Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

Ian entered his car and drove to her side and stopped right in front of her. He motioned to Ria to come in but she was too embarrassed to even look at him. She lied and he caught her in the act!

“You can pay me if you don’t want a free ride.” Ian said with a bright smile on his face.

Ian’s decision to act like he didn’t know Ria lied to him made things awkward for her. She slipped into the car while avoiding his gaze.

“To the store or your place?” He asked when the car moved into motion.

“To the store.” Ria whispered.

“I am not familiar with the stores.. so be precise.” Ian interjected

“Downtown side line twelve.” Ria fiddled with her fingers.

“Come on Ria, don’t give me that look.” Ian chuckled. Their gaze met but Ria looked away quickly. “It doesn’t suit you.”

Ria swallowed hard trying to find the right words to say to him. “I am.. sorry.” She stuttered.

“If I may ask, why are you sorry?”

“I am sorry for not calling you on time to tell you plans changed and -”

“If you are this sorry and sober so why didn’t give me a call?” Ian shrugged.

Ria sighed. “I just felt that it would be a whole lot of work for you. Driving to this place, to the store, to my place and then back to your home. I don’t want you to go through the stress because I feel it would be tiring to drive me around.” She confessed.

“Ria, I suggested it.” Ian said. But Ria doesn’t want him to go through all that because of her. “I am the one driving and I am not complaining. You should have called me.”

“I was just trying to be considerate and -”

“Remember what I told you in China?” Ian cuts in sharply. Ria tried to recall what he said during those periods. “I explained my type of person to you and even gave instances. I am a man of my words. I don’t back out on my words, I do whatever it is I set my mind on and I do all it takes to make it happen. So please keep that in mind.” He stated in a stern tone.

Perhaps does Ian have this feeling that Ria is doubting his care and being nice to her? “I am sorry.” Ria shook her head in acknowledgement.

“So now you have to make up for saying that you were already in the taxi when in the real sense you are still by the road side. I don’t want to use the right words.” Ian stopped talking and stole a glance at her. Lying was the right word.

“Is that a fair deal? I mean making things up to each other?” He asked.

“Alright.” Ria replied. Although she has no idea of how to make things up to him.

“You don’t have to make things up to me at the moment. You can do it some other time.” Ian said as if he was seeing through her mind. Ria think that’s better! Making up some other time.

“But when the time comes, I just hope that you make up by having dinner with me, or go on picnic, or visit the beach… something like that.” Ian added.

Ria forehead creased. She looked at him and their gaze met again but Ian looked away this time.

He cleared his throat. “Never mind. I was just joking about it. Forget I said those things to you.” He focused on the road ahead.

Then Ria nodded slowly. It was better that way. She would act like she didn’t hear him say those words. But then a voice said into her mind, it would be cool! Dinner or picnic with Ian Bryant!

“Apart from the store will you be visiting any other place?” Ian spoke up after some minutes passed in silence.

“No. I don’t have any other plans aside checking into various stores and that’s if I don’t get the silk and lace at the store I am familiar with.” Ria replied.

“Okay. Can we head right to your work place after picking up the materials at the store?” Ian requested.

“Why?”

“The designers are waiting at the place to check and also know what you want for it.” Ian responded.

“Have you met with the designers?” Ria asked.

“No, I haven’t met them in person. We have only been chatting on phone. But Ramsey is with them as we speak.” Ian answered.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Okay.” Ria mumbled.

“So what’s up with Phoebe school?”

“They want to change the design of the school uniform.” Ria briefed him about her meeting with the principal.

Ian nodded. “But how did they find out you can do it? Are they aware that you are a seamstress?” Ian made a turn into a rowdy street.

“No, it was Phoebe. She told her teacher about me and even took my collections to school without me knowing.. just to show her teacher that I can make the uniforms.” Ria giggled.

“She is smart! And I know for sure that she is just trying to help out with the business.” Ian laughed too.

