RIA ♠
EPISODE • THIRTY • SEVEN
THEME:MR RESPONSIBILITY! ????
°°°°TWO DAYS LATER°°°
•••••RIA Ap@rtMENT•••••
RIA POV ????
I l@ydown on the couch staring at the ceilings above
“Now tell me what’s going on in that mind of yours?”
Mrs Elise said as she walked into the room from the kitchen.
“Nothing”
“Nothing..or you don’t want to tell me about it?”
“I don’t know”
“Then lemme guess.. You’re thinking about Frederick. The perfect plan to destroy him”
Yeah! Perfect plan to destroy him!
“So..you still wanna leave Mr Ian out of this?”
“Yes..and I’m not changing my mind”
I sat up and was almost leaving to my room when I heard my ringtone. I walked back to the table. It was Ian!
“Hello”
“Hi Ria” he greeted
“Are you busy?” He asked and I looked back at Mrs Elise
“Not really”
“Yes or No”
“No”
“Good..Ben is on his way to bring you somewhere”
My forehead crea-sed
“Where?”
“We nee-d to talk Ria”
“Okay”
“I’ll be waiting”
“All right”
The line dropped
I frowned at Mrs Elise
“Did you tell Ian?”
I asked sternly
“About what?”
“My past”
“No..you made it clear that you don’t want him to know. So I don’t have any right to tell him about it”
Then I relaxed
“Okay..I’ll just go ahead and change my clothes”
“I promised to visit Loretta at her sister’s place whenever I’m less busy..so I will take the time now to see her” she said
“All right”
“Bye” she made her way to the door
*****************
AUTHOR POV ????????
The driver pu-ll-ed up in front of an enormous steel gate. He pressed the car horn and the gate opened slowly at it will. Ria wondered where she was as she could ha-rd ly believe her eyes when the car drove into the compound. There was a medium sized house in it,with a beautiful garden which had a fountain at the center. Ben parked the car in the small garage.
“Mr Ian is waiting”
She gave him a short nod
She had tried getting Ben to tell her what was going on? And where they’re headed but Ben couldn’t say much.
He said that Ian asked him to drive her to where he was..nothing more.
Ria c@m£ out of the car and moved to the front door. She pressed the doorbell.
Ian opened up with a bright smile on his face
“Hi” she greeted
“Come in”
He stepped aside for her to walk into the house.
Ria concluded that Ian had invited her to his house…where he lives!
The house was neat and nicely furnished with modern interior designs to maintain a standard home.
It was a luxury!
A white marble floor,beautiful blue couches and table with a complete set of home appliances in a living room.
Ian waited for Ria to st©p glancing around before he said
“How are you?”
“Fine..and Nice ap@rtment you’ve gat here”
He shook his head
“I don’t live here”
Ian tucked his hands in his pocket
Ria raised a brow
“What’s going on?”
“Ahmm..this is your new place”
“What?!” Her jaw dropped and eyes wi-de-ned in shock and surprise
“Since your place is far from the shop and school so i put things together here. It easier to get to those places from here” he said
Ria was stunned
He waited for a response which never c@m£ from her until he said,
“I’ll be right back..you can check out the place”
He walked out of the house. Ian felt that a Moment without him there with her will bring Ria back to reality.
He went to Ben to get the car keys from him.
Ria took a step forward
It was ha-rd to hide her surprised look
Ian put up this place for her?!
And slowly she made her way to other p@rts of the house. It was a three be-droom ap@rtment.
The master be-droom was breathtaking! It had a king sized bras-s be-d with an ornate scroll design in the headboard and footboard,as well as four tall posts that almost reached up to hold a fringed canopy. The mattress was covered in a hand stitched county quilt and stacked with four fluffy pillows covered in fur. It matched different patterns in the quilt. There was a drawer next to the be-d and matching dressing table plus a fainting couch and two overstuffed chairs.
Ria motioned towards the bathroom and as she did, she couldn’t help marveling yet again at the room itself and the bathroom connected to it. The bathroom was a study in luxury,with a navy blue marble floor,countert©p shower stall wainscoting halfway up the walls. It also had a sunken tub with a whirlpool. She could switch on at the t©uçh of a bu-tton,and an octagonal stained glas-s window on the wall behind it.
