Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

Too long. Twenty five minutes alone with Ian Bryant was a long time to Ria. But soon as Ria was thinking about it she realized that she was going to spend the entire eight weeks and one on one with Ian Bryant.

Ria let out a low breathe as she sensed a pair of eyes studying her. She pondered on what to talk about just to distract him.

“This long drive and us being alone together will give us a chance to get to know a little about each other.” Ian said as if he was reading her mind.

Ria wasn’t happy about any reference to the intimacy they share now. Ria doesn’t want to be close to Ian. But at the same time she tried not to show it so he won’t feel like she doesn’t appreciate the fact that he is helping her.

“Ria, can you hear me?” Ian asked when she didn’t say anything.

“Oh yes.. Mr Ian.. sorry, I was just thinking about ma’am Elise and the kids.” Ria pretended as if she was lost in thought.

“Don’t worry, they will be fine.” Ian said.

“Yeah I know.” Ria mumbled.

“I suggested that we should get to know each other.” Ian repeated.

Ria nodded shortly without an interest in the suggestion. “So I will start by telling you about myself.” Ian added while Ria just sat there and fiddled with the fingers on her laps.

“Ian Bryant. Twenty four years old. I am the fourth child out of four and also the only son to Mr Jack and Mrs Perla Bryant.” Ian stopped and waited for Ria to talk but she didn’t say a word.

Why? Ria is uninterested in the conversation. She feels that she shouldn’t be doing this with him. She shouldn’t get to know him other than the fact that he offered to help her and she wants to payback.

“I don’t like the fact that I am the last child and only boy. It is so annoying.” Ian said childishly.

“I wish I was the eldest child. Everyone in my family still thinks I am a kid.. especially Piper.” Ian spat. He sounded so different while grumbling about what his family thinks of him.

“Piper?” Ria repeated. She didn’t know when that word came out from her mouth.

“Yes, Piper is my sister and she is quite older than me. We do fight each other.. always.” Ian paused to study her expression. A frown creased her forehead. “What about you, Ria? Do you have any sibling?” He asked.

Well Ria wished that she had one. “Ria Robert. Twenty two years old. The only child to my-” Ria stopped.

What if Ian insist on knowing more about her family then that would lead her to tell him about her parents and probably everything that has happened in her life.

“The only child to what?” Ian waited for the completion of her sentence.

“My deceased parents.” Ria muttered.

“I am so sorry about the loss of your parents.” Ian said in an apologetic tone

Ria nodded deciding that it was better to just cut him off by changing the topic. “Mr Ian, are we leaving as soon as we get to the airport?” She requested.

“Yes, the jet is waiting at the airport.” Ian glanced down at his watch.

“Okay.” Ria shook her head.

“So I spoke with Doctor Lui this morning. We are meeting him by 9:00 a. m tomorrow.”

Ria furrowed her eyebrows. “Well can’t we meet him as soon as we arrive in China?”

Ian took out his cellphone when it chimed. “No, you have to rest when we get to China because of the stress on board.” He answered.

“So how long is the flight from United state to China?” Every question Ria was asking was to distract him from getting to know her.

Ian ignored the call from his mom because he didn’t want to end the conversation with Ria. “It should be about thirteen hours and fifteen minutes since we won’t be having any stop over. But sixteen hours fastest one stop flight between United State to China. And some could take as long as thirty two hours based on the stopover destination and waiting duration for planes mostly.” He answered.

“Thirty two hours.. that’s long. I think the private jet is better.” Ria uttered.

“Yes, it is better.” His cellphone beeped again.

“You should pick up your call.” Ria said. Saved by the cellphone because she doesn’t have to talk to him anymore.

Ian picked the call. “Hello mom.” He said.

“His mom is calling? Wait, is she aware of my presence in his life?” Ria mused.

“How are you son?” Mrs Perla Bryant asked.

Ria could hear their conversation because the phone was on speaker. “I am fine.” Ian answered.

“Is Ria there with you?” Mrs Perla blurted out. Even Ian wasn’t expecting that his mom would ask of Ria out of the blues.

“Me?! His mom knows me?” Ria arched her eyebrows.

“Yes mom, we are on our way to the airport. We’ll be there soon.” Ian responded.

