In L.H. Group, Lerisa Jonah stood up from her executive secretary seat as she had finished her office work for the day.
She worked as Anthony Gregson's secretary, so she stepped out of her office seat and picked up her black handbag that was on her desk, as she was already going home.
Lerisa was a fair-complexioned young lady, 24 years old, and she was wearing a yellow shirt, a black pencil skirt, and black shoes. She wondered why she hadn't seen Anthony step out of his office.
She knew that Anthony usually closed by 5 p.m. and left the company before 6 p.m., which was the company's normal closing hour.
She made her way toward Anthony's office door to find out what was delaying her boss. It was already after 6 p.m., and most of the staff were going home.
Approaching Anthony's office door, Lerisa knocked and heard him respond, “Come in.”
She pushed the door slightly open, stepped into his office, and saw him seated in his executive chair, staring at a red ring box in his hands.
Lerisa's heart dropped the moment she saw the beautiful, sparkling diamond ring in Anthony's hand.
She realized at that moment that Anthony was in a very serious relationship with Clara Harry and that he would soon propose to her.
Lerisa felt like crying out, as she was also secretly in love with Anthony, but she couldn't tell him the truth because she wasn't brave enough to do so.
Her face immediately turned red with sadness, and she stared downward to hide the sorrow on her face.
Anthony was busy admiring the diamond ring in the box he was holding and didn't shift his gaze to look at Lerisa.
He and Lerisa were childhood best friends due to their fathers' closeness in the past. In their work relationship, Lerisa's father had been Anthony's father's former assistant. He supported Anthony's father in building the shoe company, which was now Anthony's.
Lerisa knew that Clara Harry was a cheat and not deserving of a man like Anthony. She had seen Clara several times behind Anthony's back, flirting with different men, but she couldn't advise Anthony to stop dating her.
Lerisa had witnessed Clara visiting Anthony in his office and had caught them kissing as well, which made her heart sink, knowing that Anthony was seriously in love with Clara.
Anthony was a 30-year-old black man. He wore a black suit with a red shirt and black shoes, which made him look handsome.
Anthony had a short mustache and beard that enhanced his looks and made him appear charming.
Finally, Anthony looked at Lerisa's face and saw her staring downward in his office. He wondered what she wanted, as he had seen her for the day.
He forgot that his company had closed, as he was busy admiring the ring he had bought. He intended to propose to Clara the following day.
“What do you want, Lerisa?" Anthony asked.
"I… I…" Lerisa spluttered and was unable to explain why she was in his office. She sounded heartbroken at the sight of the lovely ring.
She had come to tell Anthony that she was going home, but he did not look up at her again. He was busy admiring the diamond ring and wondering if Clara would like it.
Anthony asked, “How do you see this ring, Lerisa? Remember that I invited you and the rest of our staff to attend my birthday party tomorrow at my family's house? Well, I want to propose to Clara tomorrow. But I don't know if she will accept this beautiful diamond ring that I have bought for her and ordered from abroad. I do love Clara. What do you think, Lerisa? Do you think Clara will love this ring and accept it? I bought it to prove my love to her?"
Lerisa's heart broke even more at Anthony's foolish question
She saw him smiling sweetly at the ring as Anthony continued looking downward at it. She replied, “I thought you had closed, Sir. That's why I'm here to collect the office key from you. But it seems like you're not yet ready to go home.”
Anthony immediately noticed the sadness in Lerisa's voice.
He shut the red ring box in his hands and stood up from his office seat. As he walked out to meet her, he asked, "What's wrong, Lerisa?"
Lerisa turned her back on Anthony as hot tears streamed down her cheeks.
She couldn't tell Anthony the truth—that she was in love with him. Anthony only saw her as a sister, even though they were unrelated.
"What's wrong, Lerisa?” Anthony finally approached her and turned her around to face him.
Lerisa felt the sparks, but Anthony ignored them and looked intently at her face.
“Tell me, what's wrong with you?” he asked again in a stern voice. Lerisa shuddered in his hold but shook her head to indicate nothing.
She lied to him, “Nothing, Sir… I only came here to tell you that I'm going home. The company has closed for the day, and I need to collect the office key from you…”
“Sir?" Anthony asked, continued to stare at Lerisa's face coldly. His eyes squinted in pain at her.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me sir, Lerisa? You're like a sister to me, not just a staff member here," Anthony said. Lerisa shuddered, hating that Anthony always reminded her of her position in his life.
Anthony's office door pushed open, and his office assistant, Mark Terry, stepped in to see him.
Mark looked surprised to see Anthony holding Lerisa's arms firmly and closely to his chest. Anthony didn't glance at him and remained focused on Lerisa's face.
'Do they want to kiss?' Mark wondered but quickly composed himself, and apologized, “I'm sorry, boss.”