Ria wondered about Ian. He was offering so much. And it means the world to her that he was willing to do so,not that she expected anything different from him? Considering everything she’d learned about him. But she was refusing to add to the burdens alre-ady in his life.
Cause Ria never expected someone else to deal with her problems.
But Ian was always there anyways.
“Ria” she heard his voice
And she quic-kly wipe the tear that strayed down her right cheek.
The door opened and Ian popped his head in
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes..yes”
Ian studied her for a second.
He stepped in and went to her.
“What’s wrong?”
He tilted her face so she could look straight into his eyes but Ria avoided his gaze
“Nothing is wrong..Ian I’m -”
“Tell me do you want me to fix something in here for you? Just name it”
“No..no Ian everything is fine. And thanks for your concern”
Ian shook his head impatiently. His voice low and gentle
“It isn’t just concern Ria. I care for you”
Ria had to make an effort to keep her jaw for dropping.
Ian care for her!
It couldn’t be!
And what was that tone With the way he said it?
He tugged her into his arms to hold her ti-ghtly as he whispered into her hair.
“I care for you Ria. And seeing you like this..with those tears you trying to hide…Well its tearing me ap@rt to see you hurting this way. And I wouldn’t mind if you tell me what’s going on In your mind. Whatever it is we can talk about it”
He waited for her to say just one word.
She clung to him!
And with Mrs Elise words ringing ha-rd in her mind.. Ria fought that urge to cry and tell him everything.
She snuggled closer.
She couldn’t tell him!
Ian can’t know about it!
Things would change between them….drastically.. if he knows about it!
He would reject her! Ria was sure of it. He would leave if he knew who she was when she was with Lucas!
Any man would leave!
And she wasn’t re-ady to lose him,not now that she was beginning to accept her feelings for him. She couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing him again!
So it best to keep him out of it. He shouldn’t know about her past or plans of Revenge!
“Ian..I’m…just Happy” she managed to say
Ian let her go.
“Happy about this place?”
“Yes..and everything”
She replied with a half smile
“Then I’m happy with the choice I’ve made -” he paused
“You like it?” She nodded
That made Ian smile
“Why didn’t you tell about it?”
She pouted
“I wanted it to be a surprise”
“And I must say that I’m surprised”
Ian chuckled
“So…have you checked the other rooms?”
“Yes”
“One for the kids and the other for Mrs Elise. I just thought that she might want to move in with you..and that would save her from paying bills from what you pay her”
“Yeah you’re right but I doubt if Mrs Elise will agree to move in with us”
Ian held out his hands and she took it
“Why?”
He asked as they made their way back to the sitting room
“I’ve persuaded her to move in with us once but she refused”
“And she didn’t give you any specific reason?”
“It best known to her”
She sank onto the couch, Ian settled beside her.
“There are many issues we have to discuss” He said
“So let’s start with what happened at the p@rty”
Ria ru-bbe-d her palms together
“I un-derstand that you want things on Business Level and I’m not going to push you ha-rd on that. And like I said -”
He st©pped
There was a new glint of determination in his eyes that made Ria a little nervous
“I care for you.. and I meant it”
“Ian -”
He caught her hands in his
“Sh..listen – I know I have a reputation for being Mr Responsibility. And I’ll admit, my obligation have scared off a few women In the past. And about Valerisa -” he sighed
“I met her at the p@rty last year. We did spend the night together..and some other times too but she wanted something more than just spending time together. And The thing was i was never willing to make any drastic Change with the women I’ve d@t£d. I’ve wanted a family of my own..but I only intended to wait until I found the right person” he st©pped still looking at her.
He was waiting for her!
He was certain if his feelings but telling her about it would scare her away.
And he wasn’t re-ady to push her too ha-rd .
He doesn’t have to make the big decision now.
There was still enough time.
And there would still get to that stage in the business relationsh!p.
His reason for explaining how he was to Valerisa,his past with women and the mention of wanting a family made her hand j£rk.
Ian squee-zed her hand more ti-ghtly as he continued.
