Advertisement

advertisements


Episode 24

THEME: MEETING HIS MOTHER!

?
RIA POV
It was nearly 12 before we got to the Jewelry Store. It was an enormous, old red building that had been renovated with an eye towards retaining the original design. The building was caused into a granite arch above the main entrance and I was curious to know how they came about such structure. Ian pulled up in the private driveway and stopped the car.

I couldn’t help but glance around when we stepped into the store.
“Want to check out some stuffs before seeing my mom?” He asked
I assumed he noticed I was looking around with a surprised look on.
“No..no” I replied
Why do I need to check anything when I don’t plan to buy one.
He nodded and we resumed walking side by side.
Every person we passed in the store stepped to greet Ian..as if he were a prodigal son returning home. There was no need to ask why most people stopped to say hello. He is Ian Bryant! CEO of Lint Corp! He is quiet popular in his world! So they must greet him as the son of the owner of the Store.
“Ian”
I heard a soft voice call his name. He heard it too cause he stopped and turned. I saw a young woman dressed in an expensive knee length gown.
Who is she?

I drank in her features as she walked towards us. She was beautiful. Long wavy brown hair frumed her round face with full lips and large eyes. She had a pointed nose..her alabaster skin shimmered. She is rich noting from her outfit and the way she carried herself..Gracefully with her shoulder up. Ian tucked his hands in his pocket
“Lorna” he called at her
The lady stared at me for a second before looking back at Ian.
“We need to talk” she said with a frown on his face
“Okay” Ian replied
“Privately” she said again
“Lorna as you can see I have a company” she glared at me
I don’t think I wanna be the one stopping her from talking to him.
“I will just give you some space to talk”
I said and stepped aside. Away for them to talk privately
My phone beeped. It was Cassidy. Then I looked back at Ian and Lorna before picking up.
“Hello Cassidy”
“Hi Miss Ria”
“How is school?”
“Fine..I just finished class. Are you home?”
“No..I’m at Mrs Perla store”
She was silent
“I’ll tell you about it when we see Cassidy”
“Okay..see you tomorrow then”
“Yeah” i hang up the Call
“I’m sorry for delaying you”
I heard Ian say behind me. The lady wasn’t around anymore
Where did she go?

“It okay” I managed to say
Even if part of me wanted to know who that Lady is to Ian
His girlfriend? Or his Ex?
I shouldn’t be bothered about it
“Let’s go”
He said and we continue walking.

We stopped in front of a huge door. Ian opened it and motioned to me to walk in. I did and he stepped right behind me. The lady at the large desk who I immediately recognized to be Ian’s mom,she stood up and met us halfway.
This was our first meeting but we’ve spoken on phone thrice while in China through a video call.
“Goof Afternoon Ma’am” I greeted. Ian came beside me and perform the introduction
“Mom,this is Ria Robert and meet my mom Mrs Perla Bryant”

Then we both exchange pleasantries
“Please take a seat”
She pointed to a large couch.
Ian and I settled on it
“Son..did you see Lorna?”
She asked Ian
“Yeah I saw her”
Even his mom knows Lorna
“So how is business Ria?”
“Fine ma’am”
“Good to hear that”
She picked a blue print file from her side and stretched it towards me. I leaned forward and took it from her
“It Amber Foundation File. Madam Charity insisted that the seamstress should know about the Foundation and kids too”
“Is that necessary?” Ian asked
“Madam Charity insisted on that”
I scanned through the files. In it was the number and names of children ranging from the selected ages..6-8.

“Will you be able to make 30 dresses in less than two weeks?”

I have to do it cause I need the money!
“Yes Mrs Perla”
“How?”
She asked and I looked up at her. Trying to make sense of her question.

“Will you be the only one to make all those dresses?”

“No I have someone who is helping me in the business”
Ian was busy with his phone
“What sort of dress do you want for children?”
“I want a beautiful gown”
I brought out my collections and placed it on the table.
She picked one out of three. I was a bit nervous. What if she doesn’t like the style in the book?
They are actually dresses I designed myself when I was blind.
To me they are pretty and awesome when I got to see them after the eyes surgery…But for someone like Mrs Perla I’m not sure if she will like it.
My phone beeped as I waited for Mrs Perla to say at least say a word.
It was a message.. from Who?
Ian! What did he send me a message when he’s right here with me?
“Don’t be nervous.. Your dresses are good and I’m sure she will like. I have to get somewhere quickly… I’ll be back to pick you up”
I read the message he sent. Ian stood up
“Hey mom..” She glanced up at him
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes..i need to see someone. I will be back soon”
He kissed her cheeks and flashed me a bright smile before walking out.

Now way did he leave me alone with his mom?!
And where was he heading?
Mrs Perla cleared her throat and I looked up at her

“Your collections are -” she paused
What was she going to say? Awful?Boring? Old Fashioned?
“Intriguing” she said finally
And did she just say that?!
“And attractive” she added
A smile automatically formed on my lips
“Did you make these dresses when you were blind?”
“Yes ma’am”
“I must say that this is amazing..”
I have three collections for all my dresses. Andrea put my first collections together in a folder while Mrs Elise put the second and third collections together.
“You’re creative in this field”
My cheeks flushed at her words
“Thanks Ma’am”
“But you can also do better than this” I nodded
“Can you make another design for the dress?”
“What type of design?”
“I want something that will amaze everyone at the party..one that when they see it at the event.. They will all be dying to know whoever made the dress. Something that spells professionalism..practically designed by a Clothe Designer”
And that’s my greatest dreams! To be a Clothe Designer! It what I wanted to be since I was a kid!
I brought out a notepad and a pencil.
“Let’s discuss about it now..so our next meeting will be at the Amber Foundation to take the kids measurement”
“Okay” I nodded in agreement
♠••♠••♠
IAN POV ?
I let out a handful of breathe before walking into the restaurant. Earlier Lorna and I agreed meet up since she insisted that we need to talk like two matured adults. Speaking of maturity..Lorna is quiet far from it!

