In L.H. Group, Lerisa Jonah rose from her secretary office chair, having completed her tasks for the day.

As the day came to a close, she grabbed her trusty black handbag from the desk. It was time to head home.

She is a young lady with a fair complexion, aged 24. She was dressed in a yellow shirt, a black pencil skirt, and black shoes. Curiosity piqued her interest as she pondered the absence of Anthony emerging from his office.

She was well aware of Anthony's regular routine of wrapping up work by 5 p.m. and departing from the company before 6 p.m., aligning with the company's typical closing time.

With determination in her stride, she approached Anthony's office door, eager to uncover the reason for her boss's delay. As the clock struck 6 p.m. and the workday drew to a close, most of the staff began to make their way home.

Lerisa approached Anthony's office door and gently tapped, waiting for his invitation to enter.

With determination, she swung open Anthony's office door and confidently entered the room. Yet there she found him, seated upon his lofty executive chair, fixated upon a crimson box nestled within his grasp.

Lerisa's heart sank as she laid eyes on the exquisite, shimmering diamond ring in Anthony's grasp.

She was well aware of Anthony's committed relationship with Clara Harry. And before long, Anthony was ready to ask Clara for her hand in marriage.

Emotions overwhelmed her as she harbored a hidden affection for Anthony, yet the courage to reveal her true feelings eluded her.

Her face quickly flushed with sorrow, and she averted her gaze to conceal her melancholy expression.

Anthony was completely absorbed in the diamond ring he held in his hands, not even glancing at Lerisa.

He and Lerisa had a strong bond from a young age, thanks to their fathers' close relationship in the past. Through their collaboration, Lerisa's father, who had previously worked as an assistant to Anthony's father, played a crucial role in supporting the establishment of the company, which Anthony now proudly owns.

Lerisa was well aware of Clara Harry's deceitful nature and believed that someone as honorable as Anthony deserved better. She had witnessed Clara's repeated encounters with other men, unbeknownst to Anthony. However, she refrained from offering advice to Anthony regarding his relationship with Clara.

Lerisa happened to see Clara paying a visit to Anthony in his office, and to her surprise, she caught them sharing a passionate kiss. Her heart sank in her chest as she realized the depth of Anthony's feelings for Clara.

Anthony was a man in his thirties with a dark complexion. His attire consisted of a sleek black suit, complemented by a vibrant red shirt and polished black shoes, enhancing his overall appearance.

His short beard add to his appearance, giving him a charming look.

Anthony's gaze finally landed on Lerisa's face, only to find her looking down in his office. Curiosity consumed him as he pondered her intentions, having only caught a glimpse of her presence in the morning.

Unaware of the recent closure of his company, Anthony found himself captivated by the ring he had purchased for his upcoming proposal to Clara.

He inquired of Lerisa, "What is it that you desire, Lerisa?"

"Um... um..." Lerisa stammered and struggled to explain her presence in Anthony's office. Her voice was filled with sadness as she noticed the beautiful ring in Anthony's hands, just as she was about to inform him that she was leaving.

However, Anthony couldn't tear his eyes away from the sparkling diamond ring. He couldn't help but ponder if Clara would truly appreciate its beauty.

Anthony finally inquired of Lerisa, "What are your thoughts on this ring, Lerisa?" Just a friendly reminder about the birthday party tomorrow at my family's house. I extended the invitation to you and the rest of our staff. Hope to see you there! Tomorrow, I plan to ask Clara for her hand in marriage. However, I'm uncertain about her reaction to the exquisite diamond ring I purchased for her, which was specially ordered from overseas. "Clara holds a special place in my heart. Lerisa, I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Will Clara truly embrace this ring as a symbol of my unwavering affection? I purchased it with the intention of demonstrating the depth of my love for her.*

Lerisa's heart shattered further as Anthony posed a thoughtless inquiry regarding her.

She noticed him with a gentle smile, fixated on the ring once more,.

Lerisa finally responded, "I thought you had closed, sir." That's why I'm here to retrieve the office key from your possession. However, it appeared that you were not quite prepared to leave just yet."

Anthony couldn't help but sense the sorrow in Lerisa's tone.

Clutching the ring box tightly, he abruptly rose from his office seat and made his way outside to meet Lerisa. He inquired, "What seems to be the matter, Lerisa?"

Lerisa abruptly averted her gaze from Anthony, her eyes welling up with tears that flowed down her cheeks.

She couldn't reveal her true feelings to Anthony, keeping her love for him a secret. Anthony viewed her as a sibling, despite their lack of blood relation.

"What's the matter, Lerisa?" Anthony finally approached Lerisa and gently spun her around to face him.

Lerisa sensed a certain energy in the air, but Anthony seemed oblivious to it as he focused his gaze directly on her face.

"Can you please explain what's troubling you?" Anthony's voice was filled with authority as he made his demand, causing Lerisa to tremble with fear. She held him tightly, and shook her head to indicate nothing.

She deceived him, "Nothing, sir... I just wanted to share that I'm heading home now. As the day came to an end, someone needed to retrieve the office key from you."

"Sir?" "Anthony inquired, his gaze fixed on Lerisa's face. He asked with a hint of frustration, "How many times do I need to remind you to stop addressing me as sir, Lerisa?" You're like a sister to me, more than just a colleague at work."

Lerisa couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort whenever Anthony brought up their close bond.

The office door swung open, revealing Anthony's office assistant, Mark Terry, as he entered the room. Surprisingly, Mark's expression turned to one of disbelief as he witnessed Anthony tightly gripping onto Lerisa's arms, keeping her close to his chest. Anthony's gaze was also fixed on Lerisa's face, completely oblivious to Mark's presence.

Mark pondered, "Are they interested in sharing a kiss?" He swiftly adjusted his appearance and offered his apologies, "I apologize, boss. Sorry for the interruption."