“I’m sorry it’d seemed like Valerisa and I were a big thing or that it looked like I used you to make her stay way”
Ria gave a short nod
And he expected her to tell him about herself too..her past. But he waved it off after a long moment of silence between them.
“You can start packing the things at your place. I alre-ady arranged a truck that will move your belongings down here”
“Okay”
“How long will it take to pack up your stuffs?..so I can give the truck company a specific d@t£”
“We don’t have much things to pack..just clothes,the machines and the stuffs in the kitchen”
“A day or two?”
“Yes”
“Then let’s kill two birds with one stone. The designers said that the place will be re-ady in two days time..so we can move the machines and some other things before bringing your loads down here..or what do you think?”
“It a good idea but will the truck driver agree to it?”
“I’ll talk to him about it. If he agree to st©p at the shop first before driving down here”
“If they say no then We’ll have to pay extra”
“We’ll still have to pay extra if we move on different days”
“Isn’t that -”
“Too much?” He completed her intended statement
“I can handle it” he said
Ian stared at her in silence
“I’m starting school next week”
“Really?” She nodded
“That’s -” the beeping sound from his phone interrupted him
“Excuse me”
He let go of her hands and reached for the phone in his pocket.
“What’s up Ramsey?”
“I’m at the printing house Sir”
“Is the work re-ady?”
“Yes i have the invitation cards and business cards”
“Okay”
“Should I take it down to the office?”
“Bring it to Ria’s House”
“Okay Sir” Ramsey hang up
“The cards are re-ady” he stood up from the couch
The invitation Cards was meant for the Launching of “Ria Robert Couture” and a new business card. Ian planned to launch her business and give out the card to some of his business as-sociates and staffs. Mrs Perla is the p@rty Planner and she offered to give the cards to customers patronizing her sto-re.
The launch is in Two Weeks time!
“Let’s go Ria, Ramsey is on his way to your house”
“Okay” she stood up and followed him
“You haven’t given me any upd@t£ on those dresses you’re ma-king for that day”
He opened the car door for her to go in.
“And moreover have they supplied those materials I ordered?”
“No until tomorrow. We’ll start working as soon as they supply us”
“Okay”
He drove out.
Ria filled him in about the dresses.
?
EPISODE •• THIRTY •• EIGHT
THEME:DREAMS COME TRUE ????
°°°°TWO WEEKS LATER °°°°
AUTHOR POV
It was time! The day to Launch “RIA ROBERT COUTURE” after weeks of setting up! The inside was what one could imagine High decorations and white walls. Every windows and the hvge Glas-s entrance had Ria’s designer br@nd “RRC” engraved on it.
Clothing racks filled with clothes, glittery go-wns and silk dresses in different style and beautiful color schemes. These dresses were designed and made by Ria with the help of her sewing team.. Elise,Loretta and Cas-sidy.
They spent weeks working on each dresses to put it up for this day.
Dresses over the sections. There were a lot of them. Two ladies standing at each rack to attend to people.
People walking in and out of the building – High and Mighty people of High clas-s Intelligence.
It was a sight to bear!
A DREAM come TRUE!
“This is incredible!”
Elise said
“Yes..people really turned up Miss Ria”
Cas-sidy added
“Yeah..giving out the invitation Cards really helped” Loretta said
“Hey have you guys seen Phoebe and Phoenix around?” Ria asked
“They are with Mr Ian” Cas-sidy replied
“He is here?” Ria asked again
She hasn’t seen him since he left her new home last night.
“Yeah..I saw him with Granny a while ago”
Cas-sidy responded
“Well..maybe he just c@m£ in” Loretta added
“You should get dressed now” Elise said to Ria
“Oh yes..it almost time for your speech” Cas-sidy said as she checked her wrist watch
Elise steered Ria around the back and Zi-pped the dress open at the side. Ria stepped carefully into the centre. Ria carefully shifted the go-wn Into place around her b©dy and Elise Zi-pped it. Loretta dropped down a beaded stiletto crimson heels.
Ria was excited over the dress she’d made. She quic-kly put the five inches heels on. She found them surprisingly comfortable.
