Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

AT RIA ROBERT APARTMENT

FIFTEEN DAYS LATER

“Don’t forget to get the hand towels too!” Ma’am Elise reminded loudly from the kitchen.

“Oh! Yes!” Cassidy exclaimed and then rushed to the large table to grab the pack of towels.

Ma’am Loretta sat on the couch arranging clothes into a set of big paper bags. Fifteen days has passed since Lint Corporation textile branch warehouse supplied the materials and Ria and her team have been able to finish seventy dresses for the children at Amber Foundation.

To be honest in the process of making the dresses, Ria had to admit that it wasn’t an easy task but they did it anyways! Ma’am Elise, Ma’am Loretta, Cassidy, Phoebe and Phoenix and Ria. During the course of making the dresses, Ma’am Loretta and Cassidy spent most of their time at Ria’s place and they had even slept over at some point so that they could finish up few days before the Amber Foundation Annual Party date.

The Five – Day Event was set to start in two days time so Ria and her team are taking the dresses to Little Angels Home.

“Everything is set.” Ma’am Loretta said with a sigh.

The door bell rang. “That should be Mr Ian. I’ll get it.” Cassidy said as she made her way to the door.

Yesterday on phone, Ian offered that he would be the one to drive Ria and her team to Little Angels Home so Ria especially has been expecting him to show up.

“Good morning.”

Ria heard someone say at the door. It was a familiar voice but not Ian’s. She turned and saw his personal driver named Benjamin.

“Where is Mr Ian?” Cassidy asked him.

“Mr Ian is quite busy at the office so he sent me to drive everyone to Little Angels Home. Did I come too late?” Benjamin responded.

Immediately, a wave of disappointment hit Ria. Why didn’t Ian just call to inform her that he couldn’t make it before sending his driver? Ria was already anticipating the company of Ian. She had been pinning for his company because she hasn’t seen him since for the passed few days.

Now Ria felt offended that Ian couldn’t make it here when he had insisted that he would go with her to the orphanage home. But why is she so mad because Ian didn’t show up?

Ma’am stood up from the couch and carried some of the paper bags. “You are just right on time! We are ready to leave for the orphanage. Please take these bags to the car.” She gave few of the bags to the young man.

The paper bags were filled with clothes which they already packed and taped with each kids name on it.

“Okay, ma’am Loretta.” Benjamin replied.

“Let me help with the rest of the bags.” Cassidy went back to the couch to get the remaining bags to the car.

“I shouldn’t be disappointed!” Ria scolded herself when it occurred to her that of the two of them, she was behaving a whole lot more unbusinesslike than Ian.

Ian spends most of his time at work, calling Ria once or twice in a day to check up on her and coming over to say hi just once or twice in a week while Ria on other hand was expecting more from him. A part of Ria wanted things to be different. She wanted more than Ian just calling once a day and seeing him once in a while. The truth remains that Ian is keeping things businesslike while Ria is pinning for his company all day and even offended that he didn’t show up today! And it only means that Ria needed to practice what she has been preaching. Strictly Business!

Beginning immediately, by putting a stop to the latest disappointment that was running rampant in her. But getting rid of that disappointment was easier said than done because no matter how hard Ria tried, she couldn’t seem to stop wishing that Ian was here to drive her to Little Angels Home.

“Drink this before leaving.” Ma’am Elise gave Ria a glass of apple juice.

“Thank you.” Ria smiled. She gave the glass back to Ma’am Elise after drinking little of the juice.

“You might need this too.” Loretta handed her a bottle of water.

“Everything is set.” Cassidy announced with her arms folded across her chest as she stood by the door.

“Let her go with you.” Ma’am Elise suggested.

The initial plan was that Ian and Ria would move the dresses to the Little Angels Home while Ma’am Elise and Cassidy would go and see Principal Brenda. Ria already made the samples of uniforms along the line with Amber Foundation’s works and she had informed the principal that Ma’am Elise would bring it today. Ma’am Loretta would stay back at home to have a rest and probably take care of the kids when they get back from school.

“Cassidy, will you go to the orphanage with Miss Ria?” Ma’am Loretta asked.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Cassidy replied happily.

