CHAPTER 4
1107 Words
Anthony continued to think about why Lerisa wasn't happy, as he didn't have any siblings, and had grown up seeing Lerisa as a sister.
He sighed, focused his gaze on the road. Soon, he arrived home, drove into the garage, before getting out of his car and walking up into their duplex mansion.
“Good evening, Mom and Dad,” Anthony greeted his parents as he stepped into the living room, and saw them sitting together in the dining room.
His mother smiled and replied, “Welcome home, Anthony. How was work today?”
“It was fine, Mother,” Anthony replied, walking toward the living room stairs to retire to his bedroom. His mother spoke to him, “Wait, Anthony, won't you join us for dinner before retiring to your room?”
Anthony paused, looked back at his mother, and said, “Okay, Mom. How's the birthday preparation? We will celebrate it here tomorrow in the event hall.”
Anthony walked to the dining room to join his parents. He pulled out a seat before sitting down across from his father. His mother replied, “Fine.”
Anthony's phone rang, and he took it out of his trouser pocket and saw that Clara was phoning him.
“Excuse me, Mom and Dad, I have to answer this call. Hello, babe, I will call you back later,” Anthony said on the phonecall to Clara Harry. He immediately ended the call and smiled back at his parents while dragging his chair closer to the dining table.
Mrs. Beatrice smiled at Anthony, knowing 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, whom she loved and wanted as her daughter-in-law.
“Anthony, How about Lerisa Jonah? Did she come to the company today?” his father asked, before they resumed eating.
Anthony frowned, remembering the sad look he saw on Lerisa's face, before she left the company. His mother noticed, asking him, “What's wrong, Anthony?”
“Nothing, Mom. Lerisa is fine. She came to work today,” Anthony answered, and he 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. You see, Mr. Fred Jonah supported me in building the shoe company that you're now controlling.
So I want you to know that the Jonah family matters so much to me for asking you about Lerisa,” his father, Mr. Joshua Gregson said.
“I understand, Father. Mom, where's Sandra?” Anthony demanded.
Just then, Sandra stepped out of the kitchen balancing a tray of the meals in her hands. She approached the dining table to serve their dinners, as she's 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. Once Anthony was finished, he stood up from his dining seat and said to his parents, "Thanks, Mom, Dad, I'm going back upstairs to my bedroom to rest. Good night.”
“Yes, good night, Anthony,” replied Mrs. Beatrice. She watched as Anthony walked away and climbed the staircase in the living room, ascending to his bedroom above.
Anthony walked into his bedroom and sighed as 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. Likewise, he missed her voice, and the phone call connected.
“Hello, babe,” Anthony said, and he stripped off his coat. He heard Clara respond, “Hi, sweetheart. How was your day at the office?”
Clara was in the clubhouse, and Anthony could hear the sound of club music playing in the background. He asked, “Where are you, babe?”
“I'm in the club. My girlfriend is having a birthday party today, so she invited me over. You know I cannot turn down her invitation," Clara explained.
“Hmm,” Anthony frowned and looked at his golden wristwatch. He saw it was after 9 pm and 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 any man, and it is a just a selfless midnight party. I will be fine,” Clara assured him.
However, as Anthony frowned, wanting to complain, Clara immediately told him, “I have to end the call now, babe. Goodnight, 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's scowled deepened. “It's how my parents want it, Clara, and I cannot go against them."
“It was how your parents wanted it, but not how I want it. Anyway, it's okay. Good night my love and see you tomorrow evening,," Clara said, and Anthony heard the sound of the phone call disconnecting, which made his frown intensified.
Anthony loved Clara; he sighed and took off his long white sleeve shirt. He was about to strip off his trousers, but he touched the red ring box that he had kept in his trouser pocket.
He took it out and stared at it again, intending to propose to Clara the following day.
Anthony sighed and walked toward his bed drawer to place the red ring box there.
He walked into his bathroom to shower. After he was finished, he got out and wore his usual white robe, walking to his bed, and he sat on it to use his laptop.
Anthony considered calling Lerisa on the phone to find out if she was fine and had gotten home safely. He sighed, picked up his phone, unlocked the screen, and called Lerisa.
Meanwhile, Lerisa had gone to the dining room to have dinner with her parents. Their home was a simple bungalow and not a story building like Anthony's.
Lerisa sat on the dining room chair with her parents, having her dinner. As she wasn't with her phone, Anthony's call didn't connect.
Likewise, Anthony dropped his mobile phone in his bed drawer and continued with his online research on his laptop.
After browsing for a while, he grew tired and switched off his laptop. He then went to plug it in to charge.
- Writer