“So her teacher told the principal. Then I received a call from her this morning.” Ria completed.

“So will you be able to do the two jobs at the same time. I mean the foundation work and the school uniform.”

“I already told her that I will be busy in the next two weeks but I offered to make a sample. So if she likes it then I will take the job on after I am done with the foundation work.” She explained.

“Good. But you still need extra hand to help aside ma’am Elise. Why don’t you try to hire someone?” Ian suggested

“Yeah. Ma’am Elise and I planned to place an advert on our website.” Ria shook her head in agreement.

“Wait what about Cassidy? She once told me that she would like to work with you.”

Ria remembered something immediately. She totally forgot her promise to call Cassidy!

“I doubt it if she would be chanced to help because of school works.” Ria replied.

“You are right. They should be close to the end of exams now so why don’t you talk to her about it.”

“Okay. I will call her by the end of the day.” Ria agreed.

“Alright.”

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

AT CASSIDY FAMILY HOME

“What’s up sis?”

Cassidy looked at her twin brother, Caleb when he greeted her. Caleb flopped down on the couch and groaned.

“I am good. You?”

“Fine.”

Cassidy grabbed the television remote from the table before he reached for it. “Don’t you even think about it.” She hid the remote under her skirt.

Caleb stood up and came to the couch she sat on. “Don’t come near me, Caleb.” She warned.

“Cassidy, let me have the remote I want to watch soccer.” He tried to find the remote.

Cassidy twisted and turned. “Go and watch soccer in your room.” She pushed him away and he fell back on the couch.

“If you don’t give it to me then I will take it with force.” He pointed to her skirt.

“You dare not try it!” She glared at him. This time she was already up from the couch before Caleb could grab her. She circled the couches as he tried to catch her. “Catch me if you can.. big boy!” She stick out her tongue at him.

“Can I have a moment of peace in this house?”

Cassidy stopped running around when she heard her mom’s voice. “Mom, it is Cassidy!” Caleb pointed at her.

“No!”

“She won’t allow me watch soccer. Silly girl still watching cartoons at your age.” He hissed out.

“Caleb.” She called out to him when he grabbed his sister

“Let me go!”

Caleb raised Cassidy up and placed her on his shoulder. “I will teach you how to be a good girl.”

“Let go of me!” Cassidy screamed as he moved her around

“Caleb!” Mrs Taylor screamed and he stopped.

Everywhere was going in circles when he dumped Cassidy on the couch. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Caleb snatched the remote from the couch and tuned in to a soccer station.

“Why can’t you watch that soccer in your room?” Mrs Taylor asked.

“The television stopped working.” Caleb replied.

“What’s wrong with it?” Mrs Taylor sat on the couch.

“I don’t know mom.”

Cassidy folded her arms and thought of how to get back at Caleb. “Can we talk?” Mrs Taylor asked.

Cassidy nodded while Caleb hummed a response without looking away from the television. “Your Aunt wants to move to Chicago.” Mrs Taylor announced.

“Which Aunt?” Caleb asked with a raised eyebrow.

“My sister, Loretta.” Mrs Taylor replied.

“Oh no.. not aunt Loretta.” Caleb rolled his eyes.

Aunt Loretta lives in Denver. She is the seamstress Cassidy mentioned to Ria Robert who taught her how to use the machine.

“Is she moving in with us?” Cassidy asked.

“Yes.” Mrs Taylor nodded

“No way.” Caleb grumbled. He doesn’t like Aunt Loretta because he thinks she is too strict. “Oh mom, please tell me you are kidding.” He said.

“Do I look like a clown? My sister, Loretta is moving in with us.” Mrs Taylor stated in a stern tone and a serious look on her face.

What’s wrong? Something is not right. Cassidy pondered. The Aunt Loretta she knows will never think of leaving Denver. Aunt Loretta loves that hometown too much. Mrs Taylor had once suggested to her sister to move in to Chicago but she refused.

