Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

AT RIA ROBERT APARTMENT

Ria sat at the countertop in the kitchen sipping a cup of coffee. She was waiting for ma’am Elise to finish washing the dishes. Ever since Ria came back home ma’am Elsie stopped her from doing anything. Phoebe and Phoenix helped Ria arranged the clothes back in the closet, and she couldn’t cook dinner for the children because ma’am Elise kept saying that she should save up her energy for the discussion later in the day after the kids must have gone to bed.

“Now we can talk.” Ma’am Elise wiped her hands clean on a napkin. She sat on a stool facing Ria directly.

“Where do I start from?” Ria mumbled.

“Tell me what happened after you regained your sight.” Ma’am Elise said.

“Well Ian was there for me.” Ria started off.

“Yes I know. You told me that on phone.” Ma’am Elise reminded her.

“Actually, we didn’t do much in China. We only went visiting to some places and Ian showed me so many things. He also helped me to identify objects and colors.” Ria repeated the same thing ma’am Elise already knew about the trip.

So?”

Ria stopped to study her expression. “Okay. Fine. I’ll tell you about it.” She huffed.

“I am listening.” Ma’am shrugged.

“Ian asked me what my plans would be if I get back home.” Ria paused.

“What are you plans?” Ma’am Elise arched her eyebrows.

Ria rolled her eyes. “Ma’am Elise, you already know my plans. I need to save enough money to enroll myself into a fashion school and getting a space for the business.” She stated.

“Yeah. I know you have always dreamed to have the business grow into something big. I want a bigger workshop for you too.”

Ria nodded. “Yes. Regaining my sight, I realized that the world is growing day by day. The things I learnt about sewing from my mom needs an upgrade. I want to be a professional in this sewing business.” Ria Robert knew that she still has a lot to do and learn about being a clothe designer.

“Wedding gowns, Suites, Ball gowns, Amazing designs for Halloween and I want to get to design a celebrity for the next METGala event.” Ria pointed out.

“You must have watched so many fashion shows in China.” Ma’am Elise commented.

“Yeah. Ian gave me his cellphone after tutoring me on how to use the internet. I want to learn how to make these trending clothes I have been seeing online. I need to learn and become a professional in this field.” Ria cried out knowing that she still has a long way to go in fulfilling her dreams to become a famous clothe designer.

“So you told Mr Ian about your plans?” Ma’am Elise asked.

“Yes I told him everything without leaving a detail. And ma’am Elise…” Ria paused. She wrapped her fingers around the handle of the cup.

“What is it?” Ma’am Elise questioned.

“Ian wants to help with sewing business again.” Ria answered.

“Wow! This is great news!” Ma’am Elise blurted out.

“You think so?” Ria frowned.

“Yes! Of course! This is great!” Ma’am Elise coaxed.

“This is a great news but I don’t like the idea.” Ria shook her head in disagreement.

“Why?” Ma’am Elise smiled dropped immediately.

“You know, Ian already spent too much on that trip to China and also for the surgical bills. And he is still kind of insisting that I don’t pay back whatever he spent on trip.” Ria bit her lower lips. “Now he wants to help me again.” She added.

“You can partner with him. I mean.. Mr Ian can be a major investor in the sewing business.” Ma’am Elise advised.

“But I still don’t have enough money to start the business the way we want it.” Ria rubbed her temples with her free hand.

“Then I suggest you just let him help you if he wants to do it. And from what I have learnt about Lint Corp, they produce textiles. You can partner with Mr Ian so they can supply our workshop with necessary materials. Come on Miss Ria, I don’t know if you understand what I am trying to say!” Ma’am Elise coaxed.

“Yeah. I understand. Ian also said the same thing too. But I still don’t feel comfortable about him helping me just like that because I keep having this thought that…” Ria paused to focus her attention on the cup just to avoid ma’am Elise gaze. “I feel like maybe one day Ian might demand for something in return.” She completed.

Ma’am Elise sighed. “Perhaps, did he make any advances while you were alone with him?”

Ria’s head snapped up to look at her. “No, he didn’t do anything. To be honest, Ian was so gentle and caring. I expected him to switch up on me during the conditioning process but he helped me through it all.”

“So what does that tell you?” Ma’am Elise asked.

Ria thought for a second. “I.. I don’t know. Ma’am Elise, I don’t know what to think about him.” She admitted.

Ma’am Elise stood up and moved closer to her. “I know you know it but you just don’t want to admit that Mr Ian is different from the type of men you know. He is not in your life for sexual pleasures just like Lucas did -” She stopped.