The dress was a shocking de-ep crimson and stra-pless with a form of fitting bodice and it flowed out in stunning billowy waves of fabric to the floor. Her hair was styled elegantly on the t©p of her head with tendrils wisping around her face. Her makeup was flawlessly applied.
“You look beautiful!” Cas-sidy cl@pped excitedly.
They all looked beautiful In their stunning dresses!
“Now let’s show Miss Ria to the world!” Loretta said
They all rolled into laughter
A soft knock sounded on the door
“Come in”
A lady stepped in
“It’s time” she said
“Oh! We’ll be out soon” Elise said to the lady
A Rostrum was set up at the center p@rt of the room.
They stepped into the crowd as Ria eyes searched the room for Ian.
“Look he’s over there” Mrs Elise pointed to a direction
Then she found him.
He was taller than most of the men around him. Ian wore a custom tailored Tuxedo that fit him perfectly like a glove. And then,too the man could get to her. He really could. Standing there so tall and handsome,so S-xy and so mischievously sweet on t©p of everything else.
Talking to his business as-sociates, Ian then c@m£ to an abrupt Halt when he saw Ria headed towards him as she greeted people along the way with the brightest smile. He g@sped trying to take in her beauty.
Ria’s breathe caught at the same time when their gaze met.
He excused himself from the group and went to her.
“Wow..you look amazing” he complimented
Ria cheeks flu-shed pink
“You look stunning too”
“Oh really?” He flashed her a bright smile.
She nodded
“Yes”
“Thanks for wearing the Diamonds” he pointed to the $20 million dollars Diamond he had bought for her.
Few days after the p@rty, Ria gave the diamonds back to Ian but he refused it saying that he bought it for her. She said that it was too Expensive and that she couldn’t own such valuable accessories.
Then Ian told her she was more expensive than the diamonds!
He persisted and managed to persuade Ria to accept it as a gift from him.
There was no arguing with him so she accepted the Diamonds. Promising him that she would keep it safe and not lose it.
“I should be the one thanking you Ian”
“For?” He asked
“Everything”
He leaned closer and whispered to her
“Then I’m happy with the choice I’ve made”
“Hello Everyone”
The famous MC said into the microphone as he stood in the Rostrum.
Everyone turned to face him
“Shall we?” Ian asked Ria
She nodded and slid her arm into Ian’s
They motioned towards the Rostrum
“We’re all here to Launch this new Business ” RRC” in the state and celebr@te with It owner”
Everyone cl@pped
Ria exchanged plea-santries with Mrs Perla when she got to her side. Elise,Cas-sidy,Loretta and the kids were standing close.
“Now let’s welcome the Lady of the day! The latest Business Woman in our state and also the newest clothe designer in the Fashion World -” Everyone began to cl@p
“It No other person than…Ria Robert!”
The cl@pping increa-sed
Ria walked to the Rostrum with Everyone taking in the beauty of Ria and her dress.
She could see everyone…and everywhere from where she stood.
She didn’t prepare any speech in a note..but she depended on her Heart to deliver the words.
The cl@pping ended abruptly and she began
“In Life,you nee-d to have steps to turning your dreams to reality. But taking holding of those dreams isn’t an easy task to accomplish. It not about having a dream but it about having the courage to act on it” she paused
“I used to be a blind lady with a dream to becoming a clothe designer. I was blind but – i had a dream. At that point that dream seemed like a burden of to me cause I was hopeless. Nevertheless, that dream I saw as a burden bec@m£ a vision. And that vision was bigger than me. And along the line I wrote down my dreams and also placed it in my heart so I won’t forget it”
She st©pped to study the expression on their faces
Everywhere was surprisingly silent!
She had their attention!
Then she continued
“Being disabled is not an excuse to be a failure”
She blinked back tears as she shared the words of her mother.
Ria promised that she wouldn’t shed a tear today.
Because it was Happy Day!
And even if she was going to cry then it would be tears of joy!
“Those are the words of my mother. And I held on It. Promising that I won’t be failure”
She continued after a momentary pause
“You know,God can do anything.. Far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!. And I’m grateful to God and to the people in my life. To my greatest Companion -” she looked straight at Elise who was now wiping tears at the corners of her eyes.
