Chapter 73 Attraction or Love?
CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
AT RIA ROBERT COUTURE
Ria heard the soft knock on the office door. “Come in.” She said to whoever was at the door.
Then Ian opened the door and popped his head in. “Busy?” He asked.
A smile crept up on her lips. “Not really.” Ria dropped the pencil and stood up from the chair to meet him half way.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.” She greeted cheerfully.
Ian leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead. He has been doing the kiss on the forehead a lot these days. The kiss gesture was limited to just her cheeks or forehead whenever they greet each other in the morning or whenever they are about to call it a day on Ria’s porch.
“Good to see you. I brought coffee.” Ian raised the two in one coffee pack in the air.
Actually, he has made it a custom that they always have coffee together every morning ever since Ria started working at the fashion house. They both have a cup of coffee before he drops her off at school. And Benjamin is always around to pick Ria up whenever she is done with classes because Ian is always busy with work at the office during middays. In a nutshell, Ian has been doing all he can to make sure Ria is comfortable and not go through the stress of taking a taxi everyday.
“Thank you.” Ria collected the coffee and drank from it. They settled on the couch. The coffee was refreshing and it tasted good.
“What time are you scheduled for classes today?” He asked.
“I have classes by twelve.” Ria answered.
“12? By that time I’ll be in a meeting with an Italian investor.” Ian sipped his cup of coffee.
“It is fine. You can send Benjamin over to pick me up.” Ria smiled at home.
Ian drew in a deep breathe with a sad look on his face. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” She demanded in a concerned tone.
“Yes, I am fine. It’s just that Ramsey called me this morning and said that Benjamin tendered his resignation letter.” Ian sighed.
“Really? But why?” Ria asked.
“Ria, I don’t know. But I will talk to him when I get to the office even if I will have to increase his salary.” Ian answered.
“Do you think he wants to resign because of the salary?”
Ian locked their free hands. “I have no idea. I am only suggesting that I will increase his pay if it is needed.”
Well Ria doesn’t think it is because of the payment. Benjamin’s salary is good and better off than the normal driving payment. Ian do give him bonus and sometimes Ria tips him whenever he drops her off at school but most times she always have to persuade him to accept it from her.
Now Benjamin wants to resign! Cassidy won’t be happy because Benjamin won’t be coming around anymore. They are pretty close now and ma’am Elise already sensed a connection between them. It is possible that Cassidy is in love with Benjamin. Now what’s she going to do? Ria wondered.
“I am thinking of something.” Ian said.
“What is it?”
“If Benjamin insist on leaving, I’ll allow him but at the same time I am thinking of asking him to teach you how to drive before he leaves finally. He is pretty good.” Ian responded.
“Oh! You want Benjamin to teach me how to drive.”
Ian shook his head in agreement. “Yes… or don’t you wanna learn how drive a car?” He asked.
“I want to learn how to drive.” Ria pouted.
“Good. It will make things much easier for us if you can drive a car.” Ian smiled.
“It is a good idea.” Ria said in an excited tone.
“I know you are busy but Saturdays and Sunday evenings will do. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes, it is fine. And I don’t have classes on Wednesday too.” Ria responded.
“So if Ben says yes then he will teach you on Wednesdays and Saturdays and I will take you on Sundays.” Ian added.
“But won’t he feel like you made the offer because you don’t want him to go?” Ria screw up her face.
“I will pay him. Do you want to go to driving school instead?” Ian asked as their gaze met.
“Ian, I am too busy for the scheduler the driving school might give out.” Ria answered.
“Then Ben is our best option now.” Ian swallowed hard after having another sip of his coffee.
“Alright. Talk to him about it and get back to me.”
Ian shook his head in understanding. “You don’t have to worry, I will work on how to get your driver’s license when you can drive perfectly.”
“I’ll do a great job.”
“I trust you.” He raised their locked hands up in the air and Ria smiled brilliantly at him.
“So what are you up to?”
“School project.” Ria stood up from the couch and went back to the desk and picked up the big notepad and pencil.
“Making a new design?”
“Kind of.” Ria settled beside him while he set the coffee cups on the table.
“What design are you working on?” His arm snaked around her shoulder while she leaned in and rest on his chest.
“A wedding gown design.” Ria gave the big notepad to him as she soak in his sweet scent.
“Your lecturer asked you to design a wedding gown.” He examined the design.
“Yes. This is my first design.” She used the pencil to touch the notepad.
Wedding gowns! The main reason she decided to attend a fashion school! The design she sketched on the pad was a white princess wedding dress, floral patterned with a draped off the shoulder neckline and a long, full skirted ball gown that has white bearings and a white veil.
“It is beautiful.” He complimented.
“Really?” Ria looked up at him.
Ian dropped the notepad on his thighs. “Yes. What else do you have to do on the design?” He grazed his knuckles on her cheek.
“I’ll make it look better than this when I want submit it. And I think we will have to make the sample too.” Ria answered.
“Wedding gown classes this week I guess.” Ian looked back at the notepad
“Yes. We are having the classes for three weeks.” Ria added.
“You can do this, Ria.” He placed a kiss in her hair.
“Yes I know. I can do it.” Ria giggled.
“So what else are you working on aside this one?” He intertwined their hands.
“Ma’am Elise and ma’am Loretta are the ones working on the dresses for now. They want me to focus on school works.” Ria answered.
“That’s right. What about the supplies from the textile branch?”
“They will deliver it today.” Ria replied.
“Everything is fine?” He asked.
“Yes Ian everything is fine.” She smiled at him.
“Okay. Do a great job at school.” He kissed her hair again before giving the notepad back to her.
“Are you leaving?” Ria asked when he glanced at his wrist watch.
“Yes. I don’t want to be late for meeting with the staffs.” He let go of her hand and stood up from the couch.
Ria stood up too although she wanted him to stay for more minutes.
Ian noticed the smile on her face already faded. He covered the inch between them. “I really want to stay too Ria. But…” He cupped her face. “I have a lot to do at the office.”
Ria mouth twisted as he studied his expression. “I understand.”
Then Ian placed his forehead on her forehead. “Thanks for understanding. I will give you a call whenever I am less busy.” He kissed her forehead.
“Alright.”
Ian stepped backward. “Bye. Have a good day at school.” He walked out of the office.
Ria’s mind was spinning as she watched Ian leave the office. She was trying so hard to control her whirling emotions.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
“What is this feeling?” Ria placed her hand on her chest and it was beating so fast.
‘You are in love with him.’ A voice whispered into her mind.
“In love? It couldn’t possibly be! And how does it feel to be in love?” She wondered.
Ria knew she was attracted to him but maybe not in love. “There hasn’t been enough time for me to think of how much I am attracted to him.”
‘But maybe you have fallen in love with him.’ She heard the soft voice again.
“In that ridiculously short time?” Ria said loudly.
‘Short time? It has been months!’
Ria sat back on the couch gently. Close to six months is not a short time. And thinking about it now, they have been together for months now.
Is this how it feels to be in love? Ria heaved a sigh.