Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

AT RIA ROBERT APARTMENT

THREE WEEKS LATER

The ringing of a phone startled Ria and she almost spilled the water in her hand. She searched the room for the source of the sound and realized abruptly that it was her ringtone. She spotted the phone at the end of the table just as it buzzed again. It was Ian!

‘Hello Ria.’

She heard him say after she picked up the call. ‘Hi Ian.’

‘I hope that I am not calling at a bad time.’ Ian cleared his throat.

‘I am less busy.’ Ria moved to the couch and sank on it.

‘I enjoyed every of our chats but I also missed hearing your voice, that’s why I called.’

A smile crept up her face. ‘It is good to hear from you, Ian.’

‘Likewise. So where are you?’

‘I am at home.’

‘Alright. So I spoke to one of the designers not quite long and she sincerely apologized for the delay. And she also said that your place will be ready by the end of next week.’

‘Oh! Good. But can I start working at the place when they are done?’

‘Yes you can move in the machine but-‘ Ian paused.

‘But what?’ Ria asked.

‘I am thinking of something.’ Ian said.

‘What is it?’

‘I am thinking that you shouldn’t just move in like that and start work. I mean, how about we launch the place like organize a party where people can come around and check out your designs and the place too.’

‘Is that necessary?’

‘Of course Ria! The launching will really helpful to create an awareness to the public. We have to let them know about the place and what the business is all about. It is going to be like we are bringing your business to spotlight.’ Ian stopped. ‘What do you think?’

Ria lapsed into silence. She was thinking. Over the past few weeks, Ian has been working hard towards setting up her workplace. Everything is almost set! Even Ria had to admit that the place is incredible and beautiful! It is more like a workshop with a boutique. Everything is about the whole place is outstanding! The designers did a great work! They followed Ian’s order of making the place the top most couture and fashion house in the state. That was what Ian told the designers he wanted for Ria!

Ian even paid an advertising agency to advertise the place when everything is set! And soon the business will be on billboards in the state.

Giving out Ria’s cards at Amber foundation annual party really helped the business. And virtually everyone at the party admired the dresses on the kids. Even Mrs Perla introduced Ria to some wealthy and rich personalities at the event too. The orders for dresses has tripled over the past few weeks and everyone is looking forward to seeing new designs of dresses on the website!

‘Look Ria -‘

‘Okay, let us do it. But how do we go about it?’ Ria cut him off. She agreed to his new plan because Ian knows what is best for her.

‘You have enough dresses right?’

‘Yes, a lot of dresses and we are still working on some of it.’

They have a lot of dresses. Ria and her team had made more than enough dresses from the profit earned from the contracts with Mrs Perla and Principal Brenda.

‘Good. I’ll talk to mom about it too. I am sure she will be willing to help. So for now let us wait for the designers to finish up at the place.’

‘Okay.’ Ria hummed

”So what about tomorrow?’

‘Tomorrow? The party right?’

‘Yes. Are you done with your dress?’ Ian asked.

‘I am almost done with it.’ Ria answered.

‘Alright. I’ll send Benjamin over tomorrow by four o’clock p. m. He will drive you to a friend who will help you prepare for the party.’

Ria furrowed her eyebrows. ‘What about you?’

‘I’ll be waiting at the party.’ Ian responded.

‘Okay.’ Ria sighed.

‘See you tomorrow.’ Ian disconnected the call.

“You are still yet to finish up the dress?” Ma’am Elise asked when she walked into the sitting room.

Ria stood up from the couch. “I am almost done with it.” She picked up the dress from the machine.

“You will turn out the best at the party.” Ma’am Elise smiled as Ria showed her the dress.

“No, I don’t agree with you. Obviously, there will more pretty, rich, mighty and classy women at the party. Women who are better than me.” Ria shook her head in disagreement.

Ma’am Elise rolled her eyes. “You have to take away that low esteem about yourself.”

“I don’t have a low self esteem.” Ria argued.

“You think so? Okay, let us just say that you are feeling inferior even before the party.” Ma’am Elise grabbed Ria’s hand and pulled her to the large mirror. “What do you see?” She asked.

Ria stared at her reflection in the mirror. “I am seeing another Ria Robert.” She answered.

“What do you call this type of face?” Ma’am Elise pointed at her face.

“I don’t… know.” Ria bit on her lower lip.

“This is called pretty and the body is called beautiful! You are damn gorgeous, Miss Ria!” Ma’am Elise coaxed as she moved away from the mirror. “So take away that inferiority complex.” She added.

