Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

IN THE NIGHT: AT IAN BRYANT MANSION

“Welcome home sir.” A maid greeted Ian when she unlocked the door to let him into the house.

“Drink this.” Mr Griffin joined in with a glass of water in a tray in his hands.

“Thank you, Mr Griffin.” Ian accepted the glass of water and gulped down the whole liquid.

“We need to talk.” Mr Griffin said as he passed the tray to the maid. She bowed and walked away.

“What is it, Mr Griffin? I am so tired.” Ian asked as he bounded up the curvy stairs leading to his room.

“It is about Miss Ria.”

Ian stopped abruptly and turned to face him. “What’s wrong with her?” He asked in a concerned tone.

“Nothing bad. Please can we have the discussion in your room?” Mr Griffin requested politely.

Isn noticed two maids close by cleaning the interiors in the living room. “Alright.” Ian agreed.

Mr Griffin opened the bedroom door and Ian walked into the large room. “I made a terrible mistake today.” He sighed.

“Terrible mistake? What mistake?” Ian arched his brows.

“I bumped into ma’am Elise at the store today so along the line she found out that I am working for you.. as a cook not -”

“What?!” Ian’s jaw dropped. Even without the completion of Mr Griffin’s words, Ian already understood how the scene would have transpired.

“I am really sorry for my loosed mouth but I had no choice but to explain everything to ma’am Elise.” Mr Griffin said in an apologetic tone.

“So are you saying Ma’am Elise is aware that Cassidy is not your daughter and that I sent you to Ria’s place to know about her?!” Ian demanded.

Mr Griffin shook his head. “Everything. I told her the whole plan.” He confessed.

Ian placed his palms on his face. This can’t be happening! “What have you done?’Now ma’am Elise would see me as a bad person!” He ran his hand through his hair.

“She understands your reason for the plan but I wasn’t able to convince her against telling miss Ria.” Mr Griffin added.

“What?! Ma’am Elise is going to tell Ria the whole truth?!” Ian asked with a wide eyes.

“Yes. She insisted that Miss Ria deserves to know since Cassidy is pretty close to her now. And-”

Ian picked the car keys on the bed and stormed out of the room. “Sir Ian, where are you going?” Mr Griffin called out behind him.

“Where else?! To see Ria!” Ian replied before rushing out of the house. He needed to see Ria! It is better to face her and explain things to her himself!

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

AT RIA APARTMENT

“What?!”

Ria gasped when ma’am Elise said that Mr Brown is not Cassidy’s father. They talked about the meeting with Mrs Bryant and how everything is going to work out. Phoebe and Phoenix came back from school when ma’am Elise was suggesting additionally style to the design. And then she broke the news of Mr Griffin as Mr Brown, Cassidy and Ian’s plans.

“Yes, that’s what he told me. Mr Ian did that because he wanted to get close to you. I don’t blame him but you know…” Ma’am Elise stopped.

“I can’t believe Ian could go to such extent just to know about me.” Ria fumed.

“Miss Ria, you wouldn’t have let him close to you if Cassidy wasn’t in the picture at first. He was trying to help you.” Ma’am Elise persuaded.

Maybe she is right but Ian shouldn’t have made such a move. Oh well, maybe that was the only way! But Ria doesn’t like the idea that Ian sent Cassidy to obtain information about her.

“And Cassidy actually changed the plans when she realized that it looked like they were deceiving you. So Mr Ian called me to his office and told me straight that he wanted to help. You know the rest of the story.” Ma’am Elise said in a calm tone.

“Do you understand, Miss Ria?” She asked when Ria didn’t say a word.

“I shouldn’t try to a make a scene out of it. He did that to help me. Yes, I understand why he did it.” Ria heaved a sigh.

“Mom, I think a car is in the driveway.” Phoebe said as she walk into the living room with a glass of milk in her hand. She must have seen the car from the kitchen window.

Ria exchanged glances with ma’am Elise. Who could it be? They pondered.

“Do you want me to check?” Phoebe asked.

“No, I will check it out.” Ria stood up and went to the window pane. It was Ian’s SUV. Why is he here?

