Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

AT RIA ROBERT APARTMENT

“Thank you once again, Mrs Betty.” Ria thanked the old lady who came around to pick up her dress.

“You are welcome, Ria.” Mrs Betty smiled at her before entering the taxi and Ria waved.

“Miss Ria! Miss Ria!” She turned back to the house and saw ma’am Elise on the porch.

“What’s wrong?” Ria asked when she walked back to the porch.

“Mr Ian is calling.” Ma’am Elise gave the cellphone to her.

“Oh!” Ria collected the cellphone and picked the call.

‘Hello.’

‘Hi Ian. I am sorry for not picking up on time. I was attending to a customer who came around for her dress.’ Ria replied.

‘Alright. So are you less busy now?’ Ian asked.

‘Yes.’

‘Can we meet up now? I want you to see something.’ Ian requested.

Ria looked up at ma’am Elise. ‘Ian, is everything okay?’ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Yes. Ria, everything is fine.’

‘Alright. So where should we meet?’

‘I will text the address to you.’

‘Okay.’ And then Ian disconnected the call.

“Ma’am Elise, Ian wants to meet up with me.” Ria informed her as they walked back into the house.

“Okay. So where is the meeting place?” Ma’am Elise had a smile on her face.

“I don’t know yet. He will send me the address. But why does he want to meet me?” Ria tried to think of why Ian wants to meet her.

“Well maybe he found the space for the workplace.” Ma’am Elise replied.

“Oh! That’s right! But I am not sure that’s the case.” Ria itched the bridge of her nose.

“Whatever the case may be you should get dressed and meet him.” Ma’am Elise turned to look at her.

“Perhaps can I go like this?” Ria asked with a perturbed look on her face.

Ma’am Elise raised her brow. When did Ria start caring about how she looks just because she wants to meet Ian Bryant.

“No. Change into something better. Hmm let’s see… a fitting jeans and a sexy top will do.” Ma’am Elise turned her and pushed her towards the bedroom.

“Wait.. did you just say a sexy top?” Ria stopped and faced her.

“Yes. A sexy top just like that one you made for Nancy.” Ma’am Elise replied.

Ria eyes widened. “The off shouldered one?”

“Exactly!” Ma’am Elise snapped her fingers in the air.

“What?! No.. no way I am wearing that to see Ian Bryant. That top is too revealing.” Ria shook her head in disagreement.

“Too revealing? You liked it when it looked good on Nancy and that’s why you made one for yourself. And it looks good on you. Trust me, it is not too revealing at all.” Ma’am Elise argued.

“Alright.” Ria rolled her eyes before walking off to the bedroom.

She came back some minutes later but not with the off shouldered top. Ria figured that she can’t wear the top to meet Ian because she feels that it revealed too much of her skin.

“How do I look?” Ria asked her.

“Still… looking good.” Ma’am Elise commented

Ria was dressed in a blue knee length gown that she paired with a sandals. “Thank you, ma’am Elise.” Her cellphone beeped. It was a text from Ian. “He sent the address.”

“Come on, you should go to him on time.” Ma’am Elise gave Ria a mini bag and followed her out to get a taxi.

Ria was lucky to find one that just dropped off her next door neighbor. “Bye, ma’am Elise.” Ria waved when she got into the taxi.

*****************

Ria came down from the taxi and paid the driver when she got to the exact address Ian sent to her.

“Thanks Ma’am.” The driver said before driving off.

Ria’s cellphone binged. She picked on seeing Ian’s name on the screen. “Hi. I am there.”

“Turn around and look ahead I am right in front of you.” Ian instructed.

Ria turned and looked ahead. She saw him standing at the other side of the road waving with his phone still on his ear. She hang up and crossed the road to meet him.

“Hi.” Ian greeted as he flashed Ria a smile that almost blinded her.

“Hi.” Ria managed to say while her eyes surveyed the area.

It was quite busy with half dozen of the streets lined with shops and businesses. The whole place was a widespread of residential area sprouting out in all directions around it. The first thing that struck Ria about this place was how clean and well kept everything was despite the amount of people around it. She wondered why does Ian wanted to meet up here?

Ian cleared his throat. “I found a space for your workplace.”

Ria stared at him trying to make sense of his words. It was just as ma’am Elise had predicted. How did he manage to get a space in a short while? She mused.

“It is right here.” Ian pointed to an enormous building right behind him as he moved aside to let her get a clearer view of the place.

There were some structures on both sides. A diner, a counter service, an ice cream parlor, a grocery store and some major fast food businesses wasn’t far from it. Shops were set up in their own distinctive styles, there was the requisite Starbucks, as well as gas station to complete with mini mart down the block. This is the best place to own a fashion workplace.

“Let us go in the agent is waiting to show us around.” Ian reached out to hold her hand and they walked in through a glass door which was beautifully designed. And Ria was really curious about how the inside would look like!

“Hello.” A young man with glasses on greeted when they walked into the stour room.

“Ria meet Daniel. He is the agent.” Ian introduced briefly.

“Nice to meet you, miss Ria.”

“Likewise, Mr Daniel.” Ria shook hands with him.

The room was large. The luxurious but dusty room was designed with a blue marble floor and large windows.

“This building is the perfect place for a workshop. Since Mr Ian said that you will be using it for a sewing business, there are other rooms too that can serve as an office for you, your secretary, the payment desk, a sewing room, store room and all of that.” Mr Daniel said.

Ria nodded in acknowledgement as they walked through a connecting door into another room. “Ria, this part can be a closet, more like a dressing room to check out dresses.” Ian added when they entered a room.

Mr Daniel showed them around as Ria didn’t stop complimenting every part of the building. It was incredible!

