Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

AT RIA ROBERT APARTMENT

Ria frowned at the bedside watch when she heard the doorbell. The time was 10:30 p. m and she was already getting ready to sleep after the long day work at the orphanage home. Slowly and lazily, Ria hopped out of bed and motioned out of the room. She made her way towards the door and peered through the small gap on it. It was Ian!

Ian stood outside her door with a half smile on his lips when she opened the door. A searching look in his eyes as he took notice of what she was wearing. “I hope that I am not coming at a bad time? I mean.. it is late.”

“No.. no.. it is alright. I wasn’t asleep yet.” Ria stepped aside for him to walk into the house.

Suddenly she felt weak in the knees and butterflies sputtered in her belly when his body brushed hers. It was a ridiculous overreaction of seeing him. But there it was happiness hitting her straight in the heart at his presence. She missed him so badly.

“I just finished my work at the office.” Ian said.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Ria moistened her lips as she shut the door. “You.. you should have head home to rest and-”

“And check in tomorrow.” Ian completed her intended statement.

“Yes.” Ria agreed. She heard him draw in a deep breathe as if he was working up courage for what he was about to say.

“I can’t do that.” Ian countered.

“But you look so tired. You sure need a good rest.” Her fingers tightened around her nightgown.

“Listen Ria, I stood you up today by not driving you to the orphanage home so I won’t be able to forgive myself if I just head home without seeing you today.” Ian said in a sincere tone.

Ria swallowed hard trying to get her whirling emotion under control so she could think clearly. Ria couldn’t imagine why she was reacting so dramatically to his words. Maybe she was just tired than she had realized. Ria concluded in her head.

“Okay.” Ria said. The response was immediate and a bit husky.

“Where is ma’am Elise and everyone?” Ian asked, looking around the small apartment.

“Ma’am Elise went to her place to clean up. Ma’am Loretta and Cassidy went home too. Phoebe and Phoenix are asleep. I told all of them to have a good rest before we start working on the school uniforms.” Ria answered.

Ian moved away from her and dropped on the couch. “Alright. Everyone needs to have a rest after such work.” He was feeling tired and hungry.

“How was the visit to-” A growl from his stomach interrupted him. Ria glanced around trying to make out the sound. “To the orphanage home.” He completed.

“It was fine. The kids liked the dresses.” Ria replied.

His stomach growled again and Ria heard it clearly. “Are you hungry?” She asked him.

“Huh? No… No.. I am not-” Ian made a pause when he heard the growling sound again. This time it was even louder.

Then Ian recalled that he hasn’t eaten anything good all day except for the bacon and eggs that Mr Griffin dished him around 7:00 a. m when he was about leaving for work.

Ian sounded resigned when he said, “Yes.”

Ria couldn’t help but smile a little at his tone. Ian was starving and there is nothing much in the fridge except custard, yogurt, noodles, crackers and one lonely egg. They have been too busy to get down to the grocery store. But maybe the noddles will do.

“Would you like to have noddles?” Ria asked.

“I think I can do better with that.” Ian answered. A laugh was in his voice when he said that to her.

Ria nodded and jumped to her feet. She motioned towards the kitchen but stopped and turned back at him. “You can join me in the kitchen.”

Ian stood up, removed his suit and followed her. Ria gestured to him to sit on a stool in the small open kitchen. “You should have some yogurt. I still have some in the-”

“I would love to drink yogurt.” Ian interrupted gently.

“Okay.” Ria took out the carton of yogurt from the fridge and poured it into a cup before cooking the noddles.

They discussed about the Foundation. Ria didn’t tell him about the story she shared with Melissa but just the work they did at the foundation. Eventually, Ian got around to eating. Sitting at the table wearing only his jeans and unbuttoned T-shirt that revealed his white singlet under neath.

Ian scooped noddles with fork and ate it while admiring Ria as she enjoyed the yogurt and crackers. Her hair fell loosely down to her shoulder and back and her face was freshly scrubbed and she wore a black silk robe. She looked so beautiful that it was hard for him to concentrate on the food.

“I wasn’t sure if you would be glad to see me tonight?” Ian confessed.

Ria glanced meaningfully at her state of her near undress. They haven’t been this close to undress even in China. She had made sure that she wore good clothes and not a transparent sink robes around him and she always get fully dress before seeing him in the morning.

“Well I wasn’t expecting to see you today but I also hope that I managed to reassure you on that count.” Ria responded.

Thinking back over the past minutes he smiled. “Yeah.”

Her little giggle made him grin before he filled his mouth with another bite of noodles. He was relieved about her not being mad at him for not showing up earlier on and the noddles was good. Ian Bryant would have depended on directions found on his phone or the food pack to prepare noodles because he wasn’t good at cooking just house chores.

“Do you still have your business cards?” Ian asked.

“Yes.” Ria nodded.

“Do you have up to fifty?” Ian asked again.