“But.. why the sudden change of mind?” Cassidy voiced out her thought.

“Her ex husband won’t let her rest. He wants to get back with her.” Mrs Taylor answered.

“What?!” Cassidy gasped out.

“He is psycho!” Caleb groaned.

“So she realized that leaving Denver is the only way to avoid his trouble and make him stay away forever as long as he doesn’t find her.” Mrs Taylor sighed.

Loretta’s husband had cheated on her. One time he met his high school love and fell in love with her again. He requested for a divorce and Loretta had no choice but to let him go. A funny story but it is quite deep because it really hurt Loretta.

“Four years has passed and now he wants to gets back with her? Who does that? And what happened to his stupid high school love?” Cassidy gritted in anger.

“I agree that moving out of Denver is the best option for Aunt Loretta. But mom does she have to move in with us?” Caleb asked.

“She wanted to get a place but I told her not do that. What’s the essence of staying apart now? She is my sister and I have a big space that can accommodate her.” Mrs Taylor answered.

“Why mom? You should let her rent her own apartment.” Caleb grumbled.

Mrs Taylor raised her brow at Caleb. “What’s so wrong in telling my sister to move in with me? Do you want need the other empty rooms?” She demanded.

“Well it is obvious someone doesn’t want Aunt Loretta here. But there is nothing he can do about it. As you have said mom, our place is big enough to accommodate Aunt Loretta. Let her move in with us.” Cassidy stick out her tongue at her brother.

“Yes. This place is the best place for her because I also don’t want her to stay alone.” Mrs Taylor said.

“It would be fun to have Aunt Loretta around!” Cassidy clapped her hands in excitement. “Wait thinking of it now.. Aunt Loretta can work with Miss Ria!” She blurted out.

Cassidy rushed to sit next to her moon on the couch. “When is she coming?” She demanded.

“She is moving in tomorrow.” Mrs Taylor answered.

“Tomorrow?!” Caleb gasped in shock.

“Do you have any problem with my sister moving in with us?” Mrs Taylor demanded with clear annoyance in her tone.

“Don’t mind Caleb, he is scared of aunt Loretta. Plus he won’t be able to keep late nights, hang out with his friends at the clubs and do anyhow with Aunt Loretta being around!” Cassidy laughed.

Caleb shot her a glare. “If that’s the case… you can as well move out of the house and move in with your rich girlfriend.” Cassidy added.

Mrs Taylor shot her daughter a surprised look. “He is dating a rich kid?!”

“Yes.”

“Don’t mind her mom.” Caleb frown deepened.

“He is lying.” Cassidy managed to stiff a laugh.

“I am not dating her anymore!” Caleb stormed off to his bedroom.

“Woah! Aunt Loretta is moving in! Caleb won’t be me around boss anymore! No snatching of remotes and taking the larger share of everything!” Cassidy giggled in excitement.

“That’s enough. Don’t make your brother angry anymore. He already gave up in the fight.” Mrs Taylor pointed at the remote.

“I don’t need it anymore. I am super excited because I will introduce miss Ria to my aunt!”

“Do you think Miss Ria needs someone? And will your aunt agree to work as a seamstress for someone else?” Mrs Taylor questioned frantically.

“Speaking of Miss Ria.. You are right! I should call her and tell her about my aunt! Or maybe I should go and see her?” She rushed out her words.

“I’ll talk to your aunt about it.” Mrs Taylor said.

“Mom.. I’m heading out.” Cassidy stood up from the couch.

“Where are you going?”

“Miss Ria’s place! I need to have this conversation face to face and not on the phone.”

“Okay. Don’t stay too long.” Mrs Taylor settled to watch a movie.

Caleb came back to the living room to get his cellphone. “Who the heck is… miss Ria?” He demanded with a scrunched up face.

“None of your business!” Cassidy replied in an unusual raised tone as she made her way to her bedroom.