They lapsed into silence for about a minute. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned him.” Ma’am Elise placed her hand on Ria’s shoulder.

“It is alright.” Ria touched her hand. “I want to believe that Ian is different from Lucas.”

“You have to believe it. Mr Ian is nice and he wants to be part of that great dreams that you have for your life. He is only waiting for you to let him in and help you with whatever he can in growing the business.”

Ria relaxed in her gentle touch. “So what do I do?” She asked.

Ma’am Elise sighed and stopped patting Ria’s shoulder. “Go to your room.” She collected the coffee cup from her. “Think about Mr Ian’s offer to help. m you. Think about what we discussed. Think deeply and make up your mind once and for all. It is not bad to give the young man a benefit of doubt to prove himself.” She said calmly.

Ria agreed to ma’am Elise words on what she should do. Ria also agreed that she really needs to have a deep thought about her life, think about Ian’s deal and make up her mind.

Ria stood up from the stool. “Thank you for always being there for me, ma’am Elise.” She mumbled.

Ma’am Elise smiled. “And I will always here for you.” She hugged Ria.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Ria walked off to her room, crashed on the bed and pulled the covers over her body. “Ian Bryant of Lint Corporation.” She mumbled. Ian was extremely a good company to her in China. “He is calm and very intelligent. Ian is interesting and knowledgeable.” She turned on her side.

Ten weeks was enough to get to know the real Ian Bryant. Ria noticed that Ian was always interested in anything she has to say. He could be very funny at times and it was really nice to be with him.

“Ian might be a good man but I still don’t trust him.” At the same time Ria knew she felt safe and protected around him.

Ria has no idea what it means to feel protected around a man but she decided that she could actually give Ian a benefit of doubt. Who knows she might learn to change her perspectives about men for good through Ian Bryant.

“It is a big deal to offer such a help to a total stranger.” Ria thought.

And also allowing Ian to help her sewing business. Ria has waited for a miracle, a breakthrough to fulfilling her dreams and now it seems like she is having it on a platter of gold.

“It is not bad to let Ian Bryant into my life right?” Ria whispered to herself.

“If I was able to stay alone with him for more than eight weeks without him acting funny…” Ria paused to think.

Ian Bryant might be a good man. Different from Lucas. She concluded

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

LINT CORPORATION

A WEEK LATER

“Sir, I just received a call from an agent now.” Grace said.

“Does he have a bigger space now?” Ian looked up from the papers he was about to inscribe his signature on.

“Yes sir. He sent some pictures.” Grace handed her boss the company’s tablet.

Ian looked at the pictures in it. The images looked good but it isn’t the type of space he wanted for Ria’s sewing business. “I want the working space to be bigger than this part and then the personal office should be a bit bigger too.” He highlighted it on the tablet.

“Okay Sir. I will let him know.” Grace replied.

“What about Ramsey?” He gave the tablet back to her.

“He is trying to find the housing agent you requested sir.” Grace answered.

“Tell him to see me as soon as he finds one.” Ian instructed.

“Okay sir.” Grace exited the room.

Two days after they arrived in Chicago, Ria called to inform Ian that she was ready to be his business partner. She agreed that Ian should invest in her business. Ian doesn’t know what had changed Ria’s mind because it seemed she would never say yes when he made the offer in China. Ian felt that Ria would turn him down because he had insisted that she doesn’t refund the surgical bills. But when he received the phone call, he was happy that Ria agreed in the end. So ever since the day she said yes, Ian has been trying to find a good place for her sewing business. A big space that would attract rich people to come to her workplace.

“Mr Ian.”

He looked up from the system to see his personal assistant at the door. “Yes Ramsey.”

“I just found a place.” Ramsey walked further into the office.

“Let me take a look.” Ian collected the tablet from him and checked out the images.

“This is it, Ramsey!” Ian tapped on the screen. The image was exactly what I wanted for Ria! An image of what he had pictured in his head was a big space by the road side where people can get to see her work.

“This is what I want! And what about the house?” Ian asked.

“I am still working on it sir.” Ramsey responded.

“Okay. Call the agent and set up a meeting right now.” Ian ordered.

“Will you like to meet him today?” Ramsey asked.

“Do I have any meeting?” Ian demanded.

“No sir. Your schedule is clear for today.” Ramsey replied.

“Good. Tell the agent I want to meet him today. Do that immediately while I call Ria.” Ian said in a commanding tone but mixed with excitement.

“Okay sir.” Ramsey walked away.

“Relax Ian. Relax Ian. Relax Ian.” He chanted and breathed out heavily.

Ian picked up the phone and dialed Ria’s number but she didn’t pick up the call.