Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

THREE DAYS LATER: IN RIA ROBERT APARTMENT

Ria stopped the machine as soon as she heard the doorbell. Slowly she stood up from the stool and walked to the door. No one was home to help her get the door but she knew the number of steps in her head. Phoebe and Phoenix are in school while Ma’am Elise went to the salon to style her hair because her cousin is getting married tomorrow.

“Who is that?” Ria asked loudly.

“Hello Miss Ria, it is me. Cassidy, Mr Brown’s daughter.”

“Oh! Cassidy! Okay!” Ria unlocked the door and twisted the knob.

“Good morning, miss Ria.” All of a sudden Ria felt solid arms around her. Cassidy just hugged her.

Ria was surprised by the gesture. “Good morning, Cassidy.” Ria forced a smile on her face when the young lady retreated. “Please come in.” She opened the door wide for Cassidy to step in.

“You are here for your dress right?” Ria asked.

“No, I am not here for the dress.” Cassidy answered.

Ria screwed up her face at the response. If Mr Brown’s daughter is not here for her dress then why is she here? Ria pondered.

“Miss Ria, you don’t have to panic. No, I mean it is fine if the dress is not ready.” Cassidy rushed out her words.

“Your dress is ready.” Ria replied.

“Oh really?!” Cassidy asked in a surprised tone.

“Yes. Actually we planned to call in the evening so you will come and get the dress tomorrow. But it is a good thing that you are here.” Ria responded.

“Yeah.” Cassidy nodded.

“Please take a seat.” Ria gestured as she pointed at the couches. She tried so hard not to miss her step count even as she conversed with the young lady.

“Thank you, Miss Ria.”

“I’ll get your dress.” Ria found her way to the large table filled with dresses and she tried to identify Cassidy’s dress from the package that has been registered in her head. Ria picked one and traced the writing on it. “This dress is not hers.” She mumbled.

“Should I come and help?” Cassidy asked.

“No it is fine. I can find it.” Ria picked two other packages which didn’t read her name with the tape on it.

Ma’am Elise had wrote down Cassidy’s name on her clothe before heading out but Ria just can’t figure out where she had placed it among the other dresses. But luckily for Ria, she picked two more packages before she found Cassidy’s dress. A smile formed on her lips after she felt the letters on the tape.

Ria made an attempt to meet Cassidy but she met her halfway. “You found it!”

Ria shook her head. “Yes, here you go.” Cassidy collected the dress. “You can try it on and check yourself in the mirror over there.” She pointed towards the direction of the mirror.

“I would really love to try it.” Cassidy was so excited as she unwrapped the package but she hasn’t forgotten her purpose for being at Ria’s house. “Are you the only one home?” She asked.

“Yes.” Ria replied.

“What about your little boy?” Cassidy’s eyes scanned the area.

“He has gone to school. No one is home with me at the moment.” Ria answered.

“So are you always home alone most time?” She questioned again even as she took out the dress.

“No, ma’am Elise is always here with me.” Suddenly Ria heard Cassidy scream and she became scared thinking something bad had happened to her or she didn’t like the dress.

“Are you okay?” Ria asked fearfully.

“Yes! I am just happy about the dress. Let me try it on!” Cassidy slipped out of her clothing to try the dress. “Wow! It is amazing! This is so elegant and gorgeous! And it really looks good on me!”

Ria heaved a sigh of relief. “Okay.” She calmed. Thank God, it is a compliment and nothing bad. Ria had thought Cassidy didn’t like the dress.

Cassidy noticed Ria trying to take in a deep breathe. “I am sorry if I scared a bit. I am just excited.” She apologized.

“No.. no.. it is okay. So do you like the dress?” Ria asked.

“Yes! But like is really an understatement. I love it!” She enthused.

“I am happy that you love it.” Ria tried to smile to encourage her customer.

“But honestly Miss Ria this dress is worth more than three hundred dollars.” Cassidy commented.

“If you say so.” Ria turned and managed to find her way back to the machine and she settled on the stool.

“Well Miss Ria why do you charge lowly?” Cassidy demanded.

“It is not low. For my type of business three hundred dollars is a lot of money.” Ria answered.

“So what about a twenty thousand dollars?” Cassidy giggled.

“That’s a whole lot of money!” They both giggled.

