Chapter 12, The birthday celebration
812 Words
Staring at his handsome reflection in the wide wall mirror for the last time, Anthony finally walked out of his upstairs bedroom. He followed the hallway to the event hall in the second wing of their mansion.
"Welcome the celebrant! We have been eagerly waiting to celebrate this joyful moment with him—Anthony Gregson!" the female host shouted as Anthony stepped onto the front stage.
"Thank you all, thank you," Anthony said, and the applause grew louder. He took the microphone from the host, a young woman in a white gown who smiled sweetly at him. He returned her smile, along with the warm greetings from the guests who had gathered for the celebration.
Lerisa stood in a corner of the event hall, smiling at Anthony as he addressed the crowd. She watched him from afar and then walked over to sit beside her sister, Martha, who had already found a seat among the guests.
"I truly appreciate you all for coming tonight and acknowledging my birthday invitation. Today wouldn't have been memorable without your presence to celebrate this joyous occasion and a new beginning with me. Thank you all," Anthony said, beaming at the guests who applauded enthusiastically.
He continued, "I want to thank all our staff present, my assistant, Mark Terry, my secretary, Lerisa Jonah, my family, friends, and everyone who took the time to join us today. Without you all by my side, I wouldn’t be the man I am today. Thank you for honoring my invitation. You are all welcome."
"Music, please!" the female host exclaimed as Anthony concluded his appreciation speech and handed the microphone back to her before stepping away from the stage.
The birthday music began to play, and Anthony left the stage to greet some of his top partners arriving at the event hall to celebrate his birthday.
His uncle and aunt were also there, along with many others who had come to witness his new age.
Anthony scanned the hall, hoping to see Clara, as he hadn’t spotted her yet.
Meanwhile, Lerisa sat with Martha, holding the birthday gift she had bought for Anthony tightly in both hands. She knew that in the past, she would have stood up to greet Anthony's parents, who were seated in the front VIP section, welcoming guests and accepting gifts on Anthony's behalf. But tonight, she felt a reluctance to approach them.
Deep down, she feared that before the celebration ended, Anthony would go down on one knee and propose to Clara.
"Hello, Lerisa! How are you tonight? Wow, you look beautiful," a deep, handsome voice called from her right, pulling her from her thoughts. Lerisa turned to see Ben, who was dressed in a black tuxedo and looked charming.
“Good evening, Ben,” Lerisa greeted him calmly, meeting his intense gaze.
The DJ changed the music to a romantic love song, and Lerisa noticed some couples beginning to dance happily on stage, holding hands and swaying together. The event hall was spacious and beautifully designed for occasions like this, as Mr. and Mrs. Gregson also hosted their wedding anniversary there each year.
“Do you mind joining me for a dance?” Ben asked, noticing Lerisa's admiration for the dancing couples.
Lerisa shook her head immediately, rejecting his offer. She wasn’t in the mood to dance. But Ben persisted, “Why not, Lerisa? Don’t I look good enough for you to dance with me?”
“No, Ben,” she replied, feeling puzzled and not wanting to compliment him.
Just then, a feminine voice came from behind, “Hi Ben! Good to see you here tonight. Can we dance together?”
Lerisa turned to see a striking woman in a long yellow gown and black heels, adorned with light makeup, who seemed to radiate confidence.
Ben, however, ignored her and focused on Lerisa. “No, Emma, as you can see, I already asked Lerisa. Shall we dance, Lerisa?”
Lerisa gulped in surprise as all eyes turned to her. She felt pressured, having already rejected Ben's invitation, and now he was putting her in an awkward position by dismissing Emma's advances.
She knew Ben liked her, but she didn’t share those feelings. With a sigh, she finally stood up to dance with him, not wanting to embarrass him further in front of the guests.
Lerisa reflected on how neglected she felt by Anthony, even though she had never confessed her feelings for him. She believed it was a man’s role to express his feelings first, not the other way around.
How could she tell Anthony that she loved him? Lerisa wondered as she accepted Ben's hand for a dance.
Ben looked handsome in his black tuxedo, his short black wavy hair neatly combed. His cologne was pleasant, easing her restless heart and making her feel somewhat more at ease as he held her hand.
- Writer
