Ria

Episode 33

THEME: MORE THAN PARTNERS! ?

°°°°THREE WEEKS LATER°°°°

♦ RIA APARTMENT ♦

RIA POV ?♀

The ringing of a phone startled me and I almost spilled the water in my hand. I searched the room for the source of the sound and realized abruptly that it was my ringtone.

I spotted my phone on the end table just as it buzzed again.

It was Ian!

“Hello Ria” I heard him say after I picked
“Hi Ian”
“I hope I’m not calling at a bad time”
“No of course not” I moved to the couch and sat in it

“I enjoyed every of our chats,But I missed hearing your voice”

“It good to hear from you Ian”
“So where are you?”
“I’m home”

“I spoke to one of the designers not quite long..and she said that your place will be ready by the end of next week”
“Oh! Good to hear that.. But can I start working at the place when they’re done?”
“Yes you can move in the Machines But -”
He paused

“But what?”
“I was thinking of something”

“What?”
“You can’t just move in like that and start work.. I mean we can launch the place.. Like organize a party whereby people can come around and check out your stuffs and the place too”

“Is that necessary?”

“Of course Ria! To create an awareness. We have to let them know about the place and what you’re doing. It gonna be like we’re bringing your business to spotlight”
Ian stopped

We lapsed into silence

Over the past few weeks Ian has been working hard towards setting up my place.

Everything is almost set!

And I must admit that the place is incredible!
And beautiful!

It more like a workshop with a boutique. Everything is just outstanding!
The designers did a great work!
Doing all their best to make it the Best Couture in state. That was what Ian told them he wanted for me!

He even paid an advertising Agency to advertise the place when everything is set!
And soon we’ll have the place on Billboards!
Giving my cards at Amber Event really helped. And virtually everyone at the party admired the dress on the kids. Mrs Perla introduced me to some people at the Event too.

Our orders for dresses has increased over the past few weeks and everyone is looking forward to seeing new designs of dresses on our Website!

“Look Ria -”
“Okay. How do we go about it?” I cut him off
“You have enough dresses right?”
“Yes..we are still working on it”
We’d have a lot of dresses. We’ve made more than enough from the contract with Principal Brenda.

“Good.. I’ll talk to mom about it too. I’m sure she will be willing to help. So for now let’s wait for the designers to finish up at the place”

“Okay”
“So what about tomorrow?”
“The party right?”
“Yes. Are you done with your dress?”

“Almost”
“Okay I’ll send Ben over tomorrow by 4:00pm. He will drive you to a friend who will help you prepare for the party”

“What about you?”
“I’ll be waiting at the party”
“Okay”
“See you tomorrow”
He hang up
“You’re still yet to finish up?”

Mrs Elise asked when she walked into the sitting room

“Almost” she picked up the dress from the machine

“You will turn out the best at the party”
“No..there will more pretty women at the party.. rich and mighty ladies..better than I am”
She shook her head

“You have to take away that low esteem about yourself”
She nodded

“I don’t have a low self esteem”
“Well I thought I heard you talking to someone”

“It was Ian. He called to inform that the place will be ready next week”

“He didn’t talk about the party?”
“We talked about it. Ben is coming to take me to a place by 4:00”
“What place?”

“I don’t know..Ian said that a friend of his will help me prepare for the party”
“Hmm..maybe it a salon or spa or a make up shop..”
I nodded in agreement

“You know this is a big party..so I’m sure Mr Ian wants you to be the most beautiful woman of the night”

“You think so?” I asked
Itching the back of my neck
“Yes..But are you ready for it?.. I mean there will be Paparazzi waiting to take pictures of Mr Ian and you will be there with him”
“Wait – are you saying that I’ll walk the red carpet with Ian?”

“Exactly” she snapped her fingers
And am I ready for that?!
“You know it’s not that bad”
“But people will get the wrong idea about us”
“What idea?.. You’re going there has his date” she shrugged

“Nothing bad about it” she said
“Yeah his date at the party..but we’re just business partners”
Mrs Elise rolled her eyes
“So will you go about telling everyone at the party that you’re just business partners?.. I suggest you don’t!”

“Why?”
“Look Miss Ria..Mr Ian is every woman’s dream..a hotcake. And I know that many women at the party will be dying to be by his side”
“What are you trying today?”
“What I’m saying is that – don’t act like a business partner..But Act like a Proper Date”
“What?!..like were in a relationship” I clarified waving my hand in a vague gesture
“Yes or else don’t be surprised if some lady tried to take him away tomorrow”
I rolled my eyes

Should I consider what Mrs Elise is trying to say?
If someone wants Ian them she should be better off than me!