“So do you like it?” Ian asked after they were done checking the whole place.

A phone beeped interrupted Ria’s response. “Please excuse me.” Daniel excused himself to pick up the call.

And slowly Ria turned to face Ian. “So how is it?” He asked again.

“It cool but -”

“But what?” Ian cuts in sharply with a concerned look on his face.

It struck Ria almost immediately that Ian won’t be happy if she didn’t like the place. “I like it. No, like is an understatement. I love the whole place.” Ria said with a smile.

“I am glad you like it.” A bright beam displayed on his face.

“But Ian don’t you think it is too big for the sewing business?”

Ian leaned closer. “Ria, this is not too big. You need somewhere like this to start your business.”

Yeah! But Ria feels like this is starting in a big way! An enormous way!

“Look at it from this point, this place would be able to accommodate a lot of workers and probably people who might want to learn from you. Or don’t you want people to work for you?” Ian asked.

“I do but-”

“Then we are not getting a small place. We will take this place.” Ian stared intensely at her. “What are you thinking?” He asked after he noticed the disturbing look on her face.

Ria swallowed hard. “Well.. I am just thinking of the rent and the bills to set up a place like this. It would require a lot of money to furnish this whole place.” She confessed.

“You don’t have to worry about the money. Ria, I will take care of the whole expenses.” Ian replied.

And there he goes again wanting to take on all responsibilities! This is getting too much! She said within.

“Ian, I still don’t think it is a good idea.” Ria countered.

“Of course! Ria, this is a good idea. I will get professional interior designers to set up the whole place. So just wait and see once everything is set, it will look better.” Ian persuaded.

“It is-”

“Sorry for the delay.” Daniel cuts Ria off as he joined them again. He noticed that the smug look on Ria’s face while checking the area was gone. “Miss Ria, are you doubting this place? If you don’t like it I can get your perfect option.”

“We want this place.” Ian said even before Ria could think of saying anything else to the agent.

“Alright. I’ll prepare the necessary documents.” The agent’s face brightened at Ian’s response.

“Send your account details to Ramsey so he can transfer the payment to you.” Ian instructed.

“Okay, Mr Ian.” Daniel grinned happily.

“And thank you, Mr Daniel.” Ria forced a smile on her face this time.

Ria couldn’t help but wonder how much Ian must have discussed with the agent to secure this place. Is the building on a lease plan? Or perhaps did he buy it?! What?! He can’t possibly buy this whole building for her business right?! Ria pondered deeply.

“I will drive you back home.” Ian said when they stepped out of the building.

“No, you don’t have to drive me home. I will just take a taxi.” Ria didn’t want him to go through the stress of driving her home and then driving back to the office.

“I don’t have much work to do at the office anymore so let me take you home.” Ian held her hand and led her to where he parked his car.

Ian opened the SUV and gestured to Ria to get into the car. He wasn’t going to change his mind after all so she did as he instructed. Ian rounded the car and entered. The engine purred to life and the car moved into motion.

“When it is time should I introduce you to the people who will help you set up your place? So you can talk to them about what you want and how you want the place to be.” Ian spoke up few seconds into the drive.

“That’s a good idea. I.. I mean.. about.. the.. the professional interior designer.” Ria stuttered. She knew it would be useless to argue with Ian not to bring in expert designers so she just agreed to his plan.

“I’ll also tell Ramsey to help in getting the people you will be dealing with when they bring things in or also come in to arrange the whole place.” Ian added.

Ria doesn’t want to consider why Ian was willing to go to such extent to fulfilling all her long list of dreams. He has done a lot for me, more than enough. And soon Ria hoped she doesn’t start getting this strange feelings that she is a burden to him. Ria prayed that such thought doesn’t occur to her!

They didn’t say anything after what Ian said because he had to answer his cell phone. A business call from work.

“Thanks for the ride.” Ria said to Ian when he pulled up in front of her house.

“You are welcome.” Ian replied.

Then Ria came out of the car and closed the door. “I’ll give you call.” He added.

“Okay. Bye.” Ria waved at Ian and he drove off.

Ria was welcomed by the smell of deep fried pomfret in the air when she walked into the apartment. She dropped her bag and rushed towards the kitchen only to find ma’am Elise dancing and humming a song around the small area.

“What are we celebrating?” Ria spoke up after watching her for a few seconds.

“Oh! You are back, miss Ria!” Ria nodded as she eased herself on the stool. “I am just preparing dinner.” Ma’am Elise replied.

“I am so hungry.” Ria grumbled.

“Almost ready. So how was the meeting with Mr Ian?” Ma’am Elise asked.

“It was good.” Ria mumbled.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look too good.” Ma’am Elise wiped her hands clean on a napkin.

“Ian got a space for the business. A big building.” Ria explained everything to ma’am Elise without leaving any detail.

“Well it sounds like everything is working for you!” Ma’am Elise commented.

“Maybe.” Ria fiddled with her fingers.

“This is not a matter of maybe. Everything is working for you! You are beginning to have those things you have ever wanted! And-” Ma’am Elise paused and stared intently at Ria. She turned and walked back to attend to what she was frying on the stove.

Ria heaved a huge sigh. “Are you still doubting, Mr Ian?” Ma’am Elise pointed the perforated spoon in her hand towards Ria.

“No.” Ria was scared to admit it so ma’am Elise won’t tag her as ungrateful.

“I know what this is about but at the same time I want you to remember that you already agreed to be his business partner. And I think as a business partner all he is doing is just investing in every ways to make things work. Miss Ria, see it all as a business relationship and not that Mr Ian wants your body in return.” Ma’am Elise emphasized.

Ria nodded slowly. She just hope that’s all it is for Ian. Business partners and nothing more!