Ria shook her head positively. “Why?”

“My mom requested for it. She said Madam Charity loved those dresses you made and will like to give out your cards at the event.” Ian explained.

“Really?” Ria demanded with a surprised look on her face.

Ian shook his head. “I didn’t expect it too but it would be nice to share the cards at the event.”

“I have enough cards. I think there should still be about three hundred cards in the safe.” Ria said only after a momentary pause of calculating the possible number of cards available in the safe.

“Alright.” Ian shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he recalled that he had planned to ask Ria to go with him to the association party as his date.

Ria studied his face. She perceived that he has something to say but it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

“Thank you for the food.” Ian pointed to the now empty plate.

Ria stood up and took the plate to the sink to wash it immediately. Then after it was done, she turned to see Ian staring intensely at her. Ria knew that he was working up his courage to say what was on his mind.

“Is everything okay at work? You look disturbed.” Ria also went on studying him with those blue eyes that were so intense.

Ian cleared his throat. He stood up and went to the spot where she stood wiping her hands on a clean napkin. “Actually, there is this-” He paused.

Ria’s aquamarine eyes drew him to her and it was as if they were casting a spell over him. Ian drew in a deep breathe. It is now or never!

“I belong to this association for business men and women. It is called BMW. And just like Amber Foundation annual party, we always have a party too but it is a dinner party and it is in three weeks time. Will you go with me? As my date.” Ian requested.

Ria jaw dropped immediately. “Ria, I know-”

“Oh.. I.. I don’t know if it is a good idea.” Ria stuttered in reaction to the word date. Even as a little voice in the back of her mind said it is a good idea. But going with him to the party full of rich and classy people isn’t a very good idea to Ria because she started to feel inferior.

Ria shook her head in disagreement but before she could say anything he said, “Come on Ria, I want to be there with you and I want you to be there with me.. no games.” He persisted.

“I shouldn’t go to such a party with you.” Ria whispered. It was a denial that made it clear that she doesn’t want to go to such a big party.

“Yes you should go with me. I don’t have anyone else to be my date.” Ian said.

“But.. I don’t belong to the association.” Ria countered.

“You don’t have to belong to the association to attend the party. People come around to meet new business partners and make connections. I am asking you to go with me to the party as my date and who knows you might get to talk about your business with people.” Ian said in a calm tone.

And then he did one thing that put her completely over the edge. He touched her. He reached a big capable hand to the side of her neck and rubbed a spot with the tender brush of his fingertips.

“Ria… say you will come with me to the party.” Ian went on to studying her with those eyes that were so intense.

Ria knew no color of pallet could do justice to her burning cheeks. And as much as she didn’t want to attend the party, it was hard to turn him down and and his intense gaze still drew her to him. Ria thought she might have the weakest will of anyone in the world because that was all it took for her to say..

“Okay. I’ll go with you to the party.”

Her response made him smile. A slow pleased smile with a trace of extreme satisfaction and it was mixed with an expression that says that she would make him a happy and joyful man.

“Thank you.” Ian whispered.

Ria shook her head in response.

“I should get going.” Ian said. And then as if it were perfectly natural, he leaned in closely and bent over to kiss her. On the cheeks!

“Prepare the cards. I’ll send Ramsey to get it tomorrow.” Ian smiled down at her again. “Good night.” He said sliding his hand away from her neck and leaving that spot naked for the loss.

Ria didn’t say anything. It took her few minutes to realize what just happened. A moment in which she just stood there looking stunned by his action. Ian kissed her and she had allowed it!

Ian stepped backward and made his way out of the kitchen. She stunned out of thought and followed him. She can’t just keep standing like that!

“Ian.” Ria called at him.

Ian already grabbed his suit and was close to the door when he turned to her.

“Have a good rest.” Ria said in a low tone.

“Thank you.” Ian nodded and opened the door.

The door clicked closed and then all Ria wanted was to go out there and throw herself into Ian’s arms but she can’t do it. Slowly, she walked back to her room after locking the door. And Ria wondered if it was possible that she was more attracted to Ian Bryant now than she thought because that was almost how it seemed.

She shouldn’t be attracted to him. But it didn’t help matters that Ian was simply the nicest and sexiest man she had ever encountered or that something about him drew her to him. She shouldn’t be having these thoughts too because she wasn’t going to act on it.

But the way things were shaping up, no doubt it was going to be it.

“No.. Ria.. this is not right.” She thought of it.

And Ria didn’t want to think things like wanting him to kiss her full on the lips and get lost in the taste of him. It wasn’t going to happen. Ria swore to herself that it wasn’t going to happen because she already realized that Ian was too good for her and she doesn’t deserve someone like him.

Ian deserves a better woman! Definitely not someone like her! Ria concluded as she rolled over her bed! She wiped a tear that already strayed down her cheek at the thought.

“He deserves a good woman with a clean past.” Ria chanted in her mind until she drifted into sleep.