“Hold up..are you thinking all this is still classified under Business Relationship?”
I shot her a confused look
And she raised a eyebrow at me
“Yes..”

It a business Relationship!
“I think this is more than just business”

“To who?”
“It could be more than that to you..or Mr Ian..I don’t know”
She itched the bridge of her nose
And the fact remains that I didn’t want to admit that Ian wanted something more than just being Business Partners!
Or maybe I’m over thinking!
But the way he looked at me and even the kiss on the cheek!

Is that how he relates with his female business associate?

Pang of jealousy surged through me at the thought of Ian kissing another female!
What’s going on with me?!
What do i do if Ian wants a proper relationship?
Can I go into a relationship?
I doubt it!

I’d have to be intimate with him and I wasn’t ready! Not now!

My body isn’t ready to come in contact with any man! Don’t know how i knew..

But I know that fact about myself!

I’m still trying to get over what Lucas did to me!
But part of me wanted more that just being Business Partners with Ian.

And since I wasn’t ready so i won’t think about it!

♦••♦••♦••♦••♦••♦

°°°°°°°°° IDAHO °°°°°°°°

LIMOS COMPANY
DRAKE POV ??
“Any news from Lint Corp?” I asked Alex who in turned checked the device in his hands to see if there was any mail from Lint Corp.
“No mail Sir”
I dropped my ball point pen angrily.

It now clear that Ian Bryant won’t sign that deal until I accept to give in to 40%
Meeting up with Ian is the best option! So we can talk.

“Alex do i have any meetings tomorrow?”
Since today was already gone.

“No meetings but you have an invitation to a party tomorrow”

“What party?”
I waited patiently and watched him clicked on the devise. I placed my hands together and contemplated on what he said

“It says BMW”
“Oh! BMW!”
“Yes Sir”

“Why are you just telling me about it?”
“I’m sorry Sir. I forgot to click on the mail while I was checking the rest of it”
This is a chance to meet Ian
But will he at the party?

“Alex find out the list of people that will be at the BMW party?”

I hope he turned up at the party.

I wasn’t at the party last year but i attended it two years ago. Then my dad was about to stepped down as the CEO so he used the party as a chance to introduce me to his business Associates in Chicago.

“Check if Ian Bryant is on the list”
“Yes he is on the VVIP list”
Alex replied seconds later
“Okay..book the next available flight to Chicago”

“Okay Sir..anything else?”
“I will need the documents of the deals with Lint Corp”

“Okay” he exited the office
I will talk him at the party like a friend. Then we can sign the deal after party.

I’m not going to leave Chicago until Ian signs the deal.

He will agree to my demands even if it involves me doing some background check on him. I know someone like Ian must have a secret!

Or maybe I should entice him with a lady?

Whichever way it is..All I know is that I must get what I want!

♦••♦••♦••♦••♦••♦

°°°°°°°CHICAGO°°°°°°°°°

LINT CORP
IAN POV ?
“Hello Ziggy”
“What’s up Ian?”
Ziggy Gray is my college friend. He is an international Model and one of the top most models in USA. I called him up so he could help me prepare Ria for the dinner party.
“I’m cool..did you get my text?”
“Text? What text?”
“I told you that i have a dinner party to attend and I want you to make my date into a member of high society”

“Oh! It was who sent the message?”
“Yes”
“Sorry i just received it this Morning. So what do i have to do?”
“I need you to get her an entirely new wardrobe,shoes,hair,make up and jewelry”
“When is the party?”
“Tomorrow by 7”
“It’s going to take lot of work”
“She already has a dress to wear. She’s a seamstress”

“Ian you know i don’t work like that. I pick out the dress myself to match the Accessories”
“Oh! Sorry I totally forgot! So now she doesn’t have to wear the dress?”
“Yes. What party is it?”

“BMW”
“Geez Man..you’d be spending a lot on your date for this party”

“I know. And its my money I will spend what I want”

“Okay then bring her over tomorrow”
“Brandon will bring her”
“Okay”
“Bye”
He hang up

••
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Now can you all sense what’s going to happen at the party? ?
I’m sure you’re thinking that Drake will meet Ria at the party ??
Don’t think like that cause it not going to happen!