“It is Ian.” Ria whispered as she turned back to look at ma’am Elise.

“Mr Griffin must have informed him about it. Please go and talk him. Ma’am Elise persuaded.

Ria went to the door. Ian was almost at the front door so she met him halfway not too far from his car.

Ian itched the back of his neck as Ria waited for him to talk.”Did ma’am Elise tell you about -”

“Yes, I know everything.” Ria cuts him off.

There is no need for him to tell her the whole story but wait did he come here because of that? Ria mused.

“I came as soon as Mr Griffin said ma’am Elise would tell about my former plans. I am really sorry Ria. I don’t want you to see it as me trying to deceive you. I was only trying to help and I am glad that I listened to Cassidy’s advice to drop the plan.” Ian apologized. His chest was rising and falling in a fast rate.

Oh yeah! So Ria confirmed that Ian was here because of the secret his right hand man leaked. But why didn’t he just wait till tomorrow?

“So I think I have some making up to do.” Ian said after a huge sigh.

Ria decided to tease him about it. “You have lost me.” She folded her arms across her chest.

“Listen Ria, I did something bad. I shouldn’t have sent an old man to deceive you and I should have come straight to you. But I only did that because I realized that you don’t want me close. So I want to make up for the false plan.” Ian was sincere.

Ria gave up the plan to tease him because he looked too serious about the situation. “Ian, there is nothing to make up for. As far as I know, business partner have no expectations of make ups and undivided attention is not really needed.” She doubted if her words made any sense to him.

“Okay. I get you. It is fine. But let us say I am making up to me and you then for acting like a coward.” Ian rushed out his words.

“And that doesn’t sound businesslike.” Ria replied. Yes! He shouldn’t try to make things up to her! To Ria, making up sounds like they just had their first major break up and a party is trying to ask for forgiveness for acting like an asshole.

“It doesn’t sound businesslike but -” Ian paused.

Ria knew it was really hard to win against Ian when it comes to him wanting to do something for her! Ian does anything that he already set his mind on.

“Here is what I was thinking, I need to do some stuffs at the office early in the morning but I will be done by 10:00 a. m so please call me when you are ready to leave for the store so I can come and pick you up.” Ian found a small smile on Ria’s face but she tried to hide it.

“It doesn’t sound businesslike but let me do it anyways.” He added.

And before Ria could even think about it, Ian blurted. “Say yes, Ria. Please.” He begged.

“Alright.” Ria heard herself in a voice that was barely more than a whisper.

And that made Ian smile even broader and she almost got lost in it. Long ago, Ria already knew his smile and his presence always seem to tip her off to the edge. Ian was big, tall and muscular. His features was what any woman would call a dream man.

Ian came closer. And what’s he trying to do? Ria thought. Ian leaned in closely again and she stood rooted to the spot. He was going to kiss her? Ria didn’t know how but it looked like it. So is she going to let him kiss her? No! She just made it clear that they are just business partners! And without doubt, Ria won’t let him!

“You just agreed to let me pick you up so don’t you even think of taking a taxi.” Ian stated in a stern tone before he stepped backward.

Ria snapped out of thought! Did she only imagined things! He wasn’t going to kiss her like she had thought! But what if he had tried to anyways?! He didn’t.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Ria just stood stunned and a little embarrassed that she thought – IAN WAS GOING TO KISS HER!

“Al… right.” Ria stuttered.

“Have a good night sleep.” Ian sounded resigned.

Ria gave him a slow nod before he walked back to his car. Ian waved before entering into the car. Ria waited for him to drive off before walking back inside.

“Settled?”

Ria looked up at ma’am Elise. “Yes, we settled things and he wants to make up by driving me to the store.”

“So he came all the way from his place just to talk and make up with you? I can’t believe it.” Ma’am Elise giggled as she walked off to the kitchen.

Ria rolled her eyes. “You should go to bed, Phoebe. It is getting late.”

“Yeah. I will go to bed after I am done drinking this milk.” Phoebe raised the glass up in the air.

Ria shook her head in acknowledgement before walking away to her bedroom. She kept wondering why Ian came rushing to her home just to explain himself!