Ria

Episode 8

THEME:THE ACT ?
♣ IAN MANSION ♣

AUTHOR’S POV
“Good Morning Mr Griffin”
Cassidy greeted as she stepped into the house
“How are you Cassidy?”
“I am good”
“How is school?”
“Fine Mr Griffin..where is Mr Ian?”
“In his room”

“Okay..he called me up last night that he needed my help with something” Mr Griffin arched his brow. Ian bounced down the steps leading to the sitting room

“Hi Cassidy”
“Hello Mr Ian”
“Thanks for coming” She nodded
“What do you care for Cassidy?”
“I am fine Griffin”
“Please get her favourite juice.. Lemon Juice”
“No -”

“You have to take something”
He cuts off her intended statement
“I’ll be right back” Mr Griffin walked away while Ian settled down on the couch adjacent to Cassidy

“How is Caleb doing?”
“He is fine..actually he and mom sent their greetings”

Mr Griffin came back with a tray filled with a full glass of lemon juice and crackers. He gave it to Cassidy

“Mr Griffin you have to join us” Ian said when Mr Griffin was about leaving again

“Me?”
“Yes..it about Ria”
“Oh! Okay” Mr Griffin now understand why Ian had called Cassidy over. He settled down beside Cassidy and waited for Ian to start the conversation

“Uhmmm you and Caleb’s birthday is next week right?”
She nodded slowly

“Next week Saturday” Ian and Mr Griffin exchanged glances

“Yeah so I was thinking of getting a dress for you so you could wear it on that day”

“Actually Mr Ian…you don’t have to get me a new dress..you’ve been good to us and you’ve also done a lot for us. So-”

“Cassidy I want to get that dress for you as a present.. I will do the same for Caleb too”

Ian thought of who would be the Mr Griffin’s daughter overnight.. Then the twin birthday had popped up in his mind. Instead of getting a dress for Cassidy at the boutique or mall Ria could make the dress. He was happy when that idea occurred to him. It was the perfect option to get close to Ria.

“Cassidy you don’t have to reject his offer..it your 18th birthday so you have to look beautiful on that day”

“There is no need for a dress since we won’t be throwing any party at home”
“I want to throw a party for you guys.. You can invite your friends to celebrate with you. I already arranged some money for you and Caleb”

“But isn’t that too much?”
“It is just a token Cassidy”
“Look Cassidy we’ve gotten a talented seamstress to make a perfect dress for you”
“But..Mr Ian you said you need my help”
“Yes..the help is to go to the seamstress and take your measurement”

“That’s not a help then..you are helping me instead”

“It a great help to me”
“Okay” she answered in a low tone
“So now Mr Griffin will drive you down to the seamstress house”

“I think we should tell her who the seamstress is Ian”

“Yeah Cassidy..her name is Ria and she is blind. So you have to be careful of whatever you say when you get there..and make sure you get along with her”

“Is that..even possible? How can she sew..if she is blind”

“You will see for yourself when you get there Cassidy” Ian said

“Okay”
“Mr Griffin please come with me so I can give you some money to give to Ria” I stood up from the couch and Mr Griffin did the same

♦♦
♣ RIA APARTMENT ♣

RIA POV
“When will Mrs Elise come back from the store?” Phoenix asked. I stopped the machine wheels to answer Phoenix

“Soon Phoenix”
“They’ve been gone since the past two hours”

“Phoenix is not easy to select a material at the store. If you don’t see it at one store then you go to the next..and sometimes you have to go into Five to six stores before getting the type of material you want”

“Is it that hard?”
“Don’t worry you will go with Mrs Elise next time so you can find out”