“She was my eyes when I couldn’t see,my guardian and my support in ha-rd and good times. And I don’t know if there would be Ria Robert today if you hadn’t stepped into my life to help me. I’d love you Mrs Elise”
Everyone cl@pped
“We love you Mommy!” Phoebe and Phoenix screamed at the t©p of their voice from the crowd. She waved at them and muttered
“I love you too”
Then she continued after the cl@pping ended
“And to the one.. Who I’ll forever be indebted and grateful to -”
This time she focused on Ian
“I haven’t said this to you before but I’m confessing now that you’re nice,kind,compas-sionate and the most wonderful man I’ve ever encountered. You brou-ght the greatest joy into my life which was helping me and bringing my dreams to reality. RRC is in existence because of you. And I’m grateful for Everything Ian Bryant”
Everyone cl@pped again
Ian couldn’t control his emotions for Ria. He was joyful at Ria’s words to him.
He could ha-rd ly believe that Ria considered him as “most wonderful” Man
“A big thank you to my Sewing team.. Mrs Loretta and Cas-sidy..we worked together to make these dresses you’re seeing today. And i also Appreciate Mrs Perla Bryant”
Perla flashed her a smile from the crowd.
She was happy to be a p@rt of Ria’s success story.
She continued
“If you are discouraged and feel as though your dream is dying. Don’t give up! Don’t give up to soon on your dreams! Keep going. Keep dreaming that dream God has put into your heart. It’s always too soon to quit and remember Winners never Quit -”
“Quitters never win!”
The crowd chorused
“Thanks for coming!” They cl@pped as she disappeared below the crowd level
“Congratulations”
Ian gave Ria a bouquet which Ramsey brou-ght to him. He k!$$£d her cheeks
“Thank You”
“And that was awesome Miss Ria!” Cas-sidy exclaimed
“And Elise didn’t st©p wiping her face” Loretta said
Ria moved to Elise
“Now look what you’ve done to these babies” she pinched her cheeks gently
“She’s so emotional” Perla said
“Come on Mrs Elise today is a happy day” Cas-sidy said
“Yes i know..and they are tears of joy..I’m just happy”
Then Ria hvgged her
“Thank you” she whispered into her ear
It was only Elise that could really relate to those words about her dreams.
Elise knew her story and how ha-rd Ria had worked to fulfill these dreams and also what she went throu-gh in the last six years.
“You deserve the best” Elise said to her after she calmed
It was the best feeling!
That joy of fulfilling your dreams!
Ria blinked back tears again as she wished her parents were alive to see everything.
Then she would have been the happiest person In the world today.
“Sir the media houses are waiting” Ramsey whispered to Ian
“Mommy can we share the candies and towels now?” Phoenix asked Ria
“Yes my love”
“Thanks mom!”
“And a k!sstoo” Phoenix said again
Ria crouched down to their sizes and they placed k!sses on her cheeks before racing off to Ria’s office to gr-ab the items they want to give out to people. They bought the candies with their savings.
They both insisted that they would give out Candies to people when Ria told them not to worry about it.
But she agreed In the end.
“Ria it time for the interview” Ian said to her
She looked at Mrs Perla
“Can you handle it?” Perla asked
Ria was silent
The repres£ntatives s£nt from the national TV waited patiently outside the building.
“I can tell them to Leave -”
“No” she cuts him off
It was alre-ady planned that she would be interviewed today. So telling them to leave without any good reason isn’t a good idea.
“I will do it”
It just an interview anyways
But she was still a bit nervous.
She drew in a de-ep breathe
The interview on National Tv and words to other media Houses would help boast RRC. Ria thought
But little did she know that her appearance on National Tv would bring Destruction to another fellow
♪♪♪♪♪
“I’d rather stand tall
Than live on my kneels
Cause I’m a conqueror and I won’t accept defeat…”
????????????
Ria deserves the best of what the world can offer to her!
Finally….
She made it!
I’m so happy for her!
Well thanks to Jentezen Franklin! I re-ad this book “Take hold of your dreams”
Some of the words said by Ria was inspired by this book!
Happy Sunday!
I will see you tomorrow