“Well not all our prices are low. We make expensive dresses depending on the type of materials they want for the dress and sometimes they bring in whatever clothe they want to use for the dress too.” Ria explained.

“You are right. And also does your price have anything to do with people around?” Cassidy pulled off the dress.

“Kind of. If we decide to charge higher most people won’t get a dress from us.” Ria answered.

“Well maybe that’s because you don’t reside in the rich area. Your clothing business would do so well if you are in an area for the rich.” Cassidy packed the dress roughly back in it place.

“Exactly.. the people in this area are not that wealthy. You know, everyone is just trying to survive. But we have been making more money from online orders.” Ria agreed to her point.

“You sell your clothes online?” Cassidy looked straight at the blind lady.

“Yes, we just started though. It was ma’am Elise idea to start selling the dresses online so she is in charge of that.” Ria answered.

“Wow! That’s amazing! It is a great idea!” Cassidy smiled.

“You can say that again. Did you fold the dress back in properly?” Ria demanded.

Cassidy laughed when she looked at the package. “I didn’t do it well. How do I fold the dress back in it place properly?”

“Bring it.” Cassidy went to meet her and she gave her the dress and the nylon to Ria.

“This is how to do it.” Ria showed Cassidy how to fold a gown neatly and she placed it in the package. “It is so ea-”

“You know.. I really like you, miss Ria.” Cassidy’s words interrupted her.

“You do?”

“Yes, a whole lot although I barely even know you. I just like the fact that you are talented and hardworking despite your condition.” Cassidy confessed.

“Thank you. I’ll just get a bag to put this in for you.” Ria stood up from the stool. She counted her steps again as she walked to the large box and took out a customized paper bag, her brand logo was imprinted on it. “Here you go.” She dropped the dress in it and gave it to Cassidy.

“Thank you.” Cassidy admired her.

“You are welcome. And happy birthday in advance.” Ria managed a small smile on her expression.

“Thank you once again.” Cassidy smiled.

Ria expected Cassidy to leave after that but she didn’t make the attempt. “Perhaps Miss Ria, can.. I stay till ma’am Elise returns?” She asked in a low tone.

Ria thought Cassidy wanted to stay because she was home alone and might be scared of leaving her behind. “You don’t have-”

“I can help with some things too.. like getting pieces of clothe together, fixing buttons, whipping dresses and all of that.” Cassidy rushed her words.

“You can do all that?” Ria asked as she rubbed her palms together.

“Yes, I can do a lot of things only if you let me.” Cassidy replied.

“But won’t your dad be worried about you?” Ria questioned.

“I am free and I don’t have classes today. I’ll text my dad to let him know that I am staying extra time with you.”

“Okay, you can stay.” Ria agreed.

“Thank you, miss Ria!” Cassidy said happily.

“You are welcome. Please make yourself comfortable.” Ria’s hands dropped to her side.

“So what do I do now? Actually I can use the machine.” Cassidy led Ria to the sewing machine she used to sit on.

“Really?”

“Yes, I can use it so well.”

Ria placed her hand on the machine. “Okay, let us start by fixing a thread in the machine over there.” She pointed to the machine next to hers.

“Where is the thread?” Cassidy asked.

“It is in a bowl next to the table.” Ria answered.

Cassidy rushed to the table to get the thread. “Got it!” She was silent for a while but Ria felt her presence close by. “I fixed a black thread in it!” She clapped.

“Can you help me amend an old lady’s dress?” Ria requested.

“Sure. Where is it?”

“On the smallest couch.” Ria pointed to the area.

Cassidy rushed to the couch again. “Which of the dresses should I pick?”

Ria tried to remember the color of the old lady’s dress. “Ma’am Elise packed three dresses together. Yes! She said it is a pink dress!” She remembered.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Yes, I have seen it!” Cassidy dragged a stool close to the machine and she examined the dress.

“The old lady complained about-”

Cassidy cuts in sharply. “I just have to stitch up the torn side, fix the worn out zip and there are set of lines down here. I think the dress is a bit too long for the old lady right?”

Ria nodded her head. “Yes, the old lady actually complained that the dress is long and oversized. Ma’am Elise must have traced the down part for adjustment purpose.”

Cassidy shook her head in understanding. “So I have to follow the line, trim the down part and adjust it. Do you have the old lady measurement?”