The doorbell rang
“I’ll get the door mom”
“Careful Phoenix” he raced to the door and unlocked it
“Mom! It Mr Brown!”
“Mr Brown?” I repeated trying to remember. Oh Yes! The man that came in yesterday
“Let him in Phoenix”
“Okay” seconds later I heard footsteps in the room. I counted two presence excluding Phoenix
“Good Afternoon Miss Ria”
“Good Afternoon Mr Brown” I stood up from the machine and rubbed my palms together to stay calm
“I am here with my daughter”
“Okay..take your sit please”
“I can stay outside If you aren’t comfortable with My presence here”
“No..no you can stay”
“Hi..I’m Cassidy” she stuttered a bit
“Ria” I responded
“It so nice to see you..my dad already told me about you” I just smiled
“Phoenix get the style book”
“Which one?”
“Volume three..the dress Mr Brown picked is in that volume”
“Okay”
♣♣
AUTHOR’S POV
Phoenix checked the small book shelf and brought out Volume 3 book which had the collections of Ria’s work. He gave it to Cassidy who was busy staring at Ria
“Here Ma’am”
“Thank you” Mr Griffin opened the book and showed Cassidy the dressed he picked the other day
“Wow Miss Ria..these designs are pretty”
“Thank You”
“Do you like this one?” Mr Griffin pointed to a short dress
“No..it too short.. I don’t want my legs to be exposed. I really like the one you picked”
“Is that what you want?”
“Yes…”
“Okay Miss Ria we’ll go for the same dress”
Without being told what to do Phoenix went in search of measurement book and grabbed a high stool for Ria to sit on. Cassidy watched Ria with admiration as she measured and call out for Phoenix to jolt
“All done” Ria said to Cassidy
“How much is the payment?”
“$300”
“$300?” Cassidy repeated…surprised that the bill was too small for such an elegant dress. One will pay more at the mall or boutique. Ria’s dress prices are affordable just to bring in more customers. Mr Griffin nudged Cassidy side. He then brought out $500 and handed it to Ria. Initially Ian had given him $3000 for the dress. Ria felt it before counting it. She arched her brows when she realized it was more than the payment.
“Mr Brown..this is $500”
“Yes..$300 for the dress and $200 for my little man here” he paused and then continued
“I like the fact that he is willing to help and hardworking”
“Thank you Sir”
“You’re welcome”
“Phoenix say thank you to Mr Brown he gave some money” he was busy searching for the phone book to take down their numbers
“Thank You Mr Brown”
He handed the book to Mr Brown
“Put down your number sir”
Mr brown collected the book from him
“When will you be needing the dress?”
“Saturday”
“Just put down your numbers so we can call you up when the dress is ready”
They pen down their numbers in the book
“Here you go little man” Mr Griffin returned the book to Phoenix. He then rushed to a large box close to the table and took out two hand towels. It was designed with Ria logo imprinted on it for every customer.
“Thanks for your patronage” Phoenix said as he accompanied them to the door
“Please kindly tell people about us”
“Yes we Will” Cassidy replied before she and Mr Griffin head out of the house. Phoenix closed the door and raced to where Ria sat. She counted $200 and gave it to Phoenix
“Put this in your safe”
“No mom put it in the company safe so we can get another set of towels..”
“I gave Mrs Elise money to buy some already so we can take it to the printing press tomorrow”
“Okay” he collected the money. He then rushed to the room to drop it in the safe under the bed
♦
IAN MANSION
I sat at my desk in the study room signing some contracts. My phone pinged. I thought it was a call from Mr Griffin but it was Josie
“Hello Josie” I said when I picked the call
“Hello Ian”
“Yes”
“I called to inform you that Lauren and I spoke with Lexi last night”
“So what did she say?”
“She was scared after we did the calculations..then she had no choice than to confess”
“So what is it?”
“Lexi is not pregnant”
“Thank Goodness”
“Case solved then”
“No..case not solved sis..she has to pay for what she did..we have to threaten her with a lawsuit just to be sure she won’t come after daddy again”
“Okay..but instead of a lawsuit can’t we just get a promissory note from our lawyer for her to sign”
“Yeah that good too”
“Okay I will talk to the lawyer then”
“Okay” I hang up
A knock sounded on the door few minutes later
“Come in”
Mr Griffin walked in with Cassidy behind him. I stood up from my desk and walked my way around it to settle on the couch
“So how was your visit to Ria’s place?”
I asked rubbing my palms together
“It went well” Mr Griffin replied. I looked at Cassidy and noticed her face was wet..like she had been crying!
“Are you okay Cassidy?” Her Head down with her eyes glued to her laps
“She had been crying since we left Ria’s place”
“Why are you crying?”
She nodded slowly. I stood up and went to sit beside her while Mr Griffin moved to another couch
“Is it about what your saw?”
“Yes..it such a pity..if only she could see then Miss Ria would have done better than than the way she is now..” She looked up at me
“Isn’t there something you can do to help her?..she could see again with the help of eyes surgery”
“Yeah I know..but I don’t know about her health problems. Look Cassidy I want to help Ria but it impossible because of her view about men”
“Yes..I noticed that too..she doesn’t feel too comfortable with a man around” she said and I nodded
“But why?” She asked
“I don’t know Cassidy”
“I really want to get close to Miss Ria cause I see her as someone who is determined to achieve her dreams..she’s alike an inspiration to me” Mr Griffin and I exchanged glances
“Can you help me find out more about Ria?” She stared intensely at me
“Cassidy I don’t want you to think I’m trying to use you..but it just that I want to help Ria. And lately have been doing some researches about eyes defects and remedies”
“What should I find out from her?”
“About her health problems..and probably why she is uncomfortable with men around her”
“But isn’t that too personal?”
“Not really..you want to get closer to Ria right?”
“Yes”
“Then you have to get close and know about her toi”
“Okay”
“Will you help me?”
“Yes”
“Thank You”
“When will your dress be ready?”
“She didn’t give us a specific day but she promise to call us before Saturday” Cassidy answered

“Oh well I’m glad to inform you that Ria didn’t charge half of the money you gave me”
Mr Griffin said to me
“Really?”

He brought out the money from his wallet
“She charged just $300..and then I gave her boy $200”

“Why didn’t you just give everything to her?”
“Mr Ian she won’t have accepted it if Mr Griffin had offered all”

“I even had to tell her $200 was to compliment her boy for his hard work”

I collected the money and handed it to Cassidy but she refused it

“No..no I still have the money you sent last week” she stood up
“I should head back home now”
I stood up and grabbed her wrist..placed the money in her palm
“Don’t ever refuse anything coming from me” I ordered and she nodded
“Mr Griffin tell Ben to drive her home”
“okay Sir”

“Cassidy please extend my greetings to Mom”
I placed her kiss on her forehead and she smiled
“Thank You”

♪♪♪♪♪♪♪

“I know it hard to forget
How wrong they did you
All of the s–t that you’ve been through
All of the fights you gat into….”
Thanks for reading!
Please did I give the impression that Ian can be Ria’s cousin?..kindly read and understand the story.
Ian is Bryant while Ria is Robert.. Do they look alike?”