Ria turned to face her. “Maybe you are right.” She replied with a shrug.

“I thought I heard you talking to someone over the phone.” Ma’am Elise said.

“It was Ian. He called to inform that the workplace will be ready next week.”

“He didn’t talk about the party?” Ma’am Elise asked.

“We talked about it. Benjamin is coming over to take me to a place by four o’clock tomorrow.” Ria answered.

“What place?” Ma’am Elise arched her brows.

“I don’t know much about it but Ian said that a friend of his will help me prepare for the party.” Ria responded as she sat down on the stool to continue sewing the dress.

Ma’am Elise went in search of her phone. “Hmm. Maybe it is a salon or a spa or a make up shop.” She wondered.

Ria nodded in agreement. “Maybe.”

“You know this is a big party so I am sure Mr Ian wants you to be the most beautiful woman of the night.” Ma’am Elise found her phone on the large table.

A red color crept up on her cheeks. “Is that it?” She asked itching the back of her neck.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Ma’am Elise turned to face her and she noticed the colors on her rosy cheeks. “Yes. But are you ready for it? I mean, there will be paparazzi waiting to take pictures of Mr Ian and you will be there with him.”

“Wait, are you saying that I’ll walk the red carpet with Ian?!” Ria gasped out.

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

And is she ready for that?! Ria shook her head from side to side. “No… I think it is a bad idea accepting the invitation.” She stood up from the stool abruptly.

“You know…. Actually it is not that bad.” Ma’am Elise smiled.

“What? This is a disaster! I haven’t walked on the red carpet before in my whole life! And what if people get the wrong idea about us?!” Ria paced the small area. She didn’t realize how this big party would affect her greatly.

“What idea? You are only going there as his date.” Ma’am Elise said. “Nothing bad about it.” She shrugged.

Ria stopped pacing. “Yeah, I am his date at the party. To the people of such caliber, being his date might means that I am the woman he is seeing at the moment but we are just business partners!” She emphasized.

Ma’am Elise rolled her eyes. “If they think you are his woman so will you go about convincing everyone at the party that you are just business partners? I suggest you don’t do it.”

“Why?”

“Look Miss Ria, Ian Bryant is every woman’s dream. He is a billionaire. His business is rated top one in America. He has everything; striking looks, intelligence and riches. I am hundred percent certain that many women at the party will be dying to be by his side.” Ma’am Elise showed her the search results of Ian Bryant on google. He has just been listed as the number one most handsome bachelor in Chicago on a site.

“What are you trying to say?” Ria asked in a low tone.

“What I am saying is that don’t act like a business partner but act like a proper date!”

Ria eyes widened. “What?! Are you saying I should act like we are in a relationship?!” She clarified waving her hand in a vague gesture.

“Yes. It is either you act like a proper date or you watch some ladies take him away from you tomorrow with just a drink or a dance.” Ma’am Elise demonstrated how it is likely to happen.

“No.” Ria mumbled.

“Then put on a better act!” Ma’am Elise snapped at her.

Ria pondered if she should consider what ma’am Elise is trying to say? If someone wants Ian then she should be better off than her! She concluded.

“Hold up, are you thinking all this is still classified under a business relationship?” Ma’am Elise asked in a serious tone.

Ria shot ma’am Elise a confused look and she raised an eyebrow at her. “Yes. It is a business Relationship.” Ria answered.

“Well in my opinion, I think this is becoming more than just business relationship.”

“To who?” Ria asked.

“It could be more than just business to you.. or Mr Ian.. I don’t know.” Ma’am Elise itched the bridge of her nose. “I need to wash the dishes.” She walked away.

And the fact remains that Ria doesn’t want to admit that Ian wanted something more than just being business partners or maybe she is the one over thinking!

“What if he doesn’t want to be more than a business partner?” Ria bantered internally. But she recalled three weeks ago, the night he came to ask her to be his date. The way he had looked at her and even the kiss on the cheek!

Perhaps is that how Ian relates with his female business associate? Pang of jealousy surged through Ria at the thought of Ian kissing another female eve on the cheeks.

“What’s going on with me?!” Ria slapped her cheeks to stop the images that was starting to form in her head.

What if Ian wants a proper relationship? Can Ria go into a relationship? “I would have to be intimate with him and I am not ready! Not now! My body isn’t ready to come in contact with any man!” She thought.

Ria knew that fact about herself. She was still trying to get over what Lucas did to her. A part of her wanted more than just being business partners with Ian but since she wasn’t ready so she won’t think about it.