“Okay. Elise and I will go to the school.” Ma’am Loretta added.

“No ma’am Loretta, please stay back at home and have some rest.” She hasn’t been feeling well but she was now on medication.

“No.. no I am fine. I will go with Elise to the school and please don’t turn me into an old lady.” They all laughed while Ma’am Loretta moved to pack the sample of uniforms. They all laughed.

“Okay. See you later.” Ria said to them before leaving with Cassidy to the car.

She settled in the backseat while Cassidy sat next to Benjamin at the front space. Her phone binged. It was a message from Ian.

‘I am sorry for not meeting up as planned. Something came up at the office so I had to stay back and attention to it. I’ll make it up to you whenever I am less busy. I promise. Please take care.’

“Ben, what is Mr Ian doing at work?” Cassidy asked.Material © NôvelDrama.Org.

“He should be in the meeting with the board of directors now.” Ben answered as the car glided into motion.

“Okay. But how do you know?” Cassidy asked again although she was just trying to create a conversation with him.

“Mr Ian told me that himself before I left the office.” Ben responded.

“Okay.” Cassidy mumbled.

“What should I send to him?” Ria muttered under her breathe.

‘Okay I understand.’ Ria typed but she deleted it because it sounded too simple and Ian might think she is mad at him.

‘Cassidy and I are on our way to the orphanage now. Thanks for sending Ben!’ She sent the text.

Cassidy and Ben were now engrossed in a conversation. Her phone vibrated. Message from Ian again. Is he typing in the meeting? She wondered.

‘You are welcome. Send me a text when you arrive at Little Angels Home.’

‘Alright.’ Ria texted.

And she waited for another response which never came from Ian Bryant.

*********

AMBER FOUNDATION : LITTLE ANGELS HOME

The SUV turned off the main road onto a private driveway. The driveway was lined on both sides by Red oak trees with the branches reaching out to each other to form an arc overhead that blocked most of the sun scorching rays. Little Angels Home was a three storey mansion. When the building came into view, Ria could hardly believe her eyes. It was beautiful and well decorated in preparation for the upcoming annual event. Ria noticed the people in the large garden and they were all dressed in the same uniform trying to set up the area for the event.

Cassidy and Ria came out of the car. Ria looked on and saw Mrs Perla who smiled immediately their eyes made a contact. Cassidy spun towards Mrs Perla to hug her as if she was greeting her mother or her favorite aunt. Actually Cassidy is free with anyone and Ria loves her cheerful spirit.

“Ria.” Mrs Perla came to her side with a plump older woman with extremely gray hair, very red cheeks and nose.

“Mrs Russell meet Ria Robert. Ria, this is mrs Russell and she runs things around here whenever Madam Charity isn’t around.” Mrs Perla introduced.

Ria hasn’t seen the old lady on her visits to the orphanage home. She recalled that a workers said Mrs Russell was receiving treatment at the hospital. Ria held out her hands to the old lady. “It is so nice to meet you ma’am.” She smiled.

“I am pleased to meet you too.” Mrs Russell replied.

“The dresses are in the car.” Ria said looking at Mrs Perla.

“Oh! Please bring the dresses inside.” Mrs Perla instructed.

“The kids are so excited about their dresses.” Mrs Russell said with a bright smile.

Cassidy went back to the car and she and Ben brought the paper bags out.

“What about Ian? He told me that he would be here with you.” Mrs Perla requested as they made their way into the mansion.

“He is busy at work.” Ria replied. Well it still pained her that Ian wasn’t here with her.

“Okay. I’ll give him a call.” Mrs Perla helped with the door allowing Benjamin and Cassidy to go in first then Mrs Russell before she and Ria both stepped into the mansion.

“Miss Ria!” The children screamed when they got to the waiting section.

“They have been really waiting to try their dresses!” Mrs Russell giggled.

“Hello children!” Ria greeted cheerfully.

“Hi Miss Ria!” The children screamed out in unison.

“How are you doing today?” Ria asked.

“We are doing fine!” They chorused.

Ria noticed Cassidy waving at the little girl she had liked the day they came to measure the children.