My CEO Bestie And Me

Chapter 4

Anthony continued to think about why Lerisa wasn't happy, as he didn't have any siblings and had grown up seeing her as a sister.

He sighed and focused his gaze on the road, driving home. Soon, he arrived home and drove into the garage before getting out of his car and walking up to their 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 said as he walked toward the living room stairs to retire to his bedroom. However, his mother called out to him, “Wait, Anthony, won’t you join us for dinner before you retire to your bedroom?”

Anthony paused, glanced 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 responded, “Fine.”

Anthony's phone rang, and he took it out of his trouser pocket. He saw that Clara was calling him.

“Excuse me, Mom and Dad, I have to take this call. Hello, babe, I’ll call you back later,” Anthony said to Clara before abruptly ending the call. He 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 his girlfriend was, as she eagerly awaited Anthony to settle down with Lerisa Jonah, whom she loved and wanted as her daughter-in-law.

“How about Lerisa, Anthony? Did she come to the company today?” Anthony's father finally asked him before they resumed eating.

Anthony frowned slightly, remembering the sad look on Lerisa's face before she left the company. His mother asked, “What's wrong, Anthony?”

“Nothing, Mom. Lerisa is fine. She came to work today,” Anthony answered, then asked, “Where's the meal?”

“Anthony, I know you see Lerisa only as a friend. But her father is a good friend of mine, not just my assistant in the past. Mr. Fred Jonah supported and encouraged me in building the company that you're now managing. So I want you to know that the Jonah family matters a lot to me, which is why I asked about Lerisa,” Mr. Joshua Gregson explained.

“I understand, Father. Where’s Sandra, Mom?” Anthony asked. Just then, Sandra stepped out of the kitchen with a tray of meals in her hands and approached the dining table to serve dinner as 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 finished, he stood up from the table and said to his parents, "Thanks, Mom, Dad. I'm going back upstairs to rest. Good night.”

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

Anthony entered his bedroom and sighed as he decided to call Clara to find out why she had called him earlier. He hadn’t answered 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 coat. He heard Clara respond, “Hi, sweetheart. How was your day at the office?”

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

“I'm in the club. My girlfriend is having a birthday party tonight, so she invited me. You know I can't turn down her invitation,” Clara replied.

“Hmm....” Anthony stared at his wristwatch and saw that it was already past 9 p.m. He said, “But it's getting late, babe. You should start heading home now; I’m not happy about you being there.”

“I know, babe, relax. I didn't come here to sleep with anyone; it is a midnight party. I’ll be fine,” Clara assured him. However, Anthony frowned, and as he was about to complain, Clara quickly said, “I have to end the call now, babe. Good night, and see you tomorrow at your parents' house. But you know I'm not happy about your decision to celebrate your birthday at your parents' home instead of a hotel like an adult.”

“Hmm,” Anthony frowned and said, “It’s how my parents want it, Clara, and I can’t go against them."

“How your parents want it, Anthony? But not how I want it. Anyway, it's okay. Good night,” Clara said. Anthony then heard the sound of the call disconnecting, which made his frown deepen.

Anthony loved Clara. He sighed and took off his long white sleeve shirt. He was about to strip off his trousers when he touched the red ring box he had kept in his trouser pocket.

Anthony pulled it out and stared at it again, intending to propose to Clara the following day.

He sighed and walked toward his bedside drawer to place the red ring box inside. Then he walked to the bathroom to bathe. After he finished, he got out and put on his usual white robe, walking to his bed, where he sat down to use his laptop.

Anthony considered calling Lerisa Jonah to check if she was okay and had gotten home safely. He sighed, picked up his phone, unlocked the screen, and called Lerisa directly.

Lerisa had finished bathing and was wearing an ash-colored nightgown. She sat at the dining room chairs with her parents, having her dinner. Since she wasn’t near her phone, so, Anthony's call didn’t connect while she was eating.

Eventually, Anthony dropped his mobile phone back in his bedside drawer and continued his online research on his laptop. After browsing for a while, he switched off the laptop and plugged it in to charge.