Ria tapped her finger on the machine gently. “Yes. Phoenix wrote down her measurement. It should be in the book.”

“So where can I find the measurement book?”

“On that large table where you picked the thread.” Ria answered.

“Okay.” Cassidy went in search of he book. “What’s her name?” She asked some seconds later.

“Mrs Beatrice.” Ria heard the flipping of pages.

“Okay, it is right here. I will start by adjusting the first dress since it is more easier for me.”

About a minute later, Ria heard the sound of the machine wheels. “She can actually use the machine.” She said within.

“Cassidy.” Ria called and she stopped the machine.

“Where did you learn to use the machine?” Ria asked.

“My aunt taught me. She stays in Denver and she is also a seamstress like you. I lived with her for a year so I had no choice but to learn the trade.” Cassidy answered.

“So you learnt sewing in a year.” Ria said.

“Not really. I have known some aspect of sewing since I was a kid. I used to travel to her place during the holidays. Let us just say that I loved sewing even as a child.” Cassidy wheeled the machine slowly to hear a response from Ria.

“Okay.” They lapsed into silence only for the machine wheels sound to grow louder but it stopped again soon.

“What about you?”

“Me?” Ria pointed a finger at herself.

“Yes. How long have you been a seamstress if I may ask? No, please just tell me about yourself.” Cassidy hoped that the blind lady would fill her in about things that concerns her life so she would tell everything to Ian Bryant.

“Cassidy, if I tell you about myself then I don’t think we can work today.” Ria giggled.

“Of course we can work and talk. I mean, you talk and I listen and ask questions if necessary.” Cassidy said.

“Okay. Well.. I didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to be a seamstress. Sewing was the only thing I was used to when I was a kid because my mon was a seamstress. And it was like the only option for me plus my mom inspired me.” Ria explained.

“Oh! She taught everything!” Cassidy commented.

“Yes she did.. and I just had to learn because I wanted to be useful to myself. My mom would always say being disabled is not an excuse for me to be failure. It only means that you can’t say because you are disabled then you won’t make something good in life or thrive to achieve your set dreams. I worked on myself and learned a lot of things with the help of my parents.” Ria swallowed the lump that was starting to form in her throat.

Recalling how good they were to her always and the way they had tried so hard to put a smile on her face. It was all gone now, she was left with memories and each time she remember how they had died it saddens her whole system.

“Were you born blind or you lost your sight in car accident?” Cassidy asked as she noticed the blind lady gripping the edge of the machine.

“I was born blind.” Ria replied.

“And have you thought of undergoing an eye surgery?” Cassidy asked again.

Will Ria ever forget that night? The pleadings, the screams, her parents last words to her and the sounds of the gunshots that has traumatized her for years. Maybe it was a bad idea to let Cassidy stay to help her. Ria thought.

“Yes.. it is what I have always wanted for myself. But I don’t have enough money for the surgery yet.” Ria answered in a low tone.

She waited for Cassidy to talk but she heard nothing. Silence, she liked it that way. But Cassidy broke the silence too soon. “What.. what if someone offers to pay your medical bills? Will you accept such person’s offer?”

This conversation won’t end. “Yes I will accept the offer as long as that help is not from a-” Ria paused and she swallowed hard “.. a man.” She completed.

Ria won’t accept any help from a man. She believed that no man would ever help a woman without asking for something else in return. Just like how Lucas had spared her life but he used her thinking he was doing her a great favor of living.

Ria clasped the edge of the machine again to stop the screams and horrible voice of Lucas that tried to form in her head. Calm! Calm! Calm! She chanted in her head. Ria was trying so hard not to let those horrible days take the best part of her but no it won’t stop. She heard the voice. She keeps hearing it every time she is close to a man. Ria shook her head from side to side. It was as if she was battling with a demon inside her head.

“Are you okay? Miss Ria?” She felt Cassidy’s hand on her shoulder.

“Yes.. yes.. I am fine.” Ria was so close to having a panic attack.

“Are you sure?” Cassidy asked as she withdrew from her.

“Yes Cassidy.” She feigned a smile.

Cassidy went back to sit down. “So why won’t you accept any help from a man?”

Ria’s fake smile grew broader. “Nothing serious. It is just something relating to my past.” She managed to say and hoped that Cassidy won’t ask anymore questions.