“Alright. Everything is ready. I booked a suite for you guys in China. It is comfortable and you can also work from there.” Mrs Perla informed her son about the plans she has made for them.

“Thanks mom.” Ian’s face beamed at the thought of having one person who supported his plan to help Ria.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

“Perhaps can I say hi to Ria?” Mrs Perla requested.

“What?! She want to talk to me?!” Ria said within.

Ian was silent. He looked straight at Ria thinking of what to say to her. He was starting to regret not turning off the speaker.

“Ian, are you still there?” Mrs Perla Bryant asked.

“Ria, will you say hi to my mom?” Ian asked in a tight whisper.

Ria nodded slowly. Ian leaned closer to place the phone on her ear and she held it in place. “Hello Ma’am.”

“Is that you, Ria?” Mrs Perla asked.

“Yes Ma’am.” Ria mumbled.

“I am Perla Bryant.. Ian’s mom.” The old lady sounded happy over the phone.

“It is nice to hear… from.. you.. ma’am.” Ria replied shakily.

“My son said a lot of things about you and I am so glad that-” Ian cleared his throat to caution his mom from saying too much.

“What does that mean? What did he tell his mom about me?” Ria wondered.

“Ria, I want to wish you a safe trip and a successful surgery.” Mrs Perla got the sign from her son.

“Thank you ma’am.” Ria handed the phone back to him.

“Mom, I will call you as soon as we arrive in China.” Ian turned off the speaker immediately.

“Okay. I’ll send you the address to the suite. Take care son.”

Ian hang up the call. “I am sorry about my mom… she just wanted to be sure.. if I was going to China.” It doesn’t make any sense but he spilled it anyways.

“It is okay. I understand.” Ria mumbled.

“Thank you.” Ian breathed out heavily.

Although Ria knew she should be the one saying thank you to him. The rest of the drive to the airport was in absolute silence and Ria liked it that way.

*********

SOME MINUTES LATER

“We are at the airport Ria.” Ian announced when the car pulled to a stop. “I need to get some things done. I’ll be right back.” He added.

Ria doesn’t know what he meant by that but she couldn’t feel his presence in the car anymore. “Good afternoon, sir Ian.” Someone greeted and they exchanged pleasantries.

“Is everything ready?” Ian asked to check if it was fine to leave.

“Yes, we have done the necessary things. You can leave now.” The masculine voice replied.

“Thank you, Hakeem.” Ian thanked the man.

“Ria, we can leave now. Our documents has been signed and everything is ready.” Ria heard his voice in the car.

“Okay.” She whispered.

“Let me help you out of the car.” Ian unbelt Ria, held her hands and helped her out of the car. “Careful.” He cautioned her.

“This way, sir.” Another feminine voice said.

“Thank you, Arabella. Ria the jet is over there.” Ian announced just to let her know that they still have more steps to walk.

“Okay.” At that point, Ria tried to push away the thoughts on her mind.

It was about Ian Bryant. He has a way of holding her. A way no has ever held her. She shouldn’t be thinking like this but these thoughts won’t go away. What has he done to her to make her have these kind of thoughts in her head?

“Are you alright?” Ian asked in a soft tone.

“Yes, I am fine.”

“Just a little more. We are almost there.” They walked few steps and stopped.

Ria wanted to ask him if they were close but Ian spoke up. “Ria, just lift your leg.” Ria did and he placed it on a metal which was the stairs to the jet.

“Gently.. another step.” Ria followed Ian’s instructions with his hand tightly around her waist to guide her.

Ria would take it that she didn’t have any other choice. But something was strange! Ria didn’t tremble at his touch. It was as if she could feel the power in his arms. His touch was leashed into a gentleness that made her feel safe.

What?! Ria was starting to feel safe in a man’s arms now?! No it can’t be true! She tried to discard the thoughts of feeing safe with Ian Bryant.

Soon they settled in the jet. Ian sat close to Ria as the pilot gave out safety instructions. “Ria, are you okay?” Ian questioned.

Ria already lost count of how many times he has asked her this same question. “Yes.” Ria hummed a response.

The pilot made an announcement again and the jet moved and soon they were flying in air.