father. Good morning, sir," Lerisa greeted the men.
Mr. Joshua smiled back at Lerisa before responding to her greeting.
"Good morning, Lerisa. How are you today?" he asked, and Lerisa replied, "I’m fine, sir."
"That’s good to hear. Thank you for helping your father with the company. I can see your contributions in helping Anthony manage the affairs very well," Mr. Joshua Gregson praised her.
He was wearing a brown shirt and black trousers with black slippers, looking distinguished at 62 years old.
"Thank you, sir. It’s my pleasure to work with Anthony," Lerisa replied.
"I hope you’re attending the birthday celebration tonight at our home."
"Yes, sir. Anthony already invited me," Lerisa said, meeting Mr. Joshua Gregson’s intense gaze.
Mr. Gregson smiled and replied, "That’s good to hear. Mr. Fred Jonah, I must head home now. We will meet again on Monday to discuss the outcome of the meeting with the chiefs and landowners."
"That’s alright. I look forward to hearing the results," Mr. Fred replied as he escorted his friend toward the compound gate. Lerisa then told her father, "Dad, I’m leaving the house now to go shopping."
"Okay, Lerisa, but don’t stay out too long. Is your mother inside the house?" Mr. Fred asked after Mr. Joshua exited the gate.
"Yes, Father," she replied.
"Alright, go quickly and be back on time." Mr. Fred walked back into the house, and Lerisa approached the gate, pulling it open since their gateman was not around.
She thought about hiring another trusted gateman to help manage the gate, as her salary at LH Company was fair and substantial.
Lerisa drove her car out of the compound, stepped out to lock the gate, then got back into her car and drove off, exiting the street onto the main road.
- Writer
