My CEO Bestie And Me

Chapter 3

Lerisa walked into the living room of her family mansion and found her mother standing beside the dining room, arranging the dining chairs.

Her elder brother and younger sister weren't around, as they were still at school.

"Good evening, Mom," Lerisa greeted her mother but didn't stop in the living room as she walked toward the corridor that led to all the rooms in the large house.

Mrs. Antonia Jonah wondered what had happened to her eldest 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; hurry 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 a bath.

Lerisa stepped into her bedroom and shut the door. She cried and leaned against the door for support, before she walked toward her pink bed to drop her black handbag.

Lerisa saw that it was already past 7 p.m. in her room since the company was a 30-minute drive from her home.

She went to strip off her clothes to take her bath, knowing she couldn't keep her parents waiting for dinner.

After she finished her bath, Lerisa walked out of her bathroom, entered her bedroom and paused at the mirror to stare at her face. She braced herself and realized that Anthony would never love her.

She muttered to her reflection—a curvy, seductive fair-skinned woman staring back at her—“What am I going to do? Anthony will never notice me, and he will soon be married.”

Lerisa knew there was nothing she could do, so she searched her wardrobe for the evening gown she would wear.

She took out an ash-colour nightgown, put it on, and then walked back to apply some dusting powder to her face and neck to conceal her sadness from her parents, and avoid any 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 Anthony, “What's up with you, bro?"

Anthony didn't particularly like having Ben around, despite them being high school friends. Ben owned a hotel and enjoyed hanging out with different women. Nevertheless, Ben wouldn’t back off; he often visited Anthony in the L.H Group, even though Anthony didn’t return the favor.

“Nothing much. How about you? I'm leaving for home now, as you can see that we’re closed,” Anthony replied casually, and he walked into the elevator with Ben. They both went down to the first floor and outside to the company parking lot, 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 sack her?” Ben inquired, and Anthony sighed and shook his head, hoping he could understand Lerisa, but he couldn't.

“I don't know what happened to Lerisa, but she said she's fine. I didn’t terminate her employment here,” Anthony replied.

Anthony thought that perhaps Lerisa wasn't happy about his engagement to Clara. Maybe her mood changed when she saw him with the red ring box in his hands. He couldn't understand why she would be sad when she should be happy for him. After all, he was finally getting married.

“Hmm… That's alright. I like Lerisa, and I’ve been asking her out, but she wouldn't consider me. Can you please talk to her on my behalf?” Ben asked.

Anthony stared at Ben coldly as they stood beside their cars, the parking lot now mostly empty, covered by darkness where there had once been a bright sky.

“How many times do you want me to help you talk to Lerisa? She doesn’t want you or your proposal, and I don't understand why either. She's not in any relationship that I know of,” Anthony replied.

Anthony glanced at his golden wristwatch and noted that it was already past 8 p.m. However, Ben responded, “But she listens to you, Anthony. If you help me apply some pressure in speaking with her, I think she will accept to date me. I’m serious about her, and I want to marry her."

“Hahaha!!!" Anthony laughed bitterly. "Are you serious about settling down with Lerisa? So you think she 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 they worked together to build this factory. That connection also made our families close. To me, Lerisa's like a sister I never had, and I want her to be happy. I don’t think you’re deserving of her. But not to worry, I will try to help you talk to Lerisa again to see if she will accept you.”

“Okay, Anthony, I will look forward to that. Thanks," Ben said. They shook hands and shared a warm hug before parting.

Anthony remembered to ask Ben, "Tomorrow is my birthday; Lerisa will be attending. Won't you come as well? I'd like to see you there.”

Ben frowned and replied, “I know, but where do you plan to celebrate? Why not come to my club and celebrate there? You'll have more fun there than at home with your parents, like a mummy's boy."

Anthony glared at Ben before answering, “No. My parents want me to celebrate at home; it’s our custom to celebrate events in our family grand hall. I will be expecting to see you tomorrow, Ben. Good night."

Anthony quickly got into his car, pulling the black door shut. He started the engine, and drove out of the company, shortly after Ben left in his own car.