I felt like stuffing a bread in her mouth as we were at the store! She didn’t take her eyes off Ria while she was talking to me. I just hope that Ria didn’t get the wrong idea about Lorna. And i how will i even explain things to her?.
Even Lorna was mad that I didn’t introduce her to Ria and that i even acted like she wasn’t important to me.
What should I have done?
“Ria meet Lorna..the lady my dad wants to me to Marry but i don’t love”
Does that make any sense?
Hell No!
About the meeting with Lorna in the restaurant.. I have no choice but to give Lorna’s request cause she threatened to tell Ria that I was having an affair with Grace my Secretary.
That wasn’t true.. But I had to say yes! Just to stop her from saying those nonsense to Ria.
And Even if it wasn’t true Ria will still find it hard to believe me if I try to explain that nothing is going on between Grace and I.
“I thought you wouldn’t make it down here” Lorna said when I sat in the chair opposite her
“I said i was going to anyway..” I replied
“She is the reason why you were out of the country for weeks”
Lorna said and that didn’t sound like a question!
She knows something!
“Yeah”
She chuckled
“When will you stop paying people to find out things about me?”
“You caused it Ian. We aren’t like this when were kids. We used to be best of friends until you changed up.. And I keep wondering what caused that change between us”
“You should find that out -” I shrugged
“But I don’t know Ian”

Just one thing changed our friendship.. Mason! We were inseparable! Maybe but things changed the day I saw her kissing Mason. What age was that? 15! Yes it was on her 15th birthday!..and I had bumped into them in the dark!
She wasn’t dating him then..Lorna told me that herself but she still kissed him.
Was she drunk that day or she wasn’t in her right mind?
When she had made it clear that such will never happen between them because she was in love with me.

At some point she said that I made up my mind to fall in love with her. But I changed that decision when I saw her kissing Mason.
And I did tried to stop seeing Lorna as a friend but a girl that I could love..but I couldn’t!
So right then I realized that I wasn’t meant to see her pass that friendship level.
And I’m not ready to tell Lorna what made me change! We should just leave things the way they are!
“We can talk things out -”
“And what do we have to talk about?”
“Us”
“Us?”
“Yes”
“Lorna I told you that love can’t work out between us”
“what about her?”
“Pardon?”
“The Lady I saw with you..”
“Let’s leave her out of this”
How on earth did she always find out things she wanna know? like Lorna eyes are everywhere!
“I didn’t have to pay anyone to tell me you were in China taking care of a blind Lady. Piper told me”
“What?!” My jaw dropped slightly
Piper told her about Ria! And how much did she know about Ria? What did Piper tell her?
Nothing is Safe with Piper!
“Yeah she told me. When I called to check on you. Ian you weren’t picking up my calls and I was worried. So i went to Piper’s office”
“What exactly did she tell you?”
“A lot…”
“A lot?”
I doubt it! Piper doesn’t know anything other than the fact that I paid Ria’s bills and went with her to China. About my plans to set up Ria’s Business..that between me and my mom.
“She said you paid for her surgical bills” Lorna said

And that doesn’t signify “a lot”
“And she is right Lorna”
“Do you love her?”
She asked unexpectedly and I stiffed back a laugh
“Why do you want to know?”
“So..i won’t keep my hopes high..Ian”
Keeping hopes high? When I told her years back that i can’t love her. So why is she still waiting?
“I want to love someone..who will love me in return” she said in low tone
“Lorna I’m not stopping you from loving whoever you want to love”
“Yes I know – that why I want to get over those feelings I have for you”
So if I tell Lorna I don’t love Ria..she won’t give up on me.
I love Ria I already figured that out..but telling Lorna about my love for Ria will break her..and make her feel bad.
What do i do?
“Ian I want the truth. I don’t want to keep fighting for what doesn’t belong to me. I realized it pointless. So i will understand”
Maybe I will just tell Lorna the truth so she can move on and let me be!
“Yes I’m love with her” she nodded slowly
“I knew it..i just wanted to be sure”
And how did she know I love Ria?
“I spoke with your mom earlier before I saw you. She told about about your feelings for Ria when insisted that she tell me about Ria”
So she’s been on the look out for a while now.. Trying to find out if I love Ria.
No wonder my mom asked if I had seen Lorna in the store
“I just want to hear it coming from you. My heart will accept it now that you told yourself”
“I’m sorry” I said to her
“Sorry for?…not loving me?” She chuckled
And i have no idea why I said that!
“Ian it fine..I accept your decision. Now I know..we aren’t meant to be together and thank God one of us was able to sense it before it caused us any harm”
I gave a short nod!

Now I’m seeing a different Lorna.
She stood up and Moved closer to me.
“I wish you well” she kissed my cheek before walking out.
I stood up seconds later made it out of the restaurant and back to the Store which was just few blocks away.
♪♪♪♪♪
“Love me like you do!”


MORE STORIES FOR